150: Chapter 150 Visitors to Listening to Bamboo Peak, Each with Their Own Thoughts

Mornings at Tingzhu Peak were always quieter than in other places.

The thin mist had not yet fully dispersed, lingering amidst the verdant sea of bamboo; sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting fragmented patches of light onto the bluestone path.

In the small courtyard before the bamboo hut, the stone table was still damp with last night's dew.

Xu Ruyu had risen early to practice the basic breathing techniques of the 'True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy' in the courtyard.

With every breath, the air molecules within three feet of him seemed to be plucked by an invisible hand; the temperature dropped slightly, condensing tiny ice crystals that quietly dissipated with the next breath.

He practiced with great focus.

With only three days left until the Three-Month Agreement, not a single moment could be wasted.

"Junior Brother Xu~"

A voice, charming to the bone and tinged with a hint of laziness and flirtation, suddenly drifted from beyond the bamboo fence.

Xu Ruyu finished his exercise and turned around, only to see a slender figure leaning against the bamboo fence.

Su Mei was dressed even more thinly and sheerly than usual—a crimson light gauze robe with a very low neckline, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and a deep cleavage.

The hem of her skirt only reached her knees, and her long, straight calves were faintly visible beneath the thin gauze.

She didn't have a food box in her hand, only a small sachet; she was looking at Xu Ruyu with those captivating peach blossom eyes, her gaze brimming with charm.

"Senior Sister Su?" Xu Ruyu frowned slightly, but he still opened the bamboo gate. "Is something the matter?"

"Can't I come to see my Junior Brother if nothing is wrong?"

Su Mei walked gracefully into the courtyard, her waist swaying gently with every step, bringing with her a rich, sweet fragrance—it was a charm scent, a common tool used by the Charm Technique Disciples of the Hehuan Sect.

She stopped in front of Xu Ruyu, leaning in so close that he could see the curve of her eyelashes and feel her warm breath.

"I heard that Junior Brother moved to Tingzhu Peak and lives here all alone... Aren't you lonely?"

Su Mei extended a finger painted with balsam and lightly tapped Xu Ruyu's chest, her voice cloyingly sweet.

"How about... coming to sit in Senior Sister's Meixiang Court? Senior Sister has everything there~"

She intentionally elongated the last syllable, her eyes scanning Xu Ruyu's face as if sizing up prey:

"Especially since you have a duel with that Ice-face Leng Ningshuang in three days; you must be nervous, right, Junior Brother? Senior Sister is best at helping people... relax."

As she spoke, her finger drew a circle on Xu Ruyu's chest, her fingertip brushing against his lapel almost imperceptibly:

"Senior Sister knows how to do everything~ I guarantee I'll make Junior Brother... very comfortable."

Xu Ruyu took a step back, avoiding her hand, his tone calm:

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister, but I still need to Cultivate."

"Cultivate?" Su Mei covered her mouth and chuckled, her laughter full of ambiguity. "Dual Cultivation is also a form of Cultivation~ and it's much faster than Cultivating alone.

Don't you know, Junior Brother? Our Hehuan Sect is best at... the Art of Yin and Yang Supplementation?"

She leaned in again, almost pressing against Xu Ruyu, her voice lowered and seductive:

"Senior Sister can teach you~ I guarantee that in three days... you'll be full of energy and in peak condition."

Xu Ruyu's expression darkened:

"Senior Sister, please conduct yourself with self-respect."

"Self-respect?" Su Mei was taken aback, then laughed so hard she trembled. "Junior Brother Xu, you really are adorable~ Talking about self-respect in the Hehuan Sect? Is this your first day as a Disciple?"

But seeing Xu Ruyu's cold gaze and unwavering resolve, she knew she wouldn't make any progress today, so she reined in her flirtatious manner and gave a light huff:

"Fine, since Junior Brother is so dull, I won't force you.

However... if you change your mind, come find me at Meixiang Court anytime.

Senior Sister's door... will always be open for you~"

With that, she swayed her hips and turned to leave, casting a flirtatious glance back before she went.

Xu Ruyu watched her figure disappear into the sea of bamboo, his brow furrowed.

Su Mei's intentions were too obvious—she wanted to disturb his mind before the Three-Month Agreement, or... she truly harbored thoughts of 'Plucking and Supplementing'.

Within the Hehuan Sect, there were many Disciples who used Charm Techniques to Pluck and Supplement the cultivation of others, and Su Mei was clearly an old hand at it.

He shook his head, thinking no more of it, and prepared to continue his Cultivation.

"Senior Brother Xu!"

Another crisp voice rang out.

This time it was Qingyan.

She still had her hair in twin-tails and wore a goose-yellow dress, carrying a food box as she came skipping into the courtyard.

But unlike usual, there was no smile on her face today; instead, she looked somewhat worried.

"Junior Sister Qingyan?" Xu Ruyu was a bit surprised. "Why are you here?"

"I..." Qingyan placed the food box on the stone table, hesitating before finally biting her lip and whispering, "Senior Brother Xu, I heard... Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang was summoned to the Ningyin Hall by the Sect Master."

Xu Ruyu nodded: "Mm."

"Then... then Senior Brother, you..." Qingyan looked up, her eyes full of worry. "I just feel like something's not right.

The Sect Master clearly took you as a Direct Disciple, so why did she suddenly have you move to Tingzhu Peak and summon Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang to the Ningyin Hall? This... this doesn't make sense."

She paused, her voice getting even lower:

"And I heard that the Sect Master has been personally instructing Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang these past few days, teaching her many Secret Killing Techniques.

Senior Brother Xu, in the duel three days from now... you must be careful."

Looking at the young girl who was sincerely worried about him, Xu Ruyu felt a slight warmth in his heart, and his tone softened:

"Thank you for the warning, Junior Sister. I will be careful."

Seeing his gentle attitude, Qingyan's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly opened the food box:

"Senior Brother, I brought you some Spirit Fruits; they were grown by my Revered Master and are good for Cultivation. And this jade talisman..."

She took out a pale green jade talisman and handed it to Xu Ruyu:

"This is an 'Escape Void Talisman' refined by my Revered Master. If there's real danger during the duel, just crush it, and it can instantly teleport you a hundred miles away.

My Revered Master said... as long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about firewood."

Xu Ruyu took the jade talisman and thanked her solemnly:

"Thank the Fifth Elder for me."

"Mm!"

Qingyan nodded vigorously and wanted to say something more, but she saw that Xu Ruyu had already turned to look beyond the bamboo fence, seemingly a bit distracted.

She opened her mouth, but the words died in her throat.

Xu Ruyu noticed her silence and turned back; seeing her with her head down, fidgeting with the corner of her clothes and looking like she wanted to say something, he asked:

"Does Junior Sister have anything else?"

"I..." Qingyan looked up, a flash of disappointment in her eyes. "I'm just worried about you, Senior Brother. But it seems like you... don't really need my worry."

She forced a small smile:

"Then... then I'll be going now. Take care, Senior Brother."

With that, she turned and left, her steps somewhat hurried, as if she were running away from something.