153: Chapter 153 Silly girl, if he really gets into trouble, I will step in for you.

In Xunhuan Hall, Qingyan spoke with increasing sorrow, tears falling from her small face like broken pearls.

"I know our Hehuan Sect Disciples are informal, but... but Master, you also know that I... I value my purity the most..."

"He saw my body, how... how can I get married in the future..."

As she spoke, she threw herself into Hua Xunhuan's arms, crying like a pear blossom in the rain:

"Master... you have to stand up for me..."

Hua Xunhuan held her heartbroken Disciple, but her brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Xu Ruyu saw Qingyan's body?

This was the first she had heard of it.

If that were true, then Qingyan falling for Xu Ruyu would make sense—after all, a young girl's heart is easily swayed, and having her body seen would inevitably leave a mark on her heart.

But...

Hua Xunhuan looked down at Qingyan in her arms.

The Little Girl's shoulders were twitching from crying, and her tears had soaked the front of her clothes, making her look incredibly pitiful.

But Hua Xunhuan always felt... something was off.

What Dao did this girl, Qingyan, practice?

The Dao of Compassionate Love.

Using a weak and pitiful appearance to evoke pity in others, thereby controlling their hearts.

This was the technique Hua Xunhuan had personally taught her, and it was also Qingyan's best skill.

Acting pitiful to deceive those Senior and Junior Brothers was one thing.

Now... she was actually using it on her own Master?

A sharp glint flashed in Hua Xunhuan's eyes.

She suddenly reached out and gave Qingyan's bottom a heavy slap!

"Smack!"

The crisp sound echoed through the hall.

Qingyan's whole body stiffened, and her crying stopped abruptly.

"You little brat," Hua Xunhuan's voice carried a hint of dangerous amusement, "you actually dare to use your little tricks on Master?"

Qingyan looked up, tears still on her face, but her eyes were dodging:

"Ma... Master... how would your Disciple dare?"

"How would you dare?" Hua Xunhuan raised an eyebrow, pinching Qingyan's chin and forcing her to look at her. "Then tell me, Xu Ruyu seeing your body happened two months ago. Why are you only telling me now?"

"I..." Qingyan was at a loss for words.

"In these two months, you've been running to Ningyin Hall quite a bit." Hua Xunhuan said with a faint smile. "Every time you came back, you were smiling; I didn't see you being very sad.

Why, did you suddenly remember to be sad now?"

Qingyan's expression shifted, but she quickly returned to her pitiful act:

"Master... your Disciple was just, just..."

"Just what?" Hua Xunhuan let go, leaning back on the soft couch and looking at her lazily. "You just saw that Xu Ruyu is going to fight Leng Ningshuang in three days, and the odds are against him, so you want Master to step in and save his life, right?"

Qingyan's eyes widened:

"Master... how did you know?"

"How did I know?" Hua Xunhuan sneered. "Could your little thoughts ever be hidden from Master?"

She paused and sighed:

"Qingyan, it's not that Master doesn't want to help you. But this matter with Xu Ruyu... is not that simple."

"I know." Qingyan lowered her head. "The Sect Master's side... probably won't tolerate him."

"It's more than just not tolerating him." Hua Xunhuan shook her head. "The Sect Master wants him dead. Why do you think Leng Ningshuang was suddenly summoned to Ningyin Hall? Why did the Sect Master personally instruct her in Slaughter Secret Arts? It was to eliminate Xu Ruyu openly and honestly in the duel three days from now."

Qingyan's face turned pale:

"Then, then Junior Brother Xu..."

"He is in grave danger." Hua Xunhuan spoke bluntly. "Qi Refining Level 9 against the Late Golden Core Stage is inherently a death trap. Not to mention Leng Ningshuang has received the Sect Master's true inheritance and learned Killing Moves. Unless Xu Ruyu has some Heaven-Defying Opportunity, otherwise..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

Qingyan's tears fell again.

This time, it wasn't an act.

She was truly panicked and scared.

"Master..." She grabbed Hua Xunhuan's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Save him... please save him, okay? Your Disciple begs you..."

Hua Xunhuan looked at her Disciple in this state and sighed in her heart.

This girl Qingyan usually seemed carefree and innocent, but once she was moved by true feelings, she was more persistent than anyone.

For Xu Ruyu...

She probably really cared.

"Qingyan," Hua Xunhuan said solemnly, "Master can promise you that if Xu Ruyu is truly in life-threatening danger during the duel, Master will take action once to protect him."

Qingyan's eyes lit up:

"Really?"

"But—" Hua Xunhuan held up a finger, "only once. Furthermore, Master can only ensure he doesn't die; I cannot ensure he wins, nor can I ensure he remains in the Hehuan Sect. Regarding the Sect Master's side... Master has no way either."

Qingyan nodded vigorously:

"That's enough! As long as Junior Brother Xu can survive, that's enough!"

Hua Xunhuan looked at the genuine joy on her Disciple's face, but her heart was somewhat heavy.

Once...

Is it really enough?

If Xiao Nianyin wants someone dead, who can protect them?

But she didn't say those words out loud.

"Alright," Hua Xunhuan waved her hand, "everything that needs to be said has been said, and I've promised what I promised. You can go back now."

But Qingyan refused to leave.

She leaned closer to Hua Xunhuan, hugged her Master's neck, and nuzzled her affectionately:

"Master is the best! Thank you, Master!"

Hua Xunhuan was tickled by her and pushed her away with a laugh:

"Enough, enough, stop with that. Remember, don't make a scene about this, especially don't let the Sect Master know."

"Mhm!" Qingyan nodded vigorously. "Disciple understands!"

She stood up, glanced at Hua Xunhuan again, and then skipped away from Xunhuan Hall.

Inside the hall, silence returned.

Hua Xunhuan leaned on the soft couch, looking at the carvings on the ceiling, her eyes complex.

Xu Ruyu...

What kind of magic does that young man have?

To make an old fox like Madam Qingli run around for him, to make that "Little Girl" in the Ancient Hall of Love and Heaven look at him differently, and now... even her silly Disciple is pleading for him.

"Interesting..."

Hua Xunhuan murmured to herself, a playful smile curving the corners of her mouth.

The duel in three days seems like it won't be boring.

She wanted to see just how far that young man, who was only at Qi Refining Level 9, could go.

Meanwhile, on Tingzhu Peak.

Xu Ruyu didn't know that for his sake, several people were already secretly arranging, planning, and even... gambling with their own futures.

He was just in the bamboo hut, practicing the "True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy" over and over again.

Again and again.

Deep within his Qi Sea, the Qi Refining Level 9 True Qi was like a dormant volcano, waiting for the moment of eruption.

Three days.

Only three days left.