161: Chapter 161 While everyone else was on edge, Xu Ruyu was still lost in her sweet embrace.

Seeing those six Senior Brothers appear, even a standout like Zhao Yan couldn't help but have his expression change at this moment.

He stared fixedly at the six figures on the platform, his wine gourd falling to the ground with a "thud," splashing liquor everywhere, yet he remained completely oblivious.

"It's over..." he muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair, "this time, it's really over..."

Ning Caihe's brow also furrowed tightly, and his hand gripping the sword hilt secretly tightened.

Qingyan's face turned even paler, and her whole body was swaying as if she might collapse:

"S-six... six Senior Brothers... how could they..."

"Tsk, what a grand lineup."

On the west side of the spectator stands, in an inconspicuous corner, Su Mei leaned against the railing, looking at Leng Ningshuang and those six Senior Brothers on the platform, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Today, she wore a flamboyant red robe with a very low-cut neckline, revealing a large area of snow-white skin, drawing frequent side-glances from many nearby male Disciples.

But she didn't care at all, simply watching the stage, her eyes flashing with a playful light.

"Does Senior Sister Su think Junior Brother Xu will come today?"

A delicate voice sounded beside her.

Su Mei turned her head and saw several familiar Junior Sisters leaning in, their eyes filled with the light of gossip.

"Come? Why wouldn't he?" Su Mei chuckled lightly. "That kid looks gentle, but he's stubborn to the bone.

In a situation like this, if he didn't come, I would actually have to look at him in a new light."

"But..." one Junior Sister hesitated, "Senior Brother Lin and the other five have all come out. Even if Junior Brother Xu comes, he'll just be sending himself to his death."

"So what if he's sending himself to his death?" Su Mei curled her lip. "He's going to die sooner or later anyway. Dying on the arena stage is better than dying in some random corner."

She spoke nonchalantly, as if Xu Ruyu's life or death had nothing to do with her.

But only she knew that her heart was actually not at peace right now.

She indeed had no feelings for Xu Ruyu; her previous approach was merely to perform 'Plucking and Supplementing' on his cultivation and see if she could gain some benefits along the way.

But for some reason, looking at those seven figures on the stage and that almost certain-death situation, she actually felt... a trace of discomfort in her heart.

"Whatever, what does it have to do with me?"

She shook her head, suppressing that inexplicable emotion and putting back on her cynical smile.

On the other side, in the front row of the spectator stands, several Elders had already taken their seats.

The Grand Elder sat in the very center, his expression calm and unreadable. Beside him, Second Elder Zhao Wuji and Fourth Elder Chen Xuanfeng wore expressions of schadenfreude.

"It seems the Sect Master is determined to get rid of that kid this time," Zhao Wuji said in a low voice to Chen Xuanfeng.

"Indeed," Chen Xuanfeng sneered. "She even invited argumentos a own and the other five out; this is to completely cut off that kid's retreat."

"However..." a trace of doubt flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, "why would the Sect Master do this? The kid is her Personal Disciple after all. Even if there was something wrong, she could have handled it privately. Why make such a public spectacle?"

"Who knows," Chen Xuanfeng shook his head. "Maybe... that kid really has some incredible leverage over her, forcing the Sect Master to resort to borrowing a knife to kill."

The two looked at each other, both seeing the same suspicion in the other's eyes.

But they didn't say it aloud.

Some things are better just known in the heart; speaking them out only brings trouble.

At the highest point of the Law Execution Platform, in a suspended pavilion, Xiao Nianyin stood quietly, looking down at everything below.

Today, she wore an ice-blue Sect Master robe embroidered with intricate cloud patterns that shimmered with a faint luster in the morning light.

Her long hair was tied up with a jade crown, revealing that exquisitely beautiful yet cold face.

She looked at Leng Ningshuang and the six Disciples standing on the stage, a trace of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

argumentos a own, Chen Yun, reasonably a male name, Li Qingshan, Wang Hai, Zhang Yuan...

These six were all elites of the Hehuan Sect's previous generation, their cultivations all at the Late Golden Core Stage, and argumentos a own had even touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul.

They had chosen to live in seclusion decades ago, focusing on their Cultivate and ignoring worldly affairs.

If it weren't for Leng Ningshuang, in her capacity as the Sect's Eldest Senior Sister, inviting them on the grounds of "sharing the Sect Master's burdens," they would never have come out.

"Ningshuang's handling of things is indeed reliable."

Xiao Nianyin murmured to herself, her lips curling into a cold arc.

She had told Leng Ningshuang "not to lower her guard" as a casual remark, but she hadn't expected Leng Ningshuang to go this far.

Inviting six secluded Senior Brothers, plus herself...

Seven Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators besieging one in the Qi Refinement Stage.

This was no longer being "cautious"; this was... an absolute execution.

It was to completely sever any possible chance of survival for Xu Ruyu.

"Xu Ruyu..."

Xiao Nianyin's gaze turned toward Tingzhu Peak, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes, but it quickly returned to coldness:

"Do not blame This Seat for being heartless. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for knowing too much, and blame... for the fact that you should never have appeared in my life."

She closed her eyes, and images of those nights flashed through her mind.

Bodies entwined in the darkness, burning breaths, suppressed moans, and... her own humble, trembling voice, like a drowning person clutching at a floating log:

"Do you not despise me?"

"No!"

Xiao Nianyin snapped her eyes open, a cold light exploding from them!

Those images, those voices, those memories she most wanted to erase... all of them should disappear!

Along with the person who witnessed her most disgraceful side, they should all vanish!

"Today is the day you die."

She whispered to herself, her voice as cold as ten-thousand-year profound ice.

Inside the bamboo hut on Tingzhu Peak.

Morning light spilled through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

On the bed, the brocade quilts were in disarray, and two figures were entwined together, still deep in sleep.

When Xu Ruyu opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was the warmth in his arms.

Madame Qingli was lying on his chest, her jet-black hair scattered over him, one hand resting on his waist, sleeping soundly.

That charming face still carried the flush from last night's pleasure, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she were having a beautiful dream.

Xu Ruyu looked at her, an indescribable tenderness welling up in his heart.

These three days had been the most relaxing, peaceful, and... warmest time since he came to this world.

What Madame Qingli had taught him was not just Dual Cultivation methods.

But also how to relax, how to enjoy, and how to find a sliver of one's own happiness within the cruel Cultivation World.