23: Chapter 23 Uninvited Guest, Were We Already Being Watched?

As the last word fell, it seemed to carry ice shards, smashing into Xu Ruyu's heart.

After speaking, Leng Ningshuang looked at him no longer. Her figure transformed into a streak of icy-blue light, soaring into the sky and vanishing into the distant horizon in an instant, leaving directly.

Xu Ruyu shuddered from the murderous intent (or what he felt was murderous intent) in her final words and gaze, his heart filled with grievance and confusion.

I... exactly how did I offend this Eldest Senior Sister? Just because I became Revered Master's Disciple? This hatred is way too intense, isn't it?!

As Leng Ningshuang departed, Ning Caihe, Liu Rufeng, and the other inner Sect elite Disciples also withdrew their gazes one after another.

They looked at Xu Ruyu with varying expressions: curiosity, scrutiny, disdain, but mostly a playful expectation of a good show about to unfold.

Three months—it wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.

They were very curious to see what kind of tricks this youth, whom the Sect Master valued so highly that she even established a heavy agreement for him, could pull off in these three months.

"Let's go."

"See you at the Martial Arts Arena in three months."

"Hopefully, he can last a few more breaths by then; let's hope it's not too boring."

Amidst low-voiced discussions, these inner Sect elites also transformed into streaks of light and dispersed, leaving as abruptly as they had arrived.

The suffocating pressure on the plaza dissipated by more than half along with them.

The sudden storm seemed to have been temporarily suppressed by this 'Three-Month Agreement'.

Elder Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and began directing the deacons to handle follow-up matters, comforting (or rather, dismissing) those eliminated candidates who were completely despondent.

Xiao Nianyin rose from the main seat, glanced at Xu Ruyu who was still somewhat dazed below the stage, and said calmly, "Ruyu, follow your Revered Master."

Xu Ruyu snapped to attention and hurriedly replied, "Yes, Revered Master."

Enduring the soreness throughout his body, he staggered down the stage and followed Xiao Nianyin's footsteps.

Xiao Nianyin did not fly through the air; instead, she chose to walk. She walked unhurriedly along the white jade corridor at the edge of the plaza toward Ningyin Hall.

Xu Ruyu followed half a step behind her, head lowered, his heart complicated to the extreme.

This scene fell into the eyes of the crowd that had not yet fully dispersed, leading to a different interpretation.

"Look! The Sect Master is actually walking him back!"

"Yeah, and walking so slowly, like she's waiting for him?"

"More than that! Listen..." A Disciple with sharp ears perked up.

Indeed, Xiao Nianyin, who was walking in front, seemed to have truly slowed her pace, walking almost side-by-side with Xu Ruyu.

Her cold voice drifted faintly with the wind; was she actually introducing the scenery along the way to Xu Ruyu?

"...This is the 'Drunk Sunset Corridor'. Outside the corridor grow Thousand-Year Rainbow Clouds Trees. Every sunset, the rosy light reflects into the corridor, making it feel like a dream; it is quite helpful for Cultivating illusion techniques."

"Ahead is the 'Rain Listening Pavilion'. Beneath the pavilion is a spiritual spring; its gurgling sound can calm the heart and focus the mind."

Her voice wasn't loud, and her tone wasn't particularly warm, but that posture of patient guidance and detailed explanation was completely different from the usual image of the ice-mountain Sect Master!

This was clearly an attitude reserved only for a close Junior!

"My god... the Sect Master is... way too good to him, isn't she?"

"No wonder she was willing to make such a heavy agreement; she really treats him like a precious treasure!"

"Tsk tsk, this kid, what kind of dog-shit luck did he run into..."

Low voices of envy, jealousy, and awe rang out. Everyone felt that Xu Ruyu had received immense honor and favor.

Little did they know...

Xiao Nianyin was also helpless in her heart at this moment.

How could she not want to return to Ningyin Hall in an instant? But with her cultivation entirely gone, flying through the air was out of the question, and she even worried that walking too fast would cause her breathing to become unstable and reveal a flaw.

She could only walk 'leisurely' like this.

As for introducing the Sect's scenery to Xu Ruyu, on one hand, it was to show those who might be secretly watching that the 'Revered Master and Disciple were in harmony'; on the other hand, it was to use it to calm her own slightly fluctuating emotions from the confrontation and agreement just now, while also observing Xu Ruyu's state.

Xu Ruyu didn't think that much. He followed step by step, listening to his Revered Master's cold voice introducing those magnificent pavilions, rare flowers, and exotic herbs. However, he had no mind for appreciation at all; he only felt fear for the Hell-like life of the next three months and deep worry about whether he could survive until then.

Just as the Revered Master and Disciple, each with their own thoughts, walked through a garden path filled with pink spiritual flowers and floating fragrance.

From behind, there suddenly came a light but slightly hurried sound of footsteps, along with a wisp of... fragrance that was a bit excessively sweet.

"Sect Master! Please wait!"

A charming and melodious female voice rang out, one that seemed capable of melting a person's bones.

Xiao Nianyin's footsteps paused slightly, and Xu Ruyu subconsciously turned to look back.

At the end of the path, a woman dressed in a light yellow gauze dress was hurrying toward them.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with extremely beautiful features, skin as white as jade, eyes full of affection, and bright red lips. Her figure was curvaceous, swaying gracefully as she walked, naturally carrying a soul-hooking charm in her every glance.

Especially those watery peach-blossom eyes; they were currently shimmering as they looked over, quickly scanning Xiao Nianyin before finally fixing upon Xu Ruyu. A flash of curiosity, inquiry, and... a kind of burning light that Xu Ruyu couldn't understand appeared in her eyes?

This woman's appearance, figure, and temperament were actually not inferior to the ice-mountain Eldest Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang from before, yet they were two completely different styles—one as cold as frost, the other with natural-born charm.

Who is she? Why is she chasing after us? A hint of vigilance rose in Xu Ruyu's heart.

Looking at the woman who had caught up, a faint... annoyance? flashed almost imperceptibly through Xiao Nianyin's cold eyes.

The yellow-dressed woman had already reached them and gave Xiao Nianyin a graceful bow, her voice so tender it could drip water: "Disciple Su Mei pays respects to the Sect Master."

The etiquette was perfect, but her gaze drifted toward Xu Ruyu as if by accident.

Su Mei?

Xu Ruyu felt the name sounded a bit familiar, then remembered that during the assessment, he seemed to have heard people discussing that the Hehuan Sect's inner Sect had a 'Charming Fairy' who was skilled in Charm Techniques and had many pursuers. Could it be her?

Xiao Nianyin said indifferently: "Su Mei, what is the matter?"

Su Mei straightened up and smiled enchantingly, her charm fully on display.

She first shot a quick glance at Xu Ruyu before saying softly: "This Disciple heard that the Sect Master has taken in a remarkably talented Junior Brother and was filled with admiration. "

"Seeing the Sect Master and Junior Brother walking here, I took the liberty of chasing after you, only wishing to... get to know Junior Brother Xu. Being in the same Sect from now on, we can look out for each other."

As she spoke, she actually turned toward Xu Ruyu of her own accord, her eyes rippling with a sweet smile and a perfectly timed hint of shyness: "Junior Brother Xu, just now on the stage... you were truly impressive. "

"As your Senior Sister, I was truly filled with admiration after watching. "

"I wonder if Junior Brother... would do me the honor of letting me invite you to my 'Meixiang Court' to sit for a while? "

"Your Senior Sister has some excellent 'mind-concentrating tea' prepared there~"

Her voice was soft and waxy, carrying a natural allure, and her eyes were fixed directly on Xu Ruyu as if she wanted to pull him in.

Xu Ruyu felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze, especially that 'Junior Brother' and the invitation, which made his scalp tingle.

What does this woman... want?

Xiao Nianyin's brow furrowed slightly tighter, almost imperceptibly.

What kind of scheme does this Su Mei have, approaching at a time like this?