27: Chapter 27 Faced with Su Mei's temptation, he actually said that his master had called him back for dinner.

"Hum!"

A cool breath, carrying an inviolable majesty, spread out from within Xu Ruyu's body like an invisible barrier. Although faint, it precisely struck the invisible threads of Su Mei's "Spring Breeze Brings Rain" charm technique!

"Ugh!"

Caught off guard, Su Mei let out a muffled groan. It was as if her Divine Soul had been pricked by a fine needle, and the mental threads of her charm technique that had spread out instantly became disordered and snapped!

The alluring smile on her face froze for a moment, and a flash of extreme shock and horror crossed her eyes!

Backlash?! Although extremely slight, it was truly a sign of backlash!

Her own charm technique had actually been instinctively resisted and rebounded by some force while she was attempting to deepen her temptation of him!

How could this be?!

Unless the other party's Divine Soul power far exceeded her own, or his Physique or Cultivation Technique naturally countered charm techniques, or... there was a higher-level, homologous, yet more overbearing power of seduction hidden within his body!

In a flash, the shock in Su Mei's heart turned into even more intense excitement and greed.

A Treasure Trove!

This Xu Ruyu was definitely a much greater Treasure Trove than she had anticipated!

If she could engage in Dual Cultivation with him and absorb the mystery of that special power within his body, her "Heavenly Charm Technique" would surely break through its Bottleneck and reach an unprecedented Realm!

However, her brief moment of distraction and the backlash of her charm technique acted like a basin of ice water, waking up Xu Ruyu, who had almost completely succumbed.

Xu Ruyu shuddered, suddenly snapping back to his senses. He discovered that he didn't know when he had gotten so close to Su Mei; the tip of his nose was almost touching her hair. The strange heat and restlessness within his body had not yet subsided, but a cold and majestic feeling protected his last shred of clarity.

He recalled the warning look in Revered Master's eyes, remembered his current situation, and thought back to the feeling of almost losing control just a moment ago. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He couldn't stay here any longer!

If he stayed any longer, something would truly go wrong!

By this time, Su Mei had also quickly adjusted herself, suppressing the slight discomfort in her Divine Soul. She put on an even more alluring smile, a glint of light flashing in her eyes as she prepared to use more potent methods, determined to "keep" Xu Ruyu today.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong? Your face is so pale. Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Let Senior Sister 'take a good look'..."

Her voice was even softer and sweeter, carrying an irresistible tone as she reached out again.

Just as her hand was about to touch Xu Ruyu's shoulder, he recoiled like a startled rabbit, then stood up from the low couch with a "whoosh"!

Because his movement was too violent, he almost tripped over the thick velvet rug, stumbling and looking thoroughly disheveled.

"S-Senior Sister Su!"

Xu Ruyu's face flushed red, half from the residual heat and half from lingering fear and embarrassment. He dared not look into Su Mei's soul-captivating eyes again, his gaze darting around evasively. Under extreme tension, his brain raced to find an excuse to escape.

"Um... that..."

He was sweating from anxiety and blurted out, "Revered Master is calling me back for dinner!"

Xu Ruyu's voice was loud and urgent, carrying undisguisable panic.

"Huh?"

Su Mei's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and a crack appeared in her perfect, alluring smile. She clearly hadn't expected to hear such a... plain to the point of being almost ridiculous reason.

Go, go back for dinner? What time was it? Cultivators, especially those at their level, had long since practiced inedia; even if they ate, they consumed Spirit Pills or elixirs. Where was there any talk of "going back for dinner"? This excuse was too perfunctory, right?!

But Xu Ruyu didn't care whether she believed him or not. After saying that sentence, it was as if he had received a pardon. He even forgot to bow and take his leave, turning and stumbling as he rushed toward the door of the warm pavilion. His speed was even faster than when he was dodging Lei Xuan's lightning on the arena!

"Junior Brother! Junior Brother Xu! Wait..."

Su Mei instinctively wanted to detain him.

"Revered Master is waiting for me! I'll get scolded if I'm late! Goodbye, Senior Sister!"

Without looking back, Xu Ruyu left these words behind. His figure had already disappeared outside the door of the warm pavilion. Immediately after, rapid footsteps echoed through the corridor, followed by the sound of the courtyard gate being hastily pushed open and then closed.

The warm pavilion instantly fell silent.

Only the curling blue smoke in the incense burner remained, along with the sweet fragrance and the scent of tea that had not yet dissipated from the air.

Su Mei slowly withdrew her hand that was frozen in mid-air, and the look of astonishment on her face slowly receded.

She was not angry, nor was she defeated. On the contrary, a startling light suddenly erupted in those peach-blossom eyes!

She walked slowly to the window, watching Xu Ruyu's disheveled retreating figure as he fled, almost tripping on the steps outside the courtyard gate. Her red lips curled into a smile that could topple nations, yet carried endless profound meaning.

"He runs really fast... like a startled little deer." She whispered to herself, her voice filled with excitement and determination. "However, no matter how fast a little deer can run, how can it escape from the hunter's palm?"

"Revered Master is calling you back for dinner?" Su Mei laughed softly, her fingertips twining around a strand of her hair. "Xiao Nianyin, oh Xiao Nianyin, you icy Revered Master, I'm afraid you don't even know what kind of treasure you've picked up, do you?"

"Or perhaps... you already know, which is why you are guarding him so closely?"

"To be able to trigger a backlash of my charm technique... Xu Ruyu, the secrets on your body truly make me... itch with unbearable curiosity." Her gaze became deep and dangerous. "Such a 'whetstone' is rare to encounter in a thousand years. Although it's a bit dangerous, it's... worth the risk."

"Three months? Heh, we have plenty of time. I, your Senior Sister, love challenging prey the most."

She turned, looking at the cup of "Spirit-Calming Tea" on the low couch that Xu Ruyu hadn't touched a drop of, then picked up her own cup and drained it in one gulp, a look of determination flashing in her eyes.

Xu Ruyu's disheveled escape not only failed to make her give up, but instead completely ignited her desire to conquer and explore.

This "hunt" targeting Xu Ruyu had only just begun.

And at this moment, Xu Ruyu, who was still shaken and only wanted to run back to Ningyin Hall as quickly as possible, had no idea that he had been firmly targeted by a beautiful snake truly proficient in the Dao of seduction.