317: Chapter 317 Master, come and serve me a bath

Twilight fell, and Qixia Valley was shrouded in a hazy evening glow and spiritual mist.

Xu Ruyu dragged his exhausted body, clutching a pile of metallic fragments that had been blown to bits, and staggered back to Tingquan Residence.

Pushing open the door, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted toward him. Xiao Nianyin was sitting on a prayer mat in front of the window, staring blankly outside.

Hearing the commotion, she turned her head. The moment she saw Xu Ruyu, her ice-blue eyes widened suddenly, and a rare look of shock appeared on her cold face.

At this moment, Xu Ruyu was truly in a wretched state.

His black hair stood on end like a hedgehog's, and his face was covered in black and white patches, looking as if he had just crawled out of a coal mine.

His green robes were tattered, exposing patches of skin that were also blackened by smoke and dust.

Dried blood remained at the corners of his mouth, and his whole body emitted a mixed scent of burnt odors and metallic shavings.

Xiao Nianyin was stunned for a moment, then she lowered her eyes, returning to her cold and indifferent expression as if she had seen nothing.

Xu Ruyu dropped the pile of fragments in his arms onto the floor with a "clatter," patted the dust off his hands, and then slumped unceremoniously into a bamboo chair in the hall, letting out a long breath of turbid air.

"I'm exhausted," he muttered, looking up at Xiao Nianyin with a half-smile playing on his lips. "Little lady, didn't you see me come back? Why haven't you come over to serve me yet?"

Xiao Nianyin's brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

She stood up, walked slowly to Xu Ruyu, and asked with lowered eyes, "What do you need?"

"What do I need?" Xu Ruyu raised an eyebrow, his tone clearly teasing. "Bathwater, of course."

"I've been busy in Fire Cloud Cave all day and got blown up three times. I'm covered in dust and sweat. Look at me, am I fit to be seen?"

"Go, prepare the bathwater. Make it hot—the hotter, the better."

The fingers hidden in Xiao Nianyin's sleeves curled slightly, but she still turned and walked toward the bathroom.

Xu Ruyu watched her back, the smile on his face fading slightly, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Revenge?

Perhaps.

He remembered the cold, superior gaze Xiao Nianyin had given him when he was on the verge of death at Black Water Pool.

He remembered those nights in Ningyin Hall when he was toyed with at will as a "Cauldron."

He remembered how this former Saint Realm Sect Master had ordered him around, treating him like an ant.

Xu Ruyu was no Saint, and certainly no bleeding heart.

Before his Transmigration, he was crushed by the weight of life; after his Transmigration, he was used as a tool by this woman.

Now that the tables had turned, why shouldn't he enjoy himself? Why shouldn't he vent this frustration?

Moreover, he was now the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect, the Saint Preceptor of the Taihu Clan, and the Dao Protector and Disciple of Clan Chief Yuehua.

While Xiao Nianyin was merely a fallen former Sect Master who had lost all her cultivation and needed Dual Cultivation with him to stay alive.

If she didn't serve him, who would?

The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom. Not long after, Xiao Nianyin walked out, her voice flat and emotionless: "The water is ready."

Xu Ruyu stood up, gave a massive stretch, walked to the bathroom door, and suddenly looked back: "Come in and serve me."

Xiao Nianyin's footsteps faltered. She looked up at him, a flash of shame, annoyance, and resistance in her ice-blue eyes.

Xu Ruyu acted as if he hadn't seen it and had already turned into the steamy bathroom.

Xiao Nianyin stood at the door, her chest heaving slightly.

She bit her lower lip, her hands at her sides clenching and unclenching, unclenching and clenching.

Finally, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Inside the bathroom, steam rose from the White Jade Pool, and the Spiritual Spring Water emitted a faint Spiritual Qi.

Xu Ruyu had already removed his tattered outer robe, revealing a lean and sturdy upper body. He was sitting by the edge of the pool with his back to her.

"What are you standing there for? Come scrub my back."

Xu Ruyu ordered without looking back.

Xiao Nianyin silently walked to the poolside, picked up a soft Spiritual Silk Bath Towel, dipped it in the water, and began to wipe Xu Ruyu's back.

Her movements were still awkward and stiff, and her fingertips still trembled slightly when they touched Xu Ruyu's skin.

But she was a bit more proficient than last time, and her pressure was more even.

Xu Ruyu closed his eyes, enjoying this rare "service."

After a long time, he finally spoke lazily, "I got blown up three times today. It made my hair stand on end."

"Tell me, don't I look miserable?"

Xiao Nianyin did not answer.

"Those Taihu Clan fellows were laughing their heads off."

"Saying things like 'Sect Leader Xu's weapon backfired' or 'this is just child's play.' Heh." Xu Ruyu talked to himself. "But I don't care."

"It's good that it exploded. Only then do I know where the problem is."

"I'll improve it next time. If it explodes again, I'll improve it again. One day, I'll make those guys shut their mouths."

Xiao Nianyin's movements paused slightly.

She thought of the fragments she had seen earlier and Xu Ruyu's incredibly wretched appearance, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

This person... what exactly is he thinking?

"Alright, wipe the front too." Xu Ruyu turned around to face her.

Xiao Nianyin's face flushed slightly, and her gaze instinctively shifted away, but she still picked up the towel and began to wipe his chest and arms.

She tried her best to avoid looking at places she shouldn't, but the close contact still made her heart skip a beat.

Xu Ruyu, however, seemed completely oblivious, or rather, he didn't care at all.

He looked down at Xiao Nianyin's slightly reddened cheeks from embarrassment, suddenly reached out, pinched her chin, and tilted her face up.

Xiao Nianyin froze, her ice-blue eyes meeting his, a flash of panic and wariness in them.

"Grand Sect Master Xiao," Xu Ruyu stared into her eyes and said word for word, "Do you know? Back when you were high and mighty, I didn't even dare to look up at you."

"And now? Here you are, scrubbing my back."

"This feeling... is actually quite nice."

Xiao Nianyin bit her lower lip and said nothing, but humiliation and endurance flashed in her eyes.

Xu Ruyu let go, leaned back against the edge of the pool again, and closed his eyes. "Continue."

Xiao Nianyin took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and continued her movements.

She knew that at this moment, she had no capital to resist.

After scrubbing his back, Xu Ruyu ordered her to wash his hair.

Xiao Nianyin clumsily scooped up water, poured it over his still-standing hair, and gently rubbed it with her fingertips.

The hair had been blown stiff, and no matter how she washed it, it wouldn't smooth out. She put in a lot of effort before she finally managed to flatten it a bit.

"That's enough."

Xu Ruyu stood up, sending water splashing everywhere.

Xiao Nianyin quickly turned around, her back to him, her cheeks burning fiercely.