32: Chapter 32 This guy's really lucky; he'll have romantic encounters wherever he goes.

The early morning sunlight barely managed to penetrate the thick window curtains of Ningyin Hall, casting a few dappled spots of light onto the floor of the Main Hall.

Inside the side hall, however, Xu Ruyu was like an ant on a hot pan, unable to sit or stand still.

The dream from last night, which had been so 'real' it made his heart palpitate, and the messy 'evidence' on the bed when he woke up, weighed on his heart like two heavy boulders.

Although he had hurriedly tidied the bed and opened the windows wide for ventilation, he still felt as if that faint, familiar, and guilt-inducing scent lingered in the air.

What made him even more afraid to look directly was the Revered Master in the adjacent Main Hall.

He could almost imagine what kind of bone-chilling, murderous expression would be on Xiao Nianyin's cold and transcendent face if she knew what he had done in the side hall of her sleeping quarters...

Just thinking about it made Xu Ruyu's neck feel cold.

No, he couldn't stay in the hall anymore.

At least not right now.

He needed to go out for some fresh air and let that awkward atmosphere dissipate completely.

Moreover... although his hunger had vanished ever since a mysterious warm current (he didn't yet know it was Xiao Nianyin's Saint Realm Foundation) appeared in his body, as a Transmigrator who had been a Mortal for over twenty years, he had an almost instinctive obsession with 'eating'.

Especially after experiencing that Soul-stirring day and night yesterday, he desperately needed a bit of tangible, earthly 'smoke and fire' to soothe his startled Soul.

The Hehuan Sect was a cultivation Sect, and the Disciples had long since achieved Bigu, feeding on Spiritual Qi and Medicinal Pills; naturally, there was no kitchen in the mundane sense.

Xu Ruyu remembered that when he followed Xiao Nianyin back to the hall yesterday, he had caught a distant glimpse of the Sect's back mountain, which seemed to be lush with trees and full of wild charm.

"I'll take a stroll in the back mountain. Maybe I can catch a wild chicken or rabbit to roast; I'll consider it a reward for myself."

Xu Ruyu made up his mind. This would both avoid a potentially awkward encounter with his Revered Master and satisfy his appetite—killing two birds with one stone.

He tiptoed to open the door of the side hall and peeked around cautiously.

The Main Hall was silent. Xiao Nianyin didn't seem to have risen yet, or perhaps she had already gone elsewhere.

He breathed a sigh of relief and, like a rabbit sneaking out of its cage, he quickly darted out and slipped out of Ningyin Hall without a sound.

The early morning Hehuan Sect was shrouded in a thin layer of spiritual mist, with halls and pavilions appearing and disappearing like a fairyland.

He occasionally encountered a few Disciples sweeping or on patrol. When they saw Xu Ruyu, their gazes were quite complex—some were curious, some were searching, and some were in awe (after all, the results of yesterday's gauntlet were too shocking)—but no one stepped forward to talk.

Xu Ruyu was happy to have the peace. Keeping his head down and relying on his impressions from yesterday, he walked quickly toward the back mountain.

After passing through several halls and a Spirit Medicine garden, he officially entered the back mountain area. The Spiritual Qi here seemed even denser, and the trees were exceptionally tall and lush, their thick foliage blotting out the sun.

The birds chirped crisply in the woods, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of greenery and earth. It was completely different from the cold, fragrant, and luxurious atmosphere within Ningyin Hall, allowing Xu Ruyu's tense mind to relax a little.

He widened his eyes, carefully searching the forest for signs of birds or beasts.

But after walking for about half an hour, besides seeing a few Spirit Birds with brilliant feathers that were clearly not ordinary birds hopping among the treetops (he didn't dare mess with them) and some small Spirit Beasts that were as fast as lightning and looked difficult to deal with flashing by, he didn't even see a single wild chicken feather.

"Does the back mountain of this Cultivation World not even have a single ordinary piece of wild game?"

Xu Ruyu felt a bit discouraged. He rubbed his growling stomach (a psychological effect) and leaned against a large tree to rest.

Just as he was considering whether to give up and go back to shamelessly find some spirit fruits to satisfy his hunger, a faint, continuous sound of splashing water drifted over with the mountain wind.

The sound of flowing water!

Xu Ruyu's spirits lifted.

Mountain streams often have fish and shrimp!

Grilled fish wouldn't be bad either!

He immediately followed the direction of the water, pushing aside thick bushes and vines, and fumbled his way forward.

The sound of water became clearer, and the air gradually grew moist, carrying a hint of coolness.

Rounding a massive, moss-covered rock, the view suddenly opened up.

A small valley appeared before his eyes, surrounded on three sides by mountains and lush with greenery.

In the center of the valley, there was indeed a deep, emerald-green pool. The water was of unknown depth but crystal clear. On the side near the cliff, a thin silver ribbon of a waterfall cascaded down the rock face, pouring into the pool and creating ripples and a continuous splashing sound.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage above the valley, breaking into golden glints on the water's surface. The mist was ethereal, beautiful beyond the Mortal world.

"What a great place!"

Xu Ruyu was delighted and walked quickly toward the pool, his eyes already searching the water for any sign of fish.

However, when he was still a dozen steps from the edge and pushed aside the last clump of lush aquatic plants, his footsteps abruptly stopped. He froze in place as if a binding spell had been cast on him.

His eyes widened involuntarily, and his breathing ceased for a moment.

In the center of that emerald pool shrouded in faint mist, near the base of the waterfall, beneath the shimmering surface of the water, there was a... graceful figure, faintly visible as it slowly swam and bobbed.

Because of the ripples and light refraction, the face couldn't be seen clearly, but the breathtaking curves, the long black hair spread out in the water like a waterfall, and the occasional lotus-like arm raised out of the water, gleaming like ivory in the sunlight... all outlined the scene of a woman bathing!

Xu Ruyu's brain went 'buzz,' and for a moment, it was a complete blank.

He never expected that in this remote back mountain pool, he would actually stumble upon someone bathing!

And... looking at that figure, she was definitely no ordinary maidservant or Outer Sect Disciple. That posture and temperament, even through a layer of ripples, exuded an indescribable elegance and... allure?

Who was it?

He was frozen in place, unable to move forward or retreat.

His heart pounded like a drum, blood seemed to rush to the top of his head, and his cheeks were burning hot.

He wanted to turn around immediately and retreat silently, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

But his feet felt as if they had taken root, unable to move.

On one hand, it was because of the massive shock and a sliver of instinctive, irrepressible male voyeuristic desire brought by this sudden 'romantic encounter'; on the other hand, it was deep fear—if he were discovered in this desolate mountain, and given the unknown cultivation of the other party, wouldn't he be dead meat?

Just as his mind was reeling and he was at a loss for what to do, the figure in the pool seemed to finish her swim and slowly stood up from the water.

Ripples surged outward with her movements, like a giant, transparent flower blooming.

More ivory-smooth skin was exposed to the air and dappled sunlight, water droplets rolling down the perfect curves of her body, reflecting brilliant light in the sun. Her wet, long hair clung to her smooth back and the nape of her neck, adding a few more points of heart-stopping temptation.

She was facing away from Xu Ruyu and didn't seem to notice the nearly petrified voyeur behind the bushes not far away.

She raised her arms, gently wringing the water from her long hair with natural and lazy movements; every subtle curve was filled with an indescribable beauty.

Xu Ruyu only felt his mouth go dry, and he even forgot to breathe.

He desperately told himself not to look at what was improper, but his eyes were like they were attracted by a magnet, unable to look away at all.

And just then, the woman seemed to have finished wringing her hair and prepared to turn around and walk toward the shore...

Xu Ruyu's Soul Flew Away and Spirit Scattered!

If they met face-to-face, even having several lives wouldn't be enough to survive!

He no longer dared to hesitate for a moment. Using all his strength, he suddenly shrank back, trying to retreat behind the bushes and then flee this place of trouble at the fastest possible speed.

However, he was too flustered, and his movements were both urgent and violent.

"Crack!"

A slight, crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the silent valley!

In his panic, he had accidentally stepped on and broken a dry branch!

Oh no!!!

Xu Ruyu went cold all over, his blood seemingly freezing in an instant.

Almost at the same moment the sound of the branch breaking rang out, a short, cold, sharp cry came from the side of the pool:

"Who's there?!"

The voice was crisp and pleasant, yet it carried a chilling coldness and an unquestionable pressure, instantly enveloping the entire small valley!

At the same time, an invisible Qi, like a cold chain, instantly locked onto the bushes where Xu Ruyu was hiding!

Xu Ruyu's Soul nearly left his body, his mind a complete blank, with only one thought remaining:

I'm. Dead!