36: Chapter 36 Ru Yu, don't take advantage of your status to bully your junior sisters everywhere.

The word "peeping" was like a thin needle dipped in ice, stabbing unexpectedly into the stagnant air in front of Ningyin Hall.

Xiao Nianyin's originally cold aura instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Those eyes, usually calm and waveless, now resembled a frozen lake surface that had suddenly cracked with ice patterns, shooting out sharp and cold light. It first fell on Qingyan's face, which was filled with the regret and shyness of "accidentally letting it slip," and then, like an invisible shackle, slowly moved toward the closed small door of the side hall that now seemed exceptionally conspicuous.

Behind the door, Xu Ruyu felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into the snow, cold from head to toe.

It was over, completely over.

This Junior Sister Qingyan looked pure and lovely, but how could she be so naturally devious?!

No, this was definitely intentional!

There was no hiding anymore.

Xu Ruyu steeled himself, and with a trembling hand, he pulled back the door bolt.

The heavy wooden door let out a soft "creak," which was particularly jarring in the dead silence.

He kept his head down, like a student caught red-handed by a teacher after making a mistake. He shuffled out step by step, not daring to look at Xiao Nianyin or Qingyan. He only stared at the tips of his mud-stained shoes as he shuffled to a stop a few feet away from Xiao Nianyin, his head hanging almost to his chest.

"Mas... Revered Master..."

Xu Ruyu's voice was as dry as sandpaper rubbing together.

Xiao Nianyin looked at his quail-like appearance and remembered his panicked expression when he had fled back to the hall earlier. Comparing that to Qingyan's hesitant and suggestive words, a nameless displeasure ignited in her heart like a spark thrown onto dry hay.

This boy... could he really have used his status as a Personal Disciple to be so bold as to go to the back mountain to peep at female Disciples bathing just after joining?

If that were the case, it wouldn't just be a matter of poor character; it would be a disgrace to her face as the Sect Master!

Taking him as a Disciple had already caused much controversy. If he were to commit such a filthy act...

The more Xiao Nianyin thought about it, the more her heart churned with a mixture of disappointment, anger, and a trace of emotion she hadn't delved into—as if she herself had been offended.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. This was in front of Ningyin Hall, and she was the Sect Master of Hehuan Sect; she had to handle this matter with the poise and dignity of a Sect Master.

She slightly tilted her chin, resuming her usual cold posture of looking down upon all living things, though the chill in her eyes did not diminish.

She looked at Xu Ruyu, who had his head down and didn't dare speak. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable sternness and an air of admonishment as it rang out clearly:

"Ruyu."

Xu Ruyu trembled all over, and his head dropped even lower.

"Since you have entered my Hehuan Sect and are my Personal Disciple, you should know the importance of your status. You should be even more cautious in your words and deeds, and lead by example."

Xiao Nianyin's tone carried obvious disappointment and warning:

"Within the Sect, your fellow Junior Sisters are all like siblings.

You must not use your status to develop a heart of contempt, and even more so... you must not engage in such reckless behavior, going around to bully your Junior Sisters!"

She bit the word "bully" slightly harder. Although she didn't directly say "peeping at their bath," the three people present knew exactly what she meant.

Xu Ruyu felt that he had no way to defend himself, feeling so wronged he wanted to spit blood.

He wanted to explain, to say he really just went to catch fish and it was all a misunderstanding, but when he opened his mouth, everything he said felt pale and powerless.

Witness (Qingyan) and evidence (his own guilty conscience) all seemed to be present.

Just as he was sweating with anxiety and didn't know how to speak, the "uneasy" Qingyan beside him suddenly raised her head. With urgency and sincerity on her face (at least it seemed so), she spoke first:

"No, no, no! Sect Master! You've misunderstood! It's really not what you think!"

She waved her hands repeatedly, her small face turning slightly red from urgency, and her large eyes shimmering with tears. Her gaze toward Xiao Nianyin was filled with the determination that she "couldn't let Senior Brother be wronged."

"Senior Brother Xu... he really didn't bully me!" Qingyan explained hurriedly. "He also didn't... didn't peep at me bathing!"

She seemed to be trying very hard to clear Xu Ruyu's name, but the words she said next made Xu Ruyu's vision go black.

"It's... it's my fault! It's all my fault!"

Qingyan pouted slightly, looking self-reproachful and aggrieved. "I shouldn't have gotten all sweaty from cultivating all night. I shouldn't have run to the Spiritual Pool in the back mountain early in the morning. I shouldn't have... shouldn't have appeared in the pool where Senior Brother Xu wanted to catch fish at that hour..."

She counted her "faults" on her fingers one by one, her voice getting smaller and smaller, filled with deep regret:

"If... if I hadn't appeared there, Senior Brother Xu wouldn't have... wouldn't have 'coincidentally' run into me while I was bathing, and what happened after... that 'peeping' that caused a misunderstanding wouldn't have happened..."

By the end, her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz. Two even more obvious red clouds flew up her cheeks as she lowered her head bashfully, but then she secretly peeked through her eyelashes, shooting a quick glance at Xu Ruyu. That gaze was complex, as if it held apology, helplessness, and a trace of... something indescribable.

Standing to the side and listening to Qingyan's "sincere" and "heartfelt" "explanation," Xu Ruyu felt a surge of rage rush to his head, nearly causing him to explode on the spot!

Little Girl! Are you explaining?! Are you clearing my name?!

You are clearly making it worse! Every single word is emphasizing the "fact" that "Xu Ruyu peeped at me bathing," okay?!

And "coincidentally"? And "misunderstanding"? And "shouldn't have appeared"?

After this series of combo punches, I won't be able to clear my name even if I jump into the Yellow River!!!

Xu Ruyu roared frantically in his heart, his fists clenched so tight that his nails dug into his flesh. If his Revered Master hadn't been right there, he really would have rushed up to cover this brat's mouth!

Listening to Qingyan's words and seeing Xu Ruyu's speechless state, his face turning blue and white, Xiao Nianyin's anger gradually subsided, replaced by a more complex emotion.

She wasn't a fool; she naturally heard the little schemes in Qingyan's words.

This girl looked pure and lovely, but she wasn't exactly a simple soul either.

However, the situation was mostly clear now.

Most likely, this silly boy Xu Ruyu had stumbled upon her by accident, and Qingyan... might not be as simple and innocent as she acted.

Xiao Nianyin suddenly felt a bit disheartened.

She was the dignified Sect Master, and the crisis of her lost cultivation hadn't been resolved yet, yet she had to deal with these ambiguous and entangled trivialities between young people.

She waved her hand, interrupting Qingyan, who seemed to want to "explain" more, and also stopping Xu Ruyu's grievances that were about to cause him internal injuries.

"Enough." Xiao Nianyin's voice returned to being flat, carrying a trace of imperceptible fatigue. "I cannot be bothered to delve into the matters between you young people. Since there was no force or malice involved, handle it yourselves."

She changed the subject, her tone becoming warning again, her gaze mainly falling on Xu Ruyu:

"But remember, although my Hehuan Sect does not forbid romantic feelings and encourages Dual Cultivation and marriage to jointly study the Great Dao of Joy.

However, everything must arise from emotion and stop at propriety. More importantly, it must be out of mutual willingness for it to be the proper way.

If one uses their power to bully others or engages in such sneaky peeping, it not only violates the Sect rules but also destroys one's own foundation!"

She looked at Xu Ruyu and said word by word, "Ruyu, regardless of the circumstances of today's matter, I hope you take it as a warning.

Do not let such a thing happen again in the future."

As if hearing a pardon, Xu Ruyu hurriedly bowed, his voice carrying the relief of surviving a disaster and a lingering sense of being wronged: "Disciple... Disciple will follow Revered Master's teachings! I will never dare to do it again!"

Xiao Nianyin nodded slightly and said no more, turning to return to the Main Hall.

The soreness and weakness coming from deep within her body made her only want to rest as soon as possible.

But after taking two steps, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

The sunlight fell on her plain white dress, making her appearance even more cold and ethereal, but in the depths of those eyes, a trace of almost imperceptible... complexity seemed to flash by?

"Ruyu," she spoke again, her voice a bit softer than before, but still carrying an unquestionable command, "Do not let these trivial matters delay your cultivation.

Remember, come to the Main Hall on time in the afternoon.

I... will begin teaching you this Sect's introductory Cultivation Technique."

"Yes! Disciple has noted it!"

Xu Ruyu quickly responded.

Only then did Xiao Nianyin truly turn away, her figure disappearing behind the doors of the Main Hall. The heavy doors closed silently, isolating everything from the outside world.

Only when his Revered Master's aura had completely vanished from his perception did Xu Ruyu let out a long, exaggerated breath of turbid air, feeling as if he had just walked off an execution ground.

He turned his head and looked at Qingyan, who was still holding the bamboo basket and looking well-behaved. He immediately felt a surge of anger.

He glared at her fiercely and said crossly, "Alright! The play is over! She's gone! Why are you still standing here? Put the fish down and you, get out of here!"

"You are not welcome here!"

Qingyan was stunned by his fierce attitude. Then, those beautiful large eyes quickly filled with a layer of mist, her long eyelashes fluttered, and her small mouth pouted slightly, looking extremely aggrieved.

"Senior Brother Xu..." Her voice was soft and sweet, with a trace of a hurt tremor, "Are... are you hating me? But... but I already helped you explain to the Sect Master just now. I said you didn't peep at me bathing..."

"Stop! Stop it right there!!!"

Xu Ruyu jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, waving his hands repeatedly with a look of horror. "My dear auntie!

I beg you, stop talking! If you keep talking, you'll turn black into white!

Oh wait, you're turning white into black! Are you here to help me or to screw me over?!"

He looked at Qingyan's tearful appearance, as if she had suffered a great injustice. He felt his head growing twice its size, and the little anger in his heart was extinguished by this watery girl, leaving only helplessness.

Why was every woman in this Hehuan Sect more difficult than the last? Senior Sister Su was an overt enchantress, while this Junior Sister Qingyan was simply a little devil in disguise!

Seeing Xu Ruyu's frantic look, a flash of cunning amusement quickly crossed the depths of Qingyan's eyes, but her face became even more aggrieved. She sniffled and said softly, "Senior Brother... I just wanted to bring you fish... Since Senior Brother doesn't welcome me, then... then I'll just leave..."

As she spoke, she really lowered her head, gently placed the dripping bamboo basket on a clean spot on the platform in front of the hall, and then turned around. She walked slowly back the way she came, looking back every few steps, her back looking completely "heartbroken."

Xu Ruyu watched her leave. Before any guilt could arise, it was immediately suppressed by vigilance.

This girl's acting was too good; only a fool would believe her!

He shook his head, bent down to pick up the heavy bamboo basket. Inside were indeed several silver Spiritual Fish still flopping around, their scales shimmering in the sunlight.

He gave a bitter laugh, wondering whether to release them or actually grill and eat them, so this scapegoat wouldn't be for nothing.

Just then, a fragrant breeze, accompanied by light and familiar footsteps, came again from the path on the other side of the platform.

Xu Ruyu subconsciously looked up.

He saw a woman dressed in a light yellow gauze dress, with a graceful figure and a charming face, walking toward Ningyin Hall with a smile.

Her gait was lazy and elegant, and her eyes were full of charm as she looked around. Who else could it be but Su Mei, who had invited him to "Meixiang Court" yesterday?

Su Mei obviously also saw Xu Ruyu standing in front of the hall with a blank expression, holding a basket of fish. The smile in her eyes deepened, and her red lips parted slightly as if she were about to say hello.

Xu Ruyu looked at Su Mei's charming smiling face, then thought of the "little devil" Qingyan who had just left, and then thought of that ice mountain Revered Master inside the hall who seemed cold but actually had unpredictable thoughts...

He felt as if he had fallen into a spider's den named "Hehuan Sect" specially designed for him. He was surrounded by female demons who had cultivated into spirits, each with their own schemes. And he, this "Tang Monk's meat" who had ignorantly stumbled in, would sooner or later be eaten by this group of demons, skin and bones, until not even the crumbs were left...

A deep sense of powerlessness and the sorrow of "my life is over" instantly submerged Xu Ruyu.

God, you let me transmigrate just to toy with me, didn't you?!