40: Chapter 40 We were eating perfectly fine, so why did that woman come back again?

With a mere four-word evaluation, she lowered her head again and continued to deal with the remaining fish in her hand, though her movements seemed deliberately slowed down, as if to prove she hadn't "lost her composure" just now.

Soon, the first fish was eaten clean, leaving only the complete skeleton and a few large bones.

She set the empty leaf aside, and her gaze naturally fell on the other leaf in Xu Ruyu's hand—there lay the second complete grilled fish, emitting the same enticing aroma.

Xu Ruyu understood immediately and quickly offered the second fish with both hands: "Revered Master, this one is for you as well."

Xiao Nianyin glanced at him and didn't take it immediately. She paused, seemingly wanting to say something like "You eat too" or "This seat has had enough."

But in the end, she only gave a soft "Mm," took the second fish, and resumed her "eating ritual."

This time, she seemed a bit more relaxed.

Perhaps it was because the first fish had eased that agonizing hunger, or perhaps... anyway, her "eating manner" had already been seen by Xu Ruyu.

She still ate carefully, but her speed was faster than before.

Even when she reached the part of the fish belly with the most bones, she frowned slightly, seemingly impatient with the tiny fish bones. She used her fingertips to pick off an entire piece of meat with bones attached, blew on it slightly, and put it into her mouth. Then, she skillfully used her tongue and teeth to separate the meat from the fine bones before spitting them aside.

This action had a bit less of a Fairy's otherworldly aura and a bit more of the... vividness and liveliness of a "human."

As Xu Ruyu watched, the doubts in his heart grew heavier, and that terrifying guess from before couldn't help but surface again.

In this state, how did Revered Master look like a Saint Realm Expert who had practiced inedia for hundreds of years? She clearly looked like a Mortal woman who was starving.

Could it... really be related to him?

This thought made him restless, filled with guilt, fear, and a trace of indescribable, complex emotions.

He didn't dare think further and could only force himself to look away, gazing at the distant mountain mists.

The second fish was also disappearing at an astonishing speed.

Soon, only the skeleton remained.

Xiao Nianyin swallowed the last bit of fish meat and stopped her movements.

She looked at the empty leaf in her hand and the two neatly arranged fish skeletons beside her, falling silent for a moment.

The hunger in her stomach was finally suppressed, replaced by a long-lost sense of fullness that even caused a very faint blush to appear on her pale face.

Her body also seemed to have regained a bit of strength.

She let out a soft sigh, a breath so faint it was as if she had set down a thousand-pound burden.

Then, she picked up the clear water Xu Ruyu had prepared earlier, took a small sip to rinse her mouth, and took out a plain white silk handkerchief to carefully wipe every finger, removing all traces of mundane food.

Only after finishing all this did she look up again at Xu Ruyu.

The blush on her face had faded, and her expression had returned to its usual coldness and calm, but in those eyes, there seemed to be a trace of laziness after satisfaction, and... a very faint embarrassment.

"Ruyu," her voice regained the clear and steady tone characteristic of a Sect Master, "Your skill at grilling fish... is acceptable."

It was still a simple evaluation, but compared to the earlier "the taste is acceptable," it seemed to have a bit more... human touch?

Xu Ruyu quickly bowed: "This Disciple grilled it haphazardly. To have it pass Revered Master's lips is already a great honor."

Xiao Nianyin remained noncommittal. Her gaze swept over the pile of nearly extinguished campfire and the two fish skeletons as she said indifferently: "Clean it up. Leave no traces to avoid idle gossip."

"Yes, this Disciple understands," Xu Ruyu replied.

Xiao Nianyin stood up, smoothed her skirt, and prepared to return to the Main Hall.

Having eaten and replenished her strength, she needed to return as soon as possible to meditate and try to guide that infinitesimal amount of Spiritual Qi, even if it could only nourish her parched Meridians a little.

Seeing Revered Master's back, which seemed a bit straighter than when she had come out, Xu Ruyu hesitated before asking, "Revered Master... are... are you full? Do you want... this Disciple to find some other food?"

He asked cautiously, testing the waters. He wanted to know if Revered Master really just "occasionally" wanted to eat, or if... she really needed food to sustain herself.

Xiao Nianyin's footsteps paused. With her back to him, she remained silent for a few breaths.

The setting sun cast her shadow very long.

"No need," her voice came, devoid of emotion. "This seat simply... found the sunlight today pleasant and had a sudden whim.

Just focus on preparing for the afternoon's Cultivation Technique instruction."

Having said that, she didn't stay any longer and walked straight toward the Main Hall.

Xu Ruyu watched her figure disappear behind the door, but the doubts in his heart grew like wild grass.

A whim? What kind of whim would allow a Saint Realm Expert who had practiced inedia for hundreds of years to eat two grilled fish in one go, and so... devotedly?

He shook his head, shaking off his chaotic thoughts, and crouched down to start cleaning up the aftermath.

He buried the fish bones in the nearby soil, stomped out the fire, covered the ashes with dirt, and disposed of the leaves and wooden skewers.

Soon, the platform returned to its tidy state, as if no one had ever started a fire to grill meat here.

After finishing this, Xu Ruyu stood up and brushed the dust off his hands.

His stomach growled at the right time. His own portion of fish had all gone into Revered Master's stomach just now.

"Sigh, all that work for nothing, I didn't even get a single bite."

Xu Ruyu sighed and, rubbing his growling stomach, decided to go to the Spiritual Pond in the back mountain to try his luck again, to see if he could catch two more fish or find some wild fruit to fill his belly.

Although Revered Master had said "no need," he was still hungry himself.

He turned around, preparing to walk toward the back mountain.

Just then—

"Yo~ Little Ruyu, where are you going?"

A lazy, seductive female voice that instantly made his scalp tingle rang out behind him without warning!

Xu Ruyu's whole body jolted, and he spun around abruptly!

At the entrance of the small path leading down from the platform in front of Ningyin Hall, a figure was standing gracefully at some unknown time!

Dressed in a plain white long dress with tiny pink light spots adorning the hem, it was as if she were wearing the sunset clouds.

Her face was peerlessly beautiful, her temperament was elegant and noble yet permeated with deep-seated charm. Behind her, nine fluffy white fox tails swayed leisurely in the afterglow of the setting sun, reflecting the rosy clouds, looking so beautiful she didn't seem like a creature of the Mortal world.

Who else could it be but the Taihu Clan expert who should have long since departed—Madame Qingli?!

She leaned against a Spiritual Tree covered in pink blossoms, one hand supporting herself on the trunk, looking at him with a smile. In those soul-stealing peach blossom eyes, a dangerous light flickered that Xu Ruyu couldn't understand.

Xu Ruyu only felt his head buzz, his vision went dark for a moment, and his heart instantly sank to the bottom.

Eating well... just finished cleaning up... why did this woman... come back again?!

And of all times, it had to be when Revered Master returned to the hall!

Looking at Madame Qingli's half-smiling face, he thought of those chaotic and unspeakable experiences in the Great Fox Illusion, her meaningful gaze when she left, and then Revered Master's recent prohibition and unusual behavior...

A strong sense of foreboding, like cold vines, instantly wrapped around his heart, tightening more and more.