494: Chapter 494 Xiao Nianyin's transformation, and she's already starting to get jealous.

The day had fully broken.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled light and shadows on the grass.

The stream was still flowing with a gentle murmur, bubbling away like a song that would never end.

In the distance, birdsong rose and fell, occasionally punctuated by the roar of a beast, making the valley seem even more secluded.

Xiao Nianyin leaned against Xu Ruyu's chest, her eyes closed, a look of satisfaction on her face.

Her hair was scattered loosely over her shoulders, her robes were wrinkled, and her collar was open, revealing a stretch of fair collarbone.

She couldn't be bothered to tidy up, nor did she want to.

This was her man; she didn't need to put on any airs in front of him.

Xu Ruyu leaned against the tree trunk, one arm draped around her shoulders, while his other hand unconsciously played with her hair.

His fingers wove through her hair, winding, releasing, and winding again.

He also had his eyes closed, his breathing steady and long.

Neither of them spoke.

At a time like this, words were unnecessary.

Anything said would be superfluous.

Being able to hear each other's heartbeats and feel each other's warmth was enough.

The sunlight slowly shifted, moving from the treetops to the trunk, and from the trunk to the grass.

A squirrel jumped down from the tree, holding a pinecone, squatted by the stream to take a couple of bites, then hopped away.

A butterfly flew over, circled them twice, landed on Xiao Nianyin's hair, stayed for a moment, and then flew off.

After a long while, Xu Ruyu finally spoke.

"Didn't I tell you to take the Disciples and leave with the Grand Elder and the others?" His voice was very soft, tinged with laziness, as if he hadn't fully recovered from their recent intimacy. "Why did you come back?"

Xiao Nianyin opened her eyes and rolled them at him.

There was no anger in that look, only an indescribable, coquettish reproach.

Her eyelashes were long, casting faint shadows in the sunlight, making her eyes look exceptionally beautiful.

"What, just finished wiping your mouth clean, and you're already starting to interrogate me?" Her voice was languid, laced with a hint of hoarseness and a touch of dissatisfaction. "Afraid I'd abandon those Disciples of yours?"

Xu Ruyu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

Xiao Nianyin sat up from his arms, turned to face him, and crossed her arms in front of her chest, assuming an interrogating posture. "Let me guess, are you worried about Leng Ningshuang? Or that pathetic-looking Qingyan? Or perhaps my Senior Sister who is still a beauty in her later years?"

Xu Ruyu's mouth twitched.

What was this even about? He was just concerned about where the Disciples were; how did she jump to these conclusions?

Leng Ningshuang? That woman was beautiful, yes, but over these years, influenced by Xiao Nianyin, she was icy to everyone; she was too boring.

Had he ever seen her smile? Apparently not. Ever seen her cry? No. That face always had the same expression, like she was wearing a mask. Such a woman, while beautiful, was too boring, like a piece of ice that would never melt.

As for Qingyan? Don't let that Little Girl's pathetic appearance fool you; she was full of bad intentions.

Back in the Hehuan Sect's back mountain, he had only accidentally stumbled upon her bathing, and she had chased him all the way to Ningyin Hall, claiming repeatedly that she wasn't there for revenge, yet she had spilled everything.

She appeared soft, weak, and pitiful on the surface, but she had more hidden schemes in her heart than anyone else.

Heh, although Qingyan was also good-looking, he couldn't afford to provoke that kind of scheming woman.

Xu Ruyu's mind suddenly flashed with the face of Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan.

She was a stunningly beautiful young woman, full of charm, her every gesture carrying the allure of a mature woman.

Her eyes could speak, her smile could seduce, and every one of her movements was just right—not a fraction more, not a fraction less.

It could be said that in the Hehuan Sect, only Hua Xunhuan looked like a truly feminine woman.

That waist, those curves, that languid demeanor—every detail spoke of a woman's allure.

Xu Ruyu even swallowed his saliva.

Seeing him like that, Xiao Nianyin was furious.

She punched him in the chest, with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy—just enough to make him feel a sting.

"What? Have you really started considering how to build your harem?" Her voice was laced with obvious jealousy. "Aren't you afraid your kidneys will be cut out? Or was I not enough to satisfy you just now?"

Xu Ruyu snapped back to reality and quickly said with a serious expression: "Don't talk nonsense, okay? I am an upright gentleman; how could I think about such filthy things. I was just asking you, where are the Grand Elder and the others? Did they meet up with you? And where have you placed those Disciples?"

Xiao Nianyin huffed and turned her face away, not looking at him.

Her long hair swung to one side with her movement, revealing her fair nape.

The sunlight shone on it, and one could see the fine fuzz.

Xu Ruyu looked at her, somewhat stunned.

Xiao Nianyin wasn't like this before. In the past, she was ethereal, like an iceberg, cold and indifferent to everyone, not even smiling once.

But now, she would roll her eyes, pout, huff, and turn her face away—how was this still that high and mighty Saint Realm Sect Master? This was clearly just a little woman who knew how to act coquettishly.

Could it be that she had been conquered by him?

Xu Ruyu felt delighted inside, the corners of his mouth curling up involuntarily.

Xiao Nianyin had no idea what messy thoughts were running through his head. After waiting a while and seeing him not speak, she turned her head and glared at him, then said unhappily: "I had the Grand Elder and the others take the Disciples to settle down at the Tianyan Sect. I am an old friend of the Tianyan Sect Master; she will arrange everything."