568: Chapter 568 You can take the initiative, you owe me.

"Do you need to seduce me?"

"What do you mean?"

"From the first time you saw me, your eyes have never left me."

Xu Ruyu laughed out loud at what she said.

"That's because I was afraid you would hit me."

"Are you not afraid now?"

"Now you can't beat me. Half of your True Qi was stolen from me; if I really wanted to take it back..."

Xiao Nianyin raised her hand, her finger pressing against his chest.

"Do you want to try?"

Xu Ruyu grasped her hand.

Her hand was very cold, with distinct knuckles and slender fingertips.

He looked down at it, then looked back up at her.

"I won't try," he said. "I'm afraid you'll cry."

Xiao Nianyin pulled her hand from his palm and slapped his arm.

It wasn't hard, but it was loud.

"You're the one who'll cry."

Xu Ruyu's arm didn't hurt, but he rubbed it anyway.

"Fine, fine, I'll cry. Are you satisfied?"

Xiao Nianyin ignored him, turned around, walked back to the bed, and sat on the edge.

The light from the Moonstone shone from behind her, casting her shadow onto him.

She patted the bed board beside her.

"Come here."

"What for?"

"Aren't you tired? Lie down for a while."

Xu Ruyu walked over and lay down beside her.

The bed board was hard and pressed against his back, but he didn't make a sound.

Xiao Nianyin also lay down, shoulder to shoulder with him.

The two of them stared at the pitch-black ceiling, neither speaking.

The light from the Moonstone cast a circular spot on the wall, shining quietly like an eye.

"Xiao Nianyin."

"Mm."

"Are you really going to settle the score for the first time with me?"

"Mm."

"Then tell me, how do we settle it?"

Xiao Nianyin turned her head to look at him.

The light from the Moonstone shone from the side, illuminating half of her face brightly while the other half remained hidden in the darkness.

Her eyes flashed at the boundary of light and darkness, like a fish leaping out of deep water.

"You owe it for now."

Xu Ruyu laughed.

"Is there interest on what I owe?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"Depends on my mood."

Xu Ruyu turned over, lying on his side, supporting his head with one hand, looking down at her.

She didn't dodge, just lowered her eyes, her eyelashes brushing against his chin, feeling ticklish.

"Xiao Nianyin, you've talked a lot tonight."

"You don't like it?"

"I like it." His hand slid across her shoulder. "Say a few more things."

"Say what?"

"Anything."

Xiao Nianyin thought for a moment and said one word.

"Cold."

Xu Ruyu was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"If you're cold, why are you still sitting there? Come here."

He reached out and pulled her over.

She didn't resist, obediently leaning into his embrace.

Her body was cold, like a piece of jade just taken out of an ice cellar.

But her heartbeat was fast, so fast that Xu Ruyu could feel the vibrations, transmitted through the thin clothing.

"Are you really cold, or are you pretending?" he asked.

"Guess."

"I guess you're pretending."

"Then you guessed wrong."

Xu Ruyu's arms tightened a little. Her body pressed against his chest, warming up little by little.

It wasn't the kind of warmth transmitted by his body temperature; it was her own, emerging from her bones.

He didn't know if it was because of him, because of herself, or both. He didn't want to know, and he didn't need to know.

"Xiao Nianyin."

"Mm."

"In the future, when you're in front of others, can you not be so cold?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm used to it."

"Then what about when you're in front of me?"

She raised her head, resting her chin on his chest, looking at his face.

The Moonstone light shone from the side, illuminating half of her face bright and the other half dark.

She looked at him for a long time, so long that Xu Ruyu thought she wouldn't answer.

Then she opened her mouth, her voice very soft, as if she were telling a secret she didn't want anyone else to hear.

"In front of you, I will try."

Xu Ruyu lowered his head, his forehead against hers.

Her skin was cool, carrying a faint, fresh fragrance.

He remained motionless there, feeling the temperature of her breath, feeling the sensation of her eyelashes brushing against his cheek.

"Xiao Nianyin, do you know that you look very beautiful like this?"

"What's the use of being beautiful?"

"Being beautiful allows me to look at you a few more times."

"You've already looked at me enough."

"Not enough."

Her hand raised, her fingertips touching his chin, his corners of his mouth, and his nose bridge.

Lightly, like a feather skimming across the surface of the water, creating ripples.

"Then just look."

She said.

The night was deep, the moon hid behind the clouds, and even the sound of the light screen flowing couldn't be heard.

In the small Side Hall, only two people remained; they couldn't hear anything, couldn't see anything, only able to feel each other's existence.

It wasn't the wind, not the light, not the distance; it was two hearts finally leaning together.

When dawn was about to break, neither of them had slept.

It wasn't that they didn't want to sleep, but they couldn't.

It wasn't the kind of insomnia where you toss and turn, but the kind where you lie together, listening to each other's breathing, watching the Moonstone light move little by little, unwilling to close your eyes.

"Xiao Nianyin."

"Mm."

"Do you feel it?"

"What?"

"Your Realm."

Xiao Nianyin closed her eyes and performed internal inspection.

In her Dantian, spiritual power was flowing slowly, unhurried and calm, like a steady river.

Her True Immortal Realm Early Stage had broken through to the True Immortal Realm Middle Stage without her knowing when.

It wasn't the kind of forced Breakthrough, but a natural, inevitable one, like spring arriving and flowers blooming, without needing anyone to urge it.

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Did you do this?"

"Not me," Xu Ruyu thought for a moment. "It's us."

He moved closer to her, his lips brushing against her forehead.

Just a touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, then he pulled back.

His special Physique, his self-created Air Cultivation Cultivation Technique, and the indescribable relationship between them—perhaps it was all these combined that allowed him to help her stabilize her Realm and break through her Bottleneck after every moment of pleasure.

Lady Qingli was the same, and so was she.

It wasn't his credit alone, nor was it her luck alone.

Xiao Nianyin didn't speak.

She reached out and held his hand, their fingers interlaced.

"Next time," she said, "you don't need to be so secretive. Just come directly."

Xu Ruyu was stunned for a moment.

"What did you say?"

"I said, you don't need to wait for me to be proactive." Her tone was very calm, as if talking about a very ordinary matter. "You owe me; if you're more proactive, I don't mind."

Xu Ruyu looked at her.

There was no expression on her face, but her ears were red.

He laughed, very softly, afraid of disturbing something.

"Okay," he said. "Next time I will be proactive."

Outside, the sky was about to brighten.

The light screen was still shining, locking the thousands of people from the Righteous Path Alliance in the Martial Arts Arena.

There were still many troublesome things tomorrow: negotiations, bargaining, and dealing with those trapped in the Grand Array.

But that was for after dawn. Before dawn, this Side Hall belonged only to the two of them.