581: Chapter 581 Since the Taixu Sect says you're one of mine, then stay here for now.

When Lu Yao entered Ningyin Hall again, she was like a completely different person from the first time.

The first time, her clothes were as white as snow, her back was straight, her head was held high, and her eyes held a determination to face death.

This time, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red and swollen, and her robes were stained with dust; she looked as if her Soul had been hollowed out, leaving only an empty shell.

She stood in the center of the hall with her head bowed, silent, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Xiao Nianyin was also there. She sat beside Xu Ruyu, holding that old book, but she didn't turn any pages.

She glanced at Lu Yao, then at Xu Ruyu, her gaze as calm as a frozen lake.

Xu Ruyu didn't know what lay beneath the surface of that lake, and he didn't dare to probe deeper.

“Have a seat.”

Xu Ruyu pointed to a nearby chair.

Lu Yao shook her head.

“I am not worthy to sit.”

“The people from the Taixu Sect said that I belong to the Hehuan Sect now, that I am yours, Sect Master.”

“If I sit here, I will only dirty the Hehuan Sect's chair.”

Xu Ruyu and the Grand Elder frowned simultaneously.

“What exactly did they say?”

Xu Ruyu asked.

Lu Yao bit her lip and remained silent for a long time.

Then she spoke in a flat tone without a hint of emotion, as if she were recounting something that had nothing to do with her.

“They said I sold myself to you, Sect Master. They said I debased myself, that I brought shame to my master's house, and that I disgraced the Taixu Sect.”

“Junior Martial Uncle Qingfengzi crossed my name off the register in front of the entire Sect.”

“Junior Brother Zhao Hu said that I had long been involved with you.”

“The Elders said...”

She paused, took a deep breath, and her voice trembled slightly.

“...that they were ashamed to be of the same Sect as me.”

The air in the hall froze.

Xiao Nianyin's hand, which was about to turn a page, stopped in mid-air. After a moment, she closed the book.

Her expression remained blank, but her gaze grew several degrees colder than before.

It wasn't directed at Lu Yao, but toward the direction of the Taixu Sect.

The Grand Elder's hand, leaning on his staff, trembled slightly, and a flash of anger crossed his cloudy old eyes.

“Absurd! Why didn't your Sect Head and Elders dare to say such things when they were trapped in the formation? Now that they're out, they've suddenly found their backbone?”

Lu Yao's tears began to flow again.

“I don't know, I really don't know.”

“I thought I was going to save them. I thought they would at least be grateful, that they would at least say thank you. But...”

She covered her face, her shoulders twitching violently.

Xu Ruyu stood up and walked over to her.

He was silent for a while, reaching out his hand and hesitating several times before finally pulling it back.

He didn't know how to comfort her and didn't want her to misunderstand.

He just stood before her, waiting for her to finish crying.

After a long time, the sobbing subsided.

Lu Yao wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes as swollen as walnuts.

“Sect Leader Xu, I cannot go back.”

“The people of the Taixu Sect said I am already part of the Hehuan Sect.”

“If I return, they fear you will go back on your word and capture the Sect Head again.”

“I don't dare to bring trouble to the Sect.”

Xu Ruyu looked at her. “You would actually sacrifice yourself to save such a Sect? Why save it? To let them ruin even more Disciples?”

Lu Yao didn't answer; she didn't know how to.

“Since the Taixu Sect says you belong to my Hehuan Sect, then stay in my Sect for the time being.” Xu Ruyu turned to the Grand Elder and said, “Grand Elder, please arrange a place for Miss Lu Yao to stay.”

“Somewhere quiet, and close to the Main Hall.”

“She's alone; don't let her stay too far out.”

The Grand Elder nodded and walked up to Lu Yao, his voice very gentle: “Miss, come with me.”

Lu Yao looked up at Xu Ruyu.

“Sect Leader Xu, aren't you afraid of the gossip from the Taixu Sect?”

“Afraid of them?” Xu Ruyu chuckled. “I even locked up their Sect Head; why would I care about their gossip? Besides, you came to redeem someone, the person has been redeemed, and the deal is done.”

“You are currently homeless, and I am taking you in. What does that have to do with the Taixu Sect?”

Lu Yao stared at him blankly, tears welling up in her eyes again.

She held them back and gave a deep bow.

“Thank you, Sect Master.”

She followed the Grand Elder out. When she reached the door, she stopped, turned around, and looked at Xu Ruyu.

“Sect Leader Xu, I won't stay for free.”

“I can do many things. I can help you tend the herb garden, I understand pharmacology; I can help you with Alchemy, I've studied the art; I can also...”

“That's enough,” Xu Ruyu interrupted her. “Just focus on settling in for now. We can talk about the rest later.”

Lu Yao said no more and followed the Grand Elder away.

The hall fell silent.

Xiao Nianyin put down her book and looked at Xu Ruyu's back.

“This girl has good Aptitude.”

She said.

“Mm. Nascent Soul Peak, only one step away from Soul Transformation. Her Foundation is very solid; she's a good prospect.”

Xu Ruyu turned around and sat back in his chair.

Xiao Nianyin watched him for a few seconds.

“Do you really want to take her in?”

Xu Ruyu thought about it.

“It depends on her. If she truly wants to stay, then our Hehuan Sect will keep her.”

“If she doesn't, she can leave whenever she wants once the heat from the Taixu Sect dies down.”

“I won't force her.”

Xiao Nianyin didn't say anything more, picked up her book again, and turned a page.

But her gaze didn't fall on the book; instead, it went past the window frame to the light screen outside.

After Lu Yao left, the Grand Elder returned.

“Sect Master, the accommodations have been arranged.”

“The small courtyard to the east. It's close to the Main Hall and quiet.”

“I've already sent people to tidy it up.”

“Mm. Send her some bedding and a change of clothes as well. She didn't bring anything out with her; there were only those few Spirit Stones in her storage ring.”

Xu Ruyu thought for a moment and added another sentence.

The Grand Elder nodded in agreement. As he turned to leave, Xu Ruyu called out to him again.

“Right, tell the kitchen to add a few extra dishes tonight. That girl has been traveling for so many days and hasn't even had a hot meal.”

The Grand Elder acknowledged and left.

That night, Lu Yao sat by the window of the eastern courtyard, watching the Hehuan Sect's massive light screen flow slowly in the golden-red light of the sunset.

Outside the light screen was the world, and inside the light screen was also the world; she could no longer tell which side she belonged to.

The Taixu Sect didn't want her anymore, and she couldn't go back.

The Hehuan Sect had taken her in, but this wasn't her home.

The jade pendant in her hand was warm; it was something her mother had left her.

Her mother had passed away when she was very young. She couldn't remember her mother's face, only that this jade pendant was her legacy.

“Mother, did I do something wrong?”

She asked softly.

No one answered.

In the distance, Xu Ruyu stood by the window of Ningyin Hall, also looking at the light screen.

Xiao Nianyin stood beside him, no longer holding her book.

“Did you take her in because you pity her, or because you like her Aptitude?”

She asked indifferently, as if asking what was for dinner.

“Both.” Xu Ruyu paused. “And because I find the Taixu Sect eyesores.”

The corner of Xiao Nianyin's mouth curled slightly.

“Then how do you plan to use her? The Hehuan Sect doesn't lack Alchemists, herb growers, or people to sweep the courtyards.”

“Just let her be for now, there's no rush. She needs time to recover.” After Xu Ruyu finished, he suddenly tilted his head to look at her. “Do you dislike her?”

“No.”

“Then why are you asking so much?”

“Just asking.”

Xu Ruyu looked at her, and she looked at the light screen.

The night gradually deepened, and the light screen continued to flow like a tireless river, cradling the Hehuan Sect in its protection.

Inside the light screen were over a thousand Cultivators of the Righteous Path Alliance; outside the light screen stood over three hundred Disciples of the Hehuan Sect.

That was just how the world was: some were imprisoned, some were protected, some were homeless, and some were willing to give them a home.