61: Chapter 61 Little Fish, I've never liked using force.

Hearing Xu Ruyu dare to say such bold words to her face, Lady Qingli couldn't help but double over with laughter.

Amidst her unbridled laughter, Lady Qingli swayed like a flower in the wind. She clutched her stomach with one hand and pointed a trembling finger at Xu Ruyu with the other, laughing so hard that tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.

Her cloud-like hair, which had been meticulously styled, had come loose in several strands as she shook with laughter, hanging by her cheeks and adding a touch of unrestrained charm.

Especially those proud, snowy peaks that surged with her laughter; they were simply dizzying. Xu Ruyu, who had peeked out of one eye, caught just one glimpse before his face turned beet red and he squeezed his eyes shut again. Yet, an inexplicable "wicked fire" flared up in his heart—this old enchantress!

If you're going to laugh, just laugh; why do you have to shake like that? Don't you know this is a huge test of one's self-control?!

"Oh my... oh dear... my little ancestor... hahaha... Xiao Yuer... you, you really are... quite a character!"

"You're killing me... hahaha..."

Lady Qingli finally managed to catch her breath. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she spoke intermittently.

Her voice was somewhat distorted by her laughter, but the playfulness in it was plain to see.

Xu Ruyu's face was flushed red from her laughter. Caught between shame and annoyance, he was also completely bewildered.

He stiffened his neck, eyes tightly shut, but couldn't help muttering loudly, "W-what's so funny!

Senior, didn't you... didn't you mean that? I-I've already... already prepared myself!"

"P-prepared for what? Hahaha..."

Lady Qingli finally managed to stop laughing for a moment, but hearing that, she burst out again. She walked up to Xu Ruyu, reached out with a cold finger, and lightly poked his tense cheek. "Prepared to 'sacrifice your body to the tiger'? To 'heroically offer yourself up'? My silly little fish..."

She leaned close to Xu Ruyu's ear, her warm breath carrying a sweet fragrance as it hit his earlobe. Her voice dropped, filled with mockery:

"You didn't really think that I, like that Iceberg Master of yours, came to 'use force' on you and wanted to do 'that' to you, did you?"

Xu Ruyu's whole body stiffened. His tightly shut eyes snapped open, filled with embarrassment. "I-is that not it?"

"Of course not!"

Lady Qingli straightened up and put her hands on her hips, a movement that further accentuated her already stunning curves. Her face wore an exaggerated expression of helplessness and amusement, as if to say, 'What on earth goes on in that little head of yours all day?'

"Although~"

She drawled, her eyes flickering as she looked Xu Ruyu up and down.

"To be honest, I really do 'want' to." Lady Qingli was so frank that Xu Ruyu's face turned even redder. "After all, once you've tasted marrow, you know the flavor. Your 'taste', kid... well, it really is quite good."

She licked her red lips, a movement that was incredibly seductive, yet it made Xu Ruyu shudder.

"But—" Her tone shifted, becoming somewhat playful and carrying a hint of subtle pride. "If I, Qingli, want a man, why would I need to use force?

Why would I need to be like your Revered Master—sneaking around, using drugs to daze people, and acting while they're unconscious?

That's so boring, so lacking in style!"

She walked to the window and pushed open a crack, letting fresh air surge in and slightly dissipating the ambiguous and awkward atmosphere in the room.

"What I like is mutual affection, a natural progression, the ultimate pleasure of mutual consent."

Lady Qingli turned back and winked at the still-dazed Xu Ruyu.

"Using force? That would be an insult to my charm."

Xu Ruyu opened his mouth, his brain unable to keep up.

So... he had misunderstood? Lady Qingli didn't come to "sleep him into submission"? Then what was she here for? Was she really just so bored that she came to see a joke?

As if seeing through his thoughts, Lady Qingli walked back, reached out a slender finger, and lightly tapped Xu Ruyu's forehead, her tone carrying a bit of sympathy:

"The reason you thought that, I guess... is because you've already realized that your precious Revered Master has been secretly making a move on you at night, right?"

Xu Ruyu's pupils shrank. He subconsciously wanted to deny it, but under Lady Qingli's all-seeing gaze, all his pretenses seemed pale and weak. He could only nod dejectedly.

"As expected."

Lady Qingli chuckled, a look of realization flashing in her eyes. "That Cultivation Technique of hers... hmph, it's overbearing alright, but the side effects are too great, and her methods are too direct and crude. She doesn't understand romance at all."

She patted Xu Ruyu's shoulder (a gesture that almost made his legs go weak), her tone becoming unusually serious for a moment, though her face still held a faint smile:

"Don't worry, Xiao Yuer. I am very interested in you.

But this interest isn't limited to the bedroom.

You, as a person, are also quite interesting.

As for 'using force'... I have no interest in that.

That's no fun at all."

She paused, watching Xu Ruyu slowly digest these words. Then, her red lips curved into a seductive arc, and her voice became soft and sweet again:

"So, Xiao Yuer, remember your sister's words—"

She leaned in slightly, her voice a mere whisper against Xu Ruyu's ear:

"If one day... you become 'interested' in me, or encounter some 'difficulty' where you 'need' my help..."

She deliberately emphasized the words "interested," "need," and "difficulty," her gaze so suggestive it seemed it could drip water.

"...you can 'find' me at any time."

After speaking, she straightened up, reached out a jade-like hand, and gave Xu Ruyu's completely dazed face a gentle squeeze. Then, she let out a string of silver-bell-like, crisp, and pleasant laughter.

"Giggle... I'm staying in the Side Hall right next door to you~ It's very close, just a few steps away~ You're welcome to come 'visit' at any time~"

Before her voice could fade, she had already transformed into a rosy-colored stream of light. Just as abruptly as she had appeared, she passed straight through the closed door and vanished.

All that remained was a room full of rich, sweet fragrance and that maddeningly teasing laughter.

And...

Xu Ruyu, standing alone on the spot, looking completely dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at the closed door, then looked down at his messy inner robes and the cheek that had just been squeezed. Lady Qingli's final words echoed repeatedly in his mind:

"Staying in the Side Hall right next door to you~"

"Welcome to come 'visit' at any time~"

Visit... what kind of visit is that, hey?!

Also, when did she move in next door?! Does Revered Master know?! Is there even any privacy left in this Ningyin Hall?!

Xu Ruyu wanted to cry but had no tears. He felt that this world was full of deep, malicious humor towards a pure Transmigration soul like him.

He walked silently to the bed, sat down dejectedly, and held his head in his hands.

On one side was the Iceberg Master who would come for "night raids," and on the other was the seductive vixen living next door who might "drop by" at any time...

How is anyone supposed to live like this?!

His waist... seemed to really be starting to ache faintly...