89: Chapter 89 Master, you'd better eat more, otherwise you won't be able to handle me tonight.

Leaving the fragrance-filled Meixiang Court, the night wind blew, and Xu Ruyu's mind settled a bit more.

Successfully tricking Su Mei with the Blazing Fire Illusion Array not only validated the Formation's effectiveness and accumulated valuable experience, but it was also a form of secret psychological release—in this crisis-ridden Hehuan Sect, he was finally no longer just a passive recipient and had begun to possess a modicum of counter-attacking ability.

Returning to the vicinity of Ningyin Hall, the surroundings fell silent, with only the low chirping of night insects.

The Side Hall was right before his eyes. As Xu Ruyu was about to push the door and enter, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a familiar, cold figure slowly walking along the corridor from the direction of the Main Hall.

It was Xiao Nianyin.

Xu Ruyu paused slightly and stood to the side with his head bowed in a respectful, waiting posture, though his Divine Sense was quietly paying attention.

He saw that Xiao Nianyin's pace was not as light and ethereal as usual; instead, it carried an indescribable sluggishness and... stiffness?

She walked very slowly, her waist seemingly held straighter than usual, but looking closely, one could see that the angle of her knees being held together was somewhat unnatural, and her stride was smaller than usual, as if she were enduring some kind of inconvenience or discomfort.

The moonlight spilled onto her cold and exquisite profile, illuminating a faint trace of fatigue between her brows that she was trying her best to hide, as well as a touch of light red on her earlobes that had not yet fully faded.

Xu Ruyu understood instantly, and a mixture of absurdity and secret satisfaction quietly rose within him.

"It seems that the 'accidental' counter-attack in last night's 'dream' was even more effective than imagined... Revered Master, this walking posture of yours doesn't quite look like that of the usually cold-as-the-moon Saint Realm Sect Master."

He could almost imagine that beneath those magnificent palace robes, certain parts probably still retained a burning, unusual sensation, as well as a sense of stifled frustration that could not be voiced.

Xiao Nianyin clearly saw him as well. Her footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly before she resumed her normal state. Her cold gaze fell upon Xu Ruyu, carrying its usual scrutiny and distance.

"Returning so late."

Xiao Nianyin spoke. Her voice was still clear, but Xu Ruyu keenly caught a very subtle raspiness, as if her throat were somewhat dry.

"Cultivating at the Hall of Power Transmission, were there any gains?"

She asked casually, but her gaze swept over Xu Ruyu's body as if it were substantial, seemingly investigating his True Qi, state, and... whether he was tainted with any scents he shouldn't have.

Xu Ruyu sneered in his heart, but his face became increasingly respectful as he bowed and replied, "Reporting to Revered Master, this Disciple was still studying some basic miscellaneous arts today and has gained some insights."

"It is just that the scriptures are vast, and this Disciple is dull, so it took a bit longer. I have caused Revered Master concern."

His answer was airtight, attributing the late return to his own 'dullness' and 'diligence,' never mentioning the Formation, let alone the encounter at Meixiang Court.

Moreover, he believed that Su Mei, having suffered a loss at his hands for the first time, would absolutely not speak of today's events.

He knew that the seemingly unbreakable Revered Master-Disciple relationship between him and Xiao Nianyin was actually as thin as a cicada's wing, with irreconcilable conflicts of interest and potential killing intent surging beneath it.

Once Xiao Nianyin found a way to reclaim her power, or if he lost his utility, what awaited him would certainly not be a good end.

Especially thinking about the rebellious things he had done to this Sect Master and Revered Master in the 'dreams' these past few nights... Xu Ruyu had no doubt that with Xiao Nianyin's rumored arrogant and cold nature, the first thing she would do after recovering her strength would be to grind this frequently 'offending' Disciple's bones to ashes.

Therefore, he had to hide his true progress, maintain this image of a 'dull but diligent' Disciple, and seize every moment to increase his strength.

The fragile 'harmony' they maintained now was merely because neither could do anything to the other for the time being—Xiao Nianyin could not take back the power, and Xu Ruyu could not refine that massive Saint Realm Fragment, needing instead to rely on this bizarre 'backflow' process to Cultivate.

This was a dangerous balance, with both sides secretly exerting force, waiting for the moment to break it.

Xiao Nianyin listened to his answer and gave a noncommittal "Mm." Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, seemingly wanting to find a flaw, but Xu Ruyu hid it well; aside from his True Qi being an imperceptible bit more solid than yesterday, there was no other abnormality.

A brief silence spread through the corridor, with only the faint sound of the night wind brushing against the bells on the eaves.

Suddenly, Xiao Nianyin tilted her head slightly, her gaze seemingly falling on some non-existent scenery in the courtyard. Her voice was a bit less intentionally cold than before and a bit more awkward:

"You... the fish you grilled by the stream in the Back Mountain last time."

She paused, choosing her words carefully, "It was... acceptable."

Xu Ruyu's heart stirred, and he looked up at her.

Xiao Nianyin did not meet his eyes, still keeping her face turned away. The moonlight outlined her perfect jawline and her lightly pursed lips.

She seemed to be trying her best to maintain her dignity as the Sect Master, but her slightly trembling eyelashes and that somewhat stiff tone betrayed the unnaturalness in her heart.

"This Seat... has been Cultivating recently and requires a light diet supplemented by the Energy of Earthly Fire to harmonize my spiritual power." She added a sentence that sounded more like making an excuse for her next request, though the reason was so forced that even she might not quite believe it. "If you have nothing to do, then go catch some... well, it doesn't have to be fish; mountain game is also fine. Clean it and grill it."

Xu Ruyu almost couldn't help but laugh out loud, but fortunately, years of Cultivation allowed him to control his expression. He respectfully replied, "Yes, this Disciple obeys. It is this Disciple's honor to serve Revered Master."

But in his heart, everything was clear: she was hungry.

This Sect Master and Revered Master, whose cultivation had dropped to an unknown level, probably really needed food to supplement her most basic physical strength.

Theoretically, Saint Realm powerhouses can live on wind and dew, but if their cultivation is severely damaged and their spiritual power cannot perfectly maintain their Physical Body's consumption, the sensation of hunger will return.

This further confirmed his guess—Xiao Nianyin's state was far worse than she let on.

The so-called "Cultivation requires earthly fire energy for harmonization" was nothing more than a fig leaf to maintain her face.

"This Disciple will go to the Back Mountain to search now."

Xu Ruyu bowed, preparing to turn around.

"Mm."

Xiao Nianyin gave a faint response and finally turned her face, glancing at him with a complex and difficult-to-discern gaze. There was scrutiny, a trace of very faint embarrassment, and perhaps something else, all of which eventually turned into a cold calm. "Go and return quickly. Do not delay... well, do not disturb the Spirit Beasts in the mountains."

"This Disciple understands."

Watching Xu Ruyu's respectfully retreating back, Xiao Nianyin stood in place for a long time without moving.

Her fingers curled slightly inside her sleeves, feeling the weakness coming from deep within her body and the still-shameful, unusual sensation in certain places.

She needed food to replenish her energy, and more importantly... she needed to adjust her state to deal with the 'dream' that might soon arrive again.

On the other side, Xu Ruyu arrived at the Back Mountain with ease. He released his Divine Sense and quickly locked onto his targets—a few plump Pine Chickens.

He acted cleanly and decisively, condensing his Taixu True Qi into fine threads and silently finishing them off.

Returning to the small kitchen dedicated to his use next to Ningyin Hall, Xu Ruyu skillfully built a fire, prepared the Pine Chickens, and rubbed them with simple salt and a few wild herbs he had picked along the way to remove the gaminess and add fragrance.

The firelight reflected on his calm face, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

"Eat, eat more, and nourish your body," he thought indifferently as he turned the sizzling, oily roasted Pine Chickens. "Revered Master, you must eat and drink your fill and gather your spirits."

"Otherwise..."

He looked up, peering through the walls toward that beautiful Sect Master in the Main Hall who was feigning authority.

"How will you be able to handle me in tonight's 'dream'?"

A playful look that no one could see flickered across the corner of his mouth.

The aroma of the Pine Chickens grew richer, drifting through the silent night of Ningyin Hall, signaling the approach of another silent confrontation.