CH 51

C51 – I Am Cultivating…

“What, what’s wrong?”

Ning Xiangrong appeared visibly shocked and bewildered, standing by the door and frozen in place. Her voice trembled with concern as she asked, “What’s going on?”

Liu Yuan found himself pressed against the corner of the bed, overwhelmed by despair. Pi Huanluo’s cultivation far surpassed his own, rendering him unable to put up any resistance. He turned his head and spoke with a quivering voice, “It’s nothing, nothing… Just wait outside for a moment!”

“Oh,” Ning Xiangrong responded, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her heart. “Yuan, are you truly alright? Your voice sounds a bit shaky.”

“I’m really okay…”

Pi Huanluo drew nearer, her cheek pressed against his. She exhaled warm breath, whispering into Liu Yuan’s ear. She giggled mischievously and said, “Yuan, she’s right outside the door, watching…”

Liu Yuan widened his eyes, gritting his teeth as he softly accused, “You did this on purpose!”

How could someone in the Physical Integration Period like her fail to notice Ning Xiangrong, who was in the Core Forming Stage? Unbelievable!

She did it on purpose!

It seemed like her tone had softened, but it was merely an illusion. This guy probably couldn’t help but burst into laughter and desperately suppress it. That was the only way he could maintain such behavior!

Pi Huanluo’s face flushed crimson, and she wore an ecstatic expression. She stifled it, causing her laughter to sound somewhat muted. “Don’t you find it incredibly amusing?”

So, is this the reason why you licked my face?

Pervert!

Liu Yuan maintained an expressionless face. He felt like he might be savored first, then devoured in one gulp (figuratively or literally), leaving nothing behind, not even crumbs.

Ning Xiangrong remained concerned, but since Liu Yuan assured her that he was fine, she chose to trust him. She closed the door and was about to turn around and leave.

“Hu…”

Liu Yuan heaved a sigh of relief.

Helplessly, he shifted his gaze towards Pi Huanluo. The visage of the Devil Cult’s saintess was enchanting and captivating. Her disheveled black veil and hair cascaded down, causing her naturally pale complexion to take on a tinge of pale blue. The touch of red made it even more striking.

It resembled a fleeting blossom that bloomed in the night, with only a momentary brilliance—a kind of solitary beauty.

However, her eyes were focused. It wasn’t the piercing gaze that Liu Yuan had envisioned, filled with intertwining feelings of love and hate. Instead, it exuded tranquility and concentration, even tenderness and gentleness. It held a sense of fear and trepidation, merging into a radiant light.

Liu Yuan was touched for a moment.

Memories of Pi Huanluo’s past and present flooded his mind. The formidable woman who was now pressing him down, the girl he had conquered in the game, the girl who had cried amidst a pile of corpses—suddenly, these different facets of her face overlapped with each other.

Pi Huanluo, the Rakshasa Enchantress who had witnessed all living beings in the world, was her name.

However, her real name was Lu Miao, and he had given her that name.

The fear in Liu Yuan’s heart instantly dissipated. His slightly numb arms attempted to prop himself up from the bed, but Pi Huanluo firmly held him down. She let out a long breath and spoke with difficulty, “Ah Miao, I… you need to listen to me, I…”

“Shh-“

Pi Huanluo extended a finger to her lips and smiled. “I know, I know… Do you really think she has truly left?”

Liu Yuan was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. She? Ning Xiangrong? Of course it was…

His expression suddenly changed as he looked towards the door. It seemed that his perception, previously blocked by Pi Huanluo, had once again returned. That figure was still standing at the door and hadn’t left! Damn it!

This group of women must be treacherous!

Liu Yuan despaired at the deceitful nature of this world. He glanced at the figure pretending to leave not far from the door, crouched down as if in hiding.

“Huhuhu…”

Pi Huanluo laughed and said in a low voice, “Do you think if she will come in?”

Liu Yuan firmly said, “She won’t! I have already told her not to come in. She will believe me and follow my words.”

“Really? What if…?”

——

Ning Xiangrong felt a sense of worry and suspicion as she stared at the door. She had a foreboding that something important was slipping away from her grasp.

Gu Siyin’s visit to their room that day came to her mind. It was only her and Liu Yuan in the room at the time.

The current situation bore some resemblance…

“No, I must be overthinking. It was only Ah Yuan and me who came to the Wide Ocean Sect. There is no one else here. He might be facing challenges in his cultivation. I shouldn’t have disturbed him by entering.”

Ning Xiangrong muttered to herself.

Just as she pondered over this, muffled groans, seemingly filled with pain and patience, emanated from the room where Liu Yuan was.

Ning Xiangrong’s heart jolted in alarm. She took two steps forward, anxious, and said, “Ah Yuan, what’s… what’s happening to you? Is it due to a relapse of your old injuries? Is it because your cultivation progress is unstable and you’re experiencing difficulties in recovery? Do you need any assistance?”

Sounds of heavy breathing could be heard from inside the room. It even seemed like Liu Yuan had swallowed saliva before speaking, “It’s fine, really. It’s just that it’s a bit too stimulating…”

Ning Xiangrong was stunned and questioned, “Stimulating?”

Liu Yuan hastened to deny it. “No… Huhuhu, it’s just that I, I am cultivating! I’m on the verge of a critical breakthrough to the God Forming Stage, but, uh, my old injuries are severe. My foundation is still unstable, so it’s quite challenging. The fluctuation of Spiritual Energy is quite stimulating.”

Ning Xiangrong listened to his words, her breath becoming intermittent. It was evident that his cultivation journey was indeed difficult, yet her heart was filled with worry and an odd sentiment.

That day when she had brushed off Gu Siyin with the excuse of cultivation…

No! Impossible!

Ning Xiangrong shook her head, frustrated that her mind was wandering, and said, “Then I’ll stay outside and guard while you focus on your cultivation.”

“No, no, no, there’s no need! I can handle it on my own!”

“Anyway, I’m here to find you, and I don’t have anything else to do. Like I said, it’s my turn to protect you this time. Even though your current cultivation level surpasses mine, I can still be of some help to you, right?”

“I, I’m very touched, but…”

“Well, that is enough. You don’t have to worry about me. This is my own choice.”

But it seems like your choice is to protect your pride…

Liu Yuan gazed outside with lifeless eyes. The ache in his heart was almost drying up. Damn it, do you still plan to wait outside all night long?

This time, it truly became an absurd situation.

Do you know what kind of protection you’re offering?! Break through!

“Um… It’s late at night now. I’m worried you might catch a cold.”

“How can cultivators fall ill?”

“…I just feel bad leaving you alone outside. Please go back and rest. I’m fine now.”

Liu Yuan regulated his breathing and put on a calm expression.

“I don’t believe it. You just want me to feel at ease.”

“Really, I mean it. You still don’t believe me?” Liu Yuan was so anxious he wanted to die. He forced a smile and spoke in a relaxed and cheerful tone. “Heh, hehehe… His injuries have been stabilized. I’ll find you later. Go to your room first, okay?”

“Then… Then I’ll wait for you.”

In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Liu Yuan finally managed to coax Ning Xiangrong away.

“Hu…”

Liu Yuan collapsed weakly onto the bed, completely drained of strength.

Pi Huanluo wore a satisfied smile and changed her position. She held him in her arms, placed his head on her lap, and stroked his hair. Softly, she asked, “So, my dear Yuan, how do you plan to find her later?”