790: Han Ruyi's sentiments

Time passed, and before they knew it, the moon was high in the sky.

Han Ruyi felt extremely reluctant to part, but she could only lead Yao Delong back to the secluded guest house area.

As expected, those two "foodies," Qiong Shuang and You Yuan, were still nowhere to be seen, clearly having the time of their lives.

She escorted Yao Delong to the door of his room.

Under the dim glow of the lanterns, Han Ruyi's beautiful face was as red as if she were intoxicated, and her breathing carried a faint, imperceptible hurriedness.

She looked at the door before her, and the emotions she had suppressed for years—thoroughly ignited today—roared like surging lava within her heart!

This was a rare opportunity! He came from the Yin Yang Sect, tens of thousands of miles away, while she was in the Moyang Sect; the mountains were high and the roads long, and their Sects were far apart! If she missed it this time, when would they meet again? Was she really supposed to cast aside her modesty and run all the way to the Yin Yang Sect to find him regardless of everything?

No! There had to be a conclusion today!

Han Ruyi bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, nearly drawing blood, until finally, she steeled her heart!

“Benefactor...” She looked up, her clear, water-like eyes now misty, carrying a desperate determination and hope. Her voice trembled slightly, yet it was exceptionally clear:

“I... May I come in and sit for a while? Just for a moment...”

Yao Delong was slightly taken aback.

He had naturally noticed the affection lingering around Han Ruyi from start to finish today—that admiration that hesitated to speak, and that cautious closeness.

He just hadn't expected that this young lady, who was usually gentle and well-mannered, would actually take the initiative to make such a request late at night.

He was just thinking about how to decline politely, to settle the matter without hurting her self-esteem.

However!

As if afraid he would refuse, or as if she had exhausted all her courage, Han Ruyi didn't even wait for his answer. Like a slippery fish, she squeezed past him, pushed the door open, and slipped into his room!

“...” Yao Delong looked at the empty doorway and the open door, shaking his head with a helpless, bitter smile. This girl... she really was quite bold.

He had no choice but to follow her inside, turning back to gently close the door.

The room was elegantly decorated, with candlelight flickering.

Han Ruyi's cheeks were so red they almost seemed to drip blood, yet she forced herself to remain calm. With incredibly practiced movements, she walked to the table and took out her own top-grade spiritual tea. Her slender fingers trembled slightly, yet she began to warm the cups, rinse the leaves, and brew the tea with a fluid grace.

Soon, a pot of fragrant spiritual tea, misty with Spiritual Qi, was ready.

She carefully poured a full cup and, holding it with both hands, placed it on the table in front of Yao Delong, not daring to look into his eyes: “Benefactor... please have some tea.”

Her posture was as submissive as a young bride's.

Yao Delong found it both helpless and amusing as he sat down opposite her: “Miss Han, there's no need to be so formal. I can do these things myself.”

“It's rare for Benefactor to come to Bhikkhu City!” Upon hearing this, Han Ruyi immediately looked up, a flash of stubbornness and grievance in her eyes. “Last time you left in a hurry, and my Han family failed to repay you properly. This time... this time you won't even let me serve you a cup of tea?” Her voice carried a faint, imperceptible sob.

As she spoke, without waiting for Yao Delong to refuse again, she pulled several plates of exceptionally exquisite spiritual cakes and pastries from her storage ring as if by magic, each emitting an enticing sweet fragrance and Spiritual Qi.

“Benefactor, try this ‘Jasper Crisp.’ It's made with century-old spiritual grain and morning flower dew...” She picked up a piece of pastry as crystal clear as emerald and held it to Yao Delong's lips, her eyes filled with deep expectation and a faint, hidden nervousness.

Yao Delong couldn't bear to rebuff her again, so he took it and had a light taste: “Mm, sweet but not cloying, and full of Spiritual Qi. Not bad.” It was indeed a fine item made with great care.

Under the candlelight, the beauty was like jade, and the tea fragrance lingered.

Yao Delong looked at the gentle and moving woman before him, her features as beautiful as a painting. He saw her focus and affection as she poured tea and handed him snacks, and he saw the beautiful shadows cast by her long, lowered eyelashes because of her shyness... In the middle of the night, a man and a woman alone in a room.

Since she had gone this far, her feelings were already plain for all to see!

If he continued to play dumb, it would instead seem hypocritical and pretentious, and might even hurt her more.

Yao Delong set down his teacup and sighed softly, breaking the silence that was tinged with ambiguity.

His gaze became deep as he spoke slowly, his voice low and clear:

“Miss Ruyi... I know your feelings.”

Han Ruyi's body jolted, and she looked up, her beautiful eyes instantly overflowing with hope and tension!

Yao Delong looked at her and continued: “It's just... you should understand that I already have an engagement with the Saintess of your Moyang Sect, Li Linger. This matter is known to the whole world, I...”

“I don't care!”

Before Yao Delong could finish, he was interrupted by Han Ruyi's cry, filled with tears and determination!

She stood up abruptly, her eyes turning red in an instant as the long-accumulated tears finally rolled down uncontrollably! Her voice carried the grievances and unwillingness suppressed for years:

“Why? Clearly, I met you first! Why is the Saintess allowed, but I am not?!”

“Benefactor!” She took a step forward, her gaze sorrowful yet firm, as if she wanted to pour out all the emotions that had been building up in her heart for years at once!

“Ever since the first time you left Bhikkhu City... I... I've been searching for news of you like crazy! But the Yin Yang Sect is tens of thousands of miles away, and I am just an Inner Sect Disciple of the Moyang Sect. The news I could get was pitifully scarce... but I kept every important piece of news about you in my heart!”

Her voice carried a deep-seated longing and trepidation:

“When the news of you being in danger in the God Burial Abyss Secret Realm arrived... I... I didn't dare close my eyes for three days and nights! I only hated that I was powerless! Later, when I heard that you not only escaped but also made great progress in your cultivation... I... I was so happy I cried in my room for a long time...”

“Later, you came to Bhikkhu City again for a Sect mission... Do you know? I secretly hid in the crowd and watched you for a long time... but before I could gather the courage to step forward... the... the news came that you were ambushed and seriously injured by a Demonic Cultivator! I hated it! I hated my own low strength! I couldn't even get close to you, let alone help you...”

“And then...” She wept like rain, her voice carrying a broken pain, “it was the news of your engagement to Saintess Li Linger... That night, I felt... I felt like the sky had collapsed... My heart... it hurt so much...”

“But I still couldn't help but follow you... News came from the Moyang Sect of how you thwarted the Demonic Cultivators' plot in the Northern Border and saved countless Cultivators in the Eastern Region... I was proud of you... but my heart hurt even more...” She looked at Yao Delong through tear-blurred eyes, “Benefactor... Yao Delong... these feelings... these feelings have long since taken root in my heart, and I can no longer let them go!”

Hearing these accounts filled with blood, tears, and longing, the lake of Yao Delong's heart finally erupted into a massive wave!

He had never imagined that in a distant place, there was actually such a woman who loved him so deeply, so persistently, and so hopelessly! She cherished every little detail of him like a treasure, carving it into her very marrow!

This love was too heavy! Too real! And too heartbreaking!

He looked at the stunning woman before him, crying like a pear blossom in the rain, her body trembling slightly. He saw the unmistakable, Soul-deep, fiery love and pain in her eyes... The last trace of hesitation and concern in Yao Delong's heart was completely melted by this intense emotion.

He stood up, took a step forward, reached out his broad, warm hand, and tightly grasped Han Ruyi's cold, tear-stained, soft hands!