103: Absorb masculine energy! Seclusion! Six months!

Chapter 103: Absorbing Yang Qi! Seclusion! Half a Year!

Inside the pavilion, beside the stone table.

Lu Qiu and Xin Ruyin stood facing each other, their eyes meeting.

Hearing Xin Ruyin's almost inaudible yet unusually firm “I am willing,” the stone hanging in Lu Qiu's heart finally settled safely.

He truly felt a sense of relief.

Firstly, this method naturally offered hope in resolving Xin Ruyin's Physique affliction, while also bringing him personal cultivation advancement. Yin and Yang complementing each other, taking what they need, was a mutually beneficial affair.

Secondly, setting aside considerations of benefit, deep down, Lu Qiu truly did not wish to see such a talented woman with a pure Heart-Nature perish prematurely due to her Innate Physique. Helping her escape this predicament was also a good deed.

Thirdly, Lu Qiu had personally experienced Xin Ruyin's talent and accomplishment in the Dao of Formations, knowing their great value. Furthermore, her character in the original work was trustworthy.

If he could gain such a like-minded Cultivation Partner, one to whom he could entrust his life, it would be a huge aid in the future, whether exploring ruins, setting up an Immortal Cave, or dealing with powerful enemies.

At this moment, Xin Ruyin had completely lost the intelligent composure and quiet self-possession she usually displayed when deducing Formations.

Under Lu Qiu's frank gaze, she only felt her cheeks burning, her heart pounding like a drum. Her gaze involuntarily dropped, fixed on her slightly twisting fingertips, and even her earlobes were tinged with a charming redness.

The shyness and helplessness belonging to a young maiden were fully revealed.

Xiao Mei, who was standing by, seemed to understand what was about to happen. Her round eyes glanced at her Young Miss and then at Lu Qiu. Her small face also turned crimson, and she nervously clutched the corner of her clothes, feeling both anticipation and anxiety.

There was silence inside the pavilion; only the rustling sound of the breeze blowing through the bamboo leaves made the atmosphere even more delicate.

After a long while, Lu Qiu was the first to break the silence. His voice was steady and clear: “When shall we start?”

Hearing this, Xin Ruyin's body trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. She immediately raised her head, took a deep breath as if making a crucial decision, met Lu Qiu's gaze, and whispered, “Let's... make it today.”

There was no hesitation, no delay. Since she had already made her choice, she didn't want to give herself time to regret or retreat.

Lu Qiu nodded, replying with just one word: “Good.”

Decisive and neat, just like his usual style of action... The night deepened, and the moonlight poured down like mercury, casting mottled clear light onto the Bamboo Courtyard through the gaps in the bamboo leaves.

Lu Qiu was arranged to rest temporarily in the East Wing Room.

He sat cross-legged on the couch, not entering meditation, but quietly regulating his breathing, calming his state of mind, and waiting.

His Divine Sense quietly spread out like mercury, enveloping the small Bamboo Courtyard.

It was not intentional prying; rather, necessary vigilance and perception had become a habit while being in this place.

Soon, under the Corridor not far outside the wing room, a conversation could be heard, deliberately suppressed yet still clear.

It was Xiao Mei's voice, filled with worry and concern: “Young Miss, have you... have you really decided? Won't you... won't you think about it again?”

After a moment of silence, Xin Ruyin's voice came across, softer than usual, yet carrying a hint of resigned relief: “Besides this method... do I have any other choice, any other... chance to live?”

Her tone was very calm, but beneath that calmness lay the determination of someone who, after countless struggles and despair, had finally grasped their only straw of salvation.

Xiao Mei seemed choked up. After a long pause, she said tearfully, “But... but... Young Miss...”

She kept saying “but” for a long time, ultimately unable to voice any reason for objection. Finally, she could only whisper, “Then... then I support Young Miss. Moreover, Young Master Lu... Young Master Lu doesn't look like a bad person. His cultivation is high, and he is kind; he clearly looks like a good match...”

“That's enough, Xiao Mei.”

Xin Ruyin interrupted her, her voice holding a hint of helpless indulgence and a touch of nervousness about facing the unknown. “Don't talk so much. Go... go prepare. As I instructed before, activate the Formation in the Quiet Room and prepare the scented bath water...”

“Yes, Young Miss.” Xiao Mei answered, and the sound of her hurried footsteps faded away.

Inside the wing room, Lu Qiu retracted his Divine Sense, and a subtle curve lifted the corner of his mouth.

“A good match”? This little girl certainly has good taste... About half an hour passed.

The door of the wing room was gently pushed open. A slender, graceful figure, carrying a faint fragrance after bathing, walked in and gently closed the door behind her.

The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, draping her in a layer of hazy gauze.

She was wearing a simple, elegant light cyan sleeping gown. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with only a portion loosely pinned up with a simple Wooden Hairpin.

Her face was bare of makeup, yet it showed an alluring blush due to the bath and nervousness. Her eyes, usually clear and wise, were now lowered, and her long eyelashes fluttered gently like the wings of a startled butterfly.

It was Xin Ruyin.

She stopped a few steps away from the couch but dared not raise her head.

Lu Qiu rose from the couch, walked up to her, and asked gently, “Have you decided?”

Xin Ruyin softly hummed in affirmation, her voice barely a mosquito buzz.

“No regrets?” Lu Qiu asked again.

Xin Ruyin took a deep breath, finally raised her head, and looked directly into Lu Qiu's eyes.

In those eyes, the shyness had not receded, but a resolute determination, like breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, had been added: “No regrets.”

She paused, as if having used all her strength, and said clearly, word by word: “For the rest of my life... I entrust it to Husband Lu.”

That address, “Husband Lu,” seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jun, along with endless trust and entrustment.

Lu Qiu's heart stirred slightly. He stepped forward, reached out, and gently embraced the beautiful woman's slightly trembling, slender waist.

The touch was warm and soft. Through the thin sleeping gown, he could feel the warmth and tension of her skin.

“Don't worry.”

Lu Qiu's voice was steady and strong, whispering in her ear, “From now on, as long as I am here, no matter when, where, or what happens, I will be behind you, supporting you and protecting you.”

This was not sweet talk, but a solemn promise.

Xin Ruyin's body stiffened initially, then slowly relaxed, as she gently rested her burning cheek against Lu Qiu's sturdy shoulder and closed her eyes.

The red candle flickered, illuminating the silhouettes of the embracing figures on the window.

Heartbeats sounded like urgent rain knocking on the window, each beat distinct.

The sound of rain on plantain leaves was slow, and the water flowed for many watches.

The hazy moonlight peeked through the gaps, catching sight of mandarin ducks sleeping neck-to-neck.

Jade Stove, Icy Mat, Mandarin Duck Brocade; melting powder and fragrant sweat flowed onto the Mountain Pillow... The next day, the sky was bright.

The door of the East Wing Room was pushed open with a “creak,” and Lu Qiu walked out, refreshed and invigorated.

The Qi surrounding him seemed more harmonious and clear. When his eyes opened and closed, a sharp light was contained within. Clearly, last night's Dual Cultivation had not only balanced the excessive Yang Qi within Xin Ruyin but had also benefited him greatly, advancing his magic power.

Just as he reached the courtyard, he saw Xiao Mei standing nearby, holding a basin of hot water, looking somewhat uneasy.

Seeing Lu Qiu come out, she quickly scurried over, her face showing unconcealed concern and a hint of curiosity. She quietly asked, “Husband Lu, Young Miss, how is she?”

Lu Qiu looked at the little girl's nervous appearance and smiled faintly: “Ruyin is fine, she is just... tired, and needs to rest a bit longer.”

“Tired?” Xiao Mei didn't react immediately and blinked her eyes.

Lu Qiu suppressed his smile and explained seriously, “That's right. Did you think Dual Cultivation... was an easy thing? It also heavily consumes mental energy and physical strength.”

Only then did Xiao Mei understand the meaning of his words. She immediately gasped, and her pretty face instantly turned red like a ripe apple. She stamped her foot in embarrassment and urgency: “Husband Lu! You... you're too wicked!”

After speaking, she ran off without looking back, clutching the basin, leaving Lu Qiu smiling wryly where he stood... Time flew by swiftly, like a white steed glimpsed through a crack.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had quietly passed.

The small Bamboo Courtyard residence remained the same secluded bamboo grove and the same ancient pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, Xin Ruyin, wearing a moon-white long dress, sat leaning against the railing.

Compared to half a year ago, her complexion had undergone earth-shaking changes.

The persistent paleness and haggardness were long gone, replaced by a healthy, rosy complexion. Her clear eyes shone brightly, and even her previously somewhat thin figure seemed a bit fuller and softer. The entire person was radiant, like a secluded orchid carefully watered and blooming anew.

The maid Xiao Mei was brewing tea nearby. Seeing the change in her Young Miss, her face was full of joy, and she couldn't help but tease, “Young Miss, your complexion is truly excellent now! It seems Husband Lu's method really worked. Has that strange illness, the ‘Dragons Roar Physique,’ been completely cured?”

Hearing this, Xin Ruyin gently shook her head. Her gaze turned toward the swaying bamboo shadows outside the pavilion, and her voice was calm: “The Art of Dual Cultivation, guided by the secret method of the Yin-Yang Crown, can only slowly channel out the accumulated, uncontrolled Extreme Yang Qi within my body, alleviating the symptoms and maintaining a temporary balance of Yin and Yang. But the root cause of the Physique is difficult to change; Yang Qi will still slowly grow and accumulate with cultivation... This method cannot eradicate it; it can only be maintained long-term to delay its outbreak.”

Her tone was calm, without much disappointment. To be free from the torment of day and night and gain a chance to breathe was already a great fortune.

Moreover... her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the Quiet Room on the east side of the Bamboo Courtyard, where Lu Qiu was in seclusion.

A hint of barely noticeable tenderness, along with faint worry, flashed in her eyes.

Xiao Mei followed her gaze and also wrinkled her small face: “Young Miss, Husband Lu has been in seclusion for two months now. Why hasn't he come out? Nothing bad has happened, right?”

Xin Ruyin withdrew her gaze and said softly, “Husband Lu's Qi was profound and his Realm was stable before entering seclusion. He must have gained some insight and is taking this opportunity to digest what he learned and strive for a higher level. The length of seclusion varies from person to person and situation to situation; we cannot rush it.”

Although she said this, the worried look between her brows did not dissipate.

Over the past few months, she and Lu Qiu had performed Dual Cultivation regularly to harmonize Yin and Yang.

Lu Qiu absorbed the pure Extreme Yang Qi within her body, refining it using the Crimson Sky Burning Heaven Technique. His cultivation steadily increased, and he had already touched the threshold of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

She also benefited greatly. Not only was her Physique affliction significantly reduced, but her cultivation, aided by the pure magic power occasionally transferred by Lu Qiu, broke through all the way from Qi Refining Stage Layer Four to Qi Refining Stage Layer Six.

However, two months ago, after one Dual Cultivation session, Lu Qiu suddenly felt an insight and said he needed to go into seclusion for a period. He went straight into the Quiet Room, activated layer upon layer of Restrictions, and has not come out since.

Although Xin Ruyin possessed extraordinary talent in the Dao of Formations, regarding cultivation knowledge and experience, she was ultimately just a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator who had only just stepped through the threshold.

She knew little about the seclusion of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so she could only wait silently, her heart filled with worry.

“Husband Lu... when will you emerge from seclusion?”

She gazed at the tightly shut stone door of the Quiet Room, whispering softly in her heart.

The breeze swept past, and the bamboo leaves rustled, as if responding to this silent watch.