Even if she refused, with Lu Changsheng’s means, if he truly wished to do so, she feared she would have no choice but to passively accept it.
Since that was the case, why not turn passivity into initiative, humiliation into enjoyment?
However, even though Xu Ruyin consoled herself with such logic, her pride and self-respect nevertheless made it impossible for her to do such a thing.
After all, not long ago, she was the cherished direct daughter of the Yu Shui Xu Family, carrying great fortune, and with a future that aspired to Nascent Soul!
But at this moment, she was expected to serve as a slave and maidservant, which was too great a fall from grace.
This moment gave birth to a strong regret in Xu Ruyin’s heart.
She regretted why she had to carry out such an act, coming to Bi Lake Mountain to steal Spiritual Beasts.
If she had followed Grandfather’s arrangements, by now she could have been safely making her Foundation Establishment breakthrough at home.
After successfully establishing her foundation, she could have gone to temper herself in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
Now the Elder Ancestor of the Beast Taming Xu Family had less than a hundred years to live, and the family was vigorously nurturing Nascent Soul Seeds!
If she were willing to return to her family, she could certainly stand out and smooth her way to Core Formation.
But all these, due to her pride and stubbornness, had become but a fleeting dream.
“Senior, take your time to consider,” she said.
“Once you’ve made up your mind, feel free to let Mount Sumeru know,” Lu Changsheng said without urging Hong Lian to make a choice, nor demanding an immediate decision. He put away the Soul Fusion Resurrection Elixir and spoke.
He then walked towards Changsheng Hall with Ling Zixiao.
“Thank you, Young Master Lu,” Hong Lian said, bowing slightly to Lu Changsheng.
Although she had made up her mind to follow Lu Changsheng, she still had some words to say to Xu Ruyin.
After all, after so many years of being together, she knew Xu Ruyin’s personality very well.
She knew that someone with a stubborn and proud nature like her would not easily obey and submit to Lu Changsheng.
Yet, she didn’t want to see Xu Ruyin humiliated, or to simply fade away like a passing fragrance.
“Senior Hong Lian, I’m sorry,” Xu Ruyin said, biting her lip as she faced the senior before her.
“Girl,” Hong Lian sighed softly.
Her ephemeral form then dissipated into numerous tiny red dots, returning to the Ancient Beast Taming Charm. She couldn’t remain outside for long in her current state and needed the charm to maintain her soul body. 𝙍аꞐꝊβΕŜ
Moreover, now within the Mount Sumeru Cave Heaven, it wasn’t good for her to converse with Xu Ruyin in such a state.
Entering the Ancient Beast Taming Charm also allowed her to conceal her words.
After Hong Lian entered the charm, she had it return to Xu Ruyin’s sea of consciousness.
“Girl, what do you plan to do?” Hong Lian’s voice arose, ethereal and gentle.
“Senior Hong Lian, I… I don’t know…” Xu Ruyin said, her entire being enveloped in confusion.
Although she was mature beyond her years, she had never experienced any major setbacks since childhood.
Faced with such a situation now, she truly didn’t know how to cope.
“Girl, regarding Lu Changsheng, tell everything you know to me,” Hong Lian instructed.
Even though she planned to follow Lu Changsheng, she basically had no understanding of him.
The rough information she knew came from what Xu Ruyin had told her previously.
“Senior Hong Lian, I don’t know much about him either…” Xu Ruyin said softly.
She then relayed to Hong Lian all that she knew about Lu Changsheng and related matters.
Inside Changsheng Hall.
“With Mount Sumeru present, Zi Xiao, feel free to speak your mind,” Lu Changsheng said, noticing Ling Zixiao holding her words back, aware she was concerned about Hong Lian overhearing.
“There is nothing much, I only wished to inquire about Young Master’s plans for Miss Xu of the Xu Family and Senior Hong Lian,” Ling Zixiao said with a light smile.
“From what I see, Senior Hong Lian seems to hold a good deal of affection for Miss Xu. If Young Master wishes to tame the senior, arranging for Miss Xu might be troublesome.”
Ling Zixiao had witnessed the entire event and clearly saw that Lu Changsheng wanted to tame both Hong Lian and Xu Ruyin—or rather, primarily Hong Lian.
But to tame Hong Lian, Xu Ruyin couldn’t be released at the moment, which made arrangements somewhat awkward.
“Heh, we’re now the fish on the chopping board, and they’re the knife in our hands; initiative naturally rests with us,” Lu Changsheng chuckled softly and continued, “This Senior Hong Lian is at least a Nascent Soul True Lord; taming her would be beneficial for both us and the family.”
“As for Xu Ruyin, as you, Zi Xiao, mentioned earlier, since she’s come into this Cave Heaven and knows about Mount Sumeru, she can’t be allowed to leave.”
“It happens that this Cave Heaven actually needs a maidservant. If Xu Ruyin is willing to obey, what I said earlier can certainly hold true.”
“But if she’s unwilling to comply, there’s no need to indulge her, and the same goes for Senior Hong Lian,” Lu Changsheng said calmly.
While his nature was carefree and he never coerced others, the fact that both came to his Bi Lake Mountain to thieve meant his willingness to offer them a chance was already quite generous.
If neither of them were to appreciate the gesture, he wouldn’t be courteous.
“In my view, Senior Hong Lian seems already tempted, willing to follow Young Master,” Ling Zixiao observed.
“It’s just because of Miss Xu that she’s unwilling to make a decision impulsively and leave.”
“After all, in the Cultivation World, obligations, grudges, and karma are taken very seriously. Senior Hong Lian resides within Miss Xu and is willing to help her, likely due to some karmic entanglement.”
“Therefore, Young Master, for Senior Hong Lian’s sake, it might be fitting to show some leniency towards Miss Xu,” Ling Zixiao suggested.
While she was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with limited exposure,
she was well aware that given Lu Changsheng’s status, even Core Formation and Nascent Soul Cultivators would be surprised to encounter him.