Chapter 47: The Trio in the Small Courtyard

"So you mean you don't even know whether the people from the Linghua Pavilion came to kill you or save you?"

"The Linghua Pavilion in Cizhou was indeed destroyed because of internal betrayal?"

"And as for you, you are one of the Nine Spirits of the Linghua Pavilion, and even part of the upper echelon?"

Inside the house, during the next half hour, the conversation between Yang Le and Xu Ruyan was quite simple.

Aside from confirming that Xu Ruyan would stay and follow Yang Le for a period of time to repay the debt of saving her life, their discussion boiled down to three main matters.

The Linghua Pavilion in Cizhou was destroyed, and Xu Ruyan was ambushed due to internal betrayal; a large number of human members who had joined the Linghua Pavilion succumbed to the temptation of the demon clan's cultivation techniques and pills, choosing to betray Xu Ruyan.

As for Qin Li and Tian Zonggong, Xu Ruyan was not very familiar with them, knowing only that they were absolute higher-ups of the Linghua Pavilion headquarters in Zhongzhou. Whether they came to Cizhou to save her or to silence her, Xu Ruyan herself had no idea.

The final matter was that Xu Ruyan revealed a crucial reason why the Cizhou Linghua Pavilion had been targeted by the demon clan.

The Cizhou official authorities seemed to be planning to make a move against the entire human population of Cizhou.

As the most renowned force among humans, the Linghua Pavilion naturally bore the brunt of the demon clan's targeted hostility.

"Tidy up and let's eat. Whether you leave or stay afterward is entirely up to you."

Regarding the first two matters, Yang Le merely looked at them from the perspective of an indifferent bystander watching the show.

As for the final speculation about why the Cizhou officials moved against the Linghua Pavilion, Yang Le didn't even have the slightest appetite to care.

Leaving aside whether this speculation was true or false, even if Cizhou were indeed preparing to move against the Linghua Pavilion, or even the entire human race, it was simply not something Yang Le needed to meddle with.

Yang Le was human.

But he...

was not the only human.

If Cizhou truly intended to harm the humans within its territory to the point of threatening his own safety, it would not be too late for Yang Le to make a move then.

"Do you feel no ripples at all after hearing all this? In the face of such a crisis, even if you aren't expected to lay down your life for the human race, shouldn't you at least do something?"

Xu Ruyan, who had been sitting quietly to the side, had originally expected Yang Le to take some action after hearing these inside details.

She didn't necessarily expect Yang Le to help her, but she at least hoped for some reaction.

At the very least, he should go to Cizhou and figure out the current situation... After all, gathering as much detailed intelligence as possible would be beneficial for whatever lay ahead—

"We have a rule when it comes to meals: we only eat for fifteen minutes, and time waits for no one."

"Since you've already decided to stay, and I've agreed to it, I hope you can respect the rules of our courtyard."

Yang Le glanced at Xu Ruyan, who was still staring at him in shock. "I advise you to hurry up unless you want to miss the meal entirely."

"I understand. Thank you for saving my life. I will handle the rest of the matters myself, and I will abide by the rules of this courtyard."

Faced with Yang Le's cold expression, Xu Ruyan understood.

Whether it was Cizhou's move against the humans or the internal affairs of the Linghua Pavilion, these were her own burdens.

She had indeed been too anxious and somewhat unreasonable, expecting an outsider like Yang Le to willingly plunge into this muddy mess at such a time.

"Admittedly, the affair of the Cizhou Linghua Pavilion has nothing to do with you, but I truly hope that you hold the human race in your heart..."

Watching Yang Le walk straight out the door, Xu Ruyan murmured softly to herself.

Such a peerless talent—if he were to defect to the demon clan, then...

It would be a massive loss for the humans of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Ten minutes of mealtime remaining. The life-saving debt starts with washing the dishes and scrubbing the pot."

Yet under these circumstances, Yang Le didn't even bother to turn his head. "I don't care about your affairs, but don't forget, I saved you to gain greater benefits, not to entangle myself in trouble."

"Understood. Rest assured, I will never bring trouble to you. The scent of the Soul-Attracting Incense has vanished from my body, and I am proficient in the art of disguise. After today, it will be utterly impossible for anyone to find someone named Xu Ruyan."

Xu Ruyan was a clever person. Under these circumstances, she naturally understood that this small courtyard was her temporary sanctuary, and she could no longer afford to drag Yang Le into trouble.

Pondering for a moment under such conditions, Xu Ruyan spoke with absolute earnestness, "Once I resolve the immediate crisis, I will do everything in my power to fulfill whatever benefits you desire."

"By the way, I forgot to ask you something."

Yang Le did not respond to Xu Ruyan's grand promises. Instead, he looked at her with an amused glint in his eyes. "They said you were some kind of daughter of the previous dynasty's imperial family."

"I am only twenty-two this year, and the previous dynasty perished a century ago. Do you think that rumor is true or false?"

"Well, let's eat. Since you seem intent on staying here, after you finish eating, go clean up the west-side room yourself. I only rescue people; I don't handle the aftermath."

Having a stranger inexplicably added to the courtyard gave Yang Le a slightly peculiar feeling.

Yet, upon second thought, this would grant bonus progress to his mortal-world cultivation state.

Feeding Xu Ruyan a few meals didn't seem like such a troublesome task after all.

If she wanted to stay, she could stay.

...

After wrapping up this final inquiry, Yang Le turned around and walked straight out.

He and Li Qi'er began eating hot pot in the courtyard, and a few minutes later, Xu Ruyan emerged from the house, having completely altered her appearance through the art of disguise.

Well, one had to admit that this disguise technique was truly formidable. At least for that brief moment, neither Yang Le nor Li Qi'er recognized her.

Even her aura was completely different from before, to say nothing of the finer details.

Her martial arts cultivation level had dropped to the seventh rank, and the aura of her cultivation technique now resembled that of the demon clan.

As for all of Xu Ruyan's previous habits, they had completely changed.

"Even this can be altered? The previous look must have been fake!"

Sitting beside Yang Le, Li Qi'er even discovered with surprise that Xu Ruyan's assets had somehow become even more impressive!

"Interesting. I suppose I now believe what you meant when you said you wouldn't bring trouble—since the root cause of the trouble has vanished, naturally no trouble will follow."

Yang Le's reaction was also somewhat nuanced.

To him, Xu Ruyan's method was less of a disguise technique and more of a total identity replacement.

Had Xu Ruyan not still been wearing the same clothes, Yang Le would never have dared to confirm that the person before him was indeed Xu Ruyan.

"The debt of saving my life comes first. If I were to bring you trouble on top of that, it would truly be my wrongdoing."

Before eating, Xu Ruyan seemed to have sorted out her future plans during that brief interval. Even before taking a bite, she solemnly apologized to Yang Le.

"Remember to wash the dishes after eating."

"Troublesome woman, clean your own room."

Unfortunately, the moment Xu Ruyan's solemn words fell, Yang Le simply set down his bowl and chopsticks and walked away.

As for Li Qi'er, after merely pointing out Xu Ruyan's living quarters, she too departed immediately.

"This..."

In an instant, Xu Ruyan felt a sense of wind-blown desolation.

Why did the style of these two people feel so completely different from what she had anticipated...

"Forget it, hold off on cleaning for a moment. Trouble is coming."

"Master, draw your sword. These fellows come with ill intent."

Just as Yang Le turned around, a chorus of noisy commotion echoed from outside the mountains.

It was loud enough to unsettle the mind.

Loud enough...

To make Yang Le want to draw the sword at his waist.