There was no longer any room to hide.
Xu Sheng had indeed discovered her in the shadows.
Actually, on reflection, Mo Ruxue had been far too reckless at that time.
If Xu Sheng could evade the notice of everyone in the Linxian Sect, sneak onto Ascending Immortal Peak, and slip that picture book into her room without a sound, then his strength was definitely enough to find her hiding in the dark.
She could only say that the situation at the time hadn’t allowed her to think it through. Now that Xu Sheng had called her out, she finally realized that point.
Xu Sheng was already standing before her, looking down. Mo Ruxue’s legs felt as heavy as lead, and she couldn’t even flee from this place.
She suddenly regretted letting Zhu Yuexi leave so quickly.
If Yuexi were here, Xu Sheng wouldn’t dare to be so presumptuous, right?
Xu Sheng reached out and gently lifted her chin.
Mo Ruxue instinctively twisted her head away, but Xu Sheng applied a little pressure, pinning her chin in place.
He forced her to meet his gaze.
“Fairy Mo, you’re putting on such an act of purity and resistance right now. Can you explain why you sneaked a look at that picture book last night?”
What could Mo Ruxue say?
Deep down, she knew everything was exactly as Xu Sheng had guessed. But actually admitting it, or being discovered by him—that was simply too shameful for her.
How could she possibly confess?
If Xu Sheng had made a move right then, let things happen half-willingly, maybe Mo Ruxue would have given in.
After all, it was only to save Yuexi…
But Xu Sheng chose to torment her verbally instead.
For someone like Mo Ruxue, an unconscious, half-willing surrender was far easier than consciously admitting to “falling.”
Xu Sheng understood that.
If he wanted to deliver enough impact, this step was absolutely necessary.
His gaze turned stern, even carrying a hint of condescension.
“Answer me.”
This command was flat and emotionless, as if it were the most trivial of orders.
As if the relationship between them had already been divided into superior and inferior, and Xu Sheng was the unquestioned authority above.
Mo Ruxue even swallowed instinctively.
“Yes…”
From that kiss, to the other night when she wore that lingerie, to “practicing” Li Qingqing’s technique… every time, Xu Sheng stopped just short of the final step, forcing her to stay conscious and admit certain things.
In the first two instances, Mo Ruxue had maintained her last shred of restraint.
For her, that was the dignity of being Mo Ruxue, the Number One Under Heaven, the Sect Leader of the Linxian Sect.
Mo Ruxue wouldn’t do this. She wouldn’t do the latter two either.
So she refused to admit any of it.
Xu Sheng had tested her many times, but after each trial, he never pressed further. His expression and actions only conveyed one message: “I know.”
Was he disappointed?
Mo Ruxue thought so.
But actually admitting—admitting that she was a wanton woman with no bottom line just for gain—she truly couldn’t do it.
Xu Sheng saw the struggle in her eyes and sighed.
Mo Ruxue, hesitating, watched him sigh. Her heart suddenly tightened.
That feeling—watching someone else sigh while your own heart became as disoriented as an ant losing its antennae—had perhaps already surpassed mere transaction.
But these changes had been so fast that Mo Ruxue hadn’t even realized or noticed them.
Xu Sheng, however, didn’t blame her. There was even a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
Sympathy?
Why would Xu Sheng sympathize with her?
He spoke calmly.
“Are you being yourself, or are you being Mo Ruxue?”
Hearing this, Mo Ruxue’s heart jolted.
Xu Sheng continued.
“Maybe those identities put too much pressure on you, Ruxue.”
This time, Xu Sheng didn’t address her as Fairy Mo, nor as Sect Leader Mo, not even by her full name.
He called her Ruxue.
It gave Mo Ruxue a strange sensation.
As if… as if he was just talking to her, communicating with her.
“This is me speaking to Ruxue. To Ruxue, not the Sect Leader of the Linxian Sect, not the Mo Ruxue in the eyes of the world. Just you.”
Yes… that was the feeling.
Mo Ruxue frowned. Her heart was even more flustered than when Xu Sheng had frowned earlier.
For the first time.
No one had ever spoken to her like this before.
It had never happened. And she had never thought there was anything wrong with being Mo Ruxue.
But… now someone was telling her she didn’t have to be Mo Ruxue, didn’t have to be a perfect cultivator.
She only had to be herself. And she herself wasn’t despicable—just imperfect…
“Actually, you just need to be yourself, don’t you? In many situations, you need to follow your true heart, not cos—sorry, not imitate the person you want to become inside. I know you’re striving for your perfectionism, but sometimes, when it’s too hard, isn’t it okay to take a break? The truest, most genuine you isn’t despicable. Every reaction you have belongs to you. Maybe you’re not a saint, not perfect, but it truly isn’t despicable, Ruxue.”
Mo Ruxue parted her lips slightly, unable to even speak.
Xu Sheng let go.
He knew. Mo Ruxue was a smart person. When dealing with smart people, if you found the right method, they were the easiest to persuade.
That was enough.
He stepped back a few paces. For Mo Ruxue, the sensation of his hand pinning her chin still lingered, and his words echoed in her ears.
“Rather than being the self you want to become, I actually prefer that you be your true self. Don’t think your real self is despicable just because your moral standards are high. Some instincts aren’t the monsters you imagine them to be.”
After saying this, Xu Sheng left.
Mo Ruxue stood frozen in place, unmoving for a long time.
…
Was I being too pretentious?
Maybe not?
Leaving the dining hall, Xu Sheng reviewed his actions. Had he come on too strong?
Thinking it over…
Perfect.
Call it persuasion—deep down, he genuinely supported this line of reasoning.
Her perfectionism and pure personality meant she was never suited for a leader’s position.
She had only sat there so long because of her strength.
But it had to be exhausting.
And it was true: Mo Ruxue was human. She had her own selfish desires.
The selfish thoughts born from worrying about Zhu Yuexi’s life, the desires that arose after contact with him…
These weren’t despicable. On the contrary, they were a more “human” side.
Although he said these words partly for his own selfish reasons, Xu Sheng genuinely respected people like Mo Ruxue.
These words truly were beneficial to her.
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