Lin Mo hesitated for only a moment before following the maid up to the third floor.

He certainly didn’t believe in getting something for nothing.

The owner of Jiangyue Pavilion—given her cultivation and appearance—couldn’t possibly be offering herself just because he was talented, right?

After all, this was a cultivation world, not some ancient romance novel.

In this world, strength reigned supreme. Talent alone didn’t count for much.

Though everything about this situation screamed suspicion, Lin Mo didn’t dare to simply walk away.

He was afraid.

That Nangong Xu from earlier—at least a seventh-grade Golden Core genius—had been completely paralyzed under this woman’s pressure.

With his level of strength, could he even run?

“Sir Lin, the Pavilion Master is inside. You may enter now.”

The maid led him to the door of the innermost room on the third floor before retreating.

Lin Mo swallowed hard and gathered his courage before knocking.

“Come in.”

The voice from within was calm and indifferent.

Pushing the door open, Lin Mo was immediately greeted by a peculiar fragrance.

It was a scent he had never encountered before, but he didn’t find it unpleasant.

As he walked further inside, his gaze landed on a redwood table, where a censer emitted wisps of smoke.

“That incense is made from spiritual herbs found deep within the Great Continent’s mountain range. How does it smell?”

“It’s quite nice.”

Just as he turned around, Lin Mo froze.

At some point, Yan Ruyu had changed into a sheer, gauzy robe. She lay on the bed, letting her collar slip open, revealing her fair, slender shoulders, delicate collarbones, and the deep valley beyond. Her long, snow-white legs were exposed in full view.

Lin Mo was sure—if that leg shifted even slightly, he would see everything beneath.

At this moment, he had no idea what to do.

Turning away felt like disrespecting himself. But if he didn’t turn away and kept looking, wouldn’t that be disrespecting her?

“You’ve already seen it. Don’t tell me you’re about to claim you have an eye disease now?”

Seeing Lin Mo’s conflicted expression, Yan Ruyu was clearly pleased.

He couldn’t figure her out at all.

Rather than beating around the bush, Lin Mo simply sat down in a chair by the table and got straight to the point.

“Miss… no, Senior, what exactly do you want?”

“What do you mean?” she replied, feigning confusion.

“And besides, my name is Yan Ruyu. Given what’s about to happen, ‘Senior’ feels too distant.”

What’s about to happen…

Given the situation, it was hard for Lin Mo’s mind not to conjure certain… images.

“Wait a moment, Seni—”

“Hmm?”

Yan Ruyu’s enchanting eyes narrowed slightly.

Lin Mo corrected himself instantly.

“Miss Yan, are you really planning to spend the night with me?”

“What, you’re unwilling? I may be over a hundred years old, but that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, should it?”

A hundred years old?

Lin Mo wasn’t particularly surprised.

Cultivators had long lifespans.

Especially high-level powerhouses—one closed-door meditation session could last decades, even centuries.

He didn’t mind Yan Ruyu’s age.

What he couldn’t understand was—why was she doing this?

“It’s not that I’m unwilling. I just don’t get it,” he admitted honestly.

“Then tell me—do you think I might be a demonic cultivator who practices dual cultivation?” Yan Ruyu teased with a smile.

“I can believe you’re a demonic cultivator,” Lin Mo replied firmly, “but I don’t believe you’re the kind who drains men’s essence for cultivation.”

He wasn’t stupid.

If Yan Ruyu really practiced such methods, why wouldn’t she target someone stronger—like Nangong Xu—rather than waste her time on a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him?

That simply wouldn’t make sense.

“You’re quite clever, Young Master Lin.” Yan Ruyu sat up and walked over to Lin Mo, pouring him a cup of spiritual tea. “But you’ve misunderstood one thing.”

“Oh? And what would that be?” Lin Mo took the tea and drank it.

He had already asked his Liuli Sword—there was no poison in it.

Besides, he didn’t believe Yan Ruyu would poison him anyway. If she wanted him dead, she could do it with a flick of her hand. Poisoning him would be unnecessarily troublesome.

Yan Ruyu suddenly leaned down, her breath warm against his ear.

“I really do want to sleep with you,” she whispered.

Lin Mo: “…”

Wait. Was this actually happening?

Was she using him as some kind of shield?

After all, with her beauty, there had to be plenty of powerful cultivators in the cultivation world vying for her attention.

If he actually slept with her, there was no telling if he’d be hunted down and obliterated by one of her admirers by tomorrow. Not just killed—his soul would likely be scattered into oblivion.

Lin Mo made up his mind and decided to be honest.

“Miss Yan, to tell the truth, I only came to this Talents Gathering to earn the title of ‘Talent’ as bait. I need to lure out some ghosts lurking in Daliang City and eliminate them. After that, I have to take my junior sisters back to our sect and report to my master.”

“I have four junior sisters—one has a brain disorder that requires my constant supervision, or she might have an episode. Another has a chronic stomach illness and needs me to feed her at regular intervals. Then there’s one with severe mental instability who harbors inappropriate feelings toward her own sister—I have to counsel them constantly to keep them from straying down the wrong path. They can’t survive without me.”

As he spoke, Lin Mo looked every bit like a tired, overworked father.

“If Young Master Lin wishes to leave, I won’t stop you,” Yan Ruyu said, gesturing toward the door. “You’re free to go whenever you like.”

Hearing this, Lin Mo immediately stood up, eager to leave.

Every moment in this room, he had to tread carefully around Yan Ruyu, watching her every reaction before he spoke.

He hated this feeling of not being in control of his own life.

“Miss Yan, then we shall part ways here.”

Lin Mo turned to leave.

But after just two steps, he sensed something was wrong.

A nameless heat surged through his body, clouding his mind. He felt sluggish, his entire body burning up.

Yan Ruyu chuckled at his state.

“What’s wrong, Young Master Lin? The door is right there. If you truly ‘want’ to leave, you can.”

Her fair, exposed skin was like a stimulant, striking directly at his senses and setting his body ablaze.

Lin Mo instantly realized—he had been poisoned.

He questioned Liuli Sword in his mind: “Didn’t you say the tea wasn’t poisoned?”

“The tea isn’t poisoned,” Liuli Sword replied. “The incense is also harmless. But when combined, they create a reaction.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?!” Lin Mo was speechless.

“You didn’t ask,” Liuli Sword answered innocently.

Lin Mo’s vision blurred further.

He finally understood what Yan Ruyu had meant by ‘If you truly want to leave’.

If he didn’t walk away now, he would inevitably fall into this woman’s trap.

His rational mind screamed at him to leave. But his body—driven by surging desires—refused to move.

“What’s the matter, Young Master Lin? Do you no longer wish to leave?” Yan Ruyu teased.

Lin Mo didn’t answer.

He was using every ounce of willpower to suppress his desires, trying to regain control of himself.

“You’re quite the stubborn one.” Yan Ruyu was honestly impressed.

She knew just how potent the aphrodisiac was. Even a eunuch wouldn’t be able to resist it.

So, she decided to add one final push.

As Lin Mo battled his instincts, he suddenly felt someone embrace him from behind.

That soft, cool sensation against his back—it was like fuel poured onto an already raging fire.

Cursing her in his heart for not playing fair, Lin Mo felt the last remnants of his reason shatter completely.