Ji Yunshang's bold confession plunged the great hall into silence.
Chi Yao's heart sank in an instant.
She had always carefully hidden her feelings for Shen Yu, never daring to reveal even a hint of them, while Ji Yunshang could boldly and directly declare her love to him.
Moreover, Ji Yunshang was so bright and sunny, and her origins were extremely noble as well.
By comparison, Chi Yao felt all the more base and unworthy.
She looked at Ji Yunshang, whose eyes were so clear and innocent, and a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart.
At the same time, Immortal Venerable Yun Yi, meeting Ji Yunshang's expectant gaze, seemed somewhat awkward.
He knew the character of his old friends, the couple—yet who would have thought their daughter would turn out like this.
But since he had already agreed to take her as a disciple, it would be improper to go back on his word, so he spoke tactfully:
"Your Senior Brother prefers quiet, and there are no spare lodgings nearby. You may stay at Qingyun Residence—the scenery there is quite lovely."
These words allowed Chi Yao, who had been tense all along, to relax a little, and a secret sense of relief rose in her heart.
Because she knew very well that Qingyun Residence was the farthest place on Guiyun Peak from Shen Yu.
"Fine, then."
Though somewhat reluctant, Ji Yunshang could only agree helplessly.
But soon she raised an innocent smile and looked at her parents:
"Father, Mother, just you wait—I'll win Senior Brother over soon and bring him back to be your son-in-law."
"Yunshang! Don't speak carelessly and offend the Immortal Lord."
Jiang Lan immediately frowned and admonished Ji Yunshang.
At the same time, a trace of doubt arose in her heart. Her daughter had always been well-behaved and sensible—why was she speaking so rudely today?
"I'm not speaking carelessly. I think Senior Brother and I are a perfect match."
After saying this, Ji Yunshang even turned to Chi Yao with a cheerful smile. "Senior Sister, don't you think Senior Brother and I are a good match?"
Ji Yunshang's innocent expression and tone made Chi Yao's heart ache faintly.
She had to admit that in terms of both status and looks, Ji Yunshang and Shen Yu were indeed a perfect match.
Yet no matter what, she could not bring herself to say that they were well matched.
Chi Yao felt as if she were being roasted over a fire at this moment, and yet her body was unbearably cold—especially her heart, as if it had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Not a good match."
A low voice answered the question for Chi Yao.
Chi Yao looked toward the sound and found that the speaker was Shen Yu.
Shen Yu's face was covered in gloom, the words 'displeased' practically written across it.
"If you keep up this racket, you will return home with your parents at once."
Shen Yu's tone carried an intense pressure—even Ji Jin and his wife, the God of War couple, were nearly crushed and could barely breathe.
Ji Yunshang's innocent little face was full of disbelief, as if she could not believe Shen Yu would treat her so coldly.
But the pressure of the Heavenly Dao still made her somewhat fearful, and she finally obediently shut her mouth and said no more.
Only then did Shen Yu's expression ease slightly. His gaze swept over the somewhat dazed Chi Yao, his brow furrowing slightly, and then he found an excuse to leave the great hall.
Seeing Shen Yu's attitude toward Ji Yunshang so cold, Chi Yao suddenly felt a wave of relief.
But watching Ji Yunshang nestle in her parents' arms, acting spoiled and declaring that she was determined to win Shen Yu, Chi Yao felt increasingly vexed.
She too found an excuse and left Immortal Venerable Yun Yi's residence.
But after returning, that feeling of vexation not only failed to dissipate—it only grew stronger.
The truth was, Chi Yao was somewhat vain. She often took secret pride in being Shen Yu's only Junior Sister. In her eyes, this identity was special—the only identity that could bind her closely to Shen Yu.
And now that specialness was gone.
Shen Yu had gained a new Junior Sister, and moreover, the daughter of the War God—how noble a status that was.
From now on, whenever people spoke of Shen Yu, they would inevitably link him with this equally dazzling Junior Sister.
And to make matters worse, this Junior Sister was in love with Shen Yu.
Her affection was ardent and completely undisguised. Before long, everyone would know her feelings.
Chi Yao could already imagine others praising them as a match made in heaven.
Chi Yao grew more and more distressed, to the point where even breathing felt difficult.
But just then, the mirror in the corner seemed to suddenly flash with light, and Chi Yao's gaze fell upon it.
After a moment's hesitation, she couldn't resist taking out the mirror and injecting a thread of spiritual energy into it.
Soon, a folding screen appeared in the mirror. The screen was semi-transparent, and through it one could faintly make out a tall, slender figure, with the faint sound of flowing water drifting over.
Was Senior Brother bathing?
Chi Yao's heart trembled at once, her vexation replaced by excitement.
Ever since she had watched Shen Yu bathe that time, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. But after that day, she had never again glimpsed him bathing.
Now the opportunity was right before her eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, Chi Yao immediately controlled the image to move past the screen.
Beyond the screen, a light mist filled the air—not as thick as the steam in the hot spring that day, yet it made the whole scene seem even more hazy.
Shen Yu, sitting in the bathing tub at this very moment, looked for all the world like a seductive water spirit.
But Chi Yao's attention was not on Shen Yu.
She stared blankly at the tub he was using, her heartbeat quickening without her realizing it.
This was the tub she had used for her medicinal bath just yesterday.
She knew perfectly well that with Shen Yu's temperament, he would never use something someone else had used—let alone something as intimate as a bathing tub.
Only Dao Companions shared such things.
Dao Companions…
Chi Yao's heart pounded fiercely, and that hidden thrill of excitement made her body tremble slightly.
And her intuition told her that Shen Yu bathing in this tub must have something to do with her.
Just then, a faint sound of water pulled Chi Yao's attention back to Shen Yu.
As her gaze moved upward, she also noticed the flower petals floating in the tub.
Chi Yao was very familiar with these petals too—her medicinal bath yesterday had contained them. At the time, one petal had stuck to her face, and it was Shen Yu who had removed it for her.
The moment this thought crossed Chi Yao's mind, Shen Yu moved.
He picked up a petal, held it to his nose, closed his eyes, and gently inhaled. When he opened them again, those mist-covered eyes held a trace of lingering savoring.
Senior Brother… what was he savoring?
Chi Yao stared fixedly at Shen Yu's cold, aloof face, the sound of her heartbeat growing louder and louder in her chest.
She had smelled this flower yesterday—it had only a faint bitter scent, not at all suitable for bathing.
Besides, there was nothing wrong with Senior Brother's body; he had no need for a medicinal bath.
By this point, the answer was already quite obvious.
What Senior Brother was savoring… was perhaps her.
The moment Chi Yao realized this, Shen Yu slowly moved the petals away.
Yet he didn't set them down. Instead, he quietly gazed at the petals on his fingertips, as if looking through them at something else.
Then his fingers moved, his thumb gently rolling over a petal.
Shen Yu's movements were slow, carrying a trace of teasing, that small petal turning over and over between his fingertips.
Watching him, Chi Yao's breathing gradually slowed.
She actually felt as if she were that petal, held between Shen Yu's fingertips, being caressed and toyed with.
Chi Yao's whole body trembled, her breath growing ragged.
At that moment, the Shen Yu in the mirror curled his lips into a faint smile. After setting down the petal, he slowly rose from the bath.
Chi Yao watched even more intently.
But in the blink of an eye, Shen Yu appeared beside the bathing tub, a robe already draped over his body.
A hint of disappointment surfaced in Chi Yao's eyes.
She hadn't seen anything.
But as Shen Yu walked toward one side, Chi Yao's eyes brightened again.
Hanging on the clothing rack was Shen Yu's outer robe—the very one he had draped over Chi Yao's shoulders the day before.
After returning, Chi Yao had washed the robe, and this morning, when greeting her master's emergence from secluded meditation, she had returned it to Shen Yu.
However, while washing it, Chi Yao had harbored a little scheme—she had deliberately scented the robe with the incense she always used.
She wanted her scent to cling to her Senior Brother's robe.
That way, it would be as if she had dirtied him.
As Shen Yu drew closer and closer to the clothing rack, Chi Yao slowed her breathing, her expression growing increasingly tense.
Would her Senior Brother notice?
And if he did, would he get angry, or simply throw the robe away?
Chi Yao grew more and more eager to see Shen Yu's reaction.
Even if it was anger or disgust—as long as the emotion was caused by her, she would be thrilled.
Under Chi Yao's watchful gaze, Shen Yu finally took down the outer robe. Just as he was about to put it on, his movements suddenly froze.
Chi Yao slowed her breathing even further, desperately suppressing her excitement.
But what Shen Yu did next completely exceeded Chi Yao's expectations.
He didn't get angry, nor did he throw the robe away. Instead, just as he had with the petal earlier, he gently sniffed the scent on the robe, and that savoring expression appeared on Shen Yu's face once more.
This time it was even more pronounced than before. That austere, ascetic face became all the more alluring, and his narrow, long eyes casually swept toward the mirror.
The instant his gaze swept over, Chi Yao's breath stopped entirely.
She felt as if her very soul was being hooked away by Shen Yu.
But what shocked Chi Yao even more was that after sniffing the robe, Shen Yu actually put it on, his face still full of savoring delight.
Chi Yao stared at the mirror in disbelief, her heartbeat growing deafeningly loud.
Her Senior Brother had clearly noticed the scent on the robe, yet he still put it on.
So she hadn't guessed wrong earlier—her Senior Brother really had been savoring her through that petal.
An overwhelming joy nearly drowned Chi Yao.
She knew what Shen Yu's actions meant.
They meant that, to her Senior Brother, she was different from the new Junior Sister. The favoritism she received from him far exceeded what the Junior Sister got.
The vexation in Chi Yao's heart vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented excitement.
Unable to wait any longer, she took out that iron chain covered in Array Formations and slowly stroked the formations with her hand.
Now, over a thousand Array Formations had already been set on this iron chain. All that remained was to add the formations from that Array Formation book, and it would be complete.
Then she would only need to wait for the right moment—to cruelly imprison him when her Senior Brother was at his most vulnerable.
Chi Yao looked at the mirror again and reached out to touch its surface.
"Senior Brother, wait a little longer."
"Soon, very soon, I'll come to capture you."