A powerful pressure suddenly descended, forcing Zhang Mu back.
Zhang Mu crashed heavily to the ground. As he scrambled to his feet in disarray, wanting to see who was meddling in his business, he looked up and met Shen Yu's eyes directly.
"M-Martial Uncle…"
Zhang Mu's voice trembled. He never expected to draw Shen Yu's attention, and his earlier arrogance instantly deflated.
"Harming fellow disciples is forbidden in the sect. Go receive your punishment yourself."
There was a trace of coldness in Shen Yu's tone that made Zhang Mu shiver, his expression turning fearful.
"Martial Uncle, please see the truth! It wasn't this disciple's fault. Young Martial Aunt ignored the morning lesson time and made us wait for ages. This disciple merely offered a reminder, and Young Martial Aunt humiliated me with her words. I only spoke out of momentary urgency."
Zhang Mu knew how fearsome the Law Enforcement Hall was—if he ended up there, he feared he'd lose a layer of skin. So in his panic, he began twisting the truth, hoping to escape punishment.
But the moment those words left his mouth, he faintly sensed a wave of killing intent.
When he looked up again, he felt that Shen Yu's expression had grown even colder.
"Did you inform my junior sister about the change to the morning lesson time?"
With a single question, Shen Yu hit the crux of the matter.
Panic flashed across Zhang Mu's face. He indeed hadn't notified Chi Yao—and it had been deliberate. But given the current situation, he naturally had to stick to his story and absolutely could not admit it.
"Of… of course! I was the first to inform Young Martial Aunt."
"Really? Guiyun Peak received no Transmission Talisman yesterday. How exactly did you inform my junior sister?"
The Warding Barrier outside Guiyun Peak had been personally laid down by Shen Yu. Even if a single fly flew in, he would know it clearly—let alone a Transmission Talisman carrying fluctuations of spiritual energy.
"I… I was…"
Zhang Mu's face grew increasingly flustered, and he stammered without making any sense.
Among cultivators, Transmission Talismans were the most convenient way to send messages. There were other artifacts for communication, but those were high-grade treasures, extremely precious—Zhang Mu could never possibly own one.
Just as he was breaking out in a nervous sweat, Shen Yu's voice came again:
"If you devoted this cleverness to your cultivation, you wouldn't have made no progress in ten years."
This remark struck harder than even Chi Yao's earlier words.
Zhang Mu's last shred of dignity was shattered outright. Feeling the strange glances being cast at him from all around, he flew into a humiliated rage, his resentment growing ever deeper.
In his fury, he actually stepped forward and confronted Shen Yu directly.
"Fine, my aptitude is mediocre—but Chi Yao isn't some prodigy either! What right does she have to be Immortal Venerable Yun Yi's disciple?"
At this point, Zhang Mu shot a vicious glare at Chi Yao. "Do you dare face me in a duel? If I lose to you, I'll admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
"No! Senior Brother Zhang's cultivation is a full realm higher than Young Martial Aunt's—that's not fair!"
Before Chi Yao could speak, Ji Jiusi stepped forward first, anxiously refusing on her behalf.
But the moment those words left his mouth, Shen Yu suddenly turned to look at him.
Though Shen Yu's face showed no particular expression, Ji Jiusi inexplicably felt a crushing pressure.
Especially when their eyes met, he felt as if the secret feelings hidden in the depths of his heart had been laid completely bare—even the words he was about to say next were forced back down his throat.
Only after Ji Jiusi was forced back several steps by that oppressive aura, putting distance between himself and Chi Yao, did Shen Yu finally withdraw his gaze.
When Shen Yu looked at Zhang Mu again, his thin lips parted and closed, clearly enunciating a single word:
"Fine."
This answer surprised everyone—even Chi Yao couldn't help but look up at Shen Yu in shock.
Only Zhang Mu's eyes lit up, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Though his cultivation hadn't improved much, he had broken through to the Golden Core stage thanks to pills. Dealing with Chi Yao, who only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, would be more than enough.
Such a method wasn't honorable, but as long as he defeated Chi Yao, he would have beaten the disciple of Immortal Venerable Yun Yi—something he could brag about for a lifetime.
However, just as Zhang Mu was feeling smug, Shen Yu slowly drew his sword.
"I'll duel you in her place."
Zhang Mu's face instantly froze.
Shen Yu's cultivation had reached an unfathomable level. Dueling him was no different from seeking death.
Zhang Mu only wanted to humiliate Chi Yao, not humiliate himself.
"No way!"
Zhang Mu refused without the slightest hesitation.
"My cultivation is far inferior to Martial Uncle's. Isn't this just a blatant attempt to bully me?"
Zhang Mu had intended to morally blackmail Shen Yu with these words, but to his surprise, Shen Yu simply laughed upon hearing them.
"There's also a gap between your cultivation and my junior sister's. If you can demand a duel with her, why can't I take her place?"
"I… I don't—"
Zhang Mu grew increasingly flustered. He wanted to say he didn't want to duel anymore, but before the words could leave his mouth, a force dragged him toward the outside of the hall.
The instant the force vanished, a warding barrier rose around them. Shen Yu, dressed in white, stood not far away, raising his sword and pointing it at Zhang Mu.
"Go ahead, Martial Nephew. Make your move."
Seeing that the duel was unavoidable, Zhang Mu could only grit his teeth and charge forward with his sword.
Dueling rules called for stopping at first contact— even if he couldn't win, Shen Yu would never kill him.
Zhang Mu's calculations were indeed sound. Shen Yu wouldn't take his life, but he would definitely beat him to a pulp.
Before they had even completed a single exchange, the duel turned into a one-sided crushing at Shen Yu's hands. Every one of his strikes landed on Zhang Mu's most painful spots.
Soon, cries of agony rang out continuously from within the barrier.
Chi Yao stood at a distance, staring intently at that white-clad figure, her heartbeat quickening.
She knew Shen Yu protected her because of her identity as his junior sister.
But so what?
Just being able to receive his protection because of it was enough for her.
Watching Shen Yu beat Zhang Mu into screams of agony with effortless ease, a look of infatuation surfaced in Chi Yao's eyes. Her hanging hand slipped into her Storage Pouch, gently stroking the iron chain inside.
What should I do, Senior Brother? I think I like you even more now.
Zhang Mu's screams came one after another. He tried repeatedly to concede and end the duel, but Shen Yu never gave him the chance to speak.
Though he looked completely unharmed, only he knew how much pain he was actually in.
Seeing that Shen Yu had no intention of stopping, Zhang Mu almost wanted to kneel and beg.
After being beaten yet again, Zhang Mu suddenly caught sight of Chi Yao nearby out of the corner of his eye. His sluggish brain suddenly sparked with an idea, and as Shen Yu approached, he hurriedly spoke up:
"Martial Uncle, this disciple knows he was wrong! From now on, I will treat Young Martial Aunt with the utmost respect and never overstep again."
The moment these words were spoken, Shen Yu indeed stopped, and the surrounding Warding Barrier vanished as well.
Immediately after, Shen Yu's voice sounded above Zhang Mu's head:
"Go receive your punishment yourself."
"Yes, yes! This disciple will go right away!"
At this moment, receiving punishment was no different from a reward for Zhang Mu. As soon as he finished speaking, he scrambled off toward the Law Enforcement Hall.
Shen Yu, meanwhile, sheathed his sword and walked step by step toward the onlookers.
"Today's morning lesson is canceled. You may all return."
"Yes."
The crowd answered in unison and then dispersed one after another. Only Ji Jiusi, worried about Chi Yao, remained standing in place, looking somewhat hesitant.
But in the next moment, Shen Yu's gaze shifted toward him.
That familiar sense of pressure followed close behind.
"What is your name?"
Ji Jiusi was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Shen Yu to suddenly ask for his name.
After a brief moment of daze, he hurriedly spoke:
"Dis… disciple Ji Jiusi."
"Good. I'll remember that."
A trace of darkness surfaced in Shen Yu's eyes, and then he looked away, showing no intention of speaking further.
Ji Jiusi truly could not fathom the meaning of those words, but sensing that the pressure showed no sign of dissipating, he could only cup his fists in a salute to Shen Yu before turning to leave.
In an instant, only Chi Yao and Shen Yu remained.
Feeling Shen Yu's gaze upon her, Chi Yao felt somewhat flustered.
Earlier, when Shen Yu had walked over, she had not had time to withdraw her naked, undisguised gaze, and had met his eyes directly.
She did not know whether Shen Yu had seen the possessiveness that flashed in her eyes, so at this moment she felt especially anxious, and had no idea how to begin speaking.
Fortunately, just as she was fretting, Shen Yu's voice came first:
"I was just looking for you, Junior Sister. Come back with me."
Chi Yao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. By the time she raised her head again, Shen Yu had already turned and was walking toward Guiyun Peak.
She hurriedly followed in his footsteps.
Chi Yao followed Shen Yu all the way to the Yuhen Hall.
This was Chi Yao's first time entering Shen Yu's bedchamber.
Although she had already seen every corner of this place through that mirror last night, the moment she actually stepped inside, she could not help but secretly tighten her fingers, suppressing the excitement in her heart.
This thrill of stepping into Shen Yu's private domain truly fascinated her.
She even wanted to take out the iron chains right now and restrain Shen Yu, right there in his bedchamber, and violate him to her heart's content.
Chi Yao's heartbeat gradually quickened, and her hand unconsciously reached toward her Storage Pouch.
However, just as her fingertips were about to touch the Storage Pouch, Shen Yu suddenly turned around and handed her a porcelain bottle.
Chi Yao immediately stopped her movement and hesitantly accepted the bottle.
"Senior Brother, this is…"
"These are Tianji Pills. The other day, Master noticed that your meridians were blocked and left them for you."
These words surprised Chi Yao, and her eyes lit up as well.
She had long since discovered that something was wrong with her meridians—cultivation was extremely difficult for her, as if she were blocked.
But even so, back when she was striving to join the Tianyan Sect, she had gritted her teeth and cultivated through the pain, sometimes even fainting from it.
Chi Yao had originally resigned herself to being like this for the rest of her life. Now, learning that her meridians might be restored, she was naturally overcome with excitement.
"Has Master already come out of seclusion? I'll go thank him right now!"
Chi Yao turned to leave, but this action caused a rare flicker of emotion to appear on Shen Yu's face.
He actually lost his composure and grabbed Chi Yao's wrist.
"Master has not come out of seclusion."
The sensation from her wrist made Chi Yao's fingertips tremble, and her breathing grew ragged.
It took her considerable effort to steady her breathing, and as she turned back, she struggled to keep her expression under control.
"Then I shall wait until Master comes out of seclusion to thank him."
Chi Yao stood stiffly, desperately controlling her breathing.
But she didn't realize that her pulse had already betrayed her.
Her quickened heartbeat was clearly transmitted through her fingertips to Shen Yu, causing the corner of his mouth to curve into a faint arc.
His fingertip lightly brushed across Chi Yao's pulse, but before she could notice, he had already withdrawn his hand.
"Junior Sister, remember to take one pill every day."
"Alright, thank you, Senior Brother."
Chi Yao's gaze swept over Shen Yu's withdrawn hand, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
Even though the lingering warmth on her wrist was something she deeply craved, she knew clearly that she no longer had a reason to stay.
But just as Chi Yao was about to take her leave, a Transmission Talisman suddenly flew over.
The Transmission Talisman's target was not Shen Yu, but Chi Yao.
The moment Chi Yao caught the Transmission Talisman, a flash of hostility passed through Shen Yu's eyes.
"Who sent you a Transmission Talisman, Junior Sister?"
Shen Yu's tone seemed rather careless, as if he were just asking in passing.
Chi Yao didn't notice anything amiss and answered instinctively, "It was sent by Nephew-Disciple Ji."
"Oh, so it's him."
Shen Yu's tone was somewhat strange, but before Chi Yao could look into it further, his voice came again:
"Let me see you out, Junior Sister."
"Okay."
This time there truly was no reason to stay any longer, so Chi Yao could only follow Shen Yu out of the Yuheng Hall.
It wasn't until she returned to her own quarters that Chi Yao finally let her heartbeat run wild, allowing it to pound frantically in her chest.
She raised the hand Shen Yu had touched, gently caressing it with her fingertips.
Senior Brother's hand was still as warm as it had been three years ago. She really loved it so much.
The possessiveness in Chi Yao's eyes grew ever stronger.
Soon, as if she had thought of something, she immediately headed deep into her sleeping chamber, arriving before the mirror she had hidden away.
She eagerly opened the mirror, searching for Shen Yu's figure within it.
But this time, she searched many places and found nothing.
Just as she thought Shen Yu wasn't in the sleeping chamber, a faint sound of flowing water suddenly came from within the mirror.
She immediately turned the mirror toward the direction of the water, and to her surprise, she found Shen Yu's figure beside a large bathing pool.
Chi Yao froze for a moment.
Senior Brother he… he was actually bathing…