Perhaps because she had been feeling guilty these past few days, the moment Chi Yao actually saw Shen Yu, she felt as though she had been caught red-handed, and she instinctively lowered her head in guilt.
But she quickly realized her reaction was abnormal, so she hurriedly composed herself.
By the time Chi Yao raised her head again, Shen Yu had already entered the lecture hall and arrived at the instructor's desk.
Shen Yu carried an innate air of cold aloofness, always giving people the feeling that he was not to be profaned.
Now, merely standing quietly in the lecture hall, he caused all the disciples to fall silent of their own accord, even softening their breathing.
Shen Yu's calm eyes swept across the crowd in the hall, pausing for a moment as they passed over Chi Yao, and he glanced at the bracelet on her wrist.
A flicker of emotion stirred in Shen Yu's eyes, but he had always been skilled at concealing his feelings, and almost before Chi Yao could notice, he had already looked away.
"From now on, your Arts of Sorcery course will be taught by Elder Li. However, Elder Li is occupied with other matters today, so I will be substituting for him."
These words set everyone abuzz, and a stir of excitement rippled through the previously quiet hall.
Although Shen Yu would only be teaching for this one day, one had to remember that in the cultivation world, countless people longed to receive even a word or two of guidance from Immortal Lord Luochen, yet could never find the opportunity.
And now Shen Yu was going to personally teach these newly admitted disciples.
This was an immense honor.
In an instant, everyone returned to their seats and looked at Shen Yu with eager anticipation.
Soon, Shen Yu's cool, clear voice echoed throughout the lecture hall.
Meanwhile, Chi Yao sat among the disciples, staring at Shen Yu unblinkingly, the hand hanging at her side quietly clenching as she suppressed the excitement in her heart.
Although she had been able to freely spy on Shen Yu through that mirror these past few days, this kind of close-range, brazen observation gave her an unprecedented thrill.
The last time she had spied on Shen Yu so without restraint was right after she passed the entrance examination.
That day, Shen Yu had sat quietly upon the high platform like a banished immortal.
He was like a flower on a lofty peak, untouchable by anyone.
The moment Chi Yao laid eyes on him, the darkness in her heart ran wild, and the thought that had remained unchanged through hundreds of days and nights grew even more resolute.
She had to make Shen Yu hers, and then personally defile him.
Over the months since her admission, this thought had only grown stronger.
Chi Yao had originally assumed that once she could see Shen Yu regularly, her obsession would fade somewhat.
But Shen Yu was simply too alluring—his looks, his figure, his speech and manner—she loved every bit of it.
Just like now, as he sat at the desk explaining the Cultivation Technique to everyone, that otherworldly grace about him still left her utterly entranced.
She was even already mulling over ways to imprison Shen Yu in her mind. More than ever before, she wanted to lock him away, so that from then on, he would exist solely for her eyes alone.
"From here on, you may comprehend the material on your own."
Soon, Shen Yu's voice fell silent, and Chi Yao's thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
But she had long since become adept at concealing her desire for Shen Yu. The moment his gaze swept over her, she had already promptly hidden the infatuation in her eyes, putting on the appearance of diligently studying her book.
However, before long, she felt an intense gaze falling on her from time to time, but when she looked up to search for it, she found nothing unusual.
As if that unmistakable sense of being watched was merely her imagination.
After several failed attempts to find the source, Chi Yao could only give up.
But when her gaze swept over Shen Yu, she suddenly noticed that something was off about him today.
Although he sat at the table reading as usual, the book in his hands had not been turned for quite a while, and there was even a trace of a frown between his brows, making him look somewhat agitated.
Though these were only subtle changes, for someone like Shen Yu, who never revealed his emotions, it already counted as a significant emotional fluctuation.
This abnormal behavior stirred a hint of doubt on Chi Yao's face.
Was her senior brother troubled by something?
The moment this thought arose, Shen Yu's eyes happened to shift away from his book and collided with Chi Yao's gaze.
At the moment their eyes met, Chi Yao stiffened immediately. That helpless feeling of being caught left her unsure how to react.
But to her surprise, it was Shen Yu who looked away first after a moment.
His movement even seemed somewhat evasive.
Was it just her imagination?
Chi Yao stared at Shen Yu and studied him carefully a few more times, but found nothing amiss.
Now Chi Yao was completely certain—it really had been her imagination.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Chi Yao's eyes.
In truth, she especially wished to see Shen Yu show some unusual agitation because of her, but she also knew clearly that this was impossible.
Unless she could imprison him and desecrate him at will—perhaps then she might see embarrassment and anger on that cold, aloof face.
Just thinking of those emotions being stirred up because of her made Chi Yao incredibly excited.
"That's all for today. You may all leave."
Soon, Shen Yu put away his book and announced the end of the morning lesson.
Though everyone was still wanting more, they could only pack up their things and leave.
However, when Chi Yao finished packing and stood up, she found that Shen Yu was still seated at the table, showing no sign of leaving.
Chi Yao felt more and more that something was off about Shen Yu today. But just as she was puzzling over it, Shen Yu actually rose to his feet and walked toward her at that very moment.
"Senior… Senior Brother…"
"Junior Sister's bracelet looks quite exquisite."
This sudden remark left Chi Yao somewhat flustered.
But soon she felt a trace of relief.
Her sneaking glances these past few days had left Chi Yao feeling somewhat guilty, so much so that when Shen Yu approached just now, she had instinctively wondered if her spying had been exposed.
Now, seeing that Shen Yu was only asking about her bracelet, she instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This is a bracelet that Martial Nephew Ji won in a riddle contest."
Chi Yao immediately raised her wrist to show Shen Yu, her words carrying a hint of delight.
This made the fingertips hanging at Shen Yu's side twitch slightly, and when he lifted his gaze to look at Ji Jiusi behind Chi Yao, there was a hint of pressure in his eyes.
"Martial Nephew Ji is quite thoughtful."
A flash of guilt immediately crossed Ji Jiusi's face.
In truth, he had bought the bracelet specially as a gift for Chi Yao, but he feared that revealing too much of his feelings would drive Chi Yao to distance herself from him, so he had come up with an excuse that would let her accept it.
Now, meeting Shen Yu's gaze, he suddenly felt that his true intentions seemed to have been laid completely bare.
"I… I didn't expect the top prize to be this. It wouldn't be appropriate for a man like me to wear it, so I gave it to Young Martial Aunt."
As soon as Ji Jiusi finished speaking, he immediately looked away, not daring to keep meeting Shen Yu's gaze.
Shen Yu, meanwhile, stared at him and sized him up for a moment, a hint of darkness flashing through his jet-black eyes.
"What a coincidence."
Shen Yu left only those words behind before vanishing from the lecture hall.
The instant he returned to his sleeping quarters, the murderous aura around Shen Yu spilled out uncontrollably.
He knew Ji Jiusi's intentions all too well.
From the very first moment he had seen Ji Jiusi in the lecture hall, he had noticed that Ji Jiusi harbored unusual feelings toward his junior sister.
Over the past few days, he had intercepted quite a few Transmission Talismans Ji Jiusi had sent. He hadn't expected that even so, the man still wouldn't give up—he had actually dared to send his junior sister a bracelet.
The killing intent in Shen Yu's eyes was so thick it nearly overflowed.
But when he turned to look at the mirror placed to one side, his thin lips slowly curled upward, and the murderous look in his eyes was replaced by obsession.
But what use was that?
His junior sister's heart was with him. He would never let anyone take her away.
Shen Yu slowly walked up to the mirror and reached out to brush his hand across its surface. Though nothing could be seen in the mirror at that moment, it was as if he could see something through it.
"Junior sister, you are mine."
Shen Yu's eyes grew increasingly feverish. That almost pathological madness appeared on his cold, aloof face, lending his entire being a touch of desire.
But Shen Yu quickly seemed to sense something, and the obsession in his eyes was instantly replaced by a trace of coldness.
He glanced in the direction outside the hall, and the next moment, his figure disappeared.
…
When Jiang Wanyin arrived at the cliff, Shen Yu was standing beneath a peach blossom tree.
Though the scene was breathtakingly beautiful, Jiang Wanyin keenly sensed that the aura around him was somewhat gloomy.
Seeing this, Jiang Wanyin's eyes rolled thoughtfully, and she curled her lips as she took two steps forward.
"Has something been troubling you, Immortal Lord?"
"Did Sect Leader Jiang come all this way just to spout such nonsense?"
A hint of coldness laced Shen Yu's tone, and his attitude made it quite clear—he had no interest in idle chatter with Jiang Wanyin.
But Jiang Wanyin paid no mind to Shen Yu's cold demeanor, the smile still lingering on her face.
"I actually came this time to ask the Immortal Venerable for a favor."
"Heh."
Just as Jiang Wanyin finished speaking, a soft chuckle reached her ears. When she looked at Shen Yu again, she saw him curling his lips into a cold smile.
"Does Sect Leader Jiang take me for a kind soul who loves doing good deeds?"
Jiang Wanyin of course knew Shen Yu was not that kind of person. She knew all too well that Shen Yu disliked trouble, and that not just anyone could get him to help.
But this time, Jiang Wanyin had absolute confidence.
Before Shen Yu could turn and leave, she clapped her hands, and immediately a group of disciples stepped forward slowly, carrying trays.
With a wave of Jiang Wanyin's hand, the garments on the trays floated up gently, displayed before Shen Yu's eyes.
"This is a dress made of mermaid gauze. Not only is the fabric soft and light, it also offers decent defensive properties, and the style is very popular among women. I'm sure the Immortal Lord's junior sister would love it."
The moment those words left her mouth, Shen Yu's newly taken step froze, and the gloomy aura around him seemed to dissipate somewhat.
Those brown eyes turned toward the mermaid gauze dress before him, and only after a long moment did he look back at Jiang Wanyin.
"What do you want my help with?"
Jiang Wanyin immediately smiled, her lips curling. She knew the matter was settled.
She waved her hand to put the garments away, and only after the disciples placed them on a stone table to the side did she slowly begin to speak:
"It's really nothing difficult. Our Hehuan Sect wishes to borrow the Golden Crow Zither from the Qingyun Sect, but that old stubborn Chang Heng refuses to lend it. So I'd like to ask the Immortal Venerable to help me borrow it."
The Qingyun Sect and the Hehuan Sect had long been at odds. The other day, Jiang Wanyin had sent a disciple to the Qingyun Sect to borrow the Golden Crow Zither, but not only did they fail to get it, the disciple was also treated shabbily. So she had no choice but to come find Shen Yu.
After all, that old thing Chang Heng feared Shen Yu more than anyone.
Recalling how Chang Heng had even sent a letter to flaunt his power that day, Jiang Wanyin's eyes darted about as she resolved to scam Chang Heng once more.
"I also heard that Sect Master Chang recently obtained a Lunar Essence Pearl. Not only is the pearl beautiful, it also contains spiritual energy that can nourish the meridians. If it were set into a piece of jewelry, it would surely be beloved by women."
When Jiang Wanyin said the word "jewelry," a flicker of movement stirred at once in Shen Yu's eyes.
The next moment, he took off on Sword-flight from the cliff's edge, leaving Jiang Wanyin with only a single sentence:
"It will be delivered tomorrow."