Chapter 129: A Custom-Made Illusion Technique
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“Senior Sister Yu!”
Ji Han Zhou thought Senior Sister Yu Zhao was being too reckless. This bet was completely unfair.
Why should Senior Sister Yu winning only result in Lan Zi Yu promising to leave her alone, while losing required her to bow and admit fault? It wasn’t equitable at all.
However, Ji Han Zhou didn’t realize that all Yu Zhao truly desired was to sever all ties with these people. As long as Lan Zi Yu stopped pestering her, she would be content.
As for losing…
Neither Yu Zhao nor Ji Han Zhou considered it a possibility.
Despite being on the run from the Dark Pavilion’s bounty, they had faced numerous assassination attempts along the way. Yet, Yu Zhao not only remained unscathed but even managed to control the killers to serve as sparring partners for Ji Han Zhou.
While Lan Zi Yu might be a standout among his peers, his complacency had left him far behind Yu Zhao, who had soared to new heights.
“I’ll let you strike first so you can’t claim I bullied you,” Lan Zi Yu said arrogantly, lifting his chin in confidence.
Hearing this, Ji Han Zhou sneered.
To let Senior Sister Yu attack first? What a fool. He quickly retreated to avoid being caught in the impending chaos.
“Alright,” Yu Zhao responded calmly. For her, it made no difference whether she attacked first or second.
Though Lan Zi Yu appeared unfazed, a subtle wariness began to creep into his heart.
But as time passed with no movement from Yu Zhao, impatience overtook him. “How long are you going to stall?” he snapped irritably.
“Lan Zi Yu,” Yu Zhao declared firmly, “remember your words. From now on, if you see me, you’d better go the other way!”
Lan Zi Yu’s anger flared, ready to lash out at her perceived arrogance. But just as he opened his mouth, a strange, alluring fragrance invaded his senses.
His expression froze, and his tense features softened as a blissful look washed over his face.
At that moment, it was as if he had stepped into a world of unparalleled pleasure. His spirit swayed, and a euphoric sensation surged from deep within him.
“Urgh!”
He bit down on his tongue instinctively, trying to regain his composure. But the overwhelming delight welling up from his very soul was impossible to suppress.
Soon, rationality abandoned him. Taking out his life-bound flute, the Breaking Cloud Flute, from his storage space, Lan Zi Yu began to play.
The melody was tender and hauntingly beautiful, resonating through the forest. Enraptured by his music, he unknowingly began to sway to its rhythm.
Following the sound, Su Ming and Ye Cong Xin arrived to witness a bizarre sight: the typically aloof and proud Lan Zi Yu singing and dancing in the middle of the woods.
Su Ming: “!?”
Ye Cong Xin: “!!?”
“Junior Sister, pinch me! Am I possessed? Why does it look like Second Senior Brother is dancing? It must be an illusion!” Su Ming gawked, his jaw practically hitting the ground.
Ye Cong Xin recovered faster. She pinched Su Ming hard and urged, “Third Senior Brother, it’s not you who’s possessed—it’s Second Senior Brother! Quickly, go help him!”
She hadn’t yet stolen Lan Zi Yu’s luck, so he absolutely couldn’t suffer any harm.
“Oh, oh!” Su Ming stumbled forward awkwardly, stopping in front of the oblivious Lan Zi Yu. He scratched his head, at a loss. “Junior Sister, what do I do?”
Ye Cong Xin nearly exploded with frustration. Did this idiot really need to ask?
The answer was obvious—wake Lan Zi Yu up with a slap!
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Ye Cong Xin sweetly advised, “Third Senior Brother, think of a way to wake him up.”
Su Ming glanced at Lan Zi Yu, lost in his own world, then down at his own hand. With an air of resignation, he muttered, “Second Senior Brother, forgive me.”
Smack!
Worried one slap might not suffice, Su Ming used every ounce of his strength.
Caught completely off guard, Lan Zi Yu was sent flying from the sheer force, tracing a graceful arc through the air.
“Second Senior Brother!”
Ye Cong Xin was stunned.
Su Ming froze in place.
Lan Zi Yu, still unaware of what had happened, sat up groggily from a pile of fallen leaves, his eyes full of confusion.
“Second Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, are you okay? I didn’t mean it! It’s all your fault for looking so scary just now!”
“Second Senior Brother, are you still dizzy? Does your body feel strange anywhere?”
Lan Zi Yu looked at Su Ming, whose eyes darted around nervously, and Ye Cong Xin, who was filled with concern. Slowly, fragments of his memory returned.
As the realization of his earlier actions hit him, a wave of heat rushed straight to his skull. Overcome with shame and rage, he wished he could sink back into unconsciousness forever.
“Second Senior Brother, what was wrong with you just now? Why were you suddenly dancing in the forest? Weren’t you here to watch the fight? Where did everyone else go? Why are you the only one here?”
For the first time, Lan Zi Yu loathed Su Ming’s incessant chatter.
He desperately wanted to forget what had just transpired. At the same time, his heart was gripped by an indescribable mixture of anger and fear.
Yu Zhao. Since when had Yu Zhao become so powerful?
Under her Illusion Technique, he had been utterly defenseless, toyed with at her whim. Her growth was so alarming that he couldn’t help but doubt.
Was she really Yu Zhao?
“Second Senior Brother, why aren’t you speaking? Are you—”
“Shut up!”
Lan Zi Yu’s sudden roar silenced Su Ming, who pouted in frustration but dared not speak further.
However, when Su Ming glanced at Lan Zi Yu’s visibly swollen cheek, he could barely suppress his laughter. The internal struggle between his sympathy and amusement left him deeply conflicted.
“If you still see me as your Senior Brother, you must never mention what happened today to anyone! Not even Master!”
Lan Zi Yu’s icy gaze warned them both.
This humiliation must not be known to anyone else.
“Oh,” Su Ming muttered reluctantly, his curiosity almost unbearable. He regretted not following along earlier.
Ye Cong Xin nodded obediently. “Senior Brother, we won’t say a word. Lone Moon Peak is a collective. Your honor is our honor; your shame is our shame.”
Lan Zi Yu felt a slight sense of relief at Ye Cong Xin’s reassurance, but his anger reignited as he recalled that Yu Zhao had brought him to such disgrace. His expression turned dark and pale alternately.
Yu Zhao!
You caught me off guard this time, but I won’t let you off so easily next time.
Just you wait!
…
“Ha ha ha!”
“Hahaha!”
Yu Zhao helplessly glanced at Ji Han Zhou, who was laughing so hard he nearly fell off his flying sword. “Is it really that funny?”
Ji Han Zhou had been laughing non-stop for the entire journey, making her ears ache.
“It’s absolutely hilarious!” Ji Han Zhou clutched his stomach, sore from laughter, and tried to compose himself. “Senior Sister Yu, how did you even come up with the idea of making him dance in the forest? It’s genius!”
Yu Zhao’s lips curled slightly. “I got some inspiration from Xuan Ling.”
Back in the Merfolk Pavilion, Xuan Ling had trapped her in an illusion where Fang Cheng Lang, Lan Zi Yu, and others danced awkwardly in disarray before her.
On a whim, she tailored an illusion that unleashed Lan Zi Yu’s true nature to its fullest potential. The result exceeded her expectations.
Knowing Lan Zi Yu, Yu Zhao was certain he must be fuming by now.
From now on, whenever he saw her, he would undoubtedly recall this mortifying lesson. Hopefully, it would teach him to keep his promises and stay far away from her.
Or so Yu Zhao speculated, slightly unsure.
Beautifully done.