Chapter 21: Ch 21 - Have we met before?
-What kind of trick is she playing now...-
Yino frowned, confused by Jinyue's new topic.
There was no need for Jinyue to introduce Chen Jianxin's talent. Yino knew exactly how many arrogant villains Jianxin would defeat in the future!
But Jinyue's emphasis on Yuyan's interest made Yino involuntarily look back at the judges' seats.
In fact, Yino didn't notice any change in Yuyan's expression.
She always had a cold face. If one had to nitpick, perhaps Yuyan's usually bored attitude showed a bit of interest due to Chen Jianxin's outstanding performance.
"Hey~!"
"Are you jealous?"
Jinyue patted Yino's shoulder, her cute face adorned with a mischievous smile.
Meanwhile, Yuyan at the judges' table noticed the flirting couple below.
She lowered her gaze to look at Jinyue first, then turned to meet Yino's eyes, her eyebrows raising in a strange arc.
-[What are you looking at? Pay attention and learn.]-
From afar, Yino's mind suddenly heard his senior sister's strict and cold voice.
He quickly sat up straight.
"Jianxin is indeed impressive. I'm no match for him," he gave an honest answer to Jinyue beside him.
Upon hearing this, the smile on Jinyue's face instantly froze.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, first looking at the white-robed woman at the distant judges' table, then re-examining the honest and carefree seventh prince of the Grand Tutor's Mansion beside her.
She felt that Yuyan must have just given Yino some instructions...
Jinyue now had two questions in her mind.
First, what was the relationship between Yuyan and Yino?
Second, why was the rumored playboy of Luo City now so calm-like in his attitude, not at all jealous of Chen Jianxin's talent?
"But..."
"With Chen Jianxin's current momentum as the top martial artist, and the sword talent he's displayed, he will definitely be taken as a disciple by Sword Leader Senior Sister Yuyan after the martial arts competition ends."
"By then, you'll have a new rival within the same sect!"
Worried that Yino didn't understand, Jinyue explained the competitive relationship to him again.
Logically, Yino became Yuyan's junior brother through connections, but now with Chen Jianxin rising through sheer ability, he would naturally gain more favor from Yuyan within the sect.
And given Yino's noble background and playboy nature, he surely couldn't accept this feeling of being sidelined.
But even with Jinyue explaining to this extent, Yino still maintained a spectator's expression as he watched the martial arts stage.
"Is that so," he said casually, completely unconcerned.
But in the next second, Jinyue's alluring eyes flashed with strange patterns as she stared into Yino's eyes, attempting to use an illusion to instill the emotion of [Jealousy] into him.
After a long silence, Yino finally spoke his mind:
"Actually, Chen Jianxin won't have the chance to become Yuyan's disciple in the future."
Upon hearing this, not only did Jinyue's eyes widen, but even Yino seemed to wake from a dream, feeling somewhat surprised.
Jinyue was confused because she didn't know where Yino got the confidence to make such a prediction.
Yino was surprised because he had unknowingly spoken his true thoughts, not even realizing when he had fallen under Jinyue's illusion again!
"Why are you so certain?" Jinyue leaned in closer, unable to resist asking curiously.
Meanwhile, the white-robed woman on the high platform also narrowed her beautiful eyes, coldly observing Yino and Jinyue's intimate behavior.
This put immense pressure on Yino.
On his left was the Pleasure Demon, and far to his right was the Sword Immortal Senior Sister. He feared that one wrong word from this small cannon fodder would lead to his demise!
"You don't happen to know some inside information, do you?" Jinyue, now completely ignoring Yuyan, focused intently on Yino's face and said meaningfully.
As an evil cult's demon, she actually possessed certain prophetic knowledge.
For instance, Chen Jianxin would be the future sword genius of the Wuji Sect.
For instance, the cannon fodder character Yino wouldn't live long.
And also, Chen Jianxin would become Yuyan's disciple in the future...
But ever since that night, Jinyue's plans had been developing contrary to the prophecies.
Now, Yino even confidently asserted that Chen Jianxin had no chance of becoming Yuyan's disciple!
-Tsk...- Yino clicked his tongue secretly but maintained a composed expression.
The reason he made such an assertion was because in the game, Chen Jianxin didn't become Yuyan's disciple at first.
Senior Brother Gu Wanglan was his lifesaver, so even if Yuyan took an interest in Chen Jianxin, he would choose Gu Wanglan out of gratitude.
As for the prophecy Jinyue possessed, that was from the later part of the game, after the villainous Senior Brother was killed, when Jianxin then turned to become Yuyan's disciple.
But with Yino here now, how could he let Jianxin live until then?
He was even more eager to kill Jianxin than Gu Wanglan!
This was the source of Yino's confidence in his assertion.
"Because I alone am enough to annoy Senior Sister, so she probably doesn't want to take on another junior brother to disturb her peace," Yino said calmly after some thought, making up a reason.
But to be fair, this explanation made sense when you think about it. Just from the past two days on Ranmo Peak, Yino felt like his chatter had nearly driven Yuyan crazy.
Fortunately, Senior Sister was beautiful and kind-hearted, still taking good care of him.
"Are you serious?" Jinyue looked at him with doubt all over her face.
Yino nodded seriously.
Immediately, Jinyue held her forehead with one hand and shook her head.
She sighed, thinking to herself that talking with Yino had made her foolish too, actually believing a playboy prince would say something sensible.
How could Yino's nonsense be more accurate than the [prophecy] Jinyue knew?
"First place in the assessment: Chen Jianxin!"
"Junior Brother Chen, please come to the stage and choose your desired sect from the five major sects based on your talent and aptitude!"
As they were talking, the sect entry assessment had concluded, and the host senior brother announced the first place winner in a deep voice.
Everyone's gaze focused on the young, honest-looking black-robed youth on the stage.
In the audience, Jinyue also stared at Chen Jianxin with curious eyes, watching him walk all the way up to the stage, only to brush past the Sword Leader Senior Sister and go directly to the long-haired, handsome Daoist robe-wearing senior brother, kneeling down to pay respects.
"Senior Brother Gu!" Chen Jianxin bowed with utmost respect.
At the same time, Gu Wanglan stood up, meeting the surprised gazes of the crowd. With a crooked smile, he looked around challengingly, finally resting his gaze on the white-robed woman not far away.
That look seemed to be showing off to Yuyan, as if to say the first-place sword genius didn't even glance at you, but chose to follow me instead.
Yuyan: "..."
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
Yuyan couldn't be bothered to respond, finding it ridiculous, and turned her face away to rest her eyes.
After all these years, she had grown accustomed to Gu Wanglan's constant comparisons.
It couldn't be helped; who made her the Sword Leader Senior Sister, while Gu Wanglan could only ever rank second?
The resentment of being eternally second was no joke.
In reality, Yuyan had no intention of taking Chen Jianxin as a disciple either.
After all... If a third person came to Ranmo Peak, Yuyan wouldn't be able to openly play chess with Yino anymore.
Moreover, Yino alone was already quite troublesome. Although he respected Yuyan, he still chattered to her like reciting scriptures every day.
Yuyan usually didn't like to talk much, but after spending two days with Yino, she felt like she had used up two months' worth of words.
If another junior brother joined, the situation would be unimaginable.
"See? He didn't choose Senior Sister after all," Yino spread his hands innocently, enjoying Jinyue's dumbfounded expression beside him while his lips curling upwards.
Jinyue turned back, too surprised to speak.
Seeing that the sect entry assessment was nearing its end, Yino also timed it right and stood up.
He remembered Yuyan had instructed him to wait for her at the back door after it ended, so he prepared to leave early.
"Senior Sister, let's meet again if fate allows," Yino hummed smugly, leaving a casual remark as he turned to leave.
But in the next second, his clothes were grabbed by the girl,
"But, junior brother, you still don't know my name~"
The girl sat up with a smile, her jade fingers pressed together, accurately hitting Yino's acupoint on his back.
In an instant, Yino's time seemed to freeze. He felt his body stiffen and unable to move, only able to let the fox girl behind him walk forward.
He looked sideways and saw that Jinyue, who was dressed as a white-robed junior sister just moments ago, had somehow transformed into the Pleasure Demon in a fiery red dress.
Jinyue stood in front of him, cupping his face. Her peach blossom eyes, inscribed with blood-colored runes, stared directly at Yino until his gaze gradually became dull and lifeless.
She held the young man's face, leaning close to his ear and whispering softly:
"My name is Jiang Jinyue~"
"Junior brother, think carefully, haven't we met somewhere before?"