Chapter 20: Li Yao's Jealousy
As Meng Hao stood atop the misty cliffs of the Sixth Peak, surrounded by the ethereal beauty of jade-colored pine trees and a crisp mountain breeze, a soft but clear system chime echoed once more in his mind, drawing his focus immediately.
[Ding! Favorability Increase Detected.]
[Name: Chang Yue]
Age: 5,678
Cultivation: Middle Void Refining Realm (Currently in Soul Form)
Favorability: ★★☆☆☆ (2 Stars – Developing Interest)
(Despite being a Void Refining Realm cultivator, she has never encountered a boy as beautiful as you in her entire long life. She is deeply charmed by your beauty and admits that if you were not her disciple's man, she would have already "eaten" you.)
Meng Hao's eyes flickered with amusement as he read through the message.
"Chang Yue… Li Yao's master?" he thought to himself, a devilish smile rising within the depths of his heart.
"So even a cultivator standing at the lofty heights of the Void Refining Realm can't resist my charm?"
The thought was as intoxicating as it was amusing.
A quiet chuckle echoed within his mind.
"Truly, this Master of Li Yao seems to be the most lustful woman I've encountered among those of such a high cultivation realm…"
His lips curled ever so slightly.
"Just at two stars favorability, she's already entertaining such thoughts?" he mused. "If this favorability increases, it wouldn't be wrong to assume she'll start scheming to devour me—literally or otherwise."
The wind swept gently across the peak, ruffling the folds of his robes as his eyes narrowed in silent satisfaction.
"But what does it matter?" he thought darkly. "Whether the melon falls on the knife or the knife falls on the melon... it's always the melon that gets sliced."
"Come then, my dear melons," he smirked internally, "show me what kinds of wild, lustful ideas you're all hiding about falling onto my knife."
As the devilish thought filled his mind, a trace of evil satisfaction danced across his face. But almost instantly, he composed himself—his expression returning to calm serenity as if nothing had happened.
He turned to Li Yao, who was still watching him closely, and offered a faint smile.
"It's nothing, Junior Sister," he said casually, his voice relaxed. "I was simply happy about getting selected as the Ninth Personal Disciple of Peak Master Su Lan."
The smile on his face was light and confident.
Li Yao blinked.
"Oh? Junior Brother, is that so…?" she replied, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable undertone of surprise.
But within her heart, her emotions were far from calm.
"What… what happened?" she thought to herself in disbelief. "How did Junior Brother get selected by Master Su Lan?"
Her gaze fell on Meng Hao, who stood before her without a trace of arrogance, but the news he had just revealed felt like a thunderclap in her heart.
"Isn't Master Su Lan known for never accepting male disciples?" she asked herself again, confused. "Her record has remained untouched for centuries... and now she suddenly accepted Meng Hao?"
Just as her thoughts began to spiral, a cold, mature voice echoed in her ears—calm, but tinged with sarcasm.
"Hmmm… Meng Hao, getting selected by that cheap master of yours..." the voice said slowly.
It was the voice of her own master—Chang Yue—speaking directly into her mind.
"Even though he has no particularly special talent, and his potential isn't anything worth mentioning… he still managed to get selected by her. That in itself is far too suspicious."
She went silent after that, clearly waiting for Li Yao's reply.
Li Yao, startled by her master's words, quickly responded in her heart.
"Why?"
The answer came instantly, colder than before.
"She may have some bad thoughts about him," Chang Yue said bluntly. "You also know how handsome and unnaturally charming he is. Honestly, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's the most beautiful boy I've ever seen… and your cheap master might think the same."
Her voice dipped lower, turning sharper.
"I suspect she's feeling lust toward him. With her history and now this sudden change, it can't be pure coincidence. Accepting a male disciple now, and of all people, him?"
Li Yao's heart trembled slightly. Her hands clenched unconsciously.
"Li Yao, I'm telling you this as your master. Becoming her disciple may not have been a good thing after all. You need to grow stronger—fast. Because at this rate… it might not be long before you find Meng Hao in Su Lan's bed."
The words hit like a slap, violent and loud in her mind.
Li Yao's expression twisted for a brief second—her calm exterior cracking under the weight of jealousy and rage.
Her teeth gritted quietly, and her eyes flared with a sudden glint of fierce determination.
"No…!" she screamed inwardly. "Junior Brother is mine!"
Her breathing quickened as anger began to simmer beneath the surface.
"How can I allow him to fall into the traps of that vixen Master of mine?"
Her fists clenched tighter as she took a step forward, her gaze locked on Meng Hao.
"I need to get stronger. I have to move faster. I will not lose him—not to anyone!"
Meng Hao, oblivious to the intense emotional storm raging within her, turned toward her with a gentle smile, unaware—or perhaps pretending to be—that he had just set off yet another spark in a growing fire.
Li Yao glanced at him again, but this time, there was no confusion in her gaze—only a sharp, unshakable determination.