“Lü Qi.”
Yu Yi’s voice reached Lü Qi’s ears, pulling her back from her wandering thoughts.
“Master, what are your instructions?” Lü Qi asked respectfully.
“I haven’t heard you play in many years. I wonder how your zither art is progressing. Would you be willing to perform a piece for me?” Yu Yi asked with a smile.
‘Since her zither art has reached its peak, the music she plays must be quite beautiful.’
“Of course! Master, what would you like to hear?” Lü Qi asked hurriedly. She wouldn’t let such a rare opportunity to show off in front of Yu Yi slip away.
“It doesn’t matter what I want to hear. What matters is what kind of song you want to play for me,” Yu Yi replied with a meaningful smile.
Lü Qi frowned and fell into thought. She muttered Yu Yi’s words under her breath, savoring their meaning.
‘If I play a piece I’m skilled at, will Master think I haven’t been practicing new songs?’
‘But if I play a new song and she actually wanted to hear my best piece, wouldn’t that be even more awkward?’
Lü Qi fell into a state of indecision, but in reality, Yu Yi hadn’t meant anything special. She simply felt like saying “whatever.”
“Fourth Senior Sister, I have a great idea,” Su Cheng suddenly spoke up.
“Oh?” Lü Qi’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”
‘That’s great. Thank goodness Xiao Cheng is here. With her clever mind, she’ll definitely think of a good way,’ Lü Qi thought to herself.
‘I’ve thought of the most suitable piece,’ Su Cheng mused internally.
“Master, please allow Fourth Senior Sister and me to step aside for a moment. If we say it here, it will lose the element of surprise,” Su Cheng requested.
For some reason, as soon as Su Cheng said that, Yu Yi’s body trembled involuntarily, and her chest rose and fell slightly.
‘Is this Su Cheng trying to have Lü Qi play a lullaby for me?’
Recalling the experience of being touched all over after drinking that **Sleeping Spirit Tea** earlier, Yu Yi broke into a cold sweat.
‘No, stay calm. Don’t panic.’
The last time she fell for it was because she had underestimated the power of Ye Qingluan’s **Spirit Tea** and failed to prepare.
But since she had learned from that experience, she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. This time, Yu Yi was fully prepared; she wouldn’t let things spiral out of control again.
Thus, with a calm expression, she said, “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you here.”
Su Cheng then pulled Lü Qi out of Dayi Hall.
“Xiao Cheng, tell me quickly, what’s the great idea?” Lü Qi asked impatiently. Her emerald eyes sparkled brilliantly under the moonlight, making her look even more excited.
However, Su Cheng didn’t answer directly. Instead, she changed the subject. “Fourth Senior Sister, how do you see that Yun Family young lady?”
“Huh?” Lü Qi blinked, wondering why she was suddenly asking about Yun Qianxue.
“I noticed earlier. You were secretly staring at her, and you seemed to be thinking about something,” Su Cheng said with a mischievous grin.
“You noticed that… fine, I might as well tell you.”
Lü Qi admitted directly, “After hearing that she waited for Master for five years, I felt like the girl has had it rough. She admires Master so much, yet her behavior is so conservative. It’s really hard to watch.”
“Oh? So you want to… give her a push?” Su Cheng narrowed her eyes slightly.
Lü Qi nodded.
“Heh, Fourth Senior Sister is just like before, fond of ‘multiplayer games’…” Su Cheng covered her mouth and giggled.
“W-what? Is there something wrong with that?” Lü Qi crossed her arms, her face flushing. “I’m not like you, always trying to keep the good stuff to yourself.”
“Since you want to give the Yun Family young lady a push, why not let her fall asleep to that song?” Su Cheng suggested.
“Which song?” Lü Qi asked.
“Fourth Senior Sister, stop playing dumb. Back then, Second Senior Sister was as pure as a blank sheet of paper. Didn’t she also receive her ‘enlightenment’ after listening to that song of yours?” Su Cheng said, shrugging.
“This… wouldn’t it be inappropriate? There are many young disciples in the Fengqing Sect. If they hear it too, they’ll be listless during their training tomorrow.” Lü Qi hesitated.
“Don’t worry,” Su Cheng said with a meaningful smile. “I’ll help, too.”
Since things had come to this, there was nothing more to hesitate about. Lü Qi nodded.
The two returned to Dayi Hall.
“Have you finished your discussion?” Yu Yi asked calmly, eyes closed as she focused.
“Then let’s begin.”
Lü Qi then channeled the flowing wind in the air, and a **Treasure Zither** materialized from the breeze into her hands. She sat cross-legged, placed the zither across her knees, and gently plucked the strings.
The moment the sound reached Yu Yi’s ears, she couldn’t help but open her eyes. Only one thought remained in her mind—
‘This sound… it’s wonderful!’
***
Back in her room, Yun Qianxue was tossing and turning in bed. She wasn’t usually the type to be picky about where she slept, but for some reason, she felt exceptionally agitated and restless tonight.
the scene of Lü Qi and Yu Yi embracing earlier was still vivid in her mind.
Although Yun Qianxue was happy for Lü Qi — since being recognized by Yu Yi was something she had surely worked hard for — a strange emotion began to quietly spread in her heart.
‘Sister is gentle to everyone, but when will she dote on me just once…’
Yun Qianxue couldn’t help but think of how Su Cheng had acted all smug and self-satisfied in front of her before leaving Among the Colorful Clouds. Her mood became even more irritable.
Just then, the sound of a zither drifted in with the wind, passing through the window and flowing into Yun Qianxue’s ears.
‘Is that… Fourth Sister playing the zither?’ Yun Qianxue wondered.
‘Big Sister and the others must be very happy right now… while I have to sleep here obediently. It’s so unfair…’
As the music continued, Yun Qianxue gradually felt her body becoming inexplicably hot. A certain desire hidden deep in her heart seemed to be becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
Her face flushed, her breath became shallow, and her hand unconsciously reached downward.
But at that moment, the voice she dreamed of suddenly rang out in the room.
“Qianxue, what are you doing?”
Yun Qianxue jolted in shock, quickly pulling her hand back as she sat up abruptly.
Looking at Yu Yi, who had suddenly entered the room and appeared before her, she asked in surprise, “B-Big Sister, why are you here?”
Yu Yi only smiled faintly. She took off her shoes and slowly crawled onto the bed, approaching Yun Qianxue.
“B-Big Sister?” Yun Qianxue clutched her pillow, instinctively retreating. But the bed was nowhere near as spacious as the one at home. After only two or three movements, she was backed into a corner.
“Qianxue, you’ve been enduring for a long time, haven’t you? Is there anything you need Sister to help you with?” Yu Yi leaned close and whispered, her voice ethereal and soul-stirring.
The tip of her nose lightly brushed against Yun Qianxue, and a slender arm braced itself between the girl’s legs.
Yun Qianxue had never seen Yu Yi in such a charming, proactive, and assertive state.
‘What’s going on?! What happened to Big Sister?! By the way, she’s so… so close!!’
Staring at Yu Yi right in front of her, the tips of Yun Qianxue’s ears were burning hot, and her mind went blank. An inexplicable mix of tension, excitement, and anticipation surged into her heart.
She couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Her heart rate suddenly accelerated —
*Thump, thump, thump-thump — *
‘It’s starting!!’
‘IT’S STARTING!!!’