Afterward, their attention remained completely fixed on Yu Xiao, each man's curiosity sharpening as they watched her every move.
They exchanged uncertain glances, convinced they had just witnessed some kind of astonishing, unconventional technique—something far beyond their expectations.
Yu Xiao's calm composure and enigmatic air left them wondering what she would do next.
Her quiet confidence was almost tangible, making it impossible for them to look away.
With elegant precision, she unfastened the belt at her waist and let it drop, the soft fabric whispering against her robe.
She slid out of her outer robe, folding it with practiced care.
Each movement was slow and deliberate, exuding both poise and intent.
Then, with graceful fingers, she removed the jade hairpin from her hair.
Instantly, her long, lustrous hair tumbled down in silken waves, cascading over her shoulders and catching the light.
The sight left them momentarily breathless—her beauty and presence seemed to fill the entire space, both subtle and commanding.
"Dijun, what is she doing?" Yun Qingjue whispered, his voice edged with awe and uncertainty.
Long Jianyu, watching Yu Xiao from afar, found himself at a loss for words.
His brows furrowed in disbelief as he tried to make sense of her actions, his composure shaken by the unexpected scene before him.
Another layer of Yu Xiao's robe slipped from her shoulders, revealing her luminous skin to the open air.
The sight sent a jolt of shock through the onlookers—no one had anticipated such a bold display.
Long Jianyu, caught off guard, instinctively lifted his arm to shield his face behind his wide sleeve, determined not to witness Yu Xiao's unveiled form.
Yet, even as he averted his eyes, he couldn't help but notice Yun Qingjue's response.
Unlike himself, Yun Qingjue stared unflinchingly at the scene, his eyes wide and unblinking, entirely captivated by Yu Xiao's unexpected revelation.
In a single heartbeat, Yun Qingjue felt the weight of his Dijun's sharp, unyielding gaze fixed directly on him.
He froze, his posture turning rigid as he met that piercing stare.
"Pervert!" Long Jianyu hissed, her accusation slicing through the tension.
"Dijun, I wouldn't dare," Yun Qingjue stammered, hastily averting his eyes, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Long Jianyu steadied himself with a sharp breath and gave Yun Qingjue a curt nod.
"Turn around," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
Yun Qingjue obeyed instantly, his back snapping straight as he faced away.
"Unbelievable," Yun Qingjue muttered under his breath. "I can't imagine how shameless this woman is. She really knows how to seduce men."
At that, Long Jianyu shot him a piercing glare.
"And how would you know she's trying to seduce men? She doesn't even know we're watching her. Stop being delusional!"
"I—I almost forgot," Yun Qingjue stammered, lips pressed tight in embarrassment.
Despite his outward composure, tension coiled within Long Jianyu.
He couldn't shake the feeling that, as a seasoned trapper, he was now the one ensnared by his own schemes.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiao, resolute and unflinching, focused only on survival.
In her mind, staying alive mattered more than honor or shame.
If resistance meant making a spectacle of herself, then so be it—the show would go on.
Determined to break free from the illusionary trap, Yu Xiao relied on instinct, unsure if her gambit would succeed.
With unwavering resolve, she stripped away her final layer of clothing, baring herself completely.
Unaware of what he'd see, Long Jianyu slowly lowered his arms to check on her—only to be met with the shocking sight of Yu Xiao's bare form.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he quickly shielded his face again, a hard gulp betraying his astonishment.
Why… why would she go so far as to undress herself?
The thought caught in his mind, refusing to resolve.
Yun Qingjue, tempted to sneak a glance, found himself pinned by Long Jianyu's fierce, warning stare—sharp enough to cut.
Unsettled and unable to bear the situation any longer, Long Jianyu made a swift decision.
He rested a hand on Yun Qingjue's shoulder, and in the next instant, teleported them both away, desperate to escape the bewildering scene they had just witnessed.
Meanwhile, at the very center of attention, Yu Xiao—before she could even finish redressing herself in her improvised, reverse order—sensed a sudden shift in her surroundings.
The distorted environment shimmered and dissolved, the illusion falling away to reveal the familiar, ordinary world once more.
As the last traces of the illusion faded, a bright, triumphant smile broke across her face.
Unable to contain her joy, she clapped her hands together and leaped into the air, her laughter ringing out, clear and exuberant.
"Ahahaha! I did it! I did it!" she cheered, her voice echoing with victory and relief.
Once more, she spun in place, scanning her surroundings with sharp, triumphant eyes, hands planted confidently on her waist.
"I told you—your tricks won't work on me!" she declared, her voice ringing with defiance. "You can't fool me. Using illusions just to entrap me? In your dreams! What's the use of your spell if my bare skin alone is enough to shatter it? Shameless!"
On the other side, Yun Qingjue was grumbling about his Dijun's decision-making.
He had kept asking Long Jianyu if they should continue challenging Yu Xiao, and each time, Long Jianyu responded in line with Yun Qingjue's own plan.
Yet, in the end, Long Jianyu had suddenly withdrawn without any warning—abandoning the challenge before the game was even over.
Long Jianyu couldn't offer Yun Qingjue any firm explanation at the moment, though thoughts churned relentlessly in his mind.
Who would dare press forward with a plan when the challenger herself responded in such an unexpected—and frankly, outrageous—way?
To him, Yun Qingjue was still young, and it was only natural for a man to be tempted by such an alluring sight.
No, that wasn't it! Why was he even thinking about this?
He scolded himself inwardly, frustrated and bewildered by the direction of his own thoughts.
Yu Xiao, in all honesty, was an utterly captivating figure.
She wasn't merely beautiful—she possessed a goddess-like allure that was almost otherworldly.
But it was more than just her looks; she was perfect in every way.
Truly, any man would dream of having her. She was—
Long Jianyu abruptly squeezed his eyes shut, a sharp breath catching in his throat as discomfort washed over him.
How could I even think such things? he berated himself silently.
Once he opened his eyes, Long Jianyu took a steady breath, forcing himself to calm and pause.
Is she really... my destined one?
The thought lingered, and before he could stop himself, a subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
A blush crept across his cheeks, and warmth surged to his ears, turning them bright red in an instant.
If that's the case… she's exactly my type. I can't believe I'm even thinking this!
He squeezed his eyes shut again, unable to hide his embarrassment or regain control over his flustered thoughts.
What's wrong with me?
"Dijun, are we pulling out at this point?" Yun Qingjue spoke up, breaking the silence.
Long Jianyu snapped out of his daze, turning to face Yun Qingjue with a soft, startled gasp.
Composing himself, he closed his eyes and cast a tracking spell to locate Yu Xiao.
When he sensed her presence, he opened his eyes and gave Yun Qingjue a meaningful look.
"She's made it into the secret chamber. Withdraw for now—but keep a close watch on her."
"Understood." Yun Qingjue offered a respectful bow before departing, his figure dissolving into the air with effortless grace.
Once Yun Qingjue was gone, Long Jianyu quietly left the area as well, activating his invisibility spell to continue scouting for any unexpected developments.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiao finally burst into the secret chamber.
To her surprise, she discovered Tiaopi sealed inside a square, translucent cage—its surface shimmering with spiritual power at the very heart of the chamber.
Overwhelmed by a rush of emotion—happiness mingled with loneliness—Yu Xiao hurried toward him.
"Tiaopi? It's me, Yu Xiao. I found you," she called out, her voice trembling with relief.
Seeing Tiaopi's condition, Yu Xiao noticed he could move, but only within the confines of the cage—and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hear his voice.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" she called out, anxiety creeping into her tone. "Why aren't you answering? Has someone threatened you? Please, let me know!"
She pressed closer to the barrier, her worry mounting.
"Tiaopi, can you hear me? Hey!"
Yu Xiao furrowed her brows, growing increasingly uneasy at the total lack of response.
Tiaopi was always so talkative—how could he be silent now?
Driven by a mix of curiosity and desperation to reach him, she reached out and pressed her hand against the barrier.
Instantly, a jolt of pain shot through her, as if she'd touched a live wire.
She stumbled backward, clutching her wrist, her hands trembling from the numbing shock that surged through her body.
It felt exactly like being electrocuted by an exposed current—the protective seal was far more dangerous than she expected.
A tear welled up in Yu Xiao's eyes, the shock of the unexpected event leaving her feeling powerless as she stared at the impenetrable barrier.
"I'm sorry, Tiaopi. I can't get you out on my own," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "But don't worry—I'll be back. I'll find someone who can help. Please, just wait for me."
With that desperate promise, Yu Xiao turned to leave, hurrying toward the chamber's threshold.
But she skidded to a sudden halt as a familiar figure materialized in front of her, blocking her path.
A sword gleamed, its tip poised dangerously close to the side of her neck.
"Stop right there!" the figure commanded.
Yu Xiao looked up, her eyes widening in recognition.
"Yo—Young Master!"
"Yes, it's me," he replied, his gaze unwavering.
A sheepish smile flickered across Yu Xiao's face as her gaze darted between Yun Qingjue and the sword pointed at her.
"How bold of you! Barging into Dijun's secret chamber is a grave offense—you're asking for death!" Yun Qingjue's voice was cold and stern.
Yu Xiao waved her hands frantically in protest.
"No, no, Young Master, you misunderstand! I meant no harm. Could you… Could you please lower your sword? Hehe, I promise I won't fight you."
Speaking gently, she reached out, carefully pressing her fingers to the flat of Yun Qingjue's blade and guiding it downward.
Yun Qingjue's brow arched, his eyes narrowing with a cold, suspicious stare.
"Really? But I very much want to fight you and punish you," he retorted, abruptly raising the blade back to her neck, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "You think you can fool me?"
Yu Xiao squeezed her eyes shut, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I wouldn't dare."