"Oh?"
"Top of the Yingxian Immortal Exam? It was her?"
"I see."
Hearing Annie say this, a flicker of surprise crossed the old woman's cloudy eyes for the first time.
Then, for once, she gave Daiyu another careful, appraising look from head to toe. A hint of understanding gradually dawned in her eyes. It seemed she had heard of Daiyu before.
And that was hardly surprising!
After all, though the Heavenly Court's Yingxian Exam was only the preliminary stage of the immortal selection, anyone who came out on top was no ordinary person. At the very least, it meant their talent, insight, and knowledge had earned them the Heavenly Court's initial recognition.
So it wasn't strange that someone like her, living in the Divine Capital and well-informed, had heard about Lin Daiyu.
And so!
Once Annie had brought it up, the old woman seemed to think twice before calling Lin Daiyu useless.
"..."
But Daiyu had been pointed out by Annie without warning, and now the old woman was watching her with an appraising, surprised gaze. Her cheeks grew hot, and she had no choice but to lower her head bashfully.
She knew perfectly well how she had earned the title of top scorer, and she felt she didn't deserve it. Now her own master was using it as a "calling card," leaving her terribly embarrassed, though she couldn't bring herself to explain or defend herself.
After all, she hadn't even dared tell Tanchun the truth about her false title of "top scorer."
"..."
The old woman didn't understand. Seeing Daiyu's timid, delicate manner, she assumed Daiyu was simply being modest. Then, thinking of her title as top scorer in the immortal selection, she wore a complicated, inscrutable expression for the first time, as if she wanted to say something.