Just then, a young man hurried over, calling Xiaolian's name.
"Junior Sister, why did you run off here? Everyone's been looking all over for you."
"Ah!"
Xiaolian recognized the young man as a disciple of Jiangzhu Mountain. She replied, "You go back first. I'll catch up with you all later."
"No can do! The Grand Elder is about to take us to pay respects to the other Seniors. You're the only one missing."
Damn it! Why now of all times?
Xiaolian was waiting for Gu Qingfeng to pass out so she could watch the fun, but she couldn't ignore the Grand Elder's summons. She had snuck Chen Yue in without anyone else knowing.
"Xiaolian, you should go. It won't be good if you're discovered."
"Ah! Then... alright then! But Sister, where will you take this guy after he faints?"
"The usual place."
Hearing 'the usual place,' Xiaolian's heart leapt with joy. She grinned. "Great! Hehe, we'll teach this nouveau riche a lesson together then!"
With that, Xiaolian said goodbye to Gu Qingfeng, explained the reason, and hurried off. As she left, she shot Gu Qingfeng a pitying look.
After Xiaolian departed, Chen Yue stood there dumbfounded, glaring at Gu Qingfeng, not starting her dance.
"Dance... Come on, give us a performance for this lord to appreciate..." Gu Qingfeng leaned against the stone pillar with a playful smile, legs crossed, munching on a spirit fruit—the very picture of a frivolous young master.
This made Chen Yue feel extremely uncomfortable. But for the sake of that cup of wine, she chose to endure it.
Damnable fellow! Enjoy yourself for now. You'll get yours later. If I don't play you to death this time, I'll take your surname!
Chen Yue steeled herself.
She prepared to dance but couldn't find the rhythm. After a few awkward steps, it felt all wrong.
"Do you even know how to dance?" Gu Qingfeng laughed. "Those few steps you just did weren't as good-looking as a hopping zombie."
"You!"
Chen Yue's hatred burned. She wished she could rush over and strangle this arrogant, detestable man. Indignantly, she said, "I can't dance without accompaniment!"
"Accompaniment, is it? That's easy."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng pull a guqin from his storage bag, Chen Yue asked curiously, "You understand music?"
"What do you mean 'understand'?" Gu Qingfeng replied with a teasing smile. "This lord is a veritable music master. There isn't a tune in this world I can't play."
"Braggart!"
"Tell me, what tune do you want for accompaniment?"
"World-Venerable Lady's 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix.' Do you know it?"
Hearing 'World-Venerable Lady,' Gu Qingfeng was momentarily taken aback.
"Didn't you say there's no tune in the world you can't play? Can you play World-Venerable Lady's 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix'? Can you bring out its Profound Mystery?"
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin and raised an eyebrow. "What dance are you doing that needs this tune for accompaniment?"
"'Imperial Consort's Drunken Dance to Seduce the Monarch.' It's a classic dance art left behind by World-Venerable Lady herself, so naturally it requires her 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix' for accompaniment..."
"'Imperial Consort's Drunken Dance to Seduce the Monarch'?" Gu Qingfeng let out a helpless chuckle and shook his head.
"Hey, can you play it or not? If not, I'm not dancing..."
"Fine! 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix' it is!"
Gu Qingfeng adjusted the strings, then his hands danced over the guqin. A beautiful melody flowed forth, stunning Chen Yue where she stood.
She worshipped World-Venerable Lady. She especially loved this piece, 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix,' left behind by her. For this, she had practiced it diligently.
However, this was, after all, a famous composition by World-Venerable Lady. Its difficulty was immense, its Profound Mystery profound. Few in the world could play it with true artistic conception, let alone bring out the Profound Mystery within the melody.
Despite Chen Yue's exceptional comprehension and talent, she could only play a fraction of the passionate Profound Mystery contained in 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix.'
She had thought this fellow was just boasting. But what she never expected was that his rendition of 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix' was so exquisite, the Profound Mystery within the melody fully expressed...
It was simply unbelievable.
This was the first time she had heard such a profoundly marvelous 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix,' and it was played by a man, which made it even harder to believe.
"Heavens... you... you actually..." Chen Yue's face was a mask of astonishment. Gazing at the white-clad man sitting in the pavilion, his hands dancing over the guqin, she didn't know why, but in that moment, she suddenly felt this fellow wasn't so hateful anymore. Instead, a peculiar feeling arose within her—a sense of awe, the kind of unbelievable awe one feels upon seeing an iron tree bloom.
"Didn't this lord say? There's no tune in this world I can't play. Whether it's 'Male Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix' or 'Phoenix Seeking the Male Phoenix,' even if it were 'Phoenix Seeking Phoenix' or 'Male Phoenix Seeking Wind,' I could play it with artistic conception for you... What are you still standing there for? Start dancing..." Gu Qingfeng said with a playful smile, his ten fingers dancing wildly over the guqin. The melodious music was refreshing to the soul, utterly captivating.
Chen Yue hesitated no longer. Her graceful figure began to sway and dance along with the music.
...
Morning passed, the scorching sun hung high.
More and more guests arrived. Aside from a few special invitees, most were already present.
The dozen or so Gardens on the mountain grew increasingly lively.
Elders sat together, exchanging pleasantries. Experts gathered, engaging in mutual discussions and sparring.
However.
The liveliest place was undoubtedly the Garden named 'Illusory Sea' on Liuren Mountain.
This Garden was filled exclusively with young people.
And they were all prominent figures among the younger generation of the Glazed Great Region.
Present were the direct disciples of the Glazed Great Region's number one sect, Wind Return Sect—geniuses like He Wen and Ye Rou, who possessed the Ninefold Flowing Color aura.
Furthermore, direct disciples from all the major sects of the Glazed Great Region were here.
The inheritor disciples from the reclusive Three Caves and Five Mountains had also come.
Yuan Xuan of Black Crow Mountain, Xiao Fan of Jiangzhu Mountain, and others...
These inheritors all possessed remarkable cultivation and formidable strength, either being Ninefold Flowing Color geniuses or blessed with innate gifts.
Of course, there were also the Nine Spirits of the Wind Cloud Branch led by Kang Zhengqi.
And the Nine Young Masters of the Fire Cloud Branch led by Zhuo Feng.
It was no exaggeration to say that the majority of the prominent young figures from the Glazed Great Region's younger generation were gathered here.
The reason these people congregated here was simple: Shui Yunruo and Lan Feier were seated in this courtyard.
Shui Yunruo and Lan Feier were hailed as two of the Ten Little Phoenix Hairpins of the Four Regions. They were goddesses in the hearts of countless young men, with many admirers.
Normally, the two goddesses spent most of their time in seclusion. Getting to see them was very difficult. Today, with such a rare opportunity, the young men naturally wouldn't let it pass. They either vied to showcase themselves or lavished them with attention.
This left Shui Yunruo and Lan Feier feeling quite helpless. However, they were long accustomed to such occasions and situations. Under normal circumstances, both could handle it with ease. But today, neither was in the mood, their minds completely preoccupied with thoughts of that white-clad man.
---
Five chapters finished for yesterday.
Let me mention something: I just discovered two chapters were duplicated! I'm so annoyed; it was probably due to network lag. The site has rules—published paid chapters cannot be deleted and must be handled by an editor. It's very late now; the editor is off work already. I can only deal with it tomorrow.
To the readers who have already subscribed, Xiao Jiu apologizes for making you spend money unnecessarily. However... tomorrow I'll discuss with the editor to find a way to make up for everyone's loss!
Sorry!
Sorry!
Sorry!
Important things must be said three times!
Also, barring any accidents, there will be another five-chapter update tomorrow, and this might continue for a while...