This melody... it feels like I've heard it before?
But it's only a feeling.
Gu Qingfeng was quite certain he had never heard this piece before.
So why did it feel so familiar?
This question left Gu Qingfeng momentarily puzzled.
However, one thing was clear to him: this sense of familiarity was no coincidence. Perhaps it was related to karmic ties from a past life.
Gu Qingfeng was born from the Blood of Original Sin; he had no so-called past or present lives.
Even if he did, it would be the past-life karma of the Blood of Original Sin.
Could it be that this melody was connected to the Blood of Original Sin?
Unclear.
Just as he was pondering this, he detected a strand of divine sense sweeping towards him. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Lin Xiang'er's divine sense.
Why would this girl suddenly fix her attention on him for no reason?
Could it be that she, too, felt this sense of familiarity?
Indeed, that was the case.
Just moments ago, for some unknown reason, Lin Xiang'er's feeling of familiarity had suddenly intensified. Such a situation rarely occurred before—to be precise, it had never happened.
In the past, watching others become entranced by her music, she would occasionally feel a sense of familiarity, but it had never been as intense as it was today.
Puzzled, she immediately began to investigate.
One particular spiritual aura seemed to be affecting her.
The owner of this aura was a man.
A man who appeared to have no cultivation base whatsoever and was also extremely frail.
Lin Xiang'er had never seen this man before. She found it strange, wondering why this man's spiritual aura could make her sense of familiarity grow so intensely.
So intense that it even induced an illusion in her.
As if, at this very moment, she was dancing before this man, performing an extremely alluring and seductive dance.
She truly felt this way.
Very strongly.
And very mysteriously.
She wasn't the only one who felt this. When Lin Xiang'er's divine sense swept over him, Gu Qingfeng also experienced this sensation, as if a bewitching, alluring woman was dancing before him.
What was this?
A spiritual technique?
No.
Gu Qingfeng was certain that the reason for his illusion was not because he was immersed in the Musical Arts.
Then what could it be?
Could it truly be the so-called karma?
Gu Qingfeng did not understand.
He stood up, walked to the window ledge, picked up a cup of wine, and looked towards Lin Xiang'er, who was performing on the high platform. At that moment, Lin Xiang'er was also looking at him. The instant their eyes met, Lin Xiang'er's heart jolted violently. The intense sense of familiarity vanished instantly, replaced by fear and darkness, as if she had fallen into an abyss. It felt as if her entire body, down to her very soul, had been completely seen through by that single glance. This truly frightened Lin Xiang'er out of her wits.
The fright lasted only a moment before disappearing. When she looked up again, Gu Qingfeng in the second-floor private room raised his wine cup towards her in a slight gesture and gave a faint smile.
Who is this person?
How terrifying!
Lin Xiang'er, still shaken, had a face that alternated between red and white, and her breathing became heavy.
In the main hall's venue.
The crowd remained entranced by Lin Xiang'er's Musical Arts.
Steward Wei Lao of the mountain villa led Tang Manqing, Shui'er, and Gu Zhenyuan—all in disguise—into a pavilion room on the second floor.
"Xiang'er is indeed here."
Tang Manqing stood by the window, looking at Xiang'er playing the pipa on the high platform. A hint of a smile appeared in her eyes—the kind of heartfelt smile one has when seeing a good friend.
"It's so lively here."
Shui'er glanced at the first-floor hall and immediately spotted a few familiar figures. She was slightly surprised and said, "I never expected Xiao Ziying and Mei Yuanhua to be here too."
This was her first time here. Although she had heard before that many young nobles of Yanluo Kingdom came here for entertainment, seeing the figures of the Young Lord of the Xiao family and the Young Lord of the Mei family with her own eyes still surprised her considerably.
"What's so strange about Xiao Ziying and Mei Yuanhua being here? Last time I came, I even saw a noble from the Immortal Court."
Tang Manqing said nonchalantly, "Young Lords from the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects all frequent this place. At Sister Hong's, you can meet all sorts of people."
"Are they all here for Sister Xiang'er?"
"Xiang'er performs only when she's in the mood; there's no fixed schedule."
"If that's the case, then why do they still..." Shui'er seemed to realize something and sighed, "Men really are no good."
Glancing at Gu Zhenyuan beside her, Shui'er felt even more annoyed. Gu Zhenyuan, from the moment he entered, seemed completely immersed in Lin Xiang'er's Musical Arts, unable to extricate himself.
Just as she was about to scold Gu Zhenyuan, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the window of a private room on the opposite second floor.
Perhaps because she couldn't believe it.
Shui'er even doubted her own eyes. She closed them and opened them again. No mistake!
It was that guy!
"Princess...
Look...
Look over there...
That guy surnamed Gu...
He's...
He's actually here too."
Hmm?
Tang Manqing was puzzled and looked over. When she saw the man in the opposite private room, she was also greatly surprised.
Both of them recognized Gu Qingfeng.
They just never expected to encounter this guy here.
Wait.
Didn't Uncle Feng say he had sent this guy away?
Why was he here?
What made Tang Manqing and Shui'er even more unable to accept was that this guy was currently reclining in a chair, attended by no less than three maidservants—one massaging his shoulders, another his legs, and yet another serving him fine wine. He was enjoying himself to the utmost.
"This damn guy really knows how to enjoy himself! He actually called three maidservants to attend to him. Does he really think he's the Lord Chixiao?
No!
The Monarch would never act like this. This guy claiming to be the Monarch is simply an insult to the Monarch! It's utterly detestable!"
Shui'er was furious, her heart filled with resentment. Unable to bear it, she prepared to go teach that guy a lesson!
"Shui'er, forget it."
Tang Manqing looked at Gu Qingfeng enjoying himself across the way and said calmly, "What he does has nothing to do with us. We have no right to question anything about him."
"Princess, I know. I don't want to question him either. I just can't stand it."
"What is there for you to not stand?"
"Princess, I feel it's not worth it for you!
After all, you saved this guy's life. He's so weak; not finding a place to recuperate quickly is one thing, but he actually comes here to enjoy himself. When he left, you gave him so many spirit stones and pills—not for him to come here and indulge, but for him to recuperate. And now? Not only has this guy squandered all those spirit stones and pills, he's also trampled on your kindness."
Hearing this, Tang Manqing, who originally hadn't paid much mind to the matter, also felt somewhat displeased.
Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true.
She had kindly given him spirit stones and pills, not asking for his gratitude or repayment, only hoping he would recuperate peacefully.
But this guy?
He actually came to Linglong Mountain Villa to indulge like this.
How could there be such a shameless person in the world?
Not to mention that his claim to be the Monarch was an insult to the Monarch.
Even if he claimed to be a successor of the Monarch, it would still be an insult to the Monarch.