Yi Chang walked slowly down the mountain.
His face was bright and his mouth was lifted up. He was obviously in a good mood. The people who passed him on the way could only look back and all the women who saw him had a soft pink tint on their cheeks. His looks were one of a kind but the big reason was that no one could forget what had happened that afternoon.
To everyone, Yi Chang was as mysterious as the dark sea. His presence was always followed with a few words, the people unable to form words to fully describe that young master from the Valiance manor. His identity was almost a mystery to people yet today he had displayed a rare show of talent giving the people a glimpse of who he was.
Lin Chang Ge was waiting by the foot of the mountain. His face was dark when he saw Yi Chang's languid walking style and even more dark when he saw the annoying smile he held on his lips. He could not help but complain, "I have been waiting for you for over an hour, why the hell are you so slow?"
Yi Chang rushed over when he heard the voice. He excitedly wrapped one arm around Lin Chang Ge's shoulder and said excitedly, "Today is an excellent day. Chang Ge, why are you frowning?"
Lin Chang Ge shoved Yi Chang's arm off his shoulder, "Good day? Yi Chang, let me ask you, what the hell happened in the afternoon?"
Yi Chang looked at him and did not answer. He knew very well what Lin Chang Ge meant yet he could not bring himself to answer. Among the people who knew him, the man before him probably knew him even better than how his father knew him.
When he did not receive the answer, Lin Chang Ge continued in a tone mixed with both displeasure and caution, "Whatever happened before should be none of your business. Their own manor does nothing about it so why do you think you have the right to do something? Yi Chang, I know that what I am saying right now may not sound good but in the future, in order to avoid further problems, there are certain things that no matter how displeasing we should never do anything about. Let each sect deal with their own problems..."
Yi Chang listened carefully. He could not help but remember Zhao Qingyang's face back then in the martial arts arena. The words Lin Chang Ge was saying made sense but according to him, he could simply not stand and watch such injustice take place right before his own eyes so he looked at Lin Chang Ge and said, "I know when to or not to step up. Don't worry too much."
Lin Chang Ge could finally breathe at ease.
The two made their way down and into the busy streets of the Lin peak. When the two handsome young masters who had shown up out of nowhere walked down the streets, everyone turned their eyes to them. This pair of frinds looked like figures from a painting. Although they were not from the same peak, their dressing style and expressions almost mirrored one another.
Yi Chang bathed gleefully in the glory of being the center of attention. He even waved slightly to the vendors and the passersby who could not take their eyes off of the two of them.
"Have some decorum!" Lin Chang Ge reproached woefully. The first rule of being the son of a peak leader was humility yet Yi Chang who was besides him at the moment looked as if he had never crossed passed with the words 'be humble' and 'do not be too 'flaunty' he even winked playfully at the girls who were weaving baskets by the roadside.
Lin Chang Ge could only carry him away quickly before something inappropriate happened.
The two of them finally settled at the roof of a tavern at the end of the streets. The tavern was not classy and you could say it was even a bit run down but at the moment, it was full to the brim with the guests. When looking at the scene one would think that this rundown tavern was something special but this was not the case. The only special thing was across the streets which meant that every guest in the tavern was male and all of them had their eyes solely focused on one thing at the opposite side, it was another tavern, but this one slightly different.
On the opposite side of the street was a tavern called house of flowers. There were many rumors surrounding it each exaggerated more than the previous but what attracted people to it was the lady playing the pipa on the rooftop.
Her face was beyond excellent and her figure voluptuous. Her slim body almost seemed to dance with the wind and she loved to wear red dresses, this was Lady Red of the House of Flowers. Her fame exceeded even that of some emperors and it is said that when her music sounded, even those far away were attracted, unable to move or speak.
There was a strong entrancing power her music held. It made the listener unable to move. Her slim ivory hands did not help either. The way they held the musical instrument captured the attention of many and almost always, her thin red lips held a hint of a smile.
Yi Chang, just like many others, was unable to look away. There were many reasons why he loved the Lin peak and one of the reasons was dancing right before his very own eyes. It was a known fact that among the four peaks, the women from the Lin peak were extremely beautiful. Their bodies coupled with their sugary tones could leave a man with yearning for a couple of days, thinking of nothing but them.
"It is the hour, she is coming out!!!" One man shouted from downstairs. There was no need for the reminder because everybody's eyes were already glued there to begin with. The only person who was not at all moved was Lin Chang Ge. For some unknown reason, he had already found a comforting place and his soft sleepy breaths could be heard. Yi Chang ignored him and continued staring, unblinkingly.
On the rood deck in the house of flowers, a beauty emerged from between the curtains. Her long, slim legs made way to her seat. The way she moved felt like a dream to some people, she was almost floating. Her long, raven hair was tied at the back and on her red lips was that same smile.
Yi Chang stared closely as those hands went for the pipa and in no time, soft music filled the streets. Once it did, no one could think of anything anymore. It was like a lethargy poison had been poured all over the place.
Yi Chang watched closely the place where the pipa lay, it was just between Lady Red's chest. He wanted to take a closer look but something else caught his attention or rather someone.
Just at the entrance of the house of flowers someone stood, it was a man. Just like the dreamlike music that had filled the streets, the man had appeared out of nowhere like a figure from a dream.
From top to bottom, he was dressed in pale blue robes that glowed to a degree that made them look bright white. The robes were impeccable and on his right hand, an equally pale blue rope danced ever so slightly with the wind. Yi Chang looked at him once and he could not look away. Many words to describe the man conjured in his mind but only one could fit his description perfectly, otherworldly.
The man was obviously not from here as he looked lost. He was speaking to a man at the entrance who seemed to be giving him directions and once he was done, the man bowed respectfully before turning around to leave.
Yi Chang stared at him and only took his gaze away once the man had disappeared at the corner.
The music was suddenly not as interesting.
The lethargy effect was gone and Yi Chang was left wondering.
He looked up towards Lady Red. The ever-smiling lady was suddenly not smiling and her music seemed to have lost its desired taste.
Yi Chang smiled and focused on something. Still at the front, the man who had just given directions whispered without stopping, "just...just who the hell is that person?"
Yi Chang's smile deepened as he nodded to the mans confusion. He also wanted to know the answer to that question.
After the music had ended, Yi Chang stepped out in brisk steps and disappeared into the dark night.