Amidst the heated atmosphere, a graceful silhouette emerged slowly from behind the heavy curtains.
Instantly, every gaze in the hall snapped toward the stage. Anticipation transformed into stunned admiration.
Clad in pure white silk, the woman moved with fluid grace. Beneath a flawless jade neck, her curves were sculpted perfection—full and creamy as congealed jade.
More would be superfluous; less would be lacking. Powder would pale her; rouge would ruddy.
Her brows arched like kingfisher feathers, skin luminous as snow, waist slender as bundled silk, teeth even as strung shells. A single smile held the power to topple cities!
A delicate lady's fan concealed her alluring lips. Bright, speaking eyes held the room captive.
Only Ye Fan's trio remained composed. Ye Gui possessed no appreciation for women. Though clever, Ye Can was a battle maniac. As for Ye Fan? No courtesan's beauty could stir him.
Not out of prejudice. He simply couldn't reconcile their claims of purity with their presence in pleasure houses, flaunting value through staged allure.
Duty? Mission? Perhaps. But irrelevant. Dislike was dislike. Even a celestial beauty couldn't sway him.
But Beigong Qingtian? Oh, he adored her. And that presented… leverage.
"Esteemed young masters," her voice, like silver bells, rang clear. "This humble one is Luo Xin. My deepest apologies for the delay."
She dipped in a flawless curtsy. The gesture sent shivers of desire through the men.
"Worth every second! We'd wait a night!" one blurted.
"Scent Recognizes the Man crowns Luo Xin!
Meeting this immortal, time loses meaning!
For her presence, ten thousand years I'd pine!"
Another offered clumsy verse.
Beigong Xue scoffed inwardly. Are they blind? She's leagues beneath me! Acting like starved wolves… Her eyes drifted downward. Though… how is hers so… full? Ugh! Mine's still… small!
Sixteen versus twenty. Potential, yes, but not yet ripened.
Thank the heavens for that, she thought, adjusting her disguise. Or this ruse would fail.
"Your kindness humbles me." Luo Xin's smile deepened. "Last night, an immortal sent a dream. My destined one arrives tonight. So I seek kindred spirits… through dance."
Dance to find friends? A graceful preamble. Discussions on wonders, martial arts, music would follow.
Ye Fan's lip twitched. Immortal dreams? How conveniently ethereal.
Luo Xin began to move. Her slender waist flowed like water. Silks billowed—a goddess descending.
Beigong Qingtian gazed, entranced.
Her fame wasn't mere looks. Her dance truly stole breath and reason.
As the dance ended, a collective sigh hung heavy. But anticipation replaced it—the prize of Luo Xin's favor awaited.
"By fortune's grace," Luo Xin's eyes sparkled, "I acquired a fragment of an ancient score. Its beauty haunts me. Tonight, I share it… hoping someone might complete it. Should they succeed…" She trailed off, a playful promise in her eyes. "…my joy would know no bounds."
Taking a zither from an attendant, she settled onto a cushion. The instrument rested on a table of rare Phoenix Incense Wood.
Delicate fingers touched strings.
Music flowed.
Melodic, haunting—it wove a spell. The raucous hall plunged into profound silence. Souls drifted in the soundscape.
Only Ye Fan's expression turned… peculiar.
The Jasper Pool Immortal Melody.
A melody he'd loved in another life. No, not just loved. The story behind it.
This woman… what luck. A fragment of the ancient Jasper Pool Sect's core treasure.
"Celestial notes… yet tragic!" Beigong Qingtian lamented.
"Oh? What tragedy, Brother Beigong?" Ye Fan feigned ignorance.
"Its peak… shattered! Like tearing silk mid-weave!" He shook his head. And shattering my chance with her.
Ye Fan smiled faintly. He could play it. Once, he'd used it to reap lives. But this was no mere tune—it was a high-grade Earth Tier battle art. Sharing? Unthinkable.
"Music fit for the heavens! Mortals rarely hear its echo. Lady Luo Xin, you are divine." A young master sighed.
"Indeed. To never hear it whole… a wound." Even Beigong Xue felt the pang—beauty laced with sorrow.
I want to play like that. Her eyes darted, scheming anew.
"Can anyone… complete the melody?" Luo Xin whispered, hope flickering in her gaze.
Silence.
Her crestfallen expression seemed to fracture the hearts of every man present.
"I can."
Ye Fan's voice cut the stillness.
Who?
"Young master… you can finish it?" Luo Xin's focus snapped to him. Every eye followed.
Beigong Qingtian's jaw tightened. Is he claiming my goddess? He knew Ye Fan was capable… but music? A new layer of defeat settled.
"I cannot complete the melody."
Ye Fan shrugged.
A wave of disdainful snorts rippled through the hall. Grandstanding? Pathetic.
Beigong Qingtian groaned. Must he be so crude?
Luo Xin's disappointment curdled into disdain. "Then why mock me, sir?"
Handsome robes, fine jade… the facade of a scholar. Her eyes flickered to his fan. Yet here. Like all men. A spoiled profligate. Worthless.
Nearby, Beigong Xue mentally cheered. Father's judgment truly fails! Her fingers tightened around the memory crystal hidden in her sleeve. Just record his depravity tomorrow… and freedom!
"Though I cannot play its end," Ye Fan's voice, calm and clear, rose above the murmurs, "I know its origin. Its lost tale. Would that… suffice to win your favor?"