I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 278 - 266: Spiritual Fusion (2)

Lv Qingzhu spoke and turned to leave.

Lan Ying felt her heart tighten and urgently said, "Are you leaving, young master?"

Lv Qingzhu replied, "I’ve already appreciated Miss Lan Ying’s exquisite skills on the zither, indeed extraordinary. Moreover, we even performed a duet, arguably a perfect harmony."

After saying that, Lv Qingzhu directly led A Mo out of Lan Ying Garden.

Lan Ying stood there in a daze, unable to grasp the situation for a long time. How could she foresee that they were just in perfect harmony while performing, their thoughts intertwined so beautifully? It was rare for her to encounter someone who both caught her eye and had deep musical understanding, a glimmer of light in her otherwise dull life. But she hadn’t expected this light to pass like a meteor, fleeting and about to vanish.

Lan Ying was unwilling to let it end like this; she quickly ran outside intending to chase after Lv Qingzhu.

Yet as she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped.

She thought to herself that she was merely a person from the dust, part of a fleeting romance. What right did she have to hold him back?

Lan Ying stood there, recalling her own sorrowful past and then Lv Qingzhu’s bright and spirited eyes, bringing sadness surging through her heart, causing her to cry aloud...

Lv Qingzhu, taking A Mo along, walked calmly out of Lanxiang Garden.

She had come to experience the zither skills. She arrived cheerful, left satisfied. Isn’t that a good thing?

Upon leaving Lanxiang Garden, Lv Qingzhu intended to take A Mo back, but just as they reached the corridor, they suddenly heard the sound of drums mixed with laughter coming from the next room.

The laughter belonged to Fan Yuanhai and Zhu Qunxiang.

Lv Qingzhu’s gaze shifted with interest, and she suddenly diverted her steps toward Lotus Fall.

Lv Qingzhu arrived at the entrance of Lotus Fall, but two hefty Turtle Slaves were guarding there.

The two Turtle Slaves looked uneasily at A Mo, whose figure was as great as a mountain of flesh, standing behind Lv Qingzhu.

"Young master, there are esteemed guests inside Lotus Fall; it’s not to be disturbed," one of the Turtle Slaves hesitated to say, as Lv Qingzhu flipped her hand, producing a silver note and slapping it into the Turtle Slave’s hand, saying, "I know the people inside."

Seeing Lv Qingzhu in elegant clothing, spending generously, and accompanied by such a formidable servant, clearly of some status, the Turtle Slave thought for a moment, then opened the door to let them in.

Lv Qingzhu and A Mo walked slowly into Lotus Fall.

Inside Lotus Fall, Lian Ying had a small drum tied to her waist, her navel exposed, playing the drum while twisting her waist, captivating Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, and others with her dance.

Noticing their enamored expressions, Lian Ying felt very proud, her smiles bright as she glanced around...

At this moment, Lv Qingzhu and A Mo entered the room.

Lian Ying was engrossed in her performance, but the corner of her eye caught the shadow entering, and she instantly halted her movements, eyeing Lv Qingzhu with resentment.

Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, and the others were stunned!

The originally lively scene quieted down instantly the moment Lv Qingzhu and A Mo stepped in.

Their stillness was not only due to the sudden intrusion of Lv Qingzhu and A Mo, but largely because Lv Qingzhu, in male attire with a graceful demeanor and striking features, made them momentarily mistake her for a young gentleman.

Fan Yuanhai, holding a cup of wine suspended mid-air, was the first to react. He laughed and said, "Qingzhu, you’re here too, please have a seat!"

Then, Fan Yuanhai turned to Lian Ying, saying, "Continue your dance, Lian Ying; she’s with us!"

Seeing Lv Qingzhu as a pure and gentle young master, Lian Ying’s resentment dissipated, and upon hearing Fan Yuanhai, she joyfully and energetically resumed her alluring dance.

As she danced, her eyes frequently darted towards Lv Qingzhu seated at the edge.

Not long after Lv Qingzhu and A Mo sat down, Zhu Qunxiang approached with a cup of wine, smiling, "Miss Qingzhu, the aged wine of Huaying Building is truly remarkable, won’t you have a taste?"

As Zhu Qunxiang raised his cup, A Mo’s large hand suddenly clamped down on his wrist. Zhu Qunxiang felt pain but could not break free, as A Mo stared at him like a beast and said, "My Miss never drinks! Moreover, if you ever talk to her so frivolously again, I’ll rip you apart!"

Zhu Qunxiang turned pale, for he realized A Mo meant it literally when he said he’d rip him apart.

Lv Qingzhu remained seated calmly throughout, never once glancing at Zhu Qunxiang.

Zhu Qunxiang looked at the marks on his wrist left by A Mo’s grip, which felt like they were branded, yet he knew A Mo had shown restraint, not damaging his bones.

Zhu Qunxiang embarrassingly retreated.

Except for the dancing Lian Ying, Fan Yuanhai, and the others noticed this incident, and an awkward atmosphere pervaded the air.

However, Lv Qingzhu didn’t care at all. Sitting there, she watched Lian Ying dance, finding it increasingly dull, and suddenly remarked, "A dancer’s dance, like a swordsman’s sword, is her soul and dignity. Such frivolous displays are truly tiresome!"

Due to Zhu Qunxiang’s prior incident, Fan Yuanhai and the others had quieted down, allowing Lv Qingzhu’s words to drift into Lian Ying’s ears, halting her performance.

By this time, Lv Qingzhu had already stood up, leaving with A Mo without a word.

Fan Yuanhai awkwardly chuckled, even the eloquent him found it hard to smooth things over at this moment.

He admitted Lv Qingzhu was right, but this was a brothel, a place to display physical charms!

Lv Qingzhu and A Mo exited from Lotus Fall and descended from the second floor, walking straight out of Huaying Building.

"A Mo, which is more fun, Huaying Building or Antique Street?"

"Definitely Antique Street. It’s all about zithers and dances here, and the people are annoying. It doesn’t have the freedom like Antique Street."

Lv Qingzhu chuckled and said, "A Mo is right."

This morning, knowing the next day was the assessment day for the registered disciples, Xiao Zongting specially took Duan Rong and Xiao Yu to familiarize themselves with the surroundings in front of the County Office.

The Martial Arts Selection Platform was not flat ground, but composed of wooden stakes with equal intervals between them.

This design increased the difficulty, prompting the combatants to resolve the fight faster, thus saving assessment time.

The wooden stakes, with equal gaps in all directions, formed a pattern resembling a plum blossom, hence the name Plum Blossom Stakes.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu stood on the Plum Blossom Stakes and exchanged a few moves.

Xiao Yu’s Cloud Serpent Step remained at Master Level.

However, Duan Rong’s Cloud Serpent Step, due to a chance insight at Wild Boar Mountain, had already advanced to the Minor Success Realm.

Coupled with Duan Rong’s deliberate avoidance, his body technique and step technique were distinctly different from Xiao Yu’s.

After exchanging a few moves and familiarizing themselves with the terrain, they descended from the Plum Blossom Stakes.

Subsequently, the three returned to Xiao Zongting’s courtyard together.

Xiao Zongting gave them plenty of advice, primarily focusing on precautions during the Plum Blossom Stakes duels.

Regarding Martial Arts, Xiao Zongting had little else to impart to them. The Nameless Three Forms he had pondered during his final days had already been taught to Duan Rong and Xiao Yu.

Sitting in front of Xiao Zongting, Duan Rong could sense the complex emotions in Xiao Zongting’s eyes. On one hand, he was happy for Duan Rong’s participation in the registered disciple selection. But on the other hand, he felt a subtle sense of loss.

He had dedicated his life to Yuan Shun Escort Agency, intending to nurture Duan Rong as his successor, hoping Duan Rong could one day lead the Agency as the Chief Leader.

Yet, Duan Rong grew beyond his expectations. In just a year, he was now about to participate in the registered disciple selection along with Xiao Yu.

Once in Taiyi Sect, unless Duan Rong failed to advance as an Outer Disciple, he would not return to become the Chief Leader of Yuan Shun Escort Agency. Realizing this, Xiao Zongting felt an emptiness in his heart...

Xiao Yu, however, looked encouragingly at Duan Rong.

Having spent considerable time with the Xiao family, Duan Rong understood their thoughts clearly. Nonetheless, for him, entering Taiyi Sect was something he was determined to achieve!