Jin Yu Lan sat behind the stage with a group of chivalrous warriors.
The warriors were all clad in white, green, or black martial attire.
Each had a treasured sword at their waist.
However, Zhang Tianshi was nowhere to be seen. Where had he gone this time?
Suddenly, a clear bell sound seemed to drift into their ears.
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
From mid-air, pure white petals like jade began to fall.
From afar, they resembled raindrops on a starry night.
At this moment, several dancers, dressed in red skirts and appearing like celestial maidens descending to earth,
Flew down from above the circular stage.
With a sweep of their long sleeves, they stirred up the falling petals.
As the petals rose and then settled, a beautiful woman suddenly appeared in the center of the stage.
She was dressed in a long white gown and held a white folding fan.
Her face was veiled, and her feet were bare.
Upon seeing this beauty, everyone exclaimed in awe.
"So beautiful!"
This person was Xue Ji.
At the sound of a small drum from the side,
Xue Ji tiptoed, turned, and spun a few times with her folding fan.
She then turned back, bowed, and tossed the fan into the air.
With a leap, she caught the fan as it opened like a blooming flower.
As soon as she landed, a loud "dong" echoed from the large circular stage – the sound of the drum.
Instantly, the surroundings transformed as if in a dream.
The stage became a body of clear blue water, and the surroundings turned into a waterside pavilion garden.
The area where Jin Yu Lan and his group were sitting also became a large pavilion.
The open space that was previously below the stage now formed two intersecting corridors, encircling it like a ring.
This perfectly framed the pool of clear water where Xue Ji stood.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Yet, it was truly unfolding before my eyes. Ah Li couldn't help but sigh.
"I didn't expect the Thousand Ji Hall to have such a feature.
This must be its true appearance."
Liu Shi Nian interjected proudly.
"Of course. I've been coming here for years, and I've only seen this once, fifty years ago.
This is the second time, and it's when I became infatuated with Xue Ji."
I looked at him with disdain. How could he be proud of such a thing?
"The Thousand Ji Dance is about to begin. We need to find a good spot to watch," Ada said.
"Yes, the positions are different now, so we need to find a good spot again.
We must watch my beautiful and captivating Xue Ji carefully."
As Liu Shi Nian spoke, he couldn't help but get excited.
I felt a sense of helplessness but followed them forward, squeezing into the crowd.
Finally, we pushed past the people at the front and secured a good vantage point.
From beside Jin Yu Lan, a person stepped forward and shouted loudly.
"The Thousand Ji Dance begins now!"
"Dong dong dong"
The sound of drums filled the air, and a group of musicians sat in the pavilion to Xue Ji's left, playing their instruments.
The music gradually swelled.
The dancers on the water leaped into the water, like koi fish, circling Xue Ji.
Xue Ji stood in the center, dancing gracefully.
Those watching were entranced, lost in the spectacle.
It felt as if they were in a fairyland, momentarily forgetting themselves.
The soul in my mind slowly flew out, leaping into the water to dance with Xue Ji.
At this moment, a calm flute melody began to play.
From the left and right sides, twelve men dressed in black rushed out.
Each man held a dark oil-paper umbrella.
Upon reaching the stage, they joined the female dancers, gracefully moving with them.
After an unknown amount of time, a rapid, lively tune began to play.
Xue Ji bowed, tossed her fan, and leaped to catch it.
Instantly, her entire being transformed from white to red, from head to toe.
The accompanying dancers took out their oil-paper umbrellas, opened them, and spun them above their heads.
The dancers changed from red to white, and the male dancers changed from black to white.
Holding open their oil-paper umbrellas, they resembled small mushrooms.
They spun their umbrellas and weaved through each other.
Xue Ji landed on an oil-paper umbrella from mid-air, flicking her fan.
With a "dong," the sound of fireworks erupted.
Fireworks burst forth all around, echoing through the sky, a riot of colors, breathtakingly beautiful.
They pulled everyone back from the illusion.
Xue Ji closed her fan, and instantly returned to her pristine white attire.
She landed softly and, along with the dancers, bowed respectfully to the audience.
Then, they silently retreated.
The crowd snapped back to reality, erupting in thunderous applause and shouts of amazement.
"Excellent!"
At this point, the announcer stepped forward again, facing the audience, bowed slightly, and spoke loudly.
Then he announced:
"The dance is concluded!"
Jin Yu Lan stood up, leading the people beside him into the rear, disappearing into the crowd.
Seeing everyone disperse, I remembered that this was a good opportunity to find Zhang Tianshi.
In my excitement, I forgot that I had come with Liu Shi Nian, Ah Li, and Ada.
I ran forward on my own.
Liu Shi Nian reacted quickly, grabbing the back of my collar and pulling me back, saying earnestly.
"What's the rush? You'll get lost again.
Don't let other men take you away, or Ah Li will be sad."
He brought up Ah Li again, and I looked at him with suspicion.
I suspected he had ulterior motives for saying that.
Seeing my doubt about his sincerity, Liu Shi Nian pulled Ah Li over and asked him.
"Ah Li, isn't that right?"
Ah Li, looking confused, slowly replied.
"What are you talking about?"
"Quickly tell him that I'm genuinely looking out for her."
Ah Li looked speechless and helplessly stated.
"That's right, Brother Liu is genuinely looking out for Mu Ye."
I scoffed.
"Hmph, so what should we do now?
If we don't find him soon, Zhang Tianshi will disappear again. He's very important to me."
"Is he your father?"
Liu Shi Nian had been curious about this for a while.
"No."
"Is he your relative?"
"No."
"Neither, then he, he couldn't be, your, your, your fiancé.
You, you actually like that kind of person!"
Liu Shi Nian guessed wildly, exaggerating.
"What are you talking about!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
I pinched him.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch.
He has nothing to do with you, so why are you so eager to find him?"
Ever since Liu Shi Nian met us,
He had been very curious why we were so determined to find Zhang Tianshi.
It seemed like more than just a friendship.
"I..."
I wanted to say that finding Zhang Tianshi meant I could go home.
But if I told him, would he also see me as food?
"We're looking for Zhang Tianshi because Zhang Tianshi took something very important from Mu Ye.
We must get it back."
Ah Li kindly provided an excuse for the situation.
However, Liu Shi Nian was not so easily fooled.
He smiled slightly, having seen through it all.
"You don't need to hide it from me. I already know what's going on.
After interacting for so long, don't you trust me?
Alright, since we're looking for Zhang Tianshi, let's go together.
I guess he's probably with Jin Yu Lan. I'll take you there."
He was uncharacteristically proactive.
Did he really know I wanted to go home?
Although he hadn't stated it directly, there was nothing to worry about.
Despite being shameless, lewd, vulgar, and perverted,
He was still a decent person.
I decided to trust him and said.
"Okay, then take us there quickly."
"Yes, okay, but, Mu Ye, you really smell good."
Liu Shi Nian suddenly brought up this irrelevant matter.
Ada also said.
"I agree with that. Miss Mu Ye does smell good, like she'd be delicious."
"Yes, I also think she looks delicious."
I retorted indignantly.
"Who looks delicious? You're talking nonsense again."
"Indeed, so fierce, and your words are so vulgar.
Where is the fragrance or deliciousness then?"
Liu Shi Nian started being sarcastic again.
However, people kept saying I smelled good.
After hearing it so many times, I started to doubt myself.
Do I really have the fragrance they speak of?
I subconsciously sniffed myself, but couldn't smell anything unusual.
Suddenly, I remembered that I hadn't bathed much recently. Could it be body odor?
They were too embarrassed to say it directly, so they hinted at it with "fragrance."
Thinking of this, two big words flashed in my mind.
"Body odor! Body odor!"
In an instant, a wave of shame washed over me.
To think that I, a girl, could have such a strong odor, I felt too embarrassed to face anyone.
I immediately became self-conscious and stopped thinking about finding Zhang Tianshi.
I just wanted to find a place to bathe as soon as possible.
So, I awkwardly raised my hand and said.
"Um, I, I."
The three of them turned to look at me, and Liu Shi Nian asked with displeasure.
"What's wrong with you now?"
"I, I, um."
"You guys go find Zhang Tianshi first. I, I need to go back for a bit."
"Miss Mu Ye, what's wrong?"
Ada asked with concern.
I said somewhat sheepishly.
"Um, I, I, I have something urgent."
"You don't mean you need to go to the restroom, do you? Lazy donkey, so much urine, can't you hold it?"
Liu Shi Nian's words were as heartless as ever.
"Liu Shi Nian, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
I looked at him with utter contempt.
Ah Li, however, did not think so. He asked me.
"Mu Ye, what's wrong? Just say it openly."
Ah Li understood me, and I felt there was nothing to hide, so I told them.
"Um, I, I want to go back and take a bath. I haven't bathed in days, and I smell bad."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shi Nian's boisterous heart was stirred.
"A bath! Hahaha, I'll go with you.
Ah Li, Ada, you two are responsible for finding Zhang Tianshi.
We'll be back shortly."
Saying this, he stepped forward and grabbed me, intending to pull me back.
I flung his hand away, indignant.
"Liu Shi Nian, you pervert, what are you thinking?
You three go together. I'll go back by myself."
"Dream on, I'll accompany you."
He was still persistent.
Seeing that he was about to act unreasonably again, I decided to resort to physical force.
So, I raised my leg to kick him, and he quickly dodged.
I was somewhat angry and thought helplessly to myself.
"What a scoundrel."
Ah Li, sensing my unspoken distress, asked me.
"Mu Ye, you want to go back to bathe, is it because they said you smell good?"
Seeing that Ah Li had guessed correctly, I stopped pretending and questioned Liu Shi Nian and Ada.
"You said I smell good, but I sniffed myself, and there's no scent at all.
Could it be that because I haven't bathed recently, my sweat odor is what you're smelling?
You were too embarrassed to say it, so you called it fragrance."
"Hahaha"
Liu Shi Nian couldn't help but laugh when he realized I had misunderstood him.
"What are you laughing at!"
Seeing him laugh made me even more annoyed.
Ada explained.
"Miss Mu Ye, you've misunderstood. It's not sweat odor, nor body odor."
"Body odor!"
I instantly turned to stone. Do I have body odor? How come I don't know?
"It's a kind of indescribable fragrance, like the scent of flowers, or like honey.
It's just very special."
Ada's explanation was unclear.
Liu Shi Nian added.
"Alright, don't dwell on it. It's not sweat odor.
It's a fragrance that cannot be described in words.
It's very likely a natural body scent unique to girls."
"Body scent?"
Hearing him say this made me feel a bit shy.
As he spoke, he seemed to understand something himself, unbuttoned his clothes, and slowly walked towards me.
I recoiled in horror.
"You, what are you doing? I warn you.
This is a busy marketplace, and there are many people here."
"What are you thinking? Aren't you worried about having body odor?
Let me show you what's smelly and what's fragrant.
Besides, I haven't bathed in a long time either. Smell it, go ahead and smell it."
I was utterly speechless and said disdainfully.
"Pervert, shameless.
Who wants to smell you? Let's go, finding Zhang Tianshi is the most important thing."
Saying this, I turned and walked forward briskly.
Liu Shi Nian slowly put his clothes back on, muttering.
"Truly a woman's face, changing so quickly. Good intentions are treated as donkey's liver and lungs."
The three of us, led by Liu Shi Nian, arrived at a courtyard gate leading to a separate residence.
There were two maidservants guarding the gate.
Upon seeing Liu Shi Nian approach, the maidservants bowed.
"Greetings, Young Master Liu."
Liu Shi Nian nodded with satisfaction.
"Greetings, elder sisters. I have something to attend to inside today.
I hope you two can grant me passage."
The maidservant on the left, with squinting eyes and a gentle, kind expression, said softly.
"Young Master Liu, this is a restricted area for outsiders. Please return."
The other maidservant also said.
"Miss dislikes being disturbed. Young Master, please return."
Miss? What miss? Could it be Xue Ji?
Liu Shi Nian attempted to argue.
"Elder sisters, I've been here many times. You recognize me.
I'm not considered an outsider, so please let me in."
The maidservant on the right shook her head.
"Young Master, Miss specifically instructed us not to let anyone in.
Especially you."
"What? She dislikes me that much?"
Liu Shi Nian was very displeased.
He considered himself handsome, dashing, and elegant.
It was impossible for someone to look down on him.
He added.
"Elder sister, did you mishear? She might not have been referring to me."
"We heard clearly. Miss specifically instructed that Young Master Liu Shi Nian is not to enter."
"What!"
Liu Shi Nian couldn't believe he was so unwelcome.
Seeing his nervousness and anger,
And hearing the two maidservants refer to "Miss" repeatedly,
I had already guessed most of it and questioned him.
"Liu Shi Nian, this is Xue Ji's residence, isn't it?"
Liu Shi Nian smiled awkwardly.
"This, this, no, it's not."
He actually dared to deny it.
The maidservant on the left stated directly.
"Young lady, you've guessed correctly. This is indeed our Miss, Xue Ji's residence."
Seeing that his plan was exposed, Liu Shi Nian turned to flee.
I grabbed him, my eyes turning scarlet, and said fiercely.
"Didn't you say you'd take us to find Zhang Tianshi? Why did we come here?
Explain yourself."
Liu Shi Nian swallowed hard, his face filled with guilt and fear.
"Well, um, I, I thought Xue Ji must know.
So, I wanted to bring you to ask her. Who knew she wouldn't see me."
Ada also spoke up for him.
"Miss Mu Ye, my elder brother wouldn't lie.
His idea isn't unreasonable."
"You've only known him for a day, you don't know he's full of schemes.
He's using the excuse of finding Zhang Tianshi to see Xue Ji.
I must teach him a lesson."
Ah Li also spoke in support of Liu Shi Nian.
"Mu Ye, Brother Liu is also well-intentioned.
Xue Ji, as the top performer of the Thousand Ji Hall, naturally knows which distinguished guests have arrived at the hall.
It's right for Brother Liu to seek her out."
Hearing Ah Li say this, my raised fist slowly lowered.