His gaze was as calm as ever, as if nothing in the world could stir his interest.
"I am Liu Xie. I believe I will meet the Seventh Night楼主 again."
Feng Xie cast a casual remark and turned back to the table. Liu Liu was taken aback. This man was certainly audacious to use the surname Liu. She snorted inwardly. Watching his retreating back, she felt a profound sense of desolation, a weariness that seemed to isolate him from the world.
Liu Liu didn't understand what had happened to the usually charming and arrogant man. He was still as handsome and peerless as ever; the gazes of many at the banquet followed him, yet no one dared to approach.
This was because the chilling aura surrounding him naturally kept people at bay.
Dai Mei, sitting beside Liu Liu, also sensed something amiss with the Emperor. He was the supreme ruler, yet he exuded a dispiritedness, as if devoid of any life force. She leaned closer to whisper to Liu Liu.
"Why has His Majesty become like this? He's so strange, as if he has no interest in life. I wonder what has happened to him."
Dai Mei looked utterly puzzled, and Liu Liu was equally so. In her memory, Feng Xie was a proud and perhaps melancholic figure. For such a person to become so dejected and cold, it suggested that something had occurred within the palace. She pondered this silently.
After several rounds of drinks, everyone was sated. Feng Jiu waved for the singing girls to leave.
Under the vast night sky, the brightly lit Wan Feng Tea House resembled a mirage, with scattered lights and flourishing flora. The guests began to rise and take their leave, thanking Feng Jiu for his hospitality.
A few bolder individuals approached Liu Liu to greet her, mostly seeking assurances that they would not be troubled by the Seven Stars Tower after leaving.
Liu Liu offered a faint, distant smile, polite yet cold. She felt utterly out of place in this feast of wine and delicacies.
The next time Feng Jiu dared to host such a pointless event, she vowed to dismantle his Wan Feng Tea House.
Turning, she noticed Feng Xie leaning his head, his eyes fixed intently on her. His handsome features seemed frozen, unmoving, simply gazing at her from afar.
Liu Liu felt a prickle of unease. Was this man thinking about their previous encounter? She was wearing a mask now, not her usual appearance, so she absolutely had to remain calm.
Even if many people shared the same name, she tried to reassure herself, but she still felt a tremor of apprehension.
"楼主, shall we go back?" Dai Mei spoke at the opportune moment, rescuing Liu Liu from her awkwardness. She stood up.
Though she knew the man opposite her was still watching her, her demeanor remained composed and graceful, as if oblivious. She strode over to Feng Jiu and said in a clear, cool voice, "Brother Feng, I will be leaving now."
"Alright, go back," Feng Jiu waved, signaling a young maid to escort the Seventh Night楼主.
Most of the guests had departed, leaving behind remnants of cups and plates in disarray. A few drunk individuals were still asleep.
Feng Jiu instructed the servants to take them to the guest rooms. Turning, he saw that the Alliance Leader Zhan also seemed to have succumbed to drink. It seemed he wouldn't be leaving tonight. Feng Jiu arranged a separate, secluded courtyard for him and instructed the servants to escort the Alliance Leader there.
Just as everyone was about to leave the garden, a whirlwind suddenly swept through, overturning tables and making the flowers sway violently. Everyone immediately turned their attention to the night sky.
"Trouble! There are assassins!" they all exclaimed, crowding around Feng Jiu. Feng Jiu cupped his fists and shouted loudly, "Who dares to cause trouble at Wan Feng Tea House? Come out at once!"
Fortunately, all the external guests had already left. The garden was populated only by the people of the Seven Stars Tower, the warriors from Alliance Leader Zhan Yun's group, and the staff of Wan Feng Tea House. The numbers were not overwhelming, but there were enough to prevent utter chaos and ensure control.
As Feng Jiu finished speaking, a shower of blossoms swept through the air, accompanied by flowing ribbons, creating a spectacular and colorful scene. There were twenty to thirty women.
Led by a woman in red, they descended into the garden. That woman was exceedingly alluring, surpassing even Dai Mei. Dai Mei's charm was innate, etched into her bones.
This woman's allure, however, was purely superficial. Her daring attire, a red, bandeau-style long dress, exposed half of her fair, tender bosom, making her quite seductive.
"Who are you people?"
Feng Jiu, uncharacteristically, remained unfazed by the temptation. He shouted in a cold, stern voice. He would never tolerate anyone causing a disturbance at Wan Feng Tea House.
"We've heard that Master Feng is most adept at cherishing beauties and is a true appreciator of flowers. It wasn't easy for my sisters to come all this way. You're not even offering us a cup of tea, why are you so ferocious?"
The woman in red, twisting her slender waist, walked to a table that had not been overturned and sat down with grace. Her bewitching, soul-snaring eyes roamed around Feng Jiu, leering at the handsome men before her.
"My goodness, later I'll capture these men and savor them thoroughly."
Cold types, delicate types, tall types – all kinds of men seemed to be present. The woman's undisguised gaze infuriated Feng Jiu, and his expression darkened.
"You court death!" With a wave of his hand, a large contingent of Wan Feng Tea House guards emerged, all robust martial artists, each holding a gleaming sword. They instantly charged towards the group of women.
Seeing the imposing formation, the woman showed no fear. Her laughter was soft and boneless, raising goosebumps. She raised her red water-sleeve, and a palm-sized flute appeared in her hand. She brought it to her lips and began to play.
The women behind her followed suit, playing their own flutes. Instantly, a rustling sound filled the dark night, sending shivers down one's spine, as if something boneless was crawling on the ground.
While everyone was trying to figure out what they were doing, a young maid cried out in terror, "Snakes! So many snakes!"
Indeed, the garden was surrounded by slowly advancing snakes. From flowerbeds, trees, lanterns, and even the roofs of houses, countless snakes emerged. These snakes, following the tune of the flutes, gradually converged on them. Snake charmers.
It turned out these women used the short flutes in their hands to control the snakes. What wicked sorcery! A cold glint flashed across Liu Liu's face, and her eyes swept ominously towards the side.
Standing beside her was the towering Feng Xie, his aura chilling, his face dark and stern. His sharp voice rang out.
"Who are you people, daring to attack Wan Feng Tea House?"
Upon hearing Feng Xie's words, the woman couldn't help but take the flute from her lips, smiling alluringly at Feng Xie. This man was truly handsome, radiating an air of nobility. She wondered why her palace master held a grudge against this man, ordering them to kill him.
However, before killing him, she decided to savor him first. Her eyes shimmered with desire.
"We are here for you, young sir. If you accompany us, we will release these people. What do you say?"
Feng Xie was enveloped in frost. Who was it that sought his life from the shadows? Last time, feeling depressed, he had drunk some wine and left the protection of Ri Ying and Yue Ying, only to be attacked.
He hadn't expected these people to pursue him so relentlessly. Moreover, who had leaked the news of his departure from the palace? It seemed there must be a spy within the palace. Who could it be? His narrow phoenix eyes lifted, his icy demeanor intensifying. "You'd need the skill for that."
"How dare you slander our master! Let us show you!" Ri Ying and Yue Ying, hearing the woman dare to negotiate with their master, were enraged. They shouted sternly.
The woman glanced at Ri Ying and Yue Ying, and again brought the short flute to her lips. The snakes began to advance, and there were more and more of them. Even with their formidable martial arts, it seemed these snakes were inexhaustible.
Liu Liu's silver mask gleamed with a faint light, and the corner of her lips curved slightly. What bad luck to run into these people. She truly didn't know what Feng Xie was doing outside the palace. Look, how many people outside wanted to kill him.