“If Miss Ruoyun says so, that is true, no person is perfect, so naturally no flower can be called flawless,” someone nearby praised.
Xu Zimo walked closer to take a look and discovered that the crowd had gathered around a spot where pink and white peonies intertwined.
The woman who had spoken earlier wore purple clothing, her slender waist wrapped with a layer of purple gauze.
Her face was also covered by a purple veil.
Though her features couldn’t be seen clearly, her eyes carried a watery tenderness, it was clear she was a beauty in the making.
At her side, the two quarreling youths were both young men.
One wore a black robe with a crown on his head, while the other wore a white robe, his hair tied tightly atop his head. Most curious of all, he actually had two horns growing from his head.
This was the mark of the Ox Race.
“Young Master Niu, Young Master Zuo, please stop quarreling,” someone beside them urged. “Each flower has its own merits.”
The purple-robed woman seemed uninterested and suggested, “Why don’t we head to the Zither Chamber instead? We’ve admired the flowers enough.”
“Then we’ll follow Miss Xiao’s suggestion,” someone nearby agreed.
As Xu Zimo looked ahead, a plump fellow approached him.
His hair was slicked back and shiny, and in his hand he carried a gaudy fan.
Xu Zimo grabbed him and asked, “Brother, may I ask, who are these people?”
“And who are you?” the fat man glanced at Xu Zimo and asked back.
“I, the one and only Xu Zimo, a dependable young gentleman whose good name and kind deeds never change,” Xu Zimo replied.
“I am White Autumn Crane, also known as Slim White Dragon Always On Diet!” the fat man declared.
“....”
Xu Zimo sized him up, his name sounded... elegant, but it didn’t quite match his figure.
“Brother, you haven’t answered my question yet,” Xu Zimo pressed.
“You mean them? That woman is the courtesan queen of this refined garden, Xiao Ruoyun. The horned fellow is the son of the Ox Race Patriarch, named Niu Dali.
The one in the black robe is the son of the Wood Martial God,” the fat man explained with ease, rattling off names like an expert.
“Wood Martial God,” Xu Zimo frowned slightly.
“You’ve heard of him, right? I can tell you’re not from this city,” Slim White Dragon explained.
“Under the Lord of Destruction, there are eight Martial Gods, named after Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Thunder, Wind, and Darkness. These eight Martial Gods guard all of Destruction’s territory. Now that Destruction City is in turmoil, it was originally under the guard of the Wood Martial God. Not long ago, even the Thunder and Fire Martial Gods were summoned here.” After saying this, the fat man sneaked a glance around, then said in a low tone, “What I just told you is all top secret. Don’t spread it. I’m only telling you because I find you agreeable.”
“Then thank you, Brother Slim,” Xu Zimo nodded with a smile. “This is my first time in this refined garden. Would you show me around?”
“There’s nothing special here to look at,” the fat man said disdainfully. “I’ll take you to the Zither Chamber instead, that’s where all the stunning beauties are.”
“Seems Brother Slim knows this place well,” Xu Zimo smiled.
“Of course. To be honest, I’ve been frequenting here since I was young.” The fat man grinned. “By seven years old, I could recite the names of every girl here backwards. By ten, I could walk the entire garden blindfolded.”
“Impressive, impressive,” Xu Zimo laughed.
With Slim White Dragon leading the way, the two left the peony garden and walked further inside.
Plum blossoms dotted the air with fragrance, surpassing the freshness of any perfume.
The bamboo grove was tranquil and pleasant, green waters blending with the mountains.
The Zither Chamber sat right between the plum garden and bamboo grove.
One side carried drifting plum blossoms, the other quiet bamboo.
Though called a “chamber,” it was merely a scene enclosed by coral-like fences.
There was no roof, only the vast blue sky above.
The Zither Chamber was vast, almost large enough to hold several plum gardens.
Inside were many women in traditional dress, slender, curvy, all kinds.
They plucked their zithers while surrounded by people sitting or standing.
There were silk-robed young masters, rough men, and even some elderly figures.
The girls’ delicate hands danced on the strings, and melodious music echoed in the air.
“Bro, look at those smooth legs, could you ever tire of them in ten years? And those giant breasts, what do they remind you of? And look at that girl, so modest, so charming,” the fat man muttered as soon as they entered, his eyes scanning every woman, clicking his tongue now and then.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today our Elegant Garden is hosting an event,” one woman stepped forward, looking around and smiling. “With the zither as accompaniment, a contest of martial arts and friendship, would anyone like to join?”
“Little miss, if we join, your Elegant Garden has to offer a prize, right?” a burly man shouted.
“Since you all insist,” the woman smiled, “the winner will earn the favor of Miss Jing, one night in her company.”
“Young miss, are you serious?!” the burly man continued.
The crowd immediately burst into excitement.
“It’s absolutely true,” the woman assured.
“Who is Miss Jing?” Xu Zimo asked Slim White Dragon curiously.
“I don’t know either,” the fat man shook his head.
“...Didn’t you say you knew this place well?” Xu Zimo asked, puzzled.
“Miss Jing is the only one I don’t know,” the fat man admitted truthfully.
“She’s shrouded in mystery, said to have an extraordinary background. She knows astronomy above and geography below. There’s nothing from the last five thousand years that she doesn’t know. Ordinary people never get to see her, I don’t even know what she looks like. But her zither playing is heavenly, even someone like me, who knows nothing of music, loves it.” He leaned close to Xu Zimo and whispered, “I suspect she’s an ugly woman, that’s why she never shows her real face.”
“So mysterious, why would the Elegant Garden let her accompany guests?” Xu Zimo asked.
“It must be her own decision, the garden can’t control her,” the fat man replied.
……
“If I can win Miss Jing’s favor, I’ll die happy!” the burly man shouted loudly.
“I’ll enter this contest.”
“I’ll join too,” others around him signed up eagerly.
“We’ve nothing better to do anyway, why don’t we give it a try too?” the fat man looked at Xu Zimo.
“Can you even fight?” Xu Zimo asked with doubt.
The fat man showed no aura of strength at all. Either he was extremely powerful and could suppress it freely, or he practiced some kind of aura-concealing art.
Or maybe, he was just weak, which explained why no strength could be felt.
“You think my title ‘Slim White Dragon’ is for nothing?” the fat man snorted. “Just wait and see.”
“Brother Luo, why don’t we open the match?” a white-robed man nearby called out with a laugh.