The atmosphere was tense and fierce, directly aimed at Wang Anfeng. Before the sound of the zither ceased, exclamations erupted from nearby, and the sword qi had already passed by, severing all the zither strings at their midpoint. The seven zither strings snapped one by one, turning the music into a harsh cacophony that buzzed incessantly.
The sword qi dispersed without harming Wang Anfeng.
His hand, which had been pressing down, lingered in the air.
The instrument, filled with the musician's remorse and anguish, emitted a final hoarse sound, prompting him to narrow his dark eyes.
Those around were momentarily stunned, as the tall young nobles of the Xiongnu Tribe clapped and cheered in unison.
Helian Pan laughed heartily and shouted:
"What a remarkable sword weaponry, what a splendid sword dance!"
"The Central Plains instrument is soft and lacks spine. In the end, it borrowed the young lady's sword qi to emit a sound worthy of hearing."
"My apologies, young master."
Feng Zhanfang sheathed her sword, a look of triumph in her eyes yet an expression of complete apology on her face. She stood daintily in front of Wang Anfeng, seemingly genuinely embarrassed, personally offering a cup of wine, bowing in apology, her fingers white as jade, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her eyes gentle.
All surrounding eyes seemed to ignite, focusing intensely on Wang Anfeng.
Merely a simple musician and warrior.
Wang Anfeng clearly felt the surrounding gazes.
In the tin wine cup, the fierce wine swayed slightly, the horse milk wine of the Northern Frontier, purely white. However, compared to the delicate fingers of a beauty, it naturally paled in comparison.
The soft curves and the few strands of hair falling loosely from the temples; the music of the zither, though enchanting, could not surpass the fragrance of a woman.
The musician beside had already bowed his head obediently.
Eyes observing his nose, nose observing his heart, not daring to breathe loudly, fearing being implicated.
Receiving this cup, whether accepting or declining, would certainly invite hostility and trouble.
If accepted? It's unappreciative.
If declined, even more so unappreciative.
At the head seat, Helian Lianyang drank a cup, seemingly thoughtful:
"I ended up dragging him into this."
"That woman, someone from the Rose Snow Sect, is probably linked to Helian Pan's faction. I wonder if there is something interesting here that they dare to test me... "
"The old fellow from the Zhou family surely suspects something but is pretending to be oblivious, planning to sit on the sidelines."
The woman muttered unhappily.
"When the aristocratic clans from the Southern Dynasty fled into the grasslands, they brought advantages and drawbacks, introducing many novel items not found on the grasslands, bringing intriguing texts from the Central Plains, but also the skills of intrigue and deceit. The simple days of old are gone."
"Yet, it wasn't a waste to have found such a useful pawn on my way."
"It seems they indeed have some plans in mind."
The woman with bright brown eyes beside remained silent.
Helian Lianyang seemed to feel she was being unscrupulous, adding:
"As long as he knows his boundaries, doesn't suffer losses, I won't treat him poorly; gold will be given."
Recalling their first meeting, the composed manner of the other party, she added:
"I suppose there shouldn't be any problem."
Amidst all the gazes, Wang Anfeng looked at the charming woman in front of him, yet another phrase arose in his mind.
The women at the foot of the mountains are tigers.
Only at this moment did Wang Anfeng feel that the words meant to frighten children in his youth held some truth. Surveying his surrounds, he laughed heartily, appearing carefree, alongside the seemingly straightforward Helian Pan, the squinting old man in red robes, Helian Lianyang, and all the watching eyes.
Those who have arrived, those who haven't.
With his ample experience, Wang Anfeng realized he was likely once again caught in a plot.
However, having chosen to come this way, he had anticipated such a situation. Among the various options now, the best was to play Tai Chi, maintain composure and redirect attention, extracting himself from this mess.
But as he looked at the gentle woman before him, he was reminded of the events he witnessed that night, feeling it couldn't be let slide easily.
Smiling inwardly with a sigh, his shoulders relaxed as he rose with ease.
One family, two families, three families.
A chaotic game, indeed, a chaotic game.
The woman offered her wine apologetically.
Wang Anfeng laughed freely, reaching out to take the wine cup from Feng Zhanfang, downing it in one gulp.
Feng Zhanfang rose with a smile at the corner of her mouth.
Helian Lianyang frowned, the old man in red robes smiled.
At that moment, Wang Anfeng lifted his right hand, with casual ease, struck with a force like a thousand weights, a slap drawn forth.
Caught off guard, Feng Zhanfang's left cheek immediately bore a large handprint. Such action was exceedingly unexpected, almost unreasonable, and she actually had no reaction, a hint of confusion still in her eyes, until the stinging sensation arose.
Immediately, a surge of anger rose within, her sword lifting in an instant.
She was a martial artist, already stepping into the Sixth Rank Realm, destined to become a master of Jianghu.
The sword weaponry clattered like thunder.
Wang Anfeng reversed his hand for the second strike.
Having said it would be two strikes, it was indeed two, no more, no less.
Pausing for a moment, then came the third.
The sword qi crisscrossed like flowing shadows.
The Rose Snow Sect's legitimate heir's swordsmanship technique, yet it only cleaved a shadow, not even grazing a single strand of hair.
Just as Hong Luoyu jokingly said, the so-called Shaolin Zen, the most emphasis is on the foundation.
Even the simplest move, a plain slap delivered, under the vast inner strength, could split mountains and seas.
Wang Anfeng embodied the qi mechanism of Buddhism, all self-cultivated, vast and boundless, even using just one tenth, when released, was tumultuous like thunderous torrents.
At this moment, a straightforward palm smacked out, without the slightest showiness, yet the qi mechanism flowed, stirring Heaven and Earth, along the edge of his right palm, the qi flowed swiftly, while surroundings were harmonious, as if a dragon cut through the water on his palm, dragging the woman's form towards him.
Feng Zhanfang's cheek tilted to one side, staggering a step, her coiffure disheveled.
The Jade Phoenix Hairpin flung out, crashing to the ground, breaking into two pieces.
Her face, white as jade, visibly bore two handprints, the right one deeper.
Helian Lianyang's toasting motion halted. Latest content publıshed on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
The eyes of the red-robed old man opened from their squint.
The entire front banquet fell into a dead silence.
The blue-clad musician flicked his clothes and casually took a seat.
My master's teaching of chess, three thousand and six hundred black and white pieces.
The grandmaster used just one move.
The musician appeared gentle, disregarding others, his right hand stroking the broken zither strings.
Gong Shang Jiao Zhi Yu.
Resounding like thunder.
The zither music echoed across the grassland, capable of halting flying clouds, long rivers, and waterfalls.
Astonishing all around.
PS: Today's update is up...
Five thousand two hundred words