in2ebook Chapter 516 The Myriad Aspects of Life
Chapter 516 The Myriad Aspects of Life
"Xueyi, why do you insist on sending me to Guangchuan Domain?"
"With your flirtatious ways and lustful nature, if I don't keep an eye on you, you might be kidnapped by some random wild woman one day."
Just like Li Linghui, if I hadn't come to Hundred Flowers City, wouldn't you have become her prey?
"Am I really that bad?" Shen Xu scratched his head.
Even if you don't care about them, they will still throw themselves at you.
"You can resist the temptation once or twice, but I don't really believe you can control yourself down there in the long run." Shang Xueyi glanced at him with a hint of disdain.
"I can promise to remain chaste for you, Xueyi. Will you let me go, Xueyi?" Shen Xu asked tentatively.
"Unless you castrate yourself," Shang Xueyi laughed.
"Forget it then!"
"It seems I have no choice but to go to Guangchuan Domain." Shen Xu sighed softly. He knew that the witch wanted him to go to Guangchuan Domain most likely to help him avoid the future war.
“I don’t want to force you. If you’re willing to come with me, that would be great. If you’re not willing, I have ways to make you willing.”
"This isn't coercion! Nobody understands coercion better than you!" Shen Xu mentally complained.
He will not go to Guangchuan Domain, not in this lifetime. He must find a way to escape the witch's clutches.
But the threat of the Love Flower always hung over his head, and he had to solve this problem as soon as possible, otherwise he would not be able to leave Li Linghui, and thus he would not be able to escape Shang Xueyi.
Now that he knows the antidote might be related to the goddess, tomorrow's trip to Goddess Peak is very important.
The grand flower festival is about to begin, but he is now in dire straits.
"Xueyi, why did you come to Hundred Flowers City?" Shen Xu asked.
"I'm here for sightseeing."
Shen Xu shook his head. "The young master of the Blood Fiend Palace wouldn't come to a small city for such a trivial matter, even though it has unparalleled beauty."
There are some things you're better off not knowing.
All you need to do is leave with me after the Hundred Flowers Festival; you don't need to worry about anything else.
Shen Xu fell silent. It seemed that the Blood Fiend Palace had indeed gotten involved in the affairs of Hundred Flowers City. What did they want to gain from it?
Sensing Shen Xu's silence, Shang Xueyi asked, "Do you feel that I have deprived you of your freedom?"
"How could that be! According to your concept, the weak only have the right to be dominated by the strong, so how can they have any freedom!"
"Shen Xu..." Upon hearing this, Shang Xueyi wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
"I'm going to visit an elder at the Floating Life Pavilion. Xueyi, would you like to come with me?"
"Floating Life Pavilion, the flower boat that is about to be removed from the list of the top ten flower boats."
"Even you say so, it seems they're really in danger this year," Shen Xu said with a smile.
"May I ask about your relationship with that person?"
"There's nothing special about our relationship. We met in Tianjian City and traveled together to Baihua City, which helped us build some friendship."
Before he left, he invited me to the Floating Life Pavilion. Now that I have the opportunity, I'd like to go and take a look. I wonder if that's alright?" Shen Xu looked at Shang Xueyi.
"Since you want to go, I naturally have no reason to refuse. Besides, I would also like to get to know more of your friends."
"Thank you!" Shen Xu said, bowing.
“Shen Xu, you really don’t have to do this,” Shang Xueyi said, frowning.
"Since I'm going to Guangchuan Domain in the future, I'll definitely need your protection to survive. You'll be my lifeline then, so there's no harm in being polite to you now."
After all, who can predict the future? Maybe one day I'll upset you and end up dead there. It's never wrong for me to be careful.
Is this how you express your dissatisfaction?
"How could I dare to express dissatisfaction with the young master of the Blood Fiend Palace? I value my life very much," Shen Xu said with a smile.
Shang Xueyi scoffed, "Hmph! Since you're so eager to listen to me, then keep listening! You'd better listen for the rest of your life!"
"You can't bind me for life." Shen Xu's expression was somewhat gloomy.
"As long as you are weaker than me, you have to listen to me for the rest of your life."
……
Shen Xu is now worth millions, and no pleasure boat can refuse him as long as he shows his Purple Gold Pill ticket.
Compared to the dazzling array of the other ten flower boats, the Floating Pavilion's massive hull stands out among the many flower boats with its complex yet harmonious eclectic style.
Although it lacks the ethereal beauty of embracing the moon and the extravagance of intoxicating immortals, it possesses a vibrant energy rooted in the mortal world.
The ship remains enormous, and its decorations, which blend various styles, are exceptionally beautiful. The eaves and brackets on the east side, the domed terrace on the west side, and the waterside platform on the south side are all exquisitely crafted.
Colorful flags representing "the myriad aspects of life" are hung, their colors vibrant, while the huge mural "A Hundred Scenes of Life" on the bow of the ship depicts the bustling city life and the singing and dancing in grand halls.
Shen Xu learned from the crowd on the shore that the judging panel had just arrived at the Floating Life Pavilion.
Shen Xu couldn't help but look at Shang Xueyi, but the woman in front of him remained calm, seemingly unsurprised by the news.
This made Shen Xu wonder if Shang Xueyi wasn't afraid that he would expose her demonic identity to the judges.
However, he wouldn't expose Shang Xueyi, because he felt that the witch must have a backup plan since she was so fearless.
Thinking of this, Shen Xu turned his gaze to the Floating Life Pavilion, his eyes filled with both scrutiny and anticipation.
We eagerly await what kind of performance the representative of "the myriad aspects of life" will present before his possible farewell.
"Greetings, esteemed guests. Floating Life Pavilion welcomes you." A beautiful maidservant greeted them.
"I heard the judging panel is currently inside the Floating Life Pavilion. I didn't expect you to still be entertaining guests at this time."
"The jury wants the most authentic performance from each pleasure boat. If the pleasure boats are closed off because of the jury's presence, wouldn't that go against the jury's original intention?"
"You two have arrived at a very opportune time. Fairy Su is currently performing 'A Fleeting Dream,' you are in for a treat," said Fang, the envoy who received them, with a smile.
The woman's behavior surprised Shen Xu. Although rumors were rampant that Fusheng Pavilion would be removed from the top ten pleasure boats, the interior of Fusheng Pavilion did not seem to be affected by those rumors.
"Do you want to see the snow-white clothes?"
"Since we've come across it, there's no harm in taking a look."
"Then please lead the way!" Shen Xu said to the envoy in front of him.
Stepping inside the Floating Life Pavilion, a mixture of the aromas of tea, wine, the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries, and the smell of cosmetics hits you.
It is diverse but not chaotic; instead, it creates a unique and vibrant atmosphere.
But today, there seems to be a subtle tension and anxiety mixed in.
Inside the lobby, waiters dressed as people of different professions performed their duties. A clever young waiter nimbly led the way, a waiter dressed as a "江湖客" (jianghu kè kè, a wandering swordsman) with a wooden sword at his waist bowed with clasped hands, and a waiter dressed as a "落困书学学" (luò kù shū xué, a down-on-his-luck scholar) holding a book recited appropriate verses...
They were highly trained and each had an extraordinary appearance, perfectly embodying the essence of the Floating Life Pavilion: "all-encompassing, each finding their own enjoyment."
Compared to the refined uniformity of other flower boats, this one appears more vivid and authentic.
The main stage, located at the center of the ship, is cleverly designed to be raised, lowered, and rotated to simulate different scenes.
The stage lights focused on Su Wanqing, the top performer at Fusheng Pavilion. Today, she was dressed in simple and elegant clothes, with light makeup and delicate eyebrows. Her temperament was gentle yet resilient. Although her appearance was not outstanding, she had a comfortable and approachable charm.
On stage, she sometimes appears as a flower seller struggling to make a living in the marketplace, carrying a flower basket, calling out in a clear voice, with lively and cunning eyes.
In an instant, she transformed into a self-pitying young lady confined to her secluded mansion, gazing into the distance from the railing. A graceful and sorrowful solo dance with flowing sleeves, accompanied by the plaintive sound of the pipa, perfectly conveyed her confinement and longing, moving the audience deeply.
The next moment, she transformed into a chivalrous heroine in the tavern, slapping the table and singing loudly, raising a glass with the "heroic wanderer" waiter, displaying her heroic spirit and boundless passion.
……
On the judging panel, Yan Yang Zhenren remained calm with a deep gaze, while Lü Qingfeng sat upright with sharp eyes but no outward emotion.
The leader of the Hundred Flowers Alliance smiled broadly, his gentle gaze sweeping across the entire room. The representatives of the four major families seemed to be in deep meditation, their auras calm and focused.
Upon discovering Shen Xu's arrival, their expressions all underwent different changes.
Although Shen Xu, who was sitting in the judges' seat, knew they were there, he didn't care about their presence. He was completely immersed in the performance on stage.
In his opinion, Su Wanqing's entire performance was extremely smooth, and her emotions were sincere and full.
The performance, which encapsulates the joys and sorrows of all beings in a single dream, would be a textbook example even on Earth.
After the performance, everyone was captivated by its splendid spectacle, yet no one dared to applaud, as if a turbulent undercurrent was lurking beneath the surface.
"It's a pity, Su's performance was good, but the one from last year... sigh..."
"Even the best prostitute probably can't wash away that scandal..."
These comments, like cold needles, pierced through the lively atmosphere of the stage, and also revealed a barely perceptible hint of humiliation and exhaustion beneath Su Wanqing's perfect smile.
But she still stood tall, her stubborn gaze fixed on the jury, conveying a sense of tragic grandeur.
However, the judges remained calm.
Master Yanyang nodded slightly, seemingly praising the skill, but his eyes were devoid of warmth. "The performance skills are superb, and the narrative is moving. Fusheng Pavilion truly has a unique approach to the 'hundred aspects' of life."
Elder Qingfeng's gaze lingered on Su Wanqing for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible, before he looked away.
The leader of the Hundred Flowers Alliance smiled even more deeply, but the worry deep in his eyes did not disappear.
He asked a few more questions about the details of the play's arrangement and the training of personnel, his attitude gentle, as if it were just a normal conversation.
The members of the four major families didn't even lift their eyelids once from beginning to end, as if the wonderful performance in front of them was no different from the flowing water outside the window.
An unspoken silence filled the air.
Everyone knows that no matter how brilliant the performance, it cannot change the predetermined outcome.
Li Wanfang, the owner of the Floating Life Pavilion, and Su Wanqing, along with a large group of envoys, stood in the center of the stage, enduring all kinds of gazes, some sympathetic, some disdainful, and some inquisitive.
But they still wore grateful smiles and responded politely.
In truth, they all knew that this polite praise was a final act of courtesy, and also a heartless farewell.
Su Wanqing maintained her proper posture, but her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the turmoil in her heart.
She gave everything for the Floating Life Pavilion, but had to bear the shameful mark left by her ex.
Master Yanyang scanned the entire room expressionlessly, his gaze lingering briefly on Li Wanfang and Su Wanqing before finally settling on the scoring jade slip in his hand. A wisp of crimson spiritual energy gathered at his fingertips, as if he were carefully considering the score to be written.
The air was no longer filled with the fragrance of flowers and the aroma of cooking, but with heavy pressure, silent sighs, and the desolation of an impending end.
As the crimson spiritual energy from Master Yanyang's fingertips fell, it also brought an end to the "Myriad Phenomena of Life" within the Floating Life Pavilion.