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A month passed in a flash. Dusk deepened, and the last ray of sunset gilded the clouds on the horizon. Feng Xiao leaned against a stone lion at the academy's entrance, his fingertips tapping rhythmically on the stone sculpture's mane. In the distance, the clock tower's hands slowly turned, and its melodious chimes echoed across the sky.
Suddenly, his fingers stopped.
Inside the academy gates, two graceful figures approached, treading on the shattered gold of the afterglow. On the left, Dugu Yan wore a dark green mermaid-style dress, its hem embroidered with subtle snake patterns that shimmered with her every step, like a lazy, beautiful serpent. On the right, Ye Lingling wore a moon-white flowing cloud-sleeved dress, her silver hair loosely tied with an ice-crystal hairpin, making her appear as cool and clear as the moon, with only the pair of red jade earrings on her earlobes revealing a rare touch of alluring charm.
"Have you been waiting long?" Dugu Yan's red lips curved slightly, her emerald eyes glinting with cunning in the twilight.
Feng Xiao straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the two women before settling on Ye Lingling's slightly reddened ear tips: "Waiting for two beauties is worth any amount of time."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling turned her face away, but couldn't hide the faint smile on her lips. The evening breeze brushed past, stirring a few strands of silver hair by her temples, which intertwined with Dugu Yan's dark green skirt, painting a moving picture in the twilight.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan's lips curved into a charming arc. She lifted her skirt and twirled gracefully in front of Feng Xiao. Her dark green skirt rippled like water, tracing a beautiful arc in the deepening dusk.
Feng Xiao's eyes suddenly brightened, like stars abruptly illuminated in the night sky.
"How is it, Xiao Feng?" She stopped, her emerald eyes full of anticipation, "Not bad, right?"
Feng Xiao's gaze lingered on her, from the exquisite lines of her collarbone to her cinched waist, finally resting on the skirt's surface, which rose and fell slightly with her breathing. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was a few shades deeper than usual: "Very beautiful."
Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, yet couldn't help but tug at her tightly cinched waist belt: "It's beautiful, it's beautiful," she mumbled softly, "but this waist is so tight, I have to walk stiffly. It's really uncomfortable."
Ye Lingling, standing nearby, covered her mouth and chuckled, her moon-white wide sleeves flowing like water with her movements: "Formal wear is just like that," she explained gently, her fingertips lightly brushing the flowing cloud patterns on her own skirt, "It's meant to convey that dignified elegance; naturally, it's not as casual as everyday clothes."
Dugu Yan suddenly reached out and hooked Feng Xiao's neck, a bold gesture that contrasted sharply with the elegant and noble formal dress she wore. "Xiao Feng," she leaned close to his ear, her red lips curving into a dangerous arc, "I'm afraid someone will be looking for trouble with you at tonight's banquet." Her warm breath carried a faint scent of roses.
Feng Xiao took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her slender waist, his gaze sweeping over the two beauties: "With Sister Yan and Sister Lingling here, I'm afraid everyone's attention tonight will be stolen by you two," he chuckled lowly, "Who would even bother looking for trouble with me then?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling's ear tips reddened slightly, and she gently tugged Dugu Yan's sleeve: "Yanyan, stop it. Xiao Feng still needs to prepare for his performance later."
Dugu Yan pouted dismissively, her emerald eyes glinting with cunning: "I'd rather believe Xiao Feng isn't interested in women," she deliberately drew out her words, "than believe his performance would have even the slightest flaw."
"Hahaha," Feng Xiao's hearty laughter echoed in the twilight. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, "Tonight's main event is to see what kind of show our 'old friend' will put on."
The three exchanged a knowing smile and walked in unison towards the carriage parked by the roadside.
Feng Xiao elegantly extended his hand, first helping Ye Lingling into the gilded, carved carriage. Her moon-white skirt flowed like water over the step, shimmering with a pearl-like luster in the twilight. Dugu Yan then lightly lifted her skirt, her dark green formal dress outlining a graceful curve as she boarded the carriage.
"Be careful." Feng Xiao subtly supported Dugu Yan's lower back, his fingertips brushing the silk ribbon of her cinched waist. Dugu Yan looked back with a smile, her red lips exceptionally bright in the setting sun.
Once the two beauties were seated, Feng Xiao nimbly leaped into the carriage. Inside, a faint scent of ambergris permeated the air, and the velvet seats were embroidered with the Heaven Dou royal crest. With a light shout from the coachman, four snow-white steeds began to move, their gilded wheels rolling over the cobblestone road, heading towards the brightly lit Heaven Dou City.
Outside the carriage window, dusk deepened. Myriad lights began to illuminate, one after another, making the entire city glow as if it were daytime. Feng Xiao gazed at the towering spires of Moon Pavilion in the distance, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. Tonight's banquet was destined not to be peaceful.
The carriage slowly came to a halt in front of Moon Pavilion, its gilded wheels tracing an elegant arc before the red-carpeted stone steps. Feng Xiao was the first to open the carriage door, moonlight and the glazed lamps of the portico intertwining on his handsome profile. He turned and extended a hand, his long fingers glowing with a jade-like luster under the lamps.
"Mind the step." Feng Xiao softly reminded, his hand firmly supporting Ye Lingling's delicate hand. Her moon-white skirt flowed like water across the step, her silver hair gently swaying in the night breeze. Dugu Yan then leaned out, the subtle patterns on her dark green formal dress flickering in the lamplight like moving snake scales. Feng Xiao subtly supported her waist, his movements restrained yet undeniably intimate.
At this moment, Tang Yuehua, standing at the entrance of Moon Pavilion, her eyes flashed, and she immediately hurried forward with the young man beside her. The hem of her violet formal dress rippled like water with her steps, and her face held a perfectly timed look of surprise: "Xiao Feng, Miss Dugu, Lingling."
The young man standing beside her slightly raised his eyes, his deep gaze subtly appraising Feng Xiao and the two women. Moonlight fell on the crisp shoulder line of his formal dress, outlining a cool and detached silhouette.
Feng Xiao and the two beauties beside him simultaneously bowed to Tang Yuehua, their movements elegant and synchronized: "Madam Yuehua." The three greeted in unison, their voices exceptionally clear under the crystal lamps at the Moon Pavilion entrance.
Tang Yuehua smiled, raising her hand in a gesture to dismiss their politeness: "No need for formalities." Her violet eyes glowed with gentle light under the lamps, "With Xiao Feng performing tonight, Moon Pavilion's graduation ceremony is sure to be even more splendid."
Feng Xiao nodded slightly, a perfectly polite smile on his lips: "Madam Yuehua flatters me." His long fingers lightly stroked the jade pendant at his waist, every gesture exuding grace.
Tang San, standing beside Tang Yuehua, his pupils constricted slightly, surprise barely concealed in his eyes. He gazed at the composed young man before him, finding it almost impossible to connect him with the youth from two years ago.
Feng Xiao seemed to sense something and slowly raised his eyes to meet the scrutinizing gaze. The young man's figure vaguely retained traces of his former self, but his entire demeanor had completely transformed. His lips curved slightly, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.
"Disguise, then..." Feng Xiao murmured in his heart, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the gold threads on his cuff. Others might not perceive it, but he distinctly felt that faint, elusive chill—a killing intent that, though deliberately suppressed, still inadvertently leaked out.
Their gazes briefly met under the glazed lamps. Feng Xiao's eyes held a smile, yet concealed a sharp edge; Tang San's pupils constricted, his knuckles unconsciously tightening within his sleeve. The air seemed to crackle with an invisible spirit power clashing in secret, causing even the lamps at Moon Pavilion's entrance to flicker for a moment.
Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning confusion as he looked at Tang Yuehua: "Madam Yuehua, may I ask who this is...?" His gaze lingered on Tang San for just the right amount of time, carrying a perfectly calibrated hint of curiosity.
Tang Yuehua smiled, elegantly raising her hand to indicate: "This is Tang Yin, a member of my clan." A profound glint flashed in her violet eyes, "I specifically arranged for him to perform as the graduation representative this time, also to let him see the world."
Tang San stepped forward half a pace at the opportune moment, bowing slightly to Feng Xiao and the two women. His bow was standard and proper, but his voice was deliberately lowered: "Greetings to the three of you." His eyes were as calm as water, yet only Feng Xiao could detect the fleeting ripple within them.
Dugu Yan eyed the mysterious young man with interest, while Ye Lingling politely nodded in return. Feng Xiao's lips held a subtle smile, his gaze briefly lingering on Tang San's knuckles—those long fingers still bore the calluses from years of using Hidden Weapons.
Dugu Yan's emerald eyes narrowed slightly, like a snake spotting its prey, as she scrutinized Tang San, her red lips curving into a meaningful arc. Feng Xiao chuckled softly: "The art of the zither emphasizes a mind as still as water..." His gaze subtly swept over Tang San's tensed fingers, "If one's killing intent cannot be calmed, I'm afraid one cannot play a pure and elegant tune."
Tang San's body stiffened abruptly, his pupils contracting violently. Few knew of his experiences in Slaughter City, yet Feng Xiao had exposed them with a single sentence. He instinctively activated his Purple Demon Eye to investigate, but was astonished to find no spirit power fluctuations around Feng Xiao; instead, he exuded a gentle aura that felt strangely familiar.
A tumultuous wave surged in Tang San's heart, and his expression instantly became solemn. This situation presented only two possibilities: either Feng Xiao was truly just an ordinary person with no spirit power, or... his cultivation had reached an unfathomable realm, so deep that even his senses, refined by Slaughter City, could not perceive its depth.
This thought made Tang San's fingers unconsciously clench. He recalled the still-naive youth from two years ago, then looked at the composed young man before him now, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. If it truly was the latter... then Feng Xiao's growth rate was simply horrifying.
What bothered him even more was that, during their close encounter just now, he had felt a strange, inexplicable sense of closeness to Feng Xiao.
"I've learned a lot." As Tang San bowed, a hint of grimness flashed in his eyes. Beneath his wide sleeve, his fingers unconsciously grazed his Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges. This seemingly gentle and refined young man brought him a sense of threat even stronger than those degenerates in Slaughter City.
Tang Yuehua, sensing the subtle atmosphere, stepped forward at the opportune moment, her violet skirt tracing an elegant arc on the ground: "It's getting late, let's go inside." She smiled gently, subtly positioning herself between the two, "Xiao Feng, would you like to come with me backstage to prepare for tonight's performance?"
Feng Xiao nodded understandingly, then turned to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, saying softly: "You two sisters go ahead and take your seats with the attendant. I'll be right there." His fingertip lightly touched Ye Lingling's hand, then he winked at Dugu Yan before gracefully departing with Tang Yuehua.
Tang San stood rooted, his gaze fixed on Feng Xiao's retreating back.
Inside Moon Pavilion's main hall, crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow, illuminating the luxurious decor and the elegantly dressed guests. With the emcee's graceful announcement, the graduation ceremony's performance segment officially began.
Tang San—under the alias "Tang Yin"—as the representative of this graduating class, ascended the stage alongside Princess Xue Ke and several other outstanding students. They wore matching moon-white formal dresses. Tang San stood at the principal position, his fingertips lightly resting on the harp, his expression serene.
Princess Xue Ke subtly turned her head, giving Tang San an encouraging look. Tang San returned a faint smile, then composed himself. Following the conductor's gesture, the zither music flowed forth.
The ensemble's melody was gentle and elegant, like moonlight pouring down, cool yet with a hint of tenderness. The zither's notes were like pearls falling onto a plate, clear and moving, like a babbling brook, long and distant. The guests below closed their eyes, immersed in the beautiful melody.
Tang San's playing technique was indeed impeccable; even Feng Xiao couldn't help but nod slightly in approval. As a master of Hidden Weapons, Tang San's control over the strength of his long fingers was exquisitely precise—the force of each pluck, the amplitude of each vibrato, were as accurate as if calculated. However, beneath this perfect technique, the most crucial soul was missing.
Feng Xiao half-closed his eyes, his fingertips lightly tapping on the armrest with the rhythm. He keenly caught the hint of sharpness hidden within the music—it wasn't the elegant composure of Moon Pavilion, but rather the cold, keen edge characteristic of Slaughter City. The subtle pauses at each transition, the almost imperceptible accelerations during each climax, all exposed the performer's restless inner turmoil.
"Indeed..." A faint, subtle smile played on Feng Xiao's lips. Tang San was indeed trying his best to imitate aristocratic elegance in his performance, but the deliberately slowed tempo only made it seem more like he was trying to hide something. Just like his seemingly relaxed posture now, his muscles were actually taut, ready to burst forth at any moment. How could such deep-seated vigilance be concealed by a mere disguise?
Then the melody suddenly soared, like a secluded orchid blooming in the darkness, aloof and enchanting. Tang San's playing technique was flawless, but Feng Xiao gently shook his head—this piece was too overtly sharp, even subtly revealing a murderous aura.
"It seems his experiences in Slaughter City have, after all, affected his state of mind," Feng Xiao mused inwardly, his gaze sweeping over the audience. Most guests were still lost in the music; for them, such a performance was already top-notch.
Tang San's performance ended amidst thunderous applause. He bowed, his gaze subtly sweeping over Feng Xiao, as if observing his reaction. Feng Xiao merely smiled indifferently, saying nothing more.
Tang Yuehua's arrangements were truly meticulous. She subtly orchestrated the performance order perfectly—allowing Tang San to make his debut as the graduation representative, not only giving him a stage to showcase his talent but also cleverly avoiding the awkward situation of a direct comparison with Feng Xiao.