Yan Li entered the palace with an ugly expression and came out with an even uglier expression.
The only difference was that he had changed into a clean set of robes and his wounds seemed to have healed.
As soon as he came out, the palace gates were locked. Bathing in the afterglow of the setting sun, he walked out of the Imperial City. Suddenly, he stopped and turned around, smiling for some reason. "Others laugh at me for being too crazy, but I laugh at them for not seeing through me."
Returning to the Resentful Yuan Tower, he called for a bucket of hot water, took a bath, and changed his clothes.
Along the way, he examined his body and found that his external wounds had indeed healed. Although the unknown ointment had brought him inhuman pain, it had a miraculous effect.
He hadn't meditated for long when he suddenly heard footsteps. He opened his eyes, guessing that it was Lian Hai Changjin.
As expected, there was a knock on the door, followed by Lian Hai Changjin's voice. "Brother Yan, I heard that you were released. I thought I wouldn't be able to leave tonight."
"Come in."
The door was pushed open and Lian Hai Changjin walked in, waving her jade fan. Seeing that Yan Li was unharmed, she smiled. "It seems that His Majesty thinks highly of you. He even healed your wounds."
Yan Li said indifferently, "You're quite well-informed."
Lian Hai Changjin smiled. "It's not that I didn't want to help, but there were many details. Not long after you were captured, you were summoned by His Majesty, so I lost my ability to do anything. "
Yan Li smiled coldly. "Don't think too highly of yourself. How do you know that I work for His Majesty? "
Lian Hai Changjin blinked. "Oh no, I let it slip. This is indeed a secret. Brother Yan, you won't kill me, will you?"
Yan Li was shocked at the intelligence network of the first village, but he didn't show it on his face. "If you leave now, you can keep your life."
Lian Hai Changjin smiled. "That won't do. Brother Yan, have you forgotten our deal yesterday?"
Yan Li said unhappily, "I've just been seriously injured. I don't have the energy to drink with women. Go by yourself!"
"I heard," Lian Hai Changjin laughed, "that the second young master of War God Manor will also visit the Rainbow Clouds House tonight. Moreover, he is the noble young master most likely to receive Miss Youwei."
"Wang Yuanqing!" Yan Li's eyes turned cold.
He looked coldly at Lianhai Changjin, "Do you think I'll be used by you?"
LianHai Changjin closed his jade fan and said innocently,
Does Brother Yan think that I have any ill intentions towards you? "
"It doesn't matter if it's malicious or kind." Yan Li sneered. "You can't escape the fact that you're useful."
Lianhai Changjin smiled, "I do not deny this point, and I will not let Brother Yan's efforts go to waste."
"You want me to be your gun? There's no way, let alone a window …"
"Ten portions of Shadowless Starsilk." Lianhai Changjin smiled.
"Hu …" Yan Li spat out the last word in a daze.
Then, with a face full of smiles, he warmly shook Lianhai Changjin's hand. "Brother Lianhai, if there's anything I, Yan Li, can do, just tell me, hahahaha …"
For the first time, the smile on Lianhai Changjin's face froze. After a while, he squeezed out a sentence, "You are the most unpredictable person I have ever met."
The Rainbow Clouds House was the number one brothel in the land of the Divine Prefecture, second to none.
The Rainbow Clouds House occupied seventeen mu of land, and it was without a doubt the largest archway in Yongling. The seventy-two large rooms were arranged in a disorderly manner, brightly lit. It was a fantasy land for bewitching souls, but also a paradise for men. Compared to the peace of Yongling after nightfall, this place was like a different world.
This night was especially lively, because today was the day that the top girl of the Rainbow Clouds House, Yu Youwei, would receive guests.
For the other girls, today was also a good day, because the men who came to watch this kind of bustle rarely had the time to control their lower bodies.
The noisy entrance of the Rainbow Clouds House was crowded with onlookers.
"Madam, why hasn't you come out to host the welcoming ceremony?"
"That's right, we've waited for so long. When will the three entry tests begin?"
A high platform was set up in front of the steps. Amidst the chatter of the onlookers, the madam with heavy makeup arrived late.
"Everyone is so impatient." When the madam saw the moving heads, it was as if she was looking at moving banknotes. She grinned from ear to ear.
"Same old rules, there are only three spots before the three entry tests, and the highest bidder wins.
As soon as the madam finished speaking, a well-dressed fat man shouted, "Ten thousand taels!"
Ten thousand taels was enough to buy a portion of Shadowless Starsilk. Just for one spot, this price was a bit too high. The eager patrons couldn't help but hang their heads in dejection.
The well-dressed fat man proudly swept his gaze over the crowd of patrons and said, "Ten thousand taels for one spot, who can be more sincere than me?"
"One hundred thousand."
Right at this moment, three voices sounded out in unison from the crowd.
The crowd was silent. The well-dressed fat man's expression was unsightly, and he finally gave up dejectedly.
"One hundred thousand taels, any higher? Any higher? "The madam was overjoyed.
The three people who had offered one hundred thousand taels were invited onto the stage, and the people below the stage immediately started whispering.
"So it's the young master of the Connected Sea Bank, no wonder he's so rich!"
"Isn't that the second young master of the Martial God Estate?"
"That's Wei Jun, the son of the commander-in-chief …"
Yan Li stood behind Lianhai Zhangjin. He purposely wore a hooded black robe that covered most of his face, so Wang Yuanqing didn't recognize him.
Not only did Lianhai Zhangjin have helpers, but the other two also had two people standing behind them.
Yan Li's gaze swept past Wang Yuanqing and fell on the third person.
From the whispers below the stage, he learned that this person was called Wei Jun. His father was the commander-in-chief of the world's military, Wei Dan, and his status was even higher than the Martial God Estate.
But the Martial God's influence among the common people was unparalleled, so they were evenly matched.
Wei Jun looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and was the oldest. He looked rather heroic, but he didn't hide his arrogance at all. One look and anyone could tell that he was a rich second generation.
"Since there are no higher bids, then the spots are for the three young masters." The madam happily took the banknotes from the three people's hands. "Please wait a moment, young masters. This servant will go and invite the three guards."
She turned around and went in. Not long after, she came out with a masked woman in white behind her.
The woman in white said in a cold tone, "The first of the three guards, High Melody and Few Songs. The challenger, please compose a poem and choose the stem of the poem. You have half an hour."
She turned around and left.
The first guard didn't decide the winner, but the poem had to be approved by Yu Youwei to proceed to the next guard.
The madam smiled apologetically and said, "Young masters, please come into the building. Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone have been prepared."
The group immediately moved inside.
Yan Li suddenly saw a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. He looked over and saw that it was a man following behind Wang Yuanqing. When he saw the man's face clearly, he couldn't help but be startled. Wasn't that the zither master Lu Cuiche? Why was he here?
The three people, or rather, the three teams, entered the building.
Lianhai Zhangjin smiled and said, "Brother Yan, take a rest first. I have to hurry."
"They've already invited Master Ru Lin for help. Why don't you find one?" Yan Li asked.
Lianhai Zhangjin sighed and said, "Wang Yuanqing and Wei Jun have invited their mentors when they were young. Those people aren't that easy to invite. They're all arrogant people. Without a title, money and treasures won't move them."
"Pretentious!" Yan Li sneered disdainfully.
"Exactly!" Lianhai Zhangjin agreed with him.
Yan Li suddenly thought of "Calm Disturbance".
If he had to compose it, he definitely wouldn't be able to do it. But if it was that poem, he might be able to take the lead in the three guards.
"How is it? Any inspiration?" He asked without batting an eyelid.
Lianhai Zhangjin laughed bitterly and said, "How could I compose a poem worthy of Brother Yan in such a short amount of time?"
Yan Li's eyes turned cold and thought, 'As expected.' But he wasn't in a hurry to expose him. He only said indifferently, "I was fortunate enough to come across a poem. Listen …"
He recited "Calm Disturbance".
The more Lianhai Zhangjin listened, the more surprised and delighted she became. Finally, she wrote it down on the paper without hesitation. Her signature was not ambiguous either. Before Yan Li could stop her, she had already written his name.
Yan Li frowned, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. The three of them presented their poems to the white-clothed lady to send them into the warm room.
Of course, the first guard wasn't in a hurry to announce the answer. Only the result of passing or not would be announced.
Not long after, the white-clothed lady came out and said, "The three young masters have passed. Please proceed to the next guard, Hanging Antelope's Horn."
The three of them were already prepared. They each took out a silk robe and handed it to the white-clothed lady.
Although the name "Hanging Antelope's Horn" sounded mysterious, it was in fact a gift. Moreover, it wasn't an ordinary gift. At the very least, it had to make the recipient feel novel. In other words, it had to be something they had never seen before or heard of but had never seen before.
There were many strange things, but who knew what Yu Youwei had seen and what she hadn't.
Yan Li was increasingly disgusted by this deliberately mystifying way of passing the guard.
Not long after, the white-clothed lady came out and asked the three of them to prepare for the third guard. She also listed out the questions, "The young lady said that she wants the three of you to play the guqin and sing the piece she just wrote. Whoever has a higher realm will be the guest of honor this year."
This was not only the third guard's contest, but also the first guard's contest of superiority and inferiority.
To perform one's own work meant that the performer had to play and sing at the same time. This was a great test of technique and state of mind.
"I'll go first!" Wei Jun was the first to shout.
Then he turned around and said to an old man behind him, "Sir, as long as you win this round, I'll guarantee you a lifetime of glory, splendor, and wealth!"
The old man nodded lightly and went to the stage.
At this moment, the people below the stage were shocked. They knew that the climax of this year's three guards had arrived.
The old man ignored the people below the stage and sat on the guqin. His hands touched the strings and he fell into a realm of his own. He was playing the song "Hanging Antelope's Horn".
"The winding path actually gives rise to coldness …"
It was a poem, and the first line was filled with simplicity and desolation, as well as helplessness towards the cruelty of reality. It could be assumed that the old man's circumstances were not very good, or else he would not have fallen to such a state.
His skill with the guqin was not particularly brilliant, but when paired with his unique old and hoarse voice, it gave off a unique flavor.
"A hundred generations of people have tasted it …"
Nearing the age of seventy, he had weathered many storms, and his body was weary, making people sigh incessantly.
"Tonight, watching the moon and the past, like the lonely fireflies fluttering in the wind …"
After finishing the song, the old man stood up and went back to the building.
The people below the stage immediately burst into loud cheers.
Wang Yuanqing said to Lianhai Changjin, "Brother Lianhai, you go first. I'm afraid that the person you brought with you will be too embarrassed to go on stage."
Lianhai Changjin smiled and said, "Brother Wang, you don't have to be so polite. Just go first."
Wang Yuanqing did not force him. He cupped his hands at the man beside him and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Master."
The man who was addressed as Master was none other than the zither master, Lu Cuiche.
Lu Cuiche was quite famous in the Capital's Yongling. As soon as he went on stage, the audience below the stage immediately became excited.
"I didn't expect to be able to hear Master Lu's performance in my lifetime …"
"Yes, the fact that Second Young Master was able to invite him shows his sincerity …"
"Tonight's guest is undoubtedly in the bag for Second Young Master."
Lu Cuiche listened to the discussion and felt proud. But as soon as he sat in front of the piano, his expression changed.
"The mist and waves are vast, the mortal world is mystifying, the Dao is endless."
This was no doubt a poem. It began with the word "vast" and "miasma", revealing a grand atmosphere. The last three words "the Dao is endless" were even more brilliant. On the basis of the grand atmosphere, it added a kind of indifference to the affairs of the world. In terms of artistic conception alone, it far surpassed the first old man's poem.
What Lu Cuiche played was "Clouds in the Xiaoxiang River". It was originally a song to express one's discontented feelings and depression. However, when he played it, it gave off an incomparable feeling of seclusion in a paradise.
"A new dream, waking up silver threads, a thousand years of hardship and sorrow; the wind blows, the grass swaying, the world only cares about fame and fortune."
The style of the song suddenly changed, becoming extremely emotional. Lu Cuiche's voice also became hoarse, like a whisper lingering in one's ears.
It was as if the water clouds and shadows of mountains and rivers were floating in front of everyone's eyes. They couldn't help but be moved by his concern for the country and the people, and they sighed to themselves.
"Who dares to ascend to heaven alone, ascend to heaven!"
The melody suddenly became high-spirited, raising everyone's heart.
"Ten Years of Fantasy, Mu Taixu …"
But it turned out to be a big dream, and their hearts fell again.
"Xiaoyao, the dragon in Ruyang Palace touches the eye."
Finally, the word "Xiaoyao" here revealed a free and easy feeling, echoing with the indifference of the first sentence "the Dao is endless", completing the poem.
Before Lu Cuiche stood up, thunderous applause sounded from the audience.
Wang Yuanqing smiled faintly and clapped his hands, saying, "Master Lu's zither skills are getting better and better."
Wei Jun was an idiot who did not know how to appreciate music, so he looked at the old man and asked, "What do you think, sir?"
The old man said faintly, "I admit that I am inferior."
Wei Jun's face immediately turned livid.
Wang Yuanqing looked at Lianhai Changjin and said with a smile, "Brother Lianhai, what do you think?"
"Who knows?" Lianhai Changjin turned to Yan Li, "Brother Yan, I'm counting on you."
Yan Li took off his black robe and walked out.
Wang Yuanqing was startled at first when he saw Yan Li, but then he said sarcastically, "So it's you. It seems that you still don't understand the meaning of being humble."
Lu Cuiche walked in complacently, but his face froze when he saw Yan Li.
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