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This woman was a famous female musician from the west. It was said that she was skilled at playing "decadent music" and had opened a music hall called "Mihuang Pavilion" in many prefectures.
"This woman surnamed Xue brought a group of people and suddenly stormed into our Phoenix Dance Pavilion today, saying that she runs the Mi Huang Pavilion and we run the Phoenix Dance Pavilion. She is clearly trying to oppose her."
Cen Yao grew angrier as she spoke, "The Phoenix Dance Pavilion in Anjun has been open for many years, it's not necessarily later than her Mihuang Pavilion. But she's being unreasonable, seizing on this point and arguing endlessly."
"Master Lianghong has always been courteous to me because she comes from the prefecture and is quite famous in the world of qin music. Who knew that the more courteous I am, the more she takes advantage of me."
Then, "coincidentally," a noble lady from the Marquis's mansion in the prefecture passed by and intervened, claiming to uphold justice, but actually using the influence of the powerful figures in the prefecture to force the owner to accept the challenge from that woman surnamed Xue.
"If we lose, Phoenix Dance Pavilion will be closed for three years, and we will have to give her the space that originally belonged to Phoenix Dance Pavilion across the street so that she can open another Phoenix Pavilion in An County."
Fu Hai said, "The area opposite the Phoenix Dance Hall? Ah, there..."
During the Lantern Festival, it's a place where the so-called "knife party" and "mother party" compete.
That piece of land does indeed belong to Fengwu Pavilion, and it is often used to hold events related to music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance competitions.
He said, "It seems that she originally planned to open a Mihuang Pavilion in our An County."
"The purpose of challenging Fengwu Pavilion is twofold: to create momentum and to eliminate competitors in advance."
"If Fengwu Pavilion really loses and closes for three years, with all the students being taken in by the other side, it will probably be too embarrassing to reopen at the original site after three years."
Cen Yao said resentfully, "That's exactly how it is."
"That woman surnamed Xue was very arrogant. She said that she had sat in three rounds in a row. If Fengwu Pavilion could beat her in one round, she would admit that Fengwu Pavilion was superior and immediately leave. Mihuang Pavilion would never enter Anjun again."
"Anjun never had a Mihuang Pavilion to begin with. Isn't this like creating cards out of thin air when playing mahjong? It's infuriating!"
Fu Hai said, "I see!"
As an innkeeper, I've heard quite a few stories like this in the past.
However, there were not many actual encounters. Although there are conflicts wherever there are people, Anjun was relatively isolated before the Grand Canal was opened.
The carriage stopped in front of the Phoenix Dance Hall.
Upon entering the Phoenix Dance Hall, one finds not only the hall's own musicians and female students, but also many ladies and young women from wealthy families.
It's unclear whether these people heard the news beforehand or just found out about it on the spot and came to join in the fun.
“That woman and her people are at Qiwutai now,” Cen Yao said in a low voice. “The master told me to bring you here first and then go to Xiuqin Tower, where they are waiting for you.”
Fu Hai said, "Okay!"
When they arrived at Xiuqin Building, they saw many female students waiting at the entrance, looking worried.
Cen Yao said, "Make way, make way."
Holding Fu Hai's hand, they entered Xiuqin Tower, where two female musicians guarding the entrance let them in.
Outside the door, the female students whispered among themselves: "Who did Cen Yao bring in?" Someone in front said that Cen Yao went to find someone to help her fight. Could it be this young man? "Who is he? Does our An County have such a young master of the zither?"
Some people said, "I know him. He's the owner of the inn outside the city."
"what?"
"Innkeeper? Why did you bring the innkeeper here?" The girl's voice, with a southern accent, was quite clear, but she was clearly confused.
"Oh no! Could it be that because the owner of the museum lost, Miss Cen has lost confidence and is planning to close the museum soon, so she's booking rooms for everyone at an inn outside the city?"
"This, this... this is too much of a boost to others' morale while diminishing our own."
"What are you talking about? We're all from Anjun. Even if we really lose, we'll just take down the signboard and close the doors. Do you think you can kick us all out of the city? That's impossible!" The girl with the southern accent was quite clear-headed.
"Then tell me, why bring in someone else's innkeeper? You can't expect him to perform, can you? That's ridiculous!"
Fu Hai followed Cen Yao up to the second floor, where he saw Feng Nihong, the owner of the Phoenix Dance Pavilion, and Cen Qiong, the famous talented young lady of An County.
The two men were seated at the table, with three female musicians beside them.
Feng Nihong looked haggard and restless, and was in very poor condition.
Cen Qiong remained silent, clearly somewhat nervous as well.
Cen Qiong was actually only a nominal teacher at Fengwu Hall.
The problem is that Xue Yanxiang is ostensibly challenging the Fengwu Hall, but in reality, she is challenging all the famous qin masters in Anjun.
Everyone knows that she and Feng Nihong are the two most accomplished musicians in Anjun County, and that they have a very close relationship.
Whether she appears on stage or not, the Phoenix Dance Pavilion's defeat today will damage her reputation.
Moreover, Xue Yanxiang's goal is to suppress the entire Anjun Qin Dao (a traditional Chinese music school) and create momentum for her to open a school and recruit students here, so there's no point in her avoiding the fight.
"Young Master Fu, you've come at the perfect time!" Cen Qiong said softly upon seeing Fu Hai arrive. "Please have a seat. My sister must have already explained the situation to you on the way here."
Fu Hai sat cross-legged and said, "I've heard about it, but I really don't know what I can do. Master Feng and Miss Qiong, you two are already the two most skilled musicians in Anjun. If even you are no match for that so-called 'decadent and seductive music,' then what use am I? I'm just a beginner!"
Cen Qiong said softly, "Young master, you are too kind! Although you are a beginner in the art of the zither, you have extraordinary talent and are almost divine."
"With a casual flick of his wrist that day, he already possessed a mid-level skill, as if a celestial musician had descended to earth or Liezi had been reincarnated."
"Young Master once said that even Pharmacist Li from Peach Blossom Island said that you are exceptionally talented and will surely amaze everyone. At that time, the Master and I believed it."
Fu Hai thought to himself, "This story of a fairy descending to earth and Liezi being reincarnated is just something I made up."
Don't believe it.
At that time, although Feng Nihong and Cen Qiong could see that the young man was indeed exceptionally talented, they were still skeptical about the idea that he was a fairy descended from heaven or a reincarnation of Liezi.
But now, they were absolutely certain that this boy was the reincarnation of Liezi... because if he wasn't, they were doomed!
Chapter 210: Yi Er? A Boundless Melody on the Qin!
Fu Hai still didn't understand: "What can I do?" Feng Nihong said from the side: "Although it is a competition of piano skills, Xue Yanxiang knows a mysterious musical score."
"That musical score is one of the Eight Great Celestial Musics, called 'Yi Er,' which means 'boundless romance.' She has a mysterious skill that allows her to perfectly perform 'Yi Er,' bringing out its boundless romance effect."
She stretched out her hand and gently gestured the two words to let Fu Hai know.
He added, "With my abilities, I was completely unable to resist the bewitching and thought-provoking effect of this music. I was so distracted on stage that I abandoned my zither and started dancing a seductive dance."
She blushed and said, "Although Cen Qiong was by my side and stopped me in time, many people saw it. Fortunately, everyone present was a woman, but I still lost utterly and shamelessly in public."
"At that time, I had even taken off half of my outer garment. If there had been a crack in the ground, I would have wanted to crawl right into it."
Fu Hai exclaimed in surprise, "Playing the zither can have such an effect?"
Cen Qiong said, "The way of dance and music directly touches people's hearts. Xue Yanxiang also has the strength of the seventh realm in martial arts. Although she cannot release her internal energy outward, she contains her energy in the sound of the zither, which moves people's ears and eyes with the sound waves."
“Those outside the stage, who are far away, are not affected much. But those on stage, who are close by, are within the range of her seductive voices. That’s where her nickname ‘Seductive Voices’ comes from.”
Fu Hai realized that the so-called "Yi Er" was actually "Feng Yue" without clothes.
He said, "This level of skill in playing the zither is truly divine. What use is it to you to have me here?"
It's not that he doesn't want to help.
But judging from the sound, the skill level of this musician is really far behind.
Feng Nihong turned around, opened a mysterious brocade box, and took out an item: "Young Master Fu, please take a look."
Fu Hai took it and saw that it was a musical score with the two characters "Gou Zhong" written on it in ancient seal script.
Feng Nihong said, "The 'Gouzhong' is also one of the eight great immortal musics. Its grand and majestic nature can, to a certain extent, restrain the decadent music like the 'Yi Er'."
"It was a miracle that Young Master Fu was able to play the incomplete and fragmented 'Kuzhong' into a complete melody, turning something rotten into something magical. Now, with this complete 'Kuzhong,' perhaps he can withstand Xue Yanxiang's boundless lust."
Fu Hai looked up: "Miss Qiong, this 'Hou Zhong' has such a function, why don't you use it to fight against Xue Yanxiang?"
Cen Qiong said softly, "Firstly, I use the banana leaf zither. The 'Gu Zhong' is only suitable for playing with the Luoxia zither. Only the Luoxia zither can evoke the scene of the surging rivers and seas and the vast landscape."
"Secondly, I am skilled in ethereal tones, which do not match the grand and chaotic sounds of 'Hu Zhong'. I can indeed play 'Hu Zhong' in its entirety, but only in a way that is audible."
"If you force yourself to use it to compete with Xue Yanxiang on stage, it's like using your own weakness to attack her strength."
"The result might not be as good as Director Feng's."
Fu Hai pondered for a moment, then nodded. ●This is just like martial arts; there are areas of expertise and areas of weakness. Unless you're a top-tier master, no one can be proficient in all martial arts.
Cen Qiong said, "I will go on stage first and perform my best piece, 'Peach Blossom.' Although 'Peach Blossom' is not one of the Eight Great Celestial Melodies, it is still a famous ancient piece."
"Combined with my Ice Crystal Technique, I might be able to block Xue Yanxiang's seductive voice and avoid embarrassing myself on the spot. But this can only buy me some time."
"Please take this time, young master, and see if you can truly master the 'Gu Zhong' and use it to fight against Xue Yanxiang."
Fu Hai said, "Ah! Ice Crystal Technique?"
Cen Qiong asked in confusion, "This is a family-inherited martial art that I have cultivated since childhood. Why are you so surprised, young master?"
Fu Hai thought to himself, "Last time I had a secret rendezvous with Sister Die, Sister Xiao Ye, and Sister Xian Rui. Everything was going well, but the plan went wrong, and I failed to make sure Sister Die couldn't get off the bed."
The reason for this is that Butterfly Girl secretly learned the Ice Crystal Technique from someone, and then, with her even more profound skills, she blocked my "death and ascension"? So you are the culprit who taught Butterfly Girl the Ice Crystal Technique, almost causing me to be torn apart by three women and forcing Junior Sister Lingyue to carry my head out to sea? (Fu Hai said: "Alright! I can only try my best.")
Fu Hai was always happy to help others.
The Phoenix Dance Pavilion had previously gifted him a Luoxia Qin (a type of zither) and sheet music, and this time they had formed a new friendship worth a hundred taels of silver, forged through shared interests.
Moreover, the other party's unwarranted challenge and bullying tactics also caused dissatisfaction.
A female musician came up from downstairs: "Master, the people Xue Yanxiang brought are already making a fuss at Qiwu Terrace, making many sarcastic remarks, saying that we are hiding and avoiding battle."
"That Lady Shehua said that if we don't fight, we'll be deemed to have conceded defeat. What do you think of this..."
Cen Qiong stood up and said, "I'll go!"
Fu Hai quickly flipped through "The Gu Zhong" and then stood up: "I'll go too."
Cen Qiong said, "Young Master Fu, you..."
Fu Hai interrupted, "I'll watch you fight from the corner and also look through this musical score. Don't worry, Miss Qiong, I won't be perfunctory."
Although Cen Qiong had not had much contact with this young man in the past, she already knew that he was kind, righteous, and a man of his word.
So he said, "Alright!"
Looking at her younger sister, she said, "Lead Young Master Fu to the elegant seat where Qiwu stands, keep him at a distance, and don't let him be influenced by Xue Yanxiang's seductive music beforehand." Cen Yao replied, "I know! Sister, you must be careful too."
She was afraid that her sister would be like the owner of the venue, suddenly getting up and taking off her clothes to dance while playing on stage.
Cen Qiong went downstairs first, and surrounded by the uneasy female students in the hall, she left with her usual banana leaf zither.
Fu Hai then followed Cen Yao, circled around to the side of Qiwu Terrace, and quietly entered a semi-private private room.