“Can you not go perform the dance?”

“No, my feet are itchy.”

“Your poison injury could flare up at any time. What if it acts up? The hall is full of enemies, you won’t even be able to escape. Be good, stay put for now. I promise you, whether it’s Xuanyuan the First or Xuanyuan the Second, all those Xuanyuan family brats, I’ll help you slaughter them all sooner or later, alright?”

“I can slaughter them myself very soon. Xuanyuan the First, Xuanyuan the Second, all into my bowl they come.”

“Sigh… Are you hungry? Should I make noodles for you?”

“Good.”

After this nonsensical conversation came a moment of quiet, then a sizzle from the oil pan, filling the room with hot, fresh, spicy aroma.

Madam Yao sat beside them with a face full of black lines, watching this strange pair of bandit man and woman actually cooking noodles in her room.

After Yélu Qi woke up and failed to dissuade Jing Hengbo, he suddenly requested Madam Yao to get a batch of ingredients, saying that today was New Year’s and he wanted to make a New Year’s Eve dinner for Jing Hengbo.

Madam Yao was extremely surprised that he could still think about New Year’s Eve dinner at such a time, and even more surprised that Jing Hengbo actually clapped in approval, clamoring for him to cook.

Were these people’s nerves made of iron? Discussing harming people while cooking?

Madam Yao increasingly felt that this man and woman were not to be offended – they were both deranged.

Of course, she didn’t dare offend them, because after Yélu Qi woke up, he forced her to swallow a pill. Now both her and her maid’s lives were in these two people’s hands.

The beef bone broth bubbled with snow-white oil gleaming, rolling with a thick layer of red oil foam. Snow-white, chewy noodles rolled like ribbons in the soup. After one boil, he poured in the cold broth that had been ladled aside earlier to lower the temperature, making the noodles contract and become more chewy. After three such boils, he lifted the noodles into a large blue and white porcelain bowl, ladled the scalding rich broth over them, sprinkled chopped green onions and red chili oil, and arranged thin, transparent slices of shadow beef neatly in a row. The extremely penetrating aroma shot into their nostrils, making everyone in the room instantly water at the eyes.

The first bowl naturally went to Jing Hengbo. She was already hungry and slurped it down without lifting her head.

“Fragrant! Good craftsmanship! Yélu Qi, if you ever fall on hard times, you could make a living selling noodles!” Jing Hengbo finished half the large bowl in an instant. “How does a proper young master from a wealthy family have such good cooking skills?”

“My elder sister taught me. You’ve said all the things she used to say.” Yélu Qi wouldn’t make noodles for Madam Yao, waving his hand to indicate she should cook for herself. Still recovering from serious injuries and not eating meat, he reclined against the bedding, watching Jing Hengbo eat with some fatigue, and when he saw crystal beads of sweat form on her forehead, he gently wiped them away with a handkerchief.

“Don’t you think selling noodles is beneath you?” Jing Hengbo looked at him with a grin.

“If one can chew grass roots, then one can do anything.” Yélu Qi smiled lazily. “Besides, I’m not really a proper young master from a wealthy family.”

“Oh?”

“I’m an adopted son.” Yélu Qi waved for Madam Yao to step back before saying lightly, “Only Elder Sister Xunru is truly of the Yélu family.”

Jing Hengbo suddenly understood, finally realizing why the Yélu family treated Yélu Qi so harshly. Though come to think of it, the Yélu family hadn’t treated Yélu Xunru much better either.

“The Yélu family truly cultivates eldest son Yélu Yang, and truly pins their hopes on third son Yélu Tan.” Yélu Qi smiled faintly. “Yélu Yang is the legitimate son of the highest birth in the Yélu family. By rights, the State Preceptor position should be his, but he contracted a strange illness at age ten that hasn’t been cured to this day. So they’re waiting for the third son to complete his studies at Nine Heavens Gate, find a way to treat him, cure his illness, and then enter politics. Therefore, when the Yélu family initially discussed who would serve as this Left State Preceptor, everyone fought fiercely at first, nearly causing bloodshed. Later the elders said this State Preceptor position was just temporarily filling in for the eldest son, and would be returned to him once he recovered. Immediately no one competed for it anymore. You know, to painstakingly maintain the family’s status, to maneuver between Di Ge and various forces, to face such a formidable opponent as Gong Yin – this is bound to be extremely difficult and require paying many prices. After paying so many prices and achieving results, then handing them over to Yélu Yang, making wedding clothes for others – who would be willing?”

Jing Hengbo nodded, thinking it was indeed so. This State Preceptor position wasn’t easy to hold. In some ways the difficulty was even higher than Gong Yin’s, needing to check and balance too many forces while protecting oneself. No wonder when Yélu Qi acted in Di Ge, he always held back three parts, never going all out. Obviously, if he went all out to seize great power, he’d immediately have to give it to Yélu Yang, and might even face the fate of a hunted dog after the rabbits are caught. He could only act halfway, always maintaining balance in the situation, to ensure he lived a bit longer.

Under Gong Yin’s authoritarian politics, maintaining such balance required mental effort beyond what ordinary people could manage.

Previously she had thought Yélu Qi definitely wasn’t Gong Yin’s match, always at a disadvantage. Only now did she realize that perhaps this fellow had been hiding his true abilities all along, deliberately yielding?

“Though no one competed anymore, selecting the candidate was still difficult.” Yélu Qi continued. “The elders also had to worry – what if they appointed some branch family descendant with deep roots, and he secretly cultivated his own forces, refusing to return the position later and becoming difficult to control? After much selection, this good fortune finally fell to me.”

Jing Hengbo deeply agreed – who else would they choose but him? Yélu Qi was an adopted son whose parents had died, with only one legitimate Yélu family relative – a blind elder sister. His influence was thin with no one to support him, and no one would pledge loyalty to him. Even if he served as State Preceptor for a hundred years, when the time came he’d still have to obediently return the position. Being an adopted son, returning power to the legitimate line was perfectly natural, causing no criticism or disputes. And that one blind sister would also serve as his restraint – it was truly a perfect arrangement.

Thinking this way, her heart suddenly felt somewhat sour. When that teenage boy accepted this prestigious State Preceptor position amid the envious gazes of those who didn’t understand, what kind of grief and helplessness must have been hidden in his heart?

She buried her face in the steaming noodle bowl, hiding her moistening eyes and that sigh.

But Yélu Qi thought she hadn’t eaten enough, leaning over to check her bowl. “Not enough? Should I make you another bowl?”

Jing Hengbo reached out to push him away. “Enough, enough.”

He had just finished bandaging, his collar slightly open. Her hand pressed against his chest below the neck. In that instant, he felt her palm warm, soft, and delicate, gentle as soft clouds, stirring his heart. She felt his skin burning hot, his flesh firm and smooth, like silk warmed by a furnace, sliding past under her palm.

She hastily withdrew her hand, turning her head away. The firelight reflected on her cheeks, slightly flushed, crystal clear like coral.

He felt disappointed, as if the warmth and fragrance still lingered three inches below his neck.

The room suddenly became very quiet, quiet enough to create some awkwardness. She hurriedly tried to find something to talk about, but when she opened her mouth it felt empty, her voice seeming to echo off the walls.

“Xuanyuan Jing sent out his most beloved eldest son Xuanyuan Wei to handle the handover with the Huangjin Tribe chief. Xuanyuan Wei gave the chief beauties and was honored as a distinguished guest. However, there’s another coincidental matter – do you want to guess?”

The topic change was a bit stiff, but Yélu Qi picked it up very naturally.

“Could it be that the person Madam Yao had a tryst with last night was also a young master from the Xuanyuan family?”

“You can even guess that?” Jing Hengbo stared at him in shock. “What annoying intelligence!”

He smiled without speaking, his black hair flowing softly over his shoulders, eyes bright and sparkling.

“It’s quite normal.” He said softly. “The Xuanyuan family sons’ power struggles have reached manic levels – this is known throughout Di Ge. Whenever eldest son Xuanyuan Wei is involved in something, second son Xuanyuan Yu will definitely interfere as well. Since the eldest was sent to handle such important business with the Huangjin Tribe chief, success would naturally elevate his family status – this might be Xuanyuan Jing’s deliberate arrangement to help the eldest son inherit the family headship. How could Xuanyuan Yu be content? This fellow is also a famous playboy in Di Ge with a handsome face. He started with the chief’s concubine, seduced her into adultery, and used this opportunity to infiltrate the Tianhui Valley team… right?”

“Sometimes I really envy and resent your intelligence…” Jing Hengbo sighed.

As soon as these words left her mouth, she stiffened, and Yélu Qi’s gaze flashed.

“Your” intelligence.

In her subconscious, she could never forget that person. No matter how she tried to avoid it, it would always naturally slip from her lips.

Some memories were deeply rooted, impossible to dig out even with a knife.

Another moment of awkwardness, then he calmly took her bowl, casually wiping the juice from her lips, and pulled over a small wheeled cart with several covered silver basins.

This was what Yélu Qi had asked Madam Yao to bring from the kitchen. Jing Hengbo had originally thought he wanted an early New Year’s Eve dinner, but was surprised to see various fillings, rolled dumpling wrappers, chopped green onions and seasonings.

He was going to make dumplings?

This was too leisurely and elegant, wasn’t it?

Jing Hengbo stared wide-eyed, not knowing whether to be surprised or delighted.

She even felt somewhat dazed.

Seeing the dumplings, she finally found the true feeling of New Year. Even though red lanterns hung from the eaves and blessing characters were pasted everywhere, for her this was someone else’s home, someone else’s New Year. She was staying as a guest, still drifting and struggling.

Until this moment, when someone planned to make dumplings for her.

Dumplings were New Year for her… During those years at the research institute, they normally ate in the cafeteria, but during New Year, Cake Girl would have a burst of conscience and prepare a whole table of New Year’s Eve dinner. Every time they ate until their cheeks bulged and wouldn’t let go, every New Year she and Taishi Lan would fight over food. But every time they ate dumplings they would quiet down. In the big pot with steaming hot vapor floated snow-white crystal dumplings, each plump and full. Those showing emerald and tender yellow were chive and egg filling, those showing pink and light green were three-fresh shrimp filling, those showing bright yellow were crab roe and pork filling, and there were pure white Spanish mackerel filling, mixed-color seafood filling… Each person had their own dipping dish with vinegar, soy sauce, and chopped green onions. Four people would put their heads together fishing dumplings from the big pot, each seeking their favorite flavors… Those past New Years, the steam rising from those New Years, in that steam, the most fulfilling taste of reunion in life…

Yélu Qi’s movements were very quick. It was hard to imagine such an elegant and refined person could make dumplings, but perhaps being born beautiful makes everything different. When he did such things, he was skilled and nimble, his posture still graceful. The dumpling wrappers flew in his hands, touching each of five snow-white small porcelain bowls with fillings. The fillings came in five colors: deep red pork, pink shrimp, black mushroom and sea cucumber, tender yellow egg and crab roe, green spinach. The colors were so vivid they made one’s eyes brighten. Before her gaze could pull away from those brilliant colors, those snow-white fingers had already twisted and folded several times, producing dumplings more like five-colored flowers. The top had five star-shaped openings, each showing a bit of deep red pork, pink shrimp, black sea cucumber, tender yellow crab roe, and green spinach, glistening enticingly in the snow-white pleated openings. Jing Hengbo took just one look and felt like drowning in her own saliva.

At first she wanted to laugh seeing such a person doing such delicate work, but later she became solemn – if a man could do even such things well, then there was nothing in this world he couldn’t accomplish.

His cooking skills were demanded by Xunru. A man who could take such words from his sister to heart must have a heart that could accommodate all aspects of life.

Unconsciously she thought of that person again – he was like a lofty snowy cliff, towering and unyielding. But Yélu Qi was like flowing water winding down from the high heavens, unhurried and gently rolling past everything.

The fire danced, the dim light golden, casting his brow and features as if veiled in golden light, brilliant yet gentle. She saw fine sweat beading on his forehead and, thinking he was still recovering from serious injuries, felt some pity and pressed her handkerchief to his forehead.

He turned his head just then, meeting the faintly fragrant handkerchief head-on. He seemed not to expect such a gesture from her and couldn’t help but freeze. Then he quickly raised his hand, like when he had pressed her fingers before, pressing down on her hand holding the handkerchief.

“Don’t move…” His voice was like a murmur, carrying three parts languor, three parts reluctance, three parts teasing, “…It’s rare to see you so gentle. I almost think I’m dreaming, so let me dream a little longer…”

His tone was light, like spring breeze turning once through a brocade room, yet also faintly melancholy, knowing it would soon be swept away by winter wind.

Jing Hengbo steadied herself, then chuckled, pressing her fingers down and simply covering his entire face with the handkerchief, rubbing vigorously across his face while shouting loudly: “Come on, one-two-three, blow hard!”

Under the handkerchief, Yélu Qi laughed with a puff, saying helplessly: “You really are the best at ruining the mood…” He took the handkerchief himself and leaned back lazily.

Whether from exhaustion or emotional turmoil, his face was now slightly flushed, tinting his somewhat pale complexion. His eyes were bright as if glowing, his black hair softly draped and gently coiled on his chest. Beneath it his skin was crystal clear like pale honey, while his raised brow tips and slightly curved eye corners were all tinged with faint peach blossom color, gorgeous like colorful brocade unfurling in mid-air.

His languid posture was a wordless seduction.

Jing Hengbo immediately looked away, checking the dumplings steaming in the small steamer, calling out asking if they were ready.

A hand pressed on hers, moving her claws away. Yélu Qi’s voice was gentle: “Careful not to burn yourself.”

Jing Hengbo had to withdraw her hands, feeling like there were rockets firing around him, whooshing in all directions, nowhere safe from getting burned.

“Almost ready.” Yélu Qi lifted the pot lid. On the snow-white enamel porcelain plate, five-colored dumpling flowers bloomed.

Yélu Qi served her a small dish, reminding her to be careful of the heat. Jing Hengbo bit down on one and her mouth immediately filled with rich filling and full, fresh juice. Her taste buds were fully stimulated, as happy as if they wanted to dance. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and sigh: “Reminds me of Cake Girl…”

Yélu Qi turned his head to watch her satisfied expression. The rising steam condensed into many tiny water droplets in the air, gathering on her long, upturned eyelashes with crystal brightness, while her red lips pursed like a flower shape.

In this moment her expression was gentle and soft, looking peaceful and homely.

He could clearly feel that only in this moment, only this moment, did she completely withdraw the sharpness and pain hidden since that snowy night, truly opening her heart to experience this moment’s taste of New Year.

Yes, the taste of New Year – the taste he wanted to give her.

What else could soothe the enormous emptiness and pain left in her heart after that day?

Originally he, Qi Sha, and Tian Qi had all planned to work together to make her the most lively, most unforgettable New Year’s Eve dinner. Unexpectedly, plans couldn’t keep up with changes. So even now, despite serious injuries, despite continuing crisis, despite time pressure, he still wanted to fulfill his promise to her in his heart.

Just for her expression in this moment.

Even if just for a moment.

…

“The kitchen staff here aren’t very skilled. The noodles and dumpling wrappers aren’t chewy enough. When I’m better, I’ll roll them myself for you.” Yélu Qi began making dumplings again. Jing Hengbo had thought he was making them for himself, but unexpectedly he took that bronze ring from her finger, opened the mechanism, dripped out a drop of liquid, and smeared it on the steaming plate.

“Later when she goes to dance, you present these dumplings, saying you made them yourself.” Yélu Qi called Madam Yao over to give instructions.

Madam Yao seemed to guess what he was planning and shook her head frantically in fear: “No! No! The king will definitely make me taste them first…”

“This isn’t poison, just a drug that makes one’s bones soft and muscles weak. I don’t want to kill Jin Zhaolong yet.” Yélu Qi smiled faintly and flicked a pill into Madam Yao’s mouth. “Feel free to taste them.”

Madam Yao looked anxious and uneasy but could only quiet down. When she first saw Yélu Qi, her eyes held considerable amazement, thinking that compared to him, the Xuanyuan family’s second son was like a crow compared to a colorful phoenix. But this rippling gaze lasted only moments before this perceptive woman detected the dangerous aura within this romantic man’s casual demeanor.

Especially after she saw him beckon from afar and the very talkative parrot in the cage hanging from the eaves suddenly died. She wished she could stay three zhang away from him.

She stood properly before Yélu Qi, waiting for his orders.

“You must protect her safety and have no inappropriate thoughts.” Yélu Qi placed the flower-like dumplings before her, his smile also flower-like. “Otherwise, I guarantee you won’t have a chance to finish this New Year.”

Madam Yao took the tray and withdrew with acknowledgment. Nearby, Jing Hengbo finished her makeup quickly and took one of Madam Yao’s dance costumes with her. According to her plan, she would kill Xuanyuan Wei at the banquet, then instantly teleport away. During this time, Yélu Qi would, with the help of Madam Yao’s personal maid and in Madam Yao’s name, make contact with Xuanyuan Yu, pretending to be Madam Yao’s trusted aide wanting to get a piece of the Tianhui Valley action. Once Xuanyuan Wei died, Xuanyuan Yu would have to shoulder the burden, and Xuanyuan Yu always liked to take on everything, so he probably wouldn’t refuse a beauty’s private request.

Killing the relatively shrewd and capable Xuanyuan Wei, who had always been seen as the Xuanyuan family heir, was the first slap Jing Hengbo planned to give Xuanyuan Jing.

New Year’s Eve was approaching, yet the two were about to temporarily part, each going off to do murderous and arsonous evil deeds.

“I’ll say it again – whether the assassination succeeds or not isn’t important. Protect yourself.” Yélu Qi instructed.

Jing Hengbo smiled and stepped lightly. As she was about to leave, she suddenly whirled back like a gust of wind, magically pulling out a plate from the side of the table, picked up the last dumpling, and stuffed it into his mouth.

“Hey, New Year dumplings – you haven’t eaten any yet!”

Her laughter scattered beyond the threshold, her graceful figure disappearing in the wind and snow. Yélu Qi sat quietly, slowly chewing the dumpling in his mouth after a long while.

Fresh, tender, fragrant and soft, yet also, a mixture of all five flavors.

The bronze brazier sent up blazing hot vapor as host and guests faced each other in joy.

This was the residence of Beixing City’s lord, now temporarily serving as the tribal chief’s lodging. This afternoon, the chief was hosting a banquet for Xuanyuan family eldest son Xuanyuan Wei, with only his recently favored Di Ge beauty as company.

At this moment the table was fragrant with dishes and wine cups passed back and forth as conversation heated up.

“…Please give this matter your kind consideration, Chief.” The square-faced, slightly sinister-eyed Xuanyuan family eldest son Xuanyuan Wei raised his cup with a smile to toast Huangjin Tribe chief Jin Zhaolong. “My second brother is young and impatient, insisting on bringing a group of men to participate in the Tianhui operation. Despite my earnest advice, I couldn’t dissuade him. Father has always doted on the second son, so he agreed. You see this matter, sigh…”

“Yes,” Jin Zhaolong laughed heartily while drinking, “Young Master Yu really is a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. This Tianhui Valley – is it somewhere just anyone can enter? He’s so impatient, isn’t he afraid you’ll steal all the glory, haha.”

“Chief jests. My younger brother is young and hot-blooded, not knowing the severity. I can only ask Chief to show him special consideration.” Xuanyuan Wei earnestly presented an exquisite box inlaid with gold and jade.

Jin Zhaolong waved his hand: “Not at all, not at all. It’s only proper.”

The two men smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

The Xuanyuan family’s struggles were intense. Success or failure in the Tianhui Valley expedition was crucial to whether Xuanyuan Wei could rise to power – how could he allow his brother to interfere at such a time?

Once inside Tianhui Valley, it was Jin Zhaolong’s territory. Whatever “special consideration” led to there, no one could blame Xuanyuan Wei – it could only be counted as Xuanyuan Yu seeking his own death.

Having settled this matter, Xuanyuan Wei was in high spirits. Glancing at the beauty sitting properly beside Jin Zhaolong, he smiled: “Is Wave Princess serving you to your satisfaction?”

“Excellent!” Jin Zhaolong laughed loudly, putting his arm around Wave Princess’s waist. “Charming without being vulgar, gorgeous without being demonic – it was hard for you to find such an exquisite beauty!”

“Doesn’t the Chief know? This is the newest fashionable type of beauty in Di Ge…” Xuanyuan Wei smiled as he leaned closer to Jin Zhaolong. “You know… the former queen… hmm, Jing Hengbo… I hear she was an absolutely stunning beauty… Now Di Ge nobles privately all prefer her type… This Wave Princess was found specifically to match former Queen Jing’s appearance and demeanor, specially trained in her unique bearing and nobility… Having Wave Princess is like having the queen beneath you, haha…”

The lewd tone and suggestive expression best stirred excitement and curiosity. Jin Zhaolong’s eyes lit up: “Oh? There’s such a thing? No wonder I felt Wave Princess had an unusual bearing, quite different from ordinary courtesans – rather noble…”

“I spent heavily to have Di Ge’s most skilled beauty-training matrons train Wave Princess for several months, ensuring she learned to be alluring without being base, vibrant without being vulgar.” Xuanyuan Wei said proudly. “That matron had seen Queen Jing, though she said what Wave Princess learned could only display twenty or thirty percent of Queen Jing’s charm. Even father, seeing Wave Princess, said compared to the real queen, she was like firefly light compared to the bright moon… I don’t believe it. Wave Princess has such extraordinary charm – what woman in this world could be several times more beautiful than her?”

“I don’t believe it either.” Jin Zhaolong laughed heartily. “Wave Princess is such a beauty, already the finest I’ve seen in my life! But…” His eyes grew dreamy as he smacked his lips. “This Queen Jing’s beauty has been famous for so long, who knows how beautiful she really is. I hear the State Preceptor and she…” He laughed lecherously.

“That’s not difficult,” Xuanyuan Wei smiled. “Once we cooperate to take Tianhui Valley, use the valley’s resources to build an iron army and conquer this great land, march to Black Water, capture Jing Hengbo and present her to you, Your Majesty. She’s just a powerless woman – do whatever you want with her…” He nudged Jin Zhaolong’s shoulder knowingly. “You can also taste what kind of flavor Gong Yin fancied…”

The two men laughed together. Jin Zhaolong was in high spirits, as if he already had that famous and noble woman beneath him…

“Fine wine and delicious food, congenial conversation – we should have beautiful dancing for entertainment. Wave Princess’s dancing is also superb. Today let her present a performance.” Jin Zhaolong waved his hand enthusiastically. Wave Princess smiled proudly and gracefully rose.

“What kind of broken dance can she do? Square dance? Granny dance? Spastic dance?” Suddenly a delicate shout rang out, and bang – the door was pushed open.

Both Jin Zhaolong and Xuanyuan Wei startled. Looking up, they saw a slender figure had somehow appeared at the hall entrance. Jin Zhaolong was about to angrily call for guards to drag away this audacious woman who dared roar in his presence, but seeing her form clearly, he couldn’t help but freeze.

The door pushed open, with wind and snow as backdrop like a relief carving, highlighting the woman’s figure. From shoulder to waist, waist to legs, were indescribably exquisite curves, bursting forth so boldly yet contained so tightly. The most skilled artist couldn’t capture in one stroke such perfectly proportioned undulations.

Just her silhouette made Yao Ji behind her with the tray, and Wave Princess beside Jin Zhaolong, pale in comparison.

The stunning silhouette flashed like starlight, instantly capturing both men’s gazes. Before they could react, Jing Hengbo had already spread her arms wide.

Her slender, graceful arms spread like a phoenix spreading its wings.

Whoosh – with a great spinning turn, like lightning flashing past, she had already danced into the hall!

The deep red gold-embroidered phoenix dance dress instantly unfurled, truly like a magnificent bird from nine heavens, brilliantly displaying its dance with shimmering seven-colored clouds!

A stunning first impression, dazzling the men’s eyes.

“Music!” Madam Yao shouted at the perfect moment. The prepared musicians hurriedly played “Phoenix Dance Nine Spirals.”

This was one of Dahuang’s most famous dances. The music was mostly intense rhythms, with dancers in colorful phoenix-embroidered clothes spinning rapidly like phoenixes dancing with the sun – dazzlingly magnificent.

Originally Jing Hengbo had no interest in Dahuang’s dances, but some past dances were too heart-wrenching and too shocking to the world. Once her dance moved hearts, now her dance concealed murderous intent. She was unwilling to perform those world-stunning dances again, so let Dahuang’s dance deal with Dahuang’s people.

Jing Hengbo was a natural-born dancer who learned any dance with half the effort. She had seen this dance twice in Di Ge and mastered it, adding some special modern moves when she performed it herself, making it even more seductive and exotic. In an instant the entire hall was filled with her spinning shadows, floating silk and streaming colors, brilliant embroidery shining. Her dark, flowing eyes, dangling forehead ornaments, lips red as bright flowers, face white as snow jade, graceful arms, exquisite waist, rapidly spinning skirt… flashed continuously in the rainbow phoenix dance, each moment stunning, each lift of head or step or raised arm or twisted waist displaying the flexibility and beauty of her form to the fullest. She flew like a phoenix – wherever she landed, light shone; gorgeous like a ball of fire – wherever she touched, it ignited.

Everyone’s mouths fell open. No one remembered vigilance or expulsion. Even the two women stared at Jing Hengbo in shock and jealousy, trying to memorize her dance moves. Jin Zhaolong gasped, murmuring: “This is the real Phoenix Dance Nine Spirals… Having seen so many performances, only this one makes me feel… that was a phoenix… a real phoenix…”

“Exactly.” The snobbish Xuanyuan Wei, who had seen the great world, also agreed involuntarily. “I’ve been in Di Ge for years, seeing this dance at least eight hundred times if not a thousand. Only today do I know everything before was a dream – today I’ve seen a truly real phoenix dance.”

“Your Majesty, please try the five-colored dumplings. Yao Ji made these specially for you…” Madam Yao took the opportunity to sit beside the dazed Jin Zhaolong, smilingly presenting the five-colored dumplings, picking one up to eat first for him to see.

Jin Zhaolong said while eating: “Sit further away, don’t block my view.” He casually picked up a dumpling and ate it, eyes glued to Jing Hengbo, asking absently: “Where did this woman come from? Did you bring her?”

“This is a dance master your concubine searched high and low to find for Your Majesty. A true dance master.” Madam Yao giggled, smugly glancing at Wave Princess’s iron-blue face. “How do you find her?”

“Good! Good!” Jin Zhaolong slapped the table hard. “It’s rare you’re not jealous and have such filial devotion!” After eating several dumplings, he noticed their special quality and praised: “These dumplings are good!” He gave one to Xuanyuan Wei: “Young Master, try one too.”

Xuanyuan Wei took it without ceremony, staring at Jing Hengbo in fascination as he ate the dumpling.

Jin Zhaolong didn’t mind either – men understood each other at such times. With such soul-stealing, captivating heavenly demon dance before them, missing even a moment would be regrettable.

“Such a beauty…” Xuanyuan Wei sighed, not even noticing the dumpling’s taste. “Wave Princess pales completely in comparison. Your Majesty’s romantic fortune is enviable…”

“Exactly, exactly…” Jin Zhaolong laughed heartily, his expression eager and impatient.

Xuanyuan Wei ate his dumpling while staring at Jing Hengbo intently. Earlier she had been dancing fast, but now the music had a slow passage and she slowed her steps. Only now could the two men see her face clearly, and immediately their eyes lit up again, staring fixedly.

Staring and staring, Xuanyuan Wei suddenly rubbed his eyes and turned to look at Wave Princess.

Wave Princess’s expression was also somewhat strange – she felt this dancing woman looked somewhat familiar.

Xuanyuan Wei looked at Wave Princess, then at Jing Hengbo, then at Wave Princess again, couldn’t help murmuring: “How is she a bit similar…”

Just then, fragrant winds wafted and ornaments jingled as Jing Hengbo danced right in front of him.

The fast dance began again.

She spread both arms wide, raised her head to the sky, then suddenly spun. The phoenix-embroidered dance dress rustled and whirled up again. Ordinary dancers could hardly have her waist strength – the dance dress hem was inlaid with many gold pieces and gold thread, extremely heavy. When lifted into a clustered blooming posture, it instantly seemed like a flock of phoenixes raising their tail feathers in display.

The heavy dance dress blocked Jin Zhaolong and others’ view, but for Xuanyuan Wei, he now saw the woman’s slender, straight long legs beneath the dance dress. He couldn’t help leaning forward slightly.

As he leaned forward, he seemed to catch a flash of bright light on the woman’s calf.

The next instant was a bending motion. He saw that absolutely gorgeous and romantic dancer bend down, her fingers touching her heel and sliding up along her calf.

This was the last movement he would see in his lifetime.

A moment later, lightning flashed before his eyes.

He heard a voice, laughing yet sharp, ring beside his ear: “Always imitated, never surpassed!”

Before any emotion could form in his heart, he instinctively threw himself backward desperately, but at this moment his chest hurt and his whole body went soft.

“Chih.”

His chest felt cold, as if he felt no pain at all. He stared blankly at a crimson arc connecting before his eyes to that gorgeous flying phoenix’s deep red dance dress.

The brilliant light scattering and captivating – he couldn’t tell if it was the beauty’s dress hem or his own blood.

He gasped and fell backward into Jin Zhaolong’s arms. Jin Zhaolong hadn’t reacted yet, only seeing the dancer flash and what seemed like lightning before his eyes. His instincts told him something was wrong and he wanted to flee and strike out, but suddenly his chest hurt and his whole body went soft. Blinking again, Xuanyuan Wei had already collapsed before him.

He reflexively reached to help, his fingers touching a sticky, gushing liquid. He was shocked.

Jing Hengbo breathed slightly, about to teleport when she suddenly heard a desperate, frantic cry from the hall entrance.

“Wei’er!”

Hearing this voice, Jing Hengbo suddenly decided not to leave immediately. She smiled and turned around.

At the hall entrance stood Xuanyuan Jing, snow on both shoulders, expression hurried.

Unable to feel at ease about his two sons’ competition, he had rushed here on New Year’s Eve. Unexpectedly, the moment he stepped through the door, he witnessed his eldest son – in whom he had placed such great hopes – being killed!

Then he looked up and saw the woman standing gracefully in the center of the hall, turning back to look.

She raised her eyebrows with laughing eyes, red lips like flowers.

He was instantly stunned, his expression immediately becoming terrified!

How was this possible—

The absolutely gorgeous and romantic woman stood in the hall center, pointed at Xuanyuan Wei’s corpse, mouthed something to him, then vanished in a flash.

Like a phoenix dancing to the ninth heaven, suddenly gone without trace.

Jin Zhaolong stood up in shock, staring at the empty hall front in disbelief, rubbing his eyes and shouting for guards to come quickly. He also called for doctors to come immediately. The musicians cowered on the ground in panic, the two women shook like sieves, and the hall became complete chaos.

Amid the coming and going of people and confused shouting, Xuanyuan Jing stood there blankly, even forgetting to check on his son’s condition.

He felt cold all over, as if wind and snow from behind rushed into his back, chilling him from head to toe.

A month ago he had driven away that woman in flying snow.

A month later he witnessed her kill his son in flying snow.

Such swift and powerful retaliation!

No, it wasn’t over yet.

He stood there feeling cold all over, his mind replaying again and again that moment when his greatest enemy, that mysteriously powerful woman, made her final gesture and spoke her final words.

She pointed at Xuanyuan Wei’s corpse.

And said:

“The first one.”