Seeing Yun Jinghao arrive, Su Ya’er quickly stood up to greet him. “Uncle Yun, Brother Yan Qing has returned, you……” Before she could finish speaking, Yun Jinghao waved her off and strode inside, swinging a slap straight at Yan Qing. Yan Qing gave a light smile and slipped aside, easily avoiding it, then took the empty seat beside Qi Mingyue. “Ziyao, this is Yan Qing’s father, the master of Yunhao Manor, Yun Jinghao. The Great Hero Yun.”
His gentle and unhurried voice carried a hint of mockery. Yan Qing leaned back in the chair, once again becoming the endlessly charming Young Master of Liufang Pavilion. A few loose strands of hair fell across his chest, his richly enticing lips curving into a slight smile, his languid, seductive air revealed without concealment. Anyone who saw him would surely be captivated. But in Yun Jinghao’s eyes, a man so devoid of shame, so unworthy of being called a man, had no place in the manor, much less as his son!
“You unfilial son! You still dare to come back! Living in a brothel without any shame, and you call yourself a dignified man……” From the words Yun Jinghao spoke, it was clear he was furious. His hands trembled, yet he could not bring himself to finish what he was saying.
Yun Jinghao’s words immediately created a tense atmosphere in the room. As a guest, Qi Mingyue found it inappropriate to intervene. Wu Yao, like a ghost, naturally showed no reaction at all. Su Ya’er also didn’t step forward to mediate, merely lowering her head, her gaze resting on Yan Zhen upon the bed.
As for Yan Qing, he seemed long accustomed to Yun Jinghao’s scolding. He reacted as if he had not heard a word, even lifting his teacup to take a leisurely sip. The sight only fueled Yun Jinghao’s anger. His gaze swept across the room and fell on Qi Mingyue, who was sitting at the side. Assuming anyone brought by Yan Qing could hardly be of respectable background, he was about to berate Qi Mingyue as well, when he unexpectedly noticed that the Young Lord before him possessed an extraordinary bearing. A single glance stirred an instinctive sense of closeness. The other was nothing like the dissolute figure Yun Jinghao had imagined. “This humble one is called Yun Jinghao. May I ask how you are addressed, young hero?” Although he didn’t see any weapons on the other, Qi Mingyue’s steady breath and calm demeanor, along with his posture, showed that he was not an ordinary Young Lord unfamiliar with martial arts. Furthermore, the depth in the Qi Mingyue’s eyes was something even Yun Jinghao, a veteran in the Jianghu, had rarely seen in someone so young.
“This humble one dares not to claim such a title. My name is Cheng Ziyao. Elder Yun may simply call me Ziyao. Ziyao has come only because of the Gu poison in Yan Zhen’s body. If my method works, perhaps it can help him wake up soon.” Although Yun Jinghao’s anger toward Yan Qing was obvious and his tone harsh, Qi Mingyue felt no ill will from the other. If Yun Jinghao did not care, why would he scold Yan Qing so today? Yun Jinghao was just an ordinary parent at heart. Nevertheless, it must be hard for Yan Qing, secretly serving his Imperial father, yet being scolded by his family. Still, Yan Qing did not provide any explanation and would rather not return to his home, probably for other reasons. Glancing at the sleeping person on the bed, Qi Mingyue could not help but suspect that Yan Qing’s actions were likely for Yan Zhen.
Hearing Qi Mingyue’s words, Yun Jinghao showed some doubt and disbelief. Even the renowned Yi family, famed for their mastery of medicine and poison, could not find a way to cure the Gu poison, so could this Young Lord before him really do it? Although skeptical, for some reason he could not immediately reject Qi Mingyue’s offer. Without sparing Yan Qing another glance, Yun Jinghao cupped his hands towards Qi Mingyue. “In that case, I will not stand on ceremony and will address you by name, Young Lord.” As he walked to the bed and looked at the seemingly sleeping Yan Zhen, Yun Jinghao spoke, his voice tinged with melancholy, “From what Ziyao says, my son truly can be saved? He can be awakened in a few days?” Besides worrying about Yan Zhen’s safety, Yun Jinghao was also concerned about another important matter.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 72 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Ziyao can give it a try. If Elder Yun is willing to trust me, perhaps we will know the result shortly.” At these words, Yun Jinghao showed a look of joy, while Yan Qing’s face revealed a somewhat complicated expression. Only Su Ya’er kept her head lowered, quietly sorting the cups from the table without saying a word.Observing the expressions of those present, Qi Mingyue lowered the hint of amusement in his eyes and said to everyone, “Ziyao’s method of saving people is different from others. If Yan Zhen is truly afflicted by Gu poison and hasn’t woken up as Elder Yi described, Ziyao’s method might be effective. However, I must trouble everyone and ask everyone to wait outside. If others remain nearby, Ziyao fears distraction, which could affect the outcome.” Using Tianyin to draw out the Gu poison required full concentration. Once the Gu poison was drawn out, it needed to be immediately eliminated. If there were too many people in the room, it could cause confusion and give the Gu worm an opportunity, which would be troublesome.
Yan Qing naturally understood Qi Mingyue’s meaning. He glanced at the person on the bed, then immediately stood up gracefully. Without looking at anyone else, he gave Qi Mingyue a grateful look and then walked out.
Yun Jinghao, having walked the Jianghu for many years, was not a fool to easily believe others’ words. Yet after hearing what this Young Hero Cheng had said, he felt no doubt in his heart, nor did he worry that the man might seize the chance to harm Yan Zhen. This trust was something Yun Jinghao found somewhat puzzling. Looking at the young man before him he just met, he simply believed that someone with such unparalleled demeanor would never do anything evil, and his judgment could not be mistaken. If not for his keen insight, Yun Jinghao would not have survived in the dangerous Jianghu and enjoyed his current status.
Qi Mingyue instructed Wu Yao to stand guard outside. Seeing Yun Jinghao also leave the room, he looked at Su Ya’er, who was still in the room, and smiled gently he asked, “Miss Ya’er, why haven’t you left yet?” If she were worried about Yan Zhen, why didn’t she show any joy when she heard that Yan Zhen could be saved? Instead, there was only a trace of nervousness in her aura.
Su Ya’er slowly raised her head, the corner of her lips twitching into a somewhat forced smile. “Ya’er wants Brother Yan Zhen to wake up but fears that the Young Lord’s method might not work, and is incapable to wake him up. The unease in my heart made me lose focus for a moment. I must have made a fool of myself in front of you, Young Lord.”
Qi Mingyue noticed a hint of barely detectable panic in her eyes. His smile widened slightly as he shook his head. “Miss Ya’er, there is nothing laughable about your concern for Yan Zhen. It is only natural to care for him. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be by his side every day and caring for him without leaving for a moment. It is because he is the one you love, isn’t it?”
A complicated expression surfaced on Su Ya’er’s face as she nodded. Her tender feelings as a young woman had been seen through, yet no blush appeared on her face. Instead, it turned faintly pale. As if trying to avoid Qi Mingyue’s gaze, her eyes flickered with a hint of evasiveness. She hurriedly turned around and walked toward the door.
For reasons she could not understand, when facing this handsome Young Lord, a sense of unease welled up in her heart. It felt as though everything hidden in the depths of her heart would be laid bare before his eyes. All her worries and uneasiness, her conflicts and inner struggles, seemed as though they would be seen through by him. Hurrying her steps, she felt she didn’t want to stay in that room for another moment.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 72 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Outside the door, Yan Qing stood under the faint yellow light, leaning against a tree. The afterglow of the setting sun at his feet made his figure appear somewhat unreal. Su Ya’er glanced at him, her eyes briefly shifting away, hiding a certain strange emotion. Yun Jinghao, unaware of everything behind him, stood in the open space, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.Recently, the Jianghu was on the verge of turmoil, and Yunhao Manor had become the epicenter. In his position, how could he not know that once Yan Zhen awakened, the storm would descend? Because of Lan Jin’s words, heroes from all over the world had gathered. Whether people of the Jianghu or secret envoys from various countries, all had assembled around the manor, waiting for Lan Jin to appear.
The planned Grand Assembly had been postponed several times due to Yan Zhen’s incident. By now, everyone knew that something had happened at Yunhao Manor. Although the details had not been revealed, rumors were already rampant in the Jianghu. Under such circumstances, Lan Jin would certainly not appear. He had some friendship with Yan Zhen, and if Yan Zhen were in trouble, he might vanish without a trace again because of this. When that time came, what those gathered at the manor would do was something Yun Jinhao hardly dared to imagine.
Sighing, Yun Jinghao glanced at the tightly closed door, wondering how things were going inside. As he worried, he suddenly heard a faint, delicate melody.
Like the sound of dripping water, so faint it could scarcely be discerned, yet at the same time so clear it seemed to fall straight into the depths of the heart, unmistakably pure and lucid. Thread by thread, the gentle and lingering melody gathered like droplets of water, gradually forming a trickling stream. Warm and soothing, the music drew everyone’s minds, making them forget everything beyond themselves and leaving only an intoxication in the heavenly strains of the melody.
As twilight deepened, the music did not cease. Those who had gathered at the manor because of Lan Jin’s words had not noticed it at first and continued discussing the matter of the Grand Assembly. Yet before they realized it, the faint, ethereal melody drew their thoughts away, making them forget what they were about to say, exchanging looks of astonishment.
“This…… could this be the long-lost Tianyin?!” An old man stood up excitedly, looking towards the place outside from which the source of the music came from. The music he heard was just like many years ago, when he had first entered the Jianghu and was fortunate enough to hear a senior master play Tianyin. It carried the same transcendent purity and loftiness, as though it did not belong to the mortal world at all.
“Tianyin?”
“What is Tianyin? Please tell us, senior.”
“Tianyin! It must be Tianyin! The long-lost Tianyin has reappeared in the Jianghu!”
“Yes, it can be nothing else but Tianyin, no sound in the world could compare……”
Those who knew the legend of Tianyin started discussing it, while the younger generation of the Jianghu eagerly asked the seniors.
For a moment, the entire Yunhao Manor erupted because of the music that filled the air. Lan Jin had yet to appear, yet the successor of Tianyin had suddenly revealed themselves. Could there be some connection between the two? All kinds of thoughts turned in their minds as everyone looked toward the place where the music had arisen. Separated by the high walls, the melody still drifting from the inner courtyard, lingered in the air as it played sounds that seemed not to belong to the mortal world.
At this moment, Yun Jinghao had no time to consider the affairs of the front courtyard. His heart was filled with astonishment. Hearing the music, how could he not know it was the legendary Tianyin? He cast a glance at Yan Qing, who was leaning against the tree, and a trace of surprise flickered through his mind. How had Yan Qing managed to find the successor of Tianyin? And how had he known that Tianyin could dispel Gu poison? While staying in the brothel, had he truly been doing the shameless things Yun Jinghao had assumed, or was there another reason behind it? At this moment, Yun Jinghao could not help but suspect that he had perhaps failed as a father. He realized that he understood nothing at all of what Yan Qing truly had in mind.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 72 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Yan Qing and Yan Zhen had been deeply bonded brothers since childhood. When Yun Jinghao heard that Yan Qing was frequenting the brothels, he wanted to go and look for him, but was stopped by Yan Zhen and Ya’er. Later, Yan Zhen fell into a deep sleep and could not be awakened. If Yan Zhen were to wake up and see that Yan Qing had returned on his own, he would surely be happy. Now they could only hope that the method of Tianyin could remove the Gu poison and allow Yan Zhen to awaken safely. Then the Grand Assembly would not have to be postponed.As the afterglow of the sunset gradually faded and the sun sank, the dim sky revealed a cold moon hanging high. Through thin veils of cloud and mist, it cast down strands of bleak, chilly light. At some point the music inside the room had ceased, yet those gathered outside the door were still immersed in the melody that they had just heard. Only now did they suddenly come to their senses. Not knowing what the situation inside the room was, and not daring to enter without permission, they all remained where they stood, not daring to investigate rashly.
Thinking of the young hero in the room who had been able to play Tianyin to such a level, Yun Jinghao felt somewhat relieved. But without seeing Yan Zhen, he could not be at ease yet. Yan Qing, however, suppressed the faint smile at his lips, his calm face showing a trace of nervousness. Su Ya’er glanced at the two of them, then returned her gaze to the door, biting her lip, lost in thought.
Inside the dim room, a candle flame quietly lit up. Qi Mingyue put down the Flame Stick
火折子
Huǒ ZhéZi
The equivalent of a lighter in Ancient China, the stick can be ignited by uncapping the stick and blow on it to ignite it.
Something like this, I think:
1 and dropped a small object into the fire. With the zither beside him, he sat calmly at the table, waiting for the person on the bed to wake up.
Huǒ ZhéZi
The equivalent of a lighter in Ancient China, the stick can be ignited by uncapping the stick and blow on it to ignite it.
Something like this, I think:
The Gu poison had been removed, and Yan Zhen should wake up soon. Filled with a hint of curiosity, Qi Mingyue was very eager to know what kind of person this elder brother, who was constantly on Yan Qing’s mind, was. He had no interest in someone who seemed to lay in a deathlike slumber. Since entering the room, he hadn’t looked at Yan Zhen once, only seeing a vague human figure through the bed curtain.
Leaning against the table, Qi Mingyue made no move to call in those gathered outside. Instead, with a hint of interest, he propped his chin in his hand, curiously observing the reactions of the person on the bed. He knew Yan Zhen had awakened, yet he did not rise or speak. He felt no urgency, merely lifting the now-cold teacup and taking a small, measured sip.
After a long wait, the person on the bed finally sat up and said his first words. “Who are you?” Having not spoken for so long, his voice was weak, and somewhat hoarse.
“You have quite the patience, Young Master of Yunhao Manor. How do you feel? Would you like a cup of tea?” Qi Mingyue picked up another small teacup and poured the tea, moving with a leisurely grace as if he were the master of the room, and then unhurriedly placed the cup down on the table.
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