Eine eisige Aura

Kapitel 57

"You have to believe me." Gu Xiju was dissatisfied with her being ignored and turned her face to face him.

Seeing his irritated expression, Pang Wan couldn't help but chuckle and leaned in to kiss him: "I trust you the most."

Gu Xiju's eyes grew increasingly dark. He leaned down and pressed her down, wanting to kiss her again, but the girl broke free with a series of soft gasps.

"Actually... today is my birthday," Pang Wan said, her face flushed.

Gu Xiju was taken aback.

"After we finish dancing, will you come with me to the night market tonight?" She looked at him expectantly, her eyelashes fluttering like fans.

Gu Xiju was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, what gift do you want?" He reached out and teased her eyelashes with his finger.

“I want to see fireworks,” Pang Wan said with a shy smile, revealing the answer she had been holding back for a long time. “I also want you to go to the clock tower and ring the bell sixteen times for me.”

The sound of bells, in Chinese, is a homophone for "lifetime".

When the bell tolls, she will make a hundred-year promise to Gu Xiju.

"Okay, whatever you say." Gu Xiju responded softly, his delicate kisses sliding down her cheeks before finally sealing her lips with his.

The two lingered like this for a long time before reluctantly parting ways. Gu Xiju went back to greet the guests, leaving Pang Wan alone in the room to change her clothes.

She stared at the flying costume that barely covered her chest, leaving her waist and shoulders completely exposed, lost in thought.

I just sat there blankly, thinking for a long time.

He even forgot to eat.

The martial arts tournament was held on a flat area in a valley, surrounded by mountains and with a babbling brook flowing by, giving it a secluded, idyllic feel.

In this harmonious and beautiful environment, a less harmonious group of people appeared, sneaking around in a corner of the valley, not too close to the venue.

"Sir, I've found out that the procedure will proceed as usual today," a man in black respectfully reported to the middle-aged man kneeling in the main seat.

"Oh? That's something to look forward to." The middle-aged man's face was hidden in the shadows, revealing only half of his sharply defined chin.

"I wonder what Gu Xiju is up to, insisting on inviting...Master to some kind of conference here." Another man in blue peeked over and muttered.

“It’s alright. Since he’s sent an invitation and arranged such a private seat, why shouldn’t I come and take a look?” The middle-aged man picked up his teacup, picked up a small silver orchid in his hand, and quietly put it down.

Seeing that the ginkgo flowers were completely unchanged, he picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

"I wonder how things are going with the young master?" the man in blue muttered to himself.

"Oh dear, children and grandchildren have their own blessings," the middle-aged man laughed, his eyes kind. "Don't worry about him, don't worry about him."

Thump!

A deafening drumbeat suddenly pierced the air.

"It's starting! It's starting!" someone in the crowd shouted excitedly, and everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the mountaintop.

A giant crimson drum rose from the swirling clouds, and a veiled girl stood indistinctly on it, her features obscured by the smoke.

Thump!

Another powerful drumbeat resounded, and the girl raised her hand, sending out a snow-white ribbon about ten feet long. The ribbon danced in the wind, further accentuating the girl's slender figure, making her appear ethereal and otherworldly.

Knock knock knock!

After three rapid drumbeats, a clear, long whistle was heard, and the girl leaped into the sea of clouds.

Before anyone could even react in surprise, the melodious sound of a jade flute drifted through the mountains, as clear and serene as the bright moon shining among the pines. In this pure and pristine melody, a young girl appeared gracefully and nimbly atop the cliff, her feet resting on white clouds.

She would sometimes flick her sleeves gracefully, and sometimes spin around lively. Every posture was beautiful and alluring. From a distance, she looked like Chang'e playing in the sky. The ten-foot-long ribbon was just a beautiful toy in her hand.

The flute music gradually became more cheerful, with the drumbeats and xiao (vertical flute) echoing each other, creating a truly heavenly sound. Just as everyone was completely captivated, the girl suddenly flicked her wrist, and the ribbon flew straight into the sky, hooking onto the giant drum on the mountaintop. Before the crowd could marvel at her inner strength, the girl, ribbon in hand, lightly touched the ground with her toes and swiftly climbed back to the summit.

"What superb lightness skill!" the man in blue couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

With a loud crack, the middle-aged man, who was respectfully addressed as "Master," smashed the teacup in his hand.

"How could it be her?" He stood up in a panic, the chair beneath him shattering into pieces.

Just as the man in blue was about to speak, he took another closer look at the girl and his expression changed drastically.

"She's not wearing the Heavenly Silkworm Armor! She's actually not wearing the Heavenly Silkworm Armor!" the middle-aged man roared, his expression contorted with pain and rage.

"Fairy! Fairy!"

The cheers from the foot of the mountain resounded through the sky. Pang Wan looked down at the dense crowd below, stood still, and panted for breath.

Today was her most glamorous and craziest day. Fortunately, she only needed one more move to complete the dance.

Knock knock knock!

As the intense drumbeats began, she started taking deep breaths.

Thump!

As the final, resounding drumbeat echoed, she pulled out the banner she had prepared beforehand, and in the utter silence, leaped straight off the cliff without hesitation.

All the prelude was for this moment. Once she jumped, Gu Xiju would finally feel relieved.

The sharp, cold wind whistled past her ears, and she could feel the scroll unfolding in her hands, freely scattering across the sky.

"Don't worry," she thought, and began to look down at the spot she had prepared in advance.