She stood to the side, silently waiting for Yi Chunjun to finish his instructions. Yi Chunjun glanced at her through the crowd, raised his hand to signal the people in charge to be quiet, walked to her side, and a captivating smile curved his handsome thin lips. "Did you need something from me, Xiao Yuan?"
Xiao Yuan looked at him worriedly: "Are you alright with your injury?"
Yi Chunjun's smile deepened, and he said in a flippant tone, "It doesn't matter how serious the injury is, it's all for Xiaoyuan."
"Yi Chunjun!" Xiaoyuan really didn't know what to do with him. She had been worried all night. Didn't he have to have a martial arts competition today?
“He has true qi protecting him, so it’s impossible for him to get hurt.” Pei Junwu also walked over, glanced at Yi Chunjun, and then looked coldly at the noisy crowd outside the tent.
"Huh?!" Xiao Yuan stared at Yi Chunjun, who, sure enough, was grinning mischievously again.
"It really hurt a bit at the time."
"You!" Xiao Yuan stomped her foot in anger. It was all for nothing that she worried about him! She couldn't tell whether she was angry that he had teased her or relieved that he was alright. She could only glare at him resentfully and turn to leave.
Pei Fuchong sat on the high birthday altar, and people came over one after another to wish him a happy birthday. He was overjoyed and kept returning the greetings... But no matter how lively the scene was, he was still a supporting character!
While the people were joking and laughing, their eyes were warily fixed on Pei Junwu and Yi Chunjun, and suspiciously glanced at Nangong Zhan, Murong Xiao, and Hang Yisu. They were the real protagonists today.
When four maids, with haughty expressions, pulled up Xiao Juyuan's long skirts as she walked out from the backyard, the previously bustling square fell silent. Everyone held their breath, watching the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, meticulously dressed and adorned in a magnificent dance costume.
Is she beautiful? Yes!
Xiao Yuan watched her from afar, lost in the crowd. People shifted their heads and bodies in sync with her pace. Her heart began to race again, a mixture of resentment, hatred, and jealousy, each a little bit of the other, so heavy that it made it hard for her to breathe.
She turned to look at Pei Junwu, whose lips still held a faint smile, his eyes following Xiao Juyuan's figure... This was true heartache! When Xiao Juyuan entered the pavilion, he reached out his hand to her and pulled her to sit next to him. Her heart... she had to press it tightly to make each beat less painful.
Why should she just stand by and watch her take everything from her?! She desperately wanted to shout in front of all these people that she was a liar! She really wanted to! But she couldn't!
She was now Li Yuan'er, a identity she had acquired after losing her parents. She clenched her teeth so tightly that her temples ached.
Xiao Juyuan, perhaps she won't expose her true colors, but... she won't let her enjoy everything that was taken from her so easily and comfortably!
Yes, Li Yuan'er has nothing now—no status, no martial arts skills, no wealth… but she's beautiful! Just based on that beauty alone, Pei Junwu is already wavering! Just wait… her revenge has only just begun!
When Pei Junwu played the Chrysanthemum Fairy Melody on his zither, infused with his inner strength, and Xiao Juyuan gracefully performed the Chrysanthemum Fairy Dance, everyone was so stunned that they forgot to cheer. Mouths agape, they watched her dance, a fusion of their sect's profound lightness skills and graceful movements, with rapt attention. When she used her inner strength to unfurl her flowing sleeves and long skirt, only a collective gasp of admiration echoed across the area where the zither music resonated.
Pei Junwu watched her graceful and charming dance, but his gaze wandered. Yi Chunjun sat in his chair, absentmindedly holding his wine glass. Although their eyes were on Xiao Juyuan, their minds were both on that slender and graceful figure by the water that day…
As Xiao Juyuan finished her dance, they were awakened by the deafening cheers and couldn't help but look at her, who was deeply immersed in the crowd... Xiao Yuan was wearing a mask, but her beautiful eyes were half-closed, staring blankly at an unknown point.
That forlorn and sorrowful look in her eyes made Pei Junwu's heart ache. Was she disappointed because Juyuan had stolen the spotlight? He really wanted to hold her in his arms and make her smile, but... could he?
Was it because of her unparalleled beauty? Or her kiss that bewildered and stunned him, or...? He didn't know anymore. He just found it somewhat troubling that seeing her made his heart race, his breathing become erratic... and even his thoughts became chaotic!
Chapter 29 of "The Flower Smile": Destroying the Palace Master Ling
Pei Junwu stood in a corner of the high platform, the colorful clothes of the people below making his snow-white attire stand out against his ethereal beauty. White suited him well; it made his midnight-black eyes appear even deeper and his glossy black hair even more flowing. When he wasn't smiling, his eyes held a hint of cold amusement, and the occasionally tousled ends of his hair brushed against his shoulders, adding a touch of lively allure to his handsome face.
Compared to him, Nangong Zhan, standing in the other corner, was elegant and poised, but lacked a cool composure. He also wore a detached smile, but he lacked the innate domineering detachment of Pei Junwu.
Xiao Yuan stared at him; this man... was indeed outstanding.
"What weapon are you using?" Nangong Zhan gripped the sword in his hand, his smile slightly stiff. How many moves could he handle Pei Junwu? He was no longer confident.
"No weapons needed."
Nangong Zhan was taken aback for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "Alright, let's begin."
The voices grew fainter and fainter, until finally, silence reigned. Everyone nervously gazed up at the high platform. This platform… represented the pinnacle of martial arts. Nangong… was certain to lose; the only question was how many moves he could withstand from Pei Junwu. Even so, standing on that platform was an honor!
Pei Junwu slowly raised his hand, "Please!"
Nangong Zhan's expression hardened, and with a "whoosh," he drew his sword, unleashing a fluid and flawless set of Nangong sword techniques. Pei Junwu didn't even move his body; he dodged left and right, then stretched out his arm and accurately caught the tip of Nangong Zhan's sword with his middle and index fingers.
Nangong Zhan's face turned deathly pale. He understood that this was utter defeat! The Nangong Sword Technique, passed down for centuries, was child's play in Pei Junwu's eyes. If he wanted to hurt him, he could have simply flicked his finger.
Just as he was about to release his sword and admit defeat, Pei Junwu smiled faintly and flicked his sword away with a "clang". Nangong Zhan frowned, and when he saw his smile, he understood. He was going to give him a few moves, so that the Nangong family wouldn't lose so badly.
Nangong Zhan sighed softly, feeling both ashamed and grateful. He gathered his strength and took another breath, this time using the "Entanglement" technique, closing in and launching a soft, circling attack. However, even the most elaborate moves seemed pale in comparison to the vast difference in their strength. Pei Junwu let him use twenty moves before gently pushing him away with a flick of his sleeve. Nangong Zhan was so shaken by Pei Junwu's internal force that he couldn't catch his breath and barely managed to regain his balance by retreating to the edge of the stage.
He gave a dejected smile. "Brother Pei, I admit defeat wholeheartedly."
Pei Junwu nodded slightly and raised the corner of his mouth.
Applause and cheers erupted like a volcanic eruption, and behind every shocked and joyful face lay a trace of pity. Pei Junwu was so powerful; who could possibly rival him?
Who but him could swallow and keep the great beauty in that colorful tent, and the enormous wealth that came with her?
You have no choice but to accept it!
The next match is between Yi Chunjun and Murong Xiao.
Murong Xiao curled his lip, "Monster, how many moves do you plan to use to beat me?" He had already resigned himself to his fate. He had worked hard for three days, only to be a supporting character under someone else's big flower. But it was fine, he had at least made a name for himself. Losing was no big deal.
When Yi Chunjun smiled, a collective gasp rippled through the audience. If Pei Junwu was handsome, then he was absolutely stunning. He surpassed even Zhu Liancheng and Lan Yanfeng in their prime!
"Two moves!" Yi Chunjun said with a smile, calm and composed.
"Damn! You're ruthless! I should have fought Brother Pei! Enough talk, let's fight!" Before the words were finished, the long sword was already drawn, and the man had already leaped into the air.
With a "bang," Yi Chunjun pushed with both palms, and before he could even get close, he was already thrown out of control by the force of the impact, and his body could only fall onto the stage.
Even as he fell, he didn't forget to curse: "You filthy monster! Didn't you say you wanted two moves—"
Yi Chunjun pretended to look around, a mischievous grin on his face, ready to admire Murong Xiao's landing posture, while saying, "I was just kidding."