Chapter 130: Chapter 126: An Unbridgeable Gulf
Shuyue Hua shot a meaningful glance to the side. A Kun Cultivator who had been silent the entire time—one with a cool, aloof bearing and the beauty of an Exiled Immortal—rose to her feet. "I am proficient with Sword Artifacts and would like to perform a sword dance for the Upper Envoy’s entertainment. If my humble performance is deemed worthy, I ask that the Upper Envoy grant me a reward."
Du Youqian nodded. "Very well."
A Flying Sword, glinting coldly, flew from the Kun Cultivator’s back and began to dance through the air.
A line of poetry surfaced in Du Youqian’s mind: ’It arrives like thunder, fury barely restrained, and departs like the serene light upon a tranquil sea.’
Her Sword Control Art was truly superb.
Paired with her fresh, transcendent beauty and a figure that outshone all others, her performance truly embodied the verse: ’The audience, like mountains, stands in somber awe; Heaven and Earth themselves rise and fall with the dance. It flashes like the archer Yi shooting down the nine suns, and soars like gods riding dragons in flight.’
For a moment, the hall was filled with nothing but a jade-like beauty and a frost-like Sword Qi.
A few streams of Sword Qi even seemed to be streaking toward Du Youqian’s vital points.
Du Youqian, however, was unperturbed. He simply smiled, resting his chin in his hand, his eyes filled with nothing but appreciation.
The Sword Qi veered away sharply when it was less than an inch from his face.
A hair’s breadth more and it would have performed a craniotomy on him, yet Du Youqian’s expression didn’t flicker in the slightest.
From start to finish, the smile never left his face.
"Bravo! The fragrance of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests, while a single sword’s gleam chills nineteen provinces. A fine sword, but an even finer person!" Once she had finished her dance and stood with her red lips slightly parted, panting softly, Du Youqian applauded enthusiastically. "What reward would you like?"
The Kun Cultivator composed herself and said coldly, "Dancing alone is rather lonely. I must be so bold as to ask the Upper Envoy to come down personally and join me in a partnered sword dance!"
A partnered sword dance?
Anyone with a modicum of social awareness knew this was no invitation to dance, but a challenge to a duel.
Although the Kun Cultivator’s dance had been for entertainment, it offered a glimpse of her true abilities.
When it came to the Sword Dao, she was by no means an amateur.
In fact, considering her youth, her aptitude with a sword was nothing short of astonishing.
It was merely the Swordsmanship she practiced that limited her potential.
If she had the opportunity to cultivate Sword Formulas of the same caliber as the Evergreen Master’s Immortal Sword Scripture Record, she might even have a chance at comprehending Sword Intent.
And her Cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
For her Swordsmanship and Cultivation to have progressed in tandem, her aptitude was clearly exceptional.
She was likely one of the most outstanding figures of the Hundred Flowers Sect’s younger generation.
Du Youqian looked over and saw that the Kun Cultivator’s eyes held faint glimmers of defiance, stubbornness, and even a trace of hidden hostility, belying her tranquil expression.
’I wonder what burdens she carries,’ he thought.
After a moment’s contemplation, he rose to his feet and asked with a smile, "May I ask for your name, Fellow Daoist?"
The Kun Cultivator lowered her head. "I was abandoned as a child, with no knowledge of my family or my name. My master bestowed upon me the name Fang Hua."
"Fang Hua? A fitting name for such peerless grace."
Du Youqian gave a slight bow. "So you are Fairy Shu’s prized disciple. Forgive my lack of courtesy."
Shuyue Hua first turned to scold Fang Hua. "You wretched disciple! It’s bad enough that you’re usually so arrogant, but how dare you be so impudent in front of the Upper Envoy today! Even if the Upper Envoy is too kind to a lady to teach you a harsh lesson, I will see you punished by the sect’s rules afterward!"
Then, she turned back to Du Youqian with an apologetic smile. "Please don’t be offended, Upper Envoy. I’ve always raised this disciple as my own daughter and spoiled her terribly, which is how she developed such a proud and haughty nature. I ask that you give me some face and not be too hard on her. A small punishment to teach a larger lesson will be more than enough."
This was blatantly putting Du Youqian on the spot, forcing him to reveal his skill.
If Du Youqian wanted his tenure as Garrison to go smoothly and have the Hundred Flowers Sect follow his every command...
...he could neither evade this challenge nor try to win with clever tricks.
He had to display his true strength and win a decisive, elegant victory.
Either the east wind would overwhelm the west, or the west wind would overwhelm the east.
Du Youqian glanced aside and saw that Luo Jinyu was already on full alert, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice. Gu Xiaofang was no longer affecting his usual dissolute air; he had forced himself to sober up and prepare for a confrontation.
’That’s more like it,’ he thought, reasonably satisfied.
He smiled with practiced indifference and said to Fang Hua in a mild tone, "Fellow Daoist Fang Hua, that is a fine Treasure Sword. Might I borrow it for a look?"
Though he framed it as a request, he didn’t wait for her consent at all, simply making a beckoning gesture.
Fang Hua was about to react when her face suddenly turned ashen and she froze in place.
Her Treasure Sword—which she cherished as her own life and with which she usually shared a deep spiritual connection—had suddenly, like a faithless lover, severed its bond with her and was now flying gleefully toward Du Youqian.
Du Youqian caught the Flying Sword, turning it over in his hands, tapping it here and stroking it there.
To Fang Hua’s eyes, it felt as if she herself were being pinched and prodded by those hands, filling her with both shame and indignation.
"A fine sword, indeed!" Du Youqian made a show of admiring it for a moment, then with a flick of his finger, sent the Flying Sword shooting back toward Fang Hua with lightning speed.
Just as it was about to plunge into the space between her eyebrows, it stopped dead and fell obediently into her waiting hand.
Du Youqian smiled. "I’ve never learned to sword dance, so it’s better I don’t make a fool of myself. Fellow Daoist Fang Hua, please, take a seat!"
With that single exchange, Du Youqian had already demonstrated his prowess.
Even a complete layman could see that Du Youqian had used some unknown method to seize control of Fang Hua’s Flying Sword.
In a real battle, that brief moment would have been enough for Du Youqian to kill Fang Hua ten times over.
Only a select few with exceptionally keen eyes, like Shuyue Hua, understood the technique Du Youqian had employed, and they sighed internally.
Although Fang Hua was exceptionally talented, and the gap between her and the Upper Envoy might have seemed small, the reality was that the difference was as wide as a heavenly chasm.
Fang Hua stood there, first dazed, then overcome with a mixture of shame and anger, completely at a loss for what to do.
Finally, with a stamp of her foot, she fled the great hall in disgrace.
Shuyue Hua watched her go. A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she let out a theatrical sigh. "Oh, Upper Envoy, that was poorly done. Not gallant in the least. My precious disciple has never suffered such a humiliation before. She must have run off somewhere to cry her heart out."
"Stop the music, end the dancing. If the Upper Envoy doesn’t go and console my precious girl, then I’m afraid this banquet is over."
Du Youqian mostly understood her intentions. ’Old fox,’ he cursed inwardly.
He figured that, ultimately, Shuyue Hua intended to gift him the woman named Fang Hua.
At the very least, for the duration of his time as Garrison, he would be able to do with Fang Hua as he pleased.
Du Youqian fell into thought.
Should he accept this "goodwill"?
If he refused, Shuyue Hua might suspect him of having some other, hidden agenda, making her difficult to manage.
If he wanted to smoothly fulfill his duties as Garrison of the Wu Kingdom in the years to come, he would have to both win over and guard against the local power, the Hundred Flowers Sect.
A slap must be followed by a sweet date.
After weighing his options, Du Youqian decided it was best to accept the woman in order to put the Hundred Flowers Sect at ease.
He immediately put on a bashful smile. "It was indeed my fault. I beg your forgiveness, Fairy Shu. I shall go find Fellow Daoist Fang Hua at once. As for here... let the music play on, let the dancing continue! Don’t stop!"
Shuyue Hua and Du Youqian exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile. She then signaled for the Miscellaneous Tasks disciples to carry on.
With a flash, Du Youqian vanished from the great hall, heading off in search of Fang Hua.
