Chapter 285 Chapter 285 – Henry's Victory
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"OWW!"
A few ladies in the crowd exclaimed at the poem's sweetness.
"Who do you think Young Master George had in mind when he recited it?"
"Didn't you notice his gaze was focused over there? She must be there blushing in excitement!"
"I want to see how beautiful the woman who captivated Young Master George's heart is!"
"Me too! What am I lacking compared to her?"
Women across the street showed curiosity and envy regarding the woman who got George's attention.
"Hey, who is the guy that just recited a poem?" Ken asked someone who stood next to him.
"You must be a foreigner if you don't know. He is the son of the city's mayor and even got accepted to be an inner disciple in the Serene Lotus Sect, he is one of the most desired men in our city."
The guy explained with a hint of jealousy. Unlike the women who envied the girl, the men were envious of George's success and popularity.
"Hmm, I see," Ken said quietly and watched amusedly how things were going to unfold. He was not Tiara's hero and was not going to intervene in any way, and he knew for certain that this specific damsel was not in distress.
"Young Fairy, what is your name?" George jumped off stage with a light tap of his fate, closing the dozen meters between them in a graceful leap.
"I'm Tiara. Why do you approach me, Young Master?" Tiara put on a flirtatious smile as she replied, increasing George's confidence in his success.
"Tiara, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. How about I accompany you for the rest of the night?"
"That can't be, Young Master. How could I leave my dear friends and go with you?" Tiara said as if she was truly sorry for the missed opportunity.
Her three companions did not say a single word, only watching in amusement. They all knew she didn't need their help, and besides, George had the right to woo her as long as he didn't force her into anything.
"Are you her friends?" George scrutinized the strange group. One young teenager, one monk with a blindfold on, and one handsome friendly man.
"We are," Alaric declared.
"I see. Young Fairy, traveling with so many men might do wrong to your reputation, why not just come with me instead? I'm sure your beauty would be renowned if you lived here so you must be from out of town and you don't know me; I'm the mayor's son and an inner disciple of the Serene Lotus Sect, I can protect you from anything," George explained his merits in clear pride.
"Oh, that is so impressive, Young Master. Tell me, what is your rank among your peers?" Tiara revealed another bewitching smile as she stepped closer, shortening the distance between them to a nearly inappropriate extent.
"Tiara, the ranks don't mean anything for someone like me from a background that can offer me enough resources for cultivation," George said in an awkward voice.
He just declared he was from the first-ranked sect of the continent and this commoner girl questioned his rank; he was caught unprepared. If someone hits on someone inferior, they are not supposed to ask how many others were even better.
"So you are unranked. You can be my servant for today, show us around, and make sure nobody bothers us. If you do a good job, I will consider meeting you again," Tiara touched his shoulder gently with her hand, and her blue eyes seemed to have a hue of pink in them.
"I… I will!" George gulped his saliva and agreed hurriedly, prompting amused smiles from the three men, even Henry could not hold it back.
'Her personality is quite rotten, isn't it?' Ken thought to himself as they ignored the murmurs of the crowd. They were not quiet in their conversation, and many of the present pedestrians heard the exchange, making them astonished about how happy George was to become a woman's servant.
"Ahm, young men, you are friends with a beauty that could make the best man in our city fall head over heels. With such inspiration for great words by your side, you surely have a poem in your minds to recite, why don't you come up?"
The old man tried to diffuse the situation and called out for Ken and his companions.
"Henry, I'd like to hear your poetry, let's see if you can make them declare you as the best poet," Ken instructed in interest. The monk had a way with words when he spoke, so he thought Henry might have latent talent in poetry.
The blindfolded monk nodded and went on stage, his figure commanding silence from the crowd. It almost felt like they entered a separate world at that moment, a world where peace and literacy reigned.
"Behind the veil of wisdom, truth quietly resides,
An ocean of knowledge, where the profound abides.
In depths uncharted, the essence of truth hides,
Wisdom's voyage, where enlightenment guides."
Henry's strong voice reverberated in the area, and everyone seemed to hold their breath until he finished reciting his poem.
"Another great poem for today! Wisdom can guide us to happiness as well as to enlightenment and improvement! This must be the best poetry this old man has ever heard in his long life!" The host announced loudly, inviting admiring whispers from the crowd.
Henry nodded at the crowd and left the stage, going back to his companions' side.
"You used a technique to cause the unnatural atmosphere, didn't you?" Ken smirked at Henry who remained silent, unwilling to confess. Despite his stoic demeanor, he had his own desires that manifested in times like this. The monk cheated simply because he wanted to be declared the best after being challenged by Ken.
"George, I had enough poetry. Take us somewhere else," Tiara commanded her new servant, and the group followed George toward another area. He walked 2 meters ahead of them, allowing them a sense of privacy.
"Fairy Tiara, there is a display of martial arts in the city center, why don't we go there? Everyone hopes to see me perform my techniques, so you'd also get to watch me and other entertaining cultivators," George suggested, hoping for a chance to impress his goddess.
"That sounds interesting, let's go."
As they stepped onto the main avenue of the bustling city, the grandiosity of the Sovereignty Festival unfolded before their eyes. The avenue itself seemed to come alive with a carnival of colors, adorned with vibrant banners, swirling silk streamers, and ornate lanterns that bobbed gently in the evening breeze. Every few steps, there were kiosks and stalls, each presenting another type of delicacy.
Among the bustling crowd, people were donned in their finest traditional attire; men in silk tunics embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, and women in beautiful cheongsams and hanfu that carried ornate designs.
Even the air seemed to shimmer with excitement, filled with laughter, cheerful banter, and the musical symphony of traditional flutes and drums that accompanied the mirth-filled atmosphere.
Making their way through the crowd, George led them to a kiosk exuding a tempting aroma. It was a large stand with many lines of people waiting, a testament to the allure of its offerings.
"Fairy, this is one of the most famous dishes of the festival, the "Lotus Bloom Delight". This dish consists of tender lotus roots thinly sliced and stacked meticulously to resemble a blossoming lotus flower. The lotus slices are lightly steamed to retain a slight crunch, and then carefully placed around a mound of fragrant jasmine rice infused with a gentle hint of saffron."
George exposed his culinary knowledge and explained about the dish.
"A dish based on lotus for the festival, that seems to fit," Alaric remarked.
"Indeed, it's even accompanied by delicate orbs of lotus seed dumplings, filled with a sweet and savory mixture of minced vegetables and a bit of truffle oil for the fragrance."
He normally ignored the other men and focused on Tiara alone, but this time he felt like he could use it as leverage to impress the woman.
"Everyone, please give me some face and let me take a few portions for my friends here," George said loudly, and everyone quickly cleared a path for them as soon as they recognized him. The stall owner urged his workers to make the best dish for the young master, and the group soon left with Lotus Bloom Delights of the highest quality.
"Ah, taste of the festivities!" Alaric exclaimed, his face lighting up with satisfaction as he took a hearty bite, the smoky mist escaping his lips.
"You can see the stage from here, let's go and watch some of the techniques displayed," George pointed at the heart of the avenue where a grand stage had been erected. It was elegant and simple, but Ken could tell it was strengthened by sixth-rank formations that made it durable enough to take all techniques performed head-on with no risk of collapsing.
The crowd around the stage was thick, eyes fixated on the show before them. A young cultivator, robed in crimson, was exhibiting his martial prowess. His movements were fluid, every strike and flip was performed with a grace that seemed almost ethereal. The sword in his hand danced in harmony with his movements, slicing through the air creating ripples of Qi that shimmered, drawing gasps and cheers from the enchanted audience.
"Beautiful moves without any true combat utility," Ken said as he watched. He understood that the point was impressing the mortals, not engaging in a fight.
"Hehe, reminds me of someone's style," Alaric teased, making Tiara smile lightly at the comparison. Her movements ruined her enemies' concentration, but the performer would just seem stupid in a real fight.
As the cultivator's performance reached its peak, with a swift motion, he launched his sword skywards. It spiraled into the air, glistening under the soft glow of the full moon before descending back, to be deftly caught by the performer to a resounding applause and roars of approval from the crowd.
"Team Leader, how about you perform?" Alaric suggested.
"My style is the worst for this kind of event. Everything is swift and efficient, and the crowd's perception will just fail to see the tricks. But as you said, we do have someone very fitting for this kind of event," Ken eyed the only female member of the group.
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