Free Web NovelChapter 378: Chapter 379: Fiery Liquor, Dreamlike Music
Ruo Xiangyi sat upright. She glanced at Ye Wushuang, then lightly plucked a zither string.
TWANG!
A clear, crisp note from the zither suddenly resounded in the hearts of the crowd.
The crowd’s gazes focused as they stared at Ruo Xiangyi. They realized that this time, the zither’s music was vastly different from when she had played against Wudao!
The notes sliced through the air, their echoes lingering, reverberating endlessly.
Ruo Xiangyi’s fingers danced lightly, the strings vibrating. A heavenly melody flowed out, reaching every corner of the Barbarian God Battle Platform.
The music was less seductive than before, possessing a more natural air. It seemed to express both joy and sorrow, weaving two contradictory emotions.
But more than that, what was the music trying to say?
Its story seemed to hide a woman’s secret, making one desperate to learn just what made her so joyful, and what had happened to make her so sorrowful.
The crowd’s myriad thoughts instantly quieted. They stood in place, listening intently, gradually immersing themselves in the mood of the music.
"What beautiful music!"
Ye Wushuang couldn’t help but marvel. Although he knew nothing about the zither, he, a man who didn’t understand the instrument, had miraculously understood what the music was trying to convey.
The level of her Zither Skill was so high that it astonished even Ye Wushuang.
However, what puzzled Ye Wushuang was that this music contained no hint of an attack. He felt no sense of crisis; on the contrary, he felt a pleasant sense of well-being in both body and mind.
For a moment, he had no idea what Ruo Xiangyi was trying to do, so he could only continue to listen.
When the music was halfway through, the mournful narrative ended. The melody changed abruptly, and the expressions of the crowd, who were immersed in the music, also began to shift.
This time, the music became profound and abstruse, like a supreme Daoist master expounding upon the fundamental principles of the heavens and earth, the way of all living things.
Across the entire Barbarian God Battle Platform, almost everyone closed their eyes, including the leaders of the Major Influences and the powerful Elders of the Yin Yang Realm, who also shut their eyes to listen.
On the Battle Platform, Beize Yunzhuo, Wudao, and the others hesitated for a moment before also closing their eyes to listen quietly to this magical tune.
Among the tens of thousands of people, only two did not have their eyes closed.
One was the giant elder in the void. His gaze was distant as he looked up at the firmament, muttering something under his breath.
It seemed the music had stirred his memories, and his ancient eyes grew even more profound.
And the other person was Ye Wushuang.
He stared at Ruo Xiangyi with a strange expression, because when he heard the music, it was as if she were speaking directly to him.
Suddenly, an image appeared in his mind.
A Divine Mountain from time immemorial stood, propping up the heavens. It pierced through the cloud-wreathed sky, connecting to the firmament above and looking down upon the world below.
On the peak, brilliant rays of light shone. Divine cranes occasionally soared past, and showers of starlight streaked across the sky.
A hundred flowers bloomed on the peak in a riot of color. Heavenly butterflies danced, gathering at the center around a woman who sat upon a mountain of jade.
The woman was quietly playing a zither, her beautiful eyes gazing affectionately at a man beside her.
The man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distance. Only his back was visible; his face could not be seen.
Ye Wushuang watched like a bystander. He roughly understood the identities of the two: one was Ruo Xiangyi, and the other must be the person she was looking for!
’This Ruo Xiangyi is truly a woman lost in love!’
Ye Wushuang gazed at Ruo Xiangyi, murmuring inwardly.
However, as if sensing something, he turned his gaze elsewhere.
He suddenly discovered that the once bustling and clamorous Barbarian God Battle Platform was now utterly silent. Not a sound could be heard. Everyone had their eyes tightly shut, listening to the zither music.
Their faces showed a variety of expressions: some were enraptured, some joyous, some frowning...
This left Ye Wushuang completely baffled.
Then, Ye Wushuang turned to look at the giant elder in the sky, only to find the elder looking back at him with a startled gaze.
Ye Wushuang gave the giant elder a slight nod, then looked away.
Listening to the music and feeling a bit of spirit, he casually took out his flask of wine and took another swig.
A fiery blade slid down his throat, like fire entering his belly. His whole body grew scorching hot, and his face flushed crimson!
His body burned as if consumed by flames. The fiery blade swept past his heart, bringing a flash of pain followed by a strange, exhilarating rush!
Drunken Half-Madness. One drop brings a half-drunken state; its fiery blade burns the heart. Good wine!
Ye Wushuang exhaled, and his breath was as hot as fire.
If an ordinary person were to chug a mouthful of Drunken Half-Madness, they would have died from self-immolation.
However, Ye Wushuang possessed a Treasure Body and his Cultivation had reached the Spiritual Spring realm; he was more than capable of withstanding it!
’Drinking wine while listening to the zither—this is truly a pleasure!’
Feeling no danger from the music, Ye Wushuang immersed himself in enjoying the wonderful tune.
TWANG!
After a long while, Ruo Xiangyi’s music came to an abrupt halt.
The crowd, who had been lost in the music, awoke as if from a dream!
Instantly, the leaders of the Major Influences and the experts of the Yin Yang Realm snapped their eyes open. A sharp light flashed in their eyes, and their faces changed drastically.
The music had just transported them into different states of mind, evoking their deepest desires and causing them to let down their guard completely, without a shred of vigilance.
If someone had taken that opportunity to attack, they would have surely died!
"What kind of music is this? It’s terrifying! Even those in the Yin Yang Realm were completely lost in it." Some of the old-timers from the Yin Yang Realm looked horrified as they stared at Ruo Xiangyi on the Battle Platform.
Beize Yunzhuo, Wudao, Liuu Tianlan, and the others also stared at Ruo Xiangyi in terror. Only now did they realize just how powerful she was!
A single melody had been enough to make them fall into its trap, defenseless and ready for the slaughter. It was truly terrifying!
"In this match, Ye Wushuang has lost!"
"This music is so mesmerizing that even Yin Yang Realm experts were entranced. Ye Wushuang’s defeat is no injustice!"
"I just don’t understand why Ruo Xiangyi would single out Ye Wushuang. Could it be that this God of Slaughter offended her before?"
The crowd stared at the Battle Platform, looking at the white-robed young man holding a wine flask with his eyes shut, and began to discuss among themselves.
They all knew that in this battle, Ye Wushuang had lost!
Jian Bufan and Yunn Xiao also woke as if from a dream, turning to look at Ye Wushuang on the Battle Platform. Suddenly, their gazes froze.
"This guy... he’s probably done for!"
Yunn Xiao sighed. He had sensed that Ruo Xiangyi was extraordinary before, but he never expected a single song to possess such terrifying power!
This time, Jian Bufan said nothing, instead fixing his gaze on the close-eyed Ye Wushuang.
Ruo Xiangyi put away her Ancient Zither, stood up, and also watched Ye Wushuang quietly.
Ye Wushuang’s eyes snapped open. He looked at the crowd’s shocked faces in utter confusion. ’It was just a song. Did they really have to act like they’d just survived a life-or-death calamity?’
"Is that it?"
Looking away from the crowd, Ye Wushuang turned and asked Ruo Xiangyi.
"What did you hear, Young Master Ye?" Ruo Xiangyi asked.
"Nothing," Ye Wushuang replied.
"Then what did you see?" Ruo Xiangyi pressed.
"Nothing," Ye Wushuang replied again.
"Did you feel anything at all?"
Ruo Xiangyi pressed once more, seemingly unwilling to give up. The emotions in her eyes fluctuated wildly, as if she were trying to confirm something.
Ye Wushuang still just shook his head.
"Really... nothing at all? Sigh. It seems it’s not him."
Ruo Xiangyi murmured this, glanced at Dii Qingxue in the distance, and then walked off the stage. Three faint words followed her, "I admit defeat!"
"Wh-what? She admits defeat?"
Hearing Ruo Xiangyi’s words, the crowd was slow to react. They had all felt the terror of her music—even the Yin Yang Realm experts had been frightened by it—yet it hadn’t defeated Ye Wushuang. How was that possible?
