Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor

"Zheng!"

The notes fell into silence; the melody came to an end.

At this moment, that Purple-Clad Lady slowly lifted her head, looked at Shi Feng who sat upright before her, and softly called out, "You're here."

"Mm, I'm here." Shi Feng nodded to her and said.

"Mm." The Purple-Clad Lady answered softly, then turned her gaze back to the zither floating before her. Her fair, slender hands moved over the strings once more, and the leisurely sound of the zither echoed through heaven and earth again.

Shi Feng had never been someone who understood the zither, yet for some reason, whenever he listened to her music, it always gave him a special feeling he could not put into words.

He even found himself savoring it endlessly.

Back on the Tianheng Continent, Shi Feng had once read in ancient texts that some who Cultivated the path of sound in Martial Arts could, through special sounds—such as the tones of a zither or a bell—bewitch others.

But Shi Feng could be very sure that the notes the Purple-Clad Lady played were nothing but pure music, with no bewitching methods hidden within.

One melody ended, and another began.

This Purple-Clad Lady played three full pieces for Shi Feng.

Even after the three pieces ended, Shi Feng still felt a lingering desire for more in his heart.

The sky had already begun to edge toward dusk.

After the three pieces, the woman lifted her head once more and looked at Shi Feng, asking, "Do you still want to listen?" Still just a few simple words.

"I do." Shi Feng said.

"All right then." The Purple-Clad Lady smiled, and once more began to play a tune for Shi Feng.

...

"Them!"

In the distance by the lake, a slender white figure appeared at this very moment.

Passing by the lake, Jian Ran heard that familiar zither sound and lifted her head to look. Right then and there, she saw the two people at the center of the lake.

Her delicate body trembled; in that instant, an indescribable, vague feeling rose within Jian Ran's heart, making her very uncomfortable.

"Shi Feng. Jian Wan." Jian Ran silently mouthed the names of those two people.

That person had told her he wanted to continue strolling alone, yet she had never imagined that his stroll would bring him here, seated before Jian Wan, listening to Jian Wan play the zither.

Thinking of all this, Jian Ran's heart felt all the more pained and sour.

"Second Young Lady, the Second Young Lady has come!"

The two in the lake had long since drawn the attention of many in the Jian Family.

That Evil Demon Jian Feng, who had recently been rising like the blazing sun in the Jian Family—in everyone's hearts, he should already be together with the Second Young Lady Jian Ran. Yet at this moment, he was listening to the second master's daughter Jian Wan play the zither, his gaze fixed on Jian Wan. That "poetic and picturesque" scene looked extremely ambiguous.

And just then, many noticed that the Second Young Lady's expression had already turned very unpleasant.

"This Jian Feng, even with the Second Young Lady, still doesn't know contentment. He's actually tangled up with the second master's Jian Wan as well."

"Yeah, it's truly detestable! Far too greedy!"

"This Jian Feng, relying on his peerless talent—does he intend to seduce every beautiful woman in our Jian Family? Hateful! Truly hateful!"

...

The Jian Family youths were all indignant, speaking one after another.

At the center of the lake, the pair seemed utterly unaware of everything else. One played with her whole heart; the other still listened with his whole heart.

"Family Head, it's Little Ran."

Far off from the lake, in a stretch of Void unnoticed by anyone, an aged voice suddenly sounded.

Jian Yu had once again hidden here with Fengg and Yun, watching the situation at the center of the lake, and at this moment, he heard Elder Fengg suddenly speak to him.

"Ran'er." Jian Yu spoke. Following Elder Fengg's indication, his gaze fell upon that white figure that seemed somewhat lonely and desolate.

As her father, Jian Yu immediately sensed his daughter Jian Ran's emotions in that moment.

"Family Head, you've acted for this boy time and again, yet this boy is simply a heartless and ungrateful sort." Elder Yun spoke as well, addressing Family Head Jian Yu and Elder Fengg.

"Ran'er." Hearing the words of those beside him, Jian Yu silently called those two syllables once more.

His tone was filled with distress.

Jian Yu had three sons and two daughters, yet everyone in the Jian Family knew that the one he cherished most was his youngest daughter, Jian Ran.

Because of this, the Second Young Lady Jian Ran's standing within the Jian Family was far from ordinary.

And at this moment, Jian Yu seemed to have made some kind of decision. His stern features regained a solemn cast, and he spoke coldly to Fengg and Yun at his side:

"Once that Martial Arts battle ends, I'll give him a choice. How he chooses will be up to him."

As he spoke these words, Fengg and Yun clearly sensed a chill spreading from Jian Yu's body.

"Mm." Hearing this, Fengg and Yun both nodded slightly.

That Martial Arts battle was of paramount importance to the entire Jian Family, so everything would wait until that battle was over.

...

"Some days ago, the Family Head went so far as to clash head-on with the great master for Jian Feng's sake! Today, again because of Jian Feng, he stopped the Great Elder, yet Jian Feng behaves like this!"

"Yes, this Jian Feng really isn't any good!"

"Far too ungrateful!"

...

The events at the lake swiftly swept across the entire Jian Family. More and more Jian Family members gathered by the lake, and the scene became increasingly lively.

"Hm?"

Gradually, even Shi Feng at the center of the lake noticed the situation along both shores. His brows suddenly furrowed, and he lifted his eyes to look.

The Purple-Clad Lady playing the zither also noticed what was happening. Her beautiful brows knitted slightly, her hands paused, and the exquisite music came to an abrupt halt.

Shi Feng had not expected that he had merely come here to listen to some music, yet had drawn so many people. He had naturally already realized that many were pointing fingers at him.

Then, Shi Feng's cross-legged figure slowly rose from the surface of the lake, his gaze turning cold as he looked in all directions.

At this time, the Purple-Clad Lady spoke to Shi Feng again, saying, "It seems that today, I can't quiet my heart to play for you any longer."

Unable to play for Shi Feng—her tone carried a hint of regret.

"Mm. Then let's leave it at that for today." Shi Feng nodded and said.

Then the Purple-Clad Lady said again, "Would you walk with me for a while?"

Hearing this, Shi Feng's expression shifted slightly. Before he could respond, he heard the Purple-Clad Lady continue, "Take it as my music today in exchange for your company afterward. Will that do?"

"All right." Since she had put it that way, Shi Feng nodded and agreed.

Next, under countless watching eyes, people saw Jian Wan's purple-clad, cross-legged figure slowly rise to her feet, then stroll leisurely through the lake alongside that Evil Demon Jian Feng.

As they walked, the Purple-Clad Lady said:

"I hadn't realized that you were Jian Feng, the one who's become known throughout our entire Jian Family these days. If I hadn't seen your battle on the Battle Platform today, I still wouldn't know it was you."

"Oh, so you went there today as well." Shi Feng said.

The "there" he spoke of naturally referred to the martial hall where Jian Ran had taken him.

"Mm, I happened to go today." The Purple-Clad Lady gave a gentle nod in reply.

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