After the auction master left, Chen Wentian didn't stay for much longer at the Golden Basin Auction House. Xu Kaicheng tried to invite him to a banquet and then to a drinking session but he refused them as politely as he could. Xu Kaicheng accepted his excuses good-naturedly and escorted him out of the building.
Chen Wentian left the Golden Citadel with mixed feelings. He was satisfied with the haul of expensive gifts and rare cultivation treasures. He could find no fault with his performance throughout. Yet he was greatly annoyed by the extra troubles it had caused.
It wasn't just the tricky auction master but Xu Kaicheng as well. A normal person perhaps would have already fallen under Xu Kaicheng's friendly and charming demeanor. He was funny, straightforward, and a good person on the surface.
But Chen Wentian wasn't a normal person. When it came to people, men in particular, he was infinitely distrustful. There was no reason for Xu Kaicheng to be like this, to treat Chen Wentian like a long-lost friend after only a few days. Chen Wentian didn't want any friendships with men but he didn't have a good excuse to reject Xu Kaicheng. He couldn't find any fault with the auction agent and this annoyed him even more.
Chen Wentian hopped through several teleportation arrays without stopping, heading back to the Virtuous Order, eager to see Long Yifei again. When he arrived at the Millennium Mountains Campus, it was early in the afternoon. He raised his order badge which pulsed with a faint spiritual signature, leading him in her direction.
He crossed the main campus buildings and entered the surrounding forests which were crisscrossed by paved footpaths. These paths led to serene and secluded locations where Sacred Daughters could cultivate their chosen arts. There were pavilions built next to streams and lakers. There were tea houses at the peaks of small mountains and cliffside overlooks. There were also picnic spots with nothing except simple stone tables and stone seats.
He found Long Yifei at a solitary stone bridge that crossed a stream in front of a gentle waterfall that poured over the nearby cliffs like a silvery curtain. Given what she had told him about her background, he should have expected it.
She was practicing a dance routine and didn't know he had arrived. He quickly hid behind a willow tree, not wanting to distract her while she was fully engrossed in her task.
He watched silently, taking in her form and her curves as she moved to an inaudible melody in her mind. She had on a simple yet elegant set of white robes with a light flowing skirt and long, wide sleeves. As she pranced atop the bridge, she was like a snowy butterfly, a wind-swept flake of snow, a fairy out of an ancient tale.
Her hips undulated like waves crashing ashore. Her arms and her fingers formed exquisite patterns as if painting in the air. Her legs would kick out powerfully, causing her skirt to puff out like a blooming flower. He was captivated in ways no dance had ever done before.
Lin Qingcheng and Zhou Ziyun had danced for him before but that was nothing like this. Their dance was sexual with the aim of arousal and pleasing his desires. Long Yifei's dance was elegant, pure. It was beautiful, not dirty. It was art!
Long Yifei's eyes were closed in concentration. With each movement, spiritual energy flowed from her body. She was dancing but she was also cultivating the Dao of dance.
Her energy level was not substantial, only at the upper levels of the Spirit Initiate Realm, but it represented her rapid progress. In a few months, she had mastered the beginner dances at the Body Refinement Realm and Mind Focusing Realm. Already, she could begin to tackle the immortal path of dance.
For someone who cultivated a completely different Dao most of her life, this was beyond impressive. Her talent was undeniable and her hard work was equally commendable. But even more so, it proved just how compatible the Dao of the virtuous order was with her innate physique. In the vast world of cultivation, a person cultivating different Daos wasn't underheard of. However, it only happened for people who found a Dao that was much more suitable for them and their talents. If they tried to cultivate a lesser Dao or one that wasn't suitable, their bodies would naturally reject it.
Long Yifei eventually finished her routine, coming to a stop in the middle of the bridge. Her chest rose and fell as she took in deep breaths to fight exhaustion. Her eyes remained closed but a slight smile streaked across her lips.
Chen Wentian couldn't hold back anymore and stepped toward her.
Long Yifei's head rose gently to face him, "Master, when did you arrive?"
He landed in front of her with a chuckle, "A little while ago. Luckily, I managed to catch a wonderful scene."
She stared at him. Her expression was soft and her eyes were filled with an unreadable emotion. In the past, they had been cold and restrained. Now, it was totally different. Although he still couldn't quite read her, he was satisfied with the change.
"You dance very well. I feel like I could watch you for a whole afternoon." He said.
She dipped her head and hid a smile behind her sleeve, "If master really wants to watch me dance, I am willing. But my skills are still a little lacking. The prioresses teach us that the Dao of dance at the immortal realms certainly will have beneficial effects on observers. I can only ask for master's patience in that regard."
Her sweet words were filled with intimacy. His heart swelled and he couldn't help but catch her waist, bringing her closer.
"Heh, I suspect that I won't have to wait for too long." He said.
She shook her head, "I've only started dancing recently. I still have a lot to learn. It is still a long and difficult path."
He leaned forward and pecked her cheek, "You don't have to be afraid. I will support you regardless of how difficult it gets. And as for the Gift Giving Ceremony and all the gifts on your wish list, I managed to obtain all of them!"
Her eyes lit up with joy, "Really?"