027: Attacking the Enemy
Roch was true to his words.
On the way towards Lovers Rose Garden where it was said that a hundred kinds of roses are planted, they talked about Roch's plan about the hidden enemies.
"Are they still following us?" Zemirah asked in concern.
Roch nodded, "Yeah, don't worry they won't attack now. They are still waiting for an opportunity."
Zemirah was quiet for a while before she decided to ask, "Can I ask a question?"
Seeing the lady's curious eyes, Roch nodded. He knew that Zemirah is a person who knew her boundaries and not someone who will ask or speak mindlessly.
"Why did you drive away your two subordinates? Isn't it better to be together to fight the enemies?" Zemirah asked slowly the question she was bothered about.
She didn't think that Roch was plotting on her aside from the fact that her jade didn't give a warning about the young man, she also trusted her instincts.
The young man doesn't hold any malicious thoughts towards her.
Roch didn't answer immediately, just when Zemirah thought he wouldn't answer, he spoke in a low voice. "He will be an uncertainty in a battle."
"You mean?" Zemirah gasped.
Roch didn't speak more and just stared at her eyes. Zemirah seemed to find the answer in his starry black eyes and slowly nodded in understanding.
That older subordinate of Roch is a traitor. A useful traitor that is why Roch hasn't dealt with him yet and even made an excuse just to drive them away.
"So we'll play music in the Lovers Garden?" Zemirah turned the conversation to the plan.
"Yeah, you play first and I'll follow. I'm a music cultivator too so if I carelessly took out my musical instrument, they'll definitely be wary."
"Well, I have the [Starlight Sea Piano] on me but I don't know any spiritual music scores," Zemirah said worriedly.
Roch chuckled and said, "Don't worry, just play whatever you want and prepare your talismans. I'll be the one attacking them."
"Why not attack them with the sword anyway?"
"I'm better at the cultivation of Four Divine Arts," Roch smirked when speaking at this part.
Looking at the young man proudly stating his strengths, Zemirah rolled her eyes and laughed. Just like when Zemirah spoke about talismans and swords which is her passion, the confidence emanating from them is attractive.
Roch saw Zemirah react that way and shook his head, sure enough, this lady didn't notice anything at all. He already spoke to such an extent but she still didn't guess his identity.
But thinking about it, Roch also likes it that way.
Many people approached him because of his status and meeting a friend without the effect of his last name let Roch feel that it was more genuine and untainted with schemes and deceit. He wanted it to stay that way for a while.
Zemirah noticed Roch's black eyes seemingly shining as he stared at her. She could see the amusement and appreciation of them, making her puzzled.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Roch smiled and blinked at Zemirah.
Zemirah shook her head and walked ahead, not bothering with the young man. Roch chuckled and followed closely.
When they arrived at the Lovers Garden, there were quite a lot of people. The garden of a hundred types of roses in different colors attracts many people, especially since there are legends that couples who profess their love here will stay together forever.
Seeing the pair of lovers around the sea of roses, Zemirah felt her eyelid twitch.
What is she doing here anyway?
Abusing herself as a single dog?
"What are you thinking?" A pleasant male voice sounded beside her, attracting her attention. It was Roch who had his hands behind his back and was looking at her curiously.
His black starry eyes made Zemirah stare before she remembered the plan.
"Nothing, I just thought about the legend of this garden that was mentioned by the waiter earlier."
"Hmm?" Roch blinked before understanding Zemirah's words. He smiled and teased the beautiful lady, "Why? You believe it?"
"Nothing's wrong with believing it. Anyway, I'll go here with my lover in the future too." Zemirah remarked.
Roch paused and looked at the lady beside him. The lady's height reached his chin, and her smooth snow-white skin, and fox eyes didn't look seductive but charming and adorable. His eyes stopped on the veil that hid her lips, the curiosity to look at her lips tickled Roch.
He wondered what her lips looked like and how it tasted…
Roch forcibly stopped his dangerous thoughts and coughed behind his fist. "Ehem, you can do that. Who knows if the legend here is effective." He answered mindlessly.
Someone seemed to hear their discussion when a girl's voice sounded behind them. "Of course it's true! The Legend of Lovers Rose Garden has already been proven for many years."
They turned to look behind them and saw a teenage girl around 16 years old together with a teenage boy her age.
Zemirah's interest was picked as she asked, "Really?"
The girl proudly nodded as she said, "Of course, my parents professed their love here and have been together for nearly 50 years."
Zemirah was impressed, "Wow, that's quite a long time."
Roch interrupted and said, "50 years is just a fraction of a cultivator's life."
Zemirah was stunned at his words as she thought, 'That's right. For cultivators in this world that lives for hundreds of year, 50 years is just a short period of time.'
Zemirah didn't respond to Roch but teased the girl who was still speaking proudly of her parent's love life.
"Is that why you came here with your little lover then?" The girl choked on air after hearing Zemirah's words.
"You- You! What nonsense!" The girl stuttered and blushed furiously. When she saw the teasing smile on everyone's face, she stomped her feet and ran away.
The boy beside her was also blushing as he bowed to apologize for the girl's rudeness to Zemirah and Roch before chasing the girl.
Zemirah happily laughed at her own antic while Roch shook his head helplessly,
"You teased the girl so much she ran away."
Zemirah grinned, "Who knew the girl was so shy? Besides, I just asked an honest question ah."
They strolled around the garden first, looking for a suitable spot to fight- I mean, play a piece of music.
Roch didn't want much commotion when a fight started. He wanted to quickly finish his enemies and he is confident to do so with his accomplishment in Four Divine Arts, [Musical Instrument].
In a corner where there were no other people, Zemirah sat on the foot of the tree where rose vines climbed around. "This is already the edge of the garden."
Roch closed his eyes and felt the two enemies had just entered the Lover Rose Garden. He estimates that by the time they arrive, he already finished brewing his musical attack.
Zemirah saw Roch nodded, "Yes, let's start." Only then did she take out her only musical instrument artifact, the [Starlight Sea Piano]. Though it was only an Uncommon-quality Low-Stage grade 2 artifact, Zemirah doesn't know spiritual musical scores anyway so it was fine.
Roch stared at the lady who was caressing the beautiful black piano dotted with stars. It was once his artifact and he remembered the time when he decided to trade it to Zemirah.
"Don't use your spiritual energy on it, just play normally." Roch reminded Zemirah.
"Yes, I know." Using a higher-grade artifact will surely take a toll on her and Zemirah doesn't want to be tired before the battle even starts. She still has the task to use her talismans later. If it fails, they will surely be in danger.
"What's your musical instrument?" Zemirah was curious about the instrument that Roch would use. She got his piano before, maybe he will also use a piano?
Roch smiled and took out a jade flute. The flute is made pure white, without any blemish at all. Zemirah can see some hidden runes on the flute which she doesn't recognize. But she knew one thing and that the flute artifact was a high-quality one.
'Sia, help me see the artifact's details.' Zemirah poked Sia on her mind.
[Ding!]
[White Rune Jade Flute], a Supreme-Qualitu Peak-Stage Grade 2 artifact. Made from White Rune Jade it is said to be blessed with holy light that has the characteristics of suppressing evil and promoting good. It has 2 active skills, [Hidden Rune Melody] and [Holy Death].
'So amazing?' Zemirah exclaimed in her mind after listening to Sia's introduction.
[Ding! Of course, it's amazing. It's made from top-tier materials and crafted by a master craftsman. I can feel that although it didn't reach Celestial-Quality, the master craftsman enchanted some runes on the White Rune Jade to activate the 2 skills.]
'Then why most of my Celestial-Quality artifacts doesn't have any skills?' Zemirah asked in confusion. Her artifacts don't seem to be as amazing as other people's Supreme-Quality ones.
[Ding! The Host should remember that your artifacts have miraculous passive skills and they are rarely weapons but ornaments and robes.]
Zemirah can imagine Sia's helpless tone as she explained it to her.
'Oh, so that's it.'
The conversation only took a blink in her mind and Roch didn't notice anything at all. He just saw Zemirah looking at his flute artifact in amazement.
"How many musical instruments can you play?"
Roch smiled and said, "Any instruments, though I'm most proficient in flute."
"That's amazing, I only know a few and I'm not very good at them. I also like flute the most!" Zemirah excitedly said.
"Oh, really? Then I'll gift you with a flute next time." Roch was amused as he looked at the lady chattering in front of him. He was also elated to know someone liked the flute best like him.
"What music should we play?" Zemirah asked after calming down.
"You play whatever you want, I'll just follow along." Roch doesn't seem to care much as he lets the lady choose the music she wants. Anyway, he can play any music in this world and the spiritual music he'll use for battle can be paired with anything.
Zemirah didn't think he was lying as she saw through the pride of the man whenever he talked about the Four Divine Arts, something that only people who believed in their own abilities show.
"Okay then." Zemirah shrugged. She also didn't know much music to play and had only a few limited music she could proficiently perform. If Roch suggested a piece of music she doesn't know how to play, it would be embarrassing.
Roch watched the lady place her beautiful slender fingers on the keys of the piano artifact. He has this slight expectation of what a lady so beautiful and elegant but also unrestrained and wild as Zemirah would play.
With the anticipation brewing in his chest, light music sounded in the air.
It was a piece of cheerful music, Roch immediately guessed the owner's thoughts through the few notes Zemirah pressed.
A music full of joy and expectation, like someone who would brave challenges and provoke any problems without fear.
It was said that playing music will show a person's character. That day, Roch saw another part of Zemirah.