Huang Jing spoke amiably and smiled; there were no malicious intentions behind his smile.
"Greetings?..." he looked at them and welcoming, not understanding why he addressed him."Hello, hello!" Huang Jing greeted in response, then repeated, "I wanted to ask if you want to hang out with us. We were about to go inside, so one more person would add to our fun company."
"Hey, Senior Huang, there's no need to call him..." one of the disciples said, looking displeased.
"Brother Huang, don't be impulsive. We shouldn't bother this person," another disciple said.
"Hmm?" Huang Jing ignored them and just waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet. He only smiled at Xie Qing, clearly awaiting his response.
"Alright," the young man nodded and shrugged.
"Great! Let's go, then! Today, we'll have a blast!" Huang Jing exclaimed with a smile, putting his arm around Xie Qing's shoulder as they entered the pavilion. He added, "Today, a special lady is performing... she has exquisite skills in playing the zither! Many stop and come here just for her!"
"Zither, huh? I'm not really into music, is that okay?" Xie Qing asked.
"Haha, I don't understand either. But if the musician is good enough, she'll immediately transport you to heaven with the beauty of her music! Besides, let me tell you a secret, but I only look at her appearance... this girl has such a beautiful body, hehe..."
Xie Qing was speechless, then raised his large finger, saying, "Brother Huang, you're an even bigger pervert than I am." To which Huang Jing proudly smirked.
Surprisingly for Xie Qing, they arrived directly on the ninth, the highest floor accessible to visitors. Sitting at a round table near the main stage, Huang Jing ordered wine and snacks. When the table was set, Huang Jing raised a porcelain cup of wine, saying, "To your health, Brother Xu!"
"To your health, Brother Huang!"
Xie Qing and Huang Jing clinked glasses and then drank leisurely, savoring the taste of the wine. Although its quality was not on par with what Xie Qing had with Xu Mei, it was still enjoyable.
By the way, "Xu" was a fabricated alias, as Xie Qing didn't want to reveal his real name.
After they both finished, one of the disciples poured them another glass, though it was evident he didn't want to serve Xie Qing.
"Brother Xu, may I know which city you're from? Though, if you don't want to answer, I, Huang Jing, won't insist!" Huang Jing said, smiling and friendly.
"Brother Huang is too modest. I'm just a youth from the city of Jinhuan in the Southern Continent," Xie Qing said with a gentle smile. In his thoughts, he added, "The Resting Eagle Sect is located in the Southern Continent, and the city of Jinhuan is under its control."
"Oh! Brother Xu, you're from my hometown. What a coincidence, isn't it?" Huang Jing said with laughter, then added, "Everyone there knows my name by heart. If anyone dares to offend you, mention my name, and no one will dare to touch you!"
"Well, what can I say, Brother Huang..."
"No, no, I won't accept any refusals! From this day forward, we're sworn brothers, so feel free to use my name to protect your family, even in business!" Huang Jing said, smiling cheerfully. He added, "I, Huang Jing, never refuse to help my brothers!"
Xie Qing simply nodded with a smile. Although the conversation was lively, the young man was secretly cautious. He couldn't believe that someone like Huang Jing would easily befriend strangers. Moreover, Xie Qing strongly doubted that Huang Jing approached him solely out of curiosity. However, as they were building good relations, it wouldn't hurt Xie Qing anyway.
"I can use the fact of our friendship during the competition for the inheritance," Xie Qing thought.
In the two hours that Xie Qing and Huang Jing spent chatting, they learned a lot about each other and realized that, in a way, they were very similar. They quickly became as close as brothers. This fact didn't sit well with the disciples who came with Huang Jing. They hoped to improve their relationship with the heir of their family but ended up being mere servants, pouring wine and serving dishes. And it was not just serving Huang Jing; they had to give a face to Xie Qing, who was younger and lower in cultivation level!
Despite their disappointment, no one said anything. They had already accepted the fact that Huang Jing had accepted Xie Qing as his brother.
By the way, Xie Qing's concerns were unfounded, as Huang Jing had nothing against him and harbored no ill intentions. For Huang Jing, Xie Qing was a person with a pleasant appearance and a good character.
"Oh, Brother Xu, look at the stage... she's here!" Huang Jing exclaimed, then added in a low voice, "You'll be stunned!"
Xie Qing nodded, shifting his gaze to the stage.
As expected, everyone immediately fell silent. A beautiful young girl stepped onto the stage, her body slim and graceful. She had a medium-sized chest and long, snowy-white legs. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress that flowed along her body, and ribbons twirled around her.
She had beautiful turquoise hair and blue eyes, resembling a sea creature, captivating the audience with her beauty. Her thin eyebrows and delicate pink lips were enticing.
She was the best Song Maiden.
Song Maidens were staff who only played music and didn't provide any sexual services or other things. They purely played music.
Bowing to the audience, she sat on a prepared stool and took out a zither. Placing it on her knees, she waited for a moment, then began playing.
Ting~.
The first note immediately delighted the audience. They experienced immense pleasure, and their vision blurred.
"Wow..."
Xie Qing was captivated by this song. Her graceful hands skillfully played the zither, and each note sent shivers down his spine. He felt like standing under the moon, with a beautiful water surface in front of him, reflecting the moonlight.
(A/N: The link to the song is available on my Discord channel. I took it from YouTube to allow readers to listen and immerse themselves more. Respect to the artist who played this song.)
Her song was beautiful, making his soul relax. Xie Qing's eyelids became heavy, and he gradually closed his eyes, like many spectators.
Ding!
[You are experiencing a strange state... analyzing... it does not pose a danger to you]
[The "Heavenly Sound" effect helps your Qi flow faster and more efficiently. You enter a state of deep concentration]
The entire audience was immersed in sleep – although it would be more accurate to say that they entered the world of illusions caused by this song.
Only Huang Jing remained conscious, drooling as he gazed at the beautiful girl.
"Ugh... she's so beautiful!" he thought, then raised an eyebrow, sensing a surge of Qi. "Hm? Someone is cultivating?"
Then he turned his head towards the source of Qi and widened his eyes. His eyebrows almost touched his scalp.
A miniature dragon, the size of a pinkie finger, was swimming near Xie Qing. It was semi-transparent and barely visible, but... the fact was, it was there! Huang Jing was stunned.
"His Qi is so rich and pure! Moreover, manifesting a dragon in cultivation requires ancient techniques! Even I don't possess such a skill!" he thought in amazement, then became curious: "Who is this Brother Xu? He refused to answer my questions and diverted my attention. He must be an important person."
Huang Jing snapped his fingers, and a miniature sphere flew out of his pockets. It lit up and enveloped Xie Qing in a golden barrier.
"My 'Portable Cultivation Room' should help him avoid unnecessary disturbances. It seems he's on the verge of a breakthrough."
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