A Successful Debut (continued)

Unfortunately, Si Ming was the kind of layman who just watched the show and asked directly, "I don't quite understand what you're saying. Should I just tell you if it's good or bad?"

"Personally, I really like this distinctive style, especially its undeniable sharpness, which has a very youthful feel to it... No wonder my sister recommended you for the accompaniment."

Yuezheng Qiong seemed genuinely pleased, not just flattering him. So the two practiced briefly and began to perform formally. After all, no one would scrutinize a street performance with a magnifying glass, and even if mistakes were made, no one would usually notice. They could correct the mistakes while playing.

There is a difference between solo performances and duo performances. It's not enough to just play the beat accurately. Sometimes the accompaniment needs to be "off-key" to match the singer's voice. Art is different from exams; there is no standard answer. Sometimes, singing off-key can be more effective than singing without it.

Si Ming doesn't understand music, but he does understand martial arts. In terms of observation, probably no one can compare to a martial artist. With his current cultivation and martial Dao Realm, even without looking, he can capture Yuezheng Qiong's every move just by sensing the air. As for a sense of rhythm, it's even less of a challenge for him. Fighting also requires rhythm.

After several adjustments, the two quickly got into the swing of things. Although they couldn't be described as perfectly coordinated, they had at least achieved a result where one plus one was greater than two.

Yuezheng Qiong's voice is very unique. Unlike her sister's gentle and refined style, her voice is steady and powerful, with a magnetic quality reminiscent of a male voice. It is not rough, but rather has a very grand feel, yet it does not belong to the unrestrained style.

If we were to use objects as metaphors, Yuezheng Yao's singing voice is like a babbling brook or a tinkling mountain spring, giving it an ethereal and otherworldly quality. Yuezheng Qiong's singing voice is like a moonlit lake, possessing a profound depth, yet it doesn't pursue a turbulent torrent, but rather flows quietly. This differs from the bold and unrestrained style of the "Great River Flows Eastward, Waves Sweep Away, Waterfalls Plunge Three Thousand Feet" school.

Si Ming's accompaniment wasn't particularly outstanding, but at least it didn't hold Yuezheng Qiong back. The two's coordination was clearly superior to that of most street performers, reaching a level where even laymen could hear the difference. In addition, the two were wearing masks, which naturally added to their mystique and made people want to see their true faces. So, it didn't take long for them to attract a lot of passersby, who gathered around to listen quietly.

Don't think this is a simple matter. You should know that Si Ming and his companion chose a very bad time, almost at the end of the evening rush hour. At this time, the strongest thought of pedestrians is to hurry home, and they will not stop unless they see money on the road.

To attract them, you have to make them feel at least "this kind of music is worth a few minutes of my trip," "I'm getting a great deal by listening to this kind of music for free," and "Although I don't understand music, these two are really amazing." This already surpasses more than half of the established singers and artists.

In the end, because the crowd was too large and was affecting traffic, the station management had to intervene and ask the two to leave, thus ending the first attempt successfully.

"A resounding success!" Yuezheng Qiong stretched with great satisfaction, then scratched her backside, completely abandoning her goddess image. "I never expected we'd have such great chemistry. I originally thought that if someone was willing to stop and listen to us sing on the first night, we'd have achieved our goal. But it went so smoothly, it feels a bit unreal. Maybe we used up all our good karma beforehand?"

Si Ming, "Even if it involves overdrawing one's character, one still needs corresponding strength. The station has a large flow of people, but it's equally difficult to keep them here. Next time, we might choose a park or similar place. The flow of people is moderate, but it's much easier to keep them here. Some people are just out for a walk, and others have free time."

"Then let's choose Wanchang Park next door."

Without hesitation, Yuezheng Qiong made her choice. She then took out a cigarette from her pocket, lit it with a lighter, took a drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and said with great enjoyment, "A cigarette afterward is better than being a god."

Seeing this, Si Ming flicked his finger, sending out a Sword Qi that sliced off the tip of the cigarette, saying, "Smoking damages your throat. For the sake of your career, try not to smoke."

Yuezheng Qiong paused for a moment, then explained, "It's alright. Since you've practiced the 'Nine Shao Pitch-Setting Art,' you should know that this martial art can nourish the throat, which can just offset the harm of smoke. One goes in and the other goes out, so it's even."

She picked up her lighter to relight it, but Si Ming used Blood-Burning Finger to burn the entire cigarette, then said, "Smoking is harmful to your health."

"Are you my mother? What right do you have to tell me what to do?!"

Yuezheng Qiong's temper was anything but gentle. She especially hated being restrained or lectured. Anyone else who interfered in her affairs would have kicked them long ago, and even if they didn't resort to violence, they certainly wouldn't have given her a kind look. But thinking about how she still owed Si Ming several favors and the performance they had just done together, she could only soften her tone and plead, "Just one cigarette."

Si Ming, "These statements are just as convincing as 'I'll sleep for five more minutes,' 'I'll pay you back tomorrow,' 'I'm not drunk,' and 'I'm in the car and will be there soon.'"

"Actually, smoking can facilitate quick decision-making. Have you ever seen on TV that many difficult problems are decided the moment the person finishes a cigarette and forcefully stubs it out in the ashtray?"

"You forgot to look at one shot: ashtrays and the floor are often piled high with cigarette butts."

"You've never smoked, so you don't know what it's like, especially the best cigarettes. It's more pleasurable than being in heaven. You're an adult now, why not take this opportunity to try it? You know, in the eyes of many women, a man who hasn't smoked is an immature man. You have to try everything, otherwise your life won't have been in vain."

"Although I've never done drugs, I know the pleasure from drugs is definitely greater than smoking. Why don't you give it a try? What kind of adult are you if you can't even do drugs?"

Seeing that the other party was unmoved, Yuezheng Qiong had no choice but to give up. "Tch, what a spoilsport. So this kid is just ignorant. I will never date a man younger than me. He doesn't understand the hardships of adults at all."

I understand how hard you work, so remember to go to bed early and get up early. Health and a healthy life are more important than anything else.

Just as Si Ming was about to say goodbye and leave, Yuezheng Qiong quickly called him back, "Wait a minute, wouldn't it be embarrassing for me if you left like this? When I, Sister Qiong, travel the world, I rely on being generous to my own people."

"Uh, this character setting doesn't seem right. Is this the kind of line a scion of an Aristocratic Clan should say? Or do you actually like watching police dramas?"

"That's not important at all. If you're a man, don't worry about the details. Just come with me. Tonight, I guarantee I'll open your eyes to what a mature adult world is all about."

Are they taking me to Dabaojian?

Si Ming thought about it and felt that it was unlikely. If Yuezheng Qiong were a man, then it would be very possible for them to play the game together. But she was a woman, and it was impossible for her to bring a man to do the "Da Baojian" (a type of traditional Chinese medicine practice).

Yuezheng Qiong found a phone booth, made a call, and soon someone drove up in a low-key yet luxurious car. She pulled Si Ming into the car, and after a series of twists and turns, they arrived at the outskirts of Linked Mountains City, finally stopping in front of an inconspicuous health center.

Is this going to take me to experience a real "Great Health Care"?

Si Ming didn't know whether he should breathe a sigh of relief or feel regret, but after getting out of the car and walking a few steps, he realized something was wrong. "The ground is shaking beneath my feet. It seems the health center is just a front; there's something else going on underground."

"Impressive, you could even sense that."

Yuezheng Qiong stepped on the ground, trying to feel the so-called vibration, but naturally there was nothing there. This was the expected result—if it were so easy for anyone to detect the movement, the health center would have been shut down long ago.

"It seems your cultivation is far more advanced than I imagined... That's right, you're Yan Jinghong's disciple, and with the guidance of Spirit Transformation expert, three years is enough time for you to undergo a complete transformation. Your strength must have improved significantly compared to before, so you definitely can't miss tonight's grand event."

Yuezheng Qiong led the way, showing a black card to the receptionist. A waiter then came up and led the two to the basement. The moment the basement door was opened with a key, a wave of hot sound hit them.

"Go! Strike his chest with the Blood Sha Palm! If you hit him, you win!"

"Get out of the way! The Red-Faced Ghost General is running out of energy. If we can just stall for time, victory is ours. There's no need to fight him head-on!"

"Nonsense! In a narrow encounter, the brave prevail. It's precisely at times like these that we must not retreat. It's just a Blood Sha Palm, what's there to be afraid of!"

Countless well-dressed people shouted and yelled in the audience, completely disregarding their image. Their eyes were bloodshot, and they looked just like gamblers, immersed in the indescribable thrill.

Seeing this, Si Ming quickly realized. "Underground boxing?"

Yuezheng Qiong smiled but didn't answer. He handed a business card to the waiter, who then led the two to the reserved private room.

"This isn't called underground boxing, but ancient Martial Form. In ancient times, once you signed a waiver, you were responsible for your own life and death once you stepped into the ring. Unlike now, where they emphasize stopping when you've made a mistake, and you can go to jail if you accidentally kill someone, they don't care whether you signed a waiver or not. The rules here are the same as in ancient Martial Form: you are responsible for your own life and death, and it's common to kill or maim someone," Yuezheng Qiong explained.

"A bunch of bored bastards, they're really just looking for trouble. They want to see life-or-death battles. They can get a real treat every time a demon tide breaks out."

Having experienced major battles, Si Ming completely looked down on this kind of petty scramble.

"Even the sons of wealthy families wouldn't sit under a dangerous roof. Those who can come here are either powerful or influential. Everyone wants excitement, but they are terrified of death, so they can only pay others to come and fight."