"Waltz"

The air was thick with the smell of blood, so Hu Liena ordered the camp moved across the river.

After relocating with the others, Ye Qin quickly slipped into his own tent and prepared to cultivate his Soul Power through the night.

Before long, he entered meditation.

The night passed without incident.

When Ye Qin awoke again, dawn had already broken!

After cultivating all night, not only did Ye Qin not feel tired, he actually felt refreshed and invigorated!

The morning breeze made him feel even more at ease.

Just then, he looked over and saw a breathtaking figure standing silently by the river.

There was no doubt that it was Hu Liena.

"Hu Liena, morning," Ye Qin said.

"Ye Qin, why are you up so early?" Hu Liena asked as she hurriedly turned around, her heart stirring with excitement.

"I didn't sleep at all!" Ye Qin replied. "Eh, Hu Liena, it looks like you aren't wearing makeup today!"

Looking closely, Ye Qin saw that Hu Liena wore no powder or cosmetics, yet she was still so enchanting, like flawless jade carved by the heavens, enough to set one's mind wandering.

Most people simply could not withstand that kind of temptation!

"I like it! What's it to you?" Hu Liena replied coldly.

"Fine then. Where are we going next?" Ye Qin asked, changing the subject.

What Ye Qin did not know was that Hu Liena had not worn makeup precisely because of something he had said casually the night before!

"Whitewater Town!" Hu Liena said. "We need to inspect the six towns near the Royal City before we can return."

"We just went through a fierce battle. Aren't you afraid someone will try to ambush us again?" Ye Qin asked.

"As long as you don't jinx it, I believe they won't!" Hu Liena replied.

For ten days in a row, Ye Qin accompanied Hu Liena as they traveled about. Their relationship gradually grew closer.

They encountered no more danger along the way.

That day, the setting sun hung in the sky, painting everything crimson.

They arrived at Xilu City in the Hagen Das Kingdom.

Behind the Xilu Branch Hall, Ye Qin stood waiting in a suit.

Before long, the branch hall's rear door opened, and a peerless beauty entered his sight. It was Hu Liena.

She still wore no makeup, yet her natural beauty was unmatched. Dressed in a white gown, her jade-like legs were exposed, stirring desire at first sight.

However, Hu Liena looked somewhat shy at the moment. The dress Ye Qin had given her was simply too short, and she bashfully held down its hem.

"Now this is what a woman should look like!" Ye Qin said with a smile.

"You mean I don't usually look like a woman?" Hu Liena snapped.

"You do normally, but you look even more like one in a dress!" Ye Qin replied.

"Honestly, it's one thing for you to ask me out, but why did I have to wear a dress? And one this short! If my subordinates see me, I'll be too embarrassed to face anyone!" Hu Liena lightly scolded him.

"Haha, then why did you wear it?" Ye Qin laughed.

"Just tell me, where are we going?" Hu Liena hurriedly changed the subject.

"Every day, we're either traveling or staying in Spirit Hall. If you aren't sick of it, I am. Today, I'm taking you somewhere nice!" Ye Qin said, taking Hu Liena's hand and leading her toward the center of Xilu City.

Along the way, pedestrians saw that Ye Qin was still so young, yet he was holding hands with such a stunning beauty.

If looks could kill, Ye Qin would probably have been cut into a thousand pieces already!

Before long, Ye Qin brought Hu Liena to the most luxurious restaurant in Xilu City.

"I thought it would be somewhere special. Isn't this just a meal?" Hu Liena said, her brows slightly furrowed.

Ye Qin merely smiled without answering. He entered the restaurant and led Hu Liena to a seat by the window.

The way Ye Qin and Hu Liena were dressed immediately drew the attention of the diners. Many stared directly at Hu Liena's beautiful legs, making her feel even more bashful.

Soon, a waiter in a suit approached them respectfully. "Sir, madam, what would you like to order?"

"Two steaks, and a few concertos!" Ye Qin said, snapping his fingers.

"Sir, we have steaks here, but what are concertos?" the waiter asked in confusion.

"Don't you have a band here?" Ye Qin asked in return.

"No!" The waiter shook his head.

"Western food without music has no sense of ceremony. Go find me a band!" Ye Qin said.

"This..." The waiter looked troubled.

"Hey, kid!" At that moment, a burly man at the table beside Ye Qin spoke up. "Eat if you want to eat. What's with bringing in a whole band? With all that racket, who can eat?"

At those words, the other diners began discussing it as well.

"What's it to you?" Ye Qin replied coldly. Then he handed the waiter ten Gold Soul Coins. "This is your tip. Go find a band right away. There'll be another reward when it's done!"

"Fine, find your band. But if you ruin my enjoyment later, you'll regret it!" the burly man snarled.

"Ye Qin, why not forget it?" Hu Liena said. "A band would be too noisy!"

"It's fine. You'll understand soon enough!" Ye Qin said with a smile.

A short while later, the waiter led several musicians in through the restaurant's entrance.

"Sir, I found the band for you!" the waiter said to Ye Qin.

"Very good!" Ye Qin casually tossed out another ten Gold Soul Coins, then asked the blond, blue-eyed man leading the band, "What's your name?"

"Beethoven!" the man answered.

"That name really was born for music. Can you play a waltz?" Ye Qin asked.

"What is a waltz?" the man asked in great confusion.

"It's alright. If you don't know how, I'll teach you." Ye Qin snapped his fingers and called the waiter over. "Bring me pen and paper!"

As such a lavish customer, Ye Qin was naturally not someone the waiter dared neglect. He hurriedly brought over pen and paper.

By then, none of the diners were focused on their meals anymore. They all looked at Ye Qin with curious expressions.

Hu Liena's brows were tightly knit as well, having no idea what Ye Qin intended to do.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Ye Qin wrote down the melody of The Blue Danube and handed it to Beethoven.

After receiving the melody, Beethoven initially looked displeased. But the more he read, the more engrossed he became, and astonishment filled his eyes.

"Can you understand it?" Ye Qin asked.

"I can! I can!" Beethoven shouted. "May I ask where this young master is from, and which master musician taught you?"

The people around them were all stunned and desperately wanted to know what had happened.

"No need to ask. Since you understand it, play it as written!" Ye Qin said with a smile.

"Alright! Alright!" Beethoven replied repeatedly, then prepared to play according to Ye Qin's melody!

"Ye Qin, what exactly are you up to?" Hu Liena asked in surprise.

"You'll know soon enough!" Ye Qin said with a smile.

"Wait, kid, you actually dare to play?" At that moment, the burly man rose to his feet in anger. "If you dare play, you won't be leaving through that door!"

Hearing the man's furious shout, the band became somewhat frightened. Ye Qin smiled calmly. "What are you afraid of? Play!"

Only then did Beethoven nod and begin to play with all his heart!

Before long, the beautiful melody spread throughout the restaurant. Everyone felt utterly intoxicated, as though they had been cleansed by sweet rain after a long drought!

At that moment, the bald man's anger inexplicably faded!

The entire restaurant fell strangely silent, and everyone was immersed in that beautiful melody!

"Cheers!" Ye Qin said with a faint smile, raising his glass toward Hu Liena.

Unable to resist, Hu Liena lifted her glass and drained it in one go!

Before they knew it, the piece had ended, and thunderous applause erupted at once!

"Play it again!" the burly man shouted.

"I thought you didn't like music?" Ye Qin shot him a disdainful glance!

"Little brother, this is the first time I've ever heard such a melody!" the burly man said with a smile.

"Then play it again. I'll pay you!" Ye Qin said to Beethoven.

"Ah! Alright!" Beethoven replied with a smile.

As the beautiful tune played on repeat and glass after glass of red wine went down, Hu Liena was already slightly drunk!

"Ye Qin, I'm a little drunk. I really want to sleep!" Hu Liena said to Ye Qin, her face flushed red.

"Alright!" Ye Qin replied with a calm smile.