"I'm here to listen to music. Find me a seat," Su Changqing said.
"Certainly. Tonight happens to be the night when Youlan Pavilion's star performer, Feng Qingxue, plays. Please head inside quickly, sir."
Su Changqing stepped onto the large ship. Quite a few people were already inside, some holding girls in their arms with hands slipped beneath their collars, while others sat in the upper pavilion.
There was a raised stage in the ship, veiled by translucent red gauze. A woman could vaguely be seen inside, her figure slender and her curves voluptuous, her beauty utterly captivating.
His eyes narrowed as he swept his gaze over the room, then he took a seat in a corner by the window.
He spotted him. Scarlet Blood Scholar sat at the very front, with two girls in his arms as he watched Feng Qingxue on the stage.
As more and more people arrived, Feng Qingxue looked beyond the window curtains and let out a soft sigh before beginning to play.
The melody was soul-stirring, tugging at every heartstring.
The entire ship fell silent. Some listened in rapt intoxication, while others were struck speechless with awe.
"I heard Feng Qingxue is the daughter of Lord Feng, Chief Clerk of Dali Temple. Later, he offended those eunuch dogs and was framed and imprisoned, while his daughter fell to this state."
Someone sighed with regret, wishing they could rush up and offer Feng Qingxue some comfort.
Before long, the song ended. Feng Qingxue played only one piece each day, and every one was sorrowful, yet visitors still came in an endless stream.
It was already late at night. Scarlet Blood Scholar cast aside the two girls beside him and turned to leave.
Su Changqing casually tossed down a tael of silver and silently departed as well.
Above the ship's pavilion, Feng Qingxue looked up at the bright moon in the sky, stroking the zither in her hands. Her skin was like snow, her beauty peerless, her features exquisite, and her eyes lonely.
"My father was framed and imprisoned, and I have been reduced to this. If I ever have the chance, I will slaughter every eunuch dog in the world!"
"What's so difficult about slaughtering eunuch dogs? Sleep with me once, and I'll teach you martial arts."
A voice suddenly sounded behind her, followed by the appearance of a scholar in red.
His eyes were exceptionally effeminate, his cheeks pale as a woman's, and he carried nothing on him. Only a red sash around his waist stood out.
"Who are you?" Feng Qingxue's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly retreated.
"I don't like women who resist me." Scarlet Blood Scholar sneered and slowly sat down in a nearby chair.
"My offer still stands. You're merely a weak woman. If you want to learn martial arts, sleep with me once."
"Just one night, and you can learn my martial arts manuals. Killing a few eunuch dogs will be effortless."
Feng Qingxue stood frozen in place. Her delicate features and picturesque brows made Scarlet Blood Scholar's heart itch at the sight.
Outside the window, Su Changqing had changed into a Flying Fish Robe, black as ink and shrouded by the night, his face impossible to make out.
If Scarlet Blood Scholar takes off his clothes, I can kill him with one stroke. If he doesn't, once he gets intimate with this woman, I'll still have the advantage.
His eyes narrowed as he thought to himself.
Su Changqing decided to wait a little longer.
"Qingxue, come out and play another piece. An important guest has offered eight hundred taels for another performance," the madam of Youlan Pavilion suddenly said joyfully as she pushed open the door.
Ever since purchasing Feng Qingxue, Youlan Pavilion's business had improved day by day. It was clearly on the verge of surpassing the other two major music houses.
The madam entered and immediately saw Scarlet Blood Scholar seated in the chair, her expression changing at once.
This blind fool dared to sneak around with one of her girls. She was just about to curse him out.
Scarlet Blood Scholar's eyes turned cold. True qi surged around one hand as he instantly seized her, piercing through her chest and abdomen. Blood splattered everywhere.
The madam's body twitched twice before she quickly fell silent.
Before a True Qi Realm martial artist, ordinary people were nothing but ants.
"Have you chosen?"
Scarlet Blood Scholar licked the blood from his fingers without the slightest change in expression, then turned to Feng Qingxue.
"Fine. I'll spend one night with you."
Feng Qingxue's eyes trembled in terror. She nearly screamed, but took a deep breath and spoke.
"Beauty, you truly make my heart race. I'll teach you the Art of Yin-Yang Reversal right away."
Scarlet Blood Scholar began removing his clothes. He untied his belt and placed the soft purplish-red sash on the floor.
Feng Qingxue was taking off her clothes as well. Then her expression abruptly changed, and she ran toward the door.
"I was already on guard against that." Scarlet Blood Scholar laughed loudly and reached for Feng Qingxue.
Feng Qingxue's face filled with panic, her beauty drained of color.
At that moment, a figure suddenly burst through the window. His entire body was shrouded in darkness, with only a pair of indifferent eyes visible, sharp as lightning.
The long saber in his hand swept down.
It was like a primordial beast roaring within the room, its power terrifying. Blade Aura blazed brilliantly as it tore through the air with a howl.
Tyrant Saber's First Strike—Death God Slash!
Scarlet Blood Scholar's face changed instantly. He dodged aside, but his right arm was still severed in a single stroke, blood spraying everywhere.
The glaring blood dyed Feng Qingxue's vision red. She stood so close that even her white dress was stained crimson, leaving her rooted to the spot.
"Is this... the bloody martial world?" she murmured blankly.
With his right arm severed, Scarlet Blood Scholar was in such agony that it nearly tore him apart. He rolled clumsily across the ground and scrambled back to his feet.
He grabbed the red sash he had removed, poured true qi into it, and it instantly transformed into a blood-red flexible sword.
"Are all you Imperial Guard this shameless? You're worse than eunuch dogs!" Scarlet Blood Scholar roared at Su Changqing, holding the sword in his left hand, fear and shock filling his heart.
Su Changqing had concealed his face, so he could not identify him at all. All he could see was the gold-embroidered Flying Fish Robe.
This kind of ambush was simply inhuman!
He had just taken off his pants!
Without saying a word, Su Changqing charged forward. His long saber cut through the air with a ringing clang.
Scarlet Blood Scholar could only block with his left-handed sword.
The sword was extraordinarily powerful, its entire body a bewitching blood-red. Even when it clashed with the Frost Snow Saber, it showed no sign of yielding, proving that its materials were exceptional.
The surrounding wooden pillars snapped one after another, and the cabin shook. Countless people noticed the commotion and began rushing toward the upper pavilion.
"Damn thief, you only know how to exploit others' weakness! Just you wait!" Scarlet Blood Scholar gritted his teeth as he felt his strength failing.
With his right arm severed, more than half his strength was gone. He would not last ten exchanges against Su Changqing before dying!
Scarlet Blood Scholar swept his sword through the air, its purple bloodlight eerie as it shattered the wooden tables in the pavilion. He leaped up, his feet surging wildly as his toes kicked out one after another.
This was Yin-Yang Steps, Scarlet Blood Scholar's famed technique, incredibly swift.
Dozens of wood fragments instantly became afterimages as they shot toward Su Changqing.
His eyes narrowed. The Frost Snow Saber whirled madly in his hand, forming an impenetrable defense.
A tiny splinter sliced across Su Changqing's cheek. Blood seeped out, and the black veil fell away.
Su Changqing took a deep breath. He had not expected a movement technique to be used in such a way.
No one in this world was simple. Even when driven into desperate straits, they could still find a chance to escape.
"Take me with you..." Feng Qingxue stared blankly at Su Changqing's face and pleaded.
Her lashes trembled lightly as she stood alone beneath the moon, her white robes stained in blood. Her picturesque features held a trace of devastatingly beautiful sorrow.
Su Changqing glanced at her but did not stop. His figure then flashed away at high speed, leaping out through the window.
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