Dancing Posture Plays Music

A while later.

Hua Shuya sat dejectedly in the pavilion, head bowed in silence as if wronged, her face flushed red.

Of course, the redness was caused by being hit by fruit pits.

This made Lin Tianlu, sitting opposite her, feel a bit awkward, unsure how to comfort her for a moment.

After all, this half-basket of fruit pits had all hit their 'bullseye'; the girl hadn't dodged a single one.

The accuracy was such that he almost thought the girl was deliberately running into the fruit pits with her lightness skill, hitting them so precisely.

"..."

After another moment of silence, Lin Tianlu cleared his throat lightly: "Actually, Miss Hua, you don't need to be disheartened. This lightness skill, like your family's sword techniques, requires diligent practice. To apply it immediately in actual combat is indeed asking too much."

But Hua Shuya shook her head:

"Senior, I'm not sad, I'm just thinking."

"Oh?"

She had been seriously contemplating why she couldn't even dodge a single fruit pit.

Was her lightness skill too slow? Or was her reaction too sluggish?

It seemed neither.

Recalling carefully, it appeared the angles at which the Senior threw the fruit pits were particularly tricky. Although they seemed to be thrown casually, each one flew precisely towards her weak points.

The straying of her eyes, the stepping of her feet, the bending and twisting of her waist and spine... every aspect seemed constrained, throwing her body off balance, which led to missteps.

She closed her eyes again, the trajectories of the fruit pits flashing in her mind.

Observing closely, she saw these trajectories intertwining into a seamless net of heaven and earth, covering every possible dodging position.

But as she savored it, she caught a hint of life within this seemingly foolproof formation, and her thoughts began to flow like a spring!

After a long silence, as if struck by inspiration, she suddenly opened her eyes, stood up, and leaped out.

"Hmm?"

Watching the girl practice her lightness skill in the courtyard again, Lin Tianlu admired it with curiosity for a while before quickly nodding in praise.

"Significant progress."

Her steps had become more fluid and natural, no longer like reciting a textbook, merely performing poses.

Her lightness skill was becoming more like a graceful dance of light gauze and flowing robes, her elegant posture truly a sight to behold.

"The difference is really huge."

Lin Tianlu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The Soaring Dragon Phantom Step performed by this woman was like a graceful dance, truly beautiful and striking. In terms of presentation alone, it had elevated by a whole level.

As for his own...

It had improved slightly, at best.

Perhaps from elderly disco to ghost dance?

He had finally grasped the mind technique incantation and understood the five-layer realm, but there were no cool special effects. He just darted around like a ghost, scaring people.

Sigh, can men even stand up anymore? Why are even lightness skills discriminatory?

"Miss Hua is... dancing?"

A gentle voice sounded beside him. Lin Tianlu quickly shook off his wandering thoughts and turned his head, seeing Mao Ruoyu entering the pavilion with a look of surprise.

"What a beautiful dance posture, Miss Hua's figure is truly enviable."

Lin Tianlu picked up a nearby manual and chuckled, "If Madam Mao likes it, why don't you try it too?"

A seductive blush spread across Madam Mao's delicate face. She smiled and shook her head, "This humble one doesn't need to. With all the twisting and jumping like this, with my fragile body, I'm afraid I'd fall apart. Besides... I'm not as graceful and alluring as Miss Hua when I dance."

"Madam is too modest."

Lin Tianlu smiled.

After all, the voluptuous beauty before him, if she were to truly dance provocatively, would likely dazzle anyone who saw her.

Madam Mao simply smiled coyly and soon placed a box of pastries she was holding onto the stone table: "Mister, please try some of the pastries this humble one made. They were just baked not long ago and are still warm."

"Thank you, Madam Mao." Lin Tianlu picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, immediately exclaiming, "Today's pastries are truly excellent."

It has that taste!

"It's good that Mister likes them." Madam Mao nodded with satisfaction, a mischievous smile playing in her heart.

After all, she had added some ingredients of the Heart-Enchanting Pastry to these pastries – of course, these ingredients had been diluted dozens of times, leaving only a slight taste and flavor, just to satisfy the man before her.

Now, she dared not act recklessly again, and... she no longer wished to treat him maliciously.

"Madam, why don't you sit down and rest for a while too." Lin Tianlu smiled warmly and beckoned, "It makes me feel bad to always have you busy taking care of things."

"This humble one will listen to Mister's words."

Madam Mao smoothed her long skirt and leaned back, sitting down. Her face was like a peach blossom, and her beautiful eyes seemed to hold a hint of intimacy: "Mister, have you studied music for many years?"

"Music?"

Lin Tianlu paused for a moment, then quickly took out the jade flute from his embrace: "Madam, are you referring to this? I'm truly ashamed, I only know how to play a few simple notes and remember one or two simple musical scores."

"There's no need for modesty, Mister's skill truly amazes this humble one."

Mao Ruoyu waved her hands repeatedly, recalling last night's experience, a look of longing appearing on her face: "Although the musical score was simple and unadorned, its melodious tune was unforgettable, as if it carried a gentle sentiment, like falling into a dream. Moreover, last night..."

She blinked her moist, beautiful eyes, clutching her chest as if shy, a blush rising on her charming face: "This humble one actually fell asleep in a daze, and had to trouble Mister to carry me home. I am truly ashamed."

"I hope you can forgive me for presumptuously touching Madam's body."

Lin Tianlu gave an awkward smile: "It's just that it was cold outside, and if Madam were to catch a cold from sleeping alone all night..."

"This humble one understands Mister's kind intentions."

Why does the atmosphere feel a bit strange?

Lin Tianlu coughed twice, deliberately changing the subject: "Madam seems quite interested in music?"

"Mhm," Mao Ruoyu gently stroked her hair, murmuring softly: "This humble one came from a poor family since childhood, never having a full meal, nor having the chance to study. Only occasionally in the countryside would I hear an elder playing music, and from then on, I yearned to have my own flute and play it to my heart's content in the mountains when I grew up.

When I got a little older, I took the initiative to learn some music. It's a pity my talent is mediocre, and I can't produce any pleasing melodies."

Her eyes were filled with nostalgia, her voice gentle: "But playing a few notes during my free time can help me remember my deceased parents. Many childhood memories are also unforgettable."

"I was presumptuous. I never imagined this flute would hold such meaning for Madam." Lin Tianlu's expression turned slightly serious, and he cupped his hands: "If Madam likes it, you can take my jade flute and play a few tunes."

With that, he handed the flute over without hesitation.

"Mister, this--"

"Madam, there's no need to be formal."

"...Mhm."

Mao Ruoyu carefully took the jade flute, her fingertips caressing it, a hint of emotion and melancholy in her eyes.

Lin Tianlu quickly added: "Madam, don't worry, I washed this jade flute thoroughly yesterday. But the repair isn't perfect, there might be some air leaks and off-key notes."

"It's alright, this humble one will just try... forgive my clumsiness." Mao Ruoyu pursed her lips, lowered her eyebrows, raised the flute, and began to play with elegant grace.

The melodious and clear notes echoed in Lin Tianlu's ears, causing him to show a hint of surprise.

She plays quite well... Wait!

The flute isn't leaking air?

After a gentle flute melody slowly concluded, Mao Ruoyu lowered the jade flute, tilted her head, and smiled faintly, seemingly content.

Although the flute sound wasn't particularly beautiful or melodious, not reaching the level of a master, it was just enough for her.

"Mister, this flute is still... Huh?"

She blinked her beautiful eyes, looking surprised: "Mister, what are you doing?"

"It's nothing."

Lin Tianlu sighed with a wry smile: "I just suddenly realized that I really don't have any musical talent."

So it wasn't the flute that had a problem.

It was him.

Mao Ruoyu chuckled and casually handed the flute back: "Mister is too modest, this humble one's meager skills are nothing compared to your..."

However, at this moment, her voice suddenly stopped.

Lin Tianlu had just reached out to take the jade flute and his expression froze. He saw that the beautiful woman beside him suddenly flushed.

"Madam?"

"Ah... No, it's nothing!"

Mao Ruoyu hastily retracted her right hand, her face flushed red as she shifted her body.

Lin Tianlu worried: "Are you feeling unwell?"

"This humble one is in good health, just a bit... my Blood Essence is strong." Mao Ruoyu gave a sheepish laugh.

As soon as she finished speaking, thin streams of blood began to flow from her nose, dripping onto the clothes on her chest, staining them with a seductive red hue.

"..."

Lin Tianlu was stunned upon seeing this.

Didn't the doctor diagnose her with deficiency and shortness of breath just two days ago? How could her Blood Essence suddenly be so strong that she's getting nosebleeds?

Can this 'qi' really fluctuate up and down so erratically?