"..."
Since the other man had come with hostile intent, Xu Ziling had no intention of wasting words on him. He simply stopped ten paces away and silently faced him down with his gaze and the imposing aura he had just gathered, trying to see if he could use his pent-up sharpness to break his opponent's spirit and gain an advantage in the fight to come.
After all, when masters clashed, victory or defeat could hinge on the slightest difference. If he could crush his opponent's morale, everything that followed would be much easier.
"..."
Unfortunately, Hou Xibai was as unbothered as if nothing were happening. Xu Ziling's aura had no effect on him at all. He merely continued to leisurely wave his beauty fan beneath the large tree by the river.
A closer look would have revealed that the side of the fan facing Xu Ziling was painted with four beautiful women, along with brief descriptions in ink. They were:
"An Unfathomable Immortal Heart," Shi Feixuan; "Orchid of the Deep Valley," Shi Qingxuan; "Daughter of Heaven," Li Xiuning; and "Steel Hidden in Silk," Song Yuzhi!
Xu Ziling had no idea whether the other side depicted four more women—perhaps Wanwan, Shang Xiuxun, Shan Wanjing, or Dugu Feng, all women he knew, was acquainted with, or had close ties to. He had no way to check.
Because...
"!?"
Just as he finished looking at the four beauties on Hou Xibai's fan, the other man suddenly made his move.
As it turned out!
Hou Xibai had been using the beauty fan in his hand to produce a subtle, peculiar melody and rhythm that spread all around them. With a secret spiritual art of the Flower-Amongst-the-Flowers Sect, he had imperceptibly influenced Xu Ziling's mind, drawing everything in the surrounding world into that rhythm.