Onstage, they were performing the newly composed Pear Blossom Song, with fresh lyrics written by Mister Begonia, renowned in the pleasure quarters of Ying City.
Of course, within the Chu aristocratic houses, there was another semi-public secret—Mister Begonia's true identity was Qu Yan of the Duke of Yu's estate. He was Qu Jinkui's fifth son, and Qu Shunhua's paternal uncle.
For composing erotic verses in the court hall, he had been stripped of his office. Since then, he had idled away his days at home, roaming free and passing the time in leisure.
So long as he did not stir up trouble under his real name, the Duke of Yu's estate could not be bothered to restrain him.
Ren Qiuli listened quietly for a while, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Is this battle truly unavoidable?"
Lu Shuanghe was expressionless. "What have you divined?"
"How could I divine a battle such as this?" Ren Qiuli looked at the alluring figure of the Chu woman onstage. "It is only that Longevity Lord may hope for you to achieve Dao Derivation as soon as possible."
Lu Shuanghe merely said, "Longevity Lord has Longevity Lord's path. Does Seven Killings have no path of its own?"
Ren Qiuli continued, "I know you do not wish to become the first merely by waiting for it. This is the fixation in your heart, the reason you have not pursued Dao Derivation all these years. You are detached from all feeling and devoted only to the Dao; this is the sole thing you cannot let go. But if you become first by waiting, are you not still first? At least in this span of time, the age belongs to you."
"That does not sound like something you would say." Lu Shuanghe's brows drew together faintly. "What exactly are