Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 93 - 90: Top Pick, Celestial Maiden or Jade Maiden, A Song of Heartbreak (Subscribe Requested)

Chapter 93: Chapter 90: Top Pick, Celestial Maiden or Jade Maiden, A Song of Heartbreak (Subscribe Requested)

"Brother Ping’an, why must Little Monkey kill the White Bone Spirit? Why not let that mortal-eyed Master Tang suffer a bit?"

Children’s love and hate are clear-cut.

Liking is simply liking.

This bias was obviously quite pronounced.

Clearly taking Sun Wukong’s side.

Zhou Ping’an’s head spun as he was asked.

Wu Cheng’en, it seemed, hadn’t written that...

He coughed lightly, deciding to give this curious child from another world a bit of tough love by speaking some harsh truths.

"This question involves complicated issues, like ’Should you listen to me, or should I listen to you?’"

Zhou Ping’an pointed outside the mansion.

"For instance, you’ve been cooped up at home for four days, and today you really want to come out and play with me.

But I think it’s too chaotic outside, because the Country Warden was attacked, the City Guards have gone mad locking down the city gates, and searching everywhere; it’s quite likely that various demons and ghosts have been stirred up and are causing trouble.

I think it’s too dangerous for children to go out. Thus, I won’t let you go play, but you, on the other hand, are feeling uncomfortable and insist on going out..."

As he spoke, Zhou Ping’an was arranging his attire and securing his long blade, leisurely preparing to head out onto the streets to scout the situation.

Although, news from outside was intermittently reported by the house servants within the mansion.

But sometimes, it’s better to see things firsthand to get a more accurate assessment.

"Wow..."

Seeing Zhou Ping’an’s movements and hearing what he said.

The little one was initially stunned, then opened his mouth and cried out "wow" in tears.

WIping his eyes with his sleeve, he reluctantly walked towards the inner courtyard, looking back woefully at Zhou Ping’an, "Brother Ping’an, you’re just like Master Tang."

"Alright, you finally understand the principle that ’a man being in Jianghu is involuntarily controlled.

To do as one wishes, one must hold the right to speak."

...

"It’s a pity."

"Such a pity."

Seeing the chaos on the streets.

Now and then, constables in black and City Guards in orange-red armor rushed past.

Pedestrians treaded cautiously along the edges of the streets.

Sporadically, people were being arrested by constables for inexplicable reasons, protesting their innocence as they were dragged away.

"It’s like building castles in the air; had it not been for this operation by the Red Lotus Sect, I wouldn’t have known that Tian Shouyi had such great influence within Qingyang City."

Zhou Ping’an certainly saw beyond the surface.

He also noticed.

At various shops, taverns, and alleyways, some men appeared, rough and unrefined or sneaky and slippery.

These men eyed every passerby with a sinister gaze and had the audacity to burst into some residences, creating utter chaos.

"Green Wolf Gang, Spirit Snake Pavilion, or underlings from Zhang Family?"

The Green Wolf Gang and the Spirit Snake Pavilion, the street-level forces that have to rely on authority to earn their keep, certainly wouldn’t dare offend the Country Magistrate.

The Zhang Family, however, is a formidable and influential clan within the country.

Of course, they are also local bullies.

Their wealth is unmatched within the county, owning more than forty percent of the lands alone, not to mention myriad shops, mines, business routes, and connections.

Genuinely compared.

When Lin Family, with a few trusted servants headed toward Qingyang City to start anew, couldn’t even qualify to be mentioned in the same breath.

Their reputation, as a benevolent household that periodically dishes out porridge and relief, who would dare speak ill of them if not with ulterior motives?

Moreover, the most impressive part was that the Zhang Family had not only had descendants who were officials at court, but they also managed to install their son-in-law as the Qingyang County Magistrate, which demonstrated tremendous ambition and breadth of mind.

Therefore, when discussing Qingyang County’s potential collusion with Black Mountain Bandits and Red Lotus Bandits, everyone’s considerations passed over them; it certainly wouldn’t come around to the Zhang family.

Having been provoked, Tian Shouyi mobilized his men to search everywhere for rogues. Naturally, he did not forget to rally his wife’s family.

"The situation has become even more difficult."

After passing Precious Pharmacy, he ran into Lin Huaiyu.

The Third Miss looked quite upset, instructing Precious Pharmacy to close shop early.

She was evidently worried.

Having not deployed a proper team to collect herbs in the mountains for so many days, not only was production unable to keep up, but their cultivation was also somewhat affected."

And the most distressing part was, if they delayed too long and missed the blooming period of the Seven-leaf Tithonia, they were really in trouble.

"I know you’re anxious, but don’t be too hasty..."

Zhou Ping’an said with a smile.

"Because, there are people who are even more anxious than us."

His words had a double meaning.

But Lin Huaiyu understood.

She nodded without saying much more, leaving with several guardians of Precious Pharmacy.

Zhou Ping’an choosing this critical moment to wander the streets aimlessly was not out of boredom, nor was it to buy candy for Xiao Jiu’er.

He was simply giving the "eagerly seeking" followers of the Red Lotus Sect an opportunity.

These troublemakers lurking around, expert at hiding their presence, were not easy to spot unless they exposed themselves.

The recent circumstances indicated that Tian Shouyi had become a deadly obstacle, like a hanging blade, that had to be removed...

Given the special nature of his opponent, it wasn’t easy for him to make a move, nor was he sure of success.

Therefore, it seemed necessary to seek like-minded "friends."

Even if they were notorious as rebels.

In the eyes of the followers of the Red Lotus Sect, however, his ’Purifying World Lotus Body’ that erupted with sixfold strength was like a firefly in the darkness, extremely conspicuous.

Could they not recognize their own cultivation technique?

Having such a renowned heavyweight nearby, they would invariably try to make contact.

Ironically, both parties rushed towards each other.

"Young Master Zhou, the Maiden invites you. She is to perform on stage today, hoping to summon literati from all directions to witness and select a suitable person as guest of honor..."

A girl around fifteen or sixteen dressed as a maid stepped out of Washing Flowers Pavilion, curtsied shyly, and handed over an invitation.

The invitation was red and gilded, exuding elegance, with a faint scent of flowers, evidently well-crafted.

Zhou Ping’an was speechless.

He wondered if the ladies from the elegant houses were now compelled to solicit in the streets.

Or perhaps, his own charisma and demeanor were so outstanding that he was recognized at a glance.

As he was about to politely refuse, his eyes swept over and saw a red lotus, fiery and radiant, on the palm of the maid who had opened her hand.

Eight petals, four short and four long.

It was indeed the symbol of the Red Lotus Sect.

Moreover, Zhou Ping’an was surprised to feel that the "Karma Fire Red Lotus Visualization" in his mind flickered slightly with light, evidently responding to it.

’So, it seems that when giving secret signals, there’s no need to speak. Cultivating the same techniques directly causes a resonance of breath...’

There’s no worry about finding the wrong person.

"Very well, please lead the way."

Sensing the faint aura from the cinnabar red lotus drawn in the maid’s palm, Zhou Ping’an immediately changed his mind.

The maid smiled, lips pursed, and moved ahead with a graceful sway of her hips...

To Zhou Ping’an’s surprise, he was not led directly to the rear attic, but stopped inside the great hall, at a small table.

The sound of silk and bamboo orchestras filled the air, and several women in silk skirts were spinning and jumping, clearly dancing.

Soon, wine and fine dishes flowed like water, and a girl of indeterminate age attended to them diligently.

Tables like these, some with a single person, others with groups of three or four young people, numbered more than ten in total.

Everyone was very restrained, conversing and laughing softly.

Their demeanor was extremely fine.

Every now and then, someone would loudly declare a card and order to give a tip.

Others whispered secretly, mentioning things like "Qianqian’s waist, Pear Blossom’s drum, Qiuxiang’s sword dance, the Green Lady’s zither..."

Zhou Ping’an listened carefully and realized that these people were spending no less than a hundred taels of silver each.

"So, this is what establishments in another world are like."

"It looks a bit like a scene of star-chasing..."

Zhou Ping’an mumbled to himself and then took a closer look at the young masters. Nine and a half out of ten were not watching the women showing their thighs while dancing.

Instead, they were fixated on a slim woman on the side of the stage, wearing a bright red robe with her gown half-open.

"She must be Pear Blossom."

Truly, she had a distinctive charm.

Listening to the "thump, thump, thump" from the drums inside the house which resonated emotionally.

And seeing the red-robed woman unknowingly cause her garments to split due to her vigorous movements, exposing her fair skin and causing the various "scholars" to uproariously shout, Zhou Ping’an felt slightly puzzled.

’Wasn’t it agreed we would meet with a secret signal? Yet I haven’t even seen the main person involved, what kind of game is this?’

Soon, Zhou Ping’an’s confusion was resolved.

Pear Blossom Maiden’s drumming was naturally pleasing to the ear, and some scholars paid a high price for the chance to drink tea with her.

The main event, however, was yet to come.

When that note of the zither played, the entire establishment seemed to boil over.

"Green Lady, Green Lady..."

Someone waved a silver note.

Someone displayed their talent by loudly reciting poetry.

Others sang out loud...

And there was an old man who shocked Zhou Ping’an; without further ado, he jumped onto the table and performed a dance.

"Alright, straightforward," Zhou Ping’an thought as he watched this scene, nearly deciding to abandon his mission and flee.

Too embarrassed to associate with them.

He felt his skin crawl with awkwardness.

Watching the maid who had led him in, looking at him with her eyes.

Zhou Ping’an let his sleeves fall to cover his face.

Inside, he also marveled in surprise.

If it was the Jade Maiden of the Hehuan Sect hiding in the establishment under the guise of a Qing Guanren to stay hidden, it made perfect professional sense and could also aid in her cultivation.

The presence of women from the Red Lotus Sect in such an establishment was somewhat miraculous.

Weren’t they the ones shouting "Heart Burning with Karmic Fire, Recreating the Universe"?

By rights, they should want to burn this "filthy" place down to the ground, which would be in line with their style.

As for the guqin.

Zhou Ping’an had never much appreciated it.

Even during his college years in the modern world, he preferred popular mainstream music.

Those famous pieces like "High Mountain and Flowing Water," "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank," and "Shirring Streams and Rising Clouds in Xiao and Xiang" were pleasant to hear, yet he always felt they were slow-moving and hard to stir emotions.

Perhaps, he just lacked that refined bone.

But.

The woman across the platform, veiled in fine white gauze, with her eyes vaguely visible, began to play.

He then knew.

He did not lack the refined bone.

He had it in abundance, abundantly so.

"A song heart-wrenchingly mournful, where in this endless world can one find a soul mate?"

After listening to the music, the dozen or so young masters around him wept noisily.

Some even beat their chests and stamped their feet.

At this point, Zhou Ping’an didn’t find it exaggerated at all.

He even began to wonder.

Maybe in the modern society, those famous guqin masters who lack martial arts skills simply cannot produce such quality.

Others play the instrument.

The one on stage, she plays "emotion."

As the notes of the guqin sounded, they instantly resonated with Zhou Ping’an’s spirit, vaguely recalling some happy, sweet, sad, and regrettable memories.

Even in the sound of the guqin, he could feel his own Qi-Blood undulating with the waves, ebbing and flowing.

Unbeknownst to him, his Blood Essence, which had already been purified to thirty percent through Blood Renewal, quietly grew a bit stronger.