The Blood of Youth – CH 057

Chapter 57: A Beauty in Snow City

Snow Moon City, Full Blossom Festival.

The real name of Snow Moon City was “Great Long Harmony,” and it was originally an ordinary city in the south. It was blessed with beautiful scenery and was pleasant all four seasons. Later, a few people who had gained a reputation in the martial world for their consummate skills passed through the city. They stayed for a few days because they liked the wine, and one night, they got drunk and decided to climb up the tall tower for a view of the snow of Cangshan and to gaze at the moon. Suddenly, they were deeply moved and realized: outside the Tower of Ascension, it was an ordinary city. Only after crossing the Tower of Ascension could you see the snow and moon. So they decided to stay in this city, and because their reputation was so widespread, the name “Snow Moon City” was passed on, and its previous name was all but forgotten.

One of these martial experts was a woman who loved to plant flowers. She once planted a unique white rose with violet edges that she named Violet Charming Lady. The others stayed because of the scenes of snow and moon, but she stayed for the city filled with the fragrance of flowers in the fourth month. This woman founded the Full Blossom Festival, and from then on, every year on the fourth month, the Full Blossom Festival was the biggest event in Snow Moon City. The self-proclaimed elegant disciples of noble clans would gather at Misty Rain Pavilion to appreciate the beauty of the flowers and the taste of wine. Even one of the city masters of Snow Moon City would attend in person.

“So this Full Blossom Festival is held every year, but never has such a peerless lady appeared again,” a noble son dressed in white remarked as he fanned himself with a purple-colored fan.

“They say that Luoxia Fairy is also a peerless beauty, but it’s a pity that she never attends the Full Blossom Festival. However, our sect has rather a few beautiful ladies from prestigious families. Gege, is there no one you take a fancy to?” The person standing next to him spoke up. He resembled the noble son in white but looked a few years younger.

The pavilion was decorated with brightly-coloured flowers while the sound of elegant music came from the side and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. Xiao Se usually turned a banal look to everything around him, but faced with such a beautiful scene, he too showed a rare smile. He glanced at the pair and surmised, “Jiangnan Duan family?”

Beside him, Tang Lian nodded. “Yes, ‘the blue hills are faint while the river stretches into the horizon. Although late in autumn, the trees of Jiangnan have yet to shed their leaves.’ The Jiangnan Duan family is known for their elegance. The younger one is a disciple of Snow Moon City, Duan Xuanheng, and the other is his older brother, Duan Xuanyi, the next head of the Duan family.”

“Elegance? More like decadence.” Xiao Se snorted without remorse.

“Xie-xiong, how do you find this year’s Full Blossom Festival? Are you pleased?” Third City Master of Snow Moon City, Sikong Changfeng, the only person from his generation willing to show his face, sat in the private booth of the Misty Rain Pavilion and slowly sipped his wine. He smiled merrily as he looked down at the magnificent view downstairs. He was usually carefree and unrestrained, so it was also rare for him to have such moments to present his suave and handsome side.

Next to him, a scholar in white robes the color of water replied with a soft sigh. “Indeed, this is a rare and magnificent scene. It’s just a pity the gorgeous scenery is not accompanied by gorgeous beauties. Virtuous talents abound and poems fill the walls, but without beauties, even fine wine becomes flavorless.”

Sikong Changfeng remained nonplussed and merely replied, “Misty Rain Pavilion is the number one entertainment house in Snow Moon City. There are so many ladies dancing and singing, plus so many disciples from noble clans here to participate in this Full Blossom Festival today. And not one of them has caught Xie-xiong’s discerning eyes?”

The white-robed scholar lowered his head and smiled. “A beautiful girl is like snow, pure and elegant. Not many people in the world can earn the label ‘beautiful.’ For instance, this Snow Moon City is big, though I have only seen two beautiful ladies here. It’s just a pity that one likes to gamble and the other has a terrible temper. Neither will come to this Full Blossom Festival too.”

“I dare you to repeat those words to their face.” Sikong Changfeng took a sip of wine and laughed.

The white-robed scholar chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare. The wrath of a beauty can topple a city.”

The two stopped talking, and Sikong Changfeng seemed to finally lose his interest. He was no longer looking at the scene downstairs and focused on drinking his wine on his own. The white-robed scholar was still observing the scene downstairs with a smile, but this time, a figure in a green dress caught his eye.

The white-robed scholar who was drinking wine at the same table as Sikong Changfeng was obviously no ordinary person, but this man, who could be called exceptional, suddenly froze with his wine cup half-raised.

Many years ago, the white-robed scholar once accidentally used his sword to cut a veil covering a lady’s face and saw an incredibly beautiful woman. The first time he saw her face, he only had one thought in his mind: a beauty should look like this. After so many years, he had this same thought once again.

A beauty looks like this.

The white-robed scholar gently put down the wine cup and said, “Citymaster Sikong, I take back my words. Of the many years I have participated in the Full Blossom Festival, this year’s is the most unique. Snow Moon City really lives up to its name.”

“Oh?” Sikong Changfeng was a little surprised and followed the gaze of the white-robed scholar. He saw the figure in the green dress and nodded pointedly. “Oh, her? She is indeed a beauty.”

The white-robed scholar waved his fan lightly and recited casually, “In Snow City there is a beauty; the wind and moon leave no trace.”

He said these words very lightly, but the lady in the green dress downstairs suddenly raised her head and smiled at the white-robed scholar, clearly having heard their conversation.

The white-robed scholar was taken aback, then he smiled. “Looks like she’s also a talented beauty.”

“Of course. You should know her shifu as well, Qi Tianchen,” Sikong Changfeng said quietly.

The white-robed scholar was visibly shocked. In a low voice, he whispered, “Director of the Directorate of Astronomy?”

“Yes.” Sikong Changfeng nodded. “She is Ye Xiaoying’s daughter. You should have seen her before.”

“Ah, she’s that child.” The white-robed scholar nodded with a measure of regret in his expression. “Indeed, I have seen her before when she was just born. Everyone thought that she wouldn’t survive. How did she end up in Snow Moon City? Could it be that you’ve cured her illness?”

Sikong Changfeng shook his head slowly. The white-robed scholar frowned, then lowered his head to drink his wine without speaking further.

Below, Xiao Se and Tang Lian had also noticed Ye Ruoyi in her green dress. The two exchanged a look, then looked anxiously towards the front door. But Lei Wujie was still nowhere to be seen. He must be kept under watch by the sword immortal and could not come down the mountain.

“Xiao Se, I didn’t think you’d be so concerned about Lei Wujie’s love life.” Tang Lian grinned.

Xiao Se did not spare his words. “I’m also very concerned about da-shixiong’s love life. I wonder if Tiannü Rui from Beauty Villa has written to you lately?” There was no response to his question, however, and Xiao Se turned around. The usually serious and taciturn eldest martial brother was actually blushing, his face heated like he was on fire. Xiao Se was rather amused.

But on the other side, the two noble sons from the self-proclaimed elegant Duan family had also spotted Ye Ruoyi. Duan Xuanyi, who was still waving his purple-colored fan around, was looking at her with a sharp glint in his eyes. “Xuanheng, is this lady your Shimei?”

Duan Xuanheng glanced over and shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve seen her before. She must be a disciple from some noble clan who’s here to attend the event.”

Duan Xuanyi closed his purple-colored fan, picked up a cup of wine, and walked forward. “Watch this brother make the first move.”

Xiao Se’s eyes turned cold. “Da-shixiong.”

Tang Lian nodded lightly and flicked a fingertip. The cup of wine in Duan Xuanyi’s hand suddenly shattered, and the wine spilled everywhere. Duan Xuanyi frowned slightly, and suddenly, he stretched out his hand, and the wine that had splattered like a blooming flower was suspended in midair!