Section 9: The Heart of Desire Bestows the Soul

Two long wooden tables are set far apart, leaving an open space in between, covered with a carpet. Directly in front, there is a table with a porcelain vase containing several daffodils. On the wall in the middle hangs a landscape painting, which bears no title or signature. Yi Han feels that this painting is very familiar; upon closer inspection, he realizes it was created by him when he was in his teens, yet he does not know how it ended up here

The woman in the green dress smiled and said, "My name is Qiu Ling, and you may call me Xiao Qiu, young master"

Yi Han smiled and said, "What is your name, Miss? I am Yi Han"

Qiu Ling, feeling somewhat indignant at Yi Han's arrogance, said: "I can only tell you that my young lady's surname is Ning. As for her name, I am merely a lowly maid and cannot take the liberty to speak on her behalf. If the young lady is willing to tell you, she will certainly do so. That is all I have to say, young master, we have arrived"

Yi Han smiled and said, "Brother Wei, what can I do to convince you?"

Wei Feng said: "Not bad"

Yi Hanxi said: "So you are the Yun Gu Tian of the Flower Worries Poetry Society, I have long admired you."

Ming Xiu smiled and said, "Brother Yu, there is no need for that. We four can remove the stools, and if we squeeze together, sitting on the floor is also acceptable." Ma Huateng and Lin Musen nodded in agreement, and after speaking, they all prepared to remove the stools.

Yu Jie waved at Yi Han and said, "Brother Yi, come over quickly. I will give you my seat; I can stand just fine." "No, no, that won't do," Yi Han stepped forward and pressed Yu Jie down into the seat.

Yu Jie, Ming Xiu, Lin Mu Sen, and Ma Hua Teng were seated in a position towards the back.

A hand as delicate as white jade lifted the curtain, and a daughter stepped in. The woman wore a flowing white garment that resembled light gauze, as if she were enveloped in mist. Her long, lustrous black hair cascaded down her back, unbound and not styled into a bun.

Yi Han smiled and said, "Brother, do you wish to spar with me"

Qiu Ling shot a glare at hetushu.com and coldly snorted, "Young Master, what are you saying? I can guarantee that there is not a single woman on the Qinhuai River who can compare to my young lady. Although you are special, I am certain that when you meet my young lady later, you will be utterly astonished"

There were no seats available on either side, and the crowd was eager to see Yi Han make a fool of himself, while Qiu Ling smiled slightly, deliberately not arranging a seat for Yi Han

Yi Han smiled faintly, even before meeting the person, the boasting had already reached the heavens. Seeing is believing; perhaps the celestial beauty in others' eyes is merely a common beauty in his. He said, "Is it really that exaggerated? You haven't even told me your young lady's name yet"

Yun Gu Tian exclaimed: "Do you recognize me"

Yi Hanxi said, "Alright, I'll be there right away," and then strode forward.

The man was solely focused on drinking, and he muttered: "Clouds Alone in the Sky".

As soon as he entered, everyone's gaze turned towards him. Some recognized Yi Han, while others did not. Yi Han appeared relaxed, completely indifferent to the looks directed at him. What are you looking at? I'm not a beauty.

A petite and upright nose, lips that are thin yet full and moist, the vibrant color of the lips shines with a crystalline glow under the illumination of the lights, the corners of the mouth slightly raised, the red lips slightly parted, two rows of neat and white teeth, a few strands of hair gracefully cascading down the smooth and full forehead, enhancing the charm and allure.

Wei Feng shot a cold glare at Yi Han and said, "What, are you scared? Then why don't you hurry up and roll back?"

Yi Han chuckled, "Xiao Qiu, you are as beautiful as a flower and as delicate as jade. Your young lady should not be difficult to find, right"

However, at that moment, the smooth and delicate voice said: "I wonder if the young master has the ability to make this little girl willingly keep him company"

Yi Han quickly waved his hand and said to the group, "Gentlemen, please do not let my humble status bring shame upon you, lest others mock us." He had already set his sights on a seat and pointed to the large chair in the center, saying casually, "That place is unoccupied, I can sit there." Upon hearing this, not only were Yu Jie and the other three taken aback, but even the people in the cabin were left puzzled. It was common knowledge that that seat was reserved for the owner of the boat, so how could Yi Han claim he would sit there

Yi Han, however, smiled faintly and said leisurely, "Rest assured, my brother, I have never been fond of resorting to violence."

When everyone beheld the woman's appearance, they were all astonished. Even Ma Huaten, who had met her once and was somewhat prepared, widened his eyes, not blinking at all. The woman's skin was as smooth as congealed fat, fair with a hint of rosy hue, gentle as jade, and more translucent than the purest white mutton fat jade; softer and more lustrous than the gentlest soft jade; more delicate and vibrant than the most beautiful rose petals; and more exquisite and ethereal than the clearest crystal.

Yi Han was taken aback; he was not afraid of looking foolish. A beautiful woman can better remember herself when she appears foolish, while a foolish man generally does not raise a woman's guard, making it easier for her to get close to him

The boat owner, clearing her throat, sweetly replied: "Thank you, Young Master, for your praise. Did you not wish to sit with me just now? Why have you not come over?"

Yi Han found a vacant seat next to Wei Feng and sat down. He turned to a nearby man who was coldly focused on drinking and asked, "What is your name, brother?"

Yi Han said: "Well then, Sister Xiao Qiu, how does your young lady address herself?"

Yi Hantai remained calm and composed, showing no signs of being frightened at all. He said lightly: "Brother Wei, why are you being so fierce? How about I give this opportunity to you? I will take your seat, and you can sit with the young lady. I believe with your abilities, no one would dare to object. What do you think?"

As the gathering was in progress, a man stepped forward, blocking Yi Han's path. He was a tall and handsome figure, exuding an air of elegance. With a tone that was less than friendly, he said, "Did you not hear what the young lady just said? If you have the ability, please take a seat; if not, then stand. Otherwise, how can you expect me to be satisfied with your presence?" After he spoke, the crowd erupted in support.

The woman on the pleasure boat, upon seeing this, burst into laughter; her laughter was truly like a hundred flowers in full bloom, exceptionally beautiful. The sound of her laughter was gentle and warm, lingering in the air.

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, having known that it would not be such a simple matter. Fortunately, I did not act recklessly; otherwise, if I had been stumped, it would have been quite embarrassing in front of everyone.

Wei Feng sneered, "If the young lady and everyone present do not mind, I have an idea. How about we have a contest? If you can defeat my fists, then I will concede to you; otherwise, you shall not pass before my eyes"

Ming Xiu smiled faintly and said, "Brother Yi's actions are peculiar, and I cannot fathom them. However, regardless of what he does, I trust him completely"

A pair of elongated willow-like eyebrows gracefully adorns her face, difficult to describe in myriad ways. Her eyes, like water, are bright and spirited, exuding a cold yet lively allure that captivates the soul, making one hesitant to gaze too long. Everyone can see a reflection of themselves in her eyes, as if lost in a fairyland. Her voluptuous and slender figure is indescribable in terms of fullness or slenderness, yet paired with a flowing white garment, it evokes a sense of perfection to the utmost degree

Beside him, Yu Jie urgently said to Yi Han: "Brother Yi, you must not agree. Wei Feng's martial arts are formidable, and you absolutely cannot accept." Yu Jie kindly reminded him, as he did not want Yi Han to embarrass himself. Wei Feng is associated with the Hua Chou Poetry Society, and in the last competition, more than a dozen bodyguards were no match for Wei Feng.

Upon hearing Yi Han's words, Wei Feng was immediately moved; how wonderful it would be to sit together with that beauty, what an extraordinary experience it would be, who could compare to this momentum

Ma Hua and Tu Shu Teng whispered, "How can Yi Han become close with Yun Gu Tian? Does he not know that we are sworn enemies with Yun Gu Tian?"

The man coldly said: "Weifeng"

Ming Xiu suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Brother Yi is not an ordinary person doing extraordinary things, I admire you. However, whether this young lady is willing or not remains a significant issue"

No one expected Yi Han to utter such vulgar words in public. They were all charming individuals, and while it would not be difficult for them to express such sentiments, in such a setting, they would not speak as casually and freely as Yi Han did. In their hearts, they shared a common thought: this person was utterly shameless.

Ma Huateng was well aware of the situation in his heart. He believed that Yi Han's behavior was due to the fact that he had never met the owner of the painting boat. If he were to meet her, Ma was confident that no man would have the courage to stare at her, let alone to flirt with her

Yi Han took a deep breath, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and sighed, "So beautiful"

After Yi Han finished speaking, he directly walked over to the large table. At that moment, a smooth and soft voice came from nearby: "Young master, it would not be inappropriate for you to sit with this young lady." Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback. Had they known that the owner of this pleasure boat was so open-minded, they should have been bolder. Now, it was too late, as someone else had already taken the initiative.

Yi Han said: "Who does not recognize this flower of sorrow and poetry? Who does not know the great name of this solitary cloud in the sky? Today, I am fortunate to meet the true person, and I am very delighted"

Weifeng spoke in a somewhat gentle tone: "Alright, I suppose you are being sensible"

Yi Han smiled and said, "How should I address you, my brother?"

Yi Han pretended not to understand and said: "Could it be that she wants to monopolize that prominent position? This is not the way to treat guests. With my company, she won't feel lonely. Besides, my backside is small and doesn't take up much space. Could it be that this young lady's curvy figure is larger than mine?"

Yi Han looked up and, without having noticed it before, realized that they had indeed arrived at the spacious cabin. On either side, there were long wooden tables set with books and maps, with a stool placed at regular intervals. The group of young gentlemen who had just entered the cabin were seated on these stools. Inside the cabin, a fragrant aroma lingered, and bright windows lined both sides.

The owner of the painted boat, Liu, gracefully emerged, a woman of such exquisite beauty and elegance, rare to find in the world

At this moment, Qiu Ling's face was filled with anger. She did not expect that Yi Han would dare to openly tease her young lady, and even utter such crude and despicable words. She had already made up her mind that after the banquet, she would definitely teach this scoundrel a good lesson. She originally thought he was just being mischievous, but unexpectedly, he was fundamentally a lecher. Oh dear, why hasn't the young lady come out yet? She must have heard all of this. Hurry up and come out to teach this scoundrel a lesson.

Yu Jie said calmly: "Hua Teng, rest assured. Although I have not known Yi for long, I can assure you that he is not that kind of person. Ming Xiu, what do you think?"

She gently sat down, and everyone in the cabin appeared mesmerized. Perhaps they wished to feign composure, but not a single person managed to do so. This woman was worthy of such admiration, worthy of their loss of decorum; it was not shameful. At this moment, looking at Yi Han, since the appearance of this woman, he had already stopped in his tracks, his infatuation even more unbearable than that of the others. While the crowd had regained their senses, Yi Han had long since cast aside any semblance of elegance or grace. His eyes were wide open, and a hint of drool escaped from the corner of his mouth, his lustful demeanor completely unmasked. It was no wonder; he had never before encountered such extraordinary beauty, a shock to his very soul.

Yun Gu Tian, having received praise from Yi Han, finally revealed a faint smile, and the two began to engage in conversation

Qiu Ling shot a glare at Yi Han and said in a teasing tone, "Young Master, are you specifically trying to tease me? Everyone says I should be called Xiao Qiu, yet you keep calling me 'sister' over and over. You've made me feel old. Hmph, I was originally going to tell you my young lady's name."