Chapter 6, once again lamenting the feelings of the magpie bridge as the birds disperse

She cast a disdainful glance at him and said, "Forty thousand taels."

When everyone saw the young man using his own methods to counter his opponent, leaving the other party unable to produce the eleven thousand taels, and even using words to press him further, they were extremely impressed and couldn't help but applaud and cheer.

If the water on the stage were to be zero, one would suddenly be unable to hold back tears— the young man in blue has sacrificed everything for her, without hesitation; moreover, the properties in North Wind City were actually all borrowed deeds from his friends

The young man in the blue robe could no longer contain himself, slowly stood up, gazed affectionately at Shui Ruoling, and said: "Thirty thousand taels."

Xiao Chengfeng suddenly said to the young man in blue: "I ask you, once you lose the water of zero, what do you like the most?"

Like a thunderclap, everyone was stunned

Yu Luanqing slowly walked towards Shui Ruoling, at this moment a lascivious smile appeared on his face as he said: "I bought you for fifty thousand taels, and I will definitely make the most of it..."

This young man is naturally Xiao Chengfeng. When faced with unfamiliar and high-end places, he always feels a hint of hesitation. However, upon hearing that Xue Huanxiang is the most famous hotel in Longtian City, where people from all walks of life gather, he thought he might be able to gather information about the seeker. At this moment, seeing the overly eager gaze of the shop assistant, he felt a shiver run through him.

The young man in the blue robe trembled with anger, gritting his teeth and exclaiming: "Forty-five thousand taels of silver!"

Lan Yun, who usually indulges in pleasure, naturally has very low magical skills. At this moment, he repeatedly pleads for mercy, saying: "No matter what demands the hero has, please feel free to put them forward"

The young man in traditional attire wore a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown, and his tone was devoid of any hesitation: "One hundred thousand taels." Upon hearing the price of one hundred thousand taels, the hearts of the crowd were suddenly shaken! This amount was an unattainable price for everyone present, yet they could not understand why they believed that this young man could easily produce one hundred thousand taels of silver.

Her voice was ethereal, momentarily rendering the lake's waters still and silent. Everyone else displayed expressions of rapture, while the woman in white on stage occasionally glanced at a young man in blue below, her eyes subtly revealing deep affection as she played the words "vague," "longing," and "pity."

Suddenly, as she was about to place the pearl earrings on the qin table, her hand froze in mid-air. She dared not look up at the young man in blue. At that moment, her heart felt as if it had solidified, no longer beating. A single tear gently fell, landing on the pearl earrings, spreading countless ripples of despair.

That person was none other than Yu Luanqing, who was smiling coldly

Only the blue butterflies can be seen accompanying the woman, fluttering gracefully, while a wave of water magic envelops her in a shimmering blue, accentuating the smoothness of her skin. Although the woman wears a veil, her beauty is still evident. Dressed in white, she is playing a piece from ancient times on the xiao, a traditional Chinese bamboo flute.

The wild goose is rosy, and I drink alone in my purple robe. Let us ride the crane for thousands of miles, bowing my head to scoop the snow, undisturbed by the waves.

As everyone gazed into the night, the moonlight gently swayed, and suddenly their hearts were shaken—there are still such heroic young men in the world! At this moment, witnessing his deeds, the crowd felt increasingly invigorated.

In the evening, love meets the morning glow, indulging in wine as dusk descends. Yet, I pity the feelings of the magpie bridge as the birds scatter, tears staining my garments.

The young gentleman Lan Yun was filled with ambition when suddenly, a remarkably charismatic young man walked out from the side, his face filled with surprise: "Young Master Lan, long time no see." Before Lan Yun could regain his composure, the young man took his hand and pulled him aside, smiling warmly as he said: "Young Master Lan, esteemed individuals often forget things; have you truly forgotten your younger brother?"

The young man in blue shook his head and said, "What I cherish most in this world is the purity of water; what do wealth and high official positions amount to..."

The madam examined the silver notes and then said: "The silver notes amount to twenty-one thousand taels, the properties in Longtian City are valued at eleven thousand taels, the houses are mortgaged for four thousand taels, the restaurant is mortgaged for two thousand taels, and the properties in Beifeng City..."

This thirty thousand taels was the highest price he had originally anticipated. Six months ago, upon first seeing Shui Ruoling, he was struck by her beauty, and the two fell in love at first sight. They immediately agreed to redeem Shui Ruoling at the appointed time. In order to gather this thirty thousand taels, Shui Ruoling also expended considerable effort. Success was finally within reach, but unexpectedly, a rival emerged.

The madam cast a questioning look at that moment, while the young man in blue suddenly took out a package from his bosom and said to the madam: "Please inspect it." At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a wave of relief—despite the difficulties, as long as he could be with Shui Ruoling, what was there to fear?

After the music ended, everyone took a moment to regain their composure, and the applause surged like a tide

At this moment, a faint voice suddenly came from the audience: "Sixty thousand taels."

When the young man in blue saw the son of the Prime Minister of the capital, Yu Luanqing, his face turned pale. Meanwhile, Shui Ruoling on the stage trembled involuntarily and hurriedly cast a pleading glance towards the young man in blue

The young man in blue stood there like a wooden chicken, gazing at Shui Ruoling, who was close by on the arena, yet suddenly felt as if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers. His heart was as silent as death.

The young man was naturally Xiao Chengfeng. Having been a beggar since childhood, he had experienced the vicissitudes of life, which cultivated his keen powers of observation. Having witnessed many deceptions, he found himself adept at executing his first scheme at this moment. He then spoke in a low voice to Lan Yun: "Young Master Lan, I beg your pardon." With a flick of his hand, he unleashed a fire-based magic, and instantly, a fierce blaze engulfed a one-meter radius around Lan Yun.

As Yu Luanqing was unaware of Xiao Chengfeng's arrival, upon seeing him, he was struck by his captivating demeanor, and at that moment, a chill ran through his heart: if the other party was well acquainted with his father... He could hardly bear to think further. At that moment, he noticed that Xiao Chengfeng's expression was calm and unperturbed, and he suddenly understood: the other party must hold a position of extraordinary status. However, Yu Luanqing had always placed great importance on face, and at this moment, he truly could not bring himself to face the situation. He feigned a sudden onset of illness, his complexion turning pale, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The nearby servant, already aware of the situation, quickly assisted him in leaving the pleasure boat, while loudly exclaiming: "Hurry, hurry to the physician's residence, the young master’s illness has flared up again."

Everyone was in an uproar, 200,000 taels of silver? Or perhaps a high-ranking official position with generous rewards? At this moment, everyone was contemplating how they would choose if it were themselves, but after weighing it in their hearts for a long time, it was difficult to make a decision. According to what this young gentleman said, the 200,000 taels of silver and the promised high official position might even allow one to become a count or something similar. Thus, they inevitably began to indulge in wild fantasies.

The young man in the blue attire revealed a sense of melancholy and sadness in his eyes. Finally, he resolutely raised his head to glance at Shui Ruoling, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly said: "Forty-one thousand taels of silver." This was indeed his limit; any more, and he feared he would be reduced to begging.

A young gentleman, holding a feather fan, was seen walking arrogantly towards the painted boat, followed by a young servant in black. People around him were already whispering: "Wow, it's Lord Blue Sky's son, Lan Yun, so handsome..."

In an instant, everyone was stunned—who could possibly afford a price of sixty thousand taels and compete with the son of the Prime Minister? What kind of person could this be?

Yet, there stood a young man in traditional Chinese attire at the bow of the boat, his demeanor graceful and poised. A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth, reminiscent of countless flowers trembling in the breeze. That was—wind

Xiao Chengfeng suddenly could not contain a surge of excitement. His gratitude was not for the money given by the young man in white, but for the young man's attitude. To respectfully refer to a beggar as "old man" is something that only a rare individual can achieve. At this moment, the young man in white and the young man in blue were helping the beggar walk slowly, gradually disappearing into the crowd.

Lanyu's words were cut off, and he was pulled to a secluded corner. All that could be heard was a "bang," as the young servant behind him was knocked unconscious by the youth.

The water on the table was still, as he approached Xiao Chengfeng with a smile, then slowly walked to Xiao Chengfeng's side, but his gaze never left the young man in blue. At that moment, Xiao Chengfeng smiled slightly, walked over to the young man in blue, and patted him on the shoulder

Shui Ruo Ling slowly removed the jewelry from her body, placing each piece on the qin table, and said: "You may appraise them"

How could one redeem a courtesan for a price of one hundred thousand, yet easily give her to someone else? Who exactly is that young master?

The water on the stage suddenly whispered softly: "Mother, I have it here. Please do not trouble Young Master Chu for now."

Xiao Chengfeng donned the servant's attire, lowered his head to feign a humble demeanor, and followed Lan Yun onto the pleasure boat. At that moment, the last woman on the boat was performing her art.

Xiao Chengfeng said with a smile, "Why would I deceive you? Even two hundred thousand taels of silver cannot sway you. Therefore, in order to befriend you, I can only cater to your preferences and return the complete Water Like Zero to you." Amidst his hearty laughter, he performed the wind-based flying technique, soaring into the air. In an instant, he had vanished beneath the moonlight. The young man in blue hurriedly asked, "May I inquire your esteemed surname, sir?" However, Xiao Chengfeng did not respond.

At this moment, the young man in blue had already knelt down with Shui Ruoling, bowing three times in the direction where Xiao Chengfeng had departed

The young man in traditional Chinese attire said coldly, "Then you take out the one hundred and ten thousand taels first!"

Xiao Chengfeng had already exchanged part of his jewelry for universal silver notes in the country of Meiqin. At this moment, he handed ten silver notes, each worth ten thousand taels, to the brothel keeper. It was the first time the brothel keeper had received such a large sum of money, and she couldn't help but be overjoyed. However, upon recalling the ten thousand taels of silver that had vanished, she felt a pang of regret. Not daring to show her displeasure to Xiao Chengfeng, she could only glare at the young man in blue, even though it had nothing to do with him.

The old madam let out a cold laugh and said, "Haven't you already given all the more than 10,000 taels you earned in the past six months to this Young Master Chu? How is there still any left?"

Others know that this chaotic situation is usually licentious and that even the slightest grievance must be avenged, which causes everyone to hesitate. A moment of silence ensues among the crowd, but then the old matron on stage loudly declares: "Twenty thousand taels each time."

In an instant, the water seemed to lose its luster, and the young man in blue was nothing more than the son of an ordinary merchant. At this moment, unless he sold all his properties, he would be unable to raise more than 40,000 taels.

The young man in blue was struck as if by lightning, trembling all over. He looked at Xiao Chengfeng in disbelief and said, "Is this really true?"

Xiao Chengfeng said lightly: "The prime minister is supposed to seek benefits for the people of the world, yet in your words, it has surprisingly turned into a means to demand money. I would like to ask him how he educates his children"

While the shopkeeper was serving snacks, the young man in white was completely oblivious, fixating his gaze on the young man in blue, exuding a sense of reliance. At times, he stared for so long that it was not until the young man in blue asked three or four times that he finally came to his senses, his face already slightly flushed.

The voices from the audience became more animated

Everyone was left dumbfounded—this person arrived gracefully and departed without leaving a name, spending one hundred thousand taels merely to fulfill a couple's love

The Soul-Entrancing Flower Competition is hosted by the renowned Miaoxiang Courtyard in Longtian City. Most of the women in the Miaoxiang Courtyard sell their talents rather than their bodies, but to participate in the competition for the title of the top courtesan, one must be willing to sacrifice their virtue. The annual Soul-Entrancing Flower Competition requires the women to showcase their talents, after which the top courtesan is selected, leading to a bidding process for their redemption. Each year, this event is filled with joyous cheers. Prominent young masters from all over Longtian City attend, and there are even rumors of a king in disguise secretly participating in the bidding.

At this moment, the water magic's azure waves grew even more intense, completely enveloping her in a veil of blue. An old matron, with a sycophantic smile, stepped onto the stage and said: "Only by becoming the top courtesan can one be redeemed; otherwise, upon entering the Miaoxiang Courtyard, one must serve for three full years. However, Shui Ruo Ling has easily claimed the title of top courtesan in less than half a year, so we will raise the bidding from 1,000 taels to 2,000 taels. The bidding begins now."

A man values his knees as if they were made of gold; this young man in blue would never kneel before anyone under normal circumstances. Yet at this moment, he feels a lump in his throat, overwhelmed with gratitude and admiration that words cannot express

He must be a person of immense wealth, rivaling that of nations, and possessing a grand spirit that reaches the heavens

He entrusted a few taels of silver to the shop assistant to buy clothes. When Xiao Chengfeng donned the splendid brocade garments and took a brief rest, he immediately appeared radiant and spirited. Just as he stepped out of Xue Hanxiang, he suddenly noticed that the crowd was surging towards the west town, which piqued his curiosity, and he couldn't help but follow the flow.

The young man in blue said in a daze: "What do I like the most... If Li Kairong leaves, what else do I like... Nothing at all..."

Xiao Chengfeng smiled as he patted his shoulder, saying: "It's nothing serious, I will just be your servant for a while."

At that moment, an elderly man in the audience suddenly spoke in a deep voice: "If water were to be like a song of longing, speaking of longing, to the utmost extent of longing, one should naturally win this flower queen." The elderly man was the revered master of the guqin in the capital, and his words naturally left no room for doubt. Meanwhile, Shui Ruoling smiled gently and bowed to the audience.

Xiao Chengfeng suddenly recalled the days of suffering and begging he had endured, and a wave of sorrow washed over him. Just as he was about to step forward, he noticed that the young man in white had already gone to help the fallen beggar. The pristine white sleeves of his garment had already picked up some stains from the beggar, yet the young man in white seemed unfazed. He took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to the beggar, softly saying, "Take care on your journey, old man"

Xiao Chengfeng found it interesting and was just about to approach the painted boat, but he noticed that there were guards standing in formation in front of the boat, with strict security measures in place. Anyone wishing to board the boat must present an invitation. The area around the boat was illuminated by white magical light, and anyone attempting to sneak aboard using flying magic would surely be detected. Xiao Chengfeng paused for a moment and then came up with an idea

A gust of cold wind blew in through the window, yet Xiao Chengfeng felt a warmth in his heart

The price of 2,000 taels would undoubtedly seem astonishing to the average person, as it is known that 10 taels of silver is sufficient for a family's monthly expenses. However, the audience remained unfazed, and soon their rapid bidding escalated the price to 10,000 taels in a very short time

He is like a warm and lively breeze, mysteriously arriving in this world. There is a poem that can describe him in this way:

Xiao Chengfeng smiled and said: "Since that is the case, your favorite must be Shui Ruoling, right? Your loyalty to love is truly admirable. In that case, I shall present you with a gift that you will surely like. It is her." He pointed at Shui Ruoling and said to the young man in blue: "I will give her to you, and I hope you will cherish her well."

The young man in blue withdrew his gaze from Shui Ruoling and, upon seeing Xiao Chengfeng's demeanor, felt that it surpassed his own. A forced smile appeared on his face as he said, "Then in the future... Ruoling will be under your care..." He cast a desperate glance at Shui Ruoling, his heart aching, but fearing that if he looked any longer, he would be unable to part with her, he quickly turned away, tears already streaming down his face

Xiao Chengfeng said in a deep voice: "Seeing your profound affection, I allow you to choose whatever you desire the most, whether it be two hundred thousand taels of silver, a high official position with abundant rewards, or any one of these options..."

In a fit of anger, he gritted his teeth and took out all the silver notes from his pocket, then exclaimed: "Although I only have sixty thousand taels on me, is it not exceedingly easy to produce one hundred and ten thousand taels in the name of the son of the Prime Minister?"

A small drink of osmanthus, casually speaking of the gentle breeze, at that moment the people felt so distant, yet the longing remains long

With a fierce shout, Yu Luan seemed to be bolstering his own courage as he declared: "One hundred and eleven thousand taels!" He had originally intended to say one hundred and twenty thousand taels, but he truly could not afford such a price. As he was about to say "two," he suddenly changed it to "one," and his boldness diminished significantly.

After the brothel keeper finished the settlement, she said, "There is still a shortfall of three thousand seven hundred taels." She looked at the pale-faced young man in blue and spoke淡淡地.

Xiao Chengfeng found it interesting and kept paying attention, fortunately, the two individuals were immersed in their own world. After the meal, the two of them stood up, and at that moment, a ragged beggar was begging at the entrance, but was kicked away by the shop assistant.

The willow smoke swirls in the sudden wind, and the unfamiliar path is adorned with splendor. Regardless of the startling snow and the thousand waves, the young girl in her prime shares the same dreams under the clear sky

Xiao Chengfeng felt a jolt in his heart; that woman was clearly the white-clad young man he had seen during the day. At this moment, seeing her skin like congealed fat and her jade-like hands resembling bamboo shoots, the hearts of everyone present were stirred.

Having ordered some signature dishes and drinks, Xiao Chengfeng enjoyed a small sip; at this moment, he noticed two handsome young gentlemen not far away, their faces like red jade, engaged in intimate conversation. The young man in white leaned down to listen to the boy in blue speaking softly. At first, a gentle and focused expression appeared on his face, and he occasionally interjected a few words. When the boy in blue expressed agreement, a faint smile would emerge at the corners of his mouth. Sometimes, he would deliberately curl his lips, as if trying to draw the other’s attention, displaying a childlike demeanor.

Yu Luan cast a sidelong glance at him and said with a fierce voice, "You little brat, it seems you have burned your boats? To actually risk everything for a woman." His gaze was sharp, having already discerned that the blue-clad young man was speaking with a momentum that indicated he was at the end of his rope. At this moment, he suddenly laughed heartily and said, "Then I will offer forty-two thousand taels."

Everyone looked at the smug Yu Luanqing, their hearts filled with extreme resentment, yet they dared not express it. At this moment, Yu Luanqing sarcastically said: "What a pair of infatuated lovers, but did I ever say I would give up?" He raised his head and glanced around, saying: "Now, no one can surpass this, right?" He swept his provocative gaze across the crowd, and everyone lowered their heads.

The snow butterfly smiled gently, feeling the wonderful essence of life brought by the sunlight, chrysanthemum leaves, and dew. At this moment, countless snow butterflies danced gracefully, filling the entire Longtian City with a warm atmosphere. In the bustling "Xuehanxiang" hotel of Longtian City, a young gentleman, dressed in somewhat worn clothing yet possessing an extraordinary demeanor, walked in. His starry eyes lightly scanned the surroundings before he made his way to a table by the window and sat down.

At this moment, a flamboyant voice suddenly rang out: "Twenty thousand taels." The man, holding a jade fan, swaggered to the front of the stage, looking at Shui Ruoling with a lecherous gaze, and said: "I have visited Miaoxiang Courtyard more than ten times just to seek a glimpse of your beauty. Who would have thought that you would not even agree to meet me? This time, I want to see where you can escape to"

Upon hearing that the price had reached 110,000 taels, the madam was already overjoyed. However, when it dropped to 100,000 taels, her expression inevitably soured. Yet, fearing that the cooked duck might fly away, she hurriedly approached Xiao Chengfeng.

Those who are observant naturally take notice. It appears that this young man has traveled a long distance, and at the moment he stepped into the hotel, he seemed somewhat hesitant. Coupled with his somewhat bashful demeanor and striking good looks, the innkeeper immediately speculated that he might be a precious jewel from a noble family, disguised as a man to escape. Thus, they approached him respectfully to offer their service

Just as they were all rejoicing for the couple, a voice suddenly emerged from the crowd: "Fifty thousand taels."

Lanyu softly said: "This woman is named Shui Ruoling, and she is the most likely to win the championship this year"

Over the years, the price has generally been around ten to twenty thousand taels. However, this time, due to Shui Ruoling's fame and beauty, combined with her pure and elegant demeanor, everyone has been captivated. It is important to note that even when visiting Miaoxiang Courtyard, spending a hundred or more taels does not guarantee the unveiling of Shui Ruoling's veil to catch a glimpse of her true appearance

"Hmph, I see that you don't have that much silver on you at all," Yu Luanqing said coldly

At this moment, everyone in the audience was stunned. They had long been moved by this pair of lovers, and at this moment, they could not help but cheer loudly. Many had already asked themselves: If you were to encounter the woman you truly love, would you be willing to risk everything for her?

Then Yu Luan, unwilling to show weakness, shouted loudly: "Seventy thousand taels!"

Everyone has a resolute voice in their heart: "Yes."

Upon arriving at the lakeside of Xizhen, one found a throng of people. It turned out to be the annual "Soul-Entrancing Flower Contest" held by Miaoxiang Courtyard. A colorful pleasure boat stood out particularly under the early night sky. Xiao Chengfeng heard the crowd discussing who would redeem this year's flower queen, and after listening for a while, he began to understand the situation.