Chapter 7: Why Does the Sound of the Sheng Emerge

Yang Lan was greatly pleased upon seeing this: it was actually a disguise mask

Yang Lan took out the object and observed it carefully for quite some time, but could not discern what it was. Later, she placed the object in the tea and let it steep. To her surprise, the wax ball gradually began to dissolve.

At this moment, Young Master Wang pointed to a painted boat and said, "Shall we go sit up there for a while?" Yang Lan looked up and saw the magnificent painted boat drifting amidst the vast waves, with sounds of laughter and joy occasionally reaching her ears, stirring her heart with longing

Several young ladies of high social standing, much like those beautiful geishas, eagerly turned their attention towards the source of the sound

After blowing for a while, some frail scholars on the grass began to roll on the ground, clutching their chests. Meanwhile, on the painted boat, the sharp screams of women and the sounds of people falling into the water could be heard intermittently. "Help! Someone has fallen into the water!" The cries were incessant. On the clear surface of the lake, five or six heads bobbed up and down, and it seemed that a life was about to be lost.

Later on, she simply got up, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to meditate. As soon as she did this, she indeed felt a sense of unity in mind and spirit, and with her eyes open, she felt even more refreshed and invigorated

At this moment, she recalled her bundle. She had only glanced at it briefly at the time and had not yet organized it.

Young Master Wang beside him was also sweating profusely, while Yang Lan, on the other hand, showed no signs of distress whatsoever

Although she was wearing a gauze hat, the expression of anticipation on her face beneath the veil was still seen by Young Master Wang. He couldn't help but smile and waved his hand, saying: "Please, young lady!"

Yang Lan and others who practiced martial arts felt a sudden chill in their hearts! This person was using internal energy to play music! She cautiously turned her gaze in the direction of the sound, only to see the picturesque mountains; although the sound of the sheng was not far away, she could not discern who was playing it.

After taking a few steps, a distant sound of sheng music suddenly floated in. The sheng music was extremely domineering; although it was merely a single note, it forcefully suppressed all other sounds.

On the grassy area by the lake, the revelers were mostly a few wayward young masters, who themselves possessed little skill. The guards they brought along were evidently third-rate characters from the underworld. Consequently, the music blared forth, excruciatingly discordant, forcibly drowning out all other sounds. This immediately provoked the ire of many, who were either wealthy or noble. In their anger, some resorted to cursing, while others dispatched people to search for the source of the sound. Thus, the music blared forth, excruciatingly discordant, forcibly drowning out all other sounds. This immediately provoked the ire of many, who were either wealthy or noble. In their anger, some resorted to cursing, while others dispatched people to search for the source of the sound.

Upon waking, she saw the morning star just rising on the horizon, with a thick fog enveloping the world. The two who had kept watch over her were no longer present. Yang Lan couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

Yang Lan, however, had no intention of receiving his gaze. She looked up from the crevice of the rockery towards the source of the sound.

Upon arriving at Zui Xiang Lake, one is greeted by a row of dozens of grand pleasure boats. The sounds of musical instruments resonate from within the boats, and one can faintly see beautiful women moving gracefully among them. On the shore, there is an even greater gathering of talented individuals. Countless elegant scholars cluster together in groups, some reciting poetry and composing verses, others playing the qin or blowing the xiao, while some engage in chess or painting. Additionally, many are discussing wine while enjoying the company of beautiful women.

Yang Lan carefully put away the mask. She thought: This item will be a lifesaver in the future. Disguises are extremely difficult to collect, and if something unexpected happens, it would be very troublesome to make a temporary alteration. With this item, it will be different. It is equivalent to having an additional face.

Yang Lan looked at Young Master Wang again and saw that his brows were tightly furrowed. The muscles on his face were twisted, seemingly filled with great fear! Suddenly, he grabbed Yang Lan's hand and ran towards an inconspicuous spot in the nearby bushes.

Yang Lan rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought: That Yang Lan does not seem to be an ordinary person. She actually possesses something that is only found in legends within the martial world. What is even more puzzling is that she has such an item, yet it was not taken by anyone. The person who killed her didn't even touch her belongings! This is truly baffling.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, Young Master Wang suggested that they go boating on Zui Xiang Lake. Upon hearing the name Zui Xiang Lake, Yang Lan immediately became very excited

In the meadow, every person appeared to be in agony, yet strangely, there was not a single woman among them. All the women were safe and sound, observing the pained expressions of others with faces that displayed curiosity, panic, and excitement, but devoid of any suffering

She took the bundle and opened it, examining each item one by one. After looking for a while, she felt something small and waxy in the inner cuff of a piece of clothing.

She knows where Yang Lan's family is, but she does not want to return there at all right now. She always feels that the place must be quite extraordinary; otherwise, someone like Yang Lan would not have come from there.

Yang Lan nodded and walked with him towards the painted boat. Today, apart from a few guards, there were only Young Master Wang and Yang Lan. The young men they had seen yesterday did not come along.

At that moment, she put the mask on her face and, upon looking in the mirror, a delicate face appeared vividly in the reflection. Yang Lan squinted and made faces for quite a while, finally confirming that this item was indeed exquisitely crafted. After examining it for a long time, she found it to be completely flawless.

At the height of the revelry, the music from the sheng suddenly changed, becoming intermittent. When it stopped, it seemed to hold its breath, and when it resumed, it felt as if it exhaled too forcefully. This left people breathless and deeply unsettled.

Yang Lan, as a fox spirit, possesses considerable talent in disguise and transformation. However, she has never known that there exist such exquisite human masks in the world, which, when worn, are indistinguishable from real people

Yang Lan smiled at him and softly said, "The person playing the sheng is an exceptional master; it would be wise for us to avoid his brilliance for now." Upon hearing her considerate words, Young Master Wang felt a great sense of relief in his heart, and his gaze towards her became even more dazzling.

Yang Lan understood his intentions and quickly followed him, and before long, the two arrived at a place hidden between a rockery and a large tree. It seemed that only then did Young Master Wang realize: he had taken a beauty away without even seeing anyone else, which did not seem to reflect the true nature of a hero. His face suddenly flushed bright red, and he turned to look at Yang Lan, stammering as he said: "I, I,"

At first glance, it was indeed an elegant open-air venue. Yang Lan was extremely excited as she took in the scene. Young Master Wang followed closely beside her, enthusiastically introducing everything to her. Upon seeing the courtesans, he was equally captivated, his gaze unwavering. From the inside to the outside, it was a realm of boundless affection

That night, Yang Lan truly followed that young nobleman and his entourage to a manor he owned on the outskirts of the city. Throughout the night, Yang Lan had trouble sleeping; the excitement of descending the mountain was one reason, but a more significant reason was the masked man lurking on the rooftop looking for an opportunity to strike at her, as well as the young nobleman who was pacing in front of the window. The presence of these two individuals kept her nerves naturally on high alert

Yang Lan noticed that Young Master Wang beside her had turned pale, and his expression seemed to indicate a great fear of the person playing the sheng. Yang Lan couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that he recognizes this sheng player?