TTCOTE Chapter 8

“Feng Lai Qi” courtyard’s maiden Manyun, who was just dancing, danced behind the scenes and hadn’t come out for quite a while. The waiting audience below gradually became impatient.

 

“Hey, where is she? How come she disappeared while dancing?”

 

“Didn’t they say there would be a new song and dance today and a competition for the night’s companionship with the most beautiful Manyun maiden who just arrived?”

 

“This dance doesn’t seem particularly impressive. It’s just a few changed movements, nothing special. I’ve seen it all before…”

 

“Feng Lai Qi has always lagged because of a lack of innovation. It can never surpass the charming looks and double butterflies of the neighboring establishments. This time they really racked their brains to come up with a new dance, thinking it would attract customers with some new tricks. It turns out it’s still the same old routine…”

 

The music underwent an abrupt change. 

 

The comforting and lingering melody came to a stop, and after a brief silence, the harmonized singing of a woman reverberated.

 

The music took an unexpected turn. The calming and lingering tune halted, and following a moment of quiet, the synchronized singing of a woman filled the air.

 

Describing it as singing might be an exaggeration—there was no discernible melody, no accompanying music. Amid complete silence, only the unified voice of the woman could be heard, uttering, “Ah, ah, ah…” Her voice started extremely soft, with a hint of breathlessness, reminiscent of a gentle whisper carried by the night breeze. It carried a subtle fragrance of night-blooming flowers, brushing against the swaying golden hooks by the bedside.

 

The expressions of the spectators, initially perplexed, gradually shifted to a slightly reddish hue, and their eyes began to sparkle.

 

“Ah… ah… ah…” The woman’s harmonized voice grew louder and more urgent. The extreme monotony paradoxically focused everyone’s attention. The hearts of the onlookers began to throb rapidly, as if a gentle touch initially teased, then vigorously stirred their very core. The blood in their bodies seemed to surge gradually with the ascending tones, and frames of images flashed in their minds—scenes of the delicate tower of beans, willows swaying in the spring breeze, embroidered silk and golden curtains, and fragrant white jade…

 

A group of spectators couldn’t help but move closer, their faces flushed, and their palms moist with sweat.

 

Behind the curtain, a group of women knelt, singing in unison as instructed by Jing Hengbo. Watching the excited reactions of the men outside the tent, they all looked somewhat astonished.

 

The madam squatted on the side, her gaze intense.

 

She had never imagined that, without flashy dance moves, without exposed skin, without provocative gestures, and frivolous accompaniment, the mere sound produced by the synchronized voices of the women could set people’s blood racing.

 

“Aren’t you supposed to dance? Dance! Dance well, and I’ll agree to any request you have!” The madam’s initial skepticism transformed into anticipation as she urged Jing Hengbo repeatedly.

 

Jing Hengbo smirked, picked up a half-face mask adorned with feathers, put it on, and took hold of a prepared iron rod. She lifted the curtain and stepped out.

 

The crowd looked up, their eyes shining with excitement.

 

The woman who suddenly appeared on the stage possessed a graceful figure. Although her face was covered by a mask, her eyes, revealed beneath it, sparkled with a lively and alluring gaze. The corners of her eyes slightly lifted, showcasing rare peach blossom eyes. Her pupils were large and expressive, resembling calm springwater even when still, and they became even more captivating with a subtle and charming glance.

 

The half-face mask she wore took the form of a butterfly, adorned with feathers to mimic butterfly wings. Yet, even the colorful feathers fluttering in the wind couldn’t compete with the lively charm emanating from her eyes.

 

Some experienced onlookers in the crowd had already begun to applaud, recognizing that this woman was extraordinary solely based on her eyes. 

 

More attention was drawn to the woman’s attire, a rarely seen vibrant red wrap skirt that tightly outlined every curve of her figure. Every inch of movement revealed exquisite and well-crafted lines, creating a wonderfully appealing silhouette.

 

Not to mention the short sleeves and the partially exposed arms and legs, showcasing skin that was smooth and slender, not revealing a single bone…

 

“A natural beauty, unparalleled in the mortal realm…” The seasoned spectators in the flower bushes couldn’t help but drool.

 

“But why is she holding a stick? Is she going to perform with it? Such a beautiful woman, it ruins the mood…”

 

Not far away, under a large tree, there were also people whispering.

 

“She’s here! She’s here! Truly the Queen!”

 

“Master Zou, should we act now…?”

 

Yelü Qi rested his chin on his hand, watching Jing Hengbo with keen interest, waving his hand dismissively.

 

“Let’s all take a look first.”

 

It seemed like the new queen was about to dance. He was eager to see what kind of breathtaking and sensational dance the queen would present. He adjusted his sitting posture and subconsciously touched his belt—ever since it was snatched away, it seemed like he was left with this lingering aftermath.

 

His fingers rested on the cool belt, but his heartfelt was somewhat warm, a bit chaotic, a bit complex, a bit angry, and a bit bewildering.

 

Such complex emotions were all because of encountering a new queen who didn’t fit the usual mold.

 

He hadn’t experienced such complex emotions for many years.

 

He never imagined that a seemingly powerless woman could make him repeatedly lose his footing, involuntarily taking blows.

 

Her indulgence, boldness, ease, and recklessness were as vivid as a fluttering flag suddenly appearing in his field of vision. It swiftly surged towards him, soft and vibrant, each movement so captivating that it seemed to choke off his breath.

 

Having lived in Dahuang for over twenty years, he had encountered countless women, including those of extraordinary beauty, but none stood out as vividly as her. She was unabashedly assertive, confidently declaring her presence, yet exuding a charming allure.

 

While other bold women might still show some restraint, harboring fear and submission to the rules of the world, her boldness had no reservations. With a simple gesture, she shattered the iron barriers and fences of the mortal realm.

 

It was hard to imagine what kind of sparks would fly when such a free-spirited individual encountered the top-ranking queen of Dahuang, known for her adherence to rules and traditions.

 

He was suddenly looking forward to it.

 

…..

 

There were gaps in the wooden surface of the platform, and Jing Hengbo inserted the flat-bottomed stick into one of the gaps, securing it in place.

 

This was her dance prop, but also her weapon. In case there was still trouble, she could rely on this stick for defense.

 

As for the dance she was about to perform… a steel pole dance—no, it’s an iron rod dance.

 

Jing Hengbo revealed a sly smile—pole dancing? She hadn’t received any formal training, just had a casual interest in watching. She couldn’t perform the most standard professional dance.

 

But these country folks hadn’t seen it before.

 

With the simple chanting as the accompaniment, she unfolded her body, utterly relaxed. With a lift of her long legs, she suddenly did a split, pressing them against the length of the stick!

 

Her supple body stretched out like a line, resembling a fiery serpent. Even the safety shorts under her skirt were a striking red color. The exclamations from the men almost shook the platform to the brink.

 

The leaves rustled in the trees, and Yelü Qi, who was originally reclining, suddenly sat up, his movements so abrupt that he almost fell.

 

“This move…” one of his guards beside him stared in a daze.

 

“This body…” One guard’s face turned as red as blood; he quickly covered his face but left behind a wide gap between his fingers, perfect for peeping.

 

Yelü Qi composed himself, suddenly serious, and scolded, “Why make such a fuss! The dances in Dayan are all like this. By the way, what are you all doing here? Don’t you need to be on guard from all sides? Won’t the enemy take advantage of the situation to approach? And I asked you to always report Gong Yin’s whereabouts.  Who allowed you all to laze around here? Hurry, go!”

 

“…”

 

The guards were driven down from the tree, reluctantly turning back three times as they left. They walked away, wailing, “You just said we could all watch together!”

 

…….

 

On the stage, Jing Hengbo slid down like a snake, one leg hooked around the pole in a graceful spin.

 

In that frozen moment, her posture resembled a graceful lily swaying in the spring breeze.

 

In the spectators’ eyes, there flashed a colorful gust of wind, and in their minds, a roaring blaze and gusty wind seemed to echo.

 

Truly novel!

 

“Dance! Dance!” A young gentleman suddenly jumped up from his seat, squeezed through the crowd, stumbled to the front of the stage, and pulled out a silver note, tossing it onto the stage. “Dance! I’ll reward you! Reward you!”

 

The silver notes fluttered like butterflies, raining down in a tumultuous cascade, ignored by everyone. Jing Hengbo paid no attention, but a group of people rushed forward to beat the young man.

 

“Get lost! Blocking my sight! Scram!” they yelled while pummeling him.

 

In the tree, Yelü Qituo’s mouth twitched. Holding a handful of leaves, he suddenly felt the urge to throw them at these troublemakers, scraping off the shine from their oily scalps.

 

Or maybe, using the leaves, he could bury that woman on the stage, performing those absurd and astonishing moves that left people shocked and breathless.

 

“Master! Master!” The guards who were sent away to gather information returned, shouting three times, but the usually sharp and observant Master seemed to have heard nothing.

 

…

 

Jing Hengbo’s iron rod dance reached its climax in almost an instant.

 

The shouts from the splits were just the beginning. A 360-degree spin unleashed a whirlwind of chaos. The mesmerizing curves she presented, bending backward and arching, left the men weak in the knees. The folding flips, like colorful ribbons, nearly lifted the roof with the cheers.

 

Single-leg stances, waist twirls, hooks, and turns, flips and spins, pole flights, entwining, and even upside-down maneuvers—beyond the realm of mere allure, this was a dance that supremely showcased the beauty of a woman’s flexibility. From fingertips to toes, it spoke of both grace and entanglement. The hardness of the rod accentuated the softness of the woman. She transformed into a vibrant ribbon, effortlessly floating and sinking in the astonished gaze of the audience.

 

The synchronized chanting and shouts from the women gave this dance an ultimate and perfectly harmonized meaning—invitation, anticipation, and exclamation. It echoed the surge of blood, summoned the hidden beasts within their hearts, and anticipated a bloodthirsty conquest.

 

Everyone began to feel that such music and dance were the perfect match for the earthly realm.

 

As the performance continued, the courtyard strangely quieted. Men gaped, wanting to exclaim in awe at this enticing dance, yet fearing their shouts would disrupt the rhythm of the song and dance. They could only breathe rapidly, extending their hands in a yearning and eager gaze.

 

In the tree, Yelü Qituo grabbed a bunch of innocent branches in frustration before hearing the report from the guard, “Master Gong Yin, the right master, has entered the territory of Da Yan!”

 

A hint of a smile at the corner of Yelü Qituo’s mouth froze as he glanced at Jing Hengbo.

 

Gong Yin had come personally to greet. What would happen when a person like him encountered such a mysterious woman?

 

Thinking about it made him feel a bit uneasy.

 

Based on intuition, anyone meeting Jing Hengbo might end up embarrassed; based on his gut feeling, he suddenly didn’t want these two to meet.

 

“Master, there’s another letter.” The guard tiptoed and whispered a few words in his ear, “Zhan Yubu’s…”

 

Yelü Qituo opened the letter, reading absentmindedly at first. His eyes occasionally glanced in the direction of Jing Hengbo. Gradually, his expression became serious, and he focused on reading the letter. When he finished, he folded the letter, and it silently disappeared into his palm. His complexion, from a faint red earlier, turned gradually into a somber white.

 

“Let’s go,” he said.

 

“What? Go now?” The guards were astonished. “Aren’t we leaving with the queen?”

 

“Such extraordinary treasures are better left for those destined to appreciate them…” Yelü Qituo’s lips curled into a mysterious smile, but instead of getting up, he comfortably reclined further back.

 

“Master, aren’t we leaving?”

 

“Oh, wait until I finish watching.”

 

“…”

 

With a swift turn, Jing Hengbo climbed to the top of the pole, legs hooked around it, spinning three times in the air. Her wild and flowing curls soared through the air, and her outstretched snow-white arms resembled graceful cranes.

 

“Excellent!” Cheers erupted like explosions, igniting the not-so-small space. Shouts and raised arms converged into an excited ocean. Yelü Qituo, busy with the leaves, continuously swatted away those overly excited individuals attempting to climb onto the stage, shaving off pieces of hair without anyone noticing.

 

At the peak of the crowd’s ecstatic mood…

 

“Bang.” The courtyard door was suddenly kicked open, and a large group of guards rushed in.