Chapter 53: Sword Dance (Seeking Votes, Still Seeking Votes)

  I thought the farewell dinner would be held at the city lord's mansion or a high-end restaurant in the city, but unexpectedly, he set up the banquet venue in a forest within the city.

  Kashi City is just a small town, but the Jiuzhilou Creek in this forest has been sung by many traveling poets.

  The so-called Jiuzhilun Creek refers to the clear creek water flowing down from the mountain, passing through nine layers of rock formations, forming a nine-layered landscape. When the bright moon rises, the creek water reflects the moonlight, creating a unique and spectacular scene where the nine layers shine together with the moon.

  The nine-layered bright moon creek from top to bottom, set up more than ten long tables, and the guests were all big shots in Kashi City.

  It's clear that for Li Donglai, being able to entertain the five young masters of Nuo Da is a very prestigious thing, and he won't let go of this opportunity to gain face.

  Zhi Bei didn't care much about it. His status was already established, so if he wanted to brush someone off with a few words, he would do so, and if he didn't want to, you could just give him attitude, what could you do?

  After three rounds of drinks, Li Dong came over and patted his hand.

  Suddenly, the mountains lit up with a dazzling seven-color magic light, music sounded, and on the platform not far away, a group of girls in transparent and cool clothes suddenly appeared, dancing with the music.

  The girls raised their hands and feet, and the white waves of milk shook people's hearts, making them dry-mouthed and tongue-tied.

  He quietly looked towards Qi Bei from afar, but saw that although he seemed interested in watching, his eyes were exceptionally clear.

  How can this be? I've long heard that the Fifth Young Master is a famous ** in the imperial capital, and it seems that although he's young, he's had his way with many women. His standards are certainly not ordinary. Now that he's come to Kashi City, if we can't satisfy him, then our hospitality will be truly lacking.

  Fortunately, he had made preparations earlier and beckoned a servant over, whispering two sentences in his ear.

  Before long, the music suddenly changed its tune and became stirring.

  Like a vast land of ten thousand riders charging forward, golden spears and iron horses, bloody battlefield.

  Suddenly, a slender figure with a veil covering her face floated down from mid-air, her long sword conjuring up flashes of sword light as she began to dance to the stirring music.

  Jianwu, a unique dance form prevalent in the northwest region, performed by women wielding swords, can be both strong and gentle, with a perfect blend of strength and softness. Even the decadent nobles who indulge in sensual pleasures all day long can, in an instant, reveal the hidden spark of humanity deep within their blood.

  Even in the northwest border now, before the soldiers go out to battle, they will invite a sword dance master to dance a song to boost morale, similar to the Light Festival's Light Heart magic that inspires courage.

  The sword-dancing woman was obviously a master of her craft. Every movement of the long sword seemed to stimulate that fiery string in people's hearts.

  Who doesn't have heroic dreams, but in the cruel reality of life, most people's dreams are deeply buried and never see the light of day.

  There is a saying that nothing will never change, what will never change is that everything is constantly changing.

  Just as Qi Bei was feeling sentimental, the music changed again, becoming gentle and affectionate.

  The movements of the swordswoman changed from strong to gentle, and before people's eyes appeared a scene as if the soldiers who fell on the bloody battlefield had in their dying gaze a yearning for life, a longing for loved ones, and a regret for parents.

  After a long time, the music faded away, and the banquet hall that was just noisy became quiet.

  The swordswoman sheathed her sword behind her back and bowed slightly, then turned to leave.

  "Butterfly Heart girl, please wait a moment. Can you give our city master some face and offer a cup of wine to today's noble guest, the fifth young master from the Nuo De family?" Li Dong came forward and shouted, his tone was quite polite.

  The girl stopped in her tracks, turned around and glanced at Qi Bei, then continued walking down the mountain.

  He suddenly stood up, his face flushing with anger and shame.

  Ziqi Bei smiled and waved his hand, saying: "Donglai, don't be too eager. Some women are better appreciated from a distance; when you get close, there's bound to be a psychological letdown, which will only lead to disappointment."

  The woman's slender body hesitated for a moment, and a faint cold hum came from the bend in the mountain path.

  "Wu Shao, you didn't arrange things well when you came from the East. You have to be punished with three cups." Donglai filled up three large cups and drank them down one by one.

  Qī Běi smiled slightly and said, "Dōng Lái, at the beginning of the group dance, the leading dancer seemed quite good. Can you get her to come over and have a drink with me?"

  He was taken aback, the leading dancer was his eighteenth concubine, named Xiaoyu, originally a Qing dynasty courtesan trained by a brothel, he had forcibly taken her as a concubine, and now that he had just tasted the pleasure, he wanted to send her away, but it was really a bit reluctant.

  But soon after arriving at Dong's place, he made a decision and had someone call for Xiaoyu.

  It's hard to part with one's children, but it's impossible to put a wolf in sheep's clothing. After all, isn't she just a woman? If we can get along well with Qi Bei, what's the big deal?

  Before long, a slender figure in a half-transparent green cheongsam dress with a low-cut lace blouse walked over, her tiny waist exposed outside, dazzlingly white, and the overly low neckline revealed more than half of a pair that didn't match her delicate physique. The deep cleavage was like a magnet, attracting the gaze of most men present.

  "Xiao Yu, sit down next to Wu Shao and keep him company for a good drink." Li Donglai said to Xiao Yu.

  Xiao Yu gazed at Li Dong with a hint of resentment, then turned and sat down beside Qi Bei, her slender waist swaying gently.

  Zi Bei wrinkled his nose and slightly furrowed his brow, the strong perfume making him somewhat displeased. He still preferred the natural scent of a woman, but women with that kind of natural fragrance were extremely rare, all of them being top-notch. This made him start to miss Huan Ying, and he wondered how far away she was from Kashi City now.

  "Wu Shao, I'll toast you a cup." Xiaoyu raised a cup of wine and said with a smile.

  Qī Běi let out a hearty laugh, his gaze moving from her face to her jade-like neck and full chest, then following along her arm to her wrist.

  When his gaze fell on the black jade pendant on her wrist, it stopped.

  "This bangle is pretty good, where did you buy it?" Qi Bei's large hand stretched out like lightning and grasped Xiao Yu's wrist.

  Xiao Yu let out a cry of surprise, the wine cup in her hand fell to the ground, and the wine spilled perfectly into the cleavage of her chest, causing the people at the banquet to burst out laughing.

  In many people's eyes, Qi Bei is intentionally teasing Xiao Yu, and even Li Dong thinks so. He is bleeding in his heart but can only force a smile.

  "Wu Shao, let go of me!" Xiaoyu's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, and she twisted her body to struggle free from Qi Bei's grasp.

  Ke Zi Bei's large hand was like an iron claw, how could Xiao Yu struggle free.

  "This young master is a person who cherishes beauty, you'd better answer obediently, don't force this young master to become a barbarian who uses violent means to get what he wants." Qi Bei said calmly, but his eyes gradually revealed a thread of icy killing intent.

  Li Dong suddenly felt something was off. Qi Bei wasn't after Xiaoyu, but the bangle on her hand.

  "Xiao Yu, answer quickly." Lai Donglai said, but in his heart he was thinking, could this bracelet have some special origin? If Qi Bei wants it, then let Xiao Yu give it to him.