Chapter 223: Chapter 223

Music House, top floor.

Light muslin drifted, screens like paintings, sunlight poured in through the skylight, filling the room, purple smoke curled from the incense burner, and occasionally a breeze would bring the sound of wind chimes.

On a beauty couch, a woman in a soft smoke purple robe lounged lazily, propping herself up with one hand, holding a book in the other, casually reading, occasionally smirking softly.

Every frown and smile exuded charm, her every movement indescribably languid and alluring.

Qingzhu walked in, respectfully saluting, "Lady Yu, there’s a young lady downstairs who wishes to see you."

"She also asked me to give this to you."

Lady Yu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Qingzhu, "A young lady? What kind of young lady?"

"Around sixteen or seventeen years old, beautiful, carefree."

Lady Yu chuckled lightly, lazily accepting the brocade box Qingzhu offered, casually opening it.

Her previously indifferent expression abruptly changed upon seeing the ring inside the box.

Lady Yu suddenly sat up from the beauty couch, "Where is that young lady now?"

Qingzhu was slightly surprised by her reaction, but he didn’t ask further or look closely.

"She’s now sitting in the first-floor hall."

"Quickly go invite her up."

As Qingzhu turned around, Lady Yu stepped off the beauty couch, breezing past him, leaving only a whiff of fragrance and the words:

"I’ll go personally."

Qingzhu watched her disappearing figure in the blink of an eye, slightly furrowing his brows, lost in thought.

Yun Ran sat in the hall, a cup of tea placed on her left. To pass the time, she was reading a storybook.

But before she could turn a few pages, Yu Feiyin arrived.

Yun Ran raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, not expecting her to arrive so quickly.

Yu Feiyin’s expression subtly changed upon seeing Yun Ran, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Not the Pavilion Master.

Seeing the Pavilion Master’s ring and hearing the description of a beautiful young lady about sixteen or seventeen years of age, she thought the Pavilion Master had arrived! ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

But the young lady, although veiled and beautiful, was not their Pavilion Master.

With countless thoughts swirling, Yu Feiyin maintained a composed demeanor as she stood before Yun Ran, her face revealing nothing, "Young lady? Is it you who wished to see me?"

Yun Ran stood up, smiling warmly at her, "Did you see the item in the box, madam?"

Yu Feiyin nonchalantly observed Yun Ran, "Why does the young lady have this item?"

Yun Ran glanced at the somewhat noisy hall, her brows and eyes curved into a smile as she looked at her, "Shall we perhaps speak in a more private place?"

Yu Feiyin looked at her for a moment, then turned, "Please follow me."

She led Yun Ran to an elegant room, dismissing the others, closed the door, and turned to Yun Ran, "Here, is it private enough?"

Yun Ran nodded with a smile, her gaze sweeping around the room, she walked straight to the tea table, picked up three white jade cups, and poured three glasses of water.

Yu Feiyin slightly raised an eyebrow as she watched, as if curious about what Yun Ran was planning.

Yun Ran lifted her eyes to glance at her, laughed softly, "I know, madam must be filled with doubt right now."

"Why do I have the ring token, why did I come here, and who am I?"

Yu Feiyin raised an eyebrow lightly, "So, who are you really?"

Yun Ran smiled without speaking, raising her right hand, hovering it over the cup.

As she mobilized her inner breath, a faint purple glow, almost invisible, swirled in her palm, and with her nimble finger movements, the previously still water in the cup seemed to be guided, defying gravity as it rose from the cup.

So eerily suspended in the air, completely leaving the cup.

Yu Feiyin’s gaze wavered, instinctively holding her breath, her eyes fixed on Yun Ran.

Yun Ran remained composed, her brows and eyes carrying a hint of nonchalance, her fingers weaving ancient and nimble gestures.

The water suspended in the air slowly separated, transforming into translucent cherry blossoms, floating above Yun Ran’s palm.

Yun Ran glanced at the potted plant on the far window sill, with a casual wave, those cherry blossoms made of tea water fluttered away, turning into a fine drizzle that watered the flower leaves.

Yu Feiyin looked at the potted plant, murmuring softly, "Water Drawing Technique..."

Yun Ran chuckled, clasping her hands together to form seals, changing her hand gestures, the water from another cup also defying gravity, suspended in the air.

This time, what formed were not cherry blossoms, but ice crystals.

It was water turning into snowflakes, and then solidifying into ice, tangible and capable of being held in one’s hand.

Yu Feiyin softly whispered in disbelief, as if waking from a dream, swiftly walked before Yun Ran, her brow furrowed, "Who are you really? How do you know Tianyin Pavilion’s secret mental method?"

"This mental method can only be practiced by the Pavilion Master and their successor. Could it be, you’re in disguise?"

Though Yu Feiyin was filled with doubt, she couldn’t outright tear off Yun Ran’s veil to examine if it was a disguise.

Yun Ran spread her palms, appearing somewhat helpless, "It’s a long story, but I am indeed your Pavilion Master, as genuine as it gets!"

Yu Feiyin looked at her, "But you..."

"I know it’s hard to believe. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed the token to prove my identity repeatedly."

"How about this, could you bring me a zither?"

Her puzzlement only lasted a moment before Yu Feiyin realized internally.

Aside from the secret mental methods Water Drawing Technique and Ice Technique, each Pavilion Master of Tianyin Pavilion also practiced a unique martial art: Sound Killing.

It used music to captivate and ensnare the soul, weaving supreme illusions for others: sorrow, joy, or hatred, igniting human desires with the sound of the zither, capable of killing invisibly.

Yu Feiyin fetched a Seven-stringed Zither, and Yun Ran went to the hall, playing a tune of "Floating Life Smile."

To be precise, she only played half of the tune.

Before the piece was finished, everyone in the hall, whether drinking tea, chatting, or walking around, stopped what they were doing.

Each wore a raptured smile, swaying gracefully with the music, as if they were immersed in an endless dream of happiness.

Yu Feiyin had blocked her ears early on, thus she wasn’t affected by the zither music.

But she clearly saw everything happening before her.

If only one instance occurred, it might be coincidence, but with so many coincidences together, it was certainly not a coincidence.

Though she did not know why the Pavilion Master appeared in such a guise, however...

Yu Feiyin swiftly moved to Yun Ran, kneeling on one knee, "Subordinate Yu Feiyin pays respects to the Pavilion Master!"

Yun Ran quickly pulled her up, "Please rise, there’s no need for such formality."

"Pavilion Master, this subordinate failed to recognize you and made you demonstrate repeatedly to prove yourself, this subordinate is apprehensive."

"Why should you be apprehensive? It’s just as it should be! Otherwise, should a malign person mix in undisguised, that would truly be cause for apprehension!"

As Yun Ran and Yu Feiyin conversed, they were unaware that presently, in a private room on the third floor, Nangong Mo sat by the window, his gaze distantly fixed on her in the hall.

His eyebrows slightly raised, seemingly deep in thought.