Chapter 15 : I Believe You
15: I Believe You
A row of women in cloud patterned silk dresses gracefully entered the main hall. They quickly assumed their positions. Five women struck soft, charming poses, each standing in her designated spot. The one in the center was clearly the lead dancer. She wore a dress of dark purple gauze, her face covered by white silk. The thin fabric obscured her enchanting figure.
With the sound of a pipa, the lead dancer immediately changed her movements. Her long water sleeves flew high. Her body shifted flexibly with the rhythm of the music, as if she had no bones. She lightly touched her tiptoes to the ground, her chin held high, revealing a slender, pale neck. One had to admit, although the dances of the other four women were also exceptionally moving, the gazes of all the men in the hall were locked tightly onto the lead dancer.
The music, originally a harmony of zither and lute, suddenly stopped. It was replaced by the beat of small drums. The dense drumming raised everyone's spirits. The four women drifted away, leaving only the dark purple figure in the center of the hall.
A melodious sound of a bamboo flute rose, accompanied by the harmonious tones of a reed organ. It made everyone feel as if they were in a green bamboo forest, refreshed and clear headed. An unsharpened soft sword flew out from the dancer's waist along her arm. Then, the flute and reed organ music became urgent. The woman's sword dance movements became much sharper. Her dance poses combined with sword forms, accompanied by the wind instruments, presented a superb performance of sword dancing.
Fu Peibai was watching with rapt attention when a voice suddenly came from beside her. "Is it beautiful?"
She abruptly turned her head. It was Lu Yanran who had spoken.
Fu Peibai nodded in a daze. "It is quite beautiful."
However, although her eyes were fixed on the woman dancing with the sword in the hall, in her mind, she recalled the appearance of Lu Yanran practicing her sword in the bamboo forest a while ago. Two soft swords, each with its own style. But comparing the two, she still preferred the style of her Peak Master, which combined hardness and softness. Naturally, she couldn't say this out loud.
Lu Yanran took a small sip of wine and said nothing.
After the sword dance performance ended, Lu Wencheng looked quite pleased. He praised, "Graceful dance, lotus steps with every move. This sword dance is astonishing, truly heavenly. Wonderful, simply wonderful. Young lady, state your name. I will certainly reward you well!"
The woman returned her sword to her waist and bowed gracefully. "This humble woman is named Sang Yunshi. Greetings, Sect Master Lu. This humble woman seeks no reward. I only ask to stay in the Heavenly Pole Sect as a lowly dancer, and I will be content."
"This... your dancing skills are divine. Why would you wish to lower yourself to be a dancer in our sect?"
Upon hearing this, faint sobbing sounds came from beneath the woman's veil. "Sect Master may not know. Ten years ago, my entire family was wiped out by the Demonic Sect. At that time, Sect Master Lu happened to pass by with your disciples and stepped forward to save this humble woman. After I grew up, I traveled around and learned these dancing skills just to enter the Heavenly Pole Sect and repay the kindness of the sect and Sect Master Lu."
Lu Wencheng frowned and fell into thought. Time had passed. How could he remember events from ten years ago?
"Brother Lu, I see this young lady's heart to repay kindness is sincere. You should take her into the sect." He Yangyao was a man who cherished beauty. Hearing such a pitiful background, he couldn't stand by and watch. He immediately spoke up.
"Yes, Sect Master Lu. This woman's feelings are genuine. She only wants to repay kindness. Please grant her wish."
More and more people began to speak up for the dancer. Although Lu Wencheng still had the sect rules in mind, in this situation, he could only agree. "Well... alright. Miss Sang, please withdraw for now. Later, I will instruct someone to arrange your quarters."
"Thank you, Sect Master." The woman smiled faintly, turned, and left, leaving behind a hall full of infatuated and reluctant gazes.
Fu Peibai didn't know if she was mistaken, but she felt that when the woman passed by her, she had intentionally or unintentionally glanced at her. Watching the woman's retreating figure as she exited the hall, perhaps she was just overthinking it.
"Sister, I don't like this person," Lu Qingwan said angrily.
Lu Yanran served food to her younger sister while asking, "Why?"
"She doesn't look like a good person. She dresses like a witch. Look at those men. Their eyes are glued to her. They're practically drooling. Simply lewd!" Lu Qingwan said indignantly. Still not appeased, she turned her head and saw Fu Peibai. She said sternly, "Speak! Were you also bewitched by that witch?"
Fu Peibai opened her eyes slightly, her expression looking somewhat innocent. "To answer the Second Miss, no."
Lu Qingwan frowned. Looking at Fu Peibai's face, she suddenly thought of something. "Aren't you that person I bumped into the other day?"
"Yes, it is this humble one."
"Sister, why did you recruit someone like this into the peak!"
Lu Yanran held her cup and took a light sip. "What's wrong with him?"
"He's just like those other stinking men. So young and already lusting after beauty."
Fu Peibai practically screamed her innocence in her heart. Then she heard a light, floating remark beside her ear. "Come, tell us yourself. Were you lusting after beauty just now?"
Her heart tightened. She quickly lowered her head to reply. "To answer the Peak Master, this humble one was not."
"Then you said just now it was quite beautiful, and now you say no. Isn't that a contradiction?"
Fu Peibai was speechless. She could only say dryly, "This humble one was only appreciating the art. There were no other thoughts."
Naturally, Lu Qingwan didn't believe her. She snorted coldly. "Only a ghost would believe you."
"Alright, Wan'er. Eat your food."
Fu Peibai breathed a sigh of relief and silently lowered her head to stand to one side.
At this moment, the banquet reached its most lively point. People stood up one after another to toast and chat with acquaintances or friends. Even Lu Qingwan ran off to play with friends of the same age. The hall was noisy and lively.
Lu Yanran furrowed her brows. Such a noisy environment made her feel annoyed and disturbed. Yet, someone without tact still came over to offer a toast. It was none other than He Cong.
He Cong walked over confidently holding a wine cup. He had probably drunk some wine. His manner was much more uninhibited than when he was at the foot of the mountain. He looked spirited.
He walked in front of Lu Yanran's table, bowed slightly, and asked, "Miss Lu, might I share a drink with you?"
Fu Peibai heard a familiar voice in her ear. She raised her eyes to look. The tall black robed man before her was none other than the man who had arrogantly asked for her name during the entrance examination registration.
She quickly lowered her head, hoping the man wouldn't recognize her. She didn't want trouble. But fear invited exactly what she feared.
He Cong didn't get a response from Lu Yanran. His hand was still hanging in the air. He was extremely embarrassed. As his eyes flickered around, he caught a glimpse of the servant by the table who looked very familiar. He commanded in an unfriendly tone, "You, raise your head."
Fu Peibai thought to herself how unlucky she was. She could only slowly raise her head.
When He Cong saw her, his brows shot up. He shouted, "Why is it you?!"
"You were eliminated in the first round. Why are you here?!"
Fu Peibai was hesitating about how to answer when she saw Lu Yanran gracefully stand up. "He is a servant in my peak. Why can he not appear here?"
He Cong paused and deflated. "I just found it unexpected. I didn't think he would be here."
"Now that Young Master He knows, is there anything else?"
"Nothing else. Then I won't disturb Miss Lu any longer..." He Cong said, then glared at Fu Peibai before leaving.
Fu Peibai looked at Lu Yanran with complex emotions. She saw that the other had already sat down and was calmly drinking wine.
"Peak Master, thank you for helping me out."
"No need for thanks. Since you are a person of my peak, naturally I cannot let an outsider bully you."
Fu Peibai felt a bit dazed. There was a time when her family was ruined and she thought of herself as duckweed in this life, rootless and without support. Now, she was fortunate enough to have this protection. How could she not be moved? A single thank you naturally couldn't repay this kindness. All she could do now was fill Lu Yanran's empty cup. She picked up the wine pot and was about to pour. The other also reached out her hand to take the cup.
The backs of their hands lightly touched. Under the brilliant golden light of the main hall, the contrast between the deep and shallow skin tones was striking.
Fu Peibai felt a cold sensation on the back of her hand. She was slightly startled. At that moment, the other had already withdrawn her hand.
"No need to pour."
Fu Peibai uttered a "Yes" and put down the wine pot. She stood back to the side, wondering why the Peak Master's hand was so cold, even colder than her own. Because of the medicine she took to disguise herself, her body temperature was lower than normal. Yet the Peak Master's body temperature was even lower than hers. Was this the ailment Miss A-Fu mentioned, that the Peak Master was attacked by the Demonic Sect a few years ago? Could it not be cured? If it was this cold in summer, how difficult would it be in winter? She was thinking randomly when she heard footsteps of several people approaching.
"Come, Yanran. Let me introduce you. This is Master Mo Yuanzhong of the Xuanguang Sect in Wancheng. This is his son, Mo Qingyuan. The Xuanguang Sect is a major power that has risen in the martial world in the last two years. Master Mo's Three Rings Around the Moon spear technique is truly powerful. Quickly, pay your respects to Master Mo." The speaker was Lu Wencheng. He brought two people over to introduce them to Lu Yanran.
When Fu Peibai heard the name, her ears perked up. Mo Qingyuan. She didn't need to look to know who it was. Today was truly unlucky. She ran into two people who didn't like her one after another.
Naturally, Lu Yanran didn't forget him either. She glanced at the high spirited Mo Qingyuan and said softly, "Yanran greets Master Mo. Greetings, Young Master Mo."
"Miss Lu is too polite. I came today, first, to celebrate the destruction of the Demonic Sect. Second, I wish to resolve a private matter."
"Brother Mo, please speak freely."
Mo Yuanzhong pulled Mo Qingyuan over, a smile piling on his face. "This is my son. Not long ago, he participated in your sect's entrance examination. Who would have thought that he would return home that very day in a sorry state? When I asked, my son said he had a misunderstanding with Miss Lu and was expelled from the sect. I wish to take advantage of today to speak openly and clear up the grudge between our two families. What does Sect Master Lu think?"
Lu Wencheng nodded. "Naturally."
Mo Yuanzhong pushed Mo Qingyuan. "Explain clearly today exactly what happened."
With his father backing him, Mo Qingyuan hardened considerably. Although he still felt some lingering fear when he thought of the flying stone that had pained his wrist that day, he still raised his chin and spoke loudly. "That day, I was competing against someone named Fu Peibai. I was impulsive for a moment and didn't control my strength well. I injured the other person. At that moment, Miss Lu appeared. She didn't listen to my explanation at all and blindly stood on that person's side, driving me down the mountain."
Lu Wencheng's expression became serious. "Yanran, is there such a thing?"
Lu Yanran laughed softly and narrowed her long, slender eyes. "Young Master Mo, why don't you talk about why you struck Fu Peibai without distinguishing severity that day? And why do you make no mention of others testifying that you falsely accused him?"
Mo Qingyuan paused. But clearly, he had come prepared. He explained, "I admit that Fu Peibai didn't speak to me during the match. But during registration at the foot of the mountain, he spoke insolently to me and made arrogant remarks. I held a grudge. When we got to the field, I wanted to use my strength to compete. I was agitated for a moment and lost my sense of propriety. That was my fault. But he cannot escape blame either!"
Lu Yanran's expression became even colder. Her eyes held obvious disgust. Mo Qingyuan was clearly being arrogant only because he was certain no one could come forward to testify at this moment.
For a moment, no one spoke. Fu Peibai also stood silently to the side, cursing Mo Qingyuan from head to toe in her heart.
"Alright, alright. It is good that the matter is cleared up. Sect Master Lu, look, since the matter has been explained, can the Heavenly Pole Sect accept my son? If not for the incident that day, with his strength, passing the entrance examination would naturally have been no problem. He has loved swordsmanship since he was young and looks down on my spear. He swore to enter your sect. I am truly helpless."
A smile hung on Lu Wencheng's face again. "Since it was a misunderstanding, it is good that it is cleared up. Regarding Young Master Mo entering the sect, I will send someone to handle it after the banquet ends."
"Then I thank Sect Master Lu for the trouble. Qingyuan, why haven't you thanked him?"
Mo Qingyuan looked incredibly smug. "Thank you, Sect Master Lu."
After the three finished speaking, they walked in other directions. Fu Peibai felt a bit bitter in her heart. The thing she dreamed of day and night, someone else obtained with just a few words.
"Are you sad?"
She raised her head at the sound. The Peak Master was staring fixedly at her.
"Not... really." After speaking, she thought of something and asked seriously, "Peak Master, do you believe what he said?" But as soon as she asked, she was afraid the other would say she believed him. She nervously added, "I never spoke to him. From beginning to end, not a single word."
Lu Yanran looked at the anxious young person and said softly, "I know."
After a moment, her thin lips slowly opened again. "I believe you."