In Guangling County, with a population of several hundred thousand, tens of thousands gathered to watch the selection of the top courtesan. The banks of the Huayang River, from south to north, were packed with people.


    The painted boat sailed slowly from south to north. Upon reaching the northern end, the boat would turn and move closer to the opposite bank, traveling from north to south, allowing the people on the shore to clearly see the famous courtesans on board. As the boat passed a location, the people there became excited and eagerly looked up at the ten fairy-like figures on the top deck.


    The famous courtesans occasionally danced gracefully, played the zither, or the guzheng...


    When the boat approached a location near Qin Yun, it just so happened that Miss Chenshuang began her sword dance, though it was unclear whether it was a coincidence or a deliberate arrangement.


    "Miss Chenshuang’s sword dance truly resembles a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world. With every swing of her sword, the heavens and earth grow cold with light," someone in the crowd on the shore praised. The onlookers were spellbound, their eyes full of admiration.


    "Compared to the sword dance..." In the restaurant, Wen Chong sighed, "I prefer Miss Chenshuang’s pipa playing. I used to love the flute music of the Qingqiu Immortal, thinking it distant and tranquil, as if it could take one away from the mortal world. But after hearing Miss Chenshuang play the pipa, I realize that the other famous courtesans didn’t play the pipa well enough. Miss Chenshuang’s pipa... It’s as if it tells a story of love, hatred, entanglement, and longing—impossible to sever, like a heart in turmoil. It’s the most chaotic thing, yet also the most captivating. It’s like that unforgettable smile, where even the coldest of hearts can soften. The Qingqiu Immortal’s flute takes you far from the mortal world, but Miss Chenshuang’s pipa makes you lost in it, unwilling to wake up."


    Wen Chong looked at Qin Yun and said, "Qin Yun, I’m not flattering her, this is from the heart. I truly admire her. Recently, I’ve been visiting Miss Chenshuang almost every day, asking her to play a tune for me."


    "Brother Wen, how come I didn’t notice?" Young Master Hong asked, puzzled. "I feel like the flute music of the Qingqiu Immortal attracts me more."


    "That’s because you’re still young. When you reach my age, you’ll appreciate Miss Chenshuang’s pipa," Wen Chong said.


    "I also like Miss Chenshuang, but I admire her sword dance. There’s a spirit about her that other women don’t have, and yet there’s a softness to it. It really tugs at my heart," Young Master Hong said.


    Qin Yun smiled. "Previously, she wasn’t well-known, so there were few who liked her. Now that her reputation has spread, many people have started to follow her."


    "She truly is wonderful," Wen Chong continued. "I’ve heard pipa masters play before, and it had an ethereal quality. But Miss Chenshuang’s pipa, though not at the master level, is so filled with emotions—love, hatred, and everything in between. It’s as if steel can turn soft under her touch."


    "Is it really that good? I’ll have to listen carefully later," Young Master Hong remarked.


    "To be honest, I haven’t heard Little Shuang play the pipa in a long time. The last time was six years ago," Qin Yun added. "She played for me when I was leaving my hometown to travel the world. Back then, she was only thirteen and still rather inexperienced. But even then, it moved me deeply."


    At the banks of the Huayang River, amidst the sea of people, a woman in a pale blue robe appeared from the distance, walking leisurely. Even though she was in the rear of the crowd, people who saw her quickly forgot her appearance, unaware that something was amiss.


    "Guangling in March is truly enchanting. The scenery is lovely, and the courtesans’ skills are extraordinary," the woman in the pale blue robe smiled as she admired the view ahead. Though at the back of the crowd, she could still clearly see every courtesan on the boat, including the graceful dance of the fragrant-clad lady.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "The scenery is beautiful, the people are lovely, but unfortunately, the Water God has caused trouble in Guangling for over two hundred years."


    The woman in the pale blue robe shook her head gently. "Once my master arrives, with his help, it will be the end of this great monster."


    Though she spoke quietly, no one around her heard a word.


    As time passed, it was finally time to announce the winner of the flower selection.


    A woman on the bow of the boat, who had once been a famous courtesan herself, spoke gently, "The top three are... Qingqiu Immortal, Fragrant-Clad Lady, and Miss Chenshuang."


    As soon as the names were announced, cheers erupted from the crowd.


    The other seven courtesans on the top deck, though a little disheartened, maintained their composure and walked down the stairs into the cabin. Only the top three—Qingqiu Immortal, Fragrant-Clad Lady, and Miss Chenshuang—remained.


    "The top three."


    Miss Chenshuang stood with her pipa in hand, looking at the cheers from the masses, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "I really made it to the top three."


    Hearing the cheers, she realized that her fame had now rivaled that of Qingqiu Immortal and Fragrant-Clad Lady. However, her experience was still limited, and she had never been sure she would make it to the top three. Now that it had happened, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of emotion.


    The three courtesans stood there—Qingqiu Immortal holding her flute with one hand, Miss Chenshuang with her pipa, and Fragrant-Clad Lady standing delicately, exuding her own charm.


    "Our Guangling County''s Flower Queen this year is... Yanfeng Tower’s Miss Chenshuang!" The voice from the bow of the boat echoed across the riverbanks.


    "Chenshuang!"


    "Chenshuang!"


    "Miss Chenshuang!"


    The cheers soared to the heavens.


    Miss Chenshuang, still holding her pipa, felt her head spin and her scalp tingle. "I? I’ve won the title of Flower Queen?"


    The joy was overwhelming and came too suddenly!


    At that moment, Miss Chenshuang looked around. She desperately wanted to see the one person she cared about most—her Yun Gege. But with the crowd so dense, she couldn’t spot him anywhere.


    The banks of Huayang River were crowded for miles. When the name of the Flower Queen was announced, the cheers reached their peak. Yet, no one noticed... among the crowded people at the bank closest to the large painted boat, there were three unremarkable men.


    These three men, upon hearing the announcement of the Flower Queen, exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.


    "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"


    The three figures shot out like arrows, instantly scattering the crowd. Many people were thrown into the air by the impact, and a dozen or so were sent flying, blood spraying through the air.


    The three figures transformed in mid-air. One of them grew a vicious dog head, a wild dog demon, brandishing a large blade as it leapt through the air toward the painted boat. Another became a mighty wolf demon, swinging its claws and slicing through the air, even swatting a common person into pieces mid-flight. The last one grew to an enormous size, around ten feet tall, a massive and imposing rhinoceros demon. This demon was so large that normal weapons couldn’t be carried by him, but his fists alone could crush anything.


    The three demons suddenly broke out, leaping toward the painted boat only seven or eight meters away.


    The scene stunned everyone.


    "You have angered the Water God, and now you shall all die!" The rhinoceros demon let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground and causing the river to tremble. The nearby civilians covered their ears in pain, while Miss Chenshuang, Qingqiu Immortal, and Fragrant-Clad Lady on the painted boat also staggered, covering their ears in disorientation.


    "What? Three demons?"


    "The Water God sent demons?"


    Even the nearby guards were shocked. Although they had always prepared for such crowds during the flower selection, demons had not dared to attack in recent years. It had been too long since they’d dared to appear.


    Because once they attacked, the monsters would undoubtedly die.


    At the tavern, Qin Yun had been watching the Flower Queen selection, smiling at the announcement of the winner, when his face suddenly changed. He saw the three demons charging through the crowd.


    "Demons!"


    Qin Yun’s true essence surged, flowing into the talismans tied to his legs—his most expensive talismans—Swift Travel Talismans! Ordinary talismans were one-time use only, like those for curing sickness, but talismans that could be used repeatedly were precious, and the Swift Travel Talisman was a low-tier talisman in the cultivation world. Despite being basic, it was extremely valuable because it could be used multiple times over a long period!


    This was also why Qin Yun had survived on the northern border battlefield for three years—Swift Travel Talismans. They didn’t have many other uses, but one thing they excelled at: speed!


    "Whoosh"


    Qin Yun disappeared in an instant, shooting out of the tavern and across the surface of the river like a flash of light, heading toward the painted boat at an extraordinary speed!


    His speed was unimaginable!


    However, the three demons were already too close to the boat, only seven or eight meters away. With one leap, they would be upon it. By the time Qin Yun noticed and acted, they would already be on the boat. And he was still over seventy or eighty meters away!


    "This is bad!" Qin Yun’s heart raced with anxiety, but he could do nothing but watch as the situation unfolded.