Chapter 107

Nightingale Tavern.

The moment the lute music sounded, all the guests in the tavern put down their glasses and looked at the silver-haired young man playing the lyre.

It was not just because of the beauty of the music, the main thing was that the appearance of this silver-haired young man was simply too handsome!

He wore a dark blue velvet robe, his long silver-white hair hung down to his shoulders like flowing snow, beneath his brow bone were a pair of deep eyes like snowflakes, his features were as exquisite as a sculpture, and there was a tear mole under the corner of his left eye, giving people a sense of beauty that was hard to distinguish between male and female.

Many guests stared blankly at the young man on the stage; it was the first time they had seen such a "perfect" human being.

"My lord, this male poet is almost as beautiful as Sister Anliya!" Even Boge couldn't help but sigh.

"Nonsense, Anliya is the best-looking." Xia Mingyu gave the boy's forehead a light chop with his hand like a knife.

However, having said that, Xia Mingyu was also somewhat astonished by the young man's appearance.

Although he didn't think his own looks were lower than the other party's, after all, the styles were different; his features were handsome but still within the scope of being masculine, while this young man was completely as handsome as a woman.

If he were put into the entertainment industry of Blue Star and hyped up, he would probably be able to crush those artificial fresh meats from the Stick Country directly.

Under the gaze of everyone, the silver-haired young man began to sing loudly:

"Listen, the wind passes through the Southern Region, bringing legends from afar~"

"A sage, he walks between the dust of the world, his steps firm and silent~"

He was singing the "Sage's Hymn," which had been spreading crazily in the Southern Region recently. His singing voice was sometimes as clear as the chirping of birds, and sometimes as deep as the sea at twilight.

Every note was full of emotion, as if it had magic, making people unable to help but immerse themselves in it, so much so that many guests in the tavern were shaking their heads along with the singing voice, intoxicated.

"My lord, the song he sings is really good, it's just like he is really confiding in that sage lord who changed the Southern Region with his own strength."

Anna held her cheeks, which had turned red because of the alcohol, and said excitedly to Xia Mingyu.

Xia Mingyu smiled without saying a word, just drinking.

"The crazy farm woman who lost her child, arrogantly shouting that the sage is her son, people thought she was going to face swords, but it was his embrace and blessing~"

"For he knows, truth and justice belong to the king and also to the beggar, belong to every soul bathed in starlight!"

The silver-haired poet finished with a passionate high note, and after the last note dissipated in the air, the guests in the tavern gradually came back to their senses.

*Clap, clap, clap! *

The next moment, overwhelming applause drowned the tavern, and people expressed their appreciation for this poet in the most simple way with flushed faces.

The silver-haired young man stood up from his chair and bowed slightly to the guests in front of him.

And the waiters of the tavern also came to the tables with silver trays at just the right time, asking the guests for tips, and the table of Xia Mingyu and the others was no exception.

"Get out, get out, get out, this is the most noble guest in our tavern, is it your turn to disturb them?"

However, the waiter had just arrived when he was impatiently driven away by the bartender Feike earlier.

Then, this man in his early thirties rubbed his face, and like a magic trick, a brilliant smile like a sunflower bloomed on his face.

"My lord, are you satisfied with the song just now?"

"Not bad." Xia Mingyu stopped clapping.

After hearing his answer, Feike seemed very happy, and he introduced excitedly:

"My lord, the minstrel just now, his name is Damien, he is a big celebrity in our Nightingale Tavern, I don't know how many people came to Nightingale Tavern specifically to listen to his songs."

"He is 'Silver Snow' Damien... I heard he is known as the most beautiful man in the entire Twilight City." Anna covered her mouth and said in surprise.

She had also heard of this minstrel known for his beauty, but she, with her low status, had never seen the other party in person.

"This young lady, you really have a good eye. Let me tell you secretly, quite a few noble ladies have requested to meet Damien in private, but it took me a lot of effort to temporarily reject them."

Feike smiled, and then he looked at Xia Mingyu and said cautiously:

"My lord, if you don't mind, can I bring Damien over and let him chat with you?"

Bring a man over to drink with him?

Xia Mingyu almost choked on a mouthful of wine. He wanted to refuse, but looking at the expectant eyes of Boge and Anna beside him, he finally chose to agree.

In this world, are beautiful men acceptable to both men and women?

Xia Mingyu couldn't help but feel deep worry about the mate selection views of this world.

"My lord, I'll go bring Damien over right now, it is undoubtedly his lifelong honor to serve you!"

Feike was overjoyed, then trotted all the way to the central stage, pointed in the direction of Xia Mingyu, and whispered a few words to the silver-haired poet, and hesitation appeared on the poet's face.

Then Feike spoke repeatedly, and the silver-haired poet nodded, preparing to follow Feike toward Xia Mingyu's table.

However, seeing that the silver-haired poet was about to step off the stage, a man who had been watching him couldn't sit still.

"Damien, please be my lover!"

Under the shocked gaze of everyone in the tavern, a young man with an emerald green noble blessing rushed to the front of the stage, holding a large bunch of blooming forget-me-nots, and knelt on one knee in front of the silver-haired poet.

For a time, everyone in the tavern started discussing.

The silver-haired poet's face instantly became stiff, and he took a step back involuntarily.

"Really, I love you, Damien. I swear by the name of Bea William, my love for you is like fish and water, birds and the sky, I swear I can no longer live without you!"

Seeing that the other party had not answered for a long time, the young man holding the bouquet leaned forward again and said eagerly.

Hearing this surname, Xia Mingyu, who was focused on eating melons, remembered the old gentleman who offered forget-me-nots at Haidun's baby honor ceremony earlier.

"Lord Bea, Damien is a man after all, you doing this in public will damage the honor of the William family..."

Seeing the silver-haired poet in a dilemma, Feike, as the bartender, immediately stepped forward to persuade him earnestly.

The young man looked around at the nobles whispering, and also realized that this was inappropriate, however...

"I don't care!" Bea roared.

"My father taught me from a young age that one must pursue the lover one meets in youth at all costs, so my love for Damien is absolutely not a shame to the William family, but an honor!"

He said passionately, continuing to look at the silver-haired poet with eyes full of enthusiasm and love.

Your dad definitely didn't expect you to find a man... Xia Mingyu's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but feel sad for that old gentleman who was so filial.

"Sorry my lord, Damien might need a while before he can come over to chat with you."

Now Feike had no other way, so he could only return to the wine table dejectedly, saying with a face full of apology.

*Slap! *

"Bold, how dare you let my lord wait for a minstrel!"

Before Xia Mingyu could say anything, Boge cursed angrily and slapped the table, standing up.

His vicious eyes like a hawk stared at Feike, and the pressure from the hunter instantly scared the other party to the ground.

"I... I... I'm sorry, but Lord Bea is the future heir of the William territory, the small tavern really can't afford to offend him." Feike's voice was trembling, and his whole body was shivering like a sieve.

And this conflict was also noticed by others in the tavern.

"Respected Lord Bea, I have already mentioned to you many times, I do not like the same sex, and I do not feel honored by your love, please do not disturb my work anymore."

Seeing his companion in trouble, the silver-haired poet spoke quickly.

"Unlike you who were born noble, I really need this job." Damien said sincerely.

Then he walked in the direction of Feike, and Bea, who was kneeling on one knee, saw this and hurriedly got up to follow.

"My lord, sorry I'm late because of some changes, I express my most sincere apologies to you, and please don't blame my friend."

After carefully helping Feike, who was paralyzed on the ground, up, this handsome poet who was hard to distinguish between male and female bowed deeply to Xia Mingyu to apologize.

And Bea William, who followed, looked angry when he saw this scene.

"Get up! You are my lover, you don't need to apologize to people for such a small matter."

Bea wanted to help the poet up, but was pushed away by the other party, so he could only look at the young man in the black top hat who was sitting at the wine table holding a wine glass with a calm expression.

Clothing, temperament, skin, hidden blessing... Bea instantly judged that the other party should be a noble with extraordinary status just like him, but he didn't know which territory in the Southern Region he was from.

Thinking of this, the anger on Bea's face instantly disappeared, and his tone became polite.

"This lord, it is my fault for disturbing your interest, but today is the most important day of my life—I want to propose to the person I love most."

"Your consumption in Nightingale Tavern today and your consumption here in the next week will all be recorded on the account of the Viscount family, the William family, and I personally owe you a favor. Do you think you can leave first?"

Bea said very politely, completely without the impatience he had toward Damien earlier, and this change in attitude was all taken in by Xia Mingyu.

Boge frowned, he was about to spray but was pressed down by Xia Mingyu, and could only stare at Bea tightly.

"I don't like my will being changed by others, so I won't leave." Xia Mingyu said calmly.

"And, regarding your so-called proposal to the person you love most, I also have some of my own views."

"What do you want to say?" Seeing that he was rejected, Bea's tone suddenly turned cold.

"You keep saying you love Damien, but what have you brought him?" Xia Mingyu looked around at the nobles in the tavern who were whispering and laughing while watching this side.

"Is it a reputation that makes people laugh? Or a friend who is blamed? Or... fear that is uneasy?"

Xia Mingyu noticed that after Bea followed, the silver-haired poet's right hand had been trembling slightly.

"You have never respected him, you look down on a commoner at the bottom of your heart, and the so-called love you speak of is just a desire for possession born from your hot-headedness due to his extraordinary appearance."

"Let him go, it's better for both of you." Xia Mingyu said softly.

The moment he heard his words, the silver-haired poet who had been bowing deeply to apologize suddenly raised his head, and the look in his eyes toward Xia Mingyu was full of shock and disbelief, as well as a trace of gratitude.

And Bea was flushed, his veins bulging, his hands clenched into fists, and his eyes wide open.

Damn it, damn it, how could this damn guy understand my love for Damien?

I just love him in the wrong way, but I undoubtedly love him!

"... Is your surname Martha?" Bea asked suddenly.

"No."

"If it's not, why the hell have you been talking!"

Bea picked up a glass wine glass on the table and smashed it to the ground.

*Slap! *

Accompanied by the crisp sound, glass shards shattered all over the floor.

"Who do you think you are? Who gave you the qualification to point fingers at my proposal!"

"You are only as old as me, how come you talk about some obscure big principles all day like that old man my dad, are you old before your time?"

Bea looked at Xia Mingyu with red eyes and heavy breathing.

Fortunately, he still had his reason and didn't throw the wine glass at the other party.

After all, nobles pay attention to decency, and no matter what, they won't easily do it.

"... Are you Morning Star?"

Xia Mingyu was silent for a moment, then asked suddenly.

"No, I'm only twenty years old this year, it will take at least three to five years to advance to Morning Star Knight."

Although very angry, Bea still answered with the etiquette that nobles should have.

"Not Morning Star!" Xia Mingyu sighed, and silently moved his hand away from Boge's shoulder.

The boy, who had been gnashing his teeth in anger, jumped up and rushed in front of Bea, who was still immersed in anger.

*Boom! *

His fist, wrapped in the sound of whistling wind, smashed heavily on Bea's face like a heavy hammer.

The moment his knuckles collided with his cheekbones, a muffled sound that made one's teeth ache was emitted.

Before he could react, Bea was sent flying by this punch and fell to the ground, blood and broken teeth spraying from his mouth.

And this wasn't over; Boge quickly rode on the other party, and his heavy fists landed on the enemy one after another.

"Let me go, I am the son of Viscount William!"

"Even if Viscount William came, he wouldn't dare to be disrespectful to my lord, go to hell."

Bea was able to struggle at first, but soon under Boge's beating, his voice turned into wailing and screaming.

How dare they, they didn't follow the decency between nobles at all, they actually hit so hard!

I reasoned with you properly and you didn't listen, then my attendant also knows a little bit of boxing... Xia Mingyu watched this scene with an expressionless face.

"My lord." Just at this moment, the silver-haired poet looked at Xia Mingyu pleadingly.

"Do you want to plead for him?"

Xia Mingyu asked suspiciously, he suspected that the other party had Stockholm syndrome.

"No, you misunderstood, I mean..." Damien stopped talking.

"People can't die in the tavern, but they can outside." The poet said lightly.

Hearing this, Bea, who was bruised and swollen, suddenly raised his head and looked at the man he loved with disbelief.

"Boge, change the place, just don't beat him to death." Xia Mingyu smiled slightly.

"Yes, my lord."

Boge stood up and dragged Bea's feet toward the outside of the tavern.

And after hearing the ruthlessness of his "lover" with his own ears, Bea lost all ability to resist like a dead fish, lying on the ground and being dragged away.

Looking at the avoiding gazes of the nobles at the surrounding wine tables, he covered his face in pain, only feeling that he had lost the face of the William family today.

"Respected guest, thank you for helping me out, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know how to end this."

After Bea left, Damien's tense body relaxed a lot, and he picked up the wine bottle and carefully poured a glass of wine for Xia Mingyu.

"But Bea is Viscount William's son after all, I am very sorry for causing you such big trouble, if you have any resentment toward me, please punish me as you wish, I will definitely accept it happily."

The silver-haired poet bowed deeply and said sincerely.

"Oh, don't be so nervous, Damien, Young Master Bea is not trouble for this lord at all, this lord is Mar..."

Feike patted his friend's shoulder, wanting to comfort the other party, but was scared to silence by a look from Xia Mingyu, and hid to the side in terror again.

"Sit."

"Yes."

Damien sat on the chair with some restraint.

"Can you tell me what abilities the minstrel's blessing has?"

Xia Mingyu looked at the emerald green text on the poet's head, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

In this world, minstrels, like fighters, are one of the oldest professions that can be traced back to the age of gods.

It was the first time he had seen a minstrel of the Transcendent Rank.

"My honor, my lord."

"My ability as a minstrel apprentice is to accurately distinguish musical rhythms, and after advancing, I have an additional ability to make the voice more pleasant." Damien said.

Just that? Xia Mingyu's mouth twitched.

This was the worst Transcendent profession he had seen so far, not as good as a merchant, at least a merchant could withstand two improper attacks.

"My lord, minstrels have almost no combat power, and it is not until the third rank, Singer, that a qualitative change will occur, gaining the ability to use music to influence others' emotions and even produce hallucinations."

"However, this hurdle is almost the most difficult of all professions to advance to Morning Star, often among dozens of minstrels, there may not be one who can advance to Singer, I will probably be a minstrel for the rest of my life."

When he said this, a trace of bitterness flashed on Damien's extremely handsome face.

If he could advance to Singer, he wouldn't have to worry about being forced by strong men all day.

"Believe in yourself, your singing is really good." Xia Mingyu said calmly.

Hearing this, gratitude appeared again in Damien's beautiful eyes like snowflakes. He was about to thank him, but as if thinking of something, his face, which was more beautiful than a woman's, was shrouded in worry and faint fear again.

"Respected my lord, I am very grateful for your help, but I still want to remind you that I really cannot accept same-sex love..."

The silver-haired poet said cautiously and uneasily.

*Tsk*, too miserable.

Xia Mingyu sipped the sweet wine in his glass, and couldn't help but feel heartfelt sympathy for Damien in front of him.

Growing up like this, but having no ability to resist, and still being in a world where commoners have no human rights, it's just like the beautiful boy Ganymede who was taken away by Zeus in Greek mythology.

He is an egalitarian, not only to protect women who are forced, but even more so to protect men who are forced.

Well, let's help him.

"Don't worry, I only accept women's love just like you." Thinking of this, Xia Mingyu put down his wine glass and said.

"Damien, I will come to see your performance from time to time in the future, and if you have difficulties, you can also come to Red Fox Castle to find me, just say that a person wearing a black top hat let you come here."

"Thank you, noble my lord, may I ask how I should address you in the future?"

Hearing this, excitement immediately appeared on the silver-haired poet's face. He knew that this lord from Red Fox Castle, whose identity was unknown but definitely noble, meant to provide him with shelter.

"You can call me Starfire." Xia Mingyu thought for a while and said.

"Yes, Lord Starfire, I will keep your name in my heart."

At the same time, outside Nightingale Tavern.

After receiving the report from the patrolling guards, a team of guards led by the leading Transcendent Knight soon arrived at the scene of the fight.

"Quick, take this madman away from me!"

Thinking he was saved, Bea immediately shouted for help.

However, after the Transcendent Knight saw Boge's face clearly, he bowed respectfully and then left with the guards along the original path.

This knight named Gray still remembered that this boy was driving for the big shot in the carriage with his superior at that time.

"... Who on earth is your master?" Bea asked dumbfounded, only then did he realize that he seemed to have provoked someone he shouldn't have.

However, the answer to him was another punch.

As a hunting dog, Boge strictly followed his lord's order; the meaning of "just don't beat him to death" meant beating him half to death.

(End of chapter)