Chapter 1774: Words Within Words

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil could see very clearly; she and a maid were gloating as they chatted about something, as if discussing the situation outside, yet they were in no hurry to come out.

The others either kept their heads down drinking or looked outward, and no one dared to intervene in He Lianqiang's and Xuan Yuan Yu's dispute.

Each of them had four bodyguards, their strengths not far apart, so it was just a war of words and they couldn't come to blows.

"Why do I feel someone is probing me?"

Hua Xiangyuan also sensed something amiss.

Ye Liuyun, seeing that she had noticed, immediately averted his gaze and looked elsewhere.

"Miss, rest assured! This Formation is absolutely impenetrable to others' probing!"

The maid comforted Hua Xiangyuan.

"Hmm! Perhaps I'm just too sensitive!"

Hua Xiangyuan replied with a nod, got up early to put on clothes, and let the maid help her dress.

"Miss, don't worry; as soon as your zither sounds, they'll definitely start fighting today!"

The maid also reassured her.

After Ye Liuyun and the others waited a while, Hua Xiangyuan slowly walked out of the partition.

He Lianqiang and Xuan Yuan Yu immediately stopped arguing and greeted each other with smiles.

While the maid helped her arrange the zither, Hua Xiangyuan softly said to everyone, "Thank you all for your favor; I wish to hear a piece from this modest lady.

May I ask the gentlemen, could you tell me your names, so I may remember them in my heart?"

A young man who looked like a wealthy heir stood up, ready to introduce himself.

He Lianqiang sneered, "These people are unfit for the stage, merely suitable for serving; Miss Hua need not take them seriously!"

"Exactly! If the rules didn't forbid it, I'd pay to buy up all the seats here!"

Xuan Yuan Yu also blurted out carelessly.

Hua Xiangyuan, however, gently reassured the two, "Young Master He, Young Master Xuan, you are regulars and know the rules here.

When the gentlemen spend money, it's out of courtesy; I should ask, shouldn't I?"

The Ten Thousand Gods Command in Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness also flashed at the same time, so he inferred that Hua Xiangyuan was employing illusion techniques.

"Fine! Since Miss Hua insists, I will not interfere!"

He Lianqiang immediately compromised.

Xuan Yuan Yu also ceased to block, lifted his cup and began drinking.

At this moment, the standing wealthy young master finally dared to introduce himself.

The others did the same; essentially, besides their names, they also reported their backgrounds.

When it came to Ye Liuyun, he simply said, "Ye Liuyun!"

Hua Xiangyuan was taken aback, smiled and asked, "Young Master Ye, is it inconvenient to mention your family?"

Ye Liuyun could only continue, "Just a carefree wanderer, miss need not worry! I know nothing of music; I'm merely passing by, joining the fun. You play yours, I'll drink mine!"

Hua Xiangyuan, however, was especially interested in Ye Liuyun.

Others looked at her with desire-filled eyes, but Ye Liuyun's gaze was clear.

Moreover, his pair of Golden Pupils gave people an unfathomable feeling.

She then softly said, "A carefree wanderer may still be true to his nature! Young Master Ye, if you lack refined taste, why would you come to support Hua Xiangyuan's gathering!"

As she spoke, the Ten Thousand Gods Command in Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness flickered several more times.

"Her illusion technique is indeed strong!"

Ye Liuyun thought to himself.

But he only gave a chuckle, offering no answer.

Then the next young gentleman introduced himself.

Although Hua Xiangyuan outwardly listened to the next person's introduction, she was astonished inside that Ye Liuyun could resist her illusion's temptation.

"If he didn't come to listen to the zither, then what is his purpose here?"

Hua Xiangyuan was also very puzzled at that moment.

After everyone finished introducing themselves, Hua Xiangyuan composed herself and said some polite words.

Then she placed her hands on the guqin, ready to play.

"Since all the gentlemen are here to listen to the zither, I won't waste time; I will now present a piece for everyone. If there are any flaws in my playing, please be lenient!"

Since all the young masters have come to listen to the qin, I won't waste any more time—I'll play a piece for everyone right away.

"I'll chop him up and feed him to the fish!"

Xuan Yuan Yu threatened.

"Rude! Miss Hua's zither art is unrivaled in the world; how could anyone find fault?"

He Lianqiang spoke up.

The two took turns teasing her.

Hua Xiangyuan smiled, offered a modest remark, and began to play.

Ye Liuyun was looking for a chance to strike at those four "Vajras".

When Hua Xiangyuan's zither sounded, the Ten Thousand Gods Command in Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness began to radiate brilliance.

This was exactly what he expected, nothing surprising.

At first the music sounded normal, then it revealed a dark murderous intent.

Subsequently, feelings of vengeance, bloodlust, and similar moods emanated through the music.

In the qin's music, it began fairly normal, then it revealed a grim murderous intent.

Afterwards, hatred, bloodlust and similar moods all resonated through the qin's sound.

Although Ye Liuyun doesn't understand it well, with Wu Qingcheng's dance skill and Su Miaoyin's musical theory as a basis, he can at least discern what she intends to convey.

Suddenly Ye Liuyun realized that the woman wanted He Lianqiang and Xuan Yuan Yu to slaughter each other, so she could profit from it.

But even if he knew, it was none of his business.

He took advantage of everyone being intoxicated by the music and placed a Divine Sense seal on the lowest‑level Vajra.

Although his Divine Sense was strong and his movements were discreet, he did not attract anyone's notice.

But this music was the ambience set by Miss Hua, so she naturally knew what had occurred within it.

"So he was targeting Xuan Yuan Yu!"

She immediately understood Ye Liuyun's intention.

However, like Ye Liuyun, she would not interfere with the other's actions.

At this moment she finally grasped that Ye Liuyun's earlier words—'you play yours, I drink mine'—were a code for non‑interference.

She looked at Ye Liuyun, and Ye Liuyun looked back at her, giving a slight nod.

She also smiled faintly and continued playing the zither.

When the piece ended, Ye Liuyun, like the others, pretended to snap out of his reverie.

He Lianqiang and Xuan Yuan Yu grew even more hateful toward each other, and their guards became increasingly on edge.

A mid third‑stage guard beside He Lianqiang finally couldn't hold back, provoking the opposite mid third‑stage Vajra: "Shall we stir things up a bit and give Miss Hua some entertainment?"

"Exactly what I had in mind!"

The Vajra opposite replied in kind.

He Lianqiang and Xuan Yuan Yu each raised their cups, showing no intention to intervene.

"Swoosh!"

He Lianqiang's guard was the first to leap from the balcony and hover in the air.

The guard beside Xuan Yuan Yu followed suit, jumping out as well.

"That's not right!"

Miss Hua said softly.

"Ignore them! We'll listen to ours!"

"Exactly, Miss Hua, keep playing; we'll listen to the piece!"

Xuan Yuan Yu and He Lianqiang clearly did not wish to stop their subordinates.

"Fine then!"

Miss Hua pretended to be helpless and kept playing.

"Opportunity!"

This time, Ye Liuyun ignored the music and focused entirely on finding a chance to strike.

He intends to, at the crucial moment when He Lianqiang's guards launch a full assault, seize the Vajra's True Essence and cause an accident.

Moreover, once the piece began, everyone immersed themselves in the music, and no one paid any further attention to him.