The fragrance of the wind flashed by.
From behind the screen, a figure gracefully emerged.
Jiang Dali fixed his gaze and indeed saw the Princess of Tang, rumored to be stunningly beautiful.
She appeared no older than twenty, draped in a colorful light fur, wrapping her exquisitely curved body. Her slender neck, under the moonlight, flowed with an unusually captivating curve. Her waist tightly cinched by a cloud belt, with almond eyes and peach cheeks, a delicate nose, and cherry lips.
What was most precious, however, was that although the woman looked charming, there was no hint of demonic seduction about her.
Instead, she was dignified and elegant, extraordinary in demeanor. With every move, she exuded an imposing aura of nobility and a humbling presence, truly befitting a former princess.
Jiang Dali suddenly thought, "Perhaps the most enchanting and intoxicating aspect of Xiangxing Painting Boat is indeed the princess herself, personally playing the zither for her distinguished guests. For ordinary people, can there be anything more unimaginably thrilling?
But for Tang Country, it must be the most shameful thing.
Yet such shameful deeds go unchecked; no scheme of Tang’s elite could be absent from this fact.
However, ordinary people could never know that the owner behind the scenes of Xiangxing Painting Boat was the Princess of Tang, Li Xiangfang."
As he pondered, Jiang Dali, empowered by his Divine Skill and Spiritual Sense, felt the presence of an expert hidden within the boat, and understood even more.
The woman who emerged, Li Xiangfang, now smiled slightly and bowed her head to pluck the strings in her arms.
A breathtakingly clear sound broke through the air and spiraled out, lingering long.
She softly started, "Master Jiang, what are you pondering? Why not sit down and listen to my piece, then reflect thoroughly?"
Jiang Dali recalled the recent task he had triggered and speculated that the success or failure of this mission might just lie within this very performance by Li Xiangfang.
Immediately, he grinned, grabbed a chair effortlessly, sank down with authority, and loudly said, "I am not versed in music. If you play something exquisite and I fail to understand, it would be like playing the lute to a cow. Miss, just play, and I’ll just listen."
Li Xiangfang chuckled softly, "Since ancient times, true men aspire to lofty goals, considering the world as their home, forsaking the small for the big, striving to achieve great deeds. They ride into battlefields with spears, rarely indulging in tender longings for love.
I perceive you, Master Jiang, to be of this kind, so I will play ’The River is Red’ for you.
If you can comprehend the three essences within it, it would bring me joy too."
As her words faded, Li Xiangfang conveniently sat down, the zither across her laps. At a slight movement of her delicate fingers, the sound of the zither arose.
The sound of the zither seemed like clashing swords and charging horses, drums of war beating, as if thousands of troops were advancing.
Her robes fluttered, flowers seemed to bloom splendidly, and in that moment, it was as though a beauty had leapt from below, dancing gracefully to the rhythm of the dramatic music.
This grand and generous melody suddenly acquired a touch of sentimental heroism.
The dancing girl lowered her brows, glanced back, showed coquettish anger, and happiness, all in sync with the intentions of the music, embodying a lovesick woman longing for her husband’s return from war, each gaze intoxicating to men.
Jiang Dali listened to the melody and felt, afar from the boat in the small pavilion, that Qiao Feng seemed to have engaged Duan Yanqing in a clash, bustling and vibrant.
For a moment, he felt his spirit sway, as if he were also on the battlefield, unable to resist drumming his fingers on the armrest, following the rhythm of his Divine Thought Strike Skill.
Almost at the same moment, the sound of the zither, like hypnotic notes, vibrated through the air into Jiang Dali’s mind.
Jiang Dali felt his thoughts increasingly immersed.
In his mind’s eye, a side seemed to approach a beauteous lady smiling, her long, black hair and stunning cheeks, her skin white as jade, flickering before his eyes.
On the other side, Qiao Feng shouted, his arms pushing Left Rush and Right Burst, executing Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms ferociously.
"Haha! Come!! I, Nan Dali, am just eager to meet you, Beiqiao Feng! Let’s see whether your Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms are stronger or my Mighty God Fist!"
Jiang Dali’s thoughts surged with excitement, his blood boiling, ready to charge forward.
Just then, the last note danced on the strings, and the music abruptly stopped.
Two beauties, each with a rosy smile, biting a rose, danced up to Jiang Dali.
Together, they bent their soft waists, a fragrance swept by, and both wrapped their fair arms around Jiang Dali’s neck, sitting on his knees provocatively with inviting glances.
In an instant, Jiang Dali abruptly became aware and exploded with a sharp glare, shouting, "Presumptuous!!"
A fierce and mighty Powerful Energy burst forth from his body like a tumultuous wave, blasting the two beauties who had approached him, sending them flying back, spitting blood, and crashing violently against the wall.
Jiang Dali abruptly stood up, his aura menacing and fierce, shooting a cold, electric gaze towards the greatly alarmed Li Xiangfang.
"Master Jiang! Please hold back, this was merely a test."
Feeling the killing momentum like a stormy wave crashing upon her, Li Xiangfang quickly spoke, her heart pounding and body trembling, dropping her ancient zither with a loud crash.
Jiang Dali snorted and shouted angrily, "A test my ass, why the hell would I need someone else to test me? How dare you repeatedly try to seduce me with your Charming Skills? Do you really think I am some pushover shrimp? Take this palm!"
His black war boots stomped on the ground, causing the entire painting boat to seemingly tremble.
Jiang Dali leapt forward, his right palm swinging violently, an incredibly forceful blast of energy roaring out with the sound of a dragon, striking directly at the pale-faced Li Xiangfang.