Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 353: It's Her

Yu Xiang'er's performance at Jubilant Melody Hall wasn't part of a grand tour; she happened to visit and decided to perform here. While it was common for disciples of the South Melody Conservatory to perform and support local halls, a visitation from someone of Yu Xiang'er's caliber was rare.

This performance wasn't heavily promoted like her individual tours. As a result, those queuing for tickets were mostly fervent fans from Donghuai City. Despite the large turnout, the crowd didn't swell beyond that initial group.

Soon, two women joined the queue from the back.

"Junior Sister, Miss Ji?" Ren Hongdao looked at them strangely as he asked. "Why are you here too?"

The two women were none other than Tang Shi and Ji Lingyu, clearly in a situation similar to Chu Liang and Yun Chaoxian.

Upon hearing Ren Hongdao's question, the two young girls blinked, pondering how to answer. Before they could respond, Chu Liang asked, "You like Yu Xiang'er too?"

"Ah, yes, yes," Tang Shi and Ji Lingyu nodded eagerly.

The scene mirrored what had happened earlier.

"Excellent," Ren Hongdao said with a satisfied nod. "I had no idea there were so many like-minded people in the Great Astral Sect."

Zhang Chen, standing nearby, watched them with a smile, choosing to remain silent.

Tang Shi glanced at him and asked, "Why is Brother Zhang Chen masked?"

"Shh," Zhang Chen hushed, raising his finger gently. "Don't call me by my full name outside."

Chu Liang chuckled; Zhang Chen's situation was similar to his own. However, Zhang Chen wore a mask because he was too well-liked, while Chu Liang did so because he was hated by too many people.

Chu Liang suggested, "I'm in the same situation. Brother Zhang, why not do as I do and use an alias when traveling?"

"That's a good idea," Zhang Chen replied.

"My alias is Chu Liuxiang[1]. Brother Zhang, how about the alias Zhang San[2]?" Chu Liang suggested.

Zhang Chen: "..."

The two names were essentially similar, but "Zhang San" sounded less thoughtful and a bit perfunctory in comparison.[3]

That day, they queued for a long time to buy tickets and agreed to watch the performance the next day.

Back at the inn, Yun Chaoxian said, "This won't work. My Senior Brother and Zhang Chen are always around. How can we gather information?"

"Not during the day," Chu Liang suggested. "Why don't we visit Jubilant Melody Hall at night?"

...

As night fell, Chu Liang and Yun Chaoxian arrived outside Jubilant Melody Hall, ready to sneak in under the cover of darkness.

As they reached the street next to Jubilant Melody Hall and were watching, they saw a shadowy figure climb over the wall and slip inside.

In the next instant, a melody of a guqin echoed from inside Jubilant Melody Hall.

Zheng—

The music was so powerful it seemed almost tangible, and the shadowy figure who had just slipped inside was suddenly propelled back, rolling across the ground.

Immediately, several guards from Jubilant Melody Hall rushed out through the door.

They heard shouts from that direction, "These bastards are trying to sneak into Jubilant Melody Hall to lurk around Miss Yu! Beat them to death! Show them no mercy!"

"Ah! Ah! I won't dare again!" someone pleaded.

"..."

Hearing the person's screams, Chu Liang and Yun Chaoxian both grimaced.

Unlike ordinary immortal sects, the South Melody Conservatory did not require its disciples to train through combat. Each core disciple, selected from thousands, was highly valued and not skilled in fighting, so they were typically assigned at least one bodyguard.

These bodyguards were usually former disciples who had not become core members but possessed high cultivation skills. They were often trained specifically as combat musicians.

For example, Chu Liang had seen Xue Lingxue before. Although she didn't appear to have an elder accompanying her, there was undoubtedly a bodyguard in her team to protect her in case of danger.

The person who shouted earlier was likely Yu Xiang'er's bodyguard. Judging by the strength of the attack, he was probably at the peak of the sixth realm.

"How do we get in?" Yun Chaoxian asked.

Chu Liang thought for a moment and said, "To get inside, we need a muscular person to break in through the main gate to distract the bodyguard. Meanwhile, a sharp-minded person should slip in from the side."

Upon hearing this, Yun Chaoxian hesitated. Then, he asked, "But I'm both strong and sharp-minded. What should I do?"

"..." Chu Liang paused for a moment before saying, "Then why don't you give me the chance to be the smart one? Just stride forward and try breaking in."

Neither of them was one to dawdle; once the plan was set, they acted immediately.

Yun Chaoxian covered his face and, without using his World-Dominating Halberd, charged through the main gate of Jubilant Melody Hall with his fists raised, shouting, "I want to see Yu Xiang'er!"

"Another one?" The South Melody Conservatory bodyguard inside was furious. The guqin's sound turned as sharp as a knife.

Zing! Zing! Zang!—

Yun Chaoxian was initially frightened and flipped in mid-air twice to narrowly dodge the attacks. "Your attacks were not this fierce earlier!" he exclaimed.

"To warn the monkeys, one must first kill the chicken as a warning. If I don't set an example, everyone will think the South Melody Conservatory is too weak to handle all of you!" Even before the bodyguard appeared before Yun Chaoxian, his voice and the guqin melody had reached him.

As the melody of the guqin played, a large formation was instantly set up!

Yun Chaoxian was now trapped inside, unable to move freely. He could only dodge as best he could, but occasionally his tough body was struck a few times. Feeling unlucky, he thought to himself, How did I suddenly become the chicken here?

Seeing he couldn't hold on much longer, he suddenly heard a woman's shout from outside, "Ha!"

Another person barged into the formation!

...

While the bodyguard was distracted, Chu Liang seized the opportunity to conceal his aura and quietly slipped into Jubilant Melody Hall.

Once inside, he looked around, hoping to find someone to question and gather information from.

Though the front of Jubilant Melody Hall seemed small, its interior was quite spacious, complete with landscapes and gardens.

As Chu Liang was about to cross the garden to reach the area where the apprentices lived, he suddenly heard someone call out from behind, "Young Hero Chu?"

"Who?" Chu Liang turned around quickly and saw it was Ji Lingyu, letting out a sigh of relief.

No wonder she recognized him at a glance; Ji Lingyu was extremely sensitive to people's auras.

"How did you get in, Miss Ji?" Chu Liang asked.

"I had Tang Shi create a distraction outside, and I slipped in during the commotion," Ji Lingyu said.

When Chu Liang heard this, he smiled.

As it turned out, human ingenuity shared a fundamental similarity.

It was the same with might and vigor.

"Then, let's advance together and conceal each other's presence. Our primary goal is to find Li Feiyu," Chu Liang said.

"Alright," Ji Lingyu responded softly.

At this moment, they couldn't bother distinguishing between friend and foe. All they could do was focus on working together.

Ji Lingyu was clever and understood the implied meaning of Chu Liang's words. If she insisted on competing, Chu Liang would shout, and no one would benefit from the situation.

The two of them proceeded stealthily together, passing through a garden and reaching a large wooden house. They quietly peeked through a window and saw a hot spring inside, with flower petals floating on the water and the shadows of people underneath.

Although the water surface obscured their forms and auras, it wasn't hard to tell through the petals on the water... It seemed that a woman was bathing.

Ji Lingyu immediately glared at Chu Liang and whispered, "Don't look!"

Chu Liang quickly turned his back.

Ji Lingyu nodded in satisfaction and remarked, "You are quite the gentleman."

"It's not just about being a gentleman. I suggest you turn around too..." Chu Liang said weakly.

"I'm a woman too. What's the harm in taking a look..." Ji Lingyu replied as she turned to take a glance.

With that glance, she was stunned, frozen in shock.

It turned out that behind them stood a middle-aged woman in a long purple robe. She held a guqin in her left hand and was glaring at them with cold eyes.

Who else could it be but the South Melody Conservatory bodyguard who had attacked earlier?

The strength of someone at the peak of the sixth realm was indeed formidable. Even the two core disciples of the Great Astral Sect, Yun Chaoxian and Tangshi, hadn't managed to delay her for even a moment.

Ji Lingyu waved her hand and said with a smile, "Esteemed senior, if I tell you we just happened to pass by here, will you let us leave?"

"Hmph!" The bodyguard snorted coldly and suddenly struck the guqin with her right hand. Zing—

The sound of the guqin was like a sword, sharp and unstoppable, cutting through the air with indomitable force!

Chu Liang and Ji Lingyu dodged to either side simultaneously!

The guqin's sound naturally disturbed the woman in the hot springs inside the house. She immediately rose from the water and dressed swiftly, all in a single breath.

A woman exuding a delicate fragrance hurried out of the wooden cabin, asking in shock, "Master Zhao, what happened?"

The bodyguard replied, "Xiang'er, there's no need to panic. It's just two little thieves who sneaked in."

When she was speaking to this woman, her tone was much gentler.

In his panic, Chu Liang noticed the woman's slender figure. Her face was partially hidden by her wet hair, but her beauty was still evident. She exuded an aura of grace, like a lotus emerging from the water.

On the other side, Ji Lingyu suddenly shouted, "It's her!"

1. Chu Liuxiang is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel series Chu Liuxiang Series by Taiwanese writer Gu Long. His given name "Liuxiang" literally means "lingering fragrance" and he steals from the rich to help the poor and upholds justice in the martial world. ☜

2. Zhang San is a fictional side character in Chu Liuxiang Series. His existence is kinda like Lackey B. He's a loyal friend of Chu Liuxiang and he's famous for being the best at roasting fish, swimming, and loving pearls. ☜

3. Zhang San = Zhang Number Three lol ☜