A song that breaks my heart, where can I find a soulmate in this world?

Ye Tian: Spring Breeze Pavilion Incident

Driven by a fit of rage for a beauty, Wang Teng forcefully proposed to Luo Ruyan. Luo Ruyan was powerless to resist, and Mystic Bliss Convent even wished for Luo Ruyan to marry Wang Teng.

Luo Ruyan did not want to marry Wang Teng, saying that her heart already belonged to someone. Even if he got her body, he would not get her heart, so he should give up that idea.

Wang Teng's face was ashen, as he, a Young Master, condescended to propose to a Green House woman, only to be rejected. This infuriated him greatly.

At this moment, Ye Tian, who had heard that Luo Ruyan's heart belonged to someone, could no longer hold back and stepped forward. Wasn't she talking about him?

Ye Tian stepped forward, opposing the marriage. Wang Teng learned Ye Tian's identity and, influenced by his 'intelligence-reducing halo,' surprisingly did not order his subordinates to capture Ye Tian, insisting on a one-on-one duel with him.

The two engaged in a great battle above the sky, lasting ten days and ten nights. Divine light flickered in the sky, resembling the tilting of the sun and moon, with neither side gaining an advantage, locked in a fierce struggle.

But in the end, Wang Teng was defeated by Ye Tian.

Finally, Wang Teng even forbade his subordinates from intervening, saying he wanted to defeat him personally.

After defeating Wang Teng, Ye Tian declared himself a seed Disciple of the Saint Academy in the Eternal Immortal Domain. He said Wang Teng's loss was not unjust.

As soon as his identity was revealed, everyone looked at him with new eyes. Luo Ruyan was even more moved beyond words, and their relationship quickly warmed.

Seeing this, Xiao Fan roughly understood.

The villain tries to snatch the bride. Then, the protagonist appears and slaps the villain's face.

Giving the female protagonist a small dose of protagonist shock, leading to unspoken affection and a secret vow of love.

It must be said, this trope, though old, is very practical.

The 'hero saves the beauty' plot device might seem cliché in a book, but if it happened to me, I'd only wish for more of it.

However, with Xiao Fan present, your 'hero saves the beauty' plot will not only fail to materialize but will also drag Luo Ruyan down.

A burst of cheers erupted, as from behind the Spring Breeze Pavilion's ornate fan screen, a graceful woman with a slender figure and a purple veil covering her face emerged.

The curtain covering the stage was hit by a streak of light and slowly pulled open. Many people stared, their eyes fixed on the person on stage.

Luo Ruyan possessed an exceptional aura, her misty, ethereal beauty sparking endless imagination. Just by looking at her exquisite eyes, one could infer that the face hidden beneath the thin purple veil was one of unparalleled beauty.

She moved with light, graceful steps, neither Delicate (delicate and charming) nor affectation (affected). She simply stood at the front of the stage, bowed slightly to the audience, and then walked to the prepared precious zither.

Slowly, she sat down, ready to play a song.

Before she even began to play, thunderous applause already erupted from below the stage.

"So beautiful."

"I only saw her eyes, yet why do I feel she possesses an unparalleled beauty?"

"Immortal Maiden Ruyan's beauty is truly, as they say, 'to die beneath the peony is to be a romantic ghost.'"

"Damn it, keep your voice down. Young Master Wang is sitting in there. Do you want to die? This is the woman Young Master Wang is proposing to; she's already his woman."

"It's a pity Young Master Wang took a liking to her," a handsome scholar remarked.

"Brother, in life, nine out of ten things don't go as planned. There are plenty of fish in the sea; why cling to one flower? Immortal Maiden Ruyan is rare, let's just admire her from afar," a Cultivator, also a scholar, responded to the scholar beside him.

"You misunderstood. I meant Young Master Wang is a pity. Such a perfect man, yet he actually likes a woman. A true man should fight head-on!"

"Hiss, Brother Nantong, you're one of those?"

"What?"

"What a coincidence, me too!"

"..."

Looking at the packed audience, Miao Ling, the Miao Ling of Mystic Bliss Convent, felt immensely proud.

Luo Ruyan's beauty had long spread throughout the Eternal Immortal Domain, reaching countless other Immortal Domains. It was safe to say that no one was unaware of her.

Some even traveled across several Immortal Domains just to catch a glimpse of her.

Using her beauty to gain protection, she merely required Luo Ruyan to perform a few songs on stage once a month, in exchange for protection and cultivation resources.

This arrangement had continued for decades, and she had profited immensely.

Not to mention, these seats had to be purchased with Immortal Stones, and some even spent a fortune after her performance, just to have her stay a little longer.

Miao Ling persistently coaxed Luo Ruyan to accept these gifts and perform a song or two, like an Immortal Realm version of a celebrity.

Luo Ruyan, being dependent on others, naturally wouldn't refuse as long as it didn't involve selling her body, just performing an extra song.

Putting aside everything else, the Immortal Stones earned from ticket sales alone accounted for half of Spring Breeze Pavilion's income from Luo Ruyan, making her an absolute cash cow.

From time to time, people would also slip her various treasures, just hoping to meet Luo Ruyan.

After receiving them, she would, of course, arrange it, but whether to meet or not was up to Luo Ruyan's discretion. The result, of course, was no meeting, and the gifts were certainly not returned.

However, she also understood that such a peerless beauty could only be temporarily held; it was impossible to keep her forever.

As her fame grew and more people became aware of her beauty, she wouldn't be able to protect her.

So the final use was to marry her off!

Marrying Luo Ruyan off and collecting a hefty dowry would be maximizing the benefits, wouldn't it?

It must be said, those who can run a Green House indeed have a business mind; they know how to package, how to market, and how to seize the right moment to sell something they can't control, to extract its final value.

As for what happens after Luo Ruyan is married, well, she won't be in charge anymore.

When Luo Ruyan appeared, Wang Teng, who had long been eagerly awaiting her, immediately stood up.

His Divine Sense brazenly swept over Luo Ruyan, both presumptuous and rude.

Fortunately, there were magic arrays on the stage to block Divine Sense, so Wang Teng did not succeed.

Moreover, his brazen behavior displeased the Cultivators present. If it weren't for Wang Teng's superior background, these Cultivators would have long since ganged up on him and beaten him to death.

Wang Teng's eyes were fixated. Luo Ruyan's figure was graceful and slender, her hair like a waterfall of black silk, naturally dark and flowing, both elegant and enchanting.

The misty beauty veiled by the purple gauze made his eyes burn with passion, as if the lover in his imagination should look exactly like this.

Such a beauty, besides me, Wang Teng, who else could claim her exclusively!

Luo Ruyan sat serenely before the precious zither, her jade fingers lightly plucking the strings, producing melodious sounds like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, pleasing to the ear.

Her jade fingers were slender, the zither music melodious, and within the tune was a hint of sorrow, though Wang Teng couldn't discern it, being a brainless villain with only lust on his mind.

"Good, good, good!"

Wang Teng stood up and applauded loudly at a moment when everyone else was quietly listening.

It was as if this place was his domain, and everyone else was merely background.

Ye Tian looked at the beauty on stage, his eyes filled with tender affection. "Ruyan, I'm here. I will rescue you from this cage. Wait for me."

Of course, Ye Tian also took in every one of Wang Teng's actions.

How presumptuous!

To be so rude, brazenly sweeping his gaze over the stage, and not even concealing the desire in his eyes—every one of Wang Teng's actions struck Ye Tian's inverse scale.

"Dare to covet my woman? Wang Teng, you are courting death!"

Ye Tian secretly swore in his heart.

Luo Ruyan bowed her head, playing the zither, immersed in her own music, but she also felt Wang Teng's gaze and words.

Crude and contemptuous, lacking both talent and sincerity, she would not marry such a person.

Xiao Fan sat in the Heaven-rank No. 1 private room, taking in everyone's reactions.

The evil in Wang Teng's eyes.

The killing intent in Ye Tian's eyes.

The sadness in Luo Ruyan's eyes, and the adoration of the Cultivators sitting in the audience, all were clearly visible.

"Interesting, it's like a celebrity concert."

A Fairy, unapproachable in the eyes of ordinary people.

A plaything in the eyes of a noble Young Master like Wang Teng.

And for a Child of Destiny like Ye Tian, who wants to monopolize Luo Ruyan, at most he's a true fan.

Doesn't that Green House madam resemble a celebrity manager?

Even Immortals cannot escape vulgarity. Immortals with desires are no different from Mortals.

But I, Xiao Fan, am different. I am a perverted mastermind, transcending both Immortals and Mortals!

Watching Xiao Fan's mysterious smile, Zhao Linger followed his gaze downwards.

Noticing Xiao Fan was staring at Luo Ruyan, she cursed inwardly, "Pervert."

Then, she began to secretly record Xiao Fan's misdeeds when he wasn't looking.

"Xiao Fan, the big pervert, kept staring at the woman on stage for a full quarter of an hour plus six breaths, with a mysterious smile on his face. He must be thinking naughty, lewd thoughts!"

Luo Ruyan's jade fingers danced, undisturbed by Wang Teng's words and actions. She continued to pluck the zither strings, as if pouring out her own melancholy.

Narrating her sorrow and loneliness, the fate of a caged golden finch, who could truly understand?

When the song ended, Luo Ruyan's hands left the zither. The next moment, thunderous applause erupted, and the Cultivators applauded, praising her continuously:

"Immortal Maiden Ruyan, you played too well! Can you play another song?"

"Can you even compliment properly? All you can say is 'good, good, good'? This is called 'graceful and lingering, a heavenly sound,' you cultural desert, aren't you?"

"You're so great, you're so cultured. If you're so capable, you go up there and play a song."

When the song ended, Wang Teng applauded even more vigorously, showering her with praise.

"Lady Luo's attainment in the Dao of music has reached a level where her intent moves with her heart. Though I do not understand music, I can still discern the profound meaning within."

"The lingering sound, like the ringing of jade pendants, I am deeply impressed. May I have the opportunity to ask Lady some questions about music and have a private exchange with you?"

Wang Teng smiled, full of confidence.

Luo Ruyan hadn't spoken yet, but Ye Tian couldn't hold back. "You want a private exchange?"

"I think you've lost your mind!"

"Heh, you don't understand music, yet you dare to discuss the Dao of music with Ruyan, and even want a private exchange? I think you have ill intentions, don't you?"

Ye Tian's voice rang out.

The audience below was stunned. "Ah? This fellow has guts, there's really someone not afraid of death."

Hearing the familiar voice, Luo Ruyan's gaze followed the sound, and she saw a familiar face, her eyes brightening.

"It's him!"

This change was too obvious and was seen by Wang Teng.

"Who are you? I'm wooing a girl, what business is it of yours?"

"I am Ruyan's friend. I can't stand a tyrannical fop like you. You understand music? You understand nothing about music!"

"Can you hear the emotions within? Can you hear her sorrow of being unfree? No, you can't. All you can say is 'it sounds good'!"

Damn it! Wang Teng's face was ashen. No one had ever dared to contradict him so openly.

"Young man, how dare you. Our Ruyan has no friends at all, don't talk nonsense," Miao Ling said coldly.

It wasn't easy to find a Young Master from a great family willing to propose to Luo Ruyan. Don't ruin my plans!

"Hmph!"

Ye Tian disdained to acknowledge her. Instead, he stepped forward and said to Luo Ruyan:

"Ruyan, I am Ye Tian."

"No one can restrict your freedom. As long as you say you don't want to be here, I will risk my life to rescue you!"

Luo Ruyan was moved, but she also knew that Ye Tian was only a Human Immortal Cultivator. For him to stand out among so many people to express his concern for her was truly rare.

She didn't want to implicate him.

"Young Master Ye, I'm fine."

Wang Teng wanted to kill Ye Tian on the spot, and so did Miao Ling.

But this person could converse with Luo Ruyan; he was indeed her friend. If they acted rashly, it might displease her, so they had to suppress the urge to strike.

The scene fell into a dead silence.

Xiao Fan watched, thinking it truly was a grand drama of a hero saving the beauty.

He stood up, clapping softly, breaking the silence.

The applause wasn't loud, but coming from the Heaven-rank No. 1 private room, it carried significant weight.

"Good, a song that breaks the heart, where can one find a true friend in this world?"

"Lady Luo's zither skill is exquisite, her music like weeping and pleading, conveying sorrow, wishing to entrust her heart to the zither. Few understand, who listens when the strings break?"

"It's just, it seems no one truly understands you."

Luo Ruyan's heart trembled slightly. Who was it that spoke her heart's feelings?

She followed the source of the voice and saw a handsome and elegant young man with a refined demeanor, speaking eloquently, a hint of sadness on his face.

Could it be that you understand my sorrow?

Not only her, but Wang Teng and Ye Tian, and indeed everyone present, turned their gaze towards the Heaven-rank No. 1 private room.

——————

Tired, going to sleep.

(:3 ▒ ▒ ▒ ▏ [Good night]