Chen Feng, continuing to savor his pastry and sip his red wine, shook his head, his tone utterly flat. "No. This seat belongs to Brent."

Brent, who had been following just behind Yani, started visibly and quickly interjected, "Miss Yani, if you wish to sit, of course you should..."

Yani turned to give Brent a slight, knowing smile. "Since it is your seat, how could I, as a guest, possibly take the host's place? I shall not sit, then."

Hearing Yani say this, the surrounding young nobles let out a collective sigh of relief. Everyone present had witnessed the red-haired youth's rudeness earlier; had it not been for his association with Brent, they likely would have already ganged up on him.

Who was Yani? She was the Dance Immortal of the Loki Empire. For such a celestial being to even sit opposite this rude fellow would be giving him an undeserved advantage.

In truth, every man there wished Yani would favor them with her presence, yet not one dared voice it, as such a request would instantly make them the target of universal scorn and attack.

When Yani made her statement, a hint of disappointment crossed Brent's face. In his mind, sharing a seat with someone as exquisitely beautiful as Yani would have been an immense honor, incredibly cool...

"No one is here, so I'll just sit here," Yani said with a sweet smile, settling down directly beside Chen Feng.

"This..." Everyone's eyes widened, almost refusing to believe what they saw. That red-haired youth was too fortunate; Yani was choosing to sit next to him! A barrage of intensely jealous stares immediately shot toward Chen Feng.

But before their astonishment could fully settle, Chen Feng's cold voice cut through the air: "I'll count to three. Move to the side. I don't like sharing a bench with other people."

"Ah..." Although his voice wasn't loud, it struck the crowd like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Was this red-haired youth insane or simply dense? The person wanting to sit with him was the Dance Immortal, Yani!

How many men had dreamed of sharing wine and pastry with her? Yet, no one had ever succeeded. Today, Yani offered to sit with this red-haired youth, and he flatly refused...

Yani paused, momentarily stunned. She asked sweetly, "Are you serious?"

In her entire life, she had never faced rejection from anyone, man or woman. Whenever she made a request, no one had ever dared say "No." This young man not only said it but directly issued a warning, a slight piercing her sense of self-worth.

Chen Feng frowned, offered no reply, but icily spat out a single syllable: "One."

"Who do you think you are? It is the fortune built over generations that Miss Yani would even consider sitting here! You dare be so unappreciative..." A young noble, unable to bear Yani's distressed expression, couldn't help but point at Chen Feng and start shouting insults.

Chen Feng looked up at the noble for a moment, a flicker of suppressed anger flashing through his eyes, but his voice remained chillingly steady. "Two!"

Seeing Chen Feng’s expression, Yani started in alarm, a distinct feeling stirring in her heart: this young man was absolutely serious about making her leave. If she hadn't moved by the count of three, he would definitely have thrown her out.

It was a strange feeling, yet utterly real, as if it were destined to happen, making her uncomfortable. As a favored daughter of heaven, this was the first time she felt so utterly disregarded.

"Since you find it inconvenient, Yani will not trouble you further!" Yani's usual boldness and confidence were replaced by a subtle air of dejection.

However, this expression only made the crowd feel more protective and furious toward Chen Feng.

Especially the noble who had just spoken. He suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "You wretched boy, you refuse a toast only to demand a forfeit!" He then quickly bowed to Yani. "Miss Yani, please forgive my rudeness. This boy dares to disrespect you; I feel compelled to teach him a lesson!"

Chen Feng sighed internally, unable to fathom why these men were so eager to posture and display dominance in front of a beautiful woman. The silver-armored youth earlier, and now this fellow—it was truly troublesome.

"No need, thank you for your kindness. Yani does not wish for anyone to become unpleasant because of me," Yani replied, her demeanor somewhat dimmed, clearly disapproving of the noble’s actions.

"Since Miss Yani says so, then I was meddling," the noble conceded, falling silent. He ground his teeth, his gaze fixed on Chen Feng filled with venomous resentment.

It seemed he had redirected all his pent-up anger toward Chen Feng.

Seeing that almost everyone was now clustered around her, Yani felt a wave of annoyance. "Let the ball continue; you can’t stop having fun just because Yani has arrived."

The crowd offered sheepish smiles and quieted down, returning to their seats. Some resumed dancing, others sipped their drinks, though the majority of eyes still gravitated toward Yani.

Yani found a seat that was still relatively close to Chen Feng.

The music swelled, and couples glided across the dance floor, an aesthetically pleasing sight under the hall's illumination. Chen Feng toyed with his wine glass, watching the dancers, and couldn't help but issue a soft scoff.

This wasn't dancing; it was just circling aimlessly. There was absolutely no technique, let alone artistry in their movements.

In his previous life, Chen Feng had enjoyed dance and was quite proficient, even competing on behalf of his school. Seeing these simplistic movements, he couldn't help but look down on them.

"Is Your Excellency also a master of the dance?" Seeing Chen Feng's peculiar smile, Yani couldn't help but inquire.

Yani possessed immense confidence in dance. She began studying at five, and for the past twelve years, she had traveled almost the entire Loki Empire, studying under countless renowned masters, fusing various dance forms to create her unique style.

Three years ago, at fourteen, a single performance at the Imperial Grand Theater had stunned the entire audience, leading the Emperor of the Loki Empire to proclaim her the Dance Immortal—a title that had followed her ever since.

In pure dancing skill, she possessed unmatched talent and comprehension. Discovering a new style of dance was like a martial arts fanatic encountering a peerless secret manual; she would find a way to master it. It was this very nature that prompted her to question Chen Feng's dismissive attitude toward the current display. Only a fool, or a true master, could look upon the nobility’s dancing with such disdain.

Chen Feng replied, "Master is too strong a word; I merely know how to dance."

"Oh?" Yani's eyes lit up, and she couldn't resist urging, "Then perhaps you could perform one for Yani to broaden my horizons?"

Women are strange creatures. If a man relentlessly pursues her, she is sure to be displeased and flee if she can. Yet, once she encounters someone who doesn't fawn over her, who treats her with indifference, her curiosity is instantly piqued, compelling her to seek validation from that very person.

This was precisely Yani's mindset now. Despite being the center of attention everywhere, she longed for someone to see her without being infatuated, only to immediately wish that same person would become infatuated with her...

Before Chen Feng could answer, a pale-skinned young noble approached Yani with a perfectly poised, gentlemanly gesture, extending his right hand. "Miss Yani, might I request the honor of this dance?"

The young man had fair skin and handsome features, appearing quite amiable. He was clad in a white mage robe, and his soft, refined speech suggested impeccable upbringing.

Yani frowned slightly but then gracefully placed her hand into his. "Yani would be honored." She rose and leaned toward Chen Feng, whispering softly, "I hope you can offer guidance!"

Then, led by the fair-skinned gentleman, she stepped onto the dance floor.

Yani's rising caused an immediate stir. The Dance Immortal was dancing; who among the attendees dared to continue? They swiftly cleared the floor.

Many male guests looked at the fair-skinned noble with overwhelming jealousy and regret. What an honor it was to dance with the Dance Immortal! If only I had asked first, perhaps she would have danced with me...

Of course, some hoped to see the fair-skinned noble make a fool of himself. Yani’s dancing was exquisite and elegant; anyone lacking substantial skill would inevitably look ridiculous dancing beside her.

There were no amplifiers or speakers in this world; all music was performed live. The musicians, seeing the fair-skinned noble and Yani ready, immediately focused and began playing the most common piece—The Excursion Ode.

The Excursion Ode was composed over a hundred years ago by a master musician who was inspired during a trip with friends. The music depicts the fond attachment between companions, making it highly suitable for such an occasion. It was widely popular, and many different choreographies existed for it, varying in tempo.

Dancing together didn't require a tight embrace and spinning. The dance Yani and the fair-skinned noble performed perfectly matched the Ode, symbolizing the affectionate bond between friends. The rhythm dictated that they enter the floor with distinct steps and movements, approach each other during the dance, and then separate.

This pattern of meeting and parting represented the journey of friends traveling together, from reunion to farewell.

As Yani began to dance, all eyes in the grand hall fixed upon her. Her graceful movements, her ethereal flow, seemed like a crimson cloud rising from the dance floor. Watching Yani, the audience felt transported to a vast, open field where close companions gathered, sharing wine and discourse in joyful liberty. Everyone felt their spirits lifted, as if they had stepped into the scene, their feet involuntarily moving to the music.

Such was the power of the dance. The title of Dance Immortal was truly well-earned.

"Her technique is indeed impressive. Even compared to the famous dancers of my previous life, she surpasses them. However, her style is rather monotonous, far from the variation and splendor of modern dance," Chen Feng concluded after watching for a while.

In this world, strength was paramount, and dance had not reached its apex. In Chen Feng's past life, the specialization of labor was far more pronounced, leading to entire professions dedicated to dance research, resulting in an overwhelming variety of styles. Watching Yani's dance was like viewing Yang Guifei's "Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe Dance" from the Tang Dynasty—captivating for that era, perhaps, but in Chen Feng's eyes, merely elegant, lacking any true impact.

The music concluded, and Yani had perfectly expressed the emotion embedded in the piece through her movements. The audience was left utterly mesmerized.

The fair-skinned noble’s skill was not poor, but compared to Yani, the difference was like heaven and earth, making him utterly forgettable to the onlookers. Yet, he beamed, his face twitching slightly with pride at having danced with the Dance Immortal, which in turn stoked fresh waves of jealousy from the crowd.

Returning from the floor, Yani’s pure white jade face was flushed from the exertion. She gracefully sat down not far from Chen Feng, her posture elegant and composed, a stark contrast to the allure she displayed on the dance floor.

"I wonder if Your Excellency noticed any shortcomings in my technique? Could you possibly offer a word of guidance?" Yani noticed Chen Feng hadn't been mesmerized like everyone else, and his calm reaction suggested he wasn't impressed by her performance, which irked her slightly. She spoke softly.

Though her voice was low, everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to her, and a tide of scorn, verbal abuse, and mockery washed over Chen Feng.

"He's clearly an idiot who understands nothing of Miss Yani's transcendent artistry. Miss Yani, stop wasting words on him..."

"That red-haired fellow is obviously trying to act profound just to get close to Miss Yani..."

"Did you see that? Red hair means trouble. Look at his face—it’s the face of a petty man daring to insult Miss Yani! Who does he think he is!"

...

The crowd voiced disparate opinions, but they all shared one goal: denouncing Chen Feng. Since Yani's dance, she had become almost divine in their eyes, and no one was permitted to show her disrespect. Though they couldn't see Chen Feng's face, they understood from Yani's words that he held her performance in disdain. To offend the Dance Immortal of the Loki Empire was surely courting death!

Chen Feng, hearing the chaotic murmur of the crowd, shook his head and spoke: "Miss Yani's technique is unparalleled in this world. However, the dance is too rigid, pursuing the music's rhythm exclusively while losing its inherent natural flow. One must remember that true dance aims for Hunruo Tiancheng (As Natural as Heaven)!"

Hearing Chen Feng offer a critique to the Dance Immortal Yani provoked an even greater torrent of abuse from the onlookers.

"Who are you to critique Miss Yani like that? You put a huge onion on your nose and think you're an elephant..."

"He's clearly spouting nonsense; what could a mere boy possibly know..."

Ignoring the clamor behind him, Yani murmured to herself, "Hunruo Tiancheng? Hunruo Tiancheng!" Suddenly, a light blazed in her eyes, as if a long-held confusion had finally been resolved. She stood up and executed a deep bow toward Chen Feng: "Thank you!"

This single action nearly petrified the surrounding crowd. Not only had the Dance Immortal failed to scold the red-haired youth for his nonsense, but she was actually thanking him!

Seeing that Yani could grasp the essence of his casual remark, Chen Feng was astonished by her perception and deeply appreciated her composure.

"May Yani be honored to witness the technique of Hunruo Tiancheng?" Yani asked with a tone of entreaty.

Chen Feng immediately understood she wasn't trying to make things difficult for him; rather, she was exhilarated by this sudden, new concept.

"Very well," Chen Feng said, standing up and walking toward the dance floor.

ps: Over ten thousand words updated today, begging for monthly ticket support... (To be continued. For what happens next, please log in to wwwncom for more chapters, to support the author, and to support genuine reading!)