Those who were not weeping in the room were either rich or noble. They naturally understood what the reserve card presented by Robin signified, and that suffocating feeling instantly enveloped everyone present, silencing the previously bustling surroundings into an utter hush.

After accepting the money, the two hulking men deferentially ushered Zhong Shenxiu and Robin inside. Here, wealth was king; status mattered not, regardless of appearance or age!

A faint smile touched the corner of Zhong Shenxiu's mouth, as if mocking the shallow judgment of the crowd. With a flick of his sleeve, swinging his small arms and legs, he adopted the grand, measured gait of an elder, walking slowly in with Robin while the nobles stared, dumbfounded.

Once the pair had completely entered, the door was closed once more, but the mouths of the gathered aristocrats remained agape for a long time.

No one knew how long it was before these people finally snapped out of their stunned stupor.

"Heavens, did you— did you see that? That reserve card!"

"They are obscenely rich! That kind of card must hold at least a hundred million Diamond Coins. Even my father doesn't have one. I never imagined those two children actually possessed..."

"Just who are those two children? Which noble house do they belong to? Why have we never heard of them?"

"I knew from the start those two had an extraordinary bearing; they absolutely weren't ordinary folk."

"Save it. You were the loudest one just now, you’re just good at talking after the fact."

Soon, the crowd shifted their focus back to the person inside: Wu Feiyan.

Meanwhile, inside the Fengxue Pavilion, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin hadn't gone far before someone approached them. They were first asked if they were together, and then handed a jade-like token marked with a number—presumably the private suite reserved for them.

The décor of Fengxue Pavilion was distinctive. In the very center was a raised stone platform adorned with vibrant, fresh flowers. At the platform’s core sat a long, rectangular wooden table intricately carved with patterns, upon which rested a small censer, intermittently wafting intoxicating aromas.

Around this stone platform were private boxes spanning three levels, accessible via stairs. Early arrivals naturally secured the prime spots, but since Zhong Shenxiu arrived rather late, he was assigned a box on the second floor, positioned to the side. Peering through the louvers, he could only catch a partial view of the central stage!

Zhong Shenxiu said nothing about the arrangement. After settling down with Robin, he began observing his surroundings. At that moment, the attendant who guided them respectfully presented several small booklets and meticulously explained the procedures and available services.

After hearing the explanation, Zhong Shenxiu finally understood: the food and drink here were completely complimentary; only requesting additional musical performances incurred extra charges. To ask the renowned Wu Feiyan to play even one more piece cost upwards of a million Diamond Coins, and furthermore, according to the booklet, different pieces carried different price tags!

From this, one could deduce either that Wu Feiyan possessed a charisma that drove people wild, or that these patrons had more money than they knew what to spend!

However, it must be admitted that the cost of living in the 'Summer Star Empire' far exceeded that of the 'Winter Moon Empire,' perhaps intrinsically linked to the Summer Star Empire's vigorous promotion of magic.

Subsequently, Zhong Shenxiu ordered several dishes based on the menu booklet, and the attendant left to prepare them.

Although they were in a private box, the arrangement of the louvered blinds allowed them to clearly overhear conversations from the adjacent rooms. Zhong Shenxiu ignored this, however, and continued examining the Medium Bag he had just successfully refined.

This Medium Bag wasn't large; worn at the waist, it resembled a mere ornament, yet no matter how much was placed inside, its exterior always appeared completely empty.

Not long passed before plates of food were brought out. Although the taste was unknown, the presentation was undeniably enticing. Having followed Zhong Shenxiu for so long, Robin dispensed with all formalities and immediately began eating.

"Master, aren't you eating?" Robin asked, puzzled as Zhong Shenxiu merely watched her without touching any dish.

Zhong Shenxiu smiled; Robin’s adorable demeanor sent a wave of warmth through his heart.

"Master, this dish is delicious!" Robin urged, pushing a plate toward him.

"Robin," Zhong Shenxiu said gently, "your Heavenly Tribulation should be approaching soon, right?"

Robin nodded but showed no sign of worry. In her heart, as long as Zhong Shenxiu was near, she feared nothing!

"Robin, in the coming period, you must maintain a tranquil state of mind and certainly not let anger take hold easily!" Zhong Shenxiu softly cautioned.

Robin agreed with a nod, then deftly picked up a piece of fried crispy fish with her chopsticks and placed it into Zhong Shenxiu's bowl, following it with a mischievous grin.

Zhong Shenxiu also smiled, feeling entirely confident in Robin, and began to eat as well.

Robin had a massive appetite, and Zhong Shenxiu ate quickly; in a short time, they had cleared more than half the food on the table. Zhong Shenxiu pulled the adjacent red cord as the attendant had instructed, and shortly after, the attendant reappeared. After ordering another spread of dishes, movement stirred on the stage outside; several attendants were inspecting something, then brought out a peculiar zither and placed it upon the wooden table.

At that moment, excited voices drifted from the next private box.

"It's finally starting! It really made me wait!"

"I wonder what attire Wu Feiyan will wear this time?"

Zhong Shenxiu couldn't help but peer out through the louvered window. The attendants below had vanished, and the entire Fengxue Pavilion fell suddenly silent.

Just then, a strange sound echoed. Following this, the louvered blinds in every private box suddenly drew upward, while several scarlet ribbons descended outside, perfectly obscuring the stage below.

Zhong Shenxiu murmured an "Oh," a slight smile playing on his lips; he hadn't expected such elaborate staging.

Looking at the other boxes, some patrons had already abandoned all pretense, leaning precariously over the windows to look down.

Suddenly, a resonant zheng sound from the zither rang out. A powerful, majestic storm seemed to swell through the entire hall. The deep tones carried an ineffable gravity, making everyone feel as though a basin of cold water had been poured over their heads. Before a sound could fully rise, the atmosphere had already arrived, and everyone’s eyes held a mixture of shock and awe; silence had descended completely.

Then, the ethereal zither music, accompanied by a clear, melodious song, drifted forth solemnly, as the red ribbons began to rise again.

"The drum and bell signal the long night’s start, The brilliant river of stars nears dawn’s blue heart. The mandarin duck tiles are cold, frost settles deep, Whose comfort shares this emerald chill I keep?"

That voice, akin to a celestial melody, struck the listeners with profound emotion—some felt heartbreaking sorrow, others the memory of past grandeur, some were invigorated, and others felt a desolate melancholy—all rendered exquisitely beautiful and deeply resonant.

The music swelled, unfurling its wings across time, the sound of the zither like the cry of a wild goose, the pitch holding the soul captive.

And now, they could finally see the exquisitely beautiful woman playing the instrument below. Dressed in white, her dark, lustrous hair moved without a breath of wind. Her ruby lips framed pearly teeth; her slender hands rose gracefully. She was truly like a hibiscus blooming from water, possessing a striking elegance, and every gesture radiated a soul-captivating aura.

The other nobles instantly displayed fawning expressions upon seeing this woman, but Zhong Shenxiu reacted completely differently; he frowned slightly, and a thought crossed his mind: Woman of Profound Enchantment!

Beside him, Robin was hilariously unaffected, continuing to bury her face in her meal.

The magnificent, sonorous music provoked shivers, perfectly matched by the crisp, ethereal vocals. This combination in no way diminished the music's bold spirit yet was intensely moving, striking the heart like a hammer blow, leaving no room for distraction, instantly seizing everyone’s complete focus.

After the opening movement, the tone abruptly shifted, the sweeping grandeur momentarily withdrawn. It transformed into something clear and gentle, like a fresh, trickling mountain spring, tinkling gently, soothing the very soul.

"Thinking of you, but you do not know, A curtain of sorrow where cold winds blow. The beauty rolls up the blind, Tears watch the flowers decline, How many lonely spring nights pass by, As pink powder stains the lapels where tears lie."

As she sang, expressions of rapture spread across the faces of the audience; they smiled slightly, imbued with longing, as if witnessing those scenes firsthand, as if immersed in that beautiful environment.

The singing suddenly gained intensity, compelling listeners out of their prior detachment with another jolt.

"Heroes rise and fall through ages past, Life and death pledged, a bond meant to last. A dream of iron spears and armored steeds, I shout to the heavens, then return to my deeds!"

The beautiful, almost confessional song recounted a touching story; souls felt cleansed, involuntarily rising and falling with the pitch and cadence of the music. As the pleasant voice ascended, emotions surged anew!

Intoxication, empathy, yearning, astonishment, and admiration flashed across every face. Even those who typically restrained their feelings now looked utterly captivated. The lingering echoes faded slowly, and long after the final note ceased, no one uttered a sound. The surroundings were utterly still, as if no one dared shatter the sublime mood woven by the music.

Zhong Shenxiu couldn't help but marvel. Truly worthy of the title, Woman of Profound Enchantment; she could move people’s souls with mere melody alone.

The Woman of Profound Enchantment possessed an innate power to stir the soul. If she were to practice corresponding advanced techniques, she could wield the ability to bewitch all beings. However, this was often a curse accompanying such unparalleled beauty; those possessing this constitution invariably met an untimely end in their bloom of youth!

This woman likely knew her fate, which explained the undertone of melancholy sighing within her music and song.

When the piece concluded, a moment of silence was broken by a thunderous roar of applause!

"Bravo! Absolutely spectacular! As expected of Miss Wu Feiyan!"

"Miss Wu Feiyan, another song, please!"

"Servant! This is my offering for Miss Wu Feiyan!"

Noise erupted everywhere. Facing this clamor, Wu Feiyan below simply offered a faint smile, unconcerned. Perhaps, as she herself implied, wealth and fame were fleeting clouds; for one with limited time remaining, these things long ago ceased to matter.

Next came the competition for Wu Feiyan to play an additional piece. As she was a delicate woman, her stamina was limited, and she couldn't possibly satisfy every thirsty patron, so she typically performed only three songs per appearance.

Many of these patrons were enormously wealthy big spenders. Driven by vanity and the desire to elicit a smile from the beauty, they began bidding.

To prevent the rewarding of music from devolving into destructive rivalry, Fengxue Pavilion stipulated that each private box could only submit one bid, placing the written amount into the hands of their respective attendant; the highest bidder would be chosen afterward!

As Wu Feiyan paused to rest, the patrons in the boxes began submitting their offers.

Zhong Shenxiu smiled faintly and pulled the red cord again. An attendant entered, fully expecting Zhong Shenxiu to place a bid for a song like the others. Instead, Zhong Shenxiu merely ordered another table of food, not mentioning the music once!

The attendant’s brow twitched. This was the first time he had encountered someone who came here seemingly just to eat—especially that little girl. Good heavens, how much had she eaten?

Staring at the high stack of empty plates near Robin, the attendant’s mouth began to twitch involuntarily.

My gods, were they planning to eat back all the money they were spending?

Despite his internal shock, adhering to the principle that "The customer is God," he carried out the order as requested.

Just then, a voice rang out from outside: "Miss Wu Feiyan will next perform 'Spring Water Musings,' requested by Patron Number Twenty-Seven!"

With that announcement, the zither music resumed, and silence descended once more! Only the slight sound of Robin eating seemed slightly dissonant!

While the first listening might have brought surprise, Zhong Shenxiu held little interest the second time around. As a comprehensive "prodigy," Zhong Shenxiu’s mastery and attainment in musical theory surpassed that which even the cultivation fairies who dedicated their lives to music would feel ashamed of!

In this manner, Wu Feiyan completed the three songs scheduled for the day, and Robin finally let out a contented burp! The patrons, still wanting more, understood Fengxue Pavilion's rules and could not press further, so they began rising to leave!

But just then, someone shouted: "Look! Who is that little girl?"

This exclamation immediately recaptured everyone’s attention. They peered through the windows below and saw a delicate, adorable little girl walking toward the goddess they admired, Wu Feiyan!

"Huh? What's happening? Is there an encore performance?"

So, the patrons settled back into their seats, eager to see what this commotion was about!

As one might guess, the person in question was none other than the newly sated Robin!

Wu Feiyan also noticed Robin and felt a flicker of surprise, wondering what the small girl intended to do.

At that moment, the high-level guards responsible for security intervened, blocking Robin's path. Their expressions were placid, but their voices were cold as they stated: "This is a restricted area, please turn back!"

However, Robin paid their warning no mind. Just as these guards prepared to physically restrain her, Robin vanished from their sight.

In the next instant, Robin was standing beside Wu Feiyan. To learn what happened next, please log on to Jijiang... for more chapters. Support the author, support genuine reading!