The silks shimmered, the incense swirled, and in a blink a troupe of dancers with striking beauty began swirling before Ye Wen's eyes. Their movements occasionally revealed dainty ankles or supple wrists to stir the viewers' thoughts.

Yet this outsider paid no heed to their charms. His interest in these dancers barely rivaled his fascination with the elaborate garments they wore in vibrant hues and intricate patterns.

Guo Nu, witnessing Ye Wen's indifferent attitude—neither following propriety by averting his gaze nor displaying a lecherous glaze like some depraved devils, nor adopting an appreciative pose like certain roguish literati—found himself bewildered. "What kind of man is this?" he mused, failing to fathom the young man's expression.

Though Ye Wen might seem a paragon of virtue unaffected by carnal desires, Guo Nu knew many so-called gentlemen merely concealed their inner depravity beneath a facade of righteousness. But if that were true here, surely his sharp eyes would have detected some hint—unless Ye Wen had attained the Zen master's mastery over desire itself. Yet how could such discipline be possible for one so young?

"Still doesn't make sense," Guo Nu pondered further, unaware that after a few moments of observation, Ye Wen found the performance dull and even less engaging than the fruits before him.

"This is underwhelming!" Ye Wen muttered, secretly lamenting his fondness for Miss Aka and Miss Matsu. "Could this man have some peculiar predilection?" Guo Nu speculated. While strange tastes weren't unheard of in cultivation circles, openly discussing them was inappropriate.

"If there's truly a special preference here," he mused, "then all our careful arrangements might be wasted." But without trying first, it would seem unreasonable. With another palm strike, the dancers suddenly converged to block the entrance entirely.

This maneuver sparked Ye Wen's interest: "Another trick?" As the women gathered then gradually parted at the hall's center, a figure emerged that made every other dancer pale in comparison. Draped in pure white feathers, she stood out amidst the colorful costumes with an ethereal beauty. The gossamer fabric revealed glimpses of her slender arms and long smooth legs as she moved, while her bare feet shimmered under the light.

"Hmm, interesting," Ye Wen mused, though his mind—accustomed to both Western CGI fantasies and hyper-edited beauties from his previous life—found it difficult to match the mythical awe described in legends. After a few more glances he returned to studying the fruits, treating her performance like any ordinary dance.

"Damn this thief insults me!"

Unaware of her growing irritation, Ye Wen noticed nothing but the girl's performance as Guo Nu signaled and she shifted her dance from playful to exquisitely elegant. The flowing silk and occasional flashes of soft skin created a sultry aura that would unnerve most men.

Yet even when she adopted an expression blending solemnity with bashful allure—her movements suggesting yearning while maintaining dignity—Ye Wen merely suppressed his fleeting reaction through Purple Mist Qi, continuing to eat while occasionally glancing up. Guo Nu and Pei Wei even lowered their heads in shame, unable to look at her.

"What's going on?" Ye Wen finally realized the pattern: prolonged viewing caused strange sensations in his meridians. Recognizing this as Guo Nu's second test, he let Purple Mist Qi flow naturally through Full Heart Method while occasionally sipping fruit and smirking.

His reaction startled her into a slight stumble—a detail only caught by his focused gaze. Then she redoubled efforts, adding more provocative movements to the dance. Occasionally drifting near Ye Wen's table with teasing flicks of her feet before retreating like an invitation to join her dance.

Instead of falling for it, Ye Wen grew suspicious: "Her martial cultivation is formidable—such a graceful leap without altering posture!"

Fully deploying Full Heart Method now, he studied her movements while sipping fruit. As the dance progressed and sweat dampened her thin garment adding new allure, she still failed to affect him. Cursing under her breath ("Damn rabbit!"), she finally abandoned further attempts.

With two more cycles of her performance already performed through careful choreography, another repetition would surely betray them. So she ceased dancing abruptly, bowing formally: "Hua Yi greets Lord Ye of Shushan."

At this declaration from Guo Nu—announcing Hua as one of the four senior leaders who had personally composed a dance to welcome him—Ye Wen's heart gave an anxious lurch. The girl's cultivation was clearly formidable beyond simple dancing, and now three of their top elders were present.

Yet he maintained his composure, responding politely: "I'm deeply honored that Hua Senior would perform for me." As she smiled through her sleeve, a sudden burst of white light and fragrance caught his senses. Recovering quickly with his Qi flow, he glanced aside to find her already seated beside him offering a cup.

After exchanging pleasantries over wine, Ye Wen's mental caution toward this woman exceeded even Guo Nu's. "A female elder in the Heavenly Music Sect must have unparalleled abilities," he mused. While her martial skill and dance-induced aura were evident, other hidden talents remained unknown.

Now he noticed her fragrance growing stronger with each breath—a deliberate technique from her own person. When she caught his glance and blinked innocently asking if there was something unusual about her scent, the subtle tease in her voice combined with a soft laugh that shook her modest but firm chest sent another wave of intoxication through him.

Quickly averting his gaze, he muttered: "Nothing, just curious." To which Hua responded with feigned surprise. When asked what he was curious about, Ye Wen stayed silent rather than answer the obvious question.

"Does Lord Ye inquire after the source of my fragrance? Or perhaps wish to gift it to a beloved?" she mused. While this would unnerve most men into denial or flattery, Ye Wen simply nodded: "I am indeed curious—might I ask what scent you use?"

Hua paused in surprise. Earlier he had resisted her hypnotic techniques, and now his straightforward question revealed no pretense. If De Nu and Pei Wei had been avoiding her gaze until now, perhaps her cultivation was failing?

Seeing she remained silent, Ye Wen abandoned the topic entirely, thinking: "This approach works on women—any woman with even average looks will be offended by being ignored. Whoever devised this method deserves credit."

As he nibbled his food, he considered how to escape this awkward situation. Fortunately, both De Nu and Pei Wei were now visibly cautious, their own inhibitions preventing them from acting decisively. Hua's allure seemed a broad attack skill that affected everyone—including them.

Looking for an exit strategy during the banquet, Ye Wen reached instinctively for his wine cup—only to find it empty after forgetting to refill it. As he grabbed the wine jug, a pale crimson foot extended toward him, and dainty toes deftly lifted the jar to pour wine into his cup.

Startled, Ye Wen instinctively moved away. Then came Hua's wounded voice: "Does Lord Ye think me unworthy?"

"N-no!" he stammered, now seeing clearly both her bare foot and the exposed ankle below. The thin garment seemed to leave little else beneath—yet she poured his wine with perfect precision, not a drop spilling while remaining perfectly still.

Though accustomed to such tactics, Ye Wen found himself uncomfortable holding the cup. Hua caught this reaction well, thinking: "This rabbit doesn't like feet—this performance is wasted effort." Earlier she had removed her shoes and undergarments for maximum effect, expecting it would work on this man as it did on De Nu.

Yet now Pei Wei whispered to Guo Nu in hushed tones (their voices so soft they seemed to use silent transmission): "Can Senior Hua subdue that Ye Wen?"

"His cultivation is profound," Guo replied. "A direct fight might not yield easily. But if our Senior can enchant him, we could perhaps recruit him." His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of her bare foot pouring wine for Ye Wen—the intoxicating scent making his Qi surge dangerously.

Desperately invoking Zen techniques to steady himself, he muttered: "This beauty is deadly indeed."

Meanwhile, Ye Wen felt increasingly pressured under Hua's pitiful gaze. Her tactics had worked before—why wasn't it working now? "Of course not," he finally managed carefully. "These feet are beautiful, how could I?"

"Then let me show them to you every day..." she cooed.

Ye Wen nearly slid off his chair at this. If Hua insisted on daily barefoot displays, his own sister would surely kill him first.

"You're thinking of your beloved," she suddenly accused, snatching back her foot and adopting an icy demeanor. "So you are a devoted man! And forget about the fragrance—no way I'll tell you!"

This classic play of feigned heartbreak was meant to entice men into desperation. But Ye Wen merely responded with: "Then so be it." Then he stopped breathing entirely, relying solely on his internal Qi flow to avoid her scent's effects.

By the time attendants escorted him out for rest, Hua was still muttering curses under her breath. "Rabbit! Rabbit! No wonder you look so pretty—turns out you're a rabbit!"