12dz Chapter 25 A Sea of Experts
Chapter 25 A Sea of Experts
The night at the inn was far from peaceful. In her dream, Qiu Ziyue recalled many things that had happened before.
She kept telling herself to fulfill Tao Ling'er's last wish as soon as possible, and to go back in time if possible, but what if she couldn't? This gave Qiu Ziyue a headache.
After thinking it over, Qiu Ziyue said, "Whatever, there's always a way out. Let's talk about it tomorrow."
Then she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, her three senior brothers got up early, but found her with her door closed and not coming out for a long time. They figured she must be tired, so they didn't disturb her.
Qiu Ziyue slept in a daze for a whole day.
In the afternoon, her senior brother Qiu Langyu came to her door and called her to get up, saying that there would be a dance competition that night.
Qiu Ziyue then got up, ate a quick meal, and started getting ready.
In her heart, tonight's dance competition was more difficult than last night's musical competition, because tonight there were many young ladies from noble families, as well as many famous courtesans from Jiangnan.
Even more so, tonight, Qi Yushuang from the Valley of Heartbreak, Zhao Wanqing from the Valley of Empty Heartbreak, and Liu Mengdie from the Valley of Resentment will also be coming to participate in the competition.
Qi Yushuang, Qi Yuxuan's fiancée and the previous year's dance champion, made Qiu Ziyue nervous. It was still unknown whether she could surpass her.
As night falls and the stars twinkle, a classical garden in Yangzhou, a water town in southern China, is brightly lit and filled with the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments.
Tonight, a unique dance competition final will be held here.
The preliminary and semi-final rounds over the previous three days had already eliminated too many amateur dancers.
The finals will be a battle of the strongest, with over ten top dancers vying for the title. Who will emerge victorious? That will be the biggest highlight.
This is not just a competition of dances, but also a display of talent and charm.
The four beauties of the "Four Valleys" share the stage, showcasing their splendor.
Qiu Ziyue, a disciple from the modern era who travels to the ancient Valley of Passion, will challenge various dance masters.
So, who will win the crown today? There are too many secrets hidden within.
As a result, people from all over Yangzhou flocked to the scene, making it extremely crowded.
The moon casts its shimmering shadows, and the afterglow falls on the antique stage, giving the upcoming dance competition a golden glow.
Today, this is not only a competition of dance skills, but also a feast for the eyes.
High-ranking officials and the four most handsome men arrived one after another. Few martial arts masters from various sects and gangs came tonight, probably because Qiu Ziyue had dealt them a heavy blow last night, and many were still recovering from their injuries.
Amidst the expectant gazes of many, Lu Yuanchangming's figure once again disappeared into the clamor.
His handsome face was concealed by a light gauze cloak, revealing only a pair of deep eyes that sparkled with a rare curiosity and anticipation for the outside world.
As night deepened and the lights dimmed, Lu Yuanchangming walked alone into the brightly lit ballroom and sat in a spot he had already bought at great expense—a spot that was both inconspicuous and offered a clear view of the stage.
He sat there, seemingly isolated from the surrounding laughter and chatter by an invisible barrier.
His world consisted only of the dance about to unfold and the figure about to leap.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuxuan, the one who made Tao Ling'er make her last wish, was staring at the stage with tender eyes. Yet, it seemed that only Qi Yushuang existed in his eyes, and he could not tolerate any other woman for even a moment.
Qiu Ziyue felt a pang of sadness, but she quickly calmed down.
"What do I have to do with the men in Tao Ling'er's and Qi Yushuang's hearts?" Qiu Ziyue wondered.
But then she thought again, was it unfair to Qi Yuxuan that she was doing this, as if Qi Yuxuan were a gift to be fought over?
Qi Yuxuan is, after all, a living, breathing person. In modern society, marriage is a matter of freedom and requires the consent of both parties. Does her behavior mean she doesn't really care about Qi Yuxuan?
Qiu Ziyue felt conflicted about this, but then she thought, never mind, respect for the dead is paramount, let's fulfill Tao Ling'er's last wish first.
She couldn't help but steal a few glances at Qi Yuxuan; he was indeed very pleasing to the eye, but then she clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"What does her having Qi Yushuang have to do with me? Standing next to me are my three handsome senior brothers, each one a beauty among men. Which one is less handsome than her?"
Thinking of this, Qiu Ziyue glanced at her three senior brothers next to her, feeling proud to have three senior brothers supporting her.
Many female spectators in Yangzhou glanced at her, and many of them were infatuated, whispering among themselves about how handsome the male disciples behind her were.
With a clear ringing of a copper bell, the competition officially began.
The first dancer to take the stage was from the Western Regions.
She was dressed in a colorful belly dance costume, adorned with pearls and jade, looking like a fairy who had stepped out of a foreign story.
Women in the Western Regions were open-minded; their gauze skirts only covered the women's private parts, while the rest of their bodies were exposed except for the bells that adorned them.
This gave the male audience members a real eye-opener; some stared wide-eyed, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
As the music from the Western Regions began, the first dancer twirled and turned slowly, her gauze dress fluttering in the wind, as if taking the audience on a dreamlike journey.
Her dance moves were graceful and mysterious. With the music's enigmatic and unique rhythm, each step was as light as walking on clouds. The audience seemed to be able to glimpse the exotic charm of a distant land through her dance.
Next up was the "Sword Dance Fairy," who was somewhat famous among the people.
Unlike the dreamy Yunni Chang, the "Sword Dance Fairy" is accompanied by a crystal-clear jade sword, performing a song called "Sword Dance Ice Lotus".
As she moved, the sword light and dance complemented each other, and each trace of the sword tip seemed to condense into ice lotuses in the air, blooming and withering, both cold and aloof.
Her dance is not only a visual feast, but also contains profound internal strength, making each sword move full of the dual impact of power and beauty.
Next to appear was a literati dancer known for her "ink wash painting" style.
It turned out to be a male martial artist. He was wearing a light ink-colored long robe, holding a paper fan, and slowly walked onto the stage to the background of a guzheng piece called "High Mountains and Flowing Water".
From the stands, Yin Lihen exclaimed, "The fan looks a bit like mine, it's quite interesting."
The male dancers' dance is like a flowing ink painting, with each movement resembling a brushstroke, outlining the contours of mountains and rivers in the air.
The male dancer's movements are gentle and elegant, yet powerful, cleverly combining the refinement of literati with the art of dance, allowing the audience to seem to wander among mountains and rivers with his dance steps, experiencing the artistic conception of poetry and distant places.
After the first few contestants' brilliant performances, the atmosphere in the arena had reached a climax.
The audience began to whisper and discuss among themselves, all eagerly anticipating the appearance of the "Four Beauties" of "Yotsuya," the most anticipated segment.
"These dances are beautiful, but there's always someone better. Let's see what happens next."
"Yes, there are still four valleys that haven't appeared yet."
……
The audience watched with great interest, occasionally making a few comments.
Moreover, many of the high-ranking officials and nobles were veterans of battle or business, and some were even legendary figures in history.
Because they were used to the bloodshed of the battlefield, the graceful dance of women was like a warm spring, soothing their brutal ambitions.
At this moment, they were also watching with great interest, and several of them were staring intently at the dancers, their eyes glued to their graceful movements, completely absorbed in the performance.
Qiu Ziyue, having won the piano competition last time, has completely shed her reputation as a loser from the previous year.
The impression they left on the audience is now not to be underestimated.
Qiu Ziyue's name has long been a legend in the industry, and her dance remains an enigma.
With such high expectations and the outstanding performances of the previous contestants, Qiu Ziyue's pressure was immense. However, this was also the best opportunity for her to showcase herself and push her limits.
As the governor announced this, the lights dimmed and then slowly came back on.
All eyes were on the performance to come, awaiting the "Four Beauties'" brilliant performance and the final climax of this dance competition.
Perhaps due to the deliberate nature of the performance, the "Four Beauties'" performance was placed last, becoming the grand finale of the showdown.
Whether Qiu Ziyue can win the dance crown remains to be seen.
To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.