Chapter 156: Bright as the Autumn Moon, the Zither Without a Trace

Upon hearing this, the crowd did not reply. Instead, with a tacit understanding, they all turned their gazes toward Xun Mishuang, looking at her gently in the hope of getting some answers. After all, they were merely passing travelers who had come by reputation and knew very little about the Qingyu Pavilion. Yet, judging by the recent turn of events, this young girl was clearly a regular visitor here. Therefore, having her explain such a profound question was simply the most appropriate thing to do! However, Leng Huaiyi, who was standing beside her, wore a rather peculiar expression at that moment. The look he cast toward the Qingyu Pavilion carried a trace of melancholy along with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

The others, who happened to look in this direction, also sensed that something was amiss with Leng Huaiyi, though they chose not to ask. It seemed the matter was already crystal clear, and the answer was on the verge of being revealed before everyone through the expressions of these two people. As it turned out, this place was once a secret haven belonging exclusively to the two of them. No wonder, even knowing that someone had longed for this place for a very long time and tried every possible means to enter the Qingyu Pavilion, Xun Mishuang had remained a bystander, putting on a cold and detached facade as if it were none of her business. In truth, who would ever want to let a third party know about memories that belonged solely to the two of them, breaking in and causing that relationship to vanish from this world?

Even though this was a multi-story pavilion where people constantly came and went, always breaking the atmosphere, she did not want the person she personally brought along to ruin this beauty. Xun Mishuang wanted to be selfish for once; she only wanted to relish the past alone, without having that memory pried into by others. Yet, alas, the falling blossoms had the intent to linger, but the flowing water was heartless. While she thought this way, that person did not think the same—he seemed not to care at all. It was as if he no longer cared about the precious bond between them, nor did he care about this place filled with their past joy and happiness.

At this thought, Xun Mishuang looked at Leng Huaiyi, whose expression was exceedingly cold. With a helpless sigh, she stepped forward swiftly. With a wave of her hand, she struck the door woven from pearl curtains, murmuring something strange under her breath. Surprisingly, the formidable force did not rebound to attack her; it allowed Xun Mishuang to make contact without the slightest bit of resistance. Suddenly, Xun Mishuang withdrew her hand from the beaded curtain door, and at the same time, the door slowly opened. As the gap grew wider, a wisp of fresh air drifted out, gently brushing past everyone present.

This breath of fresh air was as alluringly fragrant as a hundred blooming flowers, yet as subtle as a delicate tea aroma. It was so mesmerizing that a single inhalation made it unforgettable, the lingering fragrance remaining stubbornly inside the nostrils. By now, the beaded curtain door had opened completely. Xun Mishuang, standing to one side, nodded to signal the others to enter first while she followed closely behind. Seeing this, the rest of the group found it difficult to refuse and quickly stepped inside. In the blink of an eye, only Leng Huaiyi and Xun Mishuang were left standing silently outside the door.

The two of them simply stared at each other, neither willing to speak first. For a fleeting instant, the air lingering between them seemed to freeze. The atmosphere grew awkward as they continued to gaze at each other. Whether everything was understood without a word or whether they stood mute facing one another, only the two of them truly knew! Finally, unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, Xun Mishuang was about to speak when she was interrupted by a voice calling out from within. It seemed everything was predestined by heaven. She no longer needed to say anything. With a faint smile, Xun Mishuang walked inside, while Leng Huaiyi shook his head helplessly behind her and followed suit.

Once inside, the two saw the others constantly looking around in admiration, appearing thoroughly satisfied with the interior decoration of the Qingyu Pavilion. To say the least, the decor within the Qingyu Pavilion was indeed refined, elegant, and extraordinary. It did not appear overly opulent or extravagant; instead, it simply made one feel profoundly relaxed. Yet upon closer inspection, the objects inside were of inestimable value. The surface of the fine ancient wood tea tables was actually carved with exquisite calligraphy and paintings. The free-flowing and untrammeled brushwork, paired with graceful and fluid lines, could truly be described as a rare and peerless masterpiece!

Glancing around, one could see that no two table carvings were alike; each possessed its own artistic conception and mood. Every piece was so breathtakingly magnificent that it was hard to choose a favorite, making one feel that using such spirited works of art merely as tabletops was somewhat a waste and an affront to the creator's genuine emotions. Looking further around, every private chamber was partitioned by walls made of beaded curtains and light gauze. One could see what was happening in the adjacent room from any given chamber, yet it was impossible to overhear what they were discussing. No matter how deafening the voices of others might be, only a gentle breeze seemed to reach their ears.

The most peculiar feature was the ingenious layout within the Qingyu Pavilion. Standing on the first floor and looking up, one could have an unobstructed view of the scenery on the second floor. The decor of the second floor seemed no different from that of the first, yet the feeling it evoked was worlds apart. The shapes of the tea tables and chairs were remarkably similar; if one ignored the paintings on their surfaces, treating them as the exact same style would not be unreasonable. Yet the strangeness lay in the fact that, despite there being so little difference, the impression they projected was entirely distinct. Perhaps this was the unique charm of the Qingyu Pavilion!

Most eye-catching of all were the folding screens standing in the corners of each private room, each depicting inexpressibly beautiful landscapes. Some showed clear springs and waterfalls, some a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, some high mountains and flowing water, and others the tender colors of spring. In short, there was no beautiful scenery one could imagine that they could not portray with evocative charm. Yet, even with so many bizarrely beautiful screens standing before Yushang, his gaze remained fixed on a single screen near the elevated platform. The subtle sense of familiarity was indescribable; clearly, he had never met this woman, so why did Yushang feel as though they had known each other at some point in the past? It was a pity he had not realized it then, only noticing it now in hindsight.

Xiaoyin, standing beside Yushang, also sensed his unusual behavior and quickly followed the young fool's gaze. When he too spotted that screen, his heart was gradually occupied and eroded by that same sense of familiarity. It was not because the woman's beauty made one reluctant to leave, but rather because the aura she emitted was so heart-wrenching and agonizing. Clearly, she seemed like an old acquaintance, yet he could not remember her no matter how hard he tried. That strange feeling truly left one conflicted and wandering in doubt. Had this woman truly appeared before them in the past, or had she been hidden in their subconsciousness, only breaking free today?

Aside from the vaguely familiar screens, there was another thing that puzzled the group deeply. Wasn't it said that the Qingyu Pavilion had recently become a chaotic mess due to the opening of a mysterious region? Why was it that, apart from a few private rooms where people were quietly sipping tea, all the other areas were completely empty without a single soul? Even an ordinary teahouse would be bustling with activity at such a time, let alone the long-famed Qingyu Pavilion! Moreover, there wasn't a single waiter serving tea or water inside the Qingyu Pavilion; from the moment they entered until now, not a single person had come to greet them, which was rather strange indeed!

"Are you Leng Huaiyi?" A slightly questioning voice drifted into the ears of the group. They hurriedly looked toward the source of the sound and discovered a woman so beautiful she looked as though she had stepped out of a painting. The look she gave Leng Huaiyi was quite peculiar, as if she simply could not believe he would appear here. In truth, according to the group, the one who shouldn't have been here was this woman herself; she was too otherworldly, resembling a celestial being from a wonderland. Although there were no lack of beauties among them whose looks could rival falling geese and closing flowers, none could match this woman's temperament.

A pale yellow cicada-wing gauze was draped over the woman's body, accentuating her proud figure and causing many naturally gifted beauties standing before her to inevitably pale in comparison and become mere foils. Above all, the most striking feature was her pair of sparkling eyes. Even when occasionally obscured by a few strands of flowing dark hair, they could not conceal her soul-stirring, captivating gaze. Her petal-like, delicate lips curved into a smile, and merely this gentle smile made it impossible for anyone's eyes to hold another person. Even the travelers, who had seen countless peerless beauties in their lives, were captivated by her charm and nearly lost their souls.

One might think that beauties of such a breathtaking caliber would feel more or less displeased upon seeing another woman of equal magnificence, yet they felt no such thing at the moment. They only felt that this woman's beauty lacked arrogance; instead, she constantly radiated a sense of approachability. Those who saw her found it impossible to harbor hostility toward her and instead wanted to step into her life—not for her peerless beauty, but for her uniquely alluring demeanor. Somehow, in the presence of this woman, all unhappiness quietly slipped away, and even the trivial matters that had troubled them moments ago were cast to the winds. If the Qingyu Pavilion was a pavilion of rare and peerless elegance in this world, then this woman was its one and only unique beauty.

"It's me. Long time no see, how have you been?" Leng Huaiyi replied with a smile. Although this was merely a routine greeting, it inadvertently touched upon the unusual emotional undertones between the two. Yet Xun Mishuang showed no signs of discomfort because of this; instead, she responded with a slight smile, as if all previous unpleasantness had drifted far away with that smile and would never return. What remained was a subtle warmth, the remembrance of a long absence, and the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

"I've been well. It's just that after not seeing you for so many years, your sudden appearance makes this feel like a dream—so illusory and unreal. You know, after you left, Mishuang rarely came here anymore. Suddenly losing two confidants left me with such a depressed feeling, as if my heart had been hollowed out without warning, leaving an aching void. I used to search for you both, but you seemed to have vanished. Every place I could think of was searched, yet I found nothing. It wasn't until a long time later that Mishuang came to find me and explained everything. To be honest, at that moment, I hated you and looked down upon you. But only now do I slowly understand that if it were me back then, I would have chosen to walk away as well." The woman spoke at length, as if she had endured in silence for a long time and wanted to pour it all out during this rare opportunity.

"Alright, why don't you arrange a place for us to sit first? You should know that I'm not the only one who came to see you today. Don't be so caught up in reminiscing with me that you neglect my friends!" Hearing this, Leng Huaiyi smiled faintly without giving a direct reply, smoothly changing the subject and shifting the focus to the others. At this moment, the group also tacitly nodded and smiled at the woman. Seeing this, the woman hurriedly returned the gesture, and her radiant smile seemed to fill the air with the rich fragrance of flowers.

"How discourteous of me! I was so caught up in pouring my heart out to an old friend that I neglected you all. Please forgive me. This humble person is called Qin Ruohen, and I am the manager of this Qingyu Pavilion. Allow me to lead you all to a private parlor on the second floor; please follow me." With that, Qin Ruohen slowly walked toward the second floor, and the group hurriedly followed behind.

Along the way, they inadvertently noticed a few people in the private rooms watching them with a tacit understanding. The group did not assume they were the ones drawing these gazes; after all, with an exquisite beauty like Qin Ruohen present, how could anyone else possibly pay attention to nameless nobodies like them? However, how could the group possibly understand the meaning behind those gazes? They were simply wondering why the notoriously unflappable manager of the Qingyu Pavilion had lost her composure today in front of a group of unfamiliar faces. For them, this truly was a rare and astonishing sight to behold!