Chapter 123 Nocturnal Rhapsody
Chapter 123 Nocturnal Rhapsody
Chapter 123 Nocturnal Rhapsody
In a lavish, classic restaurant in Beijing, Long Tian and Li Yue'er were savoring a delightful dinner together.
Li Yue'er, draped in a purple gown with her silver hair cascading elegantly, exuded grace and beauty. Long Tian, donned in a sleek black shirt paired with long black trousers, looked equally refined.
The table before them showcased several empty dishes, evidence of the exquisite feast they had indulged in. They had been here for quite a while.
Long Tian delicately wiped the remnants of food from his mouth. However, his focus shifted as the melodic strains of music wafted in from the adjoining room. He cast a fleeting glance, and even from a distance, he discerned the presence of a dance floor.
The restaurant's ambiance was crafted to offer diverse entertainment choices, encompassing a sophisticated bar and an enchanting dance floor.
A warm smile graced Long Tian's face as he looked at Li Yue'er. "Would you like to dance?" he asked, his voice soft amidst the ambient music.
Li Yue'er, caught off guard while sipping her drink, almost choked upon hearing Long Tian's question. "Dance? I've never done that before," she said, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Then tonight will be a new experience for you; I will be your guide," Long Tian said, his smile widening, displaying his genuine enthusiasm.
Li Yue'er pondered for a moment, her curiosity piqued. It didn't seem like a bad idea after all.
"Alright, let's dance," she said, mustering up a smile.
Long Tian's smile deepened, and he gracefully stood up, extending his hand towards her. "Then, take my hand, milady," he said, his tone gentle yet confident.
Li Yue'er smiled back, her nervousness easing as she took Long Tian's hand.
They both walked gracefully towards the next room, which was the dance floor. As they entered, the enchanting music played softly in the air. Long Tian guided Li Yue'er to the center of the dance floor, their hands interlocked.
"What should I do?" Li Yue'er inquired.
Long Tian's voice was soothing as he guided her, "Hold onto my shoulder."
Following his instructions, Li Yue'er placed her hand on Long Tian's shoulder. Their left hands intertwined, and together, they assumed the poised dance position.
"Simply follow my lead," Long Tian whispered.
Li Yue'er nodded while Long Tian started with the basic steps, leading her with confidence.
He guided her through the waltz, their movements synchronized and graceful. "Relax, Yue'er. Dancing is like a conversation; let the music guide you, and I'll be here to lead," Long Tian said, his voice soothing.
Li Yue'er, who had a good sense of understanding, immediately caught onto the rhythm of Long Tian's movements, especially with the music playing on the stage.
She smiled, gradually getting used to it. Her movements became smoother, perfectly synchronized with Long Tian's every step.
They gazed at each other with a closeness that made her heart beat faster. As they twirled and moved, their eyes met, and they smiled at each other.
With each passing moment, the atmosphere around them became filled with intimacy.
Long Tian looked at Li Yue'er with tenderness, while Li Yue'er began to feel comfortable in their dance embrace.
Presented with Long Tian's gentle touches, Li Yue'er felt herself melting into the comfort of the moment. She had never experienced anything like this before.
As time passed, they became lost in the dance.
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The night grew darker, bathed only in the soft glow of the moonlight.
With the music having ceased, it marked the conclusion of their dance session.
Long Tian and Li Yue'er released each other, their faces adorned with warm smiles.
"It's surprisingly enjoyable," she remarked.
"Would you like to do it more often? The more you become accustomed to it, the more you'll find yourself immersed in the joy of it," Long Tian suggested.
"Well, that sounds like a good plan," Li Yue'er agreed.
"Alright, I believe we've spent enough time here. Let's head home," Long Tian said.
Li Yue'er nodded, and with that, they exited the restaurant together, stepping into the night.
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After more than two hours, Long Tian and Li Yue'er arrived at their villa in Tianzhou. Despite the deepening night, they didn't retire to rest; instead, they headed to the backyard dressed in their training gear.
They stood face to face.
"This time, I will defeat you," Li Yue'er declared, her confidence unwavering.
"You'll need years of practice to match my skill," Long Tian taunted, his grin playful.
Li Yue'er mirrored his grin, and with that, both of them were enveloped in darkness and began their sparring.
This had become their routine over the past two days. Harnessing the power of darkness, they found it easier to refine their abilities and enhance their skills.
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The moon remained hidden, but the stars sparkled brightly in the night sky.
With a graceful leap, Long Tian soared into the air, conjuring a thick torrent of darkness with a wave of his hand. In the next moment, the dark energy took the form of flame, falling like rain and burning the ground upon impact.
In response, Li Yue'er created a dark barrier above her, shielding herself from Long Tian's attack and absorbing the rain of black flames.
Afterward, she launched her counter-attack. The dark barrier expanded, absorbing every drop of Long Tian's darkness rain. In an instant, it condensed into a point in her hand, accompanied by a colorful light—the power of her first martial spirit, World Tree.
In the next instant, she thrust that power towards Long Tian, channeling it as a beam of darkness.
Long Tian, quick to react, extended his arm. The dragon tattoo on his right arm transformed, soaring into the air and opening its mouth wide, devouring the darkness beam entirely.
Li Yue'er was taken aback, and in a moment of distraction, the dragon closed in, striking her and causing her to fall to the ground, immobilized beneath its weight.
Long Tian landed gracefully, walking towards her. The black dragon retracted, returning to its form as a tattoo on his arm.
"You've made remarkable progress in these two days. Impressive how you can integrate the powers of both your martial spirits," he praised, extending his hand to help her up.
With Long Tian's assistance, Li Yue'er regained her footing. "Well, my World Tree martial spirit provides excellent support; it may not be used for direct attacks, but it's a potent support type," she explained.
"But you're still no match for me," Long Tian teased, his smile playful.
"I will definitely defeat you someday!" Li Yue'er declared firmly.
Long Tian merely smiled in response.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's head inside," he said.
Li Yue'er nodded, and together, they made their way back into the villa.
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Time swiftly passed, and the captivating moonlight had given way to the warm morning sun.
Within the villa, Long Tian stood in his room, clad in modern martial arts training attire, distinct from the typical cultivator's garb.
During these seven days, the third-year students focused on martial arts and self-enhancement. Two days had already elapsed, leaving five more to go.
Long Tian emerged from his room and descended to the first floor, heading to the dining area.
There, Li Yue'er was seated, with a spread of delectable dishes before her.
"Good morning, Long Tian, let's have breakfast," she greeted.
"Ohh, I adore your cooking, Yue'er," Long Tian praised, enticed by the delightful aroma wafting from the food.
Li Yue'er smiled, pleased by Long Tian's appreciation for her culinary skills.
"You're bound to enjoy this one; it's a bit different because I added something special," she said, her smile carrying a touch of mystery.
Long Tian arched an eyebrow, then sampled one of the dishes, Dim Sum, a traditional cuisine from the Han Empire.
In the first bite, it tasted exquisite, yet he sensed an unusual energy permeating his body.
"What is this?" he inquired, intrigued.
"Care to guess?" Li Yue'er teased, her smile broadening.
"I'm not certain; it tastes like soul beast meat, but superior," Long Tian replied.
"Hehe, I utilized my World Tree martial spirit, enhancing and infusing energy into the ingredients and vegetables," Li Yue'er explained.
"What? You can do that?" Long Tian asked, his eyebrow raised in surprise.
"Yes, I've been experimenting with it for quite some time. The effects are impressive; it can significantly prolong your energy and stamina. It also seems to aid cultivation," Li Yue'er elaborated.
Hearing this, Long Tian grew even more impressed. Having Li Yue'er by his side was undoubtedly a wise choice.
"Now, can you prepare this every day?" he inquired.
"Absolutely," Li Yue'er affirmed.
"Great, it looks like I'll be dining out less often now that I have the best chef at home," Long Tian said, his smile widening.
Li Yue'er smiled in response, genuinely happy that Long Tian enjoyed her cooking skills.
In gratitude for providing her with a place to stay, training her, and assisting her in times of need, this was the least she could do for him.
Of course, she hoped to offer even more to Long Tian in the future.
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The sun climbed higher in the sky, and the clock read 7:15. Within the school premises, Long Tian and Li Yue'er sat in the car, driving straight to the parking lot and finding a spot to park.
Exiting the vehicle, they walked together. However, they noticed a familiar figure engaged in an argument with a security guard. It was Qin Chen.
Observing the scene, Long Tian stroked his chin, his grin widening. It appeared the security guard was fulfilling his duties effectively.
In the past few days since he and Li Yue'er had enrolled in school, Long Tian had instructed the headmaster and the security personnel to prohibit Qin Chen from entering. All of this was to prevent him from encountering Li Yue'er.
If Qin Chen met Li Yue'er, his plans would undoubtedly crumble.
"I'll meet him," Long Tian said.
Li Yue'er, however, gripped his hand, her expression filled with concern. "Please, don't hurt him, okay?" she said.
"Don't worry; we'll just talk," Long Tian reassured her.
With that, he walked towards Qin Chen.
Meanwhile, Qin Chen was seething with frustration. "I've already talked to Teacher Ning Yuan, and I've got permission. Why am I being denied entry now?" he said, his voice laced with anger.
"Don't ask me, son. You're not allowed in, so you're not allowed," the security guard replied firmly.
Hearing this, Qin Chen's frustration escalated. Despite having communicated with Ning Yuan and receiving permission not to attend school for the past few days, the security guard was now refusing him entry.
As he prepared to respond, his attention was abruptly drawn to Long Tian's arrival.
"Hey there, good morning, goldbags," Long Tian greeted, his smile mischievous.
Qin Chen, in contrast, appeared pleased. "Heh, it's quite lucky I ran into you, Long Tian. I've got what you desire; now, is our deal still on?" he said.
"Absolutely, once you provide me with that item, Li Yue'er will be yours," Long Tian replied.
"Meet me at my villa tonight," he added, handing Qin Chen a card with the address.
Qin Chen accepted the card, containing the villa's location. He grinned, saying, "Make sure you honor your word."
"You can count on it," Long Tian assured him.
"Hehe, then I guess I won't need to attend school today," Qin Chen remarked, then turned and left the school grounds.
Observing Qin Chen's departure, Long Tian's smile took on a mysterious quality. However, he didn't linger and promptly returned inside the school area.