Chapter 50: Dongyun, the Courtesan Prime

The matron stepped down, and four maidservants took her place, continuously scattering flower petals across the stage while waves of floral fragrance drifted into the surroundings.

At that moment, a figure leaped in from afar—a young woman of about twenty.

She wore a snow-white garment, with a length of fabric wrapped around her waist that fluttered in the wind like a waterfall. Her cascading hair danced in the air, framing a pair of expressive, remarkably cold eyes and softly pursed thin red lips. The woman's appearance was absolute perfection, fully deserving of the title of top courtesan.

Resembling a celestial maiden, she landed upon the stage, instantly eclipsing the beauty of the already comely maidservants.

"Lady Dongyun! Lady Dongyun!"

The audience below the stage erupted into roaring cheers, while Ge Peng, seated in the gallery, shoved the woman in his arms away. Staring fixedly at Dongyun, he continuously licked his lips like a ravenous wolf.

Even Mu Qingnan was struck dumb by her breathtaking beauty. Having frequented countless pleasure houses, he was certain that no top courtesan in Fenghua City could compare to Dongyun.

Standing on the stage without uttering a word, Dongyun produced a zither and began to play.

This was the very purpose of everyone's presence. Lady Dongyun sold only her art, not her body, and many came here solely to hear her play a single tune.

The melodious sound of the zither echoed through the air like a breeze in springtime, drifting into the ears of every spectator. A sense of deep contentment arose from within, gradually calming even the hearts of those who had wished to shout aloud.

Ge Peng could not help but close his eyes, losing himself in the enjoyment of this magnificent music.

Mu Qingnan similarly closed his eyes, listening to Dongyun's performance as his mind slowly grew tranquil.

At that moment, he felt as though he were standing amidst an endless, boundless prairie, lying peacefully within its embrace with an indescribable serenity.

Gradually, the music faded as Dongyun concluded her piece. Only then did the audience open their eyes, all wearing expressions of lingering fascination.

"Lady Dongyun's zither skills are truly improving day by day."

"Indeed, the artistic conception in this piece, *Sedimentation*, grows richer each time she plays it. If I could ever marry her, I would gladly shorten my life by ten years," a man remarked, a look of yearning crossing his face.

Like a breath of spring wind, Dongyun came swiftly and left just as quickly.

The matron then stepped onto the stage to announce the conclusion of the performance.

Waking from the music, Ge Peng cast a vicious glare in Mu Qingnan's direction before once again pulling his previous companion into his arms and rolling onto the bed.

***

Mu Qingnan reclined in his chair, inwardly marveling that being able to hear such a tune made the thousand taels he spent entirely worthwhile.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

The maidservants attending to Mu Qingnan knew it was time for them to leave.

Once the women had departed, a woman of exquisite beauty stepped into the room—none other than Lady Dongyun herself.

"This humble maid, Dongyun, pays her respects to the young master." There was no ripple of emotion in Dongyun's eyes. In her view, these men were all cut from the same cloth, driven by nothing more than lust for her beauty.

Mu Qingnan looked at the stunningly gorgeous woman and pulled a chair over from the side. "Please, take a seat."

After sitting down, Dongyun placed her zither upon the table. "Young master, this humble maid sells only her art, not her body. I can only play a tune for you alone."

"That is wonderful. I came here precisely to listen to your music." Mu Qingnan looked at Dongyun with undisguised excitement, his eyes still shining with the rapture of the performance he had just heard.

Dongyun glanced at Mu Qingnan, a trace of confusion stirring within her heart. She was supremely confident in her own looks, yet the man's eyes held none of the greed common to others; instead, they reflected a pure joy—the simple delight of someone devoted to appreciating music.

*This young master has quite refined features, and his eyes are entirely free of frivolity. Although he spends money lavishly, he is unlike the usual arrogant scions. Could he be the scion of a great aristocratic family?* Wondering thus, Dongyun's previously calm gaze revealed a flicker of resolve as she secretly made up her mind.

Unaware of Dongyun's thoughts, Mu Qingnan, who had already closed his eyes, frowned when the music did not begin. "Lady Dongyun, why haven't you started?"

Startled by Mu Qingnan's words, Dongyun felt she had shown unseemly distraction and quickly offered an apology.

Her slender fingers touched the strings, and the melodious sound of the zither rang out once more—though this time, only Mu Qingnan could hear it.

It felt to Mu Qingnan as though he had returned to that vast prairie once again. He felt an intense inner tranquility, akin to a pool of ancient, unrippled water.

At that moment, Mu Qingnan experienced a very peculiar sensation. This profound stillness allowed him to distinctly hear the sound of Dongyun's thumb plucking the zither strings.

Not only that, but gradually, he could even hear the crisp sound of pedestrians walking past outside the room with absolute clarity.

*This is the realm of Micro-Perception!*

Only the state of Micro-Perception could allow one to capture such minute movements.

Mu Qingnan never imagined that while listening to the music, his artistic state would break through into Micro-Perception.

***

Opening his eyes, he looked at Dongyun with a face full of joy.

"Young master, what is wrong?" Dongyun was taken aback by his sudden movement, causing her to stop playing the zither altogether.

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Mu Qingnan could hardly conceal his excitement. "Lady Dongyun, thank you! Your music allowed me to enter the realm of Micro-Perception."

Hearing Mu Qingnan's words, Dongyun was utterly dumbfounded.

She was also a martial artist; otherwise, she would not have been able to leap directly onto the stage from afar earlier.

Therefore, she knew precisely what Micro-Perception represented—an artistic state that countless people failed to enter even after a lifetime of grueling effort, yet he had achieved it simply because of her music.

How could she not be astonished by something that defied all logic, happening right before her eyes?

*"Yes! I've finally caught up to Big Brother's pace! Father will be so happy when he hears this!"* Mu Qingnan was currently as excited as a child who had just been given a piece of candy.

Recovering from her shock, Dongyun figured that since Mu Qingnan must be the scion of a great family—and since she had helped him enter the realm of Micro-Perception—asking him for a favor should not be a problem.

With that thought, Dongyun immediately dropped to her knees before Mu Qingnan. "Young master, this maid begs you to help me with a matter."

Startled by this sudden development, Mu Qingnan quickly reached out to help Dongyun to her feet. "Without you, I could never have entered the realm of Micro-Perception. Speak—if it is something within my power to help with, I certainly will."

"Young master, can you help me kill Ge Peng of the Vulture Sect? If the young master agrees, this body of mine shall be yours." Dongyun looked at Mu Qingnan with a pleading expression. If he refused, she had already resolved to surrender the virginity she had guarded for twenty years.

Mu Qingnan had not expected her to ask for such a thing. Thinking of the vile deeds the Vulture Sect had committed in that small town, a deep sense of disgust stirred within him.

However, Mu Qingnan did not agree immediately. Looking intently at Dongyun, he said seriously, "As a woman, you should not casually speak such words. You must learn to cherish your own body."

He had frequented many pleasure houses, but never to seek carnal amusement with women; he merely treated them as venues where he could listen to music. To him, the women who served him were merely attendants paid for with money.

Therefore, he would never engage in any improper relations with such a woman.

In truth, had he not heard that Dongyun sold only her art and not her body, Mu Qingnan would have left immediately after the performance ended.