Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 418 Performance

?Wu Long finished assessing Butler Bang's progress a few hours later, deciding on a new set of skills, as well as thinking what pills could make up for the latter's deficiencies in cultivation.

He was stranded at his cultivation level close enough to start staring natural death of aging in the face, so it was natural his cultivation at least for the next two-three Major Realms had difficulties. He was now at the 5th level of Foundation Building, but was unable to progress further even with the improved Spiritual Qi in the atmosphere.

As he ponderingly walked with hands locked behind his back to the main mansion while moon has already started rising and the sun was only a glow in the sky behind the Serpent's Spine mountain range, he heard a familiar voice excitedly speaking in the distance, and getting closer as he walked.

"...-and therefore the notes go ~brururum~!!!... get it?"

"... uhm, I am afraid I am not confident enough in my knowledge of music..."

Another familiar, peaceful voice resounded in response.

"Hmm, if I could play it I wouldn't have to tell you why it is so cool..."

"The performance from before has already deeply impressed me, Fairy Gong Cui. I should thank you for the wonderful time"

"Ehehehe~, you think so? Hehe, I am glad Your Highness was able to enjoy it... hmm, still but if I could only play the 'Five Color Song of Dao'..."

Wu Long came to an open space where a pagoda gazebo stood in the middle of the pond, and four beautiful ladies sat in it.

Gong Cui's energetic gestures were trying to express what she wanted to say but could not form into words, resorting to sounds like 'vroom' and 'vrurururum'.

Her talent in Music Dao was indeed high, enough to be called a heavenly genius, but unlike Yu Huan's talent in alchemy or Bi Rui's talent in spear arts she was more of a natural, intuitive type than someone theoretical and methodical.

Cai Yin sat across from her, with a smile on her face as she visibly was relaxed and enjoyed herself. For a Soul Cultivator like her, Gong Cui was one of the most easy to approach people since all of her emotions and thoughts were always in the open, and her cheerful personality felt like a ray of warm light to the princess.

In addition, Music Dao had great effect in stirring emotions or relaxing people, so Gong Cui's zither standing before her was likely responsible for such a quick change in Cai Yin's emotional state from turmoil to peace.

Gong Liwei and Shen Min were with them as one was trying to keep an eye on her little sister and another was helping the princess adapt.

As he was now visible, all of the ladies soon noticed him.

"Oh! Sister, it's the nice guy!"

Gong Cui's eyes glinted with emotions as she took her sister's forearm and started shaking her, while her cheeks became slightly rosy at the sight of him, which seemed to surprise even her. She didn't expect to become so overjoyed at just seeing this nice guy who always offered free hugs.

'Hmm, is it because I couldn't see him when he was in the sect?... oh, he's coming...'

She thought, but her thoughts quickly changed and he chuckled, walking around the lake in a peaceful manner and approached the gazebo on a wooden bridge.

"It is nice to see you are well, Fairy Gong Cui, Fairy Gong Liwei. I have been a little preoccupied lately and have unfortunately not given you any hospitality I should have as someone who brought you to this continent.

I hope you have been adjusting nicely and that your stay is comfortable"

"Mister Wu is too polite, we have been given all the care by your Dao Family and associates, and far from blaming you, we are tremendously grateful for everything you have done for us"

Gong Liwei smiled, as her initial anxiety about the new environment and such a drastic change in their lifestyle seemed to be far behind her.

"Mm, mm! We have been well. Hehe~ but if you are apologizing, how about a free hug as a compensation?"

"Cui'er!"

Gong Cui nodded along with her sister, then unexpectedly giving out a an answer none of the people presented expected, slightly surprising even Wu Long. But more than that, it was her who looked the most shocked by her own words.

"Um... ehehe... I-..."

He widened his eyes, and then gently smiled.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure"

He opened up his arms and the maiden, driven by the sudden unknown impulse, took that opportunity for the first time, standing up and striding toward the coveted embrace. Though she has previously tried to use that 'free hug' offered by Wu Long she has been impeded by her sister, and her motivation in the first place was purely that she was offered a free hug.

However, when the words 'free hug' came off her beautiful plump lips this time, a myriad of memories of her seeing him hug his women flew by in her mind. Their blissful faces, and that feeling of curiosity and slight envy she felt each time.

Her soft, miniature body pressed into the firm and large body of a man for the first time, and she could feel the sturdiness of his muscles and the strength hidden in them even through the clothes, while her arms that embraced the powerful torso tingled with excitement from the new sensation. Two steady and warm arms wrapped around her and her heart started beating faster as her breath became stifled.

The scent of a man that she never felt before made her slightly dizzy as she tried to process the feelings that assaulted her like a storm, chaotic and intense.

Gong Liwei widened her eyes as her hand that was raised to stop her little sister froze in the air when she saw Gong Cui's face as she got up, while Shen Min just quietly smiled without much surprise.

Princess Cai Yin, though, was not as calm as her thoughts stirred from the sudden development.

'Is this man ever going to be satisfied? He already got so many beautiful women...'

She mused as she tried to comprehend what was happening as that thought that slipped into her mind earlier floated up a little again, but not enough to make ripples, barely touching the surface of her sea of consciousness.

"Um... that is... thank you"

Gong Cui who became slightly red finally eased her embrace, causing him to release her as he gently nodded with a smile.

"Once again, it is my pleasure, Fairy Gong Cui"

"Hehe~ oh! I know, since you are here... um... why don't I perform once more, I think... I remember you said you enjoyed it last time~"

"Indeed, I would love to. Though if Fairy Gong Cui needs a little time we should first have some tea..."

"Ehehe, no no, please take a seat"

Wu Long slightly worriedly looked at the beauty, but was unable to persuade her otherwise so he sat down next to Shen Min.

"Khm... I shall perform the 'Flowery Mountain of the Silver Lake' next"

Gong Cui sat down in front of her zither, her cheeks still flushed, as her fingers slightly trembled. Gong Liwei's eyes filled with worry as she looked at her little sister, seeing what was happening but unable to think of a way to stop it. Princess Cai Yin also became slightly restless as she could feel the soul fluctuations in the beauty's excitement and nervousness.

The thin and beautiful fingers touched the strings, and a melody flowed above the pond's waters, reverberating in the souls of the people around. But although the sounds were beautiful, and the harmony was present, there was something slightly dull about the performance. The usual colors present in the tones of her music were not there, and the voluminous, encompassing feeling that created a picture in the mind of the listener never appeared.

Beads of sweat started appearing on the forehead of the beauty who felt like her fingers were suddenly made of wood and not moving the way she wanted to, and the first wrong note soon rang out, breaking the dam as sounds became jumbled and the melody unraveled.

She stopped playing soon after, looking down and not in the faces of anyone around. Glistening tears started to appear on the corners of her eyes, glinting in the moonlight as her fingers trembled over the instrument.

Princess Cai Yin opened up her mouth to speak up but Wu Long gently shook his head as he looked at her, and she kept her silence as Gong Cui stood up.

"M-my apologies, I-... I must have forgotten the sheet music"

Her slightly hoarse, trembling voice, barely audible to them announced as she then turned and left the gazebo.

"Are you not going to chase her?"

Princess Cai Yin turned to Wu Long but he shook his head.

"That would be an insult to Fairy Gong Cui. It is the reason her own Sister does not move from the spot as well"

He spoke as Gong Liwei sighed with a nod. Not one of them blamed the maiden for the performance, or for the aftermath as they all understood her.