After Chen Xi finished his threats, he swaggered off to dance.
Everyone found it amusing and stood with their hands behind their backs, waiting.
Waiting for what? To watch the show.
"Has Lord Chen Xi ever learned to dance?" Sui You asked Yan Hua.
Yan Hua shook his head without a second thought, "How could he have learned? In the era when we were just born, there was war everywhere. All the factions were vying for territory, and very few people learned such things."
Those refinements came much later, after the Three Realms had stabilized.
Sui You looked enlightened.
Yue Zhi suppressed a chuckle, "Thinking about it, it makes sense. Generally, even if men learned things like strategy and martial arts, it was usually martial arts or leisure skills. How could a man possibly enjoy learning to dance?"
It wasn't that it never happened, but it was extremely rare.
Many were fox spirits, or other spirits, races that sustained themselves by absorbing people's vitality and yang energy. They might practice dance to bewitch humans.
Of course, there were also those who genuinely enjoyed dancing, but such cases were in the minority.
"Alas, no matter what, I think we should set up a barrier first. At least, it's fine for us few to watch for fun. If others see it and it causes a scene, that wouldn't be so good," Qi Yu said, as a thin barrier gradually appeared around them.
Enveloped by the barrier, others outside could not see what was happening inside.
Yan Hua nodded.
Qi Yu casually found a spot to sit and snack on melon seeds.
Just then, the sound of silver bells drifted from nearby.
Chen Xi, clad in white, holding a silver sword, and with his face veiled, slowly walked over from a distance.
He looked menacing. With a leap, his pure silver sword gleamed under the sunlight.
Qi Yu's eyes widened, and he held his breath, never expecting the person to be so beautiful.
"Wow, she's too beautiful! Her posture is absolutely stunning. Honestly, I thought she'd at least do something particularly funny or something else. I never imagined she'd actually perform a sword dance," Jin Yan was so shocked he didn't know what to say, feeling like his tongue wasn't his own.
Yu Yuan also stared at Chen Xi in a daze.
Chen Xi's sword dance was powerful, his every step imbued with energy. The swordplay was sharp, as if he were about to kill someone, yet his movements were incredibly graceful.
Yan Hua watched quietly from the side, a smile on his lips.
Qi Yu stared, mesmerized, for a long while before recovering. He then asked Yan Hua in a surprised tone, "Didn't you say she hadn't learned to dance? If this is without training, what would it be like with training? This is just too beautiful."
Si Qing also nodded with his mouth agape.
In his past and present lives, he had seen many celestial beauties, especially in the Divine Realm in his previous life, where many celestial maidens had actively sought him out.
But no matter how beautiful they were, none seemed to compare to the one before him.
Oh, except for his sister.
Chen Xi finished his dance, sheathed his silver sword, and slowly walked over, sitting down. "Is that good enough now? Are you satisfied? I've danced. You should keep your promise and start the next game. I'm warning you, be careful. I'm not a true gentleman if I don't seek revenge. I'll make sure you all take turns dancing before this game can end."
Yan Hua nodded.
Qi Nian, snapping out of his shock, also played along with a wry smile, "Okay, okay, but if Lord Chen Xi loses again this time, don't blame us."
Chen Xi sneered. How could that happen?
But after losing the next game, with the ball stuck to him again, he could no longer sneer.
Qi Yu, covering his face, laughed so hard he fell to the ground. "Chen Xi, why don't you ask the old gods in the heavens for a pill of fortune? This is your second loss."
"You must have cheated. No, no, this one doesn't count. Let's start over. If I lose this one again, then you can punish me twice," Chen Xi said, rolling up his sleeves, refusing to accept punishment and demanding another try.
Everyone nodded, and no one objected. They started a third game, and in the third game, Chen Xi lost again.
"Hahahaha!" Si Qing could no longer hold back and laughed helplessly, covering his face.
Chen Xi was so angry his nose was about to fall off. He stood there with his hands on his hips, unable to speak, and finally felt like crying from anger.
Yan Hua wanted to comfort him but didn't know how to start. He finally sighed, "Share your punishment with me."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xi's eyes immediately welled up. He looked up at Yan Hua with grateful eyes, "Wuwuwu, I knew you were the best! Yan Hua!"
Chen Xi hugged Yan Hua's leg and wailed.
Seeing his pathetic state and recalling his earlier boasts, Yan Hua couldn't help but press his forehead.
"Hahaha, Chen Xi, so your story tells us never to set a lesson. After being tricked once, you should stop. Don't keep falling for it three or four times just to save face," Jin Yan was almost choking with laughter beside them.
In all his years, he had never known anyone to be so unlucky. He wondered if the God of Misfortune had secretly visited, hiding in a corner, causing Chen Xi to lose so many times in a row.
Qi Yu also stood up, holding his forehead, and said with suppressed laughter, "This is indeed quite strange. I suggest we investigate thoroughly, hahaha."
Shao Feng also couldn't help but chuckle, "Honestly, I've played this game for so long, since I was a child. I'm very experienced, and this is the first time I've seen someone lose three or four times in a row. Is there some metaphysics to this? Chen Xi, I suggest you don't leave the Thirteenth Heaven today. Stay here for a while. Perhaps you're carrying some bad luck."
Chen Xi was so angered by their laughter that he bristled, "Laugh, laugh, what are you laughing at? I'm telling you, this is just a temporary run of bad luck. I'll be lucky in the next few rounds."
Chen Xi said this, but deep down, he wasn't entirely sure.
What if he lost this round too?
Chen Xi thought in agony, took a deep breath, and looked around.
Seeing this, Qi Yu looked puzzled, "Chen Xi, what are you looking at? You're not looking for help, are you? No one else can play this for you, so give up on the idea of finding a helper."
Chen Xi retorted indignantly, "Who's looking for help? I just think this place is unlucky, so I want to play somewhere else."