Wayfarer

Chapter 833: The Second Song

In the Sieve of Heaven, within Ao Canghai's manor, as Ye Dafu, Ao Zhou, and the others joined the fray, Ao Canghai's subordinates were quickly subdued.

The residents of the Sieve of Heaven were naturally surprised by this outcome, but since Ao Canghai was no longer the Eastern Aspect, his influence had waned. No one dared to stand up for him.

With Southern Aspect Yang Chuan as a witness, Xiao Nanfeng reported Ao Canghai's betrayal to the Sieve of Heaven's judiciary. News spread quickly across the Sieve of Heaven; its residents were in an uproar. Who would have thought that Ao Canghai would stoop to such a level?

The Sieve of Heaven's judiciary began its investigation immediately. The fight had caused a great commotion and drawn significant attention, so they quickly confirmed the details of what had transpired.

Then, they submitted a report to the Heavenly Emperor pending his approval.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nanfeng and his group remained in the Sieve of Heaven as they waited for the Heavenly Emperor's summons.

In Xiao Nanfeng's residence, right after he assigned a number of tasks to his subordinates, he suddenly saw a woman standing at the entrance to the main hall in the distance—Madam Rouge herself.

"Who's that? How did she get in here?"

"I didn't even notice anything. She just appeared out of nowhere!"

"Who are you?"

The guards shouted in alarm. No one knew how Madam Rouge had appeared where she did, and she seemed to have bypassed even the defensive formations around the residence.

"That's enough," Xiao Nanfeng called out. He waved them off.

His subordinates and guards quickly retreated. Madam Rouge walked toward him.

"Xiao Nanfeng, I helped you drive away a powerful foe. How could you have left without a word?" Madam Rouge asked, smiling.

Xiao Nanfeng was a bit embarrassed. "Didn't I leave a letter for you? I suddenly had a bout of insight and had to enter secluded cultivation immediately."

"Do you really think I would believe such an excuse?" she asked, continuing to smile as she approached him.

Xiao Nanfeng gave her a wry smile, but didn't argue the point.

"I came all the way from the west to help you out and drove off Han Gucheng on your behalf, but even after all that, you left me hanging! Are you getting tired of me?" Madam Rouge made a mock-aggrieved expression.

Xiao Nanfeng reared back dubiously. "Can we cut the theatrics, Madam Rouge? You're making me look like a heartless scoundrel."

Madam Rouge smiled brightly. "You'll keep your word, then?"

Xiao Nanfeng grimaced. There seemed to be no escaping this.

"Give me some time. I'll need to learn the songs properly," Xiao Nanfeng stalled.

"How much time?" Madam Rouge pressed.

Xiao Nanfeng sighed. "Are you that eager to hear me sing?"

"Of course! Why else would I drop my duties as an Immortal Emperor and come all the way to Dazheng? Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? How could you be embarrassed about singing me just ten songs given how much I sacrificed to help you out?"

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Xiao Nanfeng was speechless. This woman was definitely trouble.

"Come on, now. I know you can sing, and no one else is around to listen," Madam Rouge coaxed.

"You're an Immortal Emperor. Do you really have the time to be listening to music? Or are you just too bored?"

"I don't want to listen to just any song. I want to hear you sing," Madam Rouge emphasized.

"I don't have anything prepared. Wait a little longer," Xiao Nanfeng muttered irritably.

"That won't do. If you don't sing, I'll have to tell Yu Fuli about it." Madam Rouge smiled.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

"You can't keep putting this off forever. Just go along with it," Madam Rouge urged.

Xiao Nanfeng's face twitched. How had he gotten himself into such a mess?

"Give me a little while longer," Xiao Nanfeng replied, resigned.

"Very well, but I want to hear one of the ten songs right now."

Xiao Nanfeng grimaced.

"What's more, it has to be a new song I haven't heard before, and it has to be about romance in the same vein as The Moon Represents My Heart. Otherwise, it won't count," Madam Rouge continued.

"You really are troublesome."

"But you won't go back on your word, will you?"

Xiao Nanfeng felt harassed. When had Madam Rouge developed such weird tastes? Well—it didn't seem like she was normal to begin with. She had started out wanting to choke him to death, then shock him to death. After that, she hounded him daily, watching him eat, bathe, and sleep. When his strength finally eclipsed hers, he had teased her once, but she had grown weirder since. She was teasing him now, and even wanted him to sing her love songs!

Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath, resigned. "Fine. Just one song."

Madam Rouge's eyes lit up. "Excellent!"

"Let's head to the garden over there. There's no one else around," Xiao Nanfeng said.

He didn't want anyone else witnessing such an embarrassing scene.

Since he did owe Madam Rouge a favor, and since his avatar was hiding in seclusion, leaving so abruptly was rather unfair. Now that Madam Rouge had tracked him down to the Sieve of Heaven, he couldn't just turn her down. He would think of it as a private karaoke session; as long as no one else saw what he was doing, he could handle it.

They walked toward a secluded garden, where Xiao Nanfeng carefully set up several defensive formations. After ensuring that no one could eavesdrop, he turned back to Madam Rouge.

She sat nearby and watched him intently.

Xiao Nanfeng felt his face heat up. He was an emperor; how could he sing someone a love song? If anyone were to find out, he'd be too mortified to show his face.

"What's the name of the song?" Madam Rouge asked in anticipation.

"Legend. It was sung by a famous singer from my hometown. Let me practice a little first."

"A famous singer from your hometown? Ha!" Madam Rouge gave him a knowing smile.

She had already investigated Xiao Nanfeng's background thoroughly. His "hometown" was Yongding, and there were no famous singers there at all. Even so, she let it slide.

"Once I glimpsed you in the crowd once again, I've been unable to forget your face... ♪"

"When I think of you, you're far away; when I think of you, you're right in front of me... ♪"

"When I think of you, you're in my mind; when I think of you, you're in my heart... ♪"

The song was beautiful and captured a universal human emotion. It was a song from Xiao Nanfeng's previous life on Earth, and the feelings it conveyed were genuine.

At first, Madam Rouge didn't seem particularly moved. As she continued listening to it, however, her gaze softened. She suddenly looked toward Xiao Nanfeng far more gently than before.

The song ended in what felt like a brief instant. Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.

Madam Rouge blinked. Her gaze became focused and intense. She licked her lips, almost as if she wanted to devour him.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "It's just a song. What's up with that expression of yours?"

"Did you write this song just for me?" Madam Rouge asked, smiling.

"I already told you, it's a song from my hometown. I just learned it," Xiao Nanfeng replied immediately.

He wasn't sure if she was being genuine or simply toying with him. Madam Rouge seemed rather untrustworthy at the best of times.

"Your hometown?" She continued to smile at him even as she gave him a skeptical look.

"This has to stay private, you hear? Don't let anyone else find out," Xiao Nanfeng warned.

Madam Rouge chuckled. "Since you sang it specially for me, I won't let anyone know."

"Good." Xiao Nanfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, he had managed to repay his debt to Madam Rouge. As for the remaining nine songs, those could wait. He'd stretch it out as long as possible—perhaps a thousand years, or even ten thousand. He never wanted to relive such an embarrassing moment again.

Just then, Madam Rouge frowned. "Who's there?"

She extended a hand and sent a blast of energy into the sky. The void trembled,revealing a flickering figure—Yu Fuli's visage.

"Yu Fuli? Were you spying on us?" she demanded coldly.

Xiao Nanfeng's face froze. Damn it, had Yu Fuli overheard his song?

"Were you eavesdropping, Your Majesty?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

Yu Fuli smiled. "Ha! Xiao Nanfeng, you really are a casanova, aren't you?"

"Your Majesty, eavesdropping is impolite," Xiao Nanfeng replied primly.

"Haha! It was just an accident. I was reviewing the report regarding Ao Canghai's case and was just about to find you, only to discover the two of you engaged in... a rather unique activity. Anyway, come to my study when you're ready."

Yu Fuli's visage vanished with a hum.

Xiao Nanfeng felt numb all over.

"Didn't you say no one would hear?" he complained, glancing at Madam Rouge in frustration.

"This is the Sieve of Heaven, a realm created from Yu Fuli's heart. No one can block his scrying in his place of power. Besides, if your avatar hadn't been hiding from me, I wouldn't have had to come all the way here. I would have been able to shield you from his gaze."

"Are you saying this is my fault?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

"Of course." Madam Rouge rolled her eyes.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

"Alright. This song was acceptable, but remember, you still owe me nine more." Madam Rouge said, smiling.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

"Come on. I need to speak to Yu Fuli too. Let's head over to his palace."

Xiao Nanfeng: ... n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xiao Nanfeng had a sneaking suspicion that Madam Rouge had known he was watching all along. For some reason, she hadn't called him out.

Begrudgingly, he and Madam Rouge left his residence and headed over to the Heavenly Palace atop Mt. Kunlun.

With Yu Fuli's summons, no one dared to bar their way. They quickly arrived at his study.

"Relax. No one else knows what happened. Yu Fuli just happened to hear it, but he probably isn't interested in your singing. I'm the only one who cares. Not everyone is as curious as I am about you, you realize?" Madam Rouge said, trying to reassure him.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That's true."

Just as they entered his study, however, they heard a familiar song—the one Xiao Nanfeng had just sung, which was now being replayed. Yu Fuli had somehow recorded it and was listening to it now.

"When I think of you, you're far away; when I think of you, you're right in front of me... ♪"

"When I think of you, you're in my mind; when I think of you, you're in my heart... ♪"

Hearing his own voice echo throughout the study, Xiao Nanfeng felt his scalp prick. Was Yu Fuli really going to embarrass him like this? What was he going to do now?