Desolate Devouring Art - Chapter 1568 - Victor

Chapter 1568 – Victor

Since Liu Wuxie had come to Peach Blossom Island, he naturally had to follow the rules here. He knew he wouldn’t be able to leave tonight if he didn’t write something, so he took up the brush and fell silent for a brief moment.

More than a hundred poems already hung across the curtain in every style, some pretentious, some brazen, and some downright indecent.

When Liu Wuxie finally lowered his brush, it swept across the paper like a soaring dragon and wrote the first character.

The fragrant curtains stir, blossoms drift into the chambered tower.

A high-tuned zither sings, easing the slow sorrow of the night.

Silk robes and jeweled sash I loosen for you;

Songs of Yan and dances of Zhao unfold for you alone.

Liu Wuxie finished the poem in one flowing breath, then let out a slow exhale.

When the woman beside him read it, her eyes narrowed, shock spilling plainly across them. Though the women stayed in a brothel, they were knowledgeable and well-learned, and she could tell at a glance how exquisite this poem was.

“Young Master, you are truly talented. This is the finest poem I’ve seen in my life,” the woman said, clapping gently, instantly drawing attention from everyone nearby.

Some gasped in admiration, while others curled their lips and sneered in contempt.

“Attention-seeking,” those who wrote obscene poems said, convinced Liu Wuxie only wanted to show off.

Most people praised him without hesitation. “What an excellent poem that matches the environment!”

At the same time, Tao Xuanming completed his poem and hung it on the curtain.

“Young Master Tao is also done!”

A ripple ran through the crowd as everyone turned to look at the poem.

Emerald hues stretch along the desolate shore;

Mist-veiled forms drift toward distant towers.

Shadows spread across the face of spring waters.

Blossoms fall upon the fisherman’s head.

Ancient roots conceal the fishes’ caves;

Beneath the branches, travelers moor their boats.

On a sighing night of wind and rain,

Dreams are startled awake, and sorrow deepens once more.

Everyone had to admit Tao Xuanming’s poem was genuinely brilliant.

Flattery rose from the crowd. “Young Master Tao is truly talented. You will surely be tonight’s champion!”

Tao Xuanming was the young master of the Peach Blossom Gate, and his status towered over most. If they pleased him, they would gain another layer of protection on Peach Blossom Island.

Liu Wuxie’s poem was also hung on the curtain, deliberately placed right beside Tao Xuanming’s. The two poems immediately formed a stark contrast.

“Both poems are superb, and you can’t say that one is inferior to the other,” many of the older generation said, nodding. If they had to score them, both would earn full marks.

“Young Master Tao’s poem focuses on the people and scenery, while the other poem focuses on people and things, along with a faint artistic concept. This person called Wu Xie is clearly a notch higher,” an elder remarked, gulping down a cup of Peach Blossom Brew.

Liu Wuxie had signed off as “Wu Xie” rather than his real name.

People around them nodded in agreement because Liu Wuxie’s poem felt more immersive. They couldn’t help sinking into its mood, slamming the table in delight. After all, who came to the Peach Blossom Nunnery without woes, hoping to dissolve them?

After the elder’s appraisal, praise for Liu Wuxie’s poem swelled even louder. Tao Xuanming’s face darkened as he heard the discussion rise. Without Liu Wuxie’s poem, he would have taken first place and spent the night with Lady Ruo Shui.

“Bring that Young Master Wu Xie to my room,” Lady Ruo Shui ordered after the song ended.

A wave of envy swept through the main hall at once. No one had expected Liu Wuxie to seize the crown at the very last moment.

“Our young master invites you to the second floor,” a middle-aged man said as he appeared behind Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie’s brows immediately knitted together. He had noticed this middle-aged man when Tao Xuanming arrived and knew this was Tao Xuanming’s attendant.

“Young Master, go on,” the woman beside Liu Wuxie urged.

On Peach Blossom Island, there were three people one absolutely couldn’t offend, and Tao Xuanming was one of them.

Liu Wuxie only hesitated for a brief moment before he followed the middle-aged man up to the second floor. He mainly moved to avoid trouble and keep a low profile, having just arrived on Peach Blossom Island. Since the Peach Blossom Gate was the strongest sect on Peach Blossom Island, he naturally wanted to avoid a confrontation.

After Liu Wuxie left, whispers immediately rose from the main hall.

“Tao Xuanming will probably make him give up tonight’s chance and spend the night with Lady Ruo Shui instead,” soft laughter rippled through the crowd. Liu Wuxie appeared to be only at the first-level Earth Immortal Realm, so they believed he had no choice but to submit to Tao Xuanming.

Seeing that Liu Wuxie was an unfamiliar face, this was most likely his first time on Peach Blossom Island, which made refusal even less possible.

“What choice does he have when his cultivation is weaker?” many people said, feeling indignant on Liu Wuxie’s behalf. They were convinced Tao Xuanming would use status to crush him. It was the rule of the cultivation world that the strong ruled over the weak, and Peach Blossom Island was no exception to it.

A corpse lay buried beneath every peach blossom tree, and the blossoms were fed with blood. That was the true origin of the beauty before them.

When Liu Wuxie reached the second floor, a servant invited him to sit. Liu Wuxie didn’t take the seat and stood opposite Tao Xuanming instead.

“Here are five hundred thousand astral crystals. Take it and leave Peach Blossom Island immediately,” Tao Xuanming said bluntly, tossing out his demand along with five hundred thousand astral crystals.

“And what if I refuse?” Liu Wuxie replied. He didn’t care about the night with Lady Ruo Shui, but he couldn’t stand Tao Xuanming’s arrogance. He treated Liu Wuxie like a beggar by throwing Astral Crystals at him. “I’ll give you one million to get the fuck out of Peach Blossom Nunnery.”

Liu Wuxie threw one million astral crystals onto the table before Tao Xuanming. He had already sensed something wrong with Lady Ruo Shui, and he wanted to find out what it was because his Ghost Pupil had never failed him before.

Tao Xuanming slammed his palm on the table and sprang to his feet. He had treated Liu Wuxie like a beggar, and Liu Wuxie had returned the same humiliation straight into his face. When it came to astral crystals, who could claim they were richer than Liu Wuxie?

“Brat, you’re courting death!” Tao Xuanming roared. No one had dared to defy him in his entire life.

“Young Master Tao, do you have anything else to say?” Liu Wuxie sneered. He had heard empty threats too many times. Although he didn’t want trouble, he didn’t fear him. If Tao Xuanming had spoken kindly, Liu Wuxie might have given him a chance.

Instead, Tao Xuanming had put on the airs of a young sect master and tried to pressure him. But he had chosen the wrong person. With that, Liu Wuxie collected the one million astral crystals and strode out without a care.

Just then, a servant arrived and led Liu Wuxie toward Lady Ruo Shui’s room.

“Go and investigate everything about him! I want to feed his blood to my peach blossom tree!” Tao Xuanming ordered through gritted teeth.

Now that he had missed this opportunity, he would have to wait another month, and worse, who knew what Lady Ruo Shui would demand in the next month’s challenge? He couldn’t possibly come every month. It had taken him a great deal of effort to slip away from his father, so his fury burned even hotter.

The guests in the main hall had witnessed everything on the second floor. They had all assumed Liu Wuxie would yield, but he had openly slapped Tao Xuanming’s face instead.

However, this was the Peach Blossom Nunnery, and no one dared to start a fight here. If anyone fought, they would violate the rules, and the Peach Blossom Nunnery would intervene. After all, everyone was supposed to rely on skill to compete, and if someone relied on background to pressure an opponent, where would the fairness be?

“That kid has some backbone,” many people said, raising their thumbs in approval that Liu Wuxie hadn’t been intimidated into submission. If it had been anyone else, they would have bowed their head long ago.

“So what? I doubt he’ll see the sun tomorrow. Tao Xuanming won’t let him leave Peach Blossom Island alive.”

Sighs of pity sounded in the main hall as they kept drinking and discussing what they had just seen.

Liu Wuxie followed the servant through several corridors until they reached a lavishly decorated, standalone pavilion, and the servant knocked gently on the door.

Lady Ruo Shui called out, “Let him come in.”

“Go on,” the servant said, then turned and left, abandoning Liu Wuxie outside the pavilion.

When Liu Wuxie pushed the door open, a wave of fragrance rushed out to meet him. He paused for only a moment before stepping inside. The furnishings looked simple—a bed covered in fine brocade, and a table in the center laid with exquisite wine and delicacies.

Lady Ruo Shui wore a veil that concealed her face, but her figure and eyes alone hinted at the beauty hidden beneath. Yet, for some reason, the moment Liu Wuxie laid eyes on her, he frowned, and a trace of disgust surfaced in his gaze.

Lady Ruo Shui invited Liu Wuxie over. “Young Master Wu, please have a seat.”

When Liu Wuxie took his seat, Lady Ruo Shui began pouring wine for him. She dressed scandalously, her thin gauze barely covering what needed to be covered. As she poured, she leaned forward and revealed a glimpse of her twin peaks. Whether by accident or intent, she spilled the wine onto Liu Wuxie’s robe, then reached out to wipe it and used the chance to fall toward his chest.

“Lady Ruo Shui, please have some dignity,” Liu Wuxie said sharply, vanishing and leaving Lady Ruo Shui grasping at empty air.

“Young Master Wu, are you afraid that I’ll eat you?” Lady Ruo Shui asked with a giggle, then returned to her seat after pouring wine.

When Liu Wuxie sat back down and looked at the emerald wine before him, a strange flicker flashed through his eyes.

“Let me give Young Master Wu a toast,” Lady Ruo Shui said, then gulped the wine down in one mouthful.

Liu Wuxie didn’t lift his cup and instead fell into deep thought, his gaze steady and unmoving.

“What’s the matter? Is Young Master Wu afraid someone laced the wine with poison?” Lady Ruo Shui giggled as if mocking him outright.

“How could such fine wine be poisonous?” Liu Wuxie replied, then gulped the wine down like premium nectar. The instant it entered his stomach, the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron appeared and devoured it completely.

“It’s getting late, and let me serve you to bed now.”

Lady Ruo Shui rose to her feet. She began peeling away the final layer of thin cloth, clearly preparing to serve him.

“No hurry,” Liu Wuxie said, smiling as he watched her. If it had been anyone else, they would have pounced already; her figure alone was alluring enough, and even with the veil, her outline suggested a peerless beauty.

“Does Young Master Wu have anything else to do?” Ruo Shui asked, stopping mid-motion and looking at Liu Wuxie with curiosity. She had never seen a man this calm in her entire life.

“Tell me about your real identity. I have no interest in sharing a room with a grown man,” Liu Wuxie said with a smile.

All of a sudden, the temperature in the room plummeted.