87 The Performances

Trevon proudly stepped onto the stage. He could see the bright face of the Dancing Night star. She smiled and grabbed Trevon's hand and brought him to the center stage.

[So soft...] Trevon felt the tiny hand which held his hand. He also could smell her jasmine perfume trail from her body.

"It is my pleasure to have Young Master in the stage. How should Isemeine call Young Master?" Isemeine's melodious voice asked for Trevon name. It was a pleasantry from the lady to a new patron.

"Trevon McArthur. It is my pleasure to join you Miss Isemeine. You are more beautiful if the closer I looked." Trevon smiled.

"Isemeine couldn't accept such praise. How does Young Master Trevon want to accompany Isemeine?"

Some patrons started to gossip.

"Is he that Trevon?" Hillbridge was close to Bluestar. It wasn't rare for people to know Trevon.

"Yes. I think." His friend answered.

"This is a danger to female in Hillbridge. Does he move here?"

"No. I heard the McArthur family will host their family tournament in the capital. He is only passing here." The silver-haired all-knowing man answered.

"Why is it in the capital?" The patron in a blue robe asked his friend the silver-haired man.

"We should not discuss that. This matter is something out of common cultivator like us." Even silver-haired all-knowing man didn't dare to gossip the great family.

"What is important is our family." A fat merchant in a gold robe said.

"We should order our daughter to stay at home this week." Some patrons ordered their guards. They told their daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers to stay at home. People had heard a rumor that Trevon would eat even far too ripe apple.

Trevon took out a qin from his storage ring. The qin materialized in his left hand. This was an answer to the beautiful lady's question.

While Trevon had learned to dance with the girl in the Eternal Night. He hadn't reached the level to dance on the stage. Trevon preferred to play music while enjoying the dance or song.

Isemeine was taken aback. [Could this young master play the music?] She would need to change her dance based on the music. If he could only play a few pieces of music, it would be hard for her.

"What music young master loves to play?"

"Anything that Miss Isemeine loves. As long as I have the chord, I will play for Miss Isemeine." Trevon said confidently. He wanted to show off before this beautiful lady.

Isemeine smiled mischievously. He had heard of this young master's name. "How about Symphony of Endless War? Has Young Master heard that?"

"I am not. Could I see the chord?" Trevon really hadn't played this song before.

Isemeine nodded. This piece was hard. She looked into one of the musicians. A female musician came closer and gave her musical piece to Trevon.

"Thank you." Trevon started to look.

"Miss Isemeine plays a prank on the young master." A young man in a silver robe said.

"It is his fault for saying anything. He shouldn't brag like that." His friend on the same table answered.

"Why do you guys mean by playing a prank?" A young lady in a green robe asked.

"This music is very hard." A proud young master answered.

"Yes. I have practiced this for two years, but barely managed to play it." Another young master on the same table said. He showed some hand movements to show he had practiced qin.

"This famous Trevon is too confident." Another young master couldn't wait to see Trevon failed to play.

"He would embarrass himself." A local young master smiled. "This is Hillbridge. An outsider should not show off here."

"He could just pretend that he couldn't play it." A young lady said.

"At the public? That would equal to eating his own word." The local young masters loved to see this famous young master lost his face in public.

"Good. This is fine!" Trevon had managed to memorize the piece. He was a Peak Rank 1 warrior with better memory. As long as he willed it, he could remember the piece.

The Dancing Night star smiled when she heard Trevon's answer. "Please prepare yourself, Young Master! Isemeine needs to change my robe."

Trevon nodded. The girl returned to the backstage. Meanwhile, the background musician played a song for the waiting audiences.

A stage manager came to Trevon. He helped Trevon to the position where he should play the music without disturbing Isemeine's choreography. The place was in the center of the stage. It seemed the lady had practiced this dance several times.

While Trevon waiting, a servant prepared his music playing seat and a small table for Trevon's snacks and drink. While a young maid came and offered Trevon a good tea while waiting. Another maid came and brought some snacks for Trevon.

Trevon sat on the chair and tuned his favorite qin while waiting. As a Master Qin Player, he had made a connection with his instrument. He could play with another qin, but he would lose certain feeling.

After five minutes, Isemeine returned. The beautiful lady wore a white robe. Her outer robe was slightly translucent white scarves. Those outer translucent parts warped around her waist and arms. Each her steps looked like a floating immortal fairy.

During this waiting time, the patrons could order new foods and enjoyed the background musicians played. However, all eyes came to look at the beautiful fairy on the stage. Meanwhile, a servant took the temporary small table from Trevon's side.

[He ate everything?] The servant couldn't believe it. He had put many snacks on it enough for a table. [When did he eat them?]

A Rabbink took a snack from a space portal. [Gwahahaha. I can't allow those delicious snacks to be thrown away.]

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Young Master Trevon McArthur will accompany Isemeine to perform Symphony of Endless War. Please give an applause to him!" Her melodious voice echoed in the room.

"Clap... Clap... Clap..."

The audience clapped for Trevon. This young master had given an additional performance of Isemeine for them.

Trevon, who was sitting on his chair, smiled from receiving so much applause. Performing before the crowds would increase his fame in a city. [If I have the time, I should become the number one young master in Hillbridge too. Hahahaha.]

The star crouched like an infant before Trevon. From the open back robe that she wore, Trevon could see the white jade-like back of the young lady.

This dance was a story. A story of a brave warrior who became a Heavenly General. It was a tale from countless years ago. Normally, a male performer would perform this dance.

[This should be fun. How will she dance on this manly dance?] Trevon thought after he read the complete chord and the story in it.

The background musicians started to play. In case Trevon couldn't play, the background musicians would cover for Trevon. However, who is Trevon? He is a Master Qin Player.

"Boom!" A drum was punched.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Isemeine started to shake her petite body. She shook as she was a small heartbeat. However, she was still in the fetus position.

Trevon accompanied the music. This part was already hard. Qin was soft, while this scene contained sudden hard beats. However, this tempo changed soon.

The fetus born, he was a baby then he grew. Simultaneously, the music turned cheerful.

The beautiful girl rose following the song. She danced happily like a like child played in the world, jumping here and there basking under the stage light. She showed the world full of wonder and new things.

"This young master could play." A young lady commented. Trevon had performed flawlessly so far.

"This is just the beginning. This is easy." Her male friend didn't like it when another young master getting a praise from his companion.

"After the war started, then it is the real test. I have failed only during that part." Another young master on the same table said.

Trevon enjoyed sitting at the center of the stage. Isemeine sometimes danced behind him making him wondered what she was doing. Sometimes she danced to his left. The stars circled him and played around the stage. The stage was her world, her territory.

This was another experience to perform together. You could see a side which audience couldn't see. Isemeine's choreography was well thought. It gave the performance to the audience on the seat, but also to the winning bidder on the stage.

The girl also sometimes pretended to check Trevon like he was a new thing. They even had a ten-seconds of eye contacts. He won on this, the girl moved to her next dance first with reddened cheeks. Trevon smiled, his gaze was still unbeatable.

Then it was the hard part. This part had a very drastic tempo. Sometimes, it was slow and emotional. The turbulent emotion of a general before a war. Other times, it was heavy with a high-spirited tempo of battle. Then it came to another celebration before the tabulation appeared again.

Luckily, he was Trevon McArthur. The number one young master in Bluestar wouldn't be defeated by this drastic tempo change. As a Master Qin Player, he could play that. However, this piece really tested his maximum performance.

It was also noted that while Trevon's Qin wasn't a spirit instrument, it was a high-quality one. If his qin was only a common qin, most its strings wouldn't hold Trevon's play. Even some background musicians couldn't follow and only helped on the high tempo or the emotional one.

Some patrons started to stand and applauded after it almost reached the end during the celebration phase. The last battle before the hero grew old.

Isemeine stood at the front side of the stage. She began her monologue.

"This is the end of my journey..."

She turned and looked into Trevon.

"Yet it is the beginning of your story..."

This was a fanservice for the winning bidder. Normally, she would show this to the audience in the seats.

She opened her hand like about a kid who saw his mother. However, no one came to her and she fell backward onto the stage.

However, this scene stopped Trevon's play. Trevon stretched out his hand. He wanted to grab the dying hero. As if they knew this effect would happen, the background musician easily continued the ending music.

The hero in the story had died, but the rising young generals would take the banner from the old. The undefeated generals had gone. Nevertheless, his banner would wave for centuries, becoming a story performed on the stage for generations. It would inspire countless young heroes.

Trevon was imagining the thing. He was the new hero who replacing the old hero.

This was the special reward from Isemeine. She wasn't just a great dancer, she is the number one popular lady in Hillbridge.

[This worth ten thousand spirit stones. Perhaps more.] Trevon also clapped his hand. It was hard to make him lose concentration, but that moment truly influenced Trevon's play. He could no longer see a beautiful fairy danced on the stage, but a dying hero giving his banner to the next generations.

"A young hero... Hm..." Master Rabbink stopped too. "Gwahahaha. A young master." It continued to eat the snack before Trevon returned to the empty and clean table.

The audience also lost their breath for the moment. They knew it was a fabulous performance by a superb dancer with a superb musician.

Trevon was a Master Qin Player. No common event could invite a Master to play. Most would avoid playing in a pleasure house and played in an elegant theater with a top orchestra.

"Young Master is a Master Qin Player." Isemeine said to Trevon after she bowed to the audience.

"Your dance enthralled me." Trevon bowed a bit. It was the honor of a skilled person. [She may be a half-step Grand Master Dancer.]

Trevon returned to his seat. His performance shut other young masters from doubting him. They couldn't comment again while their companions whined about their words.

"Young Master is a good musician. Ivetta enjoyed the performance. This is a special wine from the house for young master." Ivetta poured a wine for Trevon.

"Thank you, Miss Ivetta. Do you want me to teach you?" Trevon smiled while sipping the wine from Ivetta.

"Ivetta doesn't dare to take young master's time. Ivetta is already happy if Young Master remembers to visit me." The lady coquettishly smiled.

The goal was to get the visit from frequent customers. If she were lucky, a good patron would take her as a wife or concubine. It wasn't rare since they didn't sell their bodies and were all talented beauties.

"Who would be the next patron to dance with the star of Dancing Night?" The MC spoke to the patrons again.

After the great performance from Trevon, the patrons became more heated. They didn't want their city's pride lost to a young master from Bluestar. It was an attack on all young masters in Hillbridge.

"One thousand spirit stones!" A maid whispered to the host.

"Two thousand spirit stones!" Another maid came to the stage.

"Two thousand and five hundred spirit stones!"

…

"Six thousand spirit stones!"

"Shit! Who is competing with me?" Jesmond who sat on the front table slammed his wine cup to the table. "Seven thousand spirit stones!" He shouted.

"Please keep your emotion, Young Master." The mother calmed the tension with her smile and soft voice. "We have rules in this premise. This is a fun bidding for everyone."

Jesmond could only accept that. He sat back in his chair.

"We have an offer of seven thousand spirit stones from Young Master over here." The mother didn't know Jesmond's name. It showed that he wasn't a frequent customer here.

"I bid eight thousand spirit stones. I want to perform on the stage with Miss Isemeine." Another voice heard from one of the VIP boxes. It was the voice of a young man.

"How dare! Nine thousand spirit stones." Jesmond didn't want to lose. This was no longer about performing, it was the battle of pride.

"Hahahaha. I will show the difference between a rogue and a family like Downbridge family. Fifteen thousand spirit stones."

The other patrons started to get the gist of this competition.

"It seems the Downbridge want to teach that young man the lesson."

"You should not compete with a cultivation family."

"He had injured their family's name."

"Who is the person inside the box?"

"That must be Rainheard Downbridge. He is a frequent patron of Dancing Night."

"Hmph… Then, he is only another Fourcout."

"No. This Rainheard was a chosen of his family. He also an inner discipline of the Heavenly Sword Mountain Sect."

"Then, this young man is in trouble."

"Hmph…" Jesmond could only sit. He didn't have that many spirit stones in his hand tonight. His face showed his displeasure while his arm clenched hard.

"Please keep the situation happy! We are here to enjoy the performances. For this young master, you could come again next week for another Isemeine's performance. Dancing Night will give a special drink to entertain our beloved patrons." The mother was quick to recover the situation. It was common for patrons to compete in the bidding. She had the experiences to keep the situation controlled.

Some maids came to offer additional drinks for each table. It was free from the house. The house had already made a great killing from the bidding war. Even the mother herself came to offer the drink for Jesmond. The young man accepted the drink while sulking.

[He is a drunkard.] Trevon saw Jesmond was placated by a drink poured by the mother.

The winner came to the stage. He was young and handsome. His black hair was tied into a ponytail.

The young master walked calmly to the stage. He was Rainheard the genius of Downbridge family. His silver and white robe with immortal scenery painting fluttered.

Rainheard intentionally looked at Trevon then at Jesmond. This was his answer to Trevon's performance representing Hillbridge young masters.

However, he looked to Jesmond longer. He had beaten this person with money. As a chosen, he couldn't fight as easily as Fourcout. If he lost, the consequences were big. However, he just showed Jesmond, that a stronger Downbridge was in the room. The rich chosen.

Trevon didn't like this chosen type. [Do you think a chosen could steal my performance?]

He asked for Ivetta to pour him more wine. Ivetta smiled and poured more wine for Trevon. She had seen the young masters challenged each other on the stage. This what made the next bid would become higher and higher.

As always, the audience gave their applause to the performers. It was another masterpiece, Rainheard didn't make the family embarrassed. He stole the show from Trevon. The chosen showed his ability to sing while Isemeine danced to his song.

Even Trevon had to agree that this young master took his time to practice singing. He drank more wine to swallow this challenge.

"Thank you to Young Master Rainheard and his beautiful song." Isemeine applauded for the performances.

"Don't you see? Our city also had a fine young master like Rainheard." The patrons felt proud of their local young master.

"Yes, our city finest young masters didn't lose to Bluestar's young master."

Trevon could only drink his wine. He had already performed. [Wait! I will show a better performance next time.]

"Gwahahaha!"

[What is funny, Rabbink?] Trevon asked. This Rabbink was still looking for a fight with him.

"There is a better performance tonight." Master Rabbink said. "You can consider this as a free information from this Rabbink. Come if you dare!"

"…" Trevon didn't know what this Rabbink could think as better performance. [It must be cooking performance.] He thought.

Trevon returned to his family pavilion at 02:00. He could sleep tomorrow in the wagon.

He entered his room and activated the privacy formations. He put Nana back into his universe for her night sleep.

"Wear a plain robe and use the Disguise skill!" Master Rabbink said.

"Do I have to?" Trevon didn't like to wear a disguise.

Trevon wanted to reject Master Rabbink. However, the Rabbink helped him to wear the disguise.

"Brak… Bruk… Brek… Brok…"

"Aw!" Trevon felt his face hurt.

"Nobody could recognize you now." Master Rabbink felt proud with its skill.

Trevon wanted to cry when he saw the result in the mirror.

"Change your clothes now! Everybody had seen you with this robe." Master Rabbink said.

"Fine!" Trevon could only obey Master Rabbink. He had already put a disguise. At least, he should see how the show was.

He quickly finished changing his robe. Master Rabbink asked him to wear a plain one. Fining plain one was hard since most of his robes were luxurious and extravagant. Finally, he found a grey robe that he used to slip outside.

[I will ask for a refund if it is boring.] Trevon complained. [This Rabbink couldn't possibly show me that kind of show. Hwehwehwe.] Trevon started to fall into a delusion.

"Puk!" A punch materialized and Trevon was woken from his delusion.

"What do you think this Rabbink is? This Rabbink is a Creator. This will be important for you."

"Save a portal here in your room so you could easily return!" Master Rabbink ordered.

"That is a thousand spirit stone."

"This is worth the show. You can afford it, right?"

"Yes. It is better worth the show." He removed one of his temporary girlfriend portals and made a portal inside his room.

"Let use your portal to appear near the Dancing Night!"

"Fine." Trevon had saved one near the establishment. He went to his universe.

"Come! Come! We have to come before the show started. I have booked the best seats. Gwahahaha." Master Rabbink saw Trevon put a portal around the region. Only Trevon could see the physical appearance.

Trevon entered a portal and appeared on a small blind alley near Dancing Night. The Rabbink followed him through the portal.

"Follow me!" Master Rabbink floated toward the rooftop.

[Wait! I couldn't fly like you.] Trevon was forced to jump on top of the roof.

[Hey! This is against the law. Common cultivators couldn't jump on the rooftop. If people see me jumping on top of the rooftop, I will get into the jail.] Trevon was on top of one of the slum buildings in the city. He jumped from one building into another. The young master followed the Rabbink.

"Gwahahaha. You can't walk on the street with that face. Even when someone saw you, nobody would recognize you. Do you want to walk in the street?"

[You!] Trevon couldn't refute that. He was embarrassed with his current disguise. The young master couldn't walk proudly with this disguise.

They went about eight hundred meters before they arrived at on top of a thirty-floor cheap formation building. In front of them, Trevon could see a big complex with several pavilions.

"Where is it?"

"Pssttt!!! You should keep silent." Master Rabbink floated toward the complex. He stopped at a big tree. Make another portal here if you want to survive!"

[What?! Another portal? You are robbing me.]

"This only two thousand spirit stones." Master Rabbink said. "You could run back into the Dancing Night, but I don't know whether you are fast enough. Gwahahaha."

Trevon was afraid of danger, he would prefer to make another portal next to him.

"Good! Control as much spiritual energy as you could from your body! The last performance is going to start." Master Rabbink made some formations around the tree. "This should be enough to watch."

They waited for fifteen minutes.

[What? Nothing happens.] Trevon complained.

"Almost! Look over there!" Master Rabbink pointed in the east direction.

Trevon could see a silhouette appeared. [Who is he?]

"The main character of the show. You can still help the Downbridge family if you want."

The silhouette started by placing a formation plate on the ground. It took the silhouette around fifteen minutes to place several formation plates around the complex. After that, he went from the complex and disappeared toward the west. Trevon tried to look into the silhouette, but he failed.

[What is that?] Trevon asked.

"It is a formation plate to block outside interference. The plate hasn't been activated yet." Master Rabbink said.

Trevon knew something big would happen today.

"He ran away?" He had waited for another one hour but nothing happened.

"Wait!" Master Rabbink took a chicken wing from God knew where. It also prepared a bottle of hot tea. The Rabbink was only missing a straw mat to make it a picnic.

"Zing..." A soft voice heard.

"What is that?" Trevon felt a bit panic. He took his weapons.

"A part of the formation activated. This would block the voice from outside and inside. However, it didn't block anything else." Master Rabbink explained while still drinking a cup of tea.

"Hoehoehoe!!!" The silhouette appeared again from the north side. His laugh was very loud in the silent night.

[He dares to inform his arrival?] Trevon didn't believe the attacker was stupid.

The silhouette was a person wearing a silver mask. While Trevon couldn't see his face, based on the long black robe worn by him, Trevon assumed the silhouette was a man.

"Who are you?" The guards of the courtyard started to appear. Each brought their weapon.

"I am the Debt Collector."