Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

January flew by, dusk settled, and the last rays of the setting sun gilded the clouds. Feng Yao leaned against the stone lion at the academy gate, his fingertips lightly tapping the mane of the sculpture. In the distance, the clock tower's hands turned slowly, its melodious chimes echoing across the sky.

Suddenly, his fingers stopped.

Inside the academy gates, two graceful figures emerged, bathed in the golden afterglow of the setting sun. On the left, Dugu Yan wore a dark green fishtail gown, the hem embroidered with subtle serpentine patterns that shimmered with each step, making her appear like a languid, beautiful snake. On the right, Ye Lingling wore a moon-white, flowing-sleeved dress, her silver hair loosely tied back with an ice-crystal hairpin. She possessed a cool, aloof beauty, except for a pair of rare, delicate red jade earrings adorning her ears.

"Have you been waiting long?" Dugu Yan's red lips curved slightly, her emerald eyes gleaming with a cunning light in the twilight.

Feng Yao straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the two women before finally settling on Ye Lingling's slightly flushed earlobes: "Waiting for two beauties, however long, is worthwhile."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling turned her face away, but couldn't hide the faint smile on her lips. The evening breeze blew by, lifting a few strands of silver hair at her temples, which intertwined with Dugu Yan's dark green skirt, creating a moving picture in the twilight.

Seeing this, Dugu Yan smiled alluringly and gracefully twirled in front of Feng Yao, lifting her skirt. The dark green skirt rippled like waves, drawing a beautiful arc in the twilight.

Feng Yao's eyes suddenly brightened, like stars suddenly lit up in the night sky.

"How was it, Xiao Feng?" She stopped, her emerald eyes brimming with anticipation. "Not bad, right?"

Feng Yao's gaze lingered on her, from the delicate lines of her collarbone to her cinched waist, finally settling on the fabric of her dress that rose and fell gently with her breath. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was a few decibels deeper than usual: "Beautiful."

Dugu Yan squinted her eyes in satisfaction, but couldn't help tugging at her tightly cinched waist belt. "It looks good," she muttered softly, "but this waistband is so tight, I have to hold my head high when I walk, it's really uncomfortable."

Ye Lingling, standing to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Her moon-white wide sleeves flowed like ripples on water with her movements. "That's how formal attire is supposed to be," she explained gently, her fingertips lightly brushing the cloud patterns on her skirt. "It's all about the dignified elegance; naturally, it's not as casual as everyday clothes."

Suddenly, Dugu Yan reached out and hooked her arm around Feng Yao's neck, a bold move that contrasted sharply with her elegant and luxurious dress. "Little Feng," she whispered in his ear, a dangerous smile playing on her red lips, "I'm afraid someone will be looking for trouble at tonight's banquet." Her warm breath carried a faint scent of roses.

Feng Yao casually put his arm around her slender waist, his gaze lingering on the two beauties. "With Sister Yan and Sister Lingling here, I'm afraid you two will steal everyone's attention tonight," he chuckled. "Who would have time to bother with me?"

Ye Lingling's ears turned slightly red upon hearing this, and she gently tugged at Dugu Yan's sleeve: "Yan Yan, stop fooling around. Xiao Feng still needs to prepare for the performance later."

Dugu Yan curled her lip dismissively, a sly glint in her emerald eyes: "I'd rather believe Xiao Feng has no interest in women," she deliberately drawled, "than believe his performance would be completely flawless."

"Hahaha," Feng Yao's hearty laughter echoed in the twilight, a sharp glint in his eyes. "The main event tonight is to see what kind of show our 'old friend' will put on."

The three exchanged a smile and walked in unison toward the carriage parked by the roadside.

Feng Yao gracefully reached out and helped Ye Lingling board the gilded and carved carriage. Her moon-white skirt flowed like water across the steps, shimmering like pearls in the twilight. Dugu Yan then lifted her skirt slightly, her dark green dress outlining her graceful curves as she boarded the carriage.

"Be careful." Feng Yao gently supported Dugu Yan from behind, his fingertips lightly brushing against the ribbon around her waist. Dugu Yan turned and smiled, her red lips particularly bright in the setting sun.

After the two beauties were seated, Feng Yao nimbly leaped onto the carriage. A faint scent of ambergris filled the air, and the velvet seats were embroidered with the emblem of the Heavenly Dou royal family. With a soft shout from the coachman, four snow-white horses began to gallop, their gilded wheels rolling over the cobblestones as they headed towards the brightly lit Heavenly Dou City.

Outside the car window, dusk deepened. One by one, the lights of countless homes illuminated the city, making it as bright as day. Feng Yao gazed at the towering spire of the Moon Pavilion in the distance, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. Tonight's banquet was destined to be anything but peaceful.

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Moon Pavilion, its gilded wheels tracing elegant arcs across the red-carpeted stone steps. Feng Yao was the first to push open the carriage door, the moonlight and the glass lamps of the porch reflecting on his handsome profile. He turned and reached out, his slender fingers gleaming like jade under the lamplight.

"Watch your step," Feng Yao whispered, steadily supporting Ye Lingling's delicate hand. Her moon-white skirt flowed across the step like water, her silver hair fluttering in the night breeze. Dugu Yan then leaned forward, the dark patterns on her dark green dress shimmering under the light, like writhing snake scales. Feng Yao lightly touched her waist, his movements restrained yet undeniably intimate.

At that moment, Tang Yuehua, standing before the Moon Pavilion, her eyes flashed, and she immediately led the young man beside her to greet them. Her violet gown rippled with each step, and her face wore a perfectly timed expression of surprise: "Xiao Feng, Miss Dugu, Lingling."

The young man standing beside her slightly raised his eyes, his deep gaze subtly surveying Feng Yao and the other two. Moonlight fell on the crisp lines of his suit jacket, outlining a cool and aloof profile.

Feng Yao and the two beauties beside him bowed to Tang Yuehua simultaneously, their movements elegant and in sync: "Madam Yuehua." The three greeted her in unison, their voices sounding particularly clear and melodious under the crystal chandelier in front of the Moon Pavilion.

Tang Yuehua smiled and raised her hand in a gesture of support, saying, "No need for such formalities." Her violet eyes shone gently under the lights. "Tonight, Xiao Feng will be performing, which will surely add even more brilliance to Yuexuan's graduation ceremony."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, a perfectly timed smile playing on his lips: "Lady Yuehua, you flatter me." His slender fingers lightly stroked the jade pendant at his waist, his every gesture exuding elegance.

Standing beside Tang Yuehua, Tang San's pupils constricted, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment. He stared at the composed young man before him, finding it almost impossible to reconcile him with the boy from two years ago. Feng Yao seemed to sense something, slowly raising his eyes to meet the probing gaze. The young man's figure still vaguely resembled his former self, but his entire demeanor was completely different. A slight smile played on his lips, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Disguise, huh?" Feng Yao murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the gold thread on his sleeve. Others might not have sensed it, but he clearly felt the faint chill emanating from it—a murderous intent that was deliberately suppressed yet still inadvertently revealed.

Their gazes met briefly under the glass lamp. Feng Yao's eyes held a smile, yet concealed a sharp edge; Tang San's pupils contracted slightly, his knuckles unconsciously tightening within his sleeve. An invisible clash of soul forces seemed to emanate from the air, causing even the lamplight before the Moon Pavilion to flicker for a moment.

Feng Yao raised an eyebrow and looked at Tang Yuehua with feigned curiosity: "Madam Yuehua, may I ask who this is?" His gaze lingered on Tang San at just the right moment, carrying a hint of curiosity.

Tang Yuehua smiled and gracefully raised her hand to indicate, "This is Tang Yin, one of my clansmen." A deeper meaning flashed in her violet eyes. "I specially arranged for him to perform on stage as the graduation representative, also to broaden his horizons."

Tang San stepped forward at the opportune moment and bowed slightly to Feng Yao and the other two. His bow was standard and proper, but his voice was deliberately lowered: "Greetings, all three of you." His eyes were calm as water, but only Feng Yao could detect the fleeting fluctuation within them.

Dugu Yan observed the mysterious young man with great interest, while Ye Lingling nodded politely in return. Feng Yao had a faint smile on his lips, his gaze lingering briefly on Tang San's knuckles—those slender fingers still bore the thin calluses left from years of using hidden weapons.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Tang San like a snake spotting its prey, a meaningful curve appearing on her red lips. Feng Yao chuckled softly, "The way of the zither emphasizes a tranquil mind." His gaze swept almost imperceptibly over Tang San's taut fingers, "If one's heart is filled with murderous intent, one is unlikely to produce elegant music."

Tang San's body stiffened abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply. Few knew of his experiences in the City of Slaughter, yet Feng Yao had revealed them in a single sentence. He subconsciously activated his Purple Demon Eye to investigate, only to be surprised to find that Feng Yao's body showed no fluctuations of soul power whatsoever, instead emanating a gentle aura that was strangely familiar to him.

A storm raged within Tang San's heart, and his expression instantly turned solemn. There were only two possibilities in this situation: either Feng Yao was truly just an ordinary person without any soul power, or his cultivation had reached an unfathomable level, beyond even Tang San's perception honed in the City of Slaughter.

The thought made Tang San's fingers clench unconsciously. He recalled the still somewhat immature boy from two years ago, and then looked at the composed young man he was now, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. If it was truly the latter, then Feng Yao's growth rate was simply astonishing.

What bothered him even more was that when he was in close contact with Feng Yao just now, he felt a strange sense of closeness to him.

"I've learned a lot." As Tang San bowed, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. Beneath his wide sleeves, his fingers unconsciously traced the moonlit night over the Twenty-Four Bridges. This seemingly gentle and refined young man posed a threat to him that was even stronger than that of the fallen ones in the City of Slaughter.

Sensing the subtle tension, Tang Yuehua stepped forward at the opportune moment, her violet skirt tracing an elegant arc on the ground. "It's getting late, let's go inside." She smiled gently, subtly placing herself between the two. "Xiao Feng, would you like to come backstage with me to prepare for tonight's performance?"

Feng Yao nodded knowingly, then turned to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling and said softly, "Sisters, please follow the servants to your seats first. I'll be right back." He lightly touched Ye Lingling's hand with his fingertips, winked at Dugu Yan, and then left gracefully with Tang Yuehua.

Tang San stood still, his gaze fixed on Feng Yao's retreating figure.

Inside the Moon Pavilion Hall, the crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, illuminating the luxurious decor and elegantly dressed guests. With the emcee's graceful announcement, the graduation ceremony's performance officially began.

Tang San—aliasing himself "Tang Yin"—as a representative of this year's graduates, took to the stage alongside Princess Xue Ke and several outstanding students. They were all dressed in matching moon-white gowns. Tang San stood in the chief position, his fingertips lightly resting on the harp, his expression serene.

Princess Xueke turned her head slightly and gave Tang San an encouraging look. Tang San returned the smile, then composed himself and, following the hand gestures, the music flowed out.

The ensemble music was soothing and elegant, like moonlight pouring down, cool yet tender. The piano notes fell like pearls on a plate, clear and moving, like a babbling brook, long and melodious. The guests listened with their eyes closed, immersed in the beautiful melody.

Tang San's playing technique was indeed impeccable, even Feng Yao couldn't help but nod slightly in approval. As a top master of hidden weapons, Tang San's slender fingers had exquisite control over the force of each plucking—the strength of each string and the amplitude of each vibrato were as precise as if calculated. However, beneath this perfect technique lay the most important element: soul.

Feng Yao's eyes were half-closed, his fingertips lightly tapping on the armrests in time with the melody. He keenly sensed the hidden sharpness in the music—it wasn't the elegant composure of Yuexuan, but rather the cold, piercing intent unique to the City of Slaughter. Every subtle pause at the turn of the note, every almost imperceptible acceleration at the climax, revealed the performer's restless inner turmoil.

"As expected." A faint smile appeared on Feng Yao's lips. Tang San was indeed trying his best to imitate the elegance of aristocratic playing, but the deliberately slowed rhythm only made it more obvious. Just like his seemingly relaxed posture, his entire body was tense, as if his muscles could explode at any moment. How could such a deep-seated vigilance be concealed by mere disguise?

Then the melody suddenly soared, like a solitary orchid blooming in the darkness, aloof and coldly beautiful. Tang San's playing technique was impeccable, but Feng Yao gently shook his head—this piece was too sharp and aggressive, even faintly revealing a murderous aura.

"It seems that his experience in the Killing City has ultimately affected his state of mind," Feng Yao thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the stage. Most of the guests were still immersed in the music; for them, such a performance was already excellent.

Tang San's performance ended amidst thunderous applause. He bowed respectfully, but his gaze subtly swept over Feng Yao, as if observing his reaction. Feng Yao merely smiled calmly and said nothing more.

Tang Yuehua's arrangements were meticulously planned. She subtly arranged the performance order perfectly—allowing Tang San to appear first as the graduate representative, giving him a stage to showcase his talent while cleverly avoiding the awkward situation of directly comparing him with Feng Yao.

(End of this chapter)