Chapter 116: a pair of familiar eyes

AS the melodious music filled the air, a figure in red moved in its every rhythm.  His every movement was like the sea without any waves – full of fluidity and elegance.  He jumped and turned gracefully in the air.  The sleeves of his red robe were fluttering like a pair of bright red wings. 

His movements flowed with a dazzling grace that took away the breath of every person in the audience.  If this was not a group of NPCs, their hearts would probably have already been stolen.  Or maybe perhaps, among these NPCs, there was someone whose heart had already been stolen unknowingly.

Luo Yan landed perfectly and then he continued to move according to the skill he just activated.  When he checked the 'Temporary Skills' he saw earlier when he opened his Status Window, there were a lot of skills under it.  Like singing, dancing, playing instruments.  Seeing that, he knew that he no longer needed to worry about this performance.

He guessed that the players would have the 'skills' of the NPC they took over.  In his case, because he took over the NPC 'Shishi', he now temporarily had her skills as a courtesan.  Seriously, if there was something so convenient, it should have been at least included in the list of rules.  What if he didn't check his Status Window?  He would definitely make a blunder.  Worse, a big fool of himself.  How could he ever let his pretty self be embarrassed in that way?

Ah, how he wished he could record this performance.  So he could watch it from time to time when he's bored.  That way, he could admire his dancing posture anytime he wanted.  Who knew when he would ever get another chance to dance beautifully like this?

At the middle of the dance, the four girls around Luo Yan made their way forward – to the direction of the main seats.  Although their movements were not as graceful as Luo Yan's, they were still full of charm and hidden seduction.  As if they were trying to seduce all the men there.

Luo Yan also moved forward.  But unlike the four girls, there was no hint of seduction in his movements.  Despite that, he still looked the most charming.  Captivating and enchanting the people watching him.  He seemed to be gliding forward, as if there wasn't any friction under his feet.

He continued to dance.  The other four girls also did the same.  When the music was at its climax, something unexpected happened.

Luo Yan saw four small black balls being thrown towards the main seats.  After that, smoke suddenly appeared.  It spread from the space between the dancers and the main seats.

Smoke bombs?  When the smoke reached Luo Yan, he couldn't help but cough and stop dancing.

The audience didn't react much.  Some even laughed.  They probably thought that this was part of the performance.  But Luo Yan knew it wasn't.  Or at least it shouldn't be.  What kind of dance performance should smoke bombs be thrown?  If you wanted the smoke effect, then one should use dry ice.  Wait- was dry ice already discovered in this era?  So could this really be just a part of the performance.

Luo Yan truly didn't know.  Because even if he took over the role of Shishi, he wasn't given her supposed memories.  Even in this performance, he didn't have any idea how it would work.  He just relied completely on the Temporary Skills.  And to his delight, his body moved according to the rhythm of the music.

When he was still contemplating things, he noticed a pointed gleaming object flying straight to the position where the crown prince was sitting.  Luo Yan's only thought in that moment was; [Shit.]

He already somewhat expected that an assassination attempt could happen tonight.  But if it happened during their performance, then the first person to be suspected would be the people from Yuexing Pavilion.  After all, the closest people to the prince when it happened, aside from his uncle and cousins, were the five courtesans from the said pavilion.

Luo Yan couldn't let that happen.  If their pavilion was suspected, then they would surely be put to prison.  Then how the heck would he solve those mysteries?  By dancing or singing his way out?  After all, those were the only skills he currently had.

So before he could think of any solution, his body moved forward.  He didn't know the exact position of the prince.  But he could see the dagger perfectly.  Because it was thrown so close to him.  Which meant that it could only be done by one of the four dancers performing with him.  Making it much more important for him to be the one to stop it.  It would probably be better if he sustained an injury from it.  Because that way, even if they suspected Yuexing Pavilion, he would be given the benefit of the doubt for his actions alone.

Luo Yan gritted his teeth and got in the way of the dagger.  He felt it piercing his left arm.  The pain traversing to his whole body.  Shit.  Seriously, this game.  Were those game designers had sadistic tendencies or something?  They enjoyed seeing the players suffer so they created these kinds of scenarios?  He swore, if he didn't get a good reward after all this, he'd beat the hell out of that King.

When Luo Yan thought that his body would crash into one of the seats, a strong pair of arms suddenly surrounded him.  He hadn't had time to think of what just happened because the smoke slowly dispersed.  Showing a rather unexpected scene.  Even for Luo Yan.

The old prince was leaning over his table, coughing up blood.  Screams immediately filled the banquet area and panic ensured.

"Father!"

"Uncle!"

The crown prince and the two sons of Prince Lin Rong shouted at the same time.  Then the old prince completely collapsed, clutching at his chest. 

The eldest son of the prince immediately supported his father.  "Quickly, call the doctor!"

Luo Yan wanted to move, but a cold voice suddenly spoke from above him.  "Stay still."

That's when he remembered that someone was still holding him.  He raised his head and his gaze collided with a very familiar pair of cold eyes.