Chapter 257: White-robed Goddess

After eating his fill and taking a focused rest, coupled with a full day's sleep, Wang Li was now in excellent spirits, his voice strong and resonant as he spoke.

*The White Deer's Fate* was entirely Wang Li's exclusive creation. He had only performed it a few times in private settings in the capital and certain prefectural cities, so it wasn't a widely known story. He was also confident that no other storytellers were hidden among the guests attempting to "steal" his material. Thus, this was a story absolutely unheard from any other storyteller. The response to it was always excellent, and since it was truly "bestowed upon him in a divine dream," Wang Li felt particularly confident at this moment.

Swish!

Calm and composed, Wang Li opened his paper fan, picked up his story-clapper, and brought it down with a resounding smack on the table.

Smack!

Following a crisp crack, the woman beside him plucked her instrument, and the harmonious chords of zithers, lutes, and pipa filled the air. Wang Li's voice now took on a slightly ethereal quality.

"It is said that during the Shuncheng era, in a remote county town of our Great Zhen Dynasty, there lived a scholar by the name of Zhou..."

Wang Li truly had a knack for storytelling. The harmonious music, combined with his outstanding vocal mimicry, created an immersive experience for the audience. He vividly imitated the scholar's spirit, the voices of family elders, and even the delicate laughter of women with remarkable realism.

The guests initially expected a story about a scholar striving for imperial examination success, a fitting choice given that Young Master Gao had just passed his exams. However, as the narrative unfolded, it was as if layers of fine gauze were being unveiled, and the story's mythical elements gradually began to reveal themselves.

Ji Yuan listened intently. Occasionally, his attention would drift, and he would notice that all the guests, near and far, were engrossed and tense, with hardly anyone touching their chopsticks or wine. He had indeed listened to several storytellers, some quite impressive, at least enough to captivate him. However, storytellers as skilled as Wang Li were truly rare. Objectively, Wang Li now displayed even greater artistry than he had at the New Year's Eve banquet in Prince Jin's mansion. Clearly, in addition to Ji Yuan's help in making the story vivid through objects, Wang Li's own natural talent was also key to his improvement.

Hoo-oo!

An eerie, hollow deer cry sounded from behind the screen. All the guests clutched their trousers and clenched their fists, many feeling their scalps tingle and goosebumps rise. They all recognized this as a demonic cry. Wang Li's mimicked deer cry was so realistic, it was as if the person behind the screen had vanished, replaced by a deer demon.

Flap... flap... flap...

Several windows were suddenly blown open by the wind.

Whoosh... whoosh...

A cold gust of wind from the night swept in through the windows on the second floor of Zhongtai Tower, intensifying the chill felt by everyone. The Gao family's servants quickly closed the windows again, but the heightened emotions stirred by the story did not subside. If not for the lantern casting shadows on the screen, still revealing the image of the storyteller with his paper fan, some people might well have been scared enough to stand up.

Ji Yuan's gaze was calm. Wang Li was telling the story exceptionally well, but the "plot" seemed to have taken an unexpected turn. His peripheral vision swept towards the window. As a gust of chilling wind swept through, a woman in white, wearing light makeup, had appeared in the previously empty seat at a nearby table, her gaze fixed in the direction of the screen.

'Interesting. No visible divine light, yet enveloped in the faint scent of incense. Could she be a divine maiden?'

Ji Yuan remained impassive, yet a faint smile touched the corner of his lips.

Smack!

The story-clapper struck down, jolting everyone back to attention.

"To learn what happens next, return after a short tea break!"

As Wang Li finished speaking, many guests finally exhaled in relief. Old Master Gao immediately rose and said, "Please, everyone, have some food and drink. The new dishes haven't even been touched yet. Come, come, please eat, everyone!"

Most people had been too engrossed to eat. Now that the storytelling had paused, everyone resumed eating and drinking, though many continued to discuss the performance while they ate. Ji Yuan did the same, picking up his chopsticks to take a piece of the newly served sliced glutinous rice pork. He dipped a slice in the accompanying sauce and savored the taste.

"Ah, this storyteller, renowned even in the capital, is truly extraordinary!"

"Indeed, indeed, I got goosebumps just now."

"You too? Me as well!" "Oh, what a coincidence."

"Mr. Wang's vocal mimicry is truly extraordinary. I've seen one or two mimicry artists before, but none were as skilled as he is."

"Hmm, and *The White Deer's Fate*... this story is so compelling, yet I've never heard it. Is it truly Mr. Wang's own creation?"

Hearing this, a young gentleman at Ji Yuan's table grew quite excited. "He claims it was revealed to him by a divine being in a dream. I've also heard that Mr. Wang Li travels extensively, seeking out all sorts of marvelous tales, making him quite a unique character."

Ji Yuan simply continued eating, offering a few agreeable words if someone beside him struck up a conversation. From time to time, he would glance towards the screen. Judging by the shadows cast on the screen by the lantern inside, Wang Li was also taking this opportunity to drink tea and quench his thirst, while the woman who had just played the pipa stood up and fanned him.

Inside the screen, Wang Li also used this time to rest as much as possible. After finishing his tea, he closed his eyes to rejuvenate. He only opened them after about fifteen minutes and bowed to the woman beside him in thanks.

"Thank you, young lady. Please rest for a while; you'll be playing the pipa again shortly."

"Mhm!"

The woman put down the fan, emerged from behind the screen, and returned to her seat. Immediately, companions beside her began chatting with her, pointing at the screen and giggling behind their hands.

As time passed, Ji Yuan could clearly feel that the guests' minds were no longer on the dishes, as Wang Li was about to resume his storytelling. The white-clad woman who had arrived with the wind also seemed to be in a similar state of anticipation. At Ji Yuan's table, he was the only one still continuously eating. The dishes at Zhongtai Tower were indeed delicious. For years, he had mostly eaten simple fare, so an occasional change of taste was truly intoxicating, even for immortals.

Smack!

With a strike of the story-clapper, Wang Li stood up and flicked open his paper fan, his robust voice sounding once more. At this moment, none of the seated guests continued to eat; all listened intently.

"As we last heard, Miss Bai, who was in fact a white deer spirit, had transformed into a beautiful young woman and appeared before Young Master Zhou..."

Wang Li resumed his narration. By this point, the story had progressed significantly, featuring fewer details about the scholar's arduous studies and pursuit of officialdom, and more mythical and fantastical romantic elements. The story now included ghosts, malevolent spirits, and dangerous encounters. Some of the plot points, skillfully crafted by Wang Li, were filled with dramatic twists and turns. Ji Yuan couldn't help but once again marvel at Wang Li's talent. What should have simply been Scholar Zhou, his Yang energy weakened by demonic qi, encountering a ghost on a night road, had been skillfully embellished and transformed by Wang Li into a thrilling and magical tale. Evil spirits and sorcerers made their appearance, and Lady White Deer rescued her husband... Even Ji Yuan felt a sense of enjoyment akin to binge-watching a series in a past life, let alone the assembled guests, who were already utterly enthralled.

Finally, when the story reached the point where the white deer accompanied her aging husband into the underworld to seek the city god, only to have her soul extracted and detained, nearly all the female guests were in tears.

"From then on, Lady White Deer imprisoned herself in the underworld, living alongside Master Zhou in the netherworld. Each year, on Master Zhou's death anniversary, Lady White Deer would endure flogging in the underworld's prison. True love is the hardest to find in this world, and the love between human and demon, enduring forever, truly stirs one to endless sighs..."

As Wang Li reached this point, he gently pressed down the story-clapper, producing a muffled thud.

Hoo-oo!

The hollow deer cry echoed once more from behind the screen. The assembled guests still felt a jolt, as if electrified, upon hearing it, but the sense of dread was much diminished, replaced by a profound surge of emotion. Many unconsciously rubbed their arms and thighs, as the story's conclusion had left them covered in goosebumps.

"Clap-clap-clap-clap..." "Wonderful!"

"Excellently told, wonderfully told!"

"Clap-clap-clap-clap..." "Precisely, precisely, absolutely marvelous!"

"Mr. Wang is truly a great talent!"

"Yes, he told it magnificently."

All the seated guests applauded and cheered, smiling and praise Wang Li for his superb storytelling skills.

The story, comprising four parts, concluded after nearly two hours. The two screens were then carried away by servants, revealing Wang Li, still glistening with sweat. Old Master Gao and Young Master Gao both stood up, bowing in thanks.

"Thank you, Mr. Wang, for the enchanting narrative late into the night. We are truly grateful, sir."

Wang Li quickly rose to return the bow, uttering repeated words of humility. Ji Yuan also applauded, though his attention naturally drifted towards the window. He saw the woman, her gaze coolly fixed on Wang Li, her long sleeves beginning to wave.

Whoosh... whoosh...

Some of the previously closed windows were blown open again. The wind was stronger than before, and far more sinister. Many gusts seemed to curve, swirling into lamp covers and causing the flames to flicker violently. The interior of Zhongtai Tower felt as if it were alternately brightening and dimming. Some guests were unnerved by this eerie change, and though the Gao family ordered their servants to close the windows, many simply wouldn't shut. The wind grew stronger, and the candles within the lamp covers extinguished one after another.

"Ah..." "What's happening?!"

"Master..."

Everyone was somewhat panicked, while Wang Li, standing in the center of the hall, felt dizzy and disoriented...

But the very next instant, all the wind ceased. The windows that had previously refused to close suddenly lost all resistance, causing several servants who were trying to shut them to stumble and collide with the frames. The white-clad woman looked left and right, then out the window, with an inexplicable look of surprise. She waved her hands but found no reaction from her surroundings.

Heh...

Ji Yuan chuckled softly, lifting his index finger from the table. Beside his cup, he had inscribed the characters "Calm Wind" in a stain of yellow wine.