Chapter 422 - The Marraige Ball

To truly touch each other, you’d need an overwhelmingly powerful force to break the dimensional wall.

Xu Zimo could only manipulate it on a small scale. He was trying to expand the boundary of the dimension.

To comprehend more spatial power.

The moon hung over the willows, a gentle breeze rustled the branches.

The night passed in silence.

Early the next morning, when Xu Zimo got up for breakfast, he found that besides the innkeeper, there was no one else around.

“You’re quite laid-back, young master,” the innkeeper smiled at Xu Zimo.

“Today everyone’s gone to the south of the city to attend the City Lord’s daughter’s embroidered ball marriage contest. Only you are still here eating slowly.”

“I’ve never seen the City Lord’s daughter. I can’t say I like her, so what’s the rush?” Xu Zimo laughed, sipping his porridge.

“Whether you’ve seen her or not doesn’t matter. What matters is getting close to the City Lord. Besides, I’ve heard the girl’s a beauty,” the innkeeper chuckled.

Xu Zimo smiled but didn’t respond.

After finishing breakfast slowly, he dressed in a purple robe, his long hair tied back into a bun.

He strolled casually toward the southern part of the city.

Right now, the rest of Brightsky City felt empty.

But only the south of the city was packed with people.

Some came to try their luck at catching the ball, others just for the spectacle.

A large group of young men had tidied their clothes and came early with high spirits,

hoping to grab a good spot.

You could describe the crowd as packed toe to heel.

People shoved forward desperately. No one wanted to move back.

Xu Zimo smiled and watched. He found a tall tree nearby,

leaped onto a branch, sat down, and pulled out a wine gourd he had bought from the inn.

He drank leisurely while watching the frenzied crowd below.

In front was a high platform, several dozen meters long and wide.

It was covered with a red carpet.

Xu Zimo watched with interest as these people fought over one woman.

It was quite amusing and ridiculous.

Suddenly, a young man in black robes leaped up from below and landed beside him.

Xu Zimo glanced at the man.

The young man smiled and said, “I’m Liu Changfeng. The southern part of the city is too crowded today. There's no space left. May I borrow this spot beside you for a while?”

“You’re also here for the embroidered ball?” Xu Zimo nodded indifferently, then asked curiously.

“Just heard about it, came to take a look,” Liu Changfeng shook his head with a slight smile.

Xu Zimo observed him. The man’s black robe was deep in color, his long hair flowed down his back.

He carried a golden curved bow on his back that didn’t look ordinary.

His aura was elusive, with a strong fishy smell.

It reminded Xu Zimo of sea creatures.

...

At that moment, on the red-carpeted platform, amid the noisy crowd, a middle-aged man slowly stepped forward.

He wore a bright red robe and had a thick beard.

He looked burly and powerful, with aggressive eyes.

His presence was heavy and commanding.

When he spoke, the whole crowd went quiet.

“Everyone, quiet down.”

As his voice fell, the noise in the southern part of the city noticeably died down.

“That’s the City Lord of Brightsky City, Luo Xiongying,”

Liu Changfeng said with a smile to Xu Zimo. “You must not be local.”

“How do you know?” Xu Zimo asked calmly.

“Luo Xiongying is a hero here, but when you look at him, your eyes show no admiration at all. Just calm indifference, like he’s a stranger.”

Liu Changfeng smiled, “Your eyes gave you away. Clearly, you don’t know him.”

“Oh?” Xu Zimo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You’ve got a grudge with him, huh?”

Hearing this, Liu Changfeng paused, then chuckled quietly, waiting to hear more.

“Though you hide it well, some emotions can’t be hidden,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. “There’s hate in your eyes. Every time you say Luo Xiongying’s name, your voice sharpens slightly. It’s obvious you’ve got a grudge with him.”

Liu Changfeng was silent for a long time, then turned and looked at Xu Zimo seriously.

In a hoarse voice, he asked, “Do you think a self-staged hero counts as a hero?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Xu Zimo asked in return.

“As long as the masses are deeply deceived and can’t know the truth, if most people believe he’s a hero, then he is one.”

Liu Changfeng said nothing after hearing this. He stared ahead with a calm expression, deep in thought.

...

Back on the platform, Luo Xiongying looked at the crowd with great joy.

He beamed and said, “Thank you all for coming today to attend my daughter’s embroidered ball marriage contest. Though this event may seem silly, it was my daughter’s idea, and as her father, I want her to be happy.”

He chuckled and continued, “Let’s not waste time. Simple rules: under 30, no disabilities or serious illnesses, anyone can participate. Whoever catches the embroidered ball wins. No fighting or causing chaos. Anyone who does will be punished severely.”

After speaking, Luo Xiongying waved to the back of the platform and said with a smile, “Qingqing, come on out.”

Then a folding screen behind the platform opened, and a girl in a blue dress walked out gracefully.

Her dress seemed made of fine gauze, semi-transparent with a hazy beauty.

It outlined her slender, graceful figure.

Her long, black hair flowed down her back, full of charm.

She wore a light gauze veil on her face.

Even the most praised beauty of poetry, spring flowers, autumn moons, seemed to pale next to her faint dimpled smile behind the veil.

“Her clothes are like clouds, her face like blossoms. Spring breeze brushes the railing, the dew glows brightly.”

...

The moment the girl appeared, the crowd fell silent.

Then came a thunderous wave of cheers.

Even though her face was hidden, people could still sense she was a true beauty.

Luo Xiongying nodded at Luo Qingqing and handed her a large red embroidered ball.

Luo Qingqing nodded slightly, turned her back to the crowd,

and tossed the ball high into the air behind her, into the crowd.

That little ball seemed to hold a mysterious power, pulling at countless hearts.

“The ball, it’s falling! It’s mine!” someone shouted below.