The next morning, the Wanyin Music Festival began as scheduled.
Almost every well-known musician across the ten cities of the Empire’s southeastern region had already arrived in Luoshui City—some even traveled from afar, including a few master-level performers of great renown.
Partly because the rewards were generous, and partly because fame was at stake.
To take first place in such a grand event would be a considerable honor.
Naturally, the three great families of Luoshui City wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
This was a perfect chance to boost family influence and build a name—no one was willing to let it slip by.
Thus, the younger generation of each family skilled in music had arrived early to compete.
Even if they didn’t aim to win, simply standing out in this event would benefit both their families and their own futures.
Besides, rewards weren’t reserved solely for the champion.
While only the winner would earn the lavish prize of three mid-grade spirit stones, strong performers would also be rewarded, albeit with lesser treasures.
Aside from contestants, the audience was vast.
There were music lovers, professionals, idle nobles, and even many young ladies from various families—attending in hopes of meeting a man who might become their ideal husband, perhaps one worthy of asking their parents for a marriage proposal later.
The event was scheduled to begin at four quarters into the hour of Chen (about 58 minutes after 7:00 a.m.).
Yet by the first quarter, the city’s largest square was already packed with people.
The noble daughters sat in reserved pavilions, which now bustled with fragrant perfumes and fine makeup.
Outside the venue, the crowd was overwhelming—even lazy townsfolk who avoided farmwork were there for the excitement. It was a sea of people.
At this moment, Liu Yingfeng entered through a side gate.
She didn’t sit in the ladies’ pavilions with other noble daughters but instead ascended directly to the high platform, settling in a seat beside the city lord.
Ling’er followed her.
Having never witnessed such a grand scene, she was unusually quiet, staying close behind her mistress while curiously observing the surroundings with wide, shifting eyes.
Many of the distinguished guests on the high platform cast their eyes toward the two young women, curious about who they might be.
After all, those seated on the platform were typically figures of significant standing in the ten cities—patriarchs of major families, deputies to other city lords, renowned musical scholars, or powerful cultivators.
The girl didn’t appear to be any of the first three.
Could she be a formidable cultivator from a great sect?
Just then, the city lord himself stood up and greeted her respectfully, shocking everyone even more.
Every city lord in the empire was appointed by the emperor himself.
Even in the relatively weak southeastern region, a city lord had to be at least at the Nascent Soul Realm (Huaying Stage).
And yet, such a powerhouse was greeting a girl so humbly?
Could she be a disciple of one of the Six Great Sects?
And likely not just any disciple—her status must be exceptionally high!
As everyone speculated, one man on the platform already knew exactly who she was.
The patriarch of the Lin family, Lin Tiancheng, watched Liu Yingfeng with a complicated expression.
She was a personal disciple of the Taixu Hall, the foremost among the Six Great Sects—her status almost rivaled a princess of the empire!
And such a lofty figure… was about to marry into the Lin family.
A trace of satisfaction crept across Lin Tiancheng’s lips.
With her support, the other two families would no longer stand a chance against him.
Following yesterday’s confrontation, they had dispatched people to neighboring cities to search—but as expected, there were no clues.
After all, that brat had been gone for a year.
He must’ve made up his mind to never return.
Either he was wandering somewhere far away—or he was simply dead.
Honestly, Lin Tiancheng hoped he was dead. That way, his plan wouldn’t be exposed.
Once Liu Yingfeng was married to the man they had chosen to impersonate Lin Wuming—especially if she became pregnant—it would be too late to reverse anything.
By then, even if the truth came out, what could she do?
Kill her husband and child?
At that point, the Lin family could ride her Taixu Hall status to glory, doing whatever they pleased in Luoshui City.
Lin Tiancheng squinted slightly, feeling incredibly pleased with himself.
‘So what if she’s a disciple of Taixu Hall? She’s still dancing in my palm.’
Time crept forward until the fourth quarter of the hour—the scheduled start time.
All the guests had arrived, but the city lord still hadn’t announced the beginning of the event.
The crowd started to murmur.
What was he waiting for?
Was someone important still missing?
In a shadowed corner, Zhong Xiao, an elder of Wanle Palace, was drenched in cold sweat.
He scanned the crowd, especially the contestants, over and over again, until he couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Where is he? He’s still not here?!”
He was utterly panicked.
They had gone through so much trouble to set the stage, arrange the outcomes, and get the boy here.
The “little ancestor” had even promised he’d show up.
So why was there still no sign of him?
Don’t tell me… he flaked?
At the thought, Zhong Xiao’s mind went blank, like a mountain collapsing. If the boy really ghosted them now, his own life would be over.
“Please no… please not like this…”
By the fifth quarter, the square was deathly silent.
Every eye was on the city lord, who was now visibly strained.
They’d already delayed for fifteen full minutes.
Where the hell was the star of the show?
Zhong Xiao couldn’t sit still anymore.
He had a family to protect—he would go out into the city himself and drag the boy back if he had to.
But just as he was about to leave—
A voice suddenly called out from the edge of the square.
“Whoa! You guys got here early, huh? It’s not even time yet, is it? Why’s everyone already gathered?”
Lin Wuming looked around at the crowd staring at him and slowly realized—
“…Wait. Don’t tell me… you were all waiting for me?”