The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 63 - The spectators are drunk [1].

Su Ning had quickly changed backstage, putting on a looser robe with long sleeves that reached the floor, made of flowing white fabric. However, he kept his blue orchid stuck in his hair. His arms went down and up gently following the rhythm of the pipa, as he tilted his body back.

"As delicate as the flutter of a butterfly's wings resting on a flower." Fei Muo muttered in his comical drunken state. The Emperor was so absorbed by the beginning of the presentation that he didn't even bother to frown at this indiscreet comment.

Su Ning opened the fan he carried with him, whose skeleton was made of metal, and began a series of complex movements, switching it from hand to hand, throwing it into the air and gracefully catching it back. For Ren Loo, she was used to traveling and had seen everything in this world, it was a good introduction, but nothing that surprising.

She didn't even expect a doctor to be able to perform a breathtaking performance but she could barely do it herself. However, she remembered that for the past three days, Su Ning had been worried about which choreography would attract the killer's attention and had been asking Chuan Zuo what the dances usually were like. His presentation seemed simple and delicate, could this be what led this person to attack dancers?

The rhythm of the dance accelerated, with the participation of drums. This time, the doctor's attitude changed. He quickly released the layers of extra fabric that served as sleeves and attached them to the fan. As if that wasn't enough, he took out another fan that was tied around his waist and also adorned it with the floating fabric. It was so fast that the audience only had time to exclaim in unison and some more excited guests applauded.

Now he had two long-striped fans, the effect of which was very beautiful to behold as he twirled them in both hands. And beyond that, there were still the exposed parts of the bare skin, the thin arms, white as snow. The sound of the kite accelerated the rhythm even more, making the melody stronger and resounding. Su Ning then began to do more twirls and acrobatics, the bells attached to his feet and the bracelets on his wrists were heard in front of the most daring and frantic movements as the two fans crossed each other in an absurd synchrony.

Ren Loo thought to himself: Not bad at all! When they returned to the fortress, Su Ning would need to show off his artistic skills to the Empress as well. He was certainly a match even for the yao servants who sometimes presented them with elaborate dances. Was he also that good at playing an instrument? This person was good at everything he did! (With the exception of his pitiful and utopian love life).

Qiang Yong followed the choreography appreciatively. He didn't mind that it seemed simple at first, he felt that anything coming from Su Ning was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The beginning of the dance was like a long winter dormancy, with the earth frozen and covered by the white blanket. Now it was as if the snow itself had melted, revealing the light blue clothes beneath the fragile white tunic.

At any moment, their eyes met. Su Ning truly fulfilled his promise, every time he turned or bowed and saw the hall, his eyes would only stop on the emperor. Without meaning to, the doctor's heart beat faster, although he thought it was due to the frenzy of the sharp movements. His face was already slightly red and his breathing was labored, so that his lips, red from makeup, were half-open and moist.

Qiang Yong didn't miss any details, not even that went unnoticed by him. His throat was dry and he ended up drinking some more wine.
"Um, I wanted to see this woman dancing on the sheets." Fei Mou thought out loud and this time the dragon glared at him furiously.
"Ah, forgive me, your majesty! This humble man overindulged in alcohol." The weasel bowed several times.

Ren Loo pursed his lips, finding this very funny and tried to tease his brother.
"After this spectacle, you'll have to go up to the room with him. Look, Yong-er! You won't let this chance slip away!"
Qiang Yong turned around abruptly, red up to his ears. What to do with a sister with such a thick face??? She was worse than the weasel!

The music and lighting dimmed again and everyone thought the performance was coming to an end. Ren Loo was satisfied, it had been good entertainment and had probably managed to fan their target's murderous flames. She also had the bonus of seeing how admirable her brother-in-law was. However, the dance was not over.

The slowdown was only to highlight the moment in which the doctor, who had slipped to the floor in a short space of time, caught fire with a small spark that produced, with a snap of his fingers, the veils and the rest of the white fabric that covered him, leaving him in just the thin blue skirt and a top. The veil of the fans was quickly consumed as he rose again with the flames also ascending along with the arms and respective fans.

Like a pillar being set on fire, the end of the thaw is the arrival of spring and summer. At first, Qiang Yong was shocked by such an audacious move. THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS! And Ren Loo, who was about to prepare to leave, stood frozen in her place. Admirable my ass!! My brother-in-law is the best!!! Now that’s knowing how to dance!!

Su Ning looked for Black Orchid the day before the event and asked if she had or would be able to obtain the iron fans. At the time, the woman didn't understand why, but ran to make the order. Now she saw well how it worked. When burning the entire veil, the fire reached the tips of the fan, where small metal globes were trapped inside, oil to maintain the flames for a while.

So, even after there was no fabric left, the fans still burned in the spheres, tracing beautiful designs in the air. Su Ning was very skilled with fire and at all times  maintained his mysterious smile on his face, even though he was already exhausted and the flames eventually illuminated the glow of the small droplets of sweat that appeared on the thin skin of his face, shoulders and abdomen.

The Emperor was worried this time, he wanted to get up and interrupt the performance. It was enough! If that hadn't served as bait, he would end up fishing it out of this place himself! Su Ning made his last turn and extinguished the flames with a final, sharp movement that made him disappear completely into the dim light. At the same time the lights were turned back on, illuminating his elegant bow to the audience. Soon after the perplexity was overcome, the hall was filled with the sound of enthusiastic applause.

Qiang Yong forgot to applaud, he was the first to stand up and without caring about the others, he reached out his hand to the doctor who was still on the stage, bowing towards the hall.
Ren Loo "............." (Now that man is lost!)
Su Ning was a little stunned by this intemperate attitude, but passing the fans to one of his hands, he extended the one that was free and held Qiang Yong's, as if accepting an invitation.

Author's Note

[1] "舞者如痴，观者如醉" (wǔ zhě rú chī, guān zhě rú zuì), which can be translated as "The dancers are like fools, the spectators are like drunks". This saying highlights the idea that dancers are so passionate and dedicated to their art that they appear to be in a state of ecstasy, while spectators are so absorbed by the dance that they feel as if they are intoxicated. It is a poetic way of describing the beauty and intensity of dance in Chinese culture.

This moment was so romantic of Qiang Yong reaching out to Dr. I don't even have words to say 🥲.