Chapter 11: Every Casual Remark Holds Profound Truths!

"Huangu Sister, Huangu Sister," Chen Die'er tugged at Huangu Meng's sleeve, whispering, "Father's performance has ended."

"It has ended?" Huangu Meng was as if awakening from a dream, abruptly opening her eyes. She found Chen Changsheng and his daughter watching her with a peculiar expression. Her cheeks flushed softly as she sighed, "The piece played by Young Master Chen must be a supreme melody of the immortals—truly marvelous! Simply marvelous!"

Her heart had been pounding wildly, overflowing with joy; listening to Chen Changsheng's playing had allowed her to make two breakthroughs in succession. Even more importantly, she realized that his music was not only the sound of the Grand Dao but also contained the soul of the zither. That zither soul had taken root within her heart, and the realms she could never comprehend through music now became crystal clear. The benefit she received from this song was immeasurable.

She trembled with excitement, having entirely forgotten that she was nearly half-naked before Chen Changsheng. Stepping forward, she bowed deeply with utmost respect, "Thank you, Young Master Chen, for bestowing this melody upon me. This grace and virtue, I, Huangu Meng, will remember forever!"

Chen Changsheng's gaze flickered discreetly over the faintly revealed snowy curves, and he sighed inwardly. Damn, she was too alluring.

"Ahem!" Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze, smiling lightly. "Miss Huangu, you are too courteous. I merely played as my hand moved."

Seeing Huangu Meng so enamored with music, Chen Changsheng felt as though he'd found a kindred spirit. Of course, those two glimpses of snowy white played a vital role in this feeling.

"The piece I played just now is called 'Taiji,' " Chen Changsheng explained, his tone open and candid. "Its style is distant and profound. Unconsciously, it permeates the heart and soul, drawing one's spirit into a wondrous realm, merging with heaven and earth. The music must be pleasing, the earth must have momentum, the heavens must be emptiness. Heaven and earth are vessels, containing all things, and man contains heaven and earth..."

Huangu Meng's spirit trembled—this was the ultimate truth of the Dao! The piece played by Young Master Chen was indeed the music of the Grand Dao! Truly a recluse of the world, terrifying indeed!

Huangu Meng's eyes became dreamy; besides reverence for Chen Changsheng, there was only reverence. She hurriedly listened carefully, striving to comprehend every word.

At last, Huangu Meng exhaled a long breath, feeling her state of mind elevated countless times. She bowed respectfully again to Chen Changsheng, "Thank you, Young Master Chen. Listening to your words has benefited me immensely."

Chen Changsheng could only smile helplessly. "Miss Huangu, you are really too polite. I was only speaking casually."

Even his casual words were the truths of the Dao! Huangu Meng's heart fluttered wildly.

"Young Master Chen, I am an official of the government. I came to Qingshui Town to hunt down Tuoba Ye, but now I've delayed too long. I must return to White Emperor City to report to the City Lord's Mansion."

She had planted the soul of the zither in her heart and attained a higher level of understanding in music. Chen Changsheng's words had opened a new world for her, and she could not wait to return and cultivate her musical arts, so she bade him farewell.

"Very well, I won't see you off far," Chen Changsheng said, not attempting to detain her, waving indifferently.

Watching Huangu Meng's departing figure, Chen Changsheng smiled, thinking, "Quite unexpected; young women of the cultivation world are truly refined, nothing like those shrews depicted in fantasy novels."

Chen Die'er paid no attention whatsoever to what Chen Changsheng was saying. She looked up, her exquisitely carved face glowing, and said crisply, "Father, I just saw that sister wearing a string of beads around her neck. It's very pretty."

"That's not called beads, it's called a necklace," Chen Changsheng corrected.

"Oh." Chen Die'er nodded obediently, her bright eyes full of spirit.

"Father, do you want to have a beautiful necklace like that too?"

Chen Changsheng saw right through the little one's thoughts.

"Mm," Chen Die'er replied with perfect honesty.

"All right, then Father will make one for you."

That damned world system had taught Chen Changsheng nothing about cultivation, but in other matters, it had imparted everything it knew. Making a necklace was no challenge for Chen Changsheng.

...

A thousand miles away, at the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Today was the birthday of Ba Li Song, the sect master of Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Ba Li Song's hair was half white. At over three hundred years old, his grand birthday was naturally celebrated with great pomp. The entire sect was filled with joy, and the senior members all presented gifts.

These gifts were exceptionally valuable—immortal treasures, rare jade artifacts, heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Ba Li Song graciously accepted them all, his joy impossible to conceal.

Mu Wanqing, graceful and slender, walked softly along the red carpet toward Ba Li Song.

Those present around her immediately wore strange expressions. Only the high-ranking members of the sect were presenting gifts; what business did Mu Wanqing, a mere disciple, have here?

Clearly, she just wanted to curry favor with the sect master!

Their expressions shifted to disdain.

Ba Li Song was also somewhat surprised, his face expressionless, showing his displeasure with such petty attempts at flattery by disciples. Sect disciples ought to cultivate diligently, not rely on sycophancy to gain the attention of the seniors.

"Sect master, I have specially obtained a calligraphy piece from a recluse and present it to you as a birthday gift, wishing you longevity as the southern mountains and eternal youth!" Mu Wanqing took out a piece of red paper and offered it respectfully to Ba Li Song.

"Tch, it's just a calligraphy piece. If she wants to flatter, why not give something more precious?"

"To make her gift seem important, she even claims it's from a recluse. How ridiculous!"

"Shameless!"

A chorus of low disdainful voices sounded all around.

Ba Li Song was not fond of this, but as it was his birthday, he could not embarrass Mu Wanqing too much. He smiled faintly, "As a disciple of the sect, you went out of your way to obtain a calligraphy piece for my birthday. That shows some thought."

His words unmistakably carried a barb.

"As long as the sect master likes it, that's good," Mu Wanqing replied with indifference. "I saw that recluse's skill in calligraphy was extraordinary, truly breathtaking. Remembering today was your birthday, sect master, I thickened my skin to ask for it."

"Oh," Ba Li Song responded mildly, accepting the red paper Mu Wanqing had respectfully offered, and tossed it aside carelessly.

Meeting a recluse, boasting without even rehearsing!

Mu Wanqing was taken aback, and asked, "Sect master, won't you open it and have a look?"

"Oh, I'll look at it when I have time."

A sect disciple who doesn't cultivate properly, but tries to curry favor—he had refrained from rebuking her out of consideration for his birthday, but had no interest in looking at it.

"Sect master, please do take a look. The recluse's skill in calligraphy is truly remarkable," Mu Wanqing insisted. She still had another sword character piece gifted by Chen Changsheng, whose sword intent she had experienced deeply. She firmly believed this character for longevity was extraordinary as well—it was, after all, the work of a recluse!