Gu Qingfeng simply couldn't understand it. A hundred years had passed since the start of the Current Era, all things were reviving, and spiritual energy was so abundant. Yet these youngsters weren't diligently cultivating; they spent their days fantasizing wildly—'If he is the phoenix, I shall be the simurgh; to marry, one should marry the Lord Chixiao.' What the hell...
Who came up with that nonsense? Wasn't this just setting me up for trouble?
In this world, within the realm of Musical Arts, the name 'Lord Chixiao' held extraordinary significance. Thus, many musicians held Lord Chixiao in high esteem, and Master Wenzhu was especially fervent, even to the point of fanaticism. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent his entire life comprehending the famous pieces left behind by the Monarch.
Perhaps Ouyang Ye's earlier performance of 'Laughing at the Mortal World' had stirred something in the old gentleman. Standing on the stage, he spoke at length about Lord Chixiao's compositions. When he mentioned the piece 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea,' he couldn't help but let out a great sigh as he spoke. The crowd was puzzled and asked for the reason.
"You all may not know," he said, "but earlier, in the garden, this old man happened to encounter a Musical Prodigy. He not only fully manifested the essence contained within the Monarch's 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea,' but even played out its myriad mysteries, reaching directly into its legendary artistic conception. It made one dream of returning to ancient times and truly opened this old man's eyes..."
A Musical Prodigy?
He even played out the myriad mysteries within 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea'?
Reaching directly into its artistic conception?
Everyone knew the Monarch's pieces were rather peculiar. To speak of artistic conception was one thing; even being able to play out a fraction of its essence and mysteries was rare. One must know that Master Wenzhu had spent a lifetime comprehending the Monarch's famous pieces, yet he could only bring out the mysteries in ten compositions, and had only managed to evoke the artistic conception in one piece: 'Wind Rising Over Great Green Mountain.'
Now, Master Wenzhu was saying a Musical Prodigy had actually played out the myriad mysteries of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' and reached its artistic conception?
Those familiar with the Monarch's pieces almost all knew that the mysterious artistic conception contained within 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' was far, far more difficult to achieve than that of 'Wind Rising Over Great Green Mountain.'
"Master Wenzhu, does such a prodigy truly exist?"
"He certainly does."
Master Wenzhu shook his head repeatedly. "A pity, a true pity. At the time, this old man was too shocked, immersed in the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' and unable to extricate myself. By the time I came to my senses, that Musical Prodigy had long since vanished without a trace. If it were otherwise... If we could invite him to play 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea,' you would surely understand what it means that 'beyond mountains there are higher mountains, and beyond people there are greater people.' You could also experience just how profound the artistic conception contained within the Monarch's 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' truly is..." As he spoke, Master Wenzhu sighed again and waved his hand. "Enough, enough. It seems we simply lack the fortune. Let us invite the next performer to continue."
Sitting in the corner of the venue, Ouyang Ye's little mouth hung slightly open, as if she found it hard to believe. Indeed, although her own attainment in Musical Arts wasn't high, she greatly admired the Monarch and loved listening to his pieces. She had heard many since childhood, including 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' many times. But as for the artistic conception contained within that piece, she had never heard anyone actually play it out.
"There's actually such a Musical Prodigy? Even Master Wenzhu can't evoke the artistic conception of the Monarch's 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea.' I think even Sister Suhua can't bring out its artistic conception either..." If these words had come from anyone else, Ouyang Ye definitely wouldn't have believed them. But since they came from Master Wenzhu's own mouth, she had no choice but to believe.
"When did such a Musical Prodigy appear? And Master Wenzhu said he met him in the garden? How come I didn't know?" Ouyang Ye shook her head, somewhat unable to figure it out. "Could it be some reclusive master from beyond the mundane world? Ah! I wonder what kind of person this Musical Prodigy Master Wenzhu spoke of is. If only I could hear him play 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea'... That piece was created back when the Monarch was injured and went into seclusion by the Blue Sea. I've always wanted to experience its artistic conception... It's a shame no one has been able to play it out so far, not even Sister Suhua. Why did that prodigy have to disappear like that! At least let me hear the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' before leaving..."
Listening beside her, Gu Qingfeng could only shake his head. He tossed a fruit into his mouth and chuckled, "It's just 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea.' When I get a free moment, I'll play it for you. Let you experience the pitiful state Gu Tianlang was in when he was hiding by the Blue Sea."
"You?"
Ouyang Ye looked Gu Qingfeng up and down, then rolled her eyes, saying with disdain, "Oh, please. Don't think just because you've read a lot of musical books and scores, and know many melodies, that you're something special. Anyone can memorize by rote. You think knowing those melodies means you can play them? Big brother, that requires practice! The application of various fingerings, sound strings, and spiritual arts all require years of practice. I've been practicing this 'Laughing at the Mortal World' for almost ten years!"
Leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, Gu Qingfeng wore an amused smile as he teased, "Little girl, just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't... Back in my youth, quite a few people called me a Musical Prodigy too."
"A Musical Prodigy? Pah!" Ouyang Ye looked at him, joking, "Why don't you just say the Musical Prodigy Master Wenzhu mentioned, the one who played out the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea,' is you?"
Gu Qingfeng chuckled dryly. "Don't mention it, but I really did meet that old man once in the garden."
"You?"
Gu Qingfeng shrugged and didn't say anything more, continuing to sip his wine.
"Let's not even talk about your musical attainment. Even if your Musical Arts were truly high, you failed your Foundation Establishment, remember? You don't even have spiritual energy anymore... You can't even execute spiritual arts, so you simply can't play out the mysteries!" Ouyang Ye originally wanted to thoroughly ridicule this guy who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth and liked to speak ill of the Monarch. But then she remembered this fellow had failed his Foundation Establishment and decided to let it go. At that moment, enthusiastic applause erupted once more in the venue. Looking over, it seemed Yun Hong and Ye Hui had taken the stage together. Clearly, both had considerable reputations and were also held in high expectations.
"Seeing these two annoying pests just ruins my mood!" Ouyang Ye pouted and simply covered her ears with both hands.
Yun Hong and Ye Hui were performing a duet. Their skill was fairly decent; at least Gu Qingfeng could tell that among all the young musicians who had taken the stage, these two's Musical Arts attainment truly ranked high. Especially Yun Hong—his fingering, sound strings, and spiritual arts were all executed quite well. It seemed he had put in serious effort.
After their piece concluded, they similarly won a round of thunderous applause.
Master Wenzhu also gave them high praise, commending their duet as something that truly caught the eye.
Perhaps because they had lost a bit of face earlier with Gu Qingfeng, now receiving Master Wenzhu's praise, both Yun Hong and Ye Hui had their vanity satisfied. They couldn't help but reveal proud demeanors. Yun Hong suddenly spoke up.
"Master Wenzhu, this junior has an impertinent request."
"Young Lord Yun Hong, there's no need for courtesy."
Yun Hong appeared very humble, though a faint smile hung at the corner of his mouth. "It's like this: there is a Young Lord Chiyan in the audience who claims to be a dragon among men, proficient in all Ten Great Immortal Arts, especially the art of music, where he calls himself a leading figure. This junior would like to invite him to take the stage and play a piece, so that we may broaden our horizons."
Beside him, Ye Hui chimed in, "Yes, Master Wenzhu. That Young Lord Chiyan is incredibly arrogant. Not only does he claim to know all the melodies under heaven, he even boasts that there isn't a single piece he can't play."
A dragon among men?
Proficient in all Ten Great Immortal Arts?
Especially the art of music?
A leading figure?
"Does such a prodigy truly exist?" Master Wenzhu seemed somewhat disbelieving.
"Master, that Young Lord Chiyan is indeed remarkable. Whether he is a dragon among men, I cannot say, but he certainly knows all the melodies under heaven." Qin Baili stepped forward from the side. "As for his actual attainment in Musical Arts, that remains unknown..."
Hearing Qin Baili say this, Master Wenzhu grew even more curious. "Oh? Where might this Young Lord Chiyan be now?"
"Master Wenzhu, he is Ouyang Ye's Dao companion. They are sitting together." Ye Hui deliberately pointed out that Young Lord Chiyan was Ouyang Ye's Dao companion. Seemingly worried Master Wenzhu wouldn't know the exact location, she even pointed over, smiling. "Junior Sister Ouyang Ye, didn't you say Young Lord Chiyan's Musical Arts attainment is very high? That he's a leading figure? Why not invite him up to play a piece?"
Ouyang Ye never expected these two annoying pests, Yun Hong and Ye Hui, to pull such a move in public. They deliberately brought up Young Lord Chiyan in front of Master Wenzhu, singing his praises to the skies. This was practically 'killing with praise'—utterly shameless! They were forcing Gu Qingfeng to take the stage and make a fool of himself!
Damn them!
These two annoying pests were clearly determined to make me lose face completely. How utterly shameless!
Ouyang Ye was seething with hatred inside. She immediately stood up and said, "I told you, Young Lord Chiyan's cultivation has gone awry. He temporarily cannot use spiritual power, so he simply can't play out the mysteries of any piece."
"Hehe..." On the high stage, Yun Hong maintained his humble smile. "Junior Sister Ouyang, being unable to use spiritual power isn't a big issue. Since your Young Lord Chiyan claims to be a leading figure in Musical Arts, we'd like to take this opportunity to witness his superb fingering and profound sound strings... Is that not allowed? Perhaps he can even play out mysteries through an empty performance... Hmm? Hehehe!"
"You..." Ouyang Ye had no retort and gnashed her teeth in anger.
Seeing her like this, Ye Hui covered her mouth, laughing triumphantly. "What's wrong, Junior Sister Ouyang? Why aren't you inviting your Young Lord Chiyan to take the stage? Hmm... Didn't you say he's a dragon among men? That he's a leading figure in Musical Arts? Could it all be false?"
Just as Ouyang Ye was at a loss for what to do, a clear, delighted voice suddenly rang out in the venue.
"Big Brother? Is that you, Big Brother?"
It seemed to be a little girl of seven or eight. Many recognized her as Master Wenzhu's granddaughter. The little girl ran over to Ouyang Ye's side, staring at the Young Lord Chiyan beside her, and cried out happily, "Big Brother! Why are you here? Grandpa and I have been looking for you for ages!"
Big Brother?
Everyone was a bit bewildered.
At that moment, Master Wenzhu on the stage quickly walked down. When he saw Gu Qingfeng sitting in the corner looking somewhat frustrated, Master Wenzhu suddenly halted. His aged face was filled with delight. "Young Lord Gu... So... So you are here..."