Having his embarrassing affair exposed, Li Dapang felt rather awkward. He glared at Old Man Liu and barked, "I say, Old Man Liu, why must you always bring up the sore subject? Couldn't you save some face for us in front of Brother Gu?
Besides, I cut my finger on the qin string purely by accident. It has nothing to do with playing the tune."
"Nonsense!"
Old Man Liu wore an expression of exasperated disappointment. "You say you want to study the Musical Arts, fine. But you haven't even learned to walk properly and you're already thinking about running. You haven't even grasped the basic melodies, yet you recklessly try to learn the Monarch's compositions. The Monarch's music is universally acknowledged as the most profound and complex in the world. Countless masters of the Musical Arts have spent their entire lives failing to comprehend its mysteries. And you, a complete novice who knows nothing, dare to attempt it? Do you have any idea how many musical masters have gone mad over the years trying to decipher the Monarch's scores...
You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
"Well, as the saying goes, many skills are no burden," Li Dapang said, digging in his heels. "I'm studying the Musical Arts to learn more skills, to make a living, that's all."
"Still spinning tales with me?
You think this old man can't see your real purpose for studying music?
Isn't it just because you heard Young Lady Qingxi loves the Monarch's compositions, so you want to learn them to catch her attention?"
"Have you taken the wrong medicine today, old man? Why are you picking on me at every turn!"
Li Dapang shot Old Man Liu an extremely disdainful look. "And so what if I am trying to attract Young Lady Qingxi's attention? 'Fair lady, gentlemen woo'—you're old, you wouldn't understand!"
"This old man has been around. I'm saying this for your own good."
Old Man Liu shook his head and sighed. "Little Li, the most important thing in life is to know your own limits. Take a good look at yourself—what are you really worth? How can you keep dreaming all day? Look outside now. Those people swarming around Young Lady Qingxi—which one of them doesn't have higher cultivation than you? Which one doesn't come from a better family? And that's just a small fraction. In our Great Northwest alone, the number of people pursuing Young Lady Qingxi must be in the millions, if not tens of millions!"
"And among them are no shortage of personal disciples from major sects, and young masters from great families...
Not to mention others, several of our own Yaoyue Palace's personal disciples are admirers of Young Lady Qingxi. Then there's Hunyuan Sect, Tianxing Sect, the Tiger Might Wang Family, even a few from the Crimson-Letter Manor's Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants...
I've heard even people from the Immortal Mansions, and some reincarnated great experts, have taken an interest in Young Lady Qingxi. Tell me, no matter how you slice it, it's never going to be your turn, kid!
Wake up already."
"Really! Old Man Liu, why do you have to be such a killjoy!"
Perhaps Old Man Liu's words had pricked Li Dapang's pride. He tossed aside the game meat in his hand and snapped, "Let me tell you, don't bully the young for being poor! Who knows, maybe one day I'll encounter a great Fortune and soar to the heavens. When that day comes, I'll deal with every single one of you who looked down on me, one by one!"
With that, he got up and left, sitting sullenly in the pavilion outside the room.
Watching this scene, Gu Qingfeng felt a twinge of sentimentality within, because something similar had once happened to him.
Back in the Yunxia Sect, he was just a menial laborer, yet he fell for Hongxiu at first sight. And Hongxiu was the sect's heir apparent. When the matter came to light, the Yunxia Sect elders were all sneering and mocking. Huode didn't mock him, but he had advised Gu Qingfeng much like Old Man Liu was advising Li Dapang today.
Thinking back, he had experienced this kind of thing more than once.
He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts, and left the guest room.
Li Dapang was sitting alone in the pavilion, drinking gloomily.
Not far away, Qingxi was still surrounded by a crowd, answering questions.
Gu Qingfeng walked over and sat down as well. "Young Lady Qingxi seems quite popular."
"Of course she is," Li Dapang said. "Young Lady Qingxi is a renowned prodigy of the Great Northwest, known to everyone. Not only is her cultivation high and her Fortune unique, her Immortal Arts are top-notch, especially the Musical Arts—they're practically peerless. Most importantly, she's as beautiful as a celestial maiden, kind-hearted, without any airs. She's not only approachable but often helps others. Among the Great Northwest's Ten Great Prodigies, Young Lady Qingxi is the most popular. Even our Yaoyue Palace's heir apparent, Young Lady Handong, can't compare."
"What, looks like you've taken a fancy to her."
Li Dapang lifted his head to gaze at Young Lady Qingxi amidst the crowd, his expression somewhat forlorn. "What good does fancying her do? I know my own worth. I'm simply not worthy of Young Lady Qingxi."
"Weren't you just saying 'don't bully the young for being poor'? What if you encounter a great Fortune and rise to prominence? Why so lacking in confidence now?"
"That was just talk. Anyone can shout that slogan."
Li Dapang curled his lip. "But what's the use of just shouting slogans? They all say 'thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.' Since I was born, I've always been on the east bank; I've never made it to the west. Others have this Fortune, that Fortune. And me? Don't even mention Fortune, my Golden Core is still a murky one. Whether I can even condense a Nascent Soul is an unknown..."
Gu Qingfeng comforted, "One should still have dreams. What if they come true?"
"Easier said than done."
Li Dapang shot him a sidelong glance. "You help me make it come true, then?"
"Alright."
Gu Qingfeng said with a smile, "No problem."
"Save it, brother!
We're two of a kind. I'm at the Golden Core stage, you're at the Golden Core stage too. And the aura of your Golden Core isn't even as strong as mine. Apart from being better-looking than me, you're probably worse off in other aspects."
Li Dapang looked Gu Qingfeng up and down. "Don't think just because you dress neatly, look presentable, and resemble a young master from afar, that it'll work. Let me tell you, in previous years when I attended flower festivals, I dressed far more splendidly than you. Sadly, it's useless. Our cultivation is lacking, our status lowly, we have no background, no Fortune. These are hard flaws, not easy to make up for. Usually, we might manage to flirt with girls from minor sects and clans. But if you want to attract Young Lady Qingxi's attention? No chance at all."
Gu Qingfeng wasn't a particularly talkative person, nor was he skilled at conversation. But he quite enjoyed chatting with those who could ramble on. Listening to these people talk had a unique flavor; it was quite amusing.
"Ah! What a pity!"
Seeing Li Dapang look at him, shaking his head and sighing, Gu Qingfeng asked curiously, "What's a pity?"
"What a pity that we share the same name but not the same fate!"
"How so?"
"Look, your name is Gu Qingfeng. That Chiyan Young Master is also called Gu Qingfeng. Look at how he gets by—Bedrock Physique, Absolute Force, and he's the famed successor of the Chixiao Monarch. Putting everything else aside, just with that identity, wouldn't all the beauties under heaven be his for the taking?"
PS: Seems like it's Mid-Autumn Festival today. Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!