In truth, Qing Xi knew that after Grand-Uncle Kumu went into seclusion, he would not only ignore matters of the outside world, but would also no longer concern himself with the affairs of Wuse Mountain. She just couldn't bear to say these words in front of her junior sister.
"Senior Martial Sister, during the Wuse Flower Festival, are you really going to play that 'Dust Settles on Wuse Mountain' for Grand-Uncle?" Qinglian asked. "Why does it have to be this particular piece, Dust Settles on Wuse Mountain? I remember you saying the piece you composed yourself is related to the Monarch's 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain', right?"
Qing Xi nodded. She had indeed composed a piece called Dust Settles on Wuse Mountain, and its creation was indeed connected to the Monarch's Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain from back in the day. She said, "The world only knows that Grand-Uncle was severely injured protecting the Monarch's escape on Daqing Mountain back then, and that afterwards, the Monarch, seeking revenge for Grand-Uncle, used a single piece, Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain, to obliterate over ten sects and thousands of people on that mountain."
Qinglian asked, "Isn't that how it was?"
"It wasn't just that," Qing Xi continued. "Back then, the Monarch and Grand-Uncle became friends across generations due to their shared love of music. Afterwards, Grand-Uncle kept trying to persuade the Monarch to turn from his evil ways, and the Monarch agreed. That's why Grand-Uncle later took the Monarch to Daqing Mountain to apologize and make amends."
She paused, sighed softly, and went on, "It's just a pity Grand-Uncle underestimated the magnanimity of those people on Daqing Mountain. Back then, the Monarch offered many precious spirit treasure resources as an apology, but even so, those people refused to let him go. They not only wanted to kill the Monarch, but also to seize that rare, ancient broken blade in his possession."
"Grand-Uncle saw through the intentions of those Daqing Mountain people back then and fought with his life on the line. Although he ultimately protected the Monarch's escape, Grand-Uncle himself was severely injured. But that incident became a knot in Grand-Uncle's heart that he has never been able to untie."
"Ah! What knot?"
"Grand-Uncle feels that taking the Monarch to Daqing Mountain that year was a wrong decision. He has always felt that he himself pushed the Monarch onto a path of no return. Grand-Uncle says the Monarch's killing intent wasn't that heavy back then; he was just a bit too arrogant and unruly. With a little guidance, he would have undoubtedly become a peerless hero. Alas, the trip to Daqing Mountain completely ignited the Monarch's killing intent, leading him to sweep away thousands on Daqing Mountain in one go."
"Before that, although the Monarch had killed, he had never committed such large-scale slaughter. It was also after Daqing Mountain that the Monarch's temperament began to turn violent and cruel. Grand-Uncle has always felt guilty about this and cannot let it go to this day."
Qing Xi sorted through the tattered music scores and said, "Since Grand-Uncle's heart knot stems from the Monarch's Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain, I hope to use the piece I composed, Dust Settles on Wuse Mountain, to help Grand-Uncle let go of his guilt."
Qinglian asked, "Can Grand-Uncle let go?"
Qing Xi shook her head slightly. To be honest, she wasn't confident. She only hoped she could help Grand-Uncle resolve this knot in his heart.
As the saying goes, it takes the one who tied the bell to untie it. In her mind, if anyone in the world could unravel Grand-Uncle's heart knot, it would be the Monarch alone.
What a pity.
The Monarch had already been judged by the Immortal Dao three hundred years ago.
The Monarch was dead. If his successor or descendant were to come, perhaps they could also help Grand-Uncle untie this knot.
For this reason, fifty years ago when that Gu Tiansheng who claimed to be the Monarch's descendant appeared, everyone on Wuse Mountain was deeply moved. They all hoped Gu Tiansheng could help Grand-Uncle resolve this heart knot. So, whatever Gu Tiansheng wanted, they gave, even bringing out the mountain-guarding treasure left by their founding ancestor.
They just never imagined, despite all their hopes, that Gu Tiansheng would turn out to be a swindler.
It was truly too hateful!
"Hmm, I heard that Young Lord Chiyan, who was annihilated in the Four Directions Great Domain a few years ago, has come back to life. He also seems to claim to be the Monarch's descendant," Qinglian muttered. "I wonder if he's the real deal. If he is, I really hope he comes to help Grand-Uncle untie this heart knot."
"Junior Sister, you haven't mentioned this matter of Young Lord Chiyan to Grand-Uncle, have you?"
"No, Senior Martial Sister, I'm not an idiot. Our Wuse Mountain was swindled once fifty years ago; how would I dare bring up Young Lord Chiyan now? Besides, we don't even know if that Young Lord Chiyan is real or fake."
"It's good you haven't. It's best Grand-Uncle doesn't find out about this. The incident with Gu Tiansheng fifty years ago nearly angered Grand-Uncle to death. His old body can't withstand a second such blow."
"I really don't understand why there are so many damn swindlers in this world impersonating the Monarch's successors and descendants!" Qinglian said indignantly. "If I ever run into that Young Lord Chiyan, I'll make him regret it."
Perhaps remembering something, Qinglian grumbled, "And the Monarch is to blame too! What a philanderer! Flirting everywhere he went. If it weren't for that, there wouldn't be so many people in the world impersonating his descendants and successors. From the Empress of our Great Northwest, to the Imperial Empress, Empress Bihai, the First Female Sect Empress, even the World-Honored Empress of our world... Hmph! The rumors about the twenty-four counts of romantic betrayal against Chixiao Monarch are truly well-deserved."
Qing Xi recited the poem carved on Chixiao Monarch's tombstone, as if somewhat enchanted: "A generation's prodigy, Gu Tianlang / At the foot of Chiyan Ridge, startling the four directions / On the path of madness, burying immortals / Laughing proudly over Chixiao, shaking the eight wastelands / A single melody judges the world's sorrow / From then on, the world knows no Monarch..." She said, "The so-called twenty-four counts of romantic betrayal against Chixiao Monarch are merely the world's mistaken perception of the Monarch. The Monarch was not a philanderer, and he was absolutely not a heartless man. It's just that many things were beyond his control..."
"Honestly! Here we go again. Every time I criticize the Monarch, you always defend him," Qinglian looked at her senior martial sister, complaining. "Senior Martial Sister, I advise you to stop playing the Monarch's music from now on. You're becoming obsessed, you know that?"
"I am not."
"You're not?" Qinglian rolled her eyes, urging, "I'm serious. Don't play the Monarch's music anymore. Don't you know how sinister his pieces are? Master has said many people who played the Monarch's music became obsessed, one after another falling into it, unable to extricate themselves, infatuatedly waiting for the Monarch's reincarnation... Senior Martial Sister, I think you've fallen in too."
"I have not..."
"Of course you have! You think I don't know? Last time you played the Monarch's 'Youth's Journey', after you finished, you started saying stuff like 'You were born before I was born, I was born when you were already old'... Isn't that infatuation? Clearly, you've fallen for that philandering Monarch."
"You little brat! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Tch, so what if you've fallen for him? Why not just admit it? Luckily, Senior Martial Sister, you were born three hundred years after the Monarch already died. Otherwise... you'd be in trouble."