Today, the First-Class Mountain Villa was hosting a Musical Arts Gathering. Quite a few senior and younger generation musicians from the Qingyang Region had come. Speaking of which, Ouyang Ye's reputation in musical circles was not insignificant. Although she had yet to compose her own piece, her young age and ability to grasp the essence of one or two pieces by Lord Chixiao made her a rare talent among the younger generation.
Thanks to Ye Hui, everyone knew a little about her affairs. Some, like Ye Hui, believed that the legendary Dragon Among Men, Young Lord Chiyan she spoke of, might be fictional. After all, if such a prodigy truly existed, proficient in all Ten Immortal Arts, how could they not have heard of him? Of course, others thought it might be true. The world was vast and full of wonders; not every prodigy was flamboyant. Perhaps some were very low-key.
At this moment, hearing that the famous Young Lord Yun Hong intended to challenge this Young Lord Chiyan, everyone crowded over, eager to see if this Young Lord Chiyan was truly the Dragon Among Men Ouyang Ye claimed.
"Junior Sister Ouyang, it's not too late to regret now. If you're exposed in public later, you'll lose all face... Oh dear, many people worship you as a goddess. If they find out their goddess has been lying and deceiving everyone, what do you think they'll feel?"
Ye Hui had always disliked Ouyang Ye, envying her family background and talent, and most bitterly resenting how the senior and junior brothers in the sect treated Ouyang Ye like a precious pearl. She had long wanted an opportunity to make Ouyang Ye lose face, because she was one hundred percent certain that no such Dragon Among Men, Young Lord Chiyan, existed in the world. This guy in front of her was clearly pulled in to impersonate him.
"Junior Sister, if you're unwilling, I need not challenge Young Lord Chiyan."
Opposite, Yun Hong sat upright, his smile still gentle and refined.
He was an outstanding figure among the youth, both in Yunxia Sect and in the musical circles of the Qingyang Region. Coupled with his handsome appearance and elegant demeanor, he was the idol of many young women.
However.
Only Ouyang Ye knew this guy was hypocritical, extremely hypocritical. Just because she had rejected his advances a year ago, he had secretly spread rumors about her, calling her arrogant and conceited. Moreover, Ouyang Ye knew clearly that she had only mentioned her fabricated Young Lord Chiyan to Yun Hong alone. The reason it was now known to everyone was entirely due to Yun Hong's behind-the-scenes machinations.
This damned Yun Hong was two-faced, colluding with Ye Hui in secret!
It infuriated her!
Although Ouyang Ye felt guilty, feeling guilty was one thing; she couldn't show weakness in presence. She coldly retorted, "Challenge then challenge! Young Lord Chiyan isn't afraid of you!"
As she spoke, Ouyang Ye picked up a wine pot, poured a cup of fine wine, and handed it to Gu Qingfeng's side, transmitting secretly: *Don't worry. Although this young lady's musical attainment isn't very high, I've read extensively since childhood, especially books on musical arts. Don't be afraid.*
Gu Qingfeng took the wine cup Ouyang Ye offered, giving her a look of understanding to indicate he got it. Then he tilted his head back and drained the cup in one go. Changing his posture, he looked at Yun Hong with a playful smile and said, "Come on, young man. Let this lord see what your musical attainment is really like."
Yun Hong smiled faintly, but his tone turned a bit colder. "You seem quite arrogant..."
"This is called arrogant?" Gu Qingfeng chuckled happily. "You haven't seen me when I'm truly arrogant."
*Method actor!*
Ouyang Ye shot him another appreciative look, transmitting secretly.
*Good.*
*As a Dragon Among Men, you should be this arrogant.*
*Keep it up.*
*This young lady has your back!*
"Since Young Lord Chiyan claims profound musical attainment, I shall challenge you today."
Yun Hong pondered for a moment, then asked, "How is the melody 'Soaring Sky Wild Sand' played?"
As Yun Hong's words fell, Gu Qingfeng's ear received Ouyang Ye's secret transmission: *Fingering uses the Small Leaf Flow style. Sound strings are Sparrow Feather Glaze Tone, Hundred-Turn Thousand-Return Tone. Spiritual arts are Red Sky Shadow Moon Art, Blue Soul Flying Feather Art, Silver Shine Langya Art...*
Gu Qingfeng repeated exactly what Ouyang Ye transmitted.
This scene surprised both Yun Hong and Ye Hui, as if they hadn't expected this guy to answer so accurately. Subsequently, Yun Hong challenged with several more melodies, each more difficult than the last, but Gu Qingfeng answered them all easily. Of course, Ouyang Ye had been secretly transmitting the whole time.
*This little girl's musical attainment is quite impressive...* Gu Qingfeng transmitted.
Ouyang Ye replied proudly: *Of course! This young lady said I've read extensively since childhood. I might not be able to play these melodies, but that doesn't mean I don't know them.*
Yun Hong gave a forced smile. "Oh? It seems Young Lord Chiyan has indeed read many musical books."
"Of course. There's no melody in this world this lord doesn't understand."
"Good, very good! Arrogant enough, insolent enough!" Yun Hong clapped with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, forcing another laugh. "However, if you can answer the melody I'm about to mention next, I, Yun Hong, will toast you a cup of wine."
Then Yun Hong mentioned a melody called "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron."
The moment he spoke, the surrounding young onlookers were stunned. Since they had the qualifications to attend today's Musical Arts Gathering, they were all musicians of some repute and relatively knowledgeable about musical arts. Yet none present had ever heard of a melody called "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron."
Including Ouyang Ye, who didn't know either. She recalled all the musical books she had read over the years and couldn't remember any melody called "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron."
"Senior Brother Yun Hong, there's no such melody as 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron,' right?"
Before Yun Hong could speak, Ye Hui beside him also sneered, "You not having heard of it only shows your limited knowledge. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you don't believe it, why not ask the various seniors?"
The onlookers weren't just young musicians; there were also quite a few senior musicians present, including some renowned ones. The most famous and musically accomplished was Qin Baili, who was not only a senior musician in the Qingyang Region but also a proud disciple of Master Wenzhu.
"Senior Qin, as a master of musical arts in our Qingyang Region, you should know about the 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron,' right?"
When Ye Hui asked, the middle-aged man named Qin Baili replied modestly, "The true master of musical arts is my teacher, Wenzhu. I dare not claim the title of master. As for the melody 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron,' it does exist. However, this melody is quite obscure and incredibly profound. Unless one's musical attainment reaches a certain level, one rarely delves into such mysterious melodies. Ordinary musicians seldom know of it. Since Young Lord Yun Hong mentions the 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron' melody, does that mean Young Lord Yun Hong knows how to play it?"
Yun Hong confidently replied, "Since this junior brought it up, naturally I know."
"Remarkable! Truly worthy of being an outstanding figure among the young musicians of our Qingyang Region."
Qin Baili and the other senior musicians nodded in praise. "This 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron' melody originates from a piece by a great power of the Ancient Era. For a young man like Young Lord Yun Hong to know of it is indeed impressive!"
"Senior Qin flatters me too much... This junior merely loves musical arts and usually reads a few more scores than others."
Looking at Yun Hong's hypocritical face, Ouyang Ye felt like vomiting. Others didn't know, but she clearly knew this Yun Hong often collected obscure melodies just to show off his extensive musical knowledge.
Ouyang Ye refused to accept it and said indignantly, "What's so great about knowing these melodies? Can you actually play them?"
"Ah, Miss Ouyang, you can't say that. Knowing is one thing; being able to play is another. For those of us who study musical arts, knowing thousands of melodies is also a way to improve our own musical attainment."
Senior Qin Baili's words left Ouyang Ye unable to retort. She hadn't heard of the "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron," so naturally she couldn't inform Gu Qingfeng. She transmitted secretly: *Damn it! Why did you have to boast so big just now, saying there's no melody in the world you don't know? How dare you make such a boast? Aren't you screwing me over?*
*Girl, put your heart at ease. You invited me to bathe, bought me new clothes, and treated me to wine... I definitely won't let you lose face. It's just musical arts. I'm not bragging to you—when this lord was playing with musical arts, the grandfathers of these little brats might still have been playing with mud!*
Hearing Gu Qingfeng say this, Ouyang Ye felt like killing someone: *Heavens! At a time like this, can you please stop pretending to be a senior expert in front of me? This lady is about to die of anxiety!*
*What's there to be anxious about? It's just impersonating Young Lord Chiyan. Don't even mention Young Lord Chiyan; even if you asked me to impersonate Gu Tianlang, these little brats wouldn't dare not believe it. Watch closely. This lord will definitely earn you plenty of face this time.*
Opposite, Yun Hong maintained his gentle refinement, exuding an innate arrogance, his smile particularly confident. Staring at Gu Qingfeng, he said with a smile, "Isn't Young Lord Chiyan hailed as a Dragon Among Men? A leader in musical arts? Claiming there's no melody in the world you don't understand? Could it be you haven't even heard of a melody like 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron'?"
"Who told you this lord hasn't heard of it?"
Gu Qingfeng leaned forward slightly, picked up a fruit, tossed it into his mouth, and said with an amused smile, "You mentioned the 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron' melody. If I remember correctly, this melody comes from a piece called 'Jade Toad Subdues the Heavens' by Ancestor Linyin of the Ancient Era, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yun Hong's expression stiffened slightly. The eyes of Qin Baili and the others nearby also revealed surprise.
Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and drank a small cup of wine. "This 'Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron' melody requires six types of fingering to play, nine types of sound strings alternating and transforming, and twenty-two musical spiritual arts to complete... The six fingering techniques are..." Gu Qingfeng spoke casually, as if discussing something very ordinary. Not only did he state the origin of the "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron," but he also detailed all its fingering techniques, sound strings, and spiritual arts, even clearly explaining the rhythm during performance.
Those who didn't understand were left confused, while those who did were greatly astonished.
Ouyang Ye didn't understand, because she had never seen the "Southern Dipper Golden Cauldron" melody in any book. Yet the long list Gu Qingfeng just recited gave her a feeling of being impressed despite not fully comprehending it. Seeing Yun Hong's look of disbelief and noticing Qin Baili and the others had similar expressions, Ouyang Ye's heart began to beat faster.
Could what this guy said be true?
Before she could confirm, Yun Hong asked several more melodies in succession. Similarly, Ouyang Ye hadn't heard any of these melodies. But to her surprise, Gu Qingfeng was able to answer each one immediately, and for every melody, he accurately described the fingering, sound strings, and spiritual arts.
Yes!
Accurately and without error.
She didn't understand, but she could observe. From the expressions of Qin Baili and the other senior musicians, she could tell that not only was Gu Qingfeng's description accurate, it seemed overly detailed, astonishing these seniors.
Yun Hong mentioned several more melodies in a row. Without any surprise, Gu Qingfeng answered them all accurately.
"You!"
Yun Hong's face turned somewhat ugly. He never expected that all the obscure melodies he presented had been answered by this person in front of him. He couldn't believe it. These were melodies he had painstakingly collected to show off his musical knowledge. Some could even stump senior musicians, and they had never failed him. Even senior musicians with deep musical attainment found it difficult to answer all thirty-six of his obscure melodies. Yet he never imagined this person in front of him knew them all.
This made Yun Hong wonder: Could this guy really be the Young Lord Chiyan Ouyang Ye spoke of?