/
Right at this time, a sorrowful xiao music slowly sounded. However, compared to the guqin sound, Qiu Honglei’s playing wasn’t as proficient.
Xie Xiu said with a bit of confusion, “This doesn’t seem right? With Qiu Honglei’s skills, her skills in playing the xiao shouldn’t be much inferior to the guqin. Why does her playing sound so… so ordinary?”
His wording was actually already extremely polite. The playing was actually not smooth at all, with even some hiccups along the way that even he noticed. If it was someone else, they would have long been chased off the stage.
Xie Daoyun said with a frown, “It might be because she is unfamiliar with this song…”
Eventually, her voice also couldn’t help but become quiet. There was no way an expert would mess up this badly, right?
Screech!
Following a sharp wrong note, Qiu Honglei finally couldn’t take it anymore. She lowered the xiao with a red face. This really was too embarrassing! She actually couldn’t play the song!
However, no one else doubted her skills. All of them instead rushed to reassure her:
“If not even a master like young miss Qiu could play it, then this song was probably just randomly thrown together!”
“Precisely! Brat, don’t drag down lady Qiu with you if you don’t know how to play it yourself!”
…
However, there were quite a few people with discerning eyes here. After all, Zu An’s guqin was played like moving clouds and flowing water, not like something recklessly put together at all.
Wang Yuanlong couldn’t help but nudge Chu Yucheng, saying with a sigh of admiration. “I was also deceived by the rumors before. I thought that your clan’s young master was good for nothing. Who would have thought that he actually had this type of skill! No wonder first miss Chu chose him.”
Chu Yucheng also had a strange expression on his face. He nudged Chu Hongcai next to him. “Did you expect this scene?”
Chu Hongcai shook his head. A bit of bitterness appeared on his face as he watched how close and intimate Qiu Honglei and Zu An were.
Chu Yucheng seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. He immediately consoled him, “You don’t have to feel too discouraged. They are only playing a song together. It doesn’t mean anything more. Even if we take ten thousand steps back, even if they do end up doing something, letting Ah Zu get the chance is better than letting someone else. We should keep the blessings within the family!”
Chu Hongcai: “......”
What keep the damn blessings in the family? Should I be thanking you?!
Zu An also stopped. He consoled Qiu Honglei and said, “This song is a bit difficult, the melody in some areas are a bit abrupt when put together, the jumps quite big. It’s hard to play out if you aren’t familiar with it.”
Qiu Honglei revealed an appreciative expression. Even though she normally carried the appearance of a world toppling beauty, she was still a young lady deep down. She had never encountered such an embarrassing predicament before, leaving her in a bit of a daze.
He explained some of the easiest problems, as well as some areas to take special note of.
Qiu Honglei gradually calmed down. She closed her eyes, and then she read through the entire song from start to finish. She finally understood why she kept messing up.
“Let’s try it again.” Qiu Honglei’s face was full of expectation. The first reason was that she needed to redeem herself from her embarrassing performance. The second was that this song really was too amazing, so she wanted to see what it would sound like when it was played properly.
“Alright!” Zu An smiled. Seeing that she was ready, he began to lightly pluck the guqin.
Qiu Honglei’s red lips blew gently, her ten fingers moving along the xiao as if they were dancing.
The mid range zither sound, accompanied by the beautiful and serene xiao, made the music even more moving. The zither and xiao seemed to be going back and forth like a conversation, leaving the men here in endless envy. If they were the ones who could do this with lady Qiu, then that really would be incredible.
Xie Daoyun was already standing by the window, her eyes glued to the two that were playing this duet. She remarked, “This song’s pairing is indeed quite good, but it doesn’t have that distinct effect he was bragging about either.”
When her voice just sounded, the zither sound gradually grew louder, while the xiao sound slowly became quiet. However, the xiao sound didn’t fade away, continuing to sound like wisps of wind. An even greater soul-stirring feeling was brought out.
“This…” Xie Daoyun’s beautiful expression changed. She muttered to herself, “Turns out the zither and xiao can have this type of pairing… it truly is flawless.”
Suddenly, knocking sounds were released from the guqin, as if a war was starting. However, the xiao sound remained as gentle and mellow as before.
A while later, the zither sounds also became gentle, the two sounds taking turns being louder and softer. Suddenly, the two instruments’ sound changed again. It was as if there were seven or eight zithers, seven or eight xiaos that were performing at the same time.
Even though the zither and xiao’s sounds were complex and constantly changing, every single sound rose and fell in cadence, beautiful and moving.
Xie Daoyun sighed in admiration. No wonder even with Qiu Honglei’s abilities, she still failed several times. The song seemed complex just from listening to it, let alone the difficulty for the actual musician.
Everyone here originally had expressions of disdain, but when they heard this song, they only felt as if their blood began to boil. They couldn’t help but stand up, feel as if they were currently on the battlefield, fighting for their families, fighting for their country, fighting for this world.
As the song went on, the guqin and xiao changed again. The xiao took the lead, while the guqin only played in accompaniment. However, the xiao’s notes climbed higher and higher.
Everyone felt a mysterious wave of sorrow, unknowingly starting to shed tears.
Suddenly, a loud noise sounded. The zither sound came to a sudden stop, the xiao’s sound immediately ended as well.
All of Immortal Abode entered a state of silence. No one said anything for a long time.
Qiu Honglei was also completely shocked. She almost didn’t believe that she was the one who played that moving melody.
She lowered the xiao to look at the man sitting in front of the guqin table.
She originally planned to back him in secret, but who would have expected that he would bring her this type of pleasant surprise?
“Young master Zu, does this song have a name?”
Zu An slowly stood up. “This song is named ‘The Proud, Smiling Wanderer’. I will give this song to the lady as a gift in hopes that the lady can let your sorrows go, to instead be proud and smiling like this song.”
“You really are giving it to me?” Qiu Honglei’s face was full of pleasant surprise. After all, in a brothel, a good song was enough to even push an obscure girl to the sea of courtesan queen.”
Even though she was well known in Brightmoon City, there were too many high level courtesan queens. But with this song, her name might become well known throughout the world.
“Of course I am.” Zu An said with a smile. It was just a song, so what was she getting so emotional for?
“This guy really doesn’t skimp out when chasing after girls.” Pei Mianman released a snort. Watch me rat on you to Chuyan. She really needs to keep a tight leash on this husband of hers!
However, she really never expected this fella to have this type of skill. She’ll definitely have him make her a song some time in the future too.
Xie Daoyun also began to mutter to herself, “Given time, Zu An will definitely become renown throughout the world.”
Xie Xiu’s face was filled with shock. “Is it really that big of a deal?”
Xie Daoyun rolled her eyes. “You’ve dabbled a bit in music too. You should understand that this ‘Smiling, Proud Wanderer’ is completely groundbreaking.”
Xie Xiu couldn’t help but say, “But this is still a world where cultivation strength is above all. No matter how deep one’s knowledge in music is, it is still but a small field.”
Xie Daoyun said with a bit of frustration. “Why are your words sounding more and more like father’s? Just a group of uncultured trash!”
She then got up in annoyance and left. Victory and defeat had already been decided. There was no way Xie Xiu would be chosen, so she didn’t have a chance of meeting Qiu Honglei either.
However, because of this song, she didn’t come in vain.
She actually wanted to consult Zu An about some things, but Immortal Abode really wasn’t the best place. It wasn’t good for her to expose her identity.
She could only wait until another time to talk to Zu An.
Seeing his sister leave, Xie Xiu felt a bit of hesitation, but he also followed her out. After all, there wasn’t much meaning in staying here. This was also a place where crooks were mixed in with honest folk. If something happened to his sister, then he really wouldn’t be able to redeem the situation.
At this time, Qiu Honglei said to everyone, “This girl’s body is a bit weary, so I will have to excuse myself first. Everyone, please make yourselves comfortable.”
After saying this, she turned around and slowly left. No matter how others pleaded for her to stay, she only left behind a lingering fragrance.
Zu An stared blankly. The two of them were chatting so happily just now, so how can things end just like that?
Was she leaving just like this?
You have successfully trolled Chu Hongcai for +233 Rage!
You have successfully trolled Chu Yucheng for +233 Rage!
You have successfully trolled Wang Yuanlong for +233 Rage!
…
Zu An immediately jumped in fright when he saw the Rage points come in. What is going on?
When he looked over, all of the other men were staring at him with murderous eyes.
Chu Yucheng walked over. “Congratulations brother Zu, congratulations.”
“Congratulations what?” Zu An was dumbfounded.
“Do you really not know or are you just acting? Lady Qiu already turned around to leave, meaning that she already made her decision. Who else could she have chosen other than you?”
Chu Hongcai’s face was darker than coal. This fellow already got what he wanted, yet he was still acting all innocent. How could he stand this?
You have successfully trolled Chu Hongcai for +345 Rage!
He was full of regret. Why did he bring this scoundrel with him today?
But soon afterwards, he realized that even if he didn’t bring Zu An, he would have still offended lady Qiu. It would have definitely been someone else who was chosen.
Sigh, I guess third bro is right. Guess this can also be considered keeping the blessings within the family.
But why do I want to cry?
“She chose me?” Zu An was stunned, but he immediately reacted. “Haha, didn’t I tell all of you? How can any woman resist my charms?”
Chu Hongcai: “......”
Chu Yucheng: “......”
Wang Yuanlong: “......”
Right at this time, a delicate and pretty maid ran over. “Young master Zu, our young miss has invited you.”
“Okay, I’ll be right over.” Zu An cupped his hands towards the people at his table. “Brothers should remain loyal, but a beauty is calling. Please excuse this, gentlemen.”
Chu Yucheng was completely speechless. He hurriedly waved his hands, “Since it’s lady Qiu’s invitation, you should just go.”
On the other side, Chu Hongcai’s face was completely depressed.
Zu An followed the maid a few steps. But soon afterwards, he ran back, asking quietly, “How much is it a night for a courtesan queen? I don’t have any experience, I really don’t know anything about this stuff.”
Everyone at the table immediately shot him a dumbfounded look. “???”
Zu An said with an embarrassed smile, “I know that Sister Hua said that all of my expenses in Immortal Abode are waved today, but does this include a courtesan queen? I forgot to bring money.”
“F*ck off!”
These people really couldn’t take it. This guy really had no sense of shame.
How can a price be placed on lady Qiu?
If they could get close with money, who knows how many Brightmoon City men would have lost their family fortunes.
“Am I going to have to give up on this opportunity?” Zu An curled his lips. However, borrowing money from people he knew really was quite embarrassing.
As such, when he walked halfway up the stairs with this maid, he suddenly turned around and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Do you all have any requests for me?”
Pei Mianman already sat back down in her private room, leisurely sipping on some tea. When she heard his voice, suspicion flickered between her brows. What was this fellow up to now?
Everyone else became even more dumbfounded. Someone said in resentment, “Why would we want anything from you?”
If there’s something we want, it’s you getting out of our sight as soon as possible. Just looking at you is irritating.
“There’s really nothing?” Zu An revealed a mischievous smile. “For example, asking me to be… a bit gentler to your goddess later?”