Before entering the bamboo pavilion, He Qingqing first noticed the lantern lights among the trees and heard bursts of cheerful laughter and conversation.
Clearly, there were many female cultivators inside. Though it was called a music discussion, it resembled more of a private gathering.
They were chatting about something, their laughter echoing through the dense bamboo leaves like silver bells in the wind.
He Qingqing hesitated, instinctively clutching the edge of her sleeve.
The maid holding the green gauze lantern behind her urged, "Everyone is waiting for you."
Another persuaded, "Fellow disciples are like sisters. You must get used to these small gatherings. The path of immortality is long—will you remain alone and avoid interacting with others forever?"
"Alright," He Qingqing reluctantly nodded.
She had learned to resist overt "malice," but still hadn't mastered refusing arrangements disguised as "kindness."
As a newcomer, she felt ill at ease everywhere. She constantly worried her behavior might be improper, making her appear odd and bringing shame to her master.
He Qingqing ascended the stairs with light footsteps.
But the maid announced loudly, "Fairy He has arrived."
The air floated with mingled scents of flowers and incense.
Bamboo mats covered the floor where female cultivators sat, laughing heartily, their colorful skirts blooming like flowers.
Some held pipas, others bamboo flutes, while one was seeking finger technique advice from Miaoyan.
The moment He Qingqing appeared, all conversation and laughter ceased abruptly.
Everyone turned, their gazes fixed directly on her—some surprised, some doubtful, others slightly frowning.
A deathly silence fell. He Qingqing felt she shouldn't have come. She opened her mouth but didn't know how to greet them, wanting to immediately turn back downstairs yet fearing it would be impolite.
For a moment, she stood pale-faced by the staircase.
"Eldest Senior Sister," someone suddenly called softly.
The female cultivator at the center of the group rose gracefully, bowing slightly.
It was Fairy Miaoyan.
"Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister."
Seeing Miaoyan take the initiative to greet her, the other female cultivators hurriedly stood up to complete the formalities.
Among the young cultivators of the Celestial Sound Sect, Miaoyan's status was second only to their masters, yet she felt more approachable.
He Qingqing released her clenched sleeve and straightened her back: "Hello everyone, please sit."
Miaoyan took her hand and guided her to sit beside her.
This sudden intimacy left He Qingqing flustered.
The other female cultivators' eyes shifted between the two, their expressions somewhat peculiar.
Since the emergence of "Wind and Snow Array Entry Tune," the outside world had been busy analyzing the score. Amid the bustling excitement, the Celestial Sound Sect's usually most famous figure had been forgotten—Fairy Miaoyan.
During the Music Examination at the Grand Audience Assembly, Miaoyan hadn't made any formal appearance, let alone played the qin.
Logically, Miaoyan shouldn't like this "Eldest Senior Sister," just as Wangshu and Jiangyun disliked each other.
On the jade table stood a blooming silver lotus in a wide-mouthed basin with clear, shallow water.
Its layered petals appeared icy and exquisite under the moonlight.
When He Qingqing lowered her gaze, she saw scattered silver light reflected on the water's surface, along with Miaoyan's flawless profile.
Cloud-like hair and floral beauty, vermilion lips curved in a smile.
The two complemented each other, the person outshining the flower.
She suddenly felt ashamed and averted her eyes.
If someone had told her before that she would sit beside the number one beauty, she would never have believed it.
Miaoyan asked softly, "Eldest Senior Sister, have you brought your qin?"
He Qingqing nodded, retrieving the qin from her Storage Bag and placing it steadily on the jade table.
Green light shimmered, overshadowing the silver lotus' glow.
Miaoyan gently stroked the qin's body without presuming to pluck its strings:
"I've seen many 'Green Ripple Platforms,' but yours is exceptionally well-made."
The other Sound Cultivators chimed in: "Eldest Senior Sister's qin has exquisite craftsmanship, with a tone both gentle and profoundly far-reaching."
The atmosphere returned to ease.He Qingqing finally smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
Hearing others praise her qin brought her more joy than receiving compliments about herself.
Miaoyan added, "You played the Wind and Snow Array Entry Tune exceptionally well."
He Qingqing shook her head. "I didn't finish playing it, so it's not good enough."
Miaoyan gazed at her, her eyes gentle as water. Yet He Qingqing felt a stubborn intensity in that gaze, as if it could pierce through her veil.
Miaoyan said, "Could you teach me the final movement you didn't complete?"
"Teach you?" He Qingqing was taken aback.
Miaoyan suddenly stood up and bowed to her. "Please, Senior Sister, instruct your junior."
"Ah, I dare not accept such honor!" He Qingqing hurriedly helped her up.
Miaoyan smiled. "I've never loved a piece of music so much. Since hearing you play, I've been silently rehearsing it in my mind. Unfortunately, I don't know the final score."
Who could refuse Miaoyan?
Especially with everyone watching, their expectant eyes fixed on He Qingqing.
He Qingqing nodded. "The final movement isn't particularly difficult to play alone. It's just that my cultivation is insufficient and my realm inadequate, preventing me from performing the complete piece. You would certainly manage it."
Miaoyan's smile deepened. "Thank you, Senior Sister, for passing on the knowledge."
"I don't deserve such praise."
He Qingqing pressed the strings, and without using Spirit Qi, the qin's melody flowed out lightly.
The female cultivators sat upright with solemn expressions, concentrating on listening.
As the moon's shadow shifted westward, the qin's sound gradually softened, like heavy snow settling into complete silence.
Miaoyan was stunned.
Last night, she had sat quietly without lighting a lamp, facing her ancient qin without playing, having already composed an ending for "Wind and Snow Array Entry Tune" in her heart.
As He Qingqing played it now, the melody was surprisingly close to what she had imagined—about seventy percent similar.
"The original composition is more exquisite than what I wrote. I've merely added an inferior ending," Miaoyan murmured. "I wonder what kind of person could create such music. If fate allows us to meet in this lifetime..."
She became momentarily lost in thought, forgetting to smile.
"Fairy Miaoyan." For some reason, He Qingqing felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing this. "I cannot tell you that."
Miaoyan returned to herself. "It's alright, I wouldn't put you in a difficult position."
If even the Qin Xian couldn't get an answer from He Qingqing, who could make her speak? But Miaoyan thought, someday, I will meet the composer in person.
...
The treasure ship cut through the clouds and mist, the starry sky seeming almost within reach.
"When I first went to Huawel Sect, I also traveled by flying boat. Back then, I thought boarding the ship meant I would become an immortal of the heavens," Zhou Xiaoyun patted the railing and sighed. "Later, I thought I would remain an outer sect disciple for life."
"Me too. I had already resigned myself to it, comforting myself daily that working is still working—how many mortals wish they could work in an immortal sect but never get the chance?" someone chimed in.
"With us leaving, Huawel Sect can recruit another batch of outer sect disciples," another said.
At the beginning of their journey, the outer sect disciples were too excited to meditate, gathering on the deck to enjoy the breeze and gaze at the stars, sharing their past experiences and future dreams—no matter how far-fetched.
Some wanted to learn artifact refining, some aspired to become alchemists, others wished to study talisman painting.
Words they normally didn't dare speak, fearing ridicule, were voiced freely tonight because they were all on the same "pirate ship," the youths speaking their minds without restraint.
Suddenly, a fierce wind howled from the stern, and a massive golden shadow tore through the sea of clouds, chasing after them at full speed.
The distance between the two ships continuously shortened. Faintly, they could see a figure on the opposing ship's bow gesturing wildly, as if issuing a challenge.
Everyone was shocked.
"Trouble! We're being pursued! Quickly, fetch Senior Brother Song!""No, Senior Brother Song is eating noodles, look for Senior Brother Meng!"
Song Qianji was indeed being watched by Meng Heze as he ate noodles.
He had eaten more noodles in this lifetime than beatings he had endured in his last.
Meng Heze stood to the side brewing tea, smiling with relief.
He hadn't cooked noodles for his senior brother for a full day and night.
Upon hearing the announcement, Meng Heze's expression changed abruptly.
"Senior brother, eat slowly, I'll go!" He threw off his apron and charged out, suddenly drawing his sword and shouting loudly, "Everyone, follow me and form the battle formation!"
The outer sect disciples responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
"Wait!" Song Qianji followed closely behind, took a closer look, and hurriedly called for them to stop.
Have you ever seen such noisy and foolish pursuers?
Ji Chen was jumping on the bow of the boat, waving both hands vigorously and shouting loudly.
But his voice was scattered by the swift and fierce night wind at high altitude.
Only Song Qianji could understand his lip movements: "Brother Song—"
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