Chapter 38 038 Senior Brother, what are you doing visiting a brothel?! ...
Song Chi only felt that this person had a refined appearance and polite manners. At first glance, one might mistake him for a young nobleman from a prominent family.
He really has the air of a noble young master like Mo Shubai.
At that moment, Venerable Yunhuai probably sensed what she was thinking and cryptically said, "This shows how despicable human nature can be."
It's truly despicable. Normally, someone like Mo Shubai is unapproachable. So, coming to a place like this, spending money to be greeted with smiles by these refined, wealthy gentlemen, while trampling beautiful things underfoot—what a vile display of human depravity!
Young Master Qingluan welcomed the two into the elegant hall. After they were seated and served tea, he then inquired about Venerable Yunhuai.
"And who is this young friend?"
Venerable Yun Huai smiled faintly and said, "You've always said you lack a good musician. Now, I've found one for you. Listen to her playing, and you'll know I wasn't lying."
"Jiangxue, how about playing a tune on the zither for Young Master Qingluan?"
"yes."
Song Chi took a slight breath. Not because she was nervous, but because... she really couldn't stand this kind of servant's work.
But she endured it for the sake of the Wood Spirit Root Immortal Technique.
"Play well. Oh! I want new pieces. You mean all those new pieces you keep coming up with!"
Venerable Yun Huai whispered this in secret.
Song Chi: "..." How did he know?
The Venerable Yun Huai's laughter echoed in her mind, a laughter that implied he knew everything.
"The better your music, the more satisfied Young Master Qingluan will be, and the higher your status as a musician will be. At that time, the more famous the young ladies and gentlemen who follow you will be, and the deeper, stronger, and more unbearable the desires of the guests you see will become."
That's true.
After thinking for a moment, Song Chi played a sweet and beautiful zither tune, "Drunkenly Lying Among the Flowers," which was fitting for the beautiful scene of young men and women vying for attention in the garden.
After she finished playing the piece, the young master Qingluan smiled and asked her to play it again.
Immediately, he surprisingly and skillfully played a duet with her on the qin and xiao. The original piece was exactly like that, which only shows how exceptionally skilled he was in music. "Young Master Qingluan is indeed a master of music!" Venerable Yun Huai murmured to himself.
Young Master Qingluan put down his flute and praised with a smile, "The beauty of this piece is somewhat similar to the 'Hehuan' melody that has been passed down from the Qingjian Sect in the Southwest."
Song Chi: "..." That was indeed a piece composed by the same master of traditional Chinese music!
But she never expected that the melody of Hehuan had traveled thousands of miles and spread to Ziyan Central Continent.
How is that possible!
Venerable Yun Huai's laughter rang out. "Half a year ago, I had already heard this melody in the Northern Region."
What? The news has even reached the Northern Region! Song Chi was speechless.
"Such a beautiful piece! Brother Cijing, I have a favor to ask. Could you perhaps allow Dieyi to play it?"
Venerable Yun Huai naturally knew that Fairy Butterfly was the courtesan that Jade Dew Garden had recently promoted to compete with the other three major brothels. And this courtesan was not judged by her beauty, but by her talent.
He had heard Fairy Butterfly's zither playing; it was indeed quite accomplished, displaying the style of a master. However, the music itself wasn't particularly beautiful.
Even its dignified and elegant style cannot compare to Song Chibai's "Spring River Flower Moon Night" on the martial arts world. That was the truly famous song that shook the entire continent.
However, the Azure Sword Sect deliberately concealed this fact. Interestingly, several major families were helping to cover it up, and the Jade Void Immortal Sect also intervened forcefully. Therefore, Song Chi's reputation was only great within the vicinity of the Azure Sword Sect, but outside of the sect, her name was deliberately erased.
Otherwise, how could this little girl have such a peaceful life? She would have been disturbed and annoyed by all the people who came to admire her.
"How is it?" Venerable Yun Huai asked Song Chi in a cryptic tone. This was originally her song, used to enhance the reputation of others, so of course she had to ask her first.
Logically speaking, no one would want their masterpiece to be used by others. Venerable Yun Huai thought Song Chi would object, but to his surprise, she merely raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had an expression that said, "Take it if you want."
Venerable Yun Huai was speechless for a moment. He then readily agreed to Young Master Qingluan's request!
Then, this time he spoke cryptically to Young Master Qingluan, "What do you think of the musician I recommended?"
Young Master Qingluan was actually a Golden Core cultivator, and upon hearing this, he chuckled and sighed.
"Just tell me directly. Who is this person? If I'm not mistaken, is he the renowned performing artist from the Azure Sword Sect?"
Seeing that Venerable Yun Huai remained silent, Young Master Qing Luan smiled.
“You know my hearing; no one can fool my ears when it comes to music. Besides, I’ve heard that person’s music countless times, and it’s exactly the same as this young friend’s timbre—clear and bright, yet… um.”
Venerable Yun Huai answered for him at the end: "Completely devoid of emotion!"
Young Master Qingluan simply smiled and remained silent.
"This is a junior member of my sect who has come here to cultivate music. You can arrange for her to broaden her horizons!"
Prince Qingluan said, "Just like you, of course you would transform into a musician and come to my side to play the zither—that's all part of the worldly experience."
"She's just a young girl, I'm afraid she might not be able to handle all of this!"
Venerable Yun Huai smiled. "It's alright, Qingluan. You'll soon discover that this little fellow's ruthlessness is truly rare!"
"By the way, I see that you are almost at the minor completion stage of your sound cultivation, and will soon be on the path to the Nascent Soul stage. Do you really intend to stay in this filthy place?"
Young Master Qingluan smiled. "I owe my success to your guidance over the years. I will leave Jade Dew Garden once the time for righteousness has come."
Venerable Yun Huai: "Is that Fairy in Butterfly Robes the one who will inherit your mantle?"
“That’s right. But the higher-ups said that I can only leave when Dieyi can firmly take over the Jade Dew Garden.”
Venerable Yun Huai smiled coldly at this. Upon seeing this, Young Master Qing Luan shook his head with a smile in his eyes. "I am fine. With this child and this song, Dieyi should be able to gain a foothold. I will soon be able to break free from this shackle and fly far away."
"In that case, congratulations!"
After the two finished speaking, Young Master Qingluan decided to keep Song Chi there.
Then Venerable Yun Huai led the little girl to the inner courtyard to settle her in. After passing through the hibiscus bushes, the little girl stopped.
"I'm telling you, I'll absolutely only perform, not sell my body!"
Upon hearing this, not only Ci Jing, who was leaning against the artificial hill, laughed so hard he bent over, but even Qingluan Gongzi couldn't help but smile.
Just look at those arrogant eyes of that little girl; even performing feels like a humiliation. Selling herself… I can't even imagine if she'd tear the customers apart.
"Don't worry, you're just a musician. Besides, with your looks, no one would like you."
"Tch!" the girl scoffed dismissively. It was clear she was very pleased with her appearance!
In truth, her graceful and beautiful appearance is like a small jasmine flower, pure and exquisitely lovely. Many men are attracted to women like her.
"Junior Uncle, you can't really leave me here alone. I need to know that you're also nearby, otherwise, I might as well not learn this music."
Then the little girl lowered her voice and said this.
Junior Uncle? Young Master Qingluan knew Ci Jing's true identity: the youngest son of the former sect leader of the Qingjian Sect, now the Venerable Yun Huai of the Qingjian Sect. Since he was Junior Uncle, the young girl's identity was obvious.
It turns out that the beauty of that melody was renowned throughout the world, yet the name of that Song Chi could not be mentioned.
I wonder how such a pure and proud young girl could cultivate music in this filthy place. It must be music with a wood spirit root, because only a wood spirit root needs to deeply understand the rotten and disgusting desires of human nature.
Young Master Qingluan was quite worried, fearing that he might not be able to cultivate successfully and instead destroy his Dao heart.
"Alright, I understand. Take this jade pendant. With just a touch of spiritual energy, I will come to your side immediately. I will never let you be bullied!"
Ci Jing spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone unusually gentle.
In reality, when this person first came to his side, his eyes were wicked and cold, like a fierce lone wolf. Any customers who tried to take advantage of him invariably ended up being secretly and severely punished. He was no saint, but he was very protective of those around him.
For example, he has received Ci Jing's protection for many years. This young girl seems to be quite popular with him as well.
"Then it's settled, Junior Uncle."
After saying this, the little girl followed the flower maid a few steps into the inner courtyard, and then looked back.
"Why can't I trust you, Junior Uncle!"
Ci Jing laughed so hard his chest vibrated, and waved his hand. "Go ahead, I guarantee I'll bring you back safe and sound in three months."
Song Chi followed Hua Niang to the backyard and was settled in the small courtyard where the musician lived. It was just a single room for sleeping; bathing and other necessities were shared. All food had to be obtained from the small canteen.
In short, the environment wasn't great. But since it was only for three months of learning, it was fine to treat it like living in a dormitory at school.
That very evening, Song Chi was assigned to play music for a girl named Linglong Fairy.
The fairy Linglong was serving a stout deacon from the Immortal Alliance. He looked very solemn, and when Linglong first began dancing to the music, he even clapped along, appearing quite serious. It was as if he had genuinely come to watch the performance.
However, when they started serving drinks, the groping hands became unbearable to look at.
Just as Song Chi was feeling nauseous, he heard Venerable Yun Huai's mocking voice.
"You can't even handle this?"
How could that be? Such things happen frequently in later generations; the human world is pretty much the same everywhere.
"What kind of music do you think should be used to move this person's heart?" Venerable Yunhuai then asked.
Song Chi remained hidden behind a curtain. After one piece of music ended, he suddenly changed the tone of his zither, unleashing a magnificent and majestic melody.
The steward stirred slightly, then smiled. "This musician is quite good; he's fitting for the occasion."
That melody was almost identical to the zither music played when the Immortal Alliance conferred titles upon its elders at the Heavenly Temple. Of course, the Immortal Alliance naturally played dozens of zithers together, combined with horn and drum sounds, making it much more grand and majestic.
Even so, the steward's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing only a similar melody. Perhaps because it was a brothel, he didn't hide his true feelings, revealing his deep-seated ambition and desire.
At this moment, the sound of the zither stirred the power of the wood element.
The scene inside the warm pavilion quickly became unbearable to look at.
The flower maid then knocked on the door as appropriate, and tossed out the steward's jade token. "Stay overnight tonight."
"Alright, Miss Linglong, please serve our Elder Steward well." Although the flower maid's words were incoherent, the steward clearly had a hint of joy and ecstasy in his voice.
Song Chi felt that in that brief moment, the mysterious force representing desire surging around this person was so intense that it was almost within reach.
At this point, she, the musician, could finally leave and cleanse her eyes.
Couldn't you find someone better-looking next time?! Ugh.
The next day, they actually found a very handsome young male guest. This man, Venerable Yun Huai, did not reveal his identity or background, leaving Song Chi to decide for himself how to use music to win his heart.
The young lady serving this guest, Shitang, had fair and delicate skin, a pair of very beautiful slender eyes, and pink lips, making her look like a gentle and dignified older sister.
The young man, even after arriving at the brothel, remained very reserved. He sat upright while watching the singing and dancing.
After singing a song, Miss Shitang went to serve the young man. He also put down his wine cup and drank only tea.
It's clear they have a very strong will. And they're quite hypocritical, coming all this way to a place like this, why bother drinking tea?
"What kind of music do you think this person should use?" Venerable Yunhuai asked.
Song Chi slightly changed the tune and began playing the "Hehuan" piece. Sure enough, the young man's eyes flickered slightly.
"Oh? It's this song!"
"Young master, have you heard of it?"
"The name of the master of music in the Azure Sword Sect is known to all!"
Song Chi: "..." So what exactly are they spreading rumors about?
"Your zither playing is quite good. The original melody in my Jade Mirror is exactly the same."
Because it was played by just one person...
Miss Shitang smiled and said, "The new batch of musicians are all extremely skilled."
"It's quite good." The man still maintained a very arrogant demeanor.
But he was noticeably more talkative. After Song Chi finished that piece, he immediately switched to a sweet yet slightly melancholic melody. This piece evoked memories of bygone days, the beautiful imagery of childhood sweethearts.
Sure enough, as the man listened, a slight pang of sadness appeared on his face. Perhaps it was precisely because of this place where he could be so unrestrained that his mind became slightly distracted. Soon, he channeled his wood elemental energy into the music.
Finally, the man slammed the tea table over and grabbed Shi Tang's jade-like wrist tightly.
"Come here!" he commanded in a low voice.
Then, with a flick of his finger, he sealed her with spiritual power, pushing the musician out the door.
But in that brief moment, the deep regret and hatred in his eyes were completely undisguised.
Just as she had guessed. This kind of person probably came from an ordinary background and had discarded many things he shouldn't have. For example, his childhood sweetheart, or his senior and junior sisters whom he knew and loved in his youth. Later, he obtained the power he wanted, but deep down he felt deep regret and remorse.
"This person did indeed betray the feelings of his junior sister who saved his life. How did you guess that?"
On the way back to Songchi, Venerable Yunhuai appeared and asked this question.
Song Chi smiled knowingly. If she were to say she'd seen a similar senior in her later life, what would she say? That senior, in order to climb the ranks, broke up with his childhood sweetheart of nine years and then married his mentor's daughter. That was just his style—he put on an act more enthusiastically than anyone else. But whenever he heard news of his ex-girlfriend, he'd hide in the shadows with an expression of unbearable rage, veins throbbing on his forehead.
“Intuition!” Her words earned her a disdainful sidelong glance from Venerable Yun Huai.
The following month was the same, with wave after wave of guests coming and going. Venerable Yun Huai would offer some pointers for the first half of the month, but then he fell completely silent.
Song Chi occasionally harbored a petty whim, using his spiritual power to touch the jade pendant. He would then appear beside her, staring at her with a mocking gaze.
Song Chi was relieved. This person, who seemed unreliable, turned out to be more responsible than she had expected.
As a month passed, Young Master Qingluan was quite surprised that Song Chi had not escaped as he had expected.
He could see the disgust in Song Chi's eyes, as well as her sympathy for those young men and women. But beyond that, there seemed to be no other unbearable feelings.
Her eyes remained as serene and composed as ever. She was unfazed by any change!
Like an outsider, watching the world come and go in a turbulent change, without a ripple in his heart.
Therefore, he had a profound understanding of the little girl's ruthlessness, as expressed in his words to Ci Jing.
However, the truth is... Song Chi was almost disgusted. Every night he had to wash his eyes and clear his mind, reciting the mantra a hundred times, all for the Wood Spirit Root Immortal Technique and for the Spirit Fruit!
Then I swear. If I could, one day I'll raze this red-light district to the ground.
Then I thought about how insignificant she was; what could she possibly accomplish? Instantly, only helplessness and self-awareness remained. This kind of work should be left to those with greater ability. However, given the cultivation world's indifference towards brothels, it's highly unlikely that someone with such awareness would appear.
But there are certainly benefits. The advancement of that Wood Spirit Power Immortal Technique can be described as rapid and leapfrog.
Song Chi believed that the main reason was that all of this greatly stimulated her nerves and aroused her emotions. Of course, it was also because those people, having come to such a place, indulged their evil and desires.
In conclusion, everything is progressing steadily.
A few days later, the Lantern Festival was approaching.
In a brothel like Yuluyuan, the Lantern Festival was an event that needed to be celebrated with great fanfare.
Song Chi is an excellent zither player. Recently, because she always manages to attract customers for young ladies and gentlemen, she has begun playing the zither for some well-known young men and women below the courtesan.
On the Lantern Festival, she was accompanied by the Ice Blue Fairy, a woman who looked pure and elegant like a blue lotus.
This woman sells her art but not her body, so most of her clients are young masters from noble families, elders of immortal alliances, or geniuses from sects.
What a coincidence...
When the guests arrived, Song Chi was stunned.
Mo Shubai—Senior Brother! What brings you to a brothel?
And to make matters worse, it happened to be the Ice Blue Fairy's territory. This won't do; if she gets recognized, her wonderful cultivation life will come to an end.
This senior disciple, like our master, is a righteous person. He would never allow her to practice such a 'heretical' path as the Wood Spirit Root Sound Cultivation!
At that time, Song Chi used his spiritual power to frantically press the jade pendant given to him by Venerable Yun Huai.
I've tried it before, and it always worked. But tonight... there was absolutely no response.
Go to hell!
Song Chi was about to feign illness when Ice Blue Fairy noticed and asked him a question.
"What happened, Jiangxue?"
Song Chi noticed that Mo Shubai and another handsome man in purple robes were both looking over at her. Even though there was a curtain between them, she couldn't help but feel her back soaked with sweat.
The Ice Blue Fairy came over and glanced at him, but Song Chi quickly shook his head to indicate that he was alright. He dared not utter a sound.
"Let's play the 'Melody of Love' then. Both gentlemen love this tune!"
Song Chi: "..." She didn't think Mo Shubai loved this; that person's zither, like her, had no emotion.
Moreover, she wanted to quickly get a new instrument. She was worried that Mo Shubai would recognize the pipa Elder Pan had given her. But then she thought about how her own pipa had been seen by Mo Shubai for three years under his instruction.
That one is more likely to give itself away.
Absolutely amazing!
Fortunately, there was another musician present. Song Chi had no choice but to hide in an even darker spot, where the musician's hands and half of the zither could still be seen through the curtain.
But she turned her face away and hid in the shadows, completely concealed by the curtain. The other musician, being a devoted fan of the two handsome men, was more than willing to reveal herself completely.
Through the conversation with Fairy Binglan, Song Chi learned that the other person was one of the four most handsome men, Mo Shubai's best friend, the eldest disciple of Venerable Xuanji of the Ziyan Divine Palace, and also the young palace master of the previous generation. In short, this person had many titles.
This man had a handsome face, especially his eyes, which were as deep as the night sky and as bright as falling stars when he smiled, exuding a mysterious languor.
His posture was casual and relaxed, but no one would find him rude. If he smiled slightly, everyone would be unable to resist smiling softly along with him.
It seemed to have become an emotion that one had to act upon.
In short, after just one glance, Song Chi felt that this person was probably not a good person.
Compared to him, the senior brother, who also lacks a heart, is truly immeasurably better.
But it wasn't all that good. Although Song Chi couldn't see what was happening inside, he felt that Mo Shubai's cold eyes seemed to be staring at him through the curtain several times.
She felt a chill on one side of her shoulder.
In all honesty, she deliberately altered the tone of her zither to avoid being discovered. With her skill, she was unlikely to be detected. However, Mo Shubai, who was adept at music, might not be so sure.
This is going to kill me!
After the piece ended, Song Chi winked at the other musician, indicating that he wanted to leave.
But this man insisted on dragging her away. It was because the two young masters wanted to hear a pipa piece by the recently famous Fairy Butterfly Dress.
It was the very same "Drunken Flower Shade" that Young Master Qingluan had played that day.
The musician felt that his skill level might not be up to the liking of the two young masters, so he desperately clung to her for help.
Song Chi was speechless. She couldn't make a big fuss, so she had no choice but to stay and play the piece.
Then, an elegant voice came from within. "Who is the other musician? Her voice is quite beautiful. Let her come and play 'Drunken Flower Shade' for us again."
It's that young master Rong Zhan!
This person truly lived up to her initial assessment of being a bad guy. Look, he's already causing her trouble.
As for Junior Uncle, who was unreliable at crucial moments, his jade pendant was as dead as ever, and he couldn't be contacted.
"Alright, Rong Zhan, Fairy Dieyi has invited us, let's go there first."
Mo Shubai said this.
Song Chi: "!!" Immortal Master, Senior Brother, Justice and Justice, you are truly a good person!
Sure enough, the two left immediately.
Song Chi was about to slip away after everyone left when Hua Niang rushed over and grabbed her, pulling her away with her.
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Author's Note: [Cat Head][Cat Head] First Update
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