Ghostly Legacy
A-Qiu carefully recalled the events surrounding the dramatic change in his master's flute playing, and suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.
The incident happened so suddenly that she and the others were frantically trying to find a way to salvage the situation, and had no time to think about whether their master did it intentionally or was acting out of demonic possession.
The deeper reason is that in the minds of these disciples, their master has always been an unshakeable, towering mountain. Their master has never suffered a defeat, nor has he ever shown any weakness. If he were to launch an attack, it would be done on a whim, and no one could predict or defend against it.
But in reality, the master was grieving at that time.
She was sent to the palace as her master's daughter, but she never understood her master's thoughts.
Sun's wife said calmly, "Therefore, no one in this world can be completely heartless. Neither Sun Ci nor Shi Changqing can be."
Before A-Qiu could answer, she turned to the statue and whispered:
"Today, Sun Ci, the 29th generation successor of Yuefu, is here to pass on the 'Ghost Step' to Shi Wanqiu. Shi Wanqiu kneels down and swears to accept this inheritance."
Ah Qiu, who was always carefree and mischievous, and was also the head of a local gang, was now filled with fear.
By this point, Lady Sun clearly knew that Shi Changqing was not only alive, but A Qiu was not Shi Changqing's daughter. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sounded so unfamiliar when discussing Shi Changqing's feelings.
In fact, it's not that A Qiu doesn't understand her master, but she doesn't know as much about a certain aspect of her master's youth as Sun Ci does.
As the master of Lanling Hall, who manipulates the winds of change and plans for the world, Master is no longer the carefree musician he once was. How could he easily show his vulnerable and affectionate side to his disciple?
Even so, Sun's wife still chose A-Qiu as her successor.
And this is a request that cannot be refused.
Because at this moment, there is no one else in the Music Bureau who can take on this task.
Without hesitation, A-Qiu lifted her skirt, knelt down heavily, kowtowed, and swore an oath before the gods.
By this time, she had already understood that the "ghostly performers" from various dynasties who haunted the Tangli Garden, as rumored in the palace for so many years, were actually senior members of the dance troupe in disguise.
In those dark and chaotic times, when people were constantly harming others, Sun Neiren and her ancestors would often walk at night with their hair disheveled and faces painted, deliberately using special steps passed down by dancers to create the eerie effect of ghostly dancers slowly drifting through the night.
This was intended to scare away those who harbored ill intentions towards the dance club.
A Qiu once had a face-to-face encounter with the "ghostly prostitute" in the corridor and waterside pavilion. In her panic, she bumped into Gu Yi's arms. Only after Gu Yi comforted her was she able to clearly recall the details of the incident.
Looking back now, the "ghostly courtesan" I encountered back then was none other than Sun's wife.
Therefore, her relationship with Gu Yi had actually been under Sun Neiren's watchful eye for a long time. Sun Neiren had also warned her about this, advising her not to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy.
In their long relationship, there were strict discipline and rigorous training, as well as unwavering dedication to passing on her skills and selfless protection. But how much did Sun's wife really know about her?
They knew she was no ordinary dancer and often frequented the Tangli Music House at night.
I know that she has connections with both the Junior Tutor Gu Yi and Gongye Fusu, the richest man in Dayan.
Would anyone else have treated her worse because of this, or even tried to take advantage of her?
Sun's wife, however, always treated her as an ordinary geisha, teaching her according to the rules of a geisha student. She never showed her any special favor because of who she was, nor did she ever develop any desire to use or depend on her because of who she was.
Regardless of whether it was a chaotic or prosperous era, Sun Neiren lived in her own way, struggling to survive and protecting the dance troupe with her own skills.
A Qiu remembers that she first learned about "Ghost Step" from Gu Yi.
At that time, she was terrified of the ghost performer and clung to Gu Yi tightly. To dispel her fear, Gu Yi explained the key to the "ghost step" to her: keep the upper body still and move the lower body in continuous, small steps, one after another, without leaving a trace.
At this moment, she finally saw her wife, Sun, personally demonstrate the "ghost step".
The dress, from the upper body to above the knees, appeared completely still, creating a stark contrast between the body's stillness and the feet's gentle horizontal movement, adding to the eerie and peculiar feeling.
After Ah Qiu's granddaughter demonstrated, he said, "Actually, this footwork is very similar to the flowing steps we use when we go on stage, but it brings out certain characteristics to a more extreme level."
She imitated Lady Sun's steps once, and after only two rounds, she had already captured about 70-80% of the essence.
Seeing that she understood immediately, Sun's wife nodded and said, "You are probably the smartest disciple in the dance troupe in the last hundred years."
He sighed again, "Actually, with your abilities, if you wanted to protect the dance troupe, you wouldn't need to use the Ghost Step. But it's a tradition passed down from our ancestors, and I can't let it be lost to me. Besides, if the dance troupe continues to be passed down, there might not be someone like you in every generation."
Sun's words were subtle, but A-Qiu understood what she meant.
Because of A Qiu's arrival, Gu Yi, the young master, devised a plan to bring the dance troupe back into the spotlight of the dynasty. The most important figures from the previous dynasty and the harem, such as Consort Chen, the first person in the inner palace, Zhao Lingying, the head of the Lantai, and Gongye Fusu, the richest man in Dayan, all contributed their efforts. A Qiu herself is now the first female official of the Music Bureau. In the future, she can use her power and connections to protect the dance troupe.
There is absolutely no need for such superstitious and unorthodox methods.
But no one can guarantee that the Yuefu tradition will continue to be passed down, with powerful and influential disciples like A Qiu in every generation.
Historically, for most of the time, dance troupes were composed of nameless, weak women who were powerless to even kill a chicken.
This is their last resort for self-preservation.
After burning incense and offering her final prayers, Sun Neiren looked deeply at A Qiu and said, "I entrust this important task of protecting the dance troupe to you." She sighed softly, "Even now, I still don't know who you are, but I still choose to believe in you because of what you have done for the dance troupe."
A Qiu went out twice at night, and the Emperor suddenly remembered the dance troupe; in the dance "White Silk," A Qiu was originally the only protagonist, but she managed to make Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi the final act; during the performance, she made a choice to suppress the demonic sound, so that the integrity of "White Silk" was not destroyed...
To truly know a person, one must observe their actions, which are far more reliable than their words. Having experienced the vicissitudes of life, how could Lady Sun not understand how to judge people?
A-Qiu was terrified and bowed again, saying, "My wife..." He didn't know where to begin.
Sun's wife glanced at her again and said, "Aren't you going to start calling me Master?"
In the arts of dance and music, there is also a master-disciple system, but this relationship is not just ordinary passing on of skills; it is a nurturing grace akin to that of parents. Disciples can inherit their master's stage name, network, and reputation, which serve as the foundation for their future survival in the arts of dance and music.
A-Qiu immediately said, "Master!"
My heart was filled with mixed feelings.
Before entering the palace, she had only one master in the world, the elegant and refined Master of Lanling Hall, Wan Qiqing. But now, she has a second master, Yiledao.
Gu Yi once said that Chu Yuanyi had also taught him "Wind and Thunder Slash", but A Qiu vaguely remembered that when she was young, she had called another person "Master".
I've just forgotten about it all.
Finally, a relieved smile appeared on Sun's face as she calmly said, "I, as your master, have nothing to give you. But I have finally passed on the legacy of the Music Bureau, and I have no regrets in this life."
Only now did A Qiu realize that something was wrong with Sun Neiren's expression, and she exclaimed in horror, "Master, what have you done?" With her sharp eyes, she immediately noticed that on the altar, besides the incense and candles, there was also a small green porcelain bottle lying on its side.
As the chief assassin on the "Immortal Ranking" of Lanling, A Qiu was also a master of poisons. Seeing that Sun's lips were gradually turning bluish-black, it was a clear sign of poisoning. A Qiu hadn't noticed before because Sun usually kept her back to him, preventing her from seeing her face.
A Qiu was shocked and rushed forward. He didn't care about revealing his identity. He quickly pressed several acupoints on her chest to protect her heart meridian. He then pressed his palm against Sun Neiren's back, trying to use his internal energy to expel the toxins.
Lady Sun calmly said, "Before the palace turmoil years ago, I asked a palace physician for poison, thinking that if anything happened, I could kill myself. I never expected that I would have to use it now, even though I didn't have to back then."
Ah Qiu focused his mind and said resolutely, "Master, you will not die. Your disciple will find a way to help you."
Sun's face turned pale, clearly from the pain, and she said, "Huang Chao'an only wants my life. All these years, I'm the only one who knows what he's done in the dance troupe, and now the dance troupe's influence is growing..."
She stroked A-Qiu's temples and said deeply, "With you, the music master who can speak for the emperor, he will not dare to easily lay a finger on me. As long as I am removed, no one will bring up his past mistakes, and the dance troupe will be safe from now on."
The purple robes swayed, and Zhongli Wuyan had already slipped inside.
Lady Sun had said that lighting incense and candles together was to summon Zhongli Wuyan, a senior member of the dance troupe. When she arrived, she only lit incense, but as soon as Aqiu arrived, she immediately sensed that Zhongli had something important to tell her and lit candles as well, precisely to invite Zhongli to be a witness. Little did she expect that what she would witness was a life-or-death entrustment.
Beneath Zhongli's heavy veil, her expression was unreadable, and she said in a calm voice, "You've shouldered everything all by yourself, leaving us, the old and the young, in the mortal world. Do you think we can live in peace?"
Sun's wife still tried to get up, saying, "Senior... this disciple is incompetent and can only do this much."
A Qiu was already sweating profusely with anxiety. No matter how hard she tried to search with her inner strength, she couldn't find where the poison that Sun Neiren had taken was lurking in her internal organs and meridians. Zhongli Wuyan, on the other hand, seemed to be indifferent to it all, simply watching coldly without uttering a word.
Seeing that Sun Neiren was on the verge of death, A Qiu was so anxious that she almost cried. She said to Zhongli Wuyan, "Senior Zhongli, do you know what kind of poison this is? No matter what I do, I can't figure it out."
Ah Qiu had used and refined at least a hundred kinds of poisons in his life, but he had no clue about this poison.
At this moment, Lady Sun coughed violently and spat a mouthful of black blood in front of the altar.
Zhongli Wuyan said coldly, "Little Aqiu, even if you can save her now, Huang Chaoan will bring her up again later and still want her to die. Since you're going to die anyway, you might as well die here; at least it'll be cleaner."
A Qiu, however, understood the hidden meaning in these words and immediately said, "If Master can survive this moment, I can deal with Huang Chao'an." At this moment, the words that Wan Qiqing had specially given her suddenly flashed through her mind.
"In an emergency, one must act expediently; execution is permissible."
A chilling glint flashed in her usually clear and beautiful eyes as she declared resolutely, "I can ensure that Huang Chao'an dies a horrible death. I guarantee that he will not only be unable to harm the Wu tribe again, but he will also be unable to harm anyone else!"
Having received this assurance, Zhongli Wuyan's expression softened slightly, and she said to Lady Sun, "Listen to what your new disciple is saying! If you had told her earlier, none of this would have happened!"
Then, still fuming, she said, "Now, are you still going to die or not?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
