Chapter 41 Like a Satisfied Beast
Initially, the inner sect selection competition was conducted by the contestants themselves.
In each battle, the winner receives 2 points, the loser receives 0 points, and in a draw, both players receive 1 point.
To advance, you need to fight more battles and earn more points.
In a lottery-based competition, either extremely good or extremely bad luck can lead to a player advancing by chance or losing.
Comparing the two methods, the self-challenge seems relatively fairer.
But for Sheng Zhiyi, it was a different story.
Her status as a handyman already attracted a lot of attention. Some people thought she was just trying to get attention, while others thought they could find a breakthrough by dealing with her. Without a doubt, everyone would choose to fight her and test her strength.
This would turn into a war of attrition for Sheng Zhiyi.
Others, more or less, share some camaraderie and won't challenge each other too frequently, while she can only refuse a limited number of times, and can only keep up with the battles.
Unfortunately, her weakness is that she doesn't accumulate enough spiritual energy. When she fights a lot, her spiritual energy is hard to recover, and she is prone to losing.
After one failure, others continue to take over; this kind of competition format can wear her down.
However, the competition format was changed to a draw system, so Sheng Zhiyi only needed to face one opponent per round, which greatly reduced the number of battles. Her advantage is her flexible swordsmanship, and this format can bring out her strengths.
Considering the conversation between Ji Fuguang and Shen Cang today, all the other elders wanted to restore the self-challenge system, but Ji Fuguang insisted on continuing the lottery system.
So... is it because of her?
But how could that be!
Ji Fuguang isn't the kind of person who would do something like this!
He was clearly a virtuous and upright man who put the sect first in everything, a man of integrity and purity, a man of noble character and lofty ideals...
Will he... really...?
Sheng Zhiyi looked at Ji Fuguang, her almond-shaped eyes shining like stars. She herself did not realize that while waiting for this answer, she instinctively held her breath.
Ji Fuguang nodded slightly, his phoenix eyes reflected in Sheng Zhiyi's eyes.
The mountain stream was windy at night, and a gentle breeze blew a strand of Sheng Zhiyi's long hair onto Ji Fuguang's clothes.
Approaching in an instant, then separating again, drifting aimlessly, like a restless heart.
The clouds in the sky obscured the cold moon, and Ji Fuguang's narrow eyes were shrouded in shadow as he stared at Sheng Zhiyi, his gaze indistinct in the darkness.
An extremely subtle pause appeared between the two, as if time had stood still for a few seconds.
Suddenly, Ji Fuguang reached out his fingers and gently brushed the stray strand of hair that was fluttering by Sheng Zhiyi's ear back onto her shoulder, slowly separating it from his clothes. The movement was gentle yet carried an undeniable sense of distance.
Amidst countless pear blossoms, the night was as cool and still as water. Ji Fuguang leaned slightly closer to Sheng Zhiyi's ear, his voice as soft and gentle as the night breeze:
"The rules are there, and the choice is up to those in power. I simply... chose the one that best suits the current situation. Junior sister, you're overthinking it."
He lifted his eyelids, glanced at the sky, and spoke in a clear and gentle voice:
"Junior Sister, it's past 9 PM. You have another competition tomorrow. The night is still and deep, so start playing the zither early."
A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across Sheng Zhiyi's face.
Yes, what is she thinking! How could someone like Ji Fuguang possibly have feelings for her...?
It must be the allure of the moonlight that made her think so much!
Yes, it's a mission, complete it quickly!
She suddenly remembered the countdown flashing in her mind: 01:13:49.
Hurry, hurry, we can't delay any longer.
There was a pavilion in the pear blossom grove. Knowing Ji Fuguang's obsession with cleanliness, Sheng Zhiyi made a hand gesture and swept the pavilion again. Then, she hurriedly took out a table from her storage bag and set out some side dishes and the sake that Chen Huaiyu had just brought.
Everything was ready, but suddenly, she paused for a moment.
Playing the zither under the moon—the scene is simply breathtaking.
The crucial point is, she doesn't have a piano!
How could such a thing be in her storage bag?!
She originally planned to scout out the location before borrowing a weapon from the main hall of the sect, but Ji Fuguang's sudden appearance disrupted her plans.
"Senior brother," Sheng Zhiyi said nervously, "wait a moment, I'll go borrow a zither..."
"Oh, didn't Junior Sister have a love for music since childhood?" Ji Fuguang asked, feigning confusion.
...Is it really necessary to hold a grudge like this?
This man is petty and narrow-minded.
Sheng Zhiyi pretended not to understand, "That's right, Senior Brother remembers it very well. Senior Brother, please sit down first, I'll go get the zither now, I'll be right back."
Ji Fuguang walked up to her, and Sheng Zhiyi looked at him with some confusion.
What, you want to come along too?
But then he took out a zither from his storage bag, placed it in front of Sheng Zhiyi, and looked down at her.
"Play it."
The zither is exquisitely crafted, its ebony wood emitting a soft, luminous glow, the grain revealing wisps of pale gold. Each string is finely crafted, its strings supple yet crisp to the touch when plucked, their music cleansing the soul.
Even to a layman like Sheng Zhiyi, it is a rare gem.
Sheng Zhiyi felt as if she had been gently punched in the heart. She glanced at Ji Fuguang in surprise, her emotions a jumbled mess.
She couldn't explain what was going on, but somehow, she felt happier.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Seeing the sparkle return to her eyes, Ji Fuguang said nothing, picked up his wine glass, and took a small sip.
Chen Huaiyu wasn't exaggerating this time; the wine was indeed pure, mellow, and refreshing, with a lingering fragrance.
Sheng Zhiyi sat down cross-legged, placed the zither on her lap, and glanced at Ji Fuguang.
Hmm... I'm drinking...
The corners of her lips were slightly higher than usual, which made her seem to be in a good mood.
It's alright, he's in a pretty good mood right now. After listening to her play the piano, he shouldn't be too angry... right?
Sheng Zhiyi felt a little uncertain, but quickly reassured herself.
It's just playing a tune, nothing serious. Even if it sounds awful, it can't be that bad.
Sheng Zhiyi focused her attention on her mind, watching the countdown while placing her fingers on the strings.
Five strings, representing the five notes of the zither: Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu.
She swept the instrument from top to bottom, and a series of musical notes floated in the air.
Well... thankfully, this violin is of good quality. Although it doesn't sound great, it's not bad either.
But why is the countdown still going on?!
Ji Fuguang silently put down his wine glass.
Sheng Zhiyi noticed his movements, but she couldn't stop. She forced a smile and continued to flick her fingers.
Suddenly, the elegant and tranquil pear blossom grove was filled with the chaotic sounds of a zither, like a riot of demons dancing wildly.
The petals no longer fluttered, and even the moon was obscured by clouds.
Ji Fuguang gripped the wine glass tightly with his fingers, his lips pressed together more and more firmly.
Sheng Zhiyi felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She knew nothing about music and had originally thought that she would complete the task by playing a few notes and making a sound.
But this damn task is just that demanding!
Sheng Zhiyi simply lowered her head and focused all her attention on the countdown in her sea of consciousness, no longer looking at Ji Fuguang's reaction.
After playing for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the countdown in my mind suddenly stopped, and the task was finally completed.
Sheng Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief and stopped what she was doing.
Suddenly, the world fell silent.
However, the hum of the piano music still echoed in Sheng Zhiyi's ears.
The quality of the piano is too good, which is not necessarily a good thing in some ways. The sound is too loud, making it impossible to avoid.
After not hearing Ji Fuguang's response for a while, Sheng Zhiyi became somewhat uneasy.
Her eyelids trembled slightly, and she quietly raised her gaze from bottom to top, giving Ji Fuguang a fleeting glance.
Ji Fuguang sat upright in the mountain pavilion, his long eyelashes drooping, his fingers holding a wine cup, slowly sipping the wine.
He remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged.
Hmm? This isn't quite what she expected.
Sheng Zhiyi asked in confusion, "Senior brother?"
Ji Fuguang put down his wine cup, lifted his eyelashes slightly, looked at Sheng Zhiyi, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"As expected of Junior Sister, your zither playing is truly earth-shattering. Senior Brother misjudged you before. With Junior Sister's skill, it's a real waste that you haven't delved into the path of music cultivation."
"Really?" Sheng Zhiyi couldn't believe it. What nonsense was this guy talking about?
"At first it was like a dull knife sawing rotten wood, then like a sick crane strangling its withered neck. Outside the window, crows fell silent and shivered in the cold, while koi in the pond turned their white scales. The sound of collapsing mountains and shattering jade, the cries of lotus flowers, and the chaotic sounds of string and wind instruments made the jade mountain collapse."
Ji Fuguang's clear voice was like the gentle murmur of spring water, sending a chill down one's spine.
"Junior Sister, if you focus on this path, I'm afraid no one will dare to be your match in the inner sect selection. They'll be afraid that your demonic voice will pierce their ears and keep them awake at night."
He stretched out his arm and flicked his sleeve.
A spiritual rune flickered between the two, then vanished into thin air.
When Sheng Zhiyi first heard Ji Fuguang's slightly sarcastic sarcasm, and even the few lines of "poetry" that followed, she felt a little guilty, but also a little amused.
When she saw that Ji Fuguang had set up a barrier in front of her to block out the sound of her playing the zither, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest, as if an invisible hand had gripped her. She felt a dull ache and a strange, indescribable bitterness.
She knew she played terribly; the out-of-tune notes made even herself want to cover her ears.
But at this moment, this silent barrier declared a fact more directly than those words: her music was truly unbearable for Ji Fuguang.
But she didn't mean to make noise...
If the system task is not completed, her existence will be erased, so she can only muster up the courage to play.
She also wanted to be a junior sister who could do everything, was good at everything, and was perfect in everything in front of Ji Fuguang. She didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of Ji Fuguang.
But she always seemed to be like this... clumsy and comical, never succeeding at anything...
Actually, she didn't know why she was suddenly so sad; Ji Fuguang hadn't done anything wrong.
Although he didn't intend to help her, the rules he set were indeed in her favor, and he listened to her playing, allowing her to complete the task. Compared to those harsh taunts, this barrier could even be considered a form of consideration.
But this kind of gentle and considerate care only made her feel worse, like being pricked by a small thorn, not sharp, but with a lingering, subtle discomfort.
Is he... a little disgusted with her...?
The night breeze carries the aroma of wine, refreshing and lingering.
"It must be Elder Chen's wine that's too strong; just smelling it can make you drunk..." Sheng Zhiyi muttered to herself, trying to find a reason for her inexplicably low mood.
"Senior brother, I'm so sorry to have troubled you today. It's late, I should head back now."
Sheng Zhiyi lowered her eyes and placed the zither on the table.
In the moonlight, the girl lowered her head, and the bamboo hairpin in her hair shimmered with a warm glow.
She shrank back, like a little sparrow wilted by the rain. Her almond-shaped eyes, which had been as bright as stars just moments before, now had long eyelashes drooping, obscuring all their brilliance.
Sheng Zhiyi pushed the zither towards Ji Fuguang.
This instrument looks very valuable; it would be better to return it to him as soon as possible.
However, her hand was suddenly pressed down by another hand.
Sheng Zhiyi looked up in surprise.
Ji Fuguang had stood up at some point, leaning slightly forward, his snow-white sleeves hanging down. He placed one hand on the zither and held a wine glass in the other, looking inexplicably... unrestrained.
Sheng Zhiyi shuddered and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but was held down by an irresistible force.
What exactly does he want to do?
Just moments ago they were criticizing her piano playing, but now they're stopping her from leaving...
The frustration and grievances from before had completely dissipated, and a new panic welled up in Sheng Zhiyi's heart.
Did he want to... tease her in some way?
Ji Fuguang's eyes slanted slightly upwards, tinged with a nonchalant languor, while the corners of his lips curled up unrestrainedly, creating a more flamboyant line than usual. He leaned close to Sheng Zhiyi's ear and chuckled softly.
Like a satiated wild beast, it subtly exudes the pleasure of being in control.
"Junior Sister, why are you in such a hurry to leave? How about I teach you to play the zither?"
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