"Sleep my ass. All the blankets are in here, so get inside." Su Mei glared and dragged him into the room, forcing them to share one big bed without giving him any chance to refuse.
They were all children. What was there to be afraid of?
Ye Chang'an was in pain. Ye Chang'an was happy.
~
~
Europe, the Apocalypse Family.
The young Otto entered the family cathedral, choosing to challenge the family's sacred relic in order to revive the close relative of his childhood friend.
Relic of the Saint (Void Archives)
As long as I can break the seal, it will definitely have a way... to revive Kallen's father.
Otto thought resolutely as he raised his hand toward the sacred relic floating above the altar.
"Mm!!"
The instant his fingers touched it, golden light burst forth. Otto instinctively shut his eyes against the glare and arrived in a strange space.
Do you understand music?
A gentle voice whispered beside Otto's ear. He opened his eyes and saw a mild-looking woman with white hair and blue eyes smiling at him.
"So beautiful..."
Otto blurted out the praise before remembering why he had come. He quickly collected himself and pleaded.
"Kallen's father died. Can you revive him?"
"She's very sad. I don't want to see her looking so sad..."
Otto pleaded, but the woman gently shook her head.
I'm sorry, but I have no way to bring the dead back to life.
"This..."
Otto left in disappointment. The sacred relic could not grant his wish.
The golden light faded, and the Relic of the Saint resumed floating above the altar as it waited.
Waited for someone who understood music to awaken her.
PS:
In 1458, Chi Yuan founded her sect on Tai Xu Mountain. She accepted Su Mei as her second disciple and formally took Lin Zhaoyu, who had served by her side for years, as her eldest disciple.
In 1466, Francis Caslana died in battle, and Otto went to the cathedral to obtain Void Archives.
I don't want to spoil anything. I just want votes.
Tai Xu Chapter, Section One: Chang'an Melody Blossoms Beneath Tai Xu Mountain
The next day, the little ones in Fu Yun Temple woke up, got dressed, and prepared to head down the mountain.
Jiang Wanxi, Jiang Wanru, and Cheng Ling Shuang were all looking forward to this trip down the mountain, because they had not gone down Tai Xu Mountain since becoming disciples.
They were too young.
"Chang'an, is your body really all right now? Do you want me to carry you?" Jiang Wanxi, the third eldest, came over to ask Ye Chang'an with concern, only for Jiang Wanru to pull her away.
"Big Sis, stop worrying. Even if someone carries him, it won't be your turn. Second Senior Sister is here."
In terms of height, eleven-year-old Su Mei stood head and shoulders above the rest. Carrying an eight-year-old child down the mountain would not be a problem at all.
But Ye Chang'an did not need it. He had mostly recovered and could walk down the mountain himself.
Just as he was about to refuse, seven-year-old Cheng Ling Shuang curled her lips nearby.
"He was already fine last night. I saw it with my own eyes. He even squeezed Second Senior Sister's boobs."
Ye Chang'an: ???
He was stunned, confused, and furious.
"Don't slander me! I squeezed her face."
"You squeezed them before you squeezed her face." Cheng Ling Shuang emphasized with a pout, and Ye Chang'an froze.
Thinking carefully, when he had woken up yesterday, he really did seem to have touched something soft...
"(⊙o⊙)..." He was a little dumbfounded, and a little ashamed.
I really deserve to die, Eden.
"All right, hurry down the mountain. If we keep dawdling, don't even think about reaching the foot of the mountain today." Su Mei issued orders in her capacity as senior sister, and only then did the little ones cheer and run downhill.
It was their first time going down the mountain, and they were all excited. Even Cheng Ling Shuang was full of energy.
They had been cooped up on the mountain for five years since becoming disciples. Apart from practicing dance and refining their minds, they had long wanted to see the outside world.
Thus, the five children left the empty Fu Yun Temple behind and descended the mountain, heading toward the town under Su Mei's lead.
Thankfully, Su Mei knew the way down the mountain. Otherwise, they would have been completely lost.
The mountain path was not easy to travel, but the girls were light and nimble, walking without effort. Ye Chang'an, following behind them, wore a miserable expression.
"Chang'an, want me to carry you?" Su Mei came over to look after him.
"No need. I can do it." Ye Chang'an shook his head and refused, treating it as training for himself.
More exercise helped increase lung capacity.
Su Mei did not insist. She kept an eye on Ye Chang'an's stamina all the way to the village at the foot of the mountain.
There had originally been no village beneath Tai Xu Mountain. It had gradually formed after Chi Yuan settled deep in the mountains.
After all, many people wanted to climb the mountain in search of fate and immortals. The journey was long, so they needed a place to rest and recover. That was how the village came to look as it did now.
Su Mei usually came here to buy food, and there was quite a variety of goods.
But no instruments were sold here.
"We'll rest here for the night and head to the city over there tomorrow." Su Mei planned the route, and no one had any objections.
Then Su Mei took her three junior sisters out to play, leaving Ye Chang'an alone in the inn to collapse onto the bed and sleep.
His stamina was insufficient, and he was exhausted. He had no mood to play.
When he woke up, he felt stifled. Looking around, he found several little girls sleeping beside him in every crooked position imaginable.
"...Why are you all sleeping here?"
"Senior Sister said it saves money." Cheng Ling Shuang answered seriously, then rolled her eyes at Ye Chang'an.
"She also said this would make you happy."
Ye Chang'an was so happy he wanted to cry. His innocence was practically gone.
"Su Mei, please book more rooms next time."
"...Booking more rooms costs a lot of money. You don't want us to reach the city and not have enough money left to buy instruments, do you?"
Food, clothing, shelter, and travel all required money. Chi Yuan had no interest in making money, so the sect's funds were usually only enough for food and lodging.
Want to spend money on anything else? Then save it yourself.
"Sigh, money. I can't believe there would be a day when I worried about money." Life was hard, and Ye Chang'an sighed.
"You don't need to worry. You don't have a single coin anyway." Cheng Ling Shuang delivered a timely blow. This little girl's sharp tongue was inborn; Ye Chang'an could not corrupt her.
The painful yet happy trip down the mountain took a turn on the second day, when Ye Chang'an sensed the presence of Destruction energy.
They had left the range covered by Chi Yuan's formation.
"Mm~ There's way too little. It's nowhere near enough."
Even gathering all the scarce Destruction energy would not be enough to create an instrument, so he simply stored it in his body as nourishment to strengthen himself.
In this era's Shenzhou, Chi Yuan disguised Destruction energy as true qi. It really could strengthen the body, much like martial arts inner power.
His physical condition improved somewhat, and Ye Chang'an was delighted. Right there and then, he sang a song at the top of his lungs.
His lung capacity was sufficient now. He was thrilled, his smile brilliant.
"Wow, Chang'an, your singing is so good! Why have we never heard you sing before?" Jiang Wanru clapped until her palms turned red, while Jiang Wanxi looked equally astonished.
"Hehe, I was merely hiding my talents before." Ye Chang'an answered with a smile. The smile that came from his heart was exceptionally pure, making Su Mei's heart itch a little.
Cheng Ling Shuang's gaze flickered as well, though she also frowned slightly.
Did he just draw true qi into his body?
Cheng Ling Shuang, jokingly called the Little Immortal, possessed extraordinary talent and was born with a Stigmata. Her perception of Destruction energy was extremely sharp.
She had clearly sensed Ye Chang'an absorbing Destruction energy into his body.
But...
"It was probably an illusion. He doesn't even have a sword heart yet."
Cheng Ling Shuang muttered as she dismissed the thought. Ye Chang'an's impetuous personality truly did not suit a sword heart.
So she did not think further about it.
~
~
On the fifth day after descending the mountain, the little ones finally reached a prosperous city and bought the instrument Ye Chang'an needed.
"All right, we should head back now." Su Mei waved a hand, intending to bring the children back to the mountain.
Jiang Wanru's little face instantly fell.
"Senior Sister, let's play a little longer. There are so many fun things here."
"Senior Sister, just one more day, okay?"
Jiang Wanxi also chimed in to plead, wanting to play just like her younger sister.
Eight-year-old children naturally wanted to play.
Cheng Ling Shuang was the exception. She did not care whether they played or not.
"Sigh, Junior Sisters, it's not that I don't want to let you play. We just don't have enough money. If we keep playing, we'll have to sleep in the open on the way back."
Su Mei sighed and shook her head. Then the twin sisters turned to plead with Ye Chang'an instead.
Second Senior Sister was too decisive. Once she made up her mind, she would not change it.
But if they could pull Ye Chang'an into the camp that wanted to play, Su Mei would most likely change her mind.
When it came to doting on him, Su Mei was no less indulgent than Lin Zhaoyu.
After all, this boy had caused Su Mei the most trouble since childhood.
"Chang'an, let's stay and play for one more day."
"Chang'an, pleeease~"
The two sisters each grabbed one of his hands and shook them. Ye Chang'an felt utterly helpless.
He did not want to accompany children in their games, but if he could play music in this bustling city, then he was very interested.
"Su Mei, don't worry about money. I'll solve that problem."
Ye Chang'an confidently spoke while holding the Yaoqin Lyre he had just acquired. He found an open spot, sat cross-legged, and settled down.
He plucked the strings to test the sound, confirmed that the tuning was fine, and immediately opened his mouth.
"Okay, fellow townsfolk, everyone look over here. Look at me."
"Look at me, look at me. I have an announcement."
"I'm a wandering traveler passing through this fine place, but my travel funds are running low. I hope you good people can show me some kindness and give me a chance."
"Those with money, give what you can. Those without money, give me your presence."
Before you continue