Ensemble

Following his memory, he found the Siguo Cliff of later generations and rested in the mountain cave. The Mount Hua Sword Debate was tomorrow.

Hong Qigong and Guo Jing and Huang Rong were also brought here by him.

On the way, they also encountered Li Mochou, who had just arrived.

After Li Mochou completed her mission and returned to Jueqing Valley, she saw the letter left by Wang Ming, asking her to come to Mount Hua to find him.

In the mountain cave, the men sat around, chatting with each other, talking about interesting martial arts world events and the scenery along the way.

Mochou and Huang Rong were cooking.

Well! To be precise, Huang Rong was cooking, and Li Mochou was doing the chores.

Guo Jing originally wanted to help his Rong'er cook, but Huang Rong pushed him away and told him to come over here.

Wang Ming understood immediately. Huang Rong wanted her Jing Gege to learn more.

Looking at the people present, this Mount Hua Sword Debate would likely be anticlimactic.

Qiu Qianren had the strongest fighting spirit, was surrounded and attacked by everyone, and eventually became a monk.

Southern Emperor Duan Zhixing became a monk and had no great desire to win.

Zhou Botong was so entangled by Ying Gu that his mind was full of troubles, and he had no time to care about being The First Under Heaven.

This time, the only ones who could really fight were the Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, and Northern Beggar. Wang Ming found the outcome uninteresting.

However, upon further thought, it wasn't strange. The first Mount Hua Sword Debate had the Nine Yin Manual as a reward, so everyone went all out.

This time, and the one twenty years later, were basically just formalities, with the top experts barely making a move.

After everyone finished eating, they rested in the cave.

Around dusk, Huang Yaoshi arrived late, following the markers left by Huang Rong, and found the cave on Siguo Cliff.

This also livened up the cave.

Mainly, Guo Jing and Huang Rong officially confirmed their relationship and reported the news to Huang Yaoshi.

Upon hearing the news, Huang Yaoshi's expression changed several times before he finally agreed.

What else could he do if he didn't agree? Parents could never truly go against their children.

"Brother Wang, thank you for sending people to inform me last time, which avoided the risk of my late wife being disturbed. I, Huang, thank you here," Huang Yaoshi said as he walked over to thank Wang Ming.

"Island Master Huang is too polite. It was just a coincidence. Please don't mind," Wang Ming replied.

"The martial arts we exchanged last time inspired me greatly after I returned. Today, I'd like to ask Brother Wang to appreciate it," Huang Yaoshi said.

"Father, tomorrow is the Mount Hua Sword Debate. Let's not fight today," Huang Rong ran over and stopped the two of them.

Huang Rong had secretly asked Hong Qigong, and somehow, this Mr. Wang's martial arts had already reached the level of the Five Greats.

If they fought now, after traveling such a long distance, it would be disadvantageous for Huang Yaoshi. She wanted her father to adjust his condition before sparring with Wang Ming.

Wang Ming didn't mind and readily agreed. But seeing that Huang Yaoshi had already taken out his jade flute, he felt bored if nothing happened.

"Mochou! Bring me my zither," Wang Ming called out to Li Mochou, asking her to hand him the seven-stringed zither she had brought.

"Yes, Master!" Li Mochou turned and went to get the zither.

Wang Ming then went to a smooth section of the cave wall and used his sword, channeling internal energy, to write on the stone wall.

Everyone was attracted by the commotion, but soon Guo Jing and Hong Qigong lost interest, as they couldn't understand it.

After half an incense stick's time, Wang Ming finally finished writing.

He went to where Li Mochou had set up the seven-stringed zither and sat down.

"Island Master Huang, in my early years, I accidentally obtained this musical score and have always wanted to perform it. Unfortunately, I have never met anyone who could play it with me. I wonder if Island Master Huang can fulfill this wish of Wang Ming today."

The musical score written was naturally that of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. With Wang Ming's personality of "plucking the feathers of a passing goose," how could he not ask Linghu Chong for a look?

As for when Wang Ming learned to play the zither?

He was almost 60 years old; didn't he have any time to learn something to cultivate his temperament?

Wang Ming wasn't lying. Since obtaining the musical score, Wang Ming had indeed wanted to find someone to perform it with.

Huang Yaoshi silently watched the musical score on the stone wall. He was a versatile person, and after a few glances, he had already memorized the score.

After trying to play it a few times tentatively, he could play the entire piece perfectly.

Everyone listened to the resonant sounds of the zither and realized that Wang Ming had already started playing.

Huang Rong and Guo Jing exchanged glances, both thinking, "I didn't expect there to be such beautiful music."

The sound of the zither continued, very elegant. After a while, a few soft notes of the flute joined the zither's melody.

The seven-stringed zither's notes were harmonious and peaceful, and with the clear and secluded cave flute, it was even more moving. The zither and flute seemed to be asking and answering each other, gradually moving closer.

Hong Qigong listened to the sudden duet of the zither and flute. Although he didn't understand music, he understood what sounded good. He immediately found a stone stool, sat down, pulled out the stopper of his gourd, and enjoyed the music while drinking, feeling exceptionally at ease.

The zither music gradually became more passionate, while the flute music slowly became lower, but the flute's sound was low yet continuous, like a faint thread drifting in the wind, yet unbroken, adding to the poignant and stirring feeling.

On a distant cliff of Siguo Cliff, a man was pondering a difficult problem, his hair disheveled from frustration.

This person was Western Venom Ouyang Feng. He was here contemplating the intricate parts of the Nine Yin Manual. He felt that the Nine Yin Manual was truly profound and significantly improved his strength, but he felt very uncomfortable using this martial art.

He didn't actually know that what he was practicing was the Fake Nine Yin Manual.

If it weren't for his exceptional talent and profound martial arts understanding, which allowed him to forcefully master the chaotic Fake Nine Yin Manual, anyone else would have surely suffered a qi deviation and died on the spot.

Suddenly, the melodious sounds of a zither and flute clearly reached his ears.

Ouyang Feng was greatly surprised, "Judging by the sound, they are very far away, yet it can be heard so clearly. The skill of these two musicians is truly remarkable."

Then, the zither suddenly produced sharp, clashing notes, as if carrying a killing intent, while the flute's melody remained gentle and graceful.

After a while, the zither's tone also softened. The two sounds rose and fell, and then the zither and flute music abruptly changed, as if seven or eight zithers and seven or eight flutes were playing simultaneously. Although the music was incredibly complex and varied, each note was perfectly modulated, pleasing to the ear and touching the heart.

Guo Jing felt his blood surge and couldn't help but want to stand up. After listening for a while longer, the zither and flute music changed again. The flute took the lead melody, with the seven-stringed zither merely providing a tinkling accompaniment, but the flute's tune grew higher and higher.

Suddenly, with a sharp zing, the zither's music stopped, and the flute's melody also ceased.

"Haha... Brother Wang, this piece is truly extraordinary. With this music, my trip to the Mount Hua Sword Debate this time is already worthwhile," Huang Yaoshi said with unrestrained laughter after finishing.

"What is this piece called? And which master composed it?" Huang Yaoshi asked again.

"This piece is called 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.' It was composed by Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang. One is an elder of the Demonic Cult, and the other is a master of the righteous path. They cast aside the divisions of good and evil to become friends and confidants, and together they created this piece."

"Oh! Then I am even more interested. I wonder where I can find them." Huang Yaoshi cared the least about such matters, which was why he was known as the Eastern Heretic.

"These two have long since passed away." Wang Ming could only offer this perfunctory reply to Huang Yaoshi, though it was true they were dead when he obtained the score.

"That is truly a pity. I cannot have a good exchange with these two masters of music," Huang Yaoshi lamented.

Afterward, everyone in the cave found places to rest, and there was no further conversation among them.