Master's Wife Has Arrived

"Yan Zixia... Yue Qianchou!" they both exclaimed in surprise. They hadn't expected to meet under such circumstances. Then they exchanged a smile, an indescribable feeling lingering between them.

Yue Qianchou laughed somewhat awkwardly. Back on Fu Xian Island, he had been lonely and had slept with her, his hands roaming all over her body, touching every place he shouldn't have, and apparently finding it quite pleasant. Afterwards, they left Fu Xian Island, and when they met again, he deliberately avoided her. Thus, although they were both in Hundred Flower Valley, they hadn't seen each other since.

Yan Zixia's faint smile was tinged with bitterness. She could naturally sense that Yue Qianchou had been deliberately avoiding her. Now that they met again, she wanted to ask why, but she didn't know how to start.

"Bang!" Fireworks exploded, releasing a dazzling display of light, allowing the two to see each other's faces clearly once again. Silence wasn't an option, Yue Qianchou touched his face and chuckled awkwardly, "What brings you here?"

"I saw someone setting off fireworks and couldn't resist coming over to take a look. What about you?" Yan Zixia asked.

"I just came to take a look too," Yue Qianchou said with a smile. Their conversation was simple and meaningless, and then they fell silent again, both awkwardly turning their gazes toward the fireworks display.

After a long while, Yan Zixia suddenly asked, "Was the woman who set off the fireworks the same girl in Ziyi who was with you?"

"Do you know her?" Yue Qianchou asked.

"I don't know her." Yan Zixia gently shook her head and said, "Now, who in the Cultivation World doesn't know the name Yue Qianchou? Who doesn't know that Yue Qianchou has a Ziyi girl with unfathomable cultivation by his side? You... you two are dao companion?"

"Uh... she and I are dao companion?" Yue Qianchou paused, then quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, no." He thought to himself, that girl probably doesn't even know what sleeping together means, let alone cultivation. He pointed to the woman in Ziyi and the four young masters, saying, "Didn't you notice anything?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Zixia looked closely and then smiled. She could see it too; it seemed that the four heirs of the Four Great Families were pursuing the Ziyi. If the woman in Ziyi was truly Yue Qianchou's dao companion, how could he stand here unmoved? Turning her head, she smiled sweetly and said, "That woman in Ziyi is also a stunning beauty, always by your side. Haven't you ever been tempted? Why do you let others pursue you?"

Yue Qianchou shook his head with a wry smile, thinking to himself that the girl's father was difficult to deal with, so it was better not to touch him. Besides, he already had several good women and was quite satisfied.

Yan Zixia stared at him, somewhat lost in thought. That little disciple from Fu Xian Island back then had now risen to fame. Could they possibly rekindle their past romance? Recalling the past, she couldn't help but ask softly, "You owe me something. Do you remember?"

"Uh..." Yue Qianchou paused, then asked, "What do I owe you?"

"It seems you've forgotten." Yan Zixia looked at the sky, and after a firework exploded, she smiled somewhat bitterly, "You promised to compose a piece of music for me. If you've really forgotten, then forget it."

"Uh..." Yue Qianchou was speechless. Thinking about it carefully, he realized that he had indeed casually promised her back then, and he had almost forgotten about it. He didn't expect her to still remember.

"Dong dong dong dong..." Just as the two were silent, a melodious zither tune, like a clear spring, drifted over. Even the "bang bang" of exploding fireworks couldn't mask its penetrating power; it clearly resonated throughout the open field. Clearly, the player was infusing their playing with True Essence. The two exchanged bewildered glances. They had just started talking about a piece, and someone was already playing—it was too much of a coincidence!

The crowd watching the fireworks turned to look at the source of the sound. On the opposite bank of the river, under the cold moon and the brilliant fireworks, atop a colossal rock that had stood for countless years, sat a beautiful woman in a red dress, her face veiled by a light red veil. A simple zither rested on her intertwined legs, and her Linglong fingers plucked the strings, producing a melodious and lingering tune. Though her face was unseen, her bearing suggested she was a captivating beauty. The crowd whispered among themselves, wondering where this mysterious woman had come from.

The group setting off fireworks stopped, and the night sky returned to calm, save for the sound of a zither. The Ziyi looked at Bi Zicong and the other three with a questioning gaze, but they all shook their heads, indicating they didn't know who it was.

"Hmm... hmm... I am a fox who has cultivated for a thousand years. A thousand years of cultivation, a thousand years of loneliness. In the dead of night, can anyone hear me crying? In the dim light, can anyone see me dancing..." The woman plucked the strings of her zither and hummed a rhythmic melody. Her voice was melodious and moving, and it echoed gently in the wilderness.

"Isn't this the music you composed?" Yan Zixia asked, turning her head.

"Hmm? Oh! It seems so." Yue Qianchou stammered, his face twitching uncontrollably, it was quite a sight. Others might not have recognized the woman, but he knew immediately. Even if he hadn't seen her, he could recognize her voice. Who else could it be but his cheap master's wife, Hundred Charm Demoness? He just didn't know what she was doing playing the zither so late at night.

Ziyi initially looked at the woman with suspicion, but after hearing the music unfold, her surprise was impossible to conceal. Although she was naive, Nong Zhu was a master of music, and after years of exposure to its melodies, she could naturally distinguish good from bad. She had never heard such a melodious and popular tune before; after just a few lines, a poignant story unfolded before her eyes.

"Isn't this melody from the Qingguang Sect called 'White Fox'?" Bi Zicong frowned, gazing at the woman under the moonlight on the opposite bank of the river. The woman in Ziyi asked, "You mean this melody is called 'White Fox'?"

"I don't know either, but many people say so," Bi Zicong said with a smile. Ziyi nodded and said, "A very fitting title."

"Miss in Ziyi, you may not know this, but legend has it that this piece was composed by Mr. Yue." Tan Fei said with a smile.

"You mean Yue Qianchou? He can compose music? How is that possible?" Ziyi asked in astonishment. Then she shook her head, firmly denying the legend. Since she had known Yue Qianchou, she had never noticed any talent in this area. In fact, his demeanor and ability to compose music were completely incompatible. If he had even half the grace of her master, she might have believed it. In short, it was impossible.

This rumor has been circulating for a long time, but no one can imagine that Yue Qianchou, who is known as a scoundrel and a madman, would compose music and play the piano. Wu Licheng couldn't help but laugh when he thought about it, and shook his head and said, "After all, it's just a rumor, and rumors may not be true. I also think it's unlikely that you would do such a thing."

"It seems there's also a poem called 'The Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream,' a rare classic. Legend has it that it was also written by Mr. [the author's name]. If it really was written by him, then... hehe!" Before Jing Zuo could finish speaking, he and the others chuckled, all thinking it was a joke.

"Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream? Is it as good as 'White Fox'? Can you sing it?" asked the Ziyi, her eyes full of curiosity.

Just as she asked the question, the woman on the other side of the river finished her song. The melodious piano music changed, and after the prelude, another song of a different style began. "Yesterday was like the flowing water of the east, gone from me and cannot be kept. Today my heart is troubled, full of worries..." Perhaps the music was really beautiful, because many fireflies flew in from the quiet night and danced around her, which really added a lot of beauty to the scene.

Jing Zuo chuckled, rubbing his forehead, "Miss Ziyi Robe, didn't you want to hear 'The Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream'? Here it is." Ziyi Robe, upon hearing this, parted her lips slightly, her eyes gazing at the opposite bank, completely immersed in the melancholic melody, forgetting to reply...

Hundred Charm Demoness's mastery of music was undeniably extraordinary; she brought out the rhythm of the lyrics and melody to a captivating degree, drawing the audience across the other shore into a state of rapt attention. Yue Qianchou's eyes darted around, unsure of her intentions. Suddenly, his gaze met Hundred Charm Demoness's, whose bright eyes flashed with a cunning glint. Yue Qianchou immediately sensed something was amiss; this might be aimed at him, but he couldn't discern her true purpose.

As the first song ended and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the melody suddenly changed again. Though not as familiar as the previous two, the poignant emotion carried across the river stirred the heart. In the moonlight, through a red veil, red lips parted, and she sang softly again. "Let bygones be bygones, life has already been full of storms. Though memories cannot be erased, love and hate still linger in my heart. Truly, let bygones be bygones, let tomorrow continue well. So please, do not keep asking about my whereabouts..."

The Hundred Charm Demoness sang the song with exceptional emotion, and everyone who heard it for the first time was awestruck. Yue Qianchou unconsciously crossed his arms, his eyes slightly narrowed, and muttered to himself, "What's going on? Planning a concert?"

Turning his head to look at Yan Zixia, Yue Qianchou saw her infatuated expression and opened his mouth, but he was speechless and felt goosebumps all over his body.

The woman in Ziyi stared wide-eyed, instinctively tugged at Bi Zicong, and asked, "What's the name of this piece?"

"Ah!" Bi Zicong came back to his senses and shook his head, saying, "It sounds nice. But I've never heard of it before, and I don't know what it's called. Maybe I'm just ignorant. Do you guys know?" He asked Wu Licheng and the other two, who, after thinking hard, also shook their heads, indicating that they didn't know.

Ziyi was somewhat disappointed. She thought of going to the other side of the river to ask for clarification, but she was afraid of disturbing the other person's singing and playing, so she could only listen quietly until the song on the other side slowly came to an end...

As the music ended, the Hundred Charm Demoness placed her hands on the strings, silencing the lingering notes, and stood on the boulder, her zither in hand. In the moonlight, even the red veil could not conceal her graceful figure. With a gentle pull down the veil that partially covered her face, her captivating true appearance was finally revealed to everyone...

Those who recognized her immediately exclaimed in surprise, "The Palace Master of the Illusion Demon Palace Hundred Charm Demoness!"

"So it was her... No wonder she looked familiar... After the Illusion Demon Palace was razed, didn't she disappear into hiding?... Why is she here playing the zither?" The crowd whispered in surprise.

The Hundred Charm Demoness glanced around with her bright eyes and chuckled, "I've been hiding for many years, and I never expected so many people to recognize me. It's truly remarkable."

Yue Qianchou was slightly taken aback. She had revealed her identity again, it seemed she wanted to travel openly. Just then, a burst of laughter came from behind. "Who do we have this leisure to do? It turns out it's Palace Mistress Ye who has graced us with her presence."

Yue Qianchou looked back and saw that a group of people had gathered behind him, probably drawn by the music. Dongfang Changao and Chou Wuyuan stood side by side, and it was Chou Wuyuan who laughed. In a flash, he leaped over the crowd and landed on the boulder across the river.

"So it's Elder Qiu of the Myriad Demon Palace, the leader of the demonic path." Hundred Charm Demoness glanced at him, her expression indifferent and somewhat impolite. She had been somewhat displeased that the leader of the Myriad Demon Palace, the Myriad Demon Palace, hadn't taken action after the Illusion Demon Palace was destroyed.

Chou Wuyuan smiled awkwardly, "Palace Mistress Ye, it's been many years since we last met. I didn't expect you to still be as charming as ever. With the great war in the Cultivation World just beginning, we need experts like Palace Mistress Ye to join us." Yue Qianchou nodded secretly. So the Hundred Charm Demoness's surname was Ye. This was the first time he had heard of it.

"The Illusion Demon Palace is no more. What does the great war in the Cultivation World have to do with me? I have no intention of participating in the war. I have only come to visit a friend." Hundred Charm Demoness refused without any politeness. She turned to look at Yue Qianchou and smiled charmingly again, "I have been in seclusion for many years and have a fondness for music. By chance, I met the composer of 'The White Fox and the Mandarin Duck Butterfly Dream' and asked him to play the song 'When Love Becomes the Past' that I just sang. Recently, I heard that you have reappeared in Hundred Flower Valley, so I came to visit you and hope to learn another song from you."

Following her gaze, everyone saw that it was none other than Yue Qianchou, whose expression was twitching. They were all in an uproar. Could it be that he really composed these pieces? Ziyi and the Bi Zicong three turned around and, upon seeing that it was Yue Qianchou, were still filled with disbelief.

Yan Zixia naturally believed it without a doubt, because she had witnessed it herself, so she asked in a low voice, "Was the song just now called 'When Love Becomes the Past'?"

Damn it! What is this woman trying to do? Yue Qianchou looked around and chuckled at Hundred Charm Demoness, "Palace Mistress Ye, you're too kind. These are just some playful antics, hardly worthy of serious consideration. It's really not something I'd like to ask for your guidance on."

"I have traveled a long way to come, do you intend to disappoint me?" the Hundred Charm Demoness laughed.

Although it was said in jest, Yue Qianchou sensed a hint of threat in it, which made him very uncomfortable. He glanced at Yan Zixia beside him and thought to himself, "Fine, this will fulfill the promise I made to her back then!"

He casually tossed out a cyan flying sword, leaped onto it, and flew to Hundred Charm Demoness's side, glaring at her fiercely. Hundred Charm Demoness, unperturbed, smiled alluringly and pushed her plain zither towards him, then yielded her seat and gracefully descended beneath the boulder. Yue Qianchou, holding the zither in one hand, turned his gaze to Yan Zixia, shook his head, and said with a wry smile, "Years ago, I promised someone I would compose a piece for her, but I never kept my promise. Seeing her ask about it today, I feel deeply ashamed. I'll simply borrow Palace Mistress Ye's plain zither to fulfill my promise!"

After saying this, he sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes slightly, and remained silent for a while. He then randomly selected a piece from his memory and pondered it for a moment. When he opened his eyes, his ten fingers were already skillfully plucking the strings.

A clear and refreshing melody flowed out, instantly stunning the people on the opposite bank of the river. Below, Chou Wuyuan stared intently at the ten fingers plucking the strings, and upon realizing it wasn't fake, his mouth immediately formed an "oh!" Bi Zicong and the other three exchanged bewildered glances; what they had just said was impossible had become reality in the blink of an eye. The woman in Ziyi's mouth was even more utterly wide open, probably big enough to fit an egg—it was simply unbelievable...

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