Under Guan Yu and Chen Feng's diligent labor, vast swathes of land within the Golden Pearl had been planted with flowers. As far as the eye could see, it had nearly become an ocean of blossoms, their fragrance wafting everywhere. In the middle of the flower sea stood a patch of woods, and from the bamboo cottage within came waves of moving notes from an ancient zither.
Guan Yu and Chen Feng, busy at work as they listened to the music, seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Standing amid the sea of flowers, the white fox wore flowing white robes. Hearing the music drift over, she raised a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her delicate ear, then turned toward the bamboo cottage. A faint smile appeared on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
Over the past year, Yue Qianchou had made time to visit the Golden Pearl every day. Though he always arrived with a grin, the white fox could tell that he seemed to be hiding some anguish within. Yet whenever he faced the three of them, he always forced a smile.
Inside the bamboo pavilion, the seven-stringed ancient zither that the white fox rarely played anymore had become his means of passing the time. Whenever he came, he would pluck at it wildly for a while. This was probably the legendary "playing the zither at random," and the noise he produced tormented the other three beyond endurance.
In the end, the white fox simply could not stand it any longer. Seeing that he was in a poor mood and unwilling to restrain him, she decided to personally teach him.
The white fox was a fox spirit who had played the zither for centuries. Her skill was naturally miraculous and consummate, so even if Yue Qianchou had