Conveying Meaning Through Music

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Despite saying she was "not a good person," Ju Yunxiu still leaned back in her soft chair, propping her chin on her hand, and looked at Qin Yi, neither interrupting nor ignoring him. Her eyes flickered with a mixture of shyness and joy, as well as a complex sense of resistance.

It's hard to explain.

If they could always be like-minded friends, she would play the zither among the clouds, he would come with his flute, they would look at each other and smile, and say "Good morning".

That kind of relationship is so good... clean and comfortable.

Why is there always some inexplicable meaning mixed in here, making this landscape painting no longer clean and clear, the brushstrokes lose their elegance, and it becomes shrouded in mist and clouds?

But these clouds and mists are also incredibly beautiful, an experience unlike anything I've ever had before, and Ju Yunxiu doesn't want to erase them from her memory.

She knew that Qin Yi felt the same way she did.

Qin Yi also enjoyed the ethereal atmosphere of their music, the comfortable and otherworldly feeling of being together. There wasn't any intense romantic love between them, just a natural attraction, a pursuit and desire for beauty—after all, it's human nature.

But the man and woman, both handsome and beautiful, were naturally attracted to each other. At a time when everyone in the Immortal Palace thought they had a secret affair, they not only did not keep their distance, but became even closer, telling each other that they were just close friends... Isn't that a bit self-deceptive?

It's already started to lose its original flavor.

Ju Yunxiu could also hear the complex emotions in Qin Yi's heart from his music.

This piece doesn't have the obvious meaning of "The Phoenix Seeking Phoenix Birds flying back to each other." If it did, it would definitely have provoked Ju Yunxiu's rejection. In fact, Qin Yi himself might not have meant it that way. The meaning of his piece is actually the warm and natural feeling of "birds returning together." However, the meaning of "returning together" inherently carries a sense of ambiguity, and at the same time, it also subtly implies "the male flies and the female follows, circling among the trees." It has a declaration of male and female roles, and it's unclear whether this is a reaction to his previous sycophantic behavior.

He's actually quite a chauvinist at heart.

These meanings are difficult to express in words, but can be subtly conveyed through music, a unique form of communication unique to musicians. Even if Liusu, this "rough person," were back to her peak condition, she might not understand, and would only think that you and your Senior Sister have an unspeakable relationship. But when Ju Yunxiu listened, the feeling of kindred spirits only grew stronger, so strong that she didn't want to interrupt it at all.

The flute music finally subsided, and the night returned to its tranquility.

Ju Yunxiu was still looking at Qin Yi, without saying a word.

She always thought he was very handsome.

Qin Yi said, "I said my Senior Sister would give me a reward, but I'm the one who performed a piece. That's not fair."

Ju Yunxiu pouted. "I won't sing, let's choose another one."

Seeing her pouty expression, her red lips looking luscious and tempting, Qin Yi's breathing quickened slightly. He turned his head away a little and said, "Never mind, I'll leave it for now and make it up to you later."

Seeing his evasive manner, Ju Yunxiu felt a mischievous urge and deliberately moved closer, breathing softly on his cheek. "Really don't want to?"

Qin Yi leaned back slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Woman, don't play with fire."

Ju Yunxiu revealed a charming smile and beckoned with her finger, "A little brother with a heart of gold, always acting like a grown man, who are you trying to fool?"

Qin Yi gritted his teeth and moved closer, and unsurprisingly, he crashed into the invisible barrier with a "plop," his face contorted in shock.

Ju Yunxiu laughed heartily, "You lecherous scoundrel!"

Qin Yi stood up angrily. "There's plenty of time, this isn't over!"

"Hey, wait a minute." Ju Yunxiu grabbed her arm.

Qin Yi was stunned for a moment, then looked down and saw Ju Yunxiu's slender hand holding his palm...

Ju Yunxiu blushed slightly, then pretended to be nonchalant and said, "I've taught you to draw before, so what's with the pretense?"

The Liusu inside the stick let out a meaningful "Oh~", which then turned into a "tsk tsk" sound.

Qin Yi's face flushed slightly, and he said helplessly, "Alright, what's the matter that you called me over?"

"Take a look at the painting you acquired today."

Qin Yi tapped his head. He should have consulted Ju Yunxiu about this matter a long time ago.

The portrait of the woman he had obtained from his own ancient tomb and the portrait of Ju Yunxiu that he had exchanged with Zheng Yunyi were only Spiritual Qi in nature and not treasures. In fact, neither the sword-wielding woman nor the young Ju Yunxiu in the paintings had formed Painting Souls.

However, the painting that the Palace Master of the Celestial Palace would use as the first-place reward was clearly different. Instead, it was a high-class Law Treasure, similar to the hammers or similar rewards given to others.

Qin Yi took out the scroll, unfolded it, and saw a Red Rock Boulder Painting and a mandrill climbing a rock. As soon as the scroll was unfolded, it was as if he was actually there, as if he had really arrived at a completely new landscape. The mandrill's eyes seemed to be looking over, full of ferocity.

The painting exudes a powerful aura, though its purpose remains unknown. It is a treasure, crafted by the Painting Sect itself, a new creation, and something that Liusu cannot fully explain.

"This is a Law Treasure, isn't it?" Qin Yi asked. "Are you sure this matches the previous two paintings?"

"Whether a painting becomes Law Treasure depends solely on the materials and techniques used in its creation, not on the content depicted within. Different content will only result in different effects." Ju Yunxiu took the scroll and examined it for a while before confirming, "This is indeed part of the set with the other two."

Qin Yi asked, "So, what is the overall effect of this painting?"

"This isn't a combat Law Treasure, but rather a Trial Space," Ju Yunxiu suddenly smiled. "Perhaps it's just what you need."

Qin Yi's eyes lit up. "How do I use it?"

"Of course, it's about going inside the painting and fighting the mountain demon," Ju Yunxiu said. "The painting has become an illusionary realm, which will greatly benefit your practical combat training. If you're defeated, you'll leave the realm; if you defeat it, it will recognize you as its master and can grow alongside you... By the way, you can't use Law Treasure in the painting, but you can use them as weapons. Isn't that perfect for your martial arts training?"

Qin Yi asked cautiously, "What level is this mandrill?"

"A Core Formation Demon Beast, equivalent to a human in the early stage of the Soaring Cloud Realm." Ju Yunxiu smiled. "However, it is only a soul in a painting after all, and it is not as intelligent and resourceful as a living creature. It is hard to say how much it can bring out. It is indeed quite suitable for you."

Qin Yi nodded, planning to go in and cultivate whenever he had free time. He had improved Immortal Dao immortal cultivation by several levels in the Immortal Palace, but he had been stuck at the Muscle Tendon Change Third Layer Jing for a long time in martial arts.

Ju Yunxiu placed the three paintings together, examined them repeatedly for a while, and frowned, saying, "No, they're still incomplete and can't be connected."

Qin Yi remained silent, lost in thought.

If we absolutely have to collect them all, perhaps we'll have to go and open her master's grave, but that's hard to say.

Ju Yunxiu glanced at him and smiled slightly, "You can't take anything with you when you die. Since Master dispersed these paintings instead of destroying them, it means he was conflicted and prepared for them to be taken away. If I'm not mistaken, these paintings weren't buried with him in his tomb, but rather placed in the outer chamber. However..."

Qin Yi looked up at her.

Ju Yunxiu rolled up all three paintings and handed them back to Qin Yi, saying solemnly, "I will not break Master's restrictions for you. You can go by yourself. Master's restrictions must be related to Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting. Outsiders cannot break them. You can... but you are not allowed to go until you have reached the Cloud Ascension stage."

Qin Yi composed himself and bowed, saying, "I understand."

Ju Yunxiu was clearly doing this for his own good, fearing that his cultivation was too low and he was unaware of his own mortality.

Seeing that he understood her thoughts, Ju Yunxiu smiled again and asked, "What did the Palace Master give you? Just a mountain-wide telepathic message?"

"There's a Jade Pendant, but it doesn't seem to be Law Treasure." Qin Yi took it out, his eyes suddenly widening.

What kind of jade Jade Pendant shape is this? I didn't notice it before. What's the meaning of this chicken feather design?

Ju Yunxiu took the jade Jade Pendant with a strange expression and examined it for a long time. It was indeed not Law Treasure, but just a fairly common jade blank, which seemed to have been hastily shaped. She shook her head in puzzlement. "The Palace Master is usually so proper and dignified, how could she make such a silly joke... It's really puzzling."