A Melody of Pure Sound

The sound of the flute continued without end, drifting in the wind like spider silk, sometimes clear and melodious, sometimes low and deep.

Between the two, the melody didn't change much, discarding complexity for pure serenity, Like the bright moon shining on a bamboo forest, or a gentle breeze brushing over mountain peaks.

Ten thousand feet of mortal dust, one pure heart.

Under the cleansing sound of the flute, distracting thoughts gradually calmed, and Zhang Yu loosened the sword in his hand...

When he woke up, the sound of the flute still seemed to linger in his mind.

He got out of bed and looked around.

The room was simply furnished, with not too many items. Bamboo forests surrounded the outside of the window, suggesting a location in the mountains. He smelled the faint fragrance of herbs, and in the distance, he could hear the sound of flowing water, unsure if it was a waterfall or a mountain stream.

This was truly an excellent place.

For the first time in a long time, Zhang Yu felt a true sense of peace. Since arriving in this world half a year ago, he had been on the run, practicing martial arts, killing, and trying hard to blend in, yet he always felt like a passerby. Deep down, he subconsciously believed he wasn't from this world. Now, however, he felt a rare sense of reality.

"You're awake." Qu Feiyan hopped in from outside the door. Seeing Zhang Yu standing by the bed, she turned her head and shouted with pleasant surprise.

"Grandpa, Zhang Yu is awake."

A person walked in from outside, around fifty years old, dressed in plain hemp clothing, with a deer antler hairpin in his hair. A gentle smile graced his face, and he held a xiao in his hand, appearing like a hermit living in the mountains seeking immortality, or a learned scholar.

Seeing his attire and hearing Qu Feiyan call him "Grandpa," Zhang Yu guessed his identity.

The martial arts world was complex. Whether it was the so-called Righteous Path or the Evil Path, both were a tangled mess of good and bad, making it usually difficult to judge a person's character, especially those in high positions.

But if one had to pick a good person from the Sun Moon Divine Cult, it would be the one before him.

"Your subordinate, Zhang Yu, pays his respects to Right Envoy Qu. Thank you for saving my life, sir."

Qu Yang helped him up and chuckled, "No need for formalities. Feiyan said you are her friend, which makes you my guest. Your situation is quite complex. You can rest assured and stay here at Bamboo Smoke Courtyard for a few days to recuperate slowly."

The two sat down at a table and drank tea facing each other.

Qu Feiyan, being chased by Du Xiaochai to drink herbal soup, ran outside.

Qu Yang smiled indulgently, then turned to the somewhat reserved young man and asked curiously, "When I first saw you, your mind was chaotic, and you drew your sword and attacked wildly. It looked like you had gone mad from practicing martial arts, but it wasn't quite like that. I examined your pulse and found your meridians to be clear and your Internal Energy abundant. Everything was in order."

Zhang Yu glanced at the Green Jade Thumb Ring still on his hand. "To be honest, Right Envoy Qu, at that time, infinite distracting thoughts arose in my mind, and I couldn't cut them off, which led to my madness. I still feel a lingering fear when I think about it."

Qu Yang laughed, "That's right. I determined that simply using Internal Energy to clear your mind would be useless, so I tried to soothe it with the xiao music of the Pure Heart and Benevolent Mantra. The result was indeed miraculous. It seems saving your life was fate; you were not meant to die."

Zhang Yu quickly asked, "Senior, can the Pure Heart and Benevolent Mantra cure my condition?"

Qu Yang sighed, "Distracting thoughts arise, and ultimately, it's better to guide them than to block them. You are young and full of vigor, fond of conflict and battle. Being in the Divine Cult, bloody combat is unavoidable. This leads to the accumulation of malevolent energy. It might not manifest immediately, but over time, it can lead to madness. The art of music can cultivate one's character, purify the heart, and calm the mind. Even if it cannot completely eliminate your distracting thoughts, it should provide some relief."

Zhang Yu stood up and cupped his hands. "I have long heard that Right Envoy Qu excels at both zither and xiao. I boldly wish to ask for your guidance in the art of music."

Qu Yang stroked his long beard, pondered for a moment, and then smiled at Zhang Yu. "I can teach you the Pure Heart and Benevolent Melody, but as the Buddha said, teachings should not be imparted lightly. You must offer something in return."

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment, then took off the Green Jade Thumb Ring and handed it over. "This is the most valuable item I have on me. If you fancy it, please take it."

Qu Yang didn't even glance at it and shook his head. "Objects of gold and jade are no different from wood and stone to me."

Zhang Yu was surprised. "Besides the Green Jade Thumb Ring, I also have a black sword and a small bag of silver. You will surely look down on those even more. I wonder what it is you want? Please tell me."

Qu Yang stared at him, a smile of unknown meaning appearing on his face.

Zhang Yu inwardly thought, This is not good. In The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the relationship between Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan Sect was quite controversial. Could this old man really have homosexual inclinations?

"I want you... to write down the story of The Adventures of the Little Carp and give it to Feiyan."

Zhang Yu felt ashamed. He had truly judged a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

"I made a promise to Feiyan, and I would have kept it even if you hadn't asked."

Qu Yang smiled and nodded. "That's good. If Feiyan is happy, then I am happy too."

December 7th.

Blackwood Cliff saw its first snowfall.

Ten miles of bamboo forest at the foot of the western mountain. Snow weighed down the branches, but the bamboo stalks remained unbent, only temporarily bowing.

A young man leaped two meters high and landed on a bamboo stalk. The green bamboo swayed slightly, and clumps of snow fell from the canopy, but the stalk did not bend further.

The two seemed to have reached a balance.

However, the weight of an adult man was two to three times heavier than the snow that had fallen.

This showed the man's exceptional lightness skill.

He took out a purple xiao, placed it to his lips, and his fingers moved over the finger holes.

The flute's melody was clear and melodious, like a gentle breeze rustling through a dense forest of slanted bamboo, echoing in the icy mountain valley.

"You missed three notes, and your breathing was too rushed when changing notes. For ten days of effort, to reach this level is already quite good. I was originally worried if you could remember the entire musical score, but now it seems you do have a talent for music."

A person walked out from the forest, carrying a bamboo basket filled with fresh wild vegetables. He wore a thin hemp robe, his Xiantian realm allowing him to be unaffected by wind and snow, immune to illness.

As the Right Envoy, Qu Yang's early Xiantian martial arts realm placed him among the ranks of powerful sect leaders in the martial arts world.

However, within the Sun Moon Divine Cult, this status did not align with his position as fourth-in-command.

He was skilled in managing religious affairs and operating businesses.

In the early days of Dongfang Bubai's succession, Xiang Wentian was promoted in title but demoted in substance. Qu Yang, as the Right Envoy, took charge of the cult's affairs, rewarding merits and punishing faults, and managing the cult's properties.

Dongfang Bubai led the twelve halls in their expeditions, while he ensured the supply of provisions, medicine, armor, and clothing was uninterrupted. The two had a period of harmony.

Later, once Dongfang Bubai's position was stable, he began to support Yang Lianting, replacing the old with the new. Qu Yang's power was gradually eroded.

He had long lost interest in the martial world and enjoyed his freedom. He decided to move out of Blackwood Cliff and built this Bamboo Smoke Courtyard, living a semi-reclusive life.

The melody ended.

The young man put away his xiao, jumped down from the bamboo stalk, and took Qu Yang's carrying basket.

"Master Qu, I always feel that playing the Pure Heart and Benevolent Mantra on the xiao leaves something to be desired."

Zhang Yu said hesitantly, as speaking such words in front of a master of music like Qu Yang felt somewhat like showing off one's meager skills.

Qu Yang was pleased to hear him ask.

"The fact that you can point this out shows you have potential."

"The Pure Heart and Benevolent Mantra was discovered by this old man in an ancient text. It was originally meant to be played on the guqin, which would have made it clearer, more melodious, and better able to cleanse the heart."

"However, the guqin is difficult to learn, and you have no understanding of the principles of music. Building a tall building on flat ground and rushing the process is a major taboo for beginners."

"Secondly, it's also your good fortune. In the autumn, I happened to go south to visit a friend, who is also a master of music. He bet me that he could play the Pure Heart and Benevolent Mantra on the xiao. He studied it diligently for a long time and managed to compose a rough arrangement."

Zhang Yu knew who the Southern music master Qu Yang was referring to. He smiled and asked, "Who won the bet between you and this Southern music master?"

Qu Yang smiled, "Let's say he won. Music emphasizes the spirit. Although it couldn't be perfect, reaching this point is already divine skill. If I have the chance, I really want to introduce you to him."

As they spoke, the two returned to the small courtyard.

Qu Feiyan had gone down the mountain to play as usual.

The young girl's life was packed every day: buying candied hawthorns, listening to storytellers, visiting friends, and collecting stories. With Wang Changfeng and Du Xiaochai, one at the Qi Hai realm and the other at the Po Jia realm, guarding her at all times, it was enough to deal with ordinary petty thieves.

Zhang Yu took out three volumes of books he had copied in small, regular script with a charcoal pencil.

Qu Yang looked at the cover, which had six large characters: "The Adventures of the Little Carp." He opened the first page and found it was a table of contents with corresponding page numbers, showing great care. He nodded.

"The story is imaginative, seemingly a novel of strange tales, but it carries profound meaning. No wonder Feiyan likes it so much."

"That scabby snake, deceiving the world and usurping the Dragon King's position, was ultimately nothing but an illusion, a bubble that vanished into thin air."

"The three-legged golden toad was too obsessed with its appearance and its own wisdom was limited, making it easy to be exploited. Fortunately, it was able to repent."

Zhang Yu saw that his words seemed to have a deeper meaning, but he didn't pry.

Zhang Yu smiled, "Master Qu, I've been troubling you for ten days, and I'm already feeling uneasy. I think it's time for me to take my leave."

Qu Yang put away the three volumes of The Adventures of the Little Carp and smiled, "Indeed. Tomorrow is Tong Baixiong's 60th birthday. As a disciple of the Wind Thunder Hall, you should return. If you ever get tired and want to find a quiet place for a while, you can always come back to this courtyard."

Zhang Yu bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Master Qu, for saving and teaching me. Zhang Yu will surely repay this kindness and debt."