Old Daoist Wu Comes Searching

Leaving the Thousand Gold Pavilion, Lan Tianye, leading the recovered carriage, followed behind Chen Qing with his head nearly touching his chest, his face burning with shame.

Reaching a secluded spot outside town, he could no longer hold back. He stopped abruptly, bowed deeply to Chen Qing's retreating back, his voice choked with emotion, "Brother Chen! I... I was possessed by a demon today and caused a great disaster, nearly making a terrible mistake! Thank you, Brother Chen, for salvaging the loss! Fengmian... Fengmian is ashamed of your trust! Please punish me, Brother Chen!"

Chen Qing turned around and looked at him. The setting sun stretched his shadow long; his usually upright back was now filled with dejection.

"Money and transport are but external things," Chen Qing's voice was still calm, yet it carried a power that pierced the heart. "If today you had lost your life, or someone else's life, what then?"

Lan Tianye trembled all over, his head drooping even lower.

"The martial world is perilous, not just with flashing blades. The loss of a person's heart is far harder to mend than the loss of wealth," Chen Qing said. "Remember today's lesson."

Lan Tianye felt as if he had been enlightened. He nodded heavily, the arrogance of the past largely dissipating, his eyes becoming much steadier. "Fengmian... will remember Brother Chen's teachings!"

After this incident, Lan Tianye became much more subdued. Chen Qing knew he needed time to process, so he said no more.

During their last day in Zeyun Town, Chen Qing found a small musical instrument shop. Remembering A Ning's reaction to the flute music, he went in and selected a green bamboo flute of decent quality. He also asked an elderly man in the shop, who was skilled in playing the flute, for some tips on how to play.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The convoy camped in an abandoned Mountain God Temple on the outskirts of town.

A bonfire was lit, and A Ning sat leaning on a prepared straw mat, quietly watching the dancing flames. Lan Tianye sat beside her, silently wiping his saber, his expression focused, as if still reflecting on the day's events.

Chen Qing took out the newly bought bamboo flute and, following what he had learned during the day, brought the finger holes to his lips. He adjusted his fingertips slightly, and a trace of star power flowed naturally. It wasn't used to drive the melody, but to meticulously control every bit of force from his lips, breath, and finger pressure.

A Ning listened, entranced and lost in thought. She opened her eyes wide, gazing at Chen Qing, her eyes reflecting the bonfire and moonlight, shimmering with light.

She listened so intently that she unconsciously began to shift her body, little by little, until she was nestled close to Chen Qing. She gently rested her small head on his arm, as if drawing some ineffable sense of peace from the flute music.

Lan Tianye stopped wiping his saber and watched the scene unfold. He looked at Chen Qing's focused and calm profile and felt that this taciturn Brother Chen was becoming more and more unfathomable.

Highly skilled in martial arts, meticulous in thought, and now seemingly able to learn music with just a glance... how many more unknown abilities did he possess?

The lingering notes of the flute drifted into the night breeze.

Chen Qing turned his head to look at A Ning, who was nestled beside him.

"A Ning," he said, his voice softening with a rare gentleness, "I'll teach you a song, alright?"

A Ning looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the small firelight. She gently nodded her little chin.

Just as a moment of peace and harmony settled, a strange laugh suddenly echoed from outside the temple, shattering the night's silence:

"Good lad! Not only are your tricks on the gambling table astonishing, but your flute playing also hides mysteries, controlling breath with melody, almost reaching the Dao! This old man's heart is itching, and I fear I won't be able to sleep tonight without a spar!"

Before the voice even faded, a grey shadow swiftly swept into the dilapidated temple. With a flicker of movement, he stood beside the bonfire. It was the scruffy old Daoist from the Thousand Gold Pavilion earlier that day—Old Daoist Wu!

Although his clothes were still tattered, the small eyes of the old man shot out sharp glints, and his aura was as profound as the sea. He no longer had any of the previous lewd and slippery demeanor, instead revealing the bearing of a hidden master! He had clearly followed them all along, recognizing that Chen Qing possessed extraordinary skills. Having not had his fill at the gambling table during the day, he was determined to test the depth of his martial arts!

Lan Tianye gasped in shock, instantly leaping up, his saber half-drawn, shielding Chen Qing and A Ning. He sternly demanded, "It's you! What do you want?!"

Chen Qing slowly lowered the bamboo flute, patted the back of A Ning's hand, who had instinctively grabbed his sleeve out of fright, and looked calmly at Old Daoist Wu. He sensed that although the other's aura was strong, there was no killing intent, only a competitive spirit born from encountering a worthy opponent.

"Senior, you've returned. What is your intention?" Chen Qing asked indifferently.

Old Daoist Wu chuckled, rubbing his hands. "The gambling match today, I concede you won that round. But that was ultimately a trick, not true skill. I see you have a peculiar bone structure and a deep, stable aura; you are no ordinary person! Come, come, let's fight with all our might! Let me see your true skills!"

Lan Tianye looked at Chen Qing nervously.

Chen Qing was silent for a moment before asking, "How shall we compete?"

"Simple!" Old Daoist Wu's eyes gleamed. "No restrictions, fists, weapons, internal energy, movement techniques—showcase your skills, but stop before causing harm! How about it? If you can take thirty moves from me, you win! I'll leave immediately and never bother you again! If you can't..." He grinned like a cunning old fox, "Then you'll agree to one condition, perhaps... tell me your master's lineage?"

Chen Qing glanced at the nervous Lan Tianye and A Ning, who was leaning against him, then at the battle-eager Old Daoist Wu. He knew this fight was unavoidable. He slowly stood up.

Chen Qing was silent for a moment, then looked at A Ning beside him and suddenly said, "My music is just missing someone to test it. Those without internal energy will only hear an ordinary tune, but the deeper the internal energy, the greater the effect. Since Senior has such refined taste, let this song serve as our contest, how about it?"

Old Daoist Wu was taken aback, then his eyes shone with great intensity. "Compete with internal energy? Good! Even more interesting! I'd like to hear what miraculous properties your song possesses!"

Chen Qing brought the bamboo flute to his lips again and said softly to A Ning:

"Watch closely, this is how this song is played."