Melody of Forgetting Worries

Hall Master Mu wore a look of disdain. "What reclusive expert? It's nothing but a rumor that's been exaggerated with every retelling. You two branch leaders don't actually believe it, do you?"

He was a hall master among the Evil Cultivators, while the two black-robed men were branch leaders, a rank below him. Their strength was far inferior to his as well.

"Hall Master Mu is right," the plump branch leader chimed in with a smile.

He didn't care about any reclusive expert; it had nothing to do with him. Compared to that, it was more practical to get on the hall master's good side.

After all, Hall Master Mu was the highest-ranking official of the Evil God Palace's branch in the Southern Domain. All the branches throughout the Southern Domain were under his jurisdiction.

The thin branch leader—the black-robed man who had asked Hall Master Mu—said nothing. His opinion differed from Hall Master Mu's: he believed there really was a reclusive expert in Tianren City.

So when he'd gone to Tianren City that day to spread the Black Blood Pills, he'd been rather afraid, worried that the reclusive expert might disapprove of their actions and deal with him.

Hall Master Mu glanced at the thin branch leader, inwardly disdainful. "Enough. We'll let those Demon Tiger Clan fellows draw the attention of the Tianren Sect and the other forces in Tianren City for us. We can just wait here quietly."

At the Tianren Sect, Qin Tian and Qin Yudie both looked troubled when they heard what the people from the Dao Palace had to say.

After returning from Xu Yan's place, Qin Yudie had told Qin Tian about the appearance of the Black Blood Pills. The Dao Palace members had just said that, on their way to the Tianren Sect, they'd encountered more than one ordinary person who had taken a Black Blood Pill.

The situation was even more dangerous than they'd imagined.

Without hesitation, Qin Tian summoned a number of Tianren Sect disciples and headed to Tianren City to deal with the ordinary people who had taken the Black Blood Pills.

He set out himself as well, intending to find the Evil Cultivator who was spreading the Black Blood Pills.

Tianren City was under the Tianren Sect's protection and fell under his authority. Now that something like this had happened there, he couldn't take it easy.

Xu Yan was watering the flowers and plants in the medicinal garden in the back courtyard. They were all medicinal herbs that could save lives, and they had to be watered every day. He couldn't afford to be careless.

Up in a tree in the back courtyard, the little red bird watched him, its eyes filled with scrutiny.

Boom!

A loud crash came from nearby, followed by a cloud of dust. It startled Xu Yan.

He looked toward the dust and frowned slightly. That seemed to be where the newly opened roast chicken shop was.

Could it have been attacked by someone who'd taken a Black Blood Pill?

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

Xu Yan returned to the outer room and went to the door. "Who is it?"

The situation in Tianren City was so dangerous that he didn't dare open the door casually anymore, lest another fellow like Doctor Huang show up.

He still didn't know why Doctor Huang had suddenly disappeared last time. He couldn't count on someone vanishing without a trace again the next time he ran into danger.

"It's me, Yudie."

Xu Yan opened the door, pulled Qin Yudie inside, then shut it at once.

Turning to look at her, he asked, "Why did you get here so quickly?"

Qin Yudie grinned. "I already informed Grandpa. He went to catch the Evil Cultivators who were spreading the Black Blood Pills."

At first, she'd never mentioned anything related to cultivators in front of Xu Yan. But later, Xu Yan had brought it up himself, so she wasn't as hesitant about it anymore.

After all, the Evil Cultivators had invaded, making this an extraordinary time. Special allowances had to be made.

Xu Yan poured Qin Yudie a cup of tea. "Miss Yudie, thanks for your effort. Have some tea first."

Then he poured a cup for himself and Su Hu'er as well. As for the Golden Emperor Ant, it was too small, so he ignored it.

Qin Yudie lifted her teacup and took a small sip, a blissful smile appearing on her face.

As the Dao power in the tea entered her body, it immediately improved her constitution. She'd also realized that, ever since meeting Xu Yan, her constitution had become much stronger than before.

Even her cultivation talent had improved by a great deal. If she'd been a genius before, now she was a genius among geniuses.

Forget the Tianren Sect—among the younger generation of the entire Southern Domain, there were probably few who could match her current talent.

Xu Yan took a sip of tea himself. "Miss Yudie, those Evil Cultivators must be dangerous. If Elder Qin can't handle them, it'd be better not to force a confrontation."

He knew that Qin Tian was Qin Yudie's grandfather, but he didn't think Qin Tian was much of a cultivator.

If he were a powerful cultivator, how could he have gotten drunk after drinking a bowl of wine that was practically water? And how could he have been so terrible at chess?

Even the Golden Emperor Ant, just a little ant, had been able to fight him for ninety-nine rounds.

Qin Yudie set her teacup on the table. "I know. I've relayed Senior Xu's words to Grandpa exactly as you said them. He'll know what to do."

She was very happy. Senior Xu cared so much about her and her grandfather; surely he'd fully accepted them by now.

Xu Yan nodded. "Didn't you say last time that you wanted to hear me play the zither? I'll play a piece for you now."

With Tianren City in chaos and danger everywhere, there was nothing he could do to help. He could only grant Qin Yudie's wish by playing for her.

Qin Yudie looked delighted and readily agreed. "All right. I've been looking forward to hearing Senior Xu play."

She hadn't expected to get the chance to hear Senior Xu play this time. It was an incredible stroke of fortune.

If Qin Tian hadn't gone to catch the Evil Cultivators, she would have wanted to call him over too, so they could listen to Senior Xu play together.

Seeing Qin Yudie's happy expression, Xu Yan smiled as well, and his mood improved considerably.

Then he went into the inner room and brought out the Floating World Zither. He and Qin Yudie went to the back courtyard.

Xu Yan sat beneath the tree as before, placed his hands on the zither, and began to play.

Melody of Forgetting Worries.

As the zither music rang out, Qin Yudie felt her mind grow utterly peaceful. Every worry and sorrow in her heart vanished.

In Tianren City, the black qi inside those who had taken the Black Blood Pills quickly disappeared. They returned to normal and did not die.

Those who had planned to take the Black Blood Pills immediately abandoned the idea. Some even found it hard to believe they'd ever considered taking one.

Everyone who had obtained a Black Blood Pill handed it over to the Tianren Sect disciples dealing with the matter in Tianren City. In just a few minutes, the entire city returned to normal.

Everyone's spirits were remarkably good, and the panic and fear from before were gone.

"Third Elder, that's zither music!"

Hu Li heard the music too. In a fit of excitement, he crushed the last pill in his hand.

But he paid no attention to the pill. His expression turned dreamy, as if entranced.

The Demon Tiger Clan Third Elder closed his eyes as well, listening intently to the zither music that seemed to come from the heavens.

The displeasure in his heart soon vanished. His whole body felt light, more relaxed and at ease than ever before.