When Rain Poured in Raging Streams, I Played the Zither

"As your teacher, I not only teach you how to cultivate yourself, but also how to do things."

The Martial Arts Academy was completely empty.

This is a branch of Hong's, much like the Ping'an Hotel, but this Martial Arts Academy doesn't have any ties to the underworld.

It was merely a promise made by one of Master's Registered Disciple.

At that moment, Registered Disciple came over and offered two cups of tea.

"Senior brother." Hong Xuesheng looked at the young man with curiosity, served him hot tea, and quietly sat down to the side to wait.

She shared the same surname as her teacher in Jiangzhou, which is why, despite being Registered Disciple, she was allowed to open a branch school under the name Hong's.

Zhang Fusheng nodded, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked at his eldest apprentice, who was sitting upright, and continued:

"When I first started learning, my master taught me a lot, and now I'm teaching you the same things."

He put down his teacup and asked gently:

"Lingzhu, let me ask you this: if you have made an enemy, and after you go to their door, defeat them, what should you do when you face their entire family?"

Wei Lingzhu thought seriously for a moment before saying:

"I will first explain the principles of benevolence and righteousness to them."

Zhang Fusheng frowned. This apprentice was exceptionally talented, but his heart was a little too soft.

I was about to shake my head and refuse.

Wei Lingzhu continued clearly and logically:

"I will cut off the heads of my enemies and ask them, for the sake of righteousness, are you willing to take revenge?"

Zhang Fusheng paused for a moment and asked:

"Then what?"

The girl smiled, her eyes crinkling:

"If they are willing to follow the path of righteousness and sacrifice themselves for justice, to avenge their grievances, I will naturally grant their wish, send them to their deaths, and fulfill their great desire to sacrifice themselves for justice."

After a pause, her smile faded, and she continued:

"If they are unwilling to uphold righteousness and only seek to survive, then I have no choice but to send them to their deaths for the sake of the greater good of the world."

"Thus, the benevolence and righteousness of the world are fulfilled."

Hong Xuesheng, who was standing to the side, almost lost his composure.

Zhang Fusheng lowered his eyelids, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and muttered:

"Wouldn't there be any omissions?"

He wanted to recount the human radar technique he had learned from his master.

But then he heard his disciple shake his head:

"I will leave the eldest one behind, make a cut in his or her heart, hang him or her from a tree, and then leave."

"Usually, the one who is hidden is the youngest in the family—and they are often closest to the eldest."

Wei Lingzhu exhaled a breath of stale air:

"I will wait and see if anyone comes to rescue the elderly man. If not, I will wait and see if anyone comes to collect the body."

"If not, I will send men to dump the rotting bones in a mass grave frequented by wild dogs, bury a potent poison among the bones that takes effect in several days, and then leave in a grand manner."

Speaking of which,

The girl closed her eyes:

"In this way, those who collect their bodies will all die from the poison. If there are any survivors in this situation, then I have nothing to fear."

Zhang Fusheng's lips twitched:

Why are you fearless?

"I'm confident I won't be caught up," the girl simply said.

The Martial Arts Academy fell into dead silence.

Hong Xuesheng shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling that this little girl was far too ruthless.

Listening to the pattering rain outside the Martial Arts Academy, Zhang Fusheng finally asked:

"Don't you uphold benevolence and righteousness?"

Wei Lingzhu spoke seriously:

"Benevolence and righteousness are never about being soft-hearted. I will not do the deed of killing one to save a hundred. If the world were to collapse, I would be willing to stand up for it and sacrifice myself for righteousness."

"However, I will never sit idly by if anything threatens my own safety."

Zhang Fusheng was momentarily stunned:

"If you value yourself above all else, why sacrifice yourself for righteousness? If you value benevolence and justice, why engage in killing?"

Wei Lingzhu shook her head:

"Killing is not evil. If a virtuous person's parents are killed, how could he not seek revenge?"

"As for saving lives, I certainly want to protect myself and avoid standing under a dangerous wall—that's the right thing to do. But some things have to be done, and some people have to step up without hesitation."

"Killing and saving are never in conflict."

Zhang Fusheng remained silent, carefully examining Wei Lingzhu.

The little girl seems to have her own set of principles for doing things, which may not be right, but they may not be wrong either.

"In this regard, I have nothing more to teach you."

Zhang Fusheng sighed softly, then abruptly changed the subject:

"Your grandmaster has arrived."

Hong Xuesheng's eyes widened in surprise. Who?

Wei Lingzhu was also taken aback, looking around curiously:

"Grandmaster? Where is he?"

The sound of rain outside grew louder and louder.

It gradually turned into a downpour.

Strangely, despite the torrential rain, the long street outside the Martial Arts Academy was still packed with people, and many shops were forced to remain open.

Listening to the torrential rain, listening to the bustling noise of people.

Zhang Fusheng spoke calmly:

"At this moment, he is probably catching up with old friends."

He paused, then began in a melodious voice:

"Alright, I'll still explain the matter to you today. Please listen to my explanation."

Hong Xuesheng noticed the young man glancing sideways, his gaze landing on the guqin in the corner.

Zhang Fusheng asked:

Is this your guqin?

Hong Xuesheng nodded quickly, gazing at Senior Brother Zhang, who was younger than him and had started his training later.

She began to explain:

"I also enjoy playing a tune or two on ordinary days."

Zhang Fusheng nodded and asked politely:

"May I borrow your zither?"

Hong Xuesheng nodded quickly:

"Certainly!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the young man reach out and beckon, and the guqin actually floated into the air and landed on the young man's lap!

Hong Xuesheng was dumbfounded. Telekinesis? This Senior Brother Zhang, whom he had just met, actually possessed such abilities?!

She swallowed hard. Could it be that Senior Brother Zhang had cultivated the Visualization Method to the Minor Perfection level, giving birth to the legendary illusory divine realm?

Wei Lingzhu wasn't surprised, but asked with a puzzled look:

"Master, can you still play the zither?"

Zhang Fusheng nodded and smiled:

"When I was little, my mom enrolled me in some extracurricular classes, and I learned a little bit, but I've never played this kind of traditional zither before. I'll give it a try, I'll give it a try."

The words had barely left his mouth.

He placed his palm on the strings, pressed them lightly, and then flicked them with his fingers.

'Thud!!'

Hong Xuesheng heard the clear sound of a zither.

The music suddenly began, and my vision was filled with a dazzling array of sounds.

When she regained her clarity, she was already there with Wei Lingzhu, in a dense thicket of flowers.

The flowers all radiate a faint glow, standing here as if they were standing on the other shore, their final resting place.

There is light above his head.

Hong Xuesheng looked up at him, lost in thought.

In the sky, tens of thousands of blurry figures enveloped in golden light sat upright, their vast chanting voices gathering together like the sound of a morning bell.

It was like a sudden, sharp blow to the head.

My jumbled thoughts cleared instantly, and past doubts vanished in an instant.

The two women then sat cross-legged among the Other Shore Flower lilies and quietly began to contemplate the Dao.

By chance, Zhang Fusheng granted her a fortuitous opportunity.

"Compassion, compassion."

Outside the Martial Arts Academy.

The rain was getting heavier, but the number of people on the street was also increasing.

"Is no one willing to be the first to stick their neck out?"

The Innate Great Realm expert, covered in tattoos, murmured and coughed softly.

The injuries I sustained outside the Ten Directions Vortex some time ago have not yet fully healed.

Even now, thinking back to that day still fills me with lingering fear.

If it had been me who took action then, I would have been able to suppress that Sky Patrol Chariot back into the vortex.

He himself was the one who was slammed into the peach tree by the Ten Thousand Zang Ox Demon's palm, and then drained of his life force and perished.

The thought of the Bull Divine Envoy's eye to twitch, but he quickly shook his head, banishing the terrifying figure from his mind.

High Envoy a question:

"My lord, you are not in good condition. We may not be able to compete with the other sects."

"Who said we were going to argue?"

The Divine Envoy exhaled and said coldly:

"As long as the other sects don't get it, we haven't suffered any losses, and that would be considered a success."

Many High Envoy the pupils to constrict, as some have said:

"You mean..."

The Divine Envoy coughed slightly, patted his chest to suppress his agitated Qi and Blood, and then continued speaking:

"When chaos erupts, strike immediately and seize the opportunity to kill Zhang Fusheng."

The envoys 'High Envoy tightened, and then they nodded silently.

The tattoos on their bodies twisted even faster.

At the same time.

On top of a tall building.

When Hong Tianbao was brought here and saw the old Daoist priest, his tense nerves relaxed slightly.

"I haven't seen Old Xu for many years."

The old Daoist turned around, stared at Hong Tianbao, and sensed that the other party still possessed the aura of a grandmaster. He sighed slightly.

Things have changed, but people are no longer the same.

He paused, then changed the subject.

The Daoist Xu spoke softly:

"Hong Tianbao, you shouldn't have come. This place and time is extremely dangerous, far beyond your capabilities."

The fat old man paused for a moment:

"That's my apprentice."

Xu Daoren chuckled, gazing intently at Hong Tianbao:

"This concerns the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron, you should know what this means. The other sects are skeptical, but I believe this news 70% of the time."

After a short while,

Xu Daoren continued speaking:

"After all, I know you were once part of the Lingshan lineage, including your master Yuan Feidao, and naturally, your disciple as well."

"And the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron is Supreme Treasure of the Spirit Mountain System."

Hong Tianbao's lips trembled, but he shook his head and said:

"Whether you believe it or not, the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron does not belong to my disciple."

Xu Daoren stared at the fat old man for a long time.

He nodded:

"I believe you, but like I said, I have to give it a try—however, since he is your disciple, if my East Cult wins in the end, I can have a proper talk with that child."

Hong Tianbao breathed a sigh of relief.

The rain is still falling.

He looked up and saw that the sky was covered by dark clouds. It was evening, but the moon was nowhere to be seen.

The heavy rain continued incessantly.

Xu Daoren patted Hong Tianbao on the shoulder and sighed softly:

"I was not as good as you before. You were the most dazzling star in dozens of cities among our generation, it's just a pity..."

Hong Tianbao said in a low voice:

"What's past is past. At least now I have a good apprentice. He is exceptionally talented, and I want to watch him go further and reach greater heights."

Xu Daoren pondered for a moment:

"I can't guarantee anything, but if he survives this conflict today, my East Cult will certainly not make things difficult for him."

"The premise is that he will cooperate."

After a short while,

Xu Daoren said earnestly:

"Old Hong, go see your apprentice and try to persuade him."

"The rain is getting heavier; the conflict is about to begin."

As he finished speaking, he glanced sideways and gestured, and a Grandmaster-level administrator stepped forward to help the fat old man down the high-rise building.

The two walked in the rain, weaving through the crowds under the watchful eyes of many, until they reached the entrance of the Martial Arts Academy.

Suddenly, the sound of a koto rang out from inside the Martial Arts Academy.

The sound of the zither was not intense, but melodious and gentle, like a mountain stream.

"Old Master Hong, please."

The grandmaster spoke, helping the fat old man into the Martial Arts Academy, where they saw two women sitting with their eyes closed, and a young man with his back to them, engrossed in playing the zither.

Step forward.

It's Little Fusheng.

The young man, while playing the zither, glanced sideways but didn't speak. Instead, he mouthed, "Master."

He said silently:

"Please take a seat. As for you, the Grandmaster of the East Cult?"

The East Cult Master frowned and said softly:

"Young man, my Divine Envoy brought a message: if you are willing to cooperate, we will do our utmost to Zhou Quan you."

He saw the young man playing the zither smiling, but did not respond. Instead, he silently mouthed:

"Sit down and listen to me play the zither."

The grandmaster was displeased and wanted to interrupt, but was horrified to find that he could no longer control his body!

He sat down cross-legged with difficulty, slowly and stiffly.

The gentle, melodious sound of the zither suddenly surged with passion!

The sound of the piano pierced through the torrential rain outside.

Just then, a bolt of lightning struck down from the dark clouds, illuminating everyone's face in its flash.

Then, at this moment.

In the rain, under the lightning, amidst the sound of a piano.

Conflict arose suddenly, and battles broke out instantly.

First the believers, then the leaders, and even the masters and High Envoy all perished. Buildings collapsed and evaporated, and long streets were torn apart.

Amidst the roar,

Only the Martial Arts Academy remained intact.

The fight intensified, seemingly destined to end in battle. Brilliant light pierced the darkness, illuminating half of Longzhou City.

A chilling, Sha Qi swept in from outside the Martial Arts Academy.

The zither music was clear and resonant.

The young man was still playing the zither with complete absorption, his fingers plucking and dancing across the strings.

The sound of the zither grew louder and louder.

Amidst the music, Hong Tianbao was filled with doubts and confusion, while the East Cult Master was unable to move, as if he were trapped in the deepest and heaviest quagmire.

A sound of something collapsing came from outside.

Half of the dragon boat was sunk.

The music still plays.