Do You Know How to Play the Xiao?

Because Xu Laoba refused to leave, Cao Xiaochun could not get much done on the last day. The two chatted for a while and ate something as evening approached. Once those decadent sounds started up that night, that shameless bastard stayed out on the balcony the entire time, and who knew what he was doing.

Cao Xiaochun was rather helpless about it. With nothing else to do, he returned to his room, locked the door, and took out the Ogre Hand Bone. He first had a swarm of Locust Gu gnaw all the flesh off it, then summoned Binuoxiu, signaling for her not to make any noise before using fire to dry out the material inside the arm bone.

After that, Cao Xiaochun took out a carving knife and slowly carved it. Once the bone flute had taken shape, he carefully polished its surface with sandpaper.

By the time he finished, it was already past midnight. Without hesitating further, Cao Xiaochun climbed into bed and went to sleep.

It was not until early the next morning that he lightly kicked Xu Laoba, who was sleeping soundly on the sofa. School break was over today, and it was also the big exam. They could not be late.

The two did not waste time. After washing up, they went downstairs, hailed a cab, and headed straight for school.

By the time they returned to the classroom, most of their classmates had already arrived. People gathered in twos and threes, discussing their experiences over the past seven days. Yet when they saw Cao Xiaochun enter, their expressions became rather strange.

Some were gloating, some were sympathetic, and some found a sense of kinship in him.

In short, combat-class professionals were surrounded by groups of admirers.

A group of life-class professionals with poor interpersonal relationships huddled together for warmth, while the rest were a pack of simps comforting their dream goddesses. Pan Yuanyuan had the largest such following.

Cao Xiaochun did not care. After slowly returning to his seat, he let out a huge yawn. Xu Laoba's snoring had been far too loud. He swore he would never share a room with that man again. Even if Xu Laoba slept on the sofa with a door between them, it was still unacceptable.

Just as Cao Xiaochun was thinking about the upcoming exam procedures, Li Hanyi slowly walked into the classroom. Instantly, waves of astonished exclamations rose from the room!

However, the girl ignored them and headed straight back to her seat. After seeming to hesitate for a moment, she took a steamed bun and a cup of soy milk from her backpack and slowly offered them to Cao Xiaochun.

"Would you like a big white steamed bun?"

Li Hanyi had never been much of a talker, and she was clearly nervous upon seeing Cao Xiaochun again. After all, in the dungeon, her deskmate had descended like a god to save her, and the two of them had even ended up embracing in a rather awkward manner.

Because of that, she stumbled over her words. She had meant to ask whether he wanted breakfast, but the words seemed to take on a different meaning the moment they left her mouth.

"Uh... no, thanks."

Cao Xiaochun raised a brow. Although the two had sat together every day, they had never had much to talk about. They mostly went about their own business and rarely interacted.

Li Hanyi taking the initiative to speak to him surprised him somewhat, but opening with a topic like that left him even more at a loss.

Cao Xiaochun was also rather helpless about what had happened in the dungeon. Better not eat the bun. Too much of it would make him feel stifled, and it would be hard to catch his breath.

"Thank you... for that day."

Li Hanyi did not mind Cao Xiaochun's refusal. She merely lowered her head, and only after a long while did she finally speak.

"We're deskmates. It was nothing."

Cao Xiaochun had not taken saving someone on a whim to heart. He had already had his own plans when he went there. Since he knew the person in danger, he did not mind lending a hand.

But the prerequisite was that it absolutely could not affect his plans!

"Uncle Li and the others are better now. Thanks to you, they were able to keep their lives. So Father told me to properly thank you."

Li Hanyi slowly took a bank card from her pocket and placed it on the desk.

"There are five million Nine Provinces currency on this card. It has no password."

The girl's voice was soft. Unlike her usual coldness, she now buried her head against her chest, completely lacking her former pride. Instead, she looked like a little girl who wanted to make a new friend but was too embarrassed to meet the other person's gaze.

Since the two had barely interacted before, Cao Xiaochun only knew a little about Li Hanyi's family background.

He had not expected the Li Family to be willing to hand over five million Nine Provinces currency for two guards. It seemed this ice-cold beauty was actually an incredibly wealthy woman.

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Cao Xiaochun smiled, picked up the bank card from the desk, glanced at it twice, and slipped it into his pocket without the slightest embarrassment.

His profession could not function without money. The two basic Gu insects alone, plus the unexpected bonus of Xiao Qiang, had already cost him several million.

And that was only the beginning. Who knew how much more he would need to spend from here on out? Naturally, he would never turn down money delivered right to his door!

"You're welcome. You deserve it. I honestly didn't know how else to thank you. After thinking it over, this was the only thing I could offer."

"It's fine. This is great. I like it." Cao Xiaochun smiled casually.

Looking at Cao Xiaochun, Li Hanyi slowly raised her head. They had been deskmates for two years, yet she realized she had never really understood him.

Still, he seemed rather easygoing.

"By the way, deskmate, I have a small favor to ask of you. I wonder if you'd be willing to help?"

After thinking for a moment, Cao Xiaochun leaned forward slightly and spoke calmly.

"Hm? What is it?" Li Hanyi was puzzled. She did not know what she could possibly help him with.

"I heard you're proficient with musical instruments. So, do you know how to play the xiao?"

?????

Hearing that, Li Hanyi raised a brow, unable to understand what Cao Xiaochun meant. She did enjoy all kinds of musical instruments, and that was no secret at school.

But what did that have to do with the favor he wanted from her?

"I know a little. What do you want to do?"

Li Hanyi paused before replying calmly.

"Then could you teach me?"

After receiving a positive answer, Cao Xiaochun did not stand on ceremony. He pulled the bone flute from his drawer and waved it in front of Li Hanyi, obvious anticipation in his tone.

A Gu Master who could control Gu through music was the best kind, okay?

"Uh... just for this?" Seeing Cao Xiaochun's eyes suddenly light up, Li Hanyi froze for a moment. Did Gu Masters need to know this sort of thing too?

"Of course. I've always been quite interested in musical instruments."

What else would I want it for? It's not like I'm asking you to play a tune for me.

"I can teach you, but I have a question. Is music theory something Gu Masters absolutely need to use?"

After thinking it over, Li Hanyi agreed immediately. It sounded like a trivial matter, and she had a good impression of Cao Xiaochun. Since he needed it, she did not mind helping him.

"Of course not. The real reason is that it looks cool!"

"Just imagine it. In the future, when the music begins, the monsters in a dungeon will first catch wind of it, then be scared out of their wits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"