"~"
The pleasant sound of the qin flowed through the chest like a mountain spring, nourishing the heart and refreshing the spirit, as though one had entered an immortal realm.
One person, one qin, and one elegant window formed a graceful, captivating picture.
As the piece ended, Nong Yu slowly rested her slender fingers on the strings, yet the lingering notes continued to echo through the room.
Clap! Clap!
Wang Shu lightly applauded and praised her.
"Miss Nong Yu, that was wonderful!"
There were no extravagant words of praise, only a straightforward and concise compliment, without the slightest hint of pretentious refinement.
"How crude!"
Wei Zhuang, who had kept a cold face the entire time and held Shark Teeth in his crossed arms, glared furiously, his displeasure evident.
"Wow, that was so beautiful!"
Flame Spirit Ji's eyes had reddened. Nong Yu's music reminded her of her childhood.
It reminded her of the days when she had lived with her parents and younger brother.
Nong Yu gave a slight bow, her every movement elegant. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, like yangchun baixue.
"Is the young master satisfied?"
Zi Nu stepped forward slightly and asked, every movement of hers graceful and enchanting.
"Of course I am. Miss Nong Yu's skill with the qin is rare in this age, truly unmatched in the world. She already possesses the bearing of a master. I imagine she must have come from a distinguished family." Wang Shu said.
"Young master, are you judging Nong Yu to be from a distinguished family simply from her music?" Zi Nu asked with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling.
"Isn't that so?" Wang Shu asked in return, his forthright gaze fixed openly on Zi Nu.
"Hehe." Zi Nu did not answer.
"The jade pendant on Miss Nong Yu appears to be made of Fire Rain Agate. An ordinary family's daughter could never possess such a treasure." Wang Shu said.
"Young master, it is indeed Fire Rain Agate."
Nong Yu rested one hand at her waist and lightly pinched the Fire Rain Agate between her jade-like fingers. A wistful look emerged in her clear, water-like eyes.
"This is the only token my father left me!"
Then Nong Yu lowered the Fire Rain Agate pendant again and sighed softly.
She had had neither father nor mother since childhood. Ever since she could remember, only this Fire Rain Agate pendant had accompanied her.
"In my humble opinion, this pendant is the Luan Feng Double Jade. It should be one of a pair. If you can find the other identical pendant, perhaps Miss Nong Yu can discover the answer she seeks." Wang Shu said.
Nong Yu's expression froze slightly. She picked up the pendant again and examined it closely. Sure enough, it did seem as though something was missing.
She had previously regarded it only as a token and had never given it much thought.
But after Wang Shu's reminder today, enlightenment suddenly came to her, and a glimmer of light appeared on the dark road ahead.
"With the sea of humanity so vast, how long would it take to find a jade pendant? You would be better off giving up on that hope rather than inviting needless sorrow." Wei Zhuang said.
At those words, the flame that had just risen in Nong Yu's heart slowly went out again.
That was right. How difficult would it be to find another pendant made of Fire Rain Agate amid the sea of people?
"Hehe, I believe it would not be difficult." Wang Shu seemed to be deliberately opposing Wei Zhuang.
Sure enough, Nong Yu's sunken heart rose again, and she looked at Wang Shu expectantly.
"First, where does Fire Rain Agate come from? There are very few Fire Rain Agate veins in the Central Plains, so they can be ruled out.
As far as I know, this rare mineral, Fire Rain Agate, is abundant in the Baiyue region. Even in Baiyue, it is precious and not something ordinary people can own.
Miss Nong Yu is from Han State, not Baiyue, so we can eliminate a great many people through deduction.
Fire Rain Agate is worth a hundred gold pieces. Ordinary people cannot afford such a thing.
If Miss Nong Yu truly wishes to uncover her origins, she can begin from this angle.
Look into wealthy merchants or officials who have traveled between Baiyue and Xinzheng over the past few years.
With Purple Orchid Pavilion's intelligence network, I imagine that should be easy enough to investigate."
Wang Shu directly pointed Nong Yu, who stood amid the fog, toward a clear direction.
Before long, she would be able to find her biological parents.
Nong Yu was extremely excited at this moment. Though she had never met her birth parents, she still clung to that familial bond.
She believed that her parents had not heartlessly abandoned her, but had their own difficulties.
Perhaps somewhere, her parents were also desperately searching for her.
Nong Yu's eyes reddened. Joy appeared on her flawless, fair face as she looked at him gratefully and said:
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Hehe, just play a few more pieces for me!" Wang Shu said with a smile.
Zi Nu and Wei Zhuang exchanged a glance. Naturally, they took Wang Shu's proposal to heart.
For them, finding a wealthy merchant or official who had traveled between Baiyue and Xinzheng would be effortless.
Flame Spirit Ji remained silent. Her gaze drifted restlessly between Wang Shu and Nong Yu, her soft pink lips pouting as she looked a little unhappy.
As the sun set, another wonderful day passed within Purple Orchid Pavilion.
Though Wang Shu had wanted to stay the night and discuss life with the lovely ladies of Purple Orchid Pavilion,
he noticed that little Flame Spirit Ji's expression was growing increasingly gloomy, so he decided to leave that paradise of pleasure.
Compared to Xinzheng during the day, Xinzheng beneath the setting sun was even livelier and more prosperous.
Dazzling lights gradually rose, as though heralding the arrival of a city that never slept.
"Here!"
Wang Shu pulled a skewer of Sugar-coated Haws from behind a vendor and handed it to Flame Spirit Ji.
Flame Spirit Ji happily accepted it. She extended her rosy lips and took a lick, then slightly furrowed her delicate brows and stuck out her tongue.
"Master, it's so sour!"
"Is it?" Wang Shu said.
Though it was sour, Flame Spirit Ji still earnestly savored the wonderful sensation the Sugar-coated Haws brought her.
"Master, aren't we going back?" Flame Spirit Ji asked doubtfully as she ate the Sugar-coated Haws and watched the direction they were heading.
"Someone doesn't want us to go back." Wang Shu's expression turned mysterious as he glanced behind them from the corner of his eye, deep in thought.
Flame Spirit Ji was very clever and understood the situation as well. Yet she was not the least bit afraid; instead, she was eager to try.
Wang Shu and Flame Spirit Ji moved farther and farther away from Xinzheng. Before long, they had left the bustling, prosperous streets of the capital and entered the outskirts, where there was no one around.
Only after confirming that no one else was nearby did Wang Shu stop and speak to the air.
"Aren't you coming out yet?"
After he spoke, the surroundings remained silent. There was still no sound at all, as though no one truly was there.
"Hmph!"
Seeing this, Wang Shu snorted coldly. Powerful true energy continuously spread outward from him like endless ocean waves crashing against the shore.
The leaves trembled and rustled, vegetation swayed, and a fierce wind ran rampant, howling in fury!
Rustle!
At that moment, the crisp sound of chains came from the darkness. A mass of patterned black mist drifted beneath the night sky, ghostlike in form.
Faintly accompanying it were the sounds of wailing ghosts and howling spirits. Within the dark shadows, that mass of ghostly qi seemed to transform into a gigantic, ferocious Taotie beast.
Flame Spirit Ji instinctively spread her palm, and a small flame appeared in her hand as she assumed a guarded expression.
Although her master was very strong, she did not want to remain sheltered beneath his wings forever. She wanted to protect her master instead!
Rattle!
At that moment, a savage black dragon suddenly tore through the darkness, riding the storm as it attacked.
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