The boy looked to be in his teens, dressed in a green robe with ink-black hair scattered casually across his shoulders.
His facial features were exceptionally handsome, especially those emerald eyes, clear and profound, as if they concealed a spring of water. At that moment he had his eyes closed, playing the green jade flute in his hands with total concentration, radiating an indescribable charm.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and spilled onto him, plating him with a layer of golden halo.
Stream water flowed past his feet, birds sang in the branches, and butterflies fluttered among the flowers. All of this formed an exquisitely beautiful picture, as if he were not playing a flute, but conversing with the entire heaven and earth.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were both dumbstruck.
Standing in the shade of a tree not far away, they quietly watched the boy and listened to the moving flute music, forgetting for a moment the passage of time.
"This tune..." Gu Rong murmured to himself, a complex expression surfacing in his eyes. "It reminds me of my youth."
Chen Xin did not speak, but his gaze grew distant.
The days of his youth.
Back then he was not yet the Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, merely a wandering hero traversing the world with a sword in hand.
He and Gu Rong had walked every corner of the Douluo Continent, one wielding a sword and the other commanding bones, experiencing one thrilling battle after another and forging bonds of absolute loyalty with kindred spirits.
How uninhibited, unbridled, and fiercely righteous they had been in those days.
Later they met Ning Fengzhi, and, moved by his sincerity, joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to become protectors of the sect.
From that day on, their lives grew much steadier, completely lacking the passion of roaming the world with a sword as they had known before.
Until today, hearing this melody.
Those sealed memories surged into their hearts like a tidal wave.
Chen Xin suddenly smiled.
It was a liberated, carefree smile, as though he had cast off the baggage of many years and returned to his original self.
He turned his head, looked at Gu Rong, and said, "Old Bone, do you still remember that tune from our youth?"
Gu Rong was stunned, then immediately smiled as well. "How could I not? Back then we hummed it every single day while roaming about."
"Care for a tune?" Chen Xin said, his right hand pressing onto the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Gu Rong laughed heartily, his hands flipping as two zither strings condensed from white bone appeared between his fingers. With a casual pluck, a crisp and resonant zither note rang out.
The two men exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked toward the boy by the stream.
At that exact moment, Xiao Lin finished playing the final note and slowly lowered the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute.
He opened his eyes, meeting the gazes of the two old men.
Their eyes locked, and none of the three spoke.
Yet at that instant, they seemed to understand each other's innermost thoughts.
No words were needed, no introductions, no redundant explanations—music was the finest language.
Xiao Lin smiled faintly and raised the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute once more.
This time, what he played was still "A Laugh in the Vast Sea".
And Gu Rong simultaneously plucked the bone zither in his hands, the melodious zither sounds and flute notes intertwining to form a marvelous harmony.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin drew his longsword, moving gracefully as he danced in the open space by the stream.
His swordsmanship was fierce yet elegant, every thrust carrying a sharp sword qi that left trails of silvery-white arcs in the air.
Yet his movements displayed not an ounce of killing intent, instead brimming with a carefree and unrestrained spirit, as if he were not practicing the sword, but dancing in unison with heaven and earth.
The sound of the flute, the zither, and the flashing sword light.
The three intertwined, composing a moving musical piece in the clearing by the stream.
Xiao Lin played the flute, watching the white-robed elder dance in the sunlight, an unspeakable exhilaration surging through his heart.
Though he did not know who these two elders were, judging by the aura emanating from them, they were unquestionably supreme powerhouses.
Yet at this moment, they were willing to set aside their status and perform a duet with him, a total stranger, purely because of the allure of music.
This feeling was truly wonderful.
Gu Rong played the zither, watching the confidence and composure brimming across Xiao Lin's youthful face, and praised him inwardly. The kid possessed such attainment at such a tender age; his future achievements would be boundless.
What was even rarer was that he possessed a maturity and open-mindedness unfitting for his years, as though he had weathered many trials.
Chen Xin danced with the sword, feeling the spiritual shock brought by the melody.
He felt as though he had returned to his youth, back to the era of roaming the world with a sword. Back then, he too had been so high-spirited and fearless.
The tune ended, and the flute, zither, and sword light stopped simultaneously.
Tranquility returned to the streamside; only the stream water continued to murmur, and the birds still sang in the branches.
The three stood in place, smiling at one another.
" Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!" Gu Rong spoke first, his voice booming and carrying undisguised excitement. "It has been far too long since the old man felt this carefree! Little brother, what is the name of this piece?"
Xiao Lin cupped his fists in salute and replied with a smile, "'A Laugh in the Vast Sea'."
"'A Laugh in the Vast Sea'..." Chen Xin savored the name, a flash of appreciation crossing his eyes. "Fine name! Fine tune! Fine artistic conception!"
"Indeed fine!" Gu Rong nodded repeatedly. "A laugh in the vast sea, the surging tides crashing on both shores—these lyrics and this imagery are simply peerless! Little brother, did you compose this tune yourself?"
Xiao Lin hesitated, but ultimately nodded.
He could hardly say it was a classic masterpiece from another world, so he would just claim it as his own.
"A genius! Simply a genius!" Gu Rong gave a thumbs-up.
"Having lived for so many years, this old man has heard countless fine tunes, but not a single one could make my blood surge like this 'A Laugh in the Vast Sea', making me wish I could draw my sword and roam the world right now!"
"Old Bone is right," Chen Xin chimed in, his voice gentle and sincere. "This piece reminded me of many past events. Little brother, thank you."
Xiao Lin waved his hands hastily. "You two seniors exaggerate. This junior merely played as the spirit moved me; that I could catch the discerning eyes of two seniors is this junior's honor."
"Hahaha, you certainly have a way with words, kid," Gu Rong laughed. "I like it! Right, my name is Gu Rong, and this old codger is Chen Xin. We are patrons of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Little brother, what is your name?"
A jolt ran through Xiao Lin's heart.
Patrons of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Sword Douluo Chen Xin? Bone Douluo Gu Rong?
Those were Titled Douluos standing at the very pinnacle of the Douluo Continent! He never expected to run into them here, let alone perform a duet with them!
"This junior is Xiao Lin, paying respects to the two seniors." Xiao Lin bowed respectfully.
"No need for such formality," Chen Xin waved a hand. "Xiao Lin, seeing that you are so young yet possess such cultivation and mastery, you must be a disciple of some major sect, surely?"
"This junior is not a disciple of a major sect," Xiao Lin answered truthfully. "This junior is merely a graduate of Nuoding Academy, and I have come to the Star Dou Great Forest this time to hunt Soul Beasts and obtain my third soul ring."
"Nuoding Academy?" Gu Rong and Chen Xin exchanged glances, both catching a trace of astonishment in each other's eyes.
Could a small place like Nuoding Academy actually nurture such an outstanding disciple?
"Two seniors, this junior still needs to search for a suitable Soul Beast, so I shall take my leave."
Xiao Lin cupped his fists in farewell. Although the two were Titled Douluos, he had no intention of ingratiating himself or cozying up to them.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood side by side by the stream, watching Xiao Lin walk a dozen paces away as the two exchanged a look.
"Old Bone, what do you think?" Chen Xin asked, a rare trace of earnestness in his tone.
Gu Rong stroked his beard, narrowing his eyes as he watched Xiao Lin's receding back, and slowly said, "Innately talented, excellent disposition, poised in manner, neither servile nor overbearing. This kid is timber that can be shaped."
"And what else?"
"And what else?" Gu Rong pondered for a moment, then added, "He plays a fine flute."
"Just that?" Chen Xin turned his head to look at him.
Gu Rong felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze. "Then what do you think?"
Chen Xin fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "I think we have met a kindred spirit."
Before you continue