Let's Go

"Ding!"

Halting zither notes rang through the room, now loud, now soft, never quite forming a melody.

Yan Wushuang sat off to one side, feeling rather glum. Propping his chin on one hand, he watched Yang Wuzheng and Li Qingyue before him.

Li Qingyue sat upright beside the round table, her pale, delicate fingers plucking awkwardly at the strings.

With a calm expression, Yang Wuzheng stood beside Li Qingyue, leaning forward slightly to watch her play.

From time to time, he offered guidance. "Inward stroke, outward flick, inward hook, outward pluck, thumb sweep, thumb lift, downward strike, and upward pick-these are the eight finger techniques of zither playing."

"Each requires different degrees of force and speed. Once you can use them to play this Wuzheng Melody, you will have gained an initial grasp of your own strength."

"..."

Listening to Yang Wuzheng's patient words, Li Qingyue unconsciously turned to look at his profile.

His earnest, gentle manner of teaching left her briefly dazed.

Older Brother's face and voice surfaced in her mind in an instant.

They had depended on each other for survival, and Older Brother had once taught her many things in just this way.

Like Yang Wuzheng now, he had been gentle, earnest, and endlessly patient.

"Could you explain it again?"

Li Qingyue spoke without thinking. As she gazed at Yang Wuzheng's profile, a flicker of reminiscence passed through her eyes.

She had been far too stubborn back then.

Until Older Brother left, she had never once called him Older Brother or shown him a smile.

"Of course!"

Sensing her gaze on his face, Yang Wuzheng answered without the slightest hesitation, nor did he turn his head.

With boundless patience, he explained everything again.

Li Qingyue gently worked her fingers, then asked again, "Could you explain it one more time?"

"All right!"

Yang Wuzheng answered again and continued his patient explanation. He was so focused that he never once turned to look at Li Qingyue.

Only his gentle voice reached her, its words slipping into her mind like musical notes.

Only after finishing the third explanation did Yang Wuzheng seem to notice something unusual about Li Qingyue's expression, and he turned to look at her.

Her clear eyes held a soft, dreamlike haze as she stared at him without blinking.

When she met his gaze, a trace of panic appeared, as though someone had discovered a secret in her heart, and she instantly lowered her head.

"Thank you!"

Li Qingyue thanked him earnestly, raised her fingers, and played the Ancient Zither.

She had already memorized everything the first time.

But seeing Yang Wuzheng's patience, she had still been unable to stop herself from asking again.

And Yang Wuzheng had shown not the slightest impatience. Even his tone had remained unchanged as he taught her over and over.

It made her hate herself a little.

Why had she been so stubborn back then? Why had she pretended not to understand anything, letting Older Brother teach her again and again?

She had still stubbornly acted as though she could not learn, making a complete mess of herself.

She had never deserved Older Brother's kindness.

"You..."

Yang Wuzheng's heart skipped a beat, and he opened his mouth to speak.

Though it had lasted only an instant, he had still caught an indescribable warmth in Li Qingyue's eyes.

He had sensed her gaze from the beginning, ardent and direct, and had forcibly suppressed the urge to look.

But in the end, he had failed to hold himself back.

She... likes me?

The thought suddenly sprang into Yang Wuzheng's mind, and he hurriedly looked toward Yan Wushuang.

Yan Wushuang's fists were clenching and loosening, displeasure written all over his face.

The aura around him was somewhat turbulent, as though he wanted to fight someone.

Noticing Yang Wuzheng looking his way, Yan Wushuang hurriedly turned his head, pretending he had seen nothing.

He sulked by himself.

Now you finally know how I felt!

Seeing Yan Wushuang like this, Yang Wuzheng instantly brightened, without the slightest concern.

"Ding!"

The zither notes slowly rang out, still failing to form a melody.

Yet Li Qingyue was extraordinarily focused.

Her experience with Older Brother had taught her that no one in this world owed her anything.

A willingness to teach her, to treat her well without conditions-all of it sprang from affection.

Though she could not reciprocate, she must never forget that affection.

Once she had the ability, she would have to repay each kindness.

And she had to grow stronger, step by step, so that what had happened before would never unfold before her eyes again.

Those who show me kindness, I will repay. Those who make themselves my enemies, I will kill!

Li Qingyue silently repeated those words in her heart.

Time slowly flowed by.

Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng both listened silently to Li Qingyue's tuneless playing, watching her utterly focused face.

Again and again, she stubbornly continued without pausing for even a moment.

"Haste makes waste. Settle your mind and take it slowly!"

Yang Wuzheng offered a reminder. "You can rest for a while first."

"I can do it!"

Without even lifting her head, Li Qingyue stubbornly continued playing.

"If once isn't enough, I'll do it ten times. If ten times aren't enough, I'll do it a hundred. I know I can do it!"

Her stubborn words drove into their hearts like nails, stirring endless ripples across the lakes of their souls.

They knew very well that Li Qingyue possessed extraordinary comprehension.

Otherwise, she could never have attained Enlightenment so easily, much less combined the Five Elements Mountain and the Mountain-Embracing Seal to create her own art.

Now, with this stubborn resolve rooted deep in her bones, she would surely soar into the heavens once she opened her Bitter Sea.

Her Waste Body was merely the first hurdle on her flight into the sky, a trial to overcome.

Yet the sight of her stubbornness still made their hearts tremble.

Even they felt a profound admiration welling up within them.

And they simply could not understand what had sustained this frail young girl, allowing her to come this far without fearing anything.

The two watched it all in silence.

Again and again, without stopping.

Only when the sky began to brighten did Li Qingyue's playing gradually acquire a hint of musical grace.

The peaceful, uncontentious melody echoed through their hearts, and a vibrant vitality seemed to fill the room.

Her shifts in force and tempo already flowed like drifting clouds and running water.

Yet her earnest, stubborn face still showed no trace of relaxation.

Demanding the utmost of herself, she played in silence.

Again and again, until broad daylight came. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and press both hands against the strings, a hint of joy on her face.

Playing the zither truly was an excellent way to learn control over her strength.

It required the finest precision, while allowing her to keep adjusting according to the sounds she produced.

One night had already allowed her to master the strength that had surged through her body.

"Brother Yang, your zither!"

Li Qingyue spoke, slowly holding out the Ancient Zither.

Hearing that affectionate address, Yang Wuzheng paused briefly.

Even Yan Wushuang turned his head slightly, jealousy written across his face.

It was the first time they had heard her address them so warmly.

"It's yours. You'll have use for it later!"

After a pause, Yang Wuzheng answered softly.

Beside him, Yan Wushuang's expression instantly turned to shock, and he stared at Yang Wuzheng in disbelief.

That zither was the first spiritual artifact Yang Wuzheng had formed from his Divine Power, and he ordinarily treasured it beyond measure.

The last time Yan Wushuang had merely touched it, Yang Wuzheng had taken offense, and they had nearly come to blows.

Yet now he was actually giving it to Li Qingyue.

At this moment, even a fool would have understood Yang Wuzheng's feelings for Li Qingyue.

For a time, Yan Wushuang felt utterly torn.

Li Qingyue silently stroked the Ancient Zither before her. Since it could withstand her strength without breaking, it was clearly no ordinary object.

"Thank you!"

Li Qingyue did not refuse. Quietly putting away the Ancient Zither, she said calmly, "Brother Yang, Brother Yan, let's go!"

"To the Primordial Ancient Mine."

After speaking, she silently added in her heart, Since you enjoy it, I'll keep you company!

This is all I can do for now.

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