Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 17 The Snow in Lingzhou is Similar Every Year

When the music ended, everyone realized that half an hour had passed so quickly.

Some disciples got up and walked out of the hall, while others stayed behind to wait for Master Qingyang's next song.

During the breaks, the Listening Hall was relatively quiet. Even when people spoke, they unconsciously lowered their voices, for fear of disturbing the Qingyang Master at the head of the hall.

Ning Fusang sat by the door at the very end, with people constantly walking behind her.

Suddenly, someone sat down next to her.

Ning Fusang glanced at it slowly, then looked away.

The young man took the initiative to speak: "Junior Sister Ning, what a coincidence, you've also come to listen to Master Qingyang's class."

Ning Fusang looked at Shen Yuanxi and gave a forced smile: "Senior Brother Shen doesn't come to the Listening Hall often, does he?"

Shen Yuanxi asked in surprise, "How did Junior Sister Ning know?"

He said to himself, "To be honest, this is actually my second time visiting Tingyintang."

Ning Fusang didn't turn to look at him, and said in a very ordinary tone, "Because I often come to Tingyin Hall."

Hearing this, Shen Yuanxi understood everything. He smiled sheepishly and casually praised, "Junior Sister Ning is a refined person."

He came to Tingyin Hall simply because he had been too troubled lately and his cultivation was not going well. His master ordered him to come here to calm his mind.

Ning Fusang didn't respond, so Shen Yuanxi also quieted down and looked up.

A handsome young man leaned slightly forward and asked politely:

"After this outer sect competition ends, will the Master accept any disciples?"

Qingyang Zhenren possessed a graceful and refined demeanor, like a beautiful orchid on a riverbank, exuding a tranquil and otherworldly aura. Even when facing an outer disciple, she showed no arrogance, and said calmly, "You will know after the outer sect competition ends."

The young man, slightly disappointed at not receiving a definite answer, bowed and left through the front door.

Shen Yuanxi asked Ning Fusang, "Junior Sister Ning, do you know who was the person who just asked Master Qingyang if he would accept disciples?"

"Who?" Ning Fusang asked cooperatively.

Because she frequently visited the Listening Hall, she had actually seen that person several times, but each time it was only during Master Qingyang's class. Although his face was familiar, she didn't know his name.

Shen Yuanxi got excited and said vividly, "His name is Gao Qingque. He joined the sect eight years ago, but for some reason, he was absent from the outer sect competition, so he has been staying in the outer sect ever since."

"Gao Qingque is now at the peak of the fourth level of cultivation and will participate in this outer sect competition. Everyone knows that Gao Qingque will be the undisputed first place winner in this competition. He is very popular in the outer sect."

"Junior Sister Ning doesn't even recognize him. Just as the rumors say, she's oblivious to everything else."

Ning Fusang gave a cold laugh, it was unclear what she was mocking.

Zheng——

A distant, clear melody drifted out, and the Listening Hall fell silent. Shen Yuanxi quickly sat up straight, fell silent, and devoted herself entirely to listening to the music.

The sound of the zither is like a mountain stream, pure and beautiful, murmuring softly, then transforming to bring a sense of vastness and the enlightenment of exquisite charm.

Master Qingyang plucked the strings of the zither with her delicate hands, following her heart and not being bound by any rules. Several spirited larks perched on the plum blossom tree outside the Listening Hall, so engrossed in the music that they forgot they were originally there to forage for food.

The melodious sound of the zither carried far. Two graceful white cranes danced in the snow, wing to wing, their movements elegant and beautiful.

"My two cranes are the laziest of all. The only thing that can make them dance to music is probably the music of Master Qingyang."

The man had a handsome appearance, with silver streaks in his hair, yet he possessed a refined and scholarly air, and a slender figure, resembling a pine tree in its graceful form.

Seeing that he still had the leisure to watch the cranes, Duanmu Meiqing was furious: "Zhen'er's matter has not been resolved yet, and you, as her master, are not worried at all, and even have the mood to watch the cranes dance."

She raised her hand, condensed a ball of snow, and threw it out. The two cranes were startled and flew away.

Shen Hongxue sighed, looking in the direction the cranes had flown away, and said regretfully, "With Madam so furious, I'm afraid my two cranes won't dare to come back anytime soon. Oh well, let them be carefree cranes for now."

Duanmu Meiqing glanced at him, sensing the hidden meaning in his words. Shen Hongxue smiled and reassured her, "Zhen'er will make her own decision. There's no use in us being anxious. Why not let her handle it herself?"

Shen Hongxue gazed into the distance, her tone calm: "She and that child have a very deep karmic connection, and it is not yet time to sever it. Madam, having attained enlightenment, should understand this principle."

Duanmu Meiqing disagreed with Shen Hongxue's words and coldly said, "I have my own path to enlightenment, and I only know how to sever the cause and the effect!"

Shen Hongxue shook her head: "How can cause and effect be completely severed? Cutting off the old cause will bring about a new result. How can you know that the new result won't be more bitter than the old one?"

Duanmu Meiqing fell silent. Shen Hongxue took her hand and smiled slightly, "Originally, I could have sat around the stove with my wife, cooking snow and watching the cranes dance. Now, I can only trouble my wife and me to watch this snow that is the same every year and has no new ideas."

Duanmu Meiqing suddenly chuckled.

"The snow in Lingzhou is similar every year, there's nothing wrong with that."

"What you say is wonderful, madam."

Shen Hongxue pulled Duanmu Meiqing to sit down and personally brewed tea. The gentle sound of boiling water made the world seem less desolate and cold.

"Elder Gu brought the disciple who entered the sect with the Star Sword Token to meet you, right? Is there any problem?" Duanmu Meiqing asked casually, smelling the light aroma of tea.

"Elder Gu is very thoughtful. He brought Xu Jianjia and Xu Qiu to meet me. Xu Jianjia came up from Dudao Peak, so there's no problem."

“That Xu Qiu…” Shen Hongxue sighed slightly as she spoke.

Duanmu Meiqing looked up and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Shen Hongxue sighed, "Her physique is special; she can only cultivate to the fifth level at most."

So Xu Jianjia gave the Star Sword Token to Xu Qiu, probably hoping that the Southern Star Sword Sect would take better care of her because of the Star Sword Token.

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Meiqing's eyes also showed a hint of regret. After taking a sip of tea, she said, "Even so, we still need to send someone to investigate their identities, and most importantly, the origin of this Star Sword Token."

Shen Hongxue nodded: "Of course. I have already instructed Elder Gu to keep a close eye on the two of them within the sect."

He raised the white jade cup with red plum blossoms and said with a gentle smile, "Madam, please try this newest Golden Melon Green Tea."

The couple stopped discussing sect matters and instead talked about the refined pleasure of tea tasting.

Tingyin Hall.

The lingering sound of the seven-stringed zither slowly faded away. Master Qingyang sat upright before the zither and said calmly, "Today's lesson is now over."

She stood up, and with a flick of her sleeve, the seven-stringed zither was put away. After Master Qingyang left, the disciples who had come to listen to the lecture all walked out.

(End of this chapter)