The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 438 Awakening, Taking Action (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
As she spoke, Yang Yao'er gently raised the xiao (vertical bamboo flute) and brought it to her lips to begin playing a new tune.

The piece was extremely heroic, with a deep tone and a hint of sorrow. Zhao Ti couldn't help but nod in approval as he listened.

Although I don't know much about the techniques of playing the xiao (vertical flute), I can still distinguish between good and bad music among the Six Arts of Confucianism: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.

Yang Yao'er had actually played extremely well, with almost no flaws. The people around her probably weren't lying to her. However, she might not have had much opportunity to practice and compare with others in this field, so she lacked confidence and didn't realize that she was already considered a master.

After a short while, the piece ended, and Yang Yao'er looked at Zhao Ti: "Brother Zhao, what did you think of this piece?"

Zhao Ti nodded and said, "It's practically perfect. The weakness has been reduced to almost nothing. As long as Miss Yang continues to practice like this, she will probably reach the level of a master in no time."

"Really, Brother Zhao?" Yang Yao'er was immediately delighted. "I don't believe what my family says, because they always flatter me no matter what. Brother Zhao is not a member of my family, so there's no need for you to be hypocritical. It seems my flute skills are indeed very high."

Zhao Ti breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Just as he was about to suggest getting off the boat and going home, he heard footsteps behind the boat and heard an old voice.

“Miss, that’s not the case. Although the family will welcome you, outsiders will see that you speak with extraordinary manners, wear luxurious clothes, and travel in a lavish boat. They will speak falsely and pretend to be sincere, thus deceiving you.”

"Uncle Zhu, how is this possible?" Yang Yao'er asked, puzzled. "If it's not someone close to you, why would you do this?"

"Alas, Miss, what I just said about the ghost realm of the martial world is exactly like this. The more outsiders see that Miss's identity is extraordinary and her appearance is stunning, the more they will have ulterior motives."

"Hmm?" Zhao Ti slowly turned his head upon hearing this, looking at the old man who walked out from behind. His face was expressionless, but his eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.

Such indirect and veiled attacks would anger not only ordinary people, but even a gentleman. A gentleman does not only refrain from offending others unless they offend him. A gentleman speaks out for justice, fights injustice, acts bravely for what is right, and draws his sword to question others. What injustice could there be, especially when it concerns his own life?
He said calmly, "The human heart is a den of demons, so why distinguish between inside and outside? The world is right beside us, so why care about kinship?"

"How dare you, you brat, what are you saying?" Upon hearing this, the old man's expression changed immediately. His beard and hair stood on end, revealing an angry look. His clothes billowed without wind, making a "whooshing" sound.

"What did I say? Making wild guesses, making baseless accusations, being insubordinate and disrupting the ruler's mind, what do you think I said?" Zhao Ti said slowly.

“Good, good…” Yang Yao’er’s eyes sparkled with a strange light upon hearing this: “Brother Zhao’s words are so well said, they make perfect sense and are truly insightful.”

"Where there are clouds, there is the world; where there are people, there is the martial world. Why distinguish between inside and outside, near and far?" Zhao Ti smiled slightly.

"Where there are clouds, there is the world; where there are people, there is the martial world?" Yang Yao'er's face was filled with shock: "Brother Zhao, how did you come up with such a wonderful sentence, such a profound truth..."

"Who exactly are you?" The old man was still surrounded by a strong wind, but his tone was noticeably weaker, and he looked at Zhao Ti with surprise.

Zhao Ti asked, "Who am I? And who are you?"

"I am an old servant of the Yang family in Huazhou, known as the Iron Claw Water-Walker," the old man blurted out.

Zhao Ti smiled slightly: "I am but an ordinary scholar from Yuzhou, a humble student of little renown."

"What is your background, scholar?" the old man asked in a deep voice. "You know nothing of music, yet you use fallacies and heresies to bewitch my young lady!"

"I don't think you've ever been to school," Zhao Ti shook his head. "What scholar doesn't understand music? You don't even know the Six Arts of Confucianism, yet you dare to speak so arrogantly and spout such nonsense?"

“Yes, yes!” Yang Yao’er nodded vigorously: “What scholar doesn’t know about finding joy in life!”

"That's not what I meant!" The old man's face turned slightly pale. "I meant that you, a mere scholar, don't understand the art of the xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute), yet you dare to presume to discuss its superiority with my young lady. You're simply audacious!"

"I don't understand the art of the xiao..." Zhao Ti thought to himself, do you think I really want to comment? It's only because this silly young lady of yours insisted on dragging me onto this boat that I have no choice but to bite the bullet and offer my opinion. You can't even see that, yet you dare to speak so rudely. Your character is really terrible, and you're just as dull-witted.

“Brother Zhao said long ago that he doesn’t understand the art of the xiao, but since he is knowledgeable in music, how could he not distinguish between good and bad, superior and inferior, or hear the shortcomings?” Yang Yao’er said.

“Miss, this old servant believes these are two different things. Whether a piece of music is pleasant or unpleasant has nothing to do with the interplay of musical notes. How can all stringed and wind instruments be the same? This scholar doesn’t understand the art of the xiao (vertical flute), and what he says is all just empty talk. Miss, you must not believe him. In fact… this old servant suspects that although he is a scholar and has learned some basic musical theory, he actually cannot play any of the instruments and is just boasting.” The old man said, emphasizing each word.

"You can't play any of them? How is that possible..." Zhao Yao'er looked at Zhao Ti in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Zhao Ti remained calm, thinking to himself, "You guessed right. I really don't know any of these things, and I've hardly ever even played the simplest bamboo flute."

The old man wasn't wrong, but I don't know where he got the idea that I was so focused on my studies that even though I learned music, I didn't try to practice it, thinking it was a skill to rely on.

Another reason is that many musical instruments are expensive, especially the qin and zheng, which are beyond the reach of ordinary families. I am not particularly interested in them, so I have never practiced them.

"Brother Zhao, you... don't know how to play the xiao (vertical flute), so what about your qin (zither) skills?" Yang Yao'er asked hurriedly when she saw Zhao Ti remain silent, not believing that Zhao Ti couldn't play any musical instrument at all.

"Miss, this scholar definitely doesn't know anything about musical instruments, he probably can't even play the flute!"

The old man bowed slightly and said, "From the moment he entered the painted boat, the old servant observed his hands, palms, fingers, and the area under his lips. When he was eating, the old servant looked at him even more carefully from behind. There was not a trace of him having learned any musical instruments. You know, practicing string and wind instruments will leave traces on the hands. Apart from the calluses where he held the pen, there were none on his hands. He doesn't even know any martial arts."

Hmm? Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti looked down at his hands. He hadn't expected the old man to be so cunning and insightful, observing him from the moment he entered the boat.

Indeed, learning a musical instrument will inevitably leave marks on your palms and around your mouth. The deeper you immerse yourself in it, the more obvious the marks will be. The same is true for martial arts. Practicing fists and palms, holding knives and swords, will leave heavy marks or calluses on your palms, fingers, and even the surface of your skin after a long time.

My hands were smooth and bare, showing no signs of practicing musical instruments or martial arts.

Although I learned the Peach Blossom Sword Technique, it only took me a few days to master it all. The time was extremely short. Also, the Four Illuminations Divine Skill is very powerful and has a restorative effect, so it looks like there are no traces left behind.

“I don’t believe it…” Yang Yao’er shook her head, looked at Zhao Ti, and then her gaze moved to the piano stand next to her.

There was also a stringed instrument inside the painted boat. Its color was mottled and old, but it had a unique charm. It looked like an ancient zither.

"Almost every scholar can play the qin to some extent. Since Brother Zhao has offered such insightful comments on my xiao playing, it's impossible that you don't know how to play the qin." Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti couldn't help but feel ashamed. The qin was indeed an essential skill for most scholars. He couldn't say that he was completely ignorant of it, but although he knew the techniques and essentials, he had never played it even once.

The state school had this instrument and offered lessons, but with so many students, it was a long wait to get a chance to practice. He had opportunities before, but he gave them up because he was focused on his studies. So, although he knew some basic playing techniques, he had never actually touched the instrument.

While I can't say I know absolutely nothing about it, it's practically the same as knowing nothing at all.

"Playing the piano..." Zhao Ti's face showed a slight reluctance. He really didn't want to lie to the other party. After all, such a lie would be exposed as soon as he sat behind the piano and reached out.

Just as he was about to say that he couldn't play, a sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he was momentarily dazed and lost in thought, before his expression changed.

In that instant, it was as if a window had opened in his mind, with countless thoughts and information swirling inside, making his head feel so swollen it almost exploded.

But it was only for a moment, and then everything disappeared, as if the window had never been opened, and everything just now was just an illusion, a void that did not exist.

No, what's wrong with me...?

Zhao Ti's expression changed repeatedly, showing utter shock and astonishment. Where did he... come from with so much knowledge and skills in playing the zither, as well as countless zither pieces and lyrics?
He felt his mind was filled with many things about musical instruments, but he had never learned any of them. What he had learned in his musical lessons at the state school was nothing compared to what he had in his mind at this moment.

Moreover, he had experience and skill, and at this moment he felt extremely familiar with the zither and extremely proficient in it. It seemed that as long as a stringed instrument was placed in front of him, he could play an incredibly beautiful tune.

What was going on? Zhao Ti was utterly shocked. Not long ago, he had experienced a similar moment of disorientation, but after that, he couldn't remember anything. Why was he remembering so many things related to the zither this time? And not just related, he felt like he could practically be called a master now!

Could it be... that past lives really do exist? Are these all memories from my past life? In my past life, I was a master of the zither, which is why I know these things, and now these memories are just awakening little by little?
Zhao Ti took a deep breath. He didn't believe in supernatural forces, but the sudden change at this moment forced him to believe, because apart from the story of his past life, there was no way to explain what had just happened to him.

"It's just playing the zither," Yang Yao'er said. "Brother Zhao must be very good at it, he must play it very well."

“Miss…” The old man beside him looked at Zhao Ti with a hint of sarcasm: “As I just said, this person doesn’t know any musical instruments at all. Besides, the qin is the instrument that requires the most practice after the zheng. A person who knows how to play the qin will have marks on the fingertips of all ten fingers. Those who are skilled will even develop thick calluses. Look at his fingers, they are smooth and shiny. Where is there any trace of him having practiced the qin?”

"Ah, this..." Yang Yao'er blinked, her gaze involuntarily falling on Zhao Ti's fingers. Sure enough, they were very smooth, without any trace of frequent friction against the silk strings.

"Brother Zhao, you... really can't play the zither?" Yang Yao'er asked doubtfully.

Zhao Ti looked at his hands, feeling quite excited. Anyone would be excited to suddenly gain a new skill, especially one that he was extremely proficient in and could be considered a master.

"Miss, look at him now. He doesn't look like he knows how to play the zither at all. He's probably thinking about how to pretend to be crazy and fool people to get away with it," the old man sneered from the side.

"But..." Yang Yao'er was still a little skeptical.

“There isn’t even a trace on his hands, how could he possibly have flicked it…” The old man shook his head.

“Who says you can’t play the piano if there are no traces?” Zhao Ti suddenly spoke up, his expression serene, interrupting the other person.

“Brother Zhao, you…” Yang Yao’er was taken aback upon hearing this, and then a look of joy appeared on her face.

"What?" The old man frowned immediately. "Boy, I advise you not to speak recklessly and make things up. If you dare to deceive my young lady, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"You're too kind?" Zhao Ti slowly stood up. "I am a guest invited aboard by your young lady. You are merely a servant of the Yang family. Without the master's permission, you, a servant, have repeatedly spoken disrespectfully to the guest. I think it is you who should be punished for being impolite."

"Uncle Zhu, please stop talking." Yang Yao'er looked at the old man with slight displeasure and said, "Brother Zhao said he can play the zither, how could he deceive me?"

“Miss, there are no marks on his hands, so how could he play the zither? He probably just learned some techniques and is just playing around with them.” The old man said, “Miss, don’t be fooled by him.”

"Just fiddling around?" Zhao Ti said calmly, "If you claim to know how, you must be proficient, otherwise how can you call yourself knowledgeable?"

"Brother Zhao is actually an expert?" Yang Yao'er was overjoyed.

"You dare to claim to be proficient in the art of the zither?" The old man's eyes widened, a hint of ferocity appearing on his face.

“If you are an expert, what is there to be afraid of saying?” Zhao Ti glanced at him sideways and said loudly.

"Good lad, you're quite the smooth talker. There's a guqin over there. Play a tune for the young lady. If you can't play it properly, or even just make something up to fool her, don't blame me..."

"Shut up! Didn't you hear your young lady tell you not to speak? When the master is entertaining guests, how dare you interrupt so often? Whether I play the zither or not is none of your business. I only gave you some leeway because of your age. If you continue to disregard your place and take advantage of my kindness, I will not be polite to you!"

"You..." Upon hearing this, the old man flew into a rage, his aura surging, and his joints cracking and popping.

"Uncle Zhu, what are you doing?" Yang Yao'er frowned and said, "If you keep doing this, then don't follow me anymore. Go back to the courtyard and wait for Sixth Uncle and the others, so I won't be impolite to my guests!"

"Yes... Miss, this old servant will remain silent." Upon hearing this, the old man's body trembled, then deflated like a punctured ball, his energy dissipating, and he hunched forward slightly, adopting a submissive posture.

"Brother Zhao..." Yang Yao'er looked at Zhao Ti with an expectant expression: "Since Brother Zhao is proficient in the art of the zither, please enlighten me. What do you think?"

Zhao Ti nodded and smiled, "Of course, I'll play a tune for you now, Miss."

As he spoke, he got up and sat down behind the stringed instrument. He pondered for a few moments, then reached out and gently stroked the strings.

A familiar feeling welled up in his heart, and then the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up. He began to play, and the melodious and clear music immediately resounded throughout the boat.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible..." The old man, who had been hunched over and staring at the ground, suddenly looked up at Zhao Ti, his face full of shock and astonishment.

(End of this chapter)