My lord, spare his life!

Unlike Fan You's teaching style, Yuan Xie primarily used encouragement and fragmented instruction. Regardless of how much Zhang Yang learned, each lesson would end just before he fell asleep and closed his eyes. His lectures were also presented in a simple and easy-to-understand way, skillfully using various short stories to explain things clearly.

Zhang Yang still struggled with the learning.

Yuan Xie: "My lord has already done very well."

This left Zhang Yang, who wanted to justify her learning progress, speechless. She said awkwardly, "I don't know what's going on. I always feel like I can learn it, but there's an invisible barrier preventing it from entering my brain."

This is actually very abnormal.

Zhang Yang actually has a very strong learning ability. Otherwise, how could she have been able to pretend to be a player among players for so many years? She either learned all sorts of fancy game skills in her own way or tried to disguise them as real players.

Even the game designers' terrible boss skill designs are crystal clear to her; she knows the boss's skill rotation by heart. Even if the raid leader temporarily disconnects, she can take over commanding the raid. But when it comes to the tutorial quests for the homestead side quests, she struggles, as if something in her brain is blocked.

Zhang Yang suspects this is related to his initial settings.

She was born an insignificant background NPC; had she not coincidentally awakened self-awareness, she would likely have remained a background figure for countless players to pass by without paying her any attention. As an adult-modeled NPC, she has no need for schooling, therefore lacking the ability to learn?

And these understandings of game skills don't count as "learning"?

However, she couldn't tell anyone about these guesses in her heart, let alone Yuan Xie, the NPC in the home side quest map.

"Learn slowly if you're slow, there's plenty of time." If Fan You were here, he would be surprised to find that Yuan Xie, once he entered teaching mode, was neither rowdy nor did he use the teaching opportunity to get closer to Zhang Yang, let alone snuggle into his arms. On the contrary, he was very normal and patient, with a calm expression, almost like a normal person. "Constant dripping wears away a stone."

I'm not afraid of learning slowly, I'm afraid of giving up halfway.

The lord is just a slow learner, not an idiot.

Fan You, on the other hand, was too anxious.

The more anxious you are, the more likely you are to be deliberately provoked by your lord.

A hint of bitterness crept onto Zhang Yang's usually calm face. She clutched her head in her hands, staring at the persistent homework with a look of deep resentment. She had clearly gotten rid of Shu Yan, but she hadn't been able to get rid of his homework.

"Would you like to hear me play the zither, my lord?"

He made a new zither.

Zhang Yang didn't answer, but just looked at his ear.

Yuan Xie chuckled and explained, "Not being able to hear doesn't mean I can't play. I still remember some of the old tunes I learned back then, but I haven't practiced for a long time, so it's inevitable that I've become rusty and out of tune. Please don't be offended, my lord."

"No." Anyway, she doesn't know much about music theory, and she only listens to the melody. Even if Yuan Xie really plays something wrong, don't expect her to have Zhou Yu's good ears to correct her. "As long as Youzheng doesn't feel like she's playing music to a cow, it'll be fine."

For teaching purposes, Yuan Xie and Zhang Yang temporarily shared a supply wagon, while Xiao Sui rode in another wagon by herself. The wagon was packed with the group's belongings, and the remaining wagon belonged to Yuan Xie. Guan Si, being a martial artist, preferred riding horses and disliked riding in wagons. Xiao Sui was sitting in the wagon, resting with her eyes closed.

Half-asleep, she heard a tender and passionate melody flow into her ears. The tune was melodious yet clear, like a babbling brook or a secluded valley spring. The player was clearly a master, their fingerwork precise and controlled, their movements fluid and natural. The emotions conveyed in the music were shy and hesitant, as if they wanted to speak but couldn't. After listening for a while, Xiao Sui's expression suddenly turned strange. She lifted the curtain and peeked out.

Guan Si in front of them remained motionless.

It was as if they hadn't heard the music.

It's also possible that they heard it but didn't understand what it meant.

"...It's impossible to defend against, and it's impossible to guard against it completely."

Xiao Sui couldn't help but chuckle. Yuan Xie was even playing "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate" here. If their lord had any understanding of music theory and understood Yuan Youzheng's hints, a Yuan Xie would sprout in his bed within two days. Fan You had truly made a mistake in entrusting Guan Si with this task.

She couldn't help but look at Zhang Yang's baggage car again.

Listen intently to the sounds coming from inside the carriage.

After Yuan Xie finished singing, he asked, "How did you feel, my lord?"

Zhang Yang: "It sounds sticky and gooey."

There were several parts that gave her goosebumps.

Aside from marveling at the game's modeling team's skill in perfectly capturing even such a physiological state, I was also impressed by Yuan Xie's zither playing. According to him, this was the first time he had seriously played since losing his hearing after being deaf, and his skills had become quite rusty.

She doesn't understand good or bad, but she understands one principle.

Any music that can evoke emotional resonance in the listener, even if it's not great, is certainly not bad either.

Zhang Yang guessed, "Is it a love song?"

So passionate and unrestrained, yet so tender and poignant.

Yuan Xie smiled and nodded: "My lord's guess is correct."

Zhang Yang: "It sounds good, I love listening to it."

It can definitely be added to repeat as background music.

Although Zhang Yang didn't utter any flowery praise, it was enough to make Yuan Xie beam with joy. That someone completely ignorant of music theory could discern his emotions and generously offer words of praise like "pleasant to hear" pleased him even more than Zhang Yang's invitation to sleep side-by-side. So, seized by the moment, he played another piece.

This time, however, the music sounded rather mournful and desolate.

It was as if his partner had died; he wasn't happy at all.

Upon hearing Zhang Yang's words, Yuan Xie clapped his hands and smiled.

"This is 'Xiangfei's Lament,' a song from the ancient myth of Ehuang and Nüying dying for Emperor Shun. It expresses endless longing and is naturally poignant."

Zhang Yang frowned and started doing the reading comprehension exercises.

"Is Your Majesty worried that the Emperor's favor is like the Xiang River, something you can only long for but never reach?"

Yuan Xie: "..."

Xiao Sui, who was openly eavesdropping, was speechless.

Yuan Xie opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time. If he were a marginalized official who had lost the emperor's favor and was playing "The Lament of the Xiang River Goddess" out of self-pity for his unfulfilled talents, then his lord's words would be quite reasonable. But he wasn't like that now. His lord's question stumped him.

Zhang Yang: "Fish die without water, but live with water. As I have said, the young are the water and I am the fish. To have the young is like a fish having water."

So you can talk to her directly if you have any questions.

There's no need to play the piano; what if she doesn't understand?

Isn't that like casting pearls before swine?

Yuan Xie: "..."

Xiao Sui couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Although she covered her mouth immediately, the commotion still reached Guan Si's ears ahead. He merely glanced at her with a cold look, then swept his gaze over the supply wagon where Zhang Yang was, who appeared to be in good condition, before turning back to continue on his way. Tianjiang County was quite far from here.

During their nighttime rest, Yuan Xie also taught Zhang Yang to play the zither.

Xiao Sui looked at the two of them and then at Guan Si.

It wasn't until Guan Si gave her a response.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Does the general still remember Chief Secretary Fan's instructions?"

Guan Si sat on the wolf's back, casting a cold gaze at her.

Taking advantage of Yuan Xie's inability to hear, the two openly chattered: "I remember, but so what? Ehuang and Nüying could die for Emperor Shun for love, and Yuan Youzheng could die for his lord for loyalty and righteousness? If he can't even die for his lord, how can he talk about dying for personal love?"

It's all just pretense.

If the other person is willing to play the piano, let him play to his heart's content.

Consider it as the team having an extra free musician to keep them entertained.

Xiao Sui: "..."

So Yuan Youzheng was the clown after all. She underestimated Guan Si; she hadn't expected him to understand music theory. She knew Guan Si came from a bandit background in the Eastern Frontier, but she assumed he was only skilled at killing.

Little did people know that it was abnormal for Guan Si not to understand.

His mother was once a famous courtesan, and a courtesan's status wasn't solely based on looks; she also needed talent and knowledge. Guan Si spent his childhood by her side, and naturally, he learned from her, even showing a natural talent for it.

He simply doesn't like contact.

Just as he didn't understand why Fan You was wary of Yuan Xie and Xiao Sui.

Those in positions of power and the strong naturally have the right to monopolize everything, including wealth, power, status, fame... even the appearance given by one's parents can be plundered. Whoever possesses that appearance will be plundered; do those in positions of power and the weak have the right to say no?

Whether it's Yuan Xie or anyone else.

If you're willing to sacrifice yourself, then so be it; at least you'll have the upper hand.

For example, if he wanted Zhang Yang's human skin, he would steal it. His only miscalculation was that Zhang Yang actually had more than one human skin.

The journey was relatively uneventful.

Ignoring Yuan Xie's zither music, sometimes tender and sometimes plaintive, and the unfortunate wild boar that tried to steal a bite but was disarmed by the starlight shot from Guan Si's finger, everything remained relatively peaceful. Zhang Yang's studies were also progressing slowly but surely.

The group had barely entered Tianjiang County when they were greeted by uninvited guests. These uninvited guests were actually sent by the Tianjiang County scoundrels who had been eagerly awaiting Xiao Sui. Because their master had repeatedly instructed them, this group was extremely obsequious to Xiao Sui.

Yuan Xie raised his hand to stop Zhang Yang.

"Our lord's status is of high importance and should not be revealed for the time being."

The team sent by Tianjiang County had seen Zhang Yang's face before. To avoid trouble, Zhang Yang should change into a human skin that he doesn't usually wear.

Zhang Yang said, "It's a small matter."

She immediately changed to a popular internet celebrity face-pinching image.

This popular face-pinching design was also very popular among the observed samples.

In terms of looks, she's no less beautiful than Xiao Sui. However, Xiao Sui's face has been slightly modified from her original appearance, while this internet celebrity-created face is so beautiful it looks like a doll, exuding a faint sense of unreality.

As soon as she appeared, Guan Si's face twitched, and a gasp was heard from the surroundings. The uninvited guests' eyes became even more intense.

Xiao Sui and her entourage received the highest level of treatment.

Xiao Sui brought a human skin this time, and the transaction was based on the order of orders, with no extra charges. It was a fair and transparent cash-on-delivery arrangement. The demon in disguise, whose turn it was, was already waiting for her, and at that moment, he was practically ready to prostrate himself in worship.

He wanted an ordinary human skin. He was initially quite satisfied, but seeing the two beautiful women, he felt ashamed of his own appearance, and his initial joy was greatly diminished. He stammered and made an unreasonable request: could he pay extra to have his appearance adjusted temporarily?

Xiao Sui smiled faintly: "Of course."

With her lord right beside her, her elaborate and mysterious explanation only became more convincing: "Do you have a type of face you like?"

The painted-skin demon was overjoyed and thanked him once again.

Xiao Sui seized the opportunity to steer the conversation toward the recent unusual weather.

In their joy, people were less wary than usual, and given Xiao Sui's special status, they were all very open with each other.

As far as they knew, the upstream damming was really not related to Tianjiang County; in fact, Tianjiang County had only recently discovered it.

However, Tianjiang County did not immediately take measures to block the river, and the reason was also related to Xiao Sui. Xiao Sui disappeared near Tianyue County, and they suspected that the deity's sacred site was located in that area. If they rashly blocked the river, it would cause public resentment to boil over...

What if they end up taking the blame?

That's why they tried their best to persuade the governor of Tianjiang County to delay the matter.

However, despite their worries, the water shortage was a reality, which was why they were so eager to see Xiao Sui so that they could sit down and discuss the matter and avoid accidentally harming their own people. Xiao Sui hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise: "The Divine Venerable's Daoist temple is indeed in the Eastern Domain."

This also explains why Xiao Sui disappeared in the Dongfan Mountains.

The group looked troubled.

Because the Dongfan Mountains and Tianyue share a common tributary.

"What should we do?"

"Sigh, it's all Dongxian's fault. Why did they have to try to control the floods? Those soldiers are good at killing, but can they really control floods?"

"Why not persuade the prefect to send someone to discuss this with Dongxian?"

"That's difficult. Have you forgotten how those scoundrels from Dongxian came here to show off and demand laborers? If they were reasonable people, they wouldn't do something so despicable."

If there were only two choices, Tianjiang would definitely choose to divert the river to protect itself. However, if they could address the issue at its source and persuade Dongxian to abandon its flood control efforts and change the river's course, perhaps they could achieve the best of both worlds. They wouldn't have to offend that deity by diverting the river, they could obtain a stable supply of human skin, and they could also protect the livelihoods of the local people in Tianjiang County. However, on the other hand, there's another story.

Those people from Dongxian are not easy to deal with.

For a time, the problem was stuck in a dilemma.

"...No matter how difficult, we must try..." They had suffered enough from this inhuman, ghostly appearance and desperately wanted to break free and have a normal life. What did it matter if others had to be sacrificed to achieve their goal? How could they dare offend the gods?

What if the prefect doesn't agree?

He will agree.

As long as the prefect wants to keep his position.

Tianjiang County is nominally ruled by the Prefect, but in reality, it is governed by local powerful clans. As long as they don't give in, not a single decree from the Prefectural Government can be effectively implemented. Upon hearing this, the group reached a tacit understanding, but they failed to notice Zhang Yang's deep and calm eyes.

She tilted her head, as if deep in thought.

As honored guests, Zhang Yang and his entourage received exceptional treatment, moving freely within Tianjiang County. However, Zhang Yang wasn't one to sit still. As a player, what's the first thing to do upon arriving at a new map? Naturally, it's to explore it.

Therefore, Xiao Sui did not see Zhang Yang the next day.

She was frantic: "Where is our lord?"

Good heavens, she's lost her master!

Fortunately, Zhang Yang remembered to leave a note.

[Go out and explore the map]

Xiao Sui: "..."

She stood there stunned for a long time before turning to look at Guan Si.

Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Why is the general still here?"

Guan Si simply ignored him.

He was the one least afraid of losing Zhang Yang.

Zhang Dagu has always followed Zhang Yang. Although this wretched bird doesn't recognize its former master, it still remembers his scent. It can catch him even if it flies to the ends of the earth.

Xiao Sui: "Yuan Youzheng is also missing!"

Are these two working together?

Guan Si's ears twitched, and he left behind a few words before disappearing.

Xiao Sui: "..."

She seemed to be able to empathize with Fan Shuyan.

At this moment, she also had the urge to have a stroke due to her burning anger.

Zhang Yang had a habit when exploring maps: he would randomly choose a direction and keep walking until he reached the edge of the map, which was the boundary marker. Then he would follow the boundary marker of Tianjiang County and circle around it clockwise or counterclockwise until he had explored most of the area and checked for any hidden features on the map.

This time, I brought an NPC pet, which was a bit slow.

Unlike ordinary pet NPCs, Yuan Xie won't spawn next to her if she's too far away; instead, it will keep telling her to slow down.

Zhang Yang had no choice but to slow down.

Ugh.

Zhang Yang looked worried and complained inwardly.

It's better not to have this pet NPC at all.

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