Edited by Lord Immortal
Just for a moment, Lin Xun felt chills on his back. He, even without turning, understood that Granny Wind was looking at him with alarm.
This made him laugh helplessly. The old woman was too nervous. Was she worried that he would eat Liu Qingyan?
In spite of this, Lin Xun came to his senses and apologized, “I’m sorry. I was just a little surprised as I didn’t expect a legendary character to suddenly appear in front of me one day.”
Liu Qingyan’s face was full of smiles. She had met many young people like Lin Xun and some of them were even sillier when they first saw her.
Comparatively speaking, Lin Xun’s eyes were clear and calm from beginning to end. Unlike others, there was no admiration, fanaticism, or even possessiveness in Lin Xun’s eyes, letting Liu Qingyan appreciate him more.
Liu Qingyan invited him to sit. She raised her hand and poured a cup of tea for Lin. Then she asked, “Childe Lin, as you suggested me to visit your master when I saw you a few days ago, you must be sure then that Master Xun can restore the Acient-rhythm Ocarina?”
Lin Xun ruminated a bit before requesting, “I need to see the condition of your Ancient-rhythm Ocarina first.”
Liu Qingyan immediately took out an ancient dark-purple wooden box and opened it. There was a water drop-like object, the size of a palm, in the box, and it appeared antiquated.
It was exactly the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina. Its surface was filled with the luster of sapphire with nine holes on it. If one looked carefully, one could feel the passing of time on it.
“Please have a look.”
Liu Qingyan turned solemn and carefully picked up the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina and handed it to Lin Xun.
This was one of the rarest treasures in the world. It had almost disappeared in the long river of time, making it hard to be found again. Most could barely recognize them.
However, Lin Xun was very familiar with this thing. When he was a child, Master Lu often played it. The unique cadence and rhythm it produced impressed Lin Xun deeply.
Now, seeing the same Ancient-rhythm Ocarina, Lin Xun missed Master Lu subconsciously. He could not control his sadness and grief.
He took the instrument in his hand, skillfully curled his right index finger and tapped the nine holes on it. Suddenly, a wisp of sound echoed in the air. Sometimes it was high-pitched and clear, while sometimes dull and sweeping.
Liu Qingyan’s eyes brightened. Just with this knocking action, she knew that Lin Xun was an expert of this instrument and must have a good understanding of the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina.
Granny Wind, standing next to Lin, also felt surprised. She looked at Lin Xun thoughtfully. It seemed that this little boy really understood this rare musical instrument.
This dispelled many suspicions in her mind. If an apprentice knew this thing so well, his master must be quite good at it.
What would Granny Wind feel if she found out that the Master Xun was actually Lin Xun in front of her?
Lin Xun didn’t notice their reactions. He put his ears on the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina, closed his eyes and listened attentively. In a trance, Master Lu’s voice and smile appeared again in his mind.
It was a night with the snow falling and covering the world. Master Lu was sitting alone on the top of the mountain beside the mine prison, carrying a wine gourd and drinking alone in the wind and snow.
When Master Lu was slightly drunk, he took out the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina which he had been carrying and called Lin Xun, who was only seven years old at that time, to his side. He did not speak but played the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina straight away.
That voice was lonely and reverberating, drifting in the wind and snow with indescribable loneliness and sadness. Seven-year-old Lin Xun cried with tears streaming down his face unconsciously. His young heart was sensing this kind of loneliness for the first time, which no one could describe.
At the end of the song, Master Lu picked up Lin Xun for the first time in his life and put Lin in front of him. He stared into Lin Xun’s eyes and whispered softly, “Remember this song. This is the last melody left by your mother when she was about to depart from this world.”
Since then, Lin Xun imprinted the melody, Ancient-rhythm Ocarina and Master Lu’s words on his mind.
After a long time, Lin Xun roused from his memories and looked up. He found Liu Qingyan looking at him with a smile. Between her eyebrows, there was a fleeting hint of pity. Lin Xun was awe-inspired. He knew that his trip down memory lane was noticed by Liu Qingyan. Anyone who could play the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina must be someone with spiritual wisdom.
Obviously, Liu Qingyan should be such an individual, otherwise it was impossible for her to accomplish such glorious achievements.
“You seem to have some load on your mind?”
Liu Qingyan asked softly and openly.
Lin Xun nodded his head but changed the topic, “This Ancient-rhythm Ocarina is incomplete. The music in the world can barely be separated from the five tones of Do Re Mi Sol La. While this Ancient-rhythm Ocarina is so unique that it can play nine different tones…”
When it came to restoring the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina, Liu Qingyan suddenly became serious like a pious student who was listening to the teacher attentively.
Seeing this, Granny Wind could not help but look at Lin Xun surprisedly.
Over the years, she had accompanied Liu Qingyan to visit many spiritual tattooists from spiritual tattoo masters in Imperial Academy of Spiritual Implements to secluded masters. Almost all the famous people in the whole empire were found by Granny Wind, but none of them could repair the ocarina.
This broken Ancient-rhythm Ocarina had become Liu Qingyan’s mind barrier. Therefore, Granny Wind was worried about her condition. She had originally given up trying to solve this problem, but who would have thought that a young man from Mist City would let them see a glimmer of hope. It made Granny Wind sigh at the machinations of fate.
Looking at the young lady’s earnest and pious look at this moment, she found Yan was glowing brightly; a look which had disappeared from her face for a long time. Lin Xun’s emergence had brought Yan much surprise and joy.
“The Ancient-rhythm Ocarina in your hand lacks one sound named ‘Void’, which is like the wind chanting in a valley. It appears insignificant, but it is the core of the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina. Because of its existence, other eight tones can work together to produce different rhythmic changes when the ocarina is played.”
Lin Xun also looked absorbed, frowning and murmuring.
He recalled Master Lu’s analysis of the Ancient-rhythm Ocarina. Master Lu wanted to create a new Ancient-rhythm Ocarina with his own efforts.
However, no matter how hard he tried, there were several deficiencies in the new Ancient-rhythm Ocarina.
In order to solve these defects, he devoted a lot of his energy and efforts. Although these defects were repaired successfully in the end, the sounds did not satisfy Master Lu, so he destroyed all his newly created Ancient-rhythm Ocarinas.
Fortunately, while Master Lu’s efforts seemed in vain, Lin Xun had learnt a lot in the process of refining the Ancient-rhythm Ocarinas.
Liu Qingyan’s Ancient-rhythm Ocarina was a perfect piece of art. It was being handed down for years from generation to generation. Its flaws were totally different from those of the newly refined ones, so there was no irreparable problem.
“So can you… your master repair this instrument?”
Liu Qingyan clutched tightly at the corners of her clothes. Her eyes were shining brightly with expectations and nervousness as if Lin Xun could decide her fate with his next words.
There was an irresistible loveliness even when she showed such intense emotions, an enigmatic beauty indeed. Every smile of her displayed a unique charm.
At this moment, Granny Wind looked coldly at Lin Xun as if she was saying, “Boy, dare you say you can’t repair it!”
Although Lin Xun somewhat resisted the compelling manner of Granny Wind, when he saw Liu Qingyan’s nervous appearance, he couldn’t help but feel pity for her. He made a cough and assured with a serious face, “It’s not a difficult thing, but it’s also not easy to repair.”
Granny Wind looked through Lin Xun’s little tricks and sneered, “Boy, if you have any requirements, you can say it frankly. But if you make me impatient, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Liu Qingyan, beside Granny Wind, warned anxiously, “Granny, I will be angry if you’re rude.”
Granny Wind acquiesced with resignation, “Alright, my dear. I promise you.” In spite of this, she glared at Lin Xun in silence.
This was an unspoken threat.
Lin Xun smiled as if he felt impervious to Granny Wind’s threat and explained, “Miss Yan. The reason why it’s not easy to repair this Ancient-rhythm Ocarina is that it consumes a lot of time and energy. I’m afraid it’s impossible to restore it in a short time.”
Liu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief and said, “As long as it can be repaired, it doesn’t matter if it takes some time.”
Lin nodded his head while guaranteeing, “Then I’m sure it can be repaired.”
Liu Qingyan was delighted, “So you promise to help me in repairing this ancient ocarina? If you can repair it, I’ll pay you no matter how much you ask!”
Granny Wind felt a sting in her heart, “This silly girl, making an agreement before listening to his requirements is not a good bargain!”
She immediately demanded, “Boy, tell me about your requirements.”
With her murky eyes she stared at Lin Xun, as if declaring he would have trouble if he stepped out of his bounds.
Lin Xun gave another cough in embarrassment and laughed, “Miss Yan. Just give this case to me. As for my requirements…”
While listening to his words, the eyes of Granny Wind narrowed with a ferocious light.
Lin Xun continued, “I will discuss it with Granny Wind.”
Suddenly, Granny Wind breathed a sigh of relief, believing that Lin Xun was wise enough to sense her threat.
At this time, Liu Qingyan smiled like a flower blooming after the rain. “Thank you. Then make a deal with my granny.”
When Lin Xun was about to stand up and bid his farewell, Liu Qingyan bit her cherry lip lightly and suddenly requested, “If… If you don’t mind, could you let me watch the repair process?”
“No!”
Granny Wind and Lin Xun voiced the same word immediately. After a short silence, they were satisfied with each other’s performance in unison.
Lin Xun was worried about being recognized by Liu Qingyan as Master Xun.
Granny Wind was worried about Liu Qingyan’s safety. What if Lin Xun abducted her young lady?
Receiving their rejections made Liu Qingyan disappointed instantly. She sighed softly with heartbreak, which stimulated others’ tender care.
What was an extremely charming lady like?
Here was the model!
