Hua Qian Gu made a swing under a peach tree. Reading books, eating grapes with the skin on, leisurely swinging back and forth. The peach blossoms at Mount Chang Liu bloomed all year long, giving off a light fragrance. She used to wait in vain, until realizing there would not be any peaches to eat.
The past six months were wonderful, she did not have to train hard anymore. Besides reading each day, she slept a lot, thus her internal energy had not increased, only her cooking skill improved, causing her small frame to become whiter and chubbier, also softer.
Hua Qian Gu studied a zither and flute arrangement in the music book, moaning in her heart, who knew music could be used to fight enemies, and the force could be quite destructive.
Only the person holding the book could hear and see the animation, Tang Bao continued to sleep on a peach blossom petal next to her, its small mouth mumbling once in a while. There were about ten peach fairies with dazzling pink wings, flapping their transparent wings up and down around Tang Bao, laughing softly. Seeing it sleeping soundly, they touched it from time to time. If 1,000 peach fairies talked at the same time, they could create hallucination. Tang Bao probably was having a sweet dream right now.
Suddenly, a faint tune came from a distance, shattering the fighting animation in the book into pieces.
Ah, were the peach fairies causing her to hallucinate?
She closed the book, the tune was real, not from the book, it came from outside the hall. Hua Qian Gu jumped off the swing in delight and ran outside, haha, it was Teacher.
“Gu Tou mama, where are you going?” Tang Bao was startled, it yawned and woke up, raised its head and yelled, looking silly.
Hua Qian Gu stopped to poke at its head, smiled and said: “Why yell, you’re a worm, not a wolf.”
Tang Bao puffed out its little chest: “I was absorbing the essences of the sun and moon, of heaven and earth, hahaha……”
Hua Qian Gu did not care about essences or not, she put it in her pocket, picked up her skirt and ran, the bells kept jingling.
Running out of the hall, it really was Teacher sitting on the protruding Lou Feng boulder, playing the zither under the moonlight for all of Mount Chang Liu below. The satin hair spread out on the ground like a lotus in bloom. A plain white robe, no waistband, whipping in the strong wind.
“Teacher! Teacher!”
Hua Qian Gu happily ran up behind him. Bai Zi Hua did not react, still calmly playing the zither, the tune was better than what she heard in the book, soothing and firm, wild and ever changing.
The zither sounded amazing, but she could not feel any emotions from Bai Zi Hua. Emotions were always critical in music, with zither being the most important of the four arts, its octaves could profoundly affect the soul, but Teacher’s tune was without emotions, causing the listener to feel desolate.
Hua Qian Gu stood quietly behind Bai Zi Hua, listening to him impassively playing the zither, suddenly feeling forlorn. Teacher would always stand by himself above the clouds, protecting this mountain, this land, this world for thousands of years……
The tune ended, Bai Zi Hua said coolly: “It is fine to just have a basic knowledge of musical instruments, but you need to know how to play the zither. Have you read the music book?”
“Teacher, I’ve read and memorized it, but I don’t know how to play the zither.”
“Come here.”
Hua Qian Gu sat down next to him in alarm, the wind seemed weaker than before, if the wind vigorously blew down the mountain’s ledge, she could not sit down.
“Play for me.”
Hua Qian Gu nervously put out her hands, recalling what was in the book: the right hand plucking the strings, the left hand on the surface board, doing so would create clear notes; the left hand plucking the strings would create a crisp overtone; the left hand not pressing down the strings would create scattered notes. Scattered notes were low in pitch, strong yet simple, giving a solemn feel. Overtone was high in pitch, sounding sharp, like wind chimes; the middle range would be alto, like striking chimes. The notes would differ depending on the strings and the top, middle or bottom part of the surface board; the top part would create light and sharp notes, the middle part would create fatter and wider notes, the bottom part would create strong and heavy notes.
The forefingers pressing down, the middle fingers plucking the strings outward, a tune came from the zither, Hua Qian Gu thought this sounded interesting, remembering folk ballads, she continued to pluck at the strings.
Bai Zi Hua nodded gently: “Your fingers should move even when pressed down, straighten your thumbs, then slowly lower them.”
Tang Bao poked its head out of her pocket, crawling onto the zither, the vibration of the zither rattled its body, it quickly jumped onto Hua Qian Gu’s shoulder. Wah, Gu Tou mama was so talented, she knew how to play the zither!
“Do not press down the strings too tightly, use your fingertips, the sound will be clearer.”
“Yes.” Hua Qian Gu began to sweat, her fingers becoming stiff the more she plucked the strings, rhythm not really rhythm, melody not really melody.
Bai Zi Hua suddenly reached around her from behind, his two hands laid on top of her small hands, lightly plucking the strings. Hua Qian Gu froze immediately, feeling as if her body was submerged under water.
“Do not be anxious, force your internal energy to your fingertips, carefully play each note, the notes can be powerful enough to break rocks and cut through gold.”
Hua Qian Gu sensed his body behind her, she thought she would go crazy. Despite the slender, white fingers holding onto her hands to teach her how to play the zither, her fingers felt crippled, unable to move.
A silver light moved from Bai Zi Hua’s hands, transferring into her hands, their fingers sped up.
“Although Gun and Fu [techniques] require many strings, the notes are clear, consistent like beads strung together. Gun and Fu must go together continuously, Gun moves from left to right, Fu moves from right to left, creating a large circle. This is like being 'an oak amidst strong wind, flowing water under the sea.'”
While this was said, a white light sharp like a blade shot out from the zither.
Hua Qian Gu was distressed, she did not understand what Bai Zi Hua wa saying, but her mind wandered, the hands on top of her hands were obviously cold like ice, the chill seeping into her bones, yet why was she feeling so hot that she was sweating profusely, her heart pounding chaotically?
“Do you understand?” Bai Zi Hua let go of her hands, looking down at his disciple leaning against his chest like a flower bud, rolled into a lump.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Practice when you have time. There are ancient zithers such as Ling Ji, Shen Nong, Xiang Quan, Feng Shi, Lian Zhu, Zhong Ni, Lie Zi, Ling Guan, Shi Kuang, Ya E, Luo Xia in the music room. You can choose one tomorrow. Fighting with music is common, all the disciples at Chang Liu should know a musical instrument. I chose the zither for you, you can switch to something else if you do not like it.
“No, no, Teacher, I like it. Thank you, Teacher!” Hua Qian Gu looked up and smiled at Bai Zi Hua, thinking Teacher probably wanted her to protect the Fu Xi zither in the future.
Bai Zi Hua nodded: “Tomorrow is the Nüwa Festival, there is a ceremony in the mountain, you should go rest early.”
“Yes, Teacher.” Hua Qian Gu slowly walked out of his sight, turned and happily ran away. Haha, Teacher taught her to play the zither. She had been here for six months, this was the first time Teacher taught her something. She was so excited, she must practice diligently from now on.
The next morning, she woke up at dawn.
“Teacher! Teacher!”
Did he leave already?
“I am in my room.”
Hua Qian Gu quickly ran over, she pushed open the door then realized this was rude, she retreated in embarrassment but stretched her head to peek inside. Bai Zi Hua had just put on the sect leader’s sword, jade belt, white feathers, ornate tassels, but his hair was still down.
“Teacher, why don’t you tie up your hair?”
“A student will come later to help me with my hair.” He lived by himself in the hall, not needing servants, but his long hair was the only thing he could not do himself.
“Can I help you tie it?” Hua Qian Gu excitedly jumped in front of him.
Bai Zi Hua stopped what he was doing to look at her.
Hua Qian Gu pointed to the buns on her head, bragging proudly: “I did this.”
She thought she saw him smile, but it was gone in a flash. Bai Zi Hua sat down, handing her a comb.
Hua Qian Gu eagerly stood behind him, finally she could touch Teacher’s hair, it was dark like the night, who knows how he took care of it. More than 100 years old, but no grey hair! Her hands were a bit unsteady, combing it once, her hands still shaking, the comb glided smoothly down the hair. Hua Qian Gu clucked her tongue, oh heaven, the hair was so smooth, no wonder it was difficult to tie up.
Half an hour later……
“Xiao Gu, you are not done? The ceremony will begin soon.”
“Yes, yes, almost done.” Hua Qian Gu was too happy playing with his hair, snapping awake, she quickly divided the hair into two parts and tied it up.
Bai Zi Hua looked in the mirror, sighing helplessly, her skill was about the same as his skill. Oh well, so be it, they were late.
Teacher and disciple flew down from Jue Qing Hall to the Main Hall.
“Sect Leader, why are you late?” Mo Yan looked at him with displeasure.
Sheng Xiao Mo looked at Bai Zi Hua, then looked at Hua Qian Gu hiding behind Bai Zi Hua, he held his stomach and laughed loudly.
“Sect Leader, your hair……” Why was it in complete disarray? This was the first time his extraordinary, ethereal sect brother could look so cute.
“It is nothing.” Bai Zi Hua mumbled a spell, his long hair returned to order. He rarely relied on spells, it seemed excessive if he used mystic arts to fix his hair, but this serious occasion required hair to be tied neatly, otherwise he always tried to avoid these occasions as much as possible.
Hua Qian Gu pouted guiltily, oh well, her skill should not be blamed, it was really difficult.
During the ceremony, she stood beside Huo Xi, Wu Qing Luo and Luo Shi Yi, not daring to speak and only looked around. Hua Qian Gu suddenly felt eyes searing into her from behind, turning around, it was Ni Man Tian. Six months had gone by, she had grown to be more beautiful. Ni Man Tian was two years older than Hua Qian Gu, she was now a captivating young lady, and Hua Qian Gu still appeared like a child.
She quietly looked down at her chest, still flat, not even the slightest bump. Oh well, if it wanted to stay flat it could stay flat, as long as one day she could become as pretty as Qian Mo jiejie, that would be wonderful.
Remembering Sha Qian Mo, she wondered where jiejie could be? Also Xuan Yuan Lang, how did he handle the emergency? Dong Fang Yu Qing was so smart, had he gotten first place at the national examination? As for Yun Yin, he sent a letter a month ago, how was Mount Mao now?
Suddenly thinking of Shuo Feng, she looked around to find him, he stood far away from Ni Man Tian, their relationship was probably not good. It must be difficult for Luo Shi Yi to teach these two disciples.
She continued to watch Bai Zi Hua again, not realizing that Shuo Feng looked at her.
After the ceremony ended, Hua Qian Gu did not return to the hall with Bai Zi Hua but met with Qing Shui and the others, she was careful not to drink wine, not to eat too much, fearing she might fall asleep.
The next morning, Bai Zi Hua opened his door and immediately saw Hua Qian Gu with her head down standing outside.
“What is it?”
“Teacher, can I fix your hair every morning? Practice makes perfect. Didn’t you always say ‘diligence is more important than intelligence?'” Hua Qian Gu smiled and held a comb.
Bai Zi Hua’s face darkened……