Chapter 295: A Song of the Mortal World

Xu Qing glanced at the dust, once gravel, now dissolving into the surroundings and gradually becoming invisible. He didn't care about the deaths of those people. What weighed heavily on his mind was the method employed by the Great Void Realm. This method seemed simple, but the profound mysteries it contained surpassed Xu Qing's understanding.

This made Xu Qing take a deep breath and look down at the location where the mountain had once stood in the Taishi Du'e Mountain Range. The area was now perfectly flat. Xu Qing remained silent, controlling the magic boat to continue forward.

Under the clear moonlight, Zi Xuan Immortal seemed to be in excellent spirits. Occasionally, she would bring her wine flask to her lips, taking sip after sip. Her usual demureness was replaced by a more spirited, carefree demeanor. Yet, this transformation didn't diminish her charm; instead, the relaxed, wanderer-like aura she exuded, as if enjoying a flask of humble wine, made her presence even more captivating.

Xu Qing's gaze repeatedly swept towards Zi Xuan Immortal's wine flask. However, he felt a sense of relief, realizing that with Zi Xuan Immortal's cultivation, she likely wouldn't get drunk no matter how much she drank. Noticing Xu Qing's gaze, Zi Xuan Immortal's beautiful face broke into a smile. She raised the wine flask in her hand and playfully shook it at Xu Qing.

"Do you want some?" Xu Qing shook his head.

"You're a bit stiff, little one," Zi Xuan Immortal chuckled, taking another sip. A few drops trickled from the corner of her slightly upturned lips, falling and dispersing in the wind. One drop, perhaps by coincidence, landed on Xu Qing's chin, releasing a faint scent of wine that drifted into his nostrils.

Zi Xuan Immortal, perched on the ship's railing, took out a jade-green flute and began playing a lingering melody. The tune was very beautiful. Although Xu Qing didn't understand music, he could discern the heroic spirit within the melody. It was as if a woman, dressed in flowing robes and holding a long sword, had emerged from the martial world, narrating her youth and past, with a hint of regret subtly woven in. As he listened, Xu Qing's body slowly relaxed, and he became immersed in the music. Time slipped by.

Under the moonlight, Zi Xuan Immortal, clad in white, resembled a divine fairy descended to the mortal realm. Her beauty was ethereal, and her eyes held a captivating haze. The flute's melody drifted, accompanied by the mountain breeze, a gentle tune flowing in all directions, gradually fading into the distance. The Taishi Du'e Mountain, an area usually permeated with ferocity, seemed to have been entirely soothed by the flute's song in the night, becoming incredibly quiet.

It was as if the entire world contained only Zi Xuan Immortal. Gradually, the regret in the flute's melody transformed into loneliness. Xu Qing recognized this solitude and couldn't help but look up at Zi Xuan Immortal, who sat on the ship's railing. An ethereal and melancholic aura clung to her, like a secluded orchid in an empty valley. She didn't need anyone to admire her prime or witness her brilliance. She bloomed only for herself, and anticipated only what her heart held dear.

As he watched the beautiful figure before him, Xu Qing suddenly understood why the Captain had said countless people were infatuated with Zi Xuan Immortal in her youth. Xu Qing wasn't infatuated with her, but he appreciated the heroic yet regretful flute melody, and the solitude it contained. Xu Qing closed his eyes. This made him recall his childhood, his struggles in life, and also Captain Lei and Master Bai. He suddenly wanted to drink.

After a long time, dawn broke. The flute melody slowly faded away. As the sun rose, Zi Xuan Immortal stood at the bow of the boat, her back to Xu Qing, gazing at the fiery spectacle in the distant sky.

"Xu Qing, do you like watching the sunrise?"

"Rarely," Xu Qing replied after a moment's thought.

"I do," Zi Xuan Immortal said softly, standing there and gazing at the heavens. "Because the light is most beautiful at the moment of sunrise." Xu Qing also looked up at the sky.

Neither of them spoke again until the blazing red clouds gave way to the rising red sun. Its boundless light swiftly swept across the world, dispelling the darkness of the night sky and stirring the gloomy aura of the Taishi Du'e Mountain. At this moment, the world was bathed in light. As the new day arrived, a sudden malevolent gaze emerged from the Taishi Du'e Mountain below, fixing itself upon Xu Qing's magic boat. This gaze seemed to materialize, distorting the surroundings and briefly dimming the light from the sky. A flicker of displeasure crossed Zi Xuan Immortal's brows. The next instant, when the malevolent gaze fell upon Zi Xuan Immortal herself, its malice instantly transformed into horror and dread, vanishing in a flash.

However, it was clear that disturbing Zi Xuan Immortal had severe consequences. Zi Xuan Immortal raised her slender hand and waved it downwards. A small mountain not far away immediately twisted, visibly igniting and turning to ash in an instant. The entire process happened in the blink of an eye, so swiftly that not even a scream had time to echo from within the mountain. Everything ceased to exist.

After doing all this, Zi Xuan Immortal stretched, then turned and walked towards Xu Qing. To Xu Qing's apprehension, she stopped before him, her gaze deep and profound as she looked into his eyes, a look that could easily make anyone who met it lose themselves. Xu Qing instinctively averted his gaze. Seeing this, Zi Xuan Immortal smiled faintly and, without a word, walked into the cabin.

Xu Qing exhaled in relief, sighing inwardly. He felt that time had passed extremely slowly since leaving the sect. Now, he poured all his cultivation into the magic boat, further activating its divine properties. This caused the boat's speed to surge, whistling as it sped away. Day quickly passed, and night descended once more.

That night, Zi Xuan Immortal again sat on the ship's railing, occasionally taking a sip of wine, which added a touch of martial world flair to her flute playing. The lingering melody, even after he had listened to it for so long the previous night, still delighted Xu Qing. It wasn't until the dead of night, when dark clouds covered the bright moon, and faint thunder rumbled, hinting at impending rain, that Zi Xuan Immortal's flute music faded and she took another sip of wine. At that moment, Xu Qing couldn't resist asking a question.

"Senior, does this tune have a name?"

"You like it?" Zi Xuan Immortal asked, putting down her wine flask, her eyes shimmering with a captivating charm as she looked at Xu Qing. Xu Qing nodded.

"Can you play the flute?" Xu Qing shook his head.

"I'll teach you." As she spoke, Zi Xuan Immortal stepped forward. Before Xu Qing could even fully see her, she was by his side, placing the flute in front of him. As Xu Qing hesitantly took the flute, Zi Xuan Immortal moved behind him. Her hands reached around his sides and gently covered his. The moment their skin touched, Xu Qing's body stiffened. Especially now, with them almost pressed together, the fragrant scent emanating from her behind him caused sweat to bead on his forehead. He suddenly regretted asking for the name of the tune.

"The flute has twelve holes, and your hands should hold it with the back on the left side." Zi Xuan Immortal's voice was sweet and enchanting, rippling into his mind. With a breath like orchids, she carefully placed Xu Qing's hands holding the flute at one end, guiding him meticulously every step of the way. Finally, with Xu Qing's body still stiff, Zi Xuan Immortal raised his hands, positioning the flute correctly before his lips.

"Little one," Zi Xuan Immortal whispered, a warm breath caressing Xu Qing's ear, "pay attention and don't get distracted. Now, blow a breath like this." Xu Qing's body grew even stiffer, his intense nervousness accelerating his heartbeat. After a few silent breaths, he managed to compose himself and, following Zi Xuan Immortal's instructions, gave a soft blow. A jarring, piercing flute sound cut through the air.

Zi Xuan Immortal immediately burst into laughter. She walked from behind Xu Qing to stand before him, raising her slender, jade-like finger and elegantly placing it on the flute in front of Xu Qing, covering a tone hole.

"It should be like this."

As she spoke, she looked at Xu Qing, her red lips slightly parted in a smile, her eyes profound. Her flawless, delicate face was so close that for the first time, confusion appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. Then, the next moment, a clap of thunder rumbled across the sky, and rain poured down, pattering against the magic boat's protective barrier. This caused Xu Qing's body to jolt, and he stumbled back a few steps.

"Thank you, Senior. I've learned. I can figure out the rest on my own."

Zi Xuan Immortal smiled. She seemed to particularly enjoy seeing Xu Qing's nervousness. Hearing his words, her beautiful eyes swept over Xu Qing's face before she sat down nearby, propping her chin on her hand and gazing at him. Xu Qing took a deep breath, picked up the flute while sitting cross-legged, and closed his eyes, recalling Zi Xuan Immortal's previous instructions. A moment later, he opened his eyes and blew softly. This time, the flute sound wasn't jarring, but it was merely a whimpering sound, devoid of any beauty.

"Take your time, little one, no rush," Zi Xuan Immortal said with a gentle smile. Thus, time slowly passed, and the night went by. Throughout that night, rain poured outside, the constant sound of rain accompanied by occasional thunderclaps and a pervasive chill. On the magic boat, Zi Xuan Immortal's eyes remained fixed on Xu Qing. Her demeanor grew gentler, and occasionally she would instruct him on the melody. Xu Qing gradually calmed down and began to learn diligently. He practiced until dawn, and as the rain stopped, a somewhat unpolished, distinctly raw, and intermittent flute melody resonated in all directions as the sun rose.

The flute melody drifted, falling upon the Taishi Du'e Mountain and reaching the banks of the Immortal-Nourishing Ancient River. The mortals who had arrived there after the rain, as they wiped away the strange, decaying substances from their bodies, found a flicker of emotion in their hollow eyes. They all looked up at the sky. Inside the magic boat, Zi Xuan Immortal's gaze, which had been fixed on Xu Qing since last night, finally left him for the first time. She looked at the riverbank and spoke softly.

"Wait a moment."

With these words, Zi Xuan Immortal stood up, stepped down from the magic boat, and walked to the riverbank. In the eyes of the mortals, the approaching Zi Xuan Immortal was as beautiful as the most exquisite being in all creation, causing them to tremble and feel ashamed of their own appearance.

Zi Xuan Immortal clearly wasn't doing this for the first time; she knew exactly how to handle it. A gentle expression appeared on her face. This gentle smile dispelled everyone's unease. She walked to a dying little girl who was lying on the bank. More than half of the little girl's body was already rotting, covered in strange substances and emitting a foul odor. Yet, there was still a spark of light in her eyes, characteristic of her age, though it was dimming as her life ebbed away. Zi Xuan Immortal, clad in white, knelt down beside the little girl, showing no trace of disgust. She gently stroked the girl's forehead, and gradually, the decay on the girl's body began to improve.

"Though the world is bitter, one must hold onto hope," Zi Xuan Immortal said softly, her face full of tenderness, as she took out a piece of candy and placed it in the little girl's mouth. A moment later, the light in the little girl's eyes brightened once more. Zi Xuan Immortal smiled, but then she scanned the surroundings and sighed softly. Powerful as she was, she could change the fate of a sect, but she could not change this world. Xu Qing stood at the bow of the boat, watching the scene in silence.