Chapter 252: Feeding the Water to Our Own Fields

Just then, the plaintive sound of a xiao (flute) slowly began to play. Compared to the zither, however, Qiu Honglei's flute playing sounded a bit unpolished.

Xie Xiu was perplexed. "That's not right," he mused. "Qiu Honglei is renowned for both her beauty and her artistic talent, so her flute skills shouldn't be much inferior to her zither playing. Why does it sound so... so mediocre?"

Calling it 'mediocre' was already being polite. The performance was completely unfluent, with several jarring, off-key notes even he could detect. Anyone else would have been driven off the stage.

Xie Daoyun frowned. "Perhaps she's not very familiar with the piece..." Her voice trailed off as she spoke, realizing that a true master wouldn't struggle like this, even with a new composition.

Then, another sharp, jarring note. Qiu Honglei finally couldn't bear it any longer. Her face flushed with embarrassment, she put down the xiao, utterly mortified that she couldn't play the piece.

The others, however, didn't doubt her skill. Instead, they began to make excuses for her:

"If even a master like Miss Qiu can't play it, this piece must be poorly composed."

"Exactly. If you can't play it yourself, don't drag Miss Qiu into it."

However, there were many discerning people in the hall. After all, Zu An's zither playing had been smooth and flowing, not sounding like a haphazard composition at all.

Wang Yuanlong nudged Chu Yucheng beside him and sighed, "I was once misled by rumors myself, believing your brother-in-law was a good-for-nothing. I never imagined he was so capable. No wonder Miss Chu took a liking to him."

Chu Yucheng, also wearing a peculiar expression, poked Chu Hongcai beside him. "Could you have imagined this?" he asked.

Chu Hongcai shook his head, looking at Qiu Honglei and Zu An intimately close. A hint of bitterness crossed his face.

As if guessing his thoughts, Chu Yucheng quickly tried to comfort him. "Don't be too disheartened," he said. "They're just discussing music; it doesn't mean anything more. And even if, by some stretch, something were to happen later, it's better for it to be Azu than anyone else. Keep the benefits within the family, you know."

Chu Hongcai was speechless. "To hell with 'keeping the benefits within the family,'" he thought. "Thanks for the comfort!"

At this point, Zu An also paused and comforted Qiu Honglei. "This piece is indeed a bit obscure," he said. "Some transitions are too abrupt, with very large leaps. If you're not familiar with it, it's easy to lose your breath or miss a note."

Qiu Honglei's face showed gratitude. Although she usually carried herself with a captivating grace, deep down she was still a young girl. She had never encountered such an embarrassing situation before, which had utterly flustered her.

As he spoke, he explained the most problematic sections of the piece and offered some key tips.

Qiu Honglei gradually calmed down. She closed her eyes slightly, reviewing the entire musical score from beginning to end, and finally understood where the problem lay.

"Let's try again," Qiu Honglei said, her face alight with anticipation. Primarily, her previous performance had been too humiliating, and she wanted to redeem herself. Secondly, the musical score was so remarkable that she was eager to hear how it sounded when played perfectly.

"Alright!" Zu An smiled slightly. Seeing she was ready, he gently strummed the zither.

Qiu Honglei's vermilion lips parted slightly, and her slender fingers rested on the xiao, like dancing sprites.

The zither's notes were harmonious and balanced, and when accompanied by the clear, ethereal xiao, it became even more captivating. The melodies of the zither and xiao seemed to engage in a call-and-response, making all the surrounding men envious. "If only I could share such a moment with Miss Qiu," they thought.

Xie Daoyun was already standing by the window, intently watching the two playing the zither and xiao downstairs. As she listened, she commented, "This piece is indeed well-coordinated, but it doesn't have the pronounced effect he claimed earlier."

No sooner had she spoken than the zither's notes gradually swelled, while the xiao's notes slowly deepened. Yet, the xiao's low tones were continuous, like a gossamer thread drifting with the wind, endlessly flowing, further enhancing the stirring and resonant feeling.

"This..." Xie Daoyun's expression subtly shifted, and she murmured to herself, "So the zither and xiao can be coordinated in this manner—it's truly seamless!"

Just then, the zither suddenly produced a clanging sound, hinting at a fierce, martial intent, but the xiao's melody remained gentle and graceful.

After a while, the zither's sound also softened. The two instruments played sometimes high, sometimes low, then abruptly, the zither and xiao melodies transformed dramatically, as if seven or eight zithers and an equal number of xiao flutes were playing simultaneously.

Although the sounds of the zither and xiao were extremely complex and varied, each note was nuanced with rises and falls, pleasant to the ear and deeply moving.

Xie Daoyun secretly sighed with admiration. No wonder even someone of Qiu Honglei's caliber had struggled several times; the complexity was evident just from listening, let alone attempting to perform it.

The people in the hall, who had initially looked disdainful, found their blood surging as they listened, and couldn't help but want to stand up. At that moment, they felt as if they were on a battlefield, fighting to save their families, their country, and the world.

After listening a while longer, the music changed again. The xiao took the main melody, while the guqin merely provided a tinkling accompaniment, but the xiao's sound grew higher and higher.

A sudden pang of sorrow swelled within everyone, and unconsciously, tears began to fall.

Suddenly, with a sharp twang, the zither music stopped abruptly, and the xiao's sound ceased instantly.

In an instant, the entire Divine Immortal Residence fell silent. For a long time, no one uttered a word.

Qiu Honglei was also wide-eyed with shock, having never imagined that the moving piece she had just heard was her own playing.

Putting down the xiao, she gazed with a complex expression at the man seated at the zither table.

Originally, she had intended to pull strings to ensure his advancement, but who would have thought he would give her such an astonishing surprise?

"Young Master Zu, does this piece have a name?"

Zu An slowly stood up. "This piece is called *Smiling Proudly in the Jianghu*," he said. "I offer it to you, Miss, hoping that you will release your inner burdens and, like this piece, navigate the world with proud laughter hereafter."

"You're really giving it to me?" Qiu Honglei asked, her face alight with delight. She knew that in a courtesan house, a good musical piece or a good poem could elevate an unknown girl to the position of a courtesan queen.

Although she was famous in Brightmoon City, she knew there were countless courtesan queens of similar standing across the land. But with this piece, she could truly become renowned throughout the world.

"Of course it's true," Zu An said with a smile. "It's just a piece of music. Why are you so moved?"

"This guy really pulls out all the stops to woo women," Pei Mianman upstairs snorted. She thought to herself that she should talk to Chu Yan when they got back, urging her to rein in her husband and keep him from constantly flirting outside. "Still, I didn't expect him to have such talent. Next time, I'll ask him to compose a piece for me too."

Xie Daoyun also murmured, "Given time, Zu An is bound to become renowned throughout the world."

Xie Xiu's face showed surprise. "Is it really that exaggerated?" he asked.

Xie Daoyun rolled her eyes at him. "You claim to know a little about music," she said. "You should know what a groundbreaking work his *Smiling Proudly in the Jianghu* is."

Xie Xiu couldn't help but say, "But ultimately, in today's world, martial cultivation is paramount. No matter how profound one's musical attainment, it's still just a minor art."

Xie Daoyun said, slightly annoyed, "You're talking more and more like father, you bunch of philistines!"

After saying this, she turned and left in a huff. The competition's outcome was clear, and Xie Xiu had no chance of being selected, so she naturally had no further opportunity to see Qiu Honglei. Still, hearing such a divine piece tonight made the trip entirely worthwhile.

She had originally intended to ask Zu An some questions, but the Divine Immortal Residence was too sensitive a place, and her identity made it inconvenient to reveal herself. She would just have to find another time to speak to Zu An.

Seeing his sister leave, Xie Xiu hesitated for a moment, then followed her. After all, there was no point in staying; the place was a mixed bag of people, and if anything were to happen to his sister, he would never be able to atone for it.

At this moment, Qiu Honglei in the main hall addressed the crowd. "This humble one is a bit tired," she said. "I shall take my leave now. Please enjoy yourselves."

With that, she slowly turned and departed. Despite the mournful pleas and attempts to make her stay, she left behind only a faint fragrance in the air.

Zu An was stunned. They had just been enjoying such a pleasant conversation; why the sudden departure? She simply left.

A wave of anger, strong and surprising, emanated from Chu Hongcai, Chu Yucheng, and Wang Yuanlong.

Startled by the sudden shift, Zu An looked up to see all the men glaring at him with murderous intent.

Chu Yucheng walked over. "Congratulations, Brother Zu, heartfelt congratulations!" he said.

"Congratulations for what?" Zu An asked, utterly bewildered.

"Are you genuinely confused or just pretending?" Chu Yucheng asked. "Miss Qiu just turned and left, which proves she has made her choice. From her performance just now, who else could it be but you?"

Beside them, Chu Hongcai's face was as black as coal. The way this guy was acting—taking advantage and still feigning innocence—was utterly infuriating. A fresh wave of anger surged from Chu Hongcai.

Now, he felt nothing but regret. Why had he brought Zu An here today? But on second thought, even if he hadn't brought him, his own previous performance had offended Miss Qiu, so the benefit would definitely have gone to someone else anyway. "Ah, third brother was right after all," he mused. "At least this way, the benefits stay within the family." But why did he still feel like crying?

"Chosen me?" Zu An was momentarily stunned, then immediately caught on. "Haha, you should have said so earlier! I knew no woman could resist the charm of a man as excellent as me."

Chu Hongcai was speechless. So was Chu Yucheng. And Wang Yuanlong.

Just then, a delicate maid ran over. "Young Master Zu," she said, "my mistress requests your presence."

"Alright, I'll be right there." Zu An cupped his hands to the others at the table. "It's not that your brother here is disloyal," he explained, "but a beautiful woman has invited me, and I can't possibly refuse. Please excuse me."

Chu Yucheng looked speechless, quickly waving his hand. "Since Miss Qiu is inviting you," he said, "hurry up and go."

On the other side, Chu Hongcai's face was almost black as coal.

Zu An followed the maid for a few steps, then suddenly ran back. "How much does the courtesan queen cost per night?" he whispered. "I have no experience and don't know the rates."

The people at the same table all stared at him in utter bewilderment.

Zu An gave an embarrassed smile. "Mainly," he explained, "that Sister Hua promised me that all my expenses at the Divine Immortal Residence today would be free. I just don't know if that includes the courtesan queen? I didn't bring much money with me today."

"Get out!"

The few men could no longer hold back. This guy was truly shameless. Was Miss Qiu someone who could be measured by money? If intimacy with her could be bought, countless men in Brightmoon City would readily squander their entire fortunes.

"Are you sore losers or something?" Zu An pouted, though he also realized that exploiting acquaintances for freebies was indeed a bit awkward.

He followed the maid halfway up the stairs, then suddenly turned back, clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention, and said, "Is there anything you want to ask me to do?"

In the private room, Pei Mianman had already sat down and was leisurely sipping tea. Hearing his voice, a hint of confusion flashed across her brows. "What's that guy up to now?" she wondered.

The others in the hall were even more bewildered. Someone said discontentedly, "What could we possibly need to ask you for? You disappearing would be the only favor; just looking at you is annoying."

"Really nothing?" Zu An's face showed a mischievous smile. "Like, asking me to be... gentle... with your goddess later?"