Chapter 308 - Guqin Player

"That guqin is dangerous?" Fang Dingwu was taken aback, a chill involuntarily running down his spine. "Brother, don’t scare me. What does that mean?"

At that moment, Chi Nanwei was distracted by a couplet she saw hanging from the second floor. The first line read: "Hatred rises from the strings, stretching to the distant Xiang Mountains." The second line read: "Emotions flow beneath the fingers, winding like the streams of the Chu Gorge."

Seeing that Chi Nanwei wasn’t paying attention to their conversation, Ye Beizhi shook his head and said, "Nothing. Perhaps I’m overthinking."

The restaurant was crowded, and amidst the clinking of cups and lively chatter, became quite noisy.

Soon, the waiter arrived with a teapot and cups, placing them in front of the trio. He also set down several appetizers, saying, "Tiger-skin peanuts, shredded chicken with cucumber, and stir-fried tripe. The main courses will be served shortly. Please enjoy."

Fang Dingwu picked up a huge clump of tripe with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, making a satisfied grunt. "This cooking is amazing. This is the level of a top chef! After so many days, finally, a good meal!"

The three of them began eating, and their entrees appeared on their table one by one. Kung Pao rabbit, stir-fried pigeon, eight-treasure duck, crispy sparrow with golden threads, roast chicken...

Slurp!

Fang Dingwu didn’t know how many cups he had already had. After pouring himself another cup of tea, he complained, "When will the dancers start? We’ve already eaten half the meal..."

Zheng

—

Before Fang Dingwu could finish his sentence, the sudden strum of a guqin echoed through the hall.

The once lively and noisy restaurant suddenly fell into silence. The guqin continued unabated.

The female dancers, with their flowing long skirts, gracefully entered and stood in the center of the dance floor.

Fang Dingwu swallowed, then whispered to Ye Beizhi, "Did I call it?"

Ye Beizhi nodded, his gaze falling on the beaded curtain. Inside, a figure was sitting, but the curtain hid their face. The only thing clearly visible was the pair of hands resting on the guqin strings. Those hands were long and slender like young bamboo shoots, with skin as white as jade untouched by any dust, looking like a work of art.

The restaurant remained silent for a long time as if the owner of those hands was waiting for everyone’s attention to be fully drawn to them.

Fang Dingwu pouted. "Pretending to be mysterious..."

Suddenly, the strings were plucked, and the notes became erratic, twisting and turning as the music changed like a bird soaring up and down in a mountain stream or like a lone sail disappearing and reappearing in a stormy sea.

"Phew." Chi Nanwei let out a soft breath, her eyes sparkling as she fixed her gaze on the delicate hands behind the curtain. "Truly worthy of being called a master. This is the piece, 'Lotus Emerges from the Waters.'"

Fang Dingwu was busy staring wide-eyed at the graceful dancers. When he heard Chi Nanwei admire the music, he didn't even turn his head as he responded, "I'm just a rough guy and can’t tell what’s special about this. You must be able to hear the subtleties because you play the guqin."

Chi Nanwei chuckled lightly. "My humble skills can’t compare to a true master. If I were to play, I’d probably just make people laugh."

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Fang Dingwu pouted, "That’s not necessarily true. I think you’d play much more beautifully."

"Big Brother Dingwu, you just don’t know quality music." Chi Nanwei gave him a glare. "This pice has a long history. It’s a piece from the Chaozhou tradition, passed down since the Eastern Jin period. The piece is divided into three sections, with distinct changes in melody, from lively to tranquil, from soft to powerful. Only someone highly skilled could convey the true essence of the piece."

Fang Dingwu scratched his ear. "What? I don’t get it!"

Chi Nanwei, annoyed, raised her eyebrows and turned to Ye Beizhi, only to see him staring intently at the direction of the beaded curtain. She asked, "Dummy, can you understand it?"

Ye Beizhi began nodding but then immediately shook his head. "I... don't."

"Then why did you nod!" Chi Nanwei said angrily, "It’s just that this piece seems to have been altered. Listening to it, something feels off... Clearly, it’s supposed to be a delicate and subtle melody, but the way he’s playing it adds a kind of... how should I describe it?"

"Killing intent," Ye Beizhi interjected.

Chi Nanwei was stunned for a moment before saying, "Yes, that’s what it seems to feel like. There is an extra sharp and decisive quality."

Zheng!

The guqin suddenly struck a trembling note before transitioning back into calmness.

Fang Dingwu turned around, surprised. "Brother Ye, do you understand music too? Why can’t I hear anything unusual?"

Ye Beizhi shook his head. "No."

Chi Nanwei frowned as she looked at the beaded curtain. "He just played a wrong note."

"Even a master can make a mistake?" Fang Dingwu sneered.

"Could he have heard us talking about him?" Chi Nanwei wondered. "But we’re so far away... Never mind, let’s not talk about others behind their backs. It’s not good."

The melody gradually softened and slowed, eventually fading into tranquility.

As the piece concluded, the person behind the curtain stepped out. He was a tall and slender man. When Ye Beizhi and the others looked up, they saw the guqin player glancing in their direction, his gaze settling on Chi Nanwei.

Fang Dingwu glared back unceremoniously and shouted, "What are you looking at?"

The man ignored him and turned to leave for the back hall.

Fang Dingwu wasn’t done yet. "Try looking again and see what happens!"

Chi Nanwei hurriedly tried to pull him back. "Stop shouting! It’s embarrassing! He must have heard us talking about him behind his back."

"So what?" Fang Dingwu retorted, glaring. "He plays poorly, and we can’t even comment on it?"

"I can’t be bothered to argue with you!" Chi Nanwei huffed. She turned around pointedly to ignore him.

After this brief interlude, the three resumed their meal. Once they were finished and about to leave, a waiter approached and said, "Sirs and madam, my master invites you upstairs for a chat."

"Ah, this..." Chi Nanwei looked troubled and turned to Ye Beizhi.

Ye Beizhi said nothing, but Fang Dingwu crossed his arms and sneered, "We’re not going. If he has something to say, he can come down by himself!"

The waiter wasn’t offended. Smiling, he said, "Very well, please wait. I will convey your message to him." With that, he turned and left.

Fang Dingwu chuckled coldly as he sat back down. "No rush to leave. I want to see what tricks he’s planning."

Before long, the guqin player they had seen earlier approached their table with a smile. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Nalan Su. Greetings to you all."

The man had a fair complexion and an elegant demeanor. His jet-black hair was tied neatly into a bun, secured with a white jade hairpin. Locks of hair draped down onto his white robe. What stood out the most, however, were his hands, fair and flawless like white jade, as though sculpted from the finest material.

Chi Nanwei was about to bow when Ye Beizhi suddenly pulled her behind him. Fang Dingwu snorted through his nose and said, "Cut the pleasantries and get to the point."

Nalan Su smiled. "It seems this brother has misunderstood me. I merely noticed that this young lady appeared to have a deep understanding of music, so I came to discuss it with her. It is a joyous occasion that we should meet."

Chi Nanwei felt a little embarrassed. "Sir, you are a master. What I said earlier was just casual chatter and should not be taken seriously..."

"Young lady, you are mistaken!" Nalan Su’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Chi Nanwei, his face full of joy. "I have studied the guqin for over ten years, and all I’ve heard are words of praise. Today, you found my shortcomings with a single comment. It's almost as if we are Ziqi and Boya[ref]子期 (Zǐqī) and 伯牙 (Bóyá) are two legendary figures in Chinese culture, often celebrated as a symbol of deep friendship and mutual understanding. Their story comes from ancient Chinese literature and has been passed down as a timeless tale of companionship, trust, and shared artistic appreciation.[/ref[!"

"Oh, give me a break!" Fang Dingwu grabbed Chi Nanwei and started walking away. "Ziqi and Boya? You’re really good at flattering yourself. Go and perform for yourself somewhere else!"