The White Moonlight Subdues Everyone with a Suona - Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Na Na Na Na Na Na
After untying the knot in her heart, Ji Bingyu felt entirely relaxed in body and mind.
It so happened that Shao Yangyu returned from Taiyue Peak.
Passing by the kitchen, she brought Ji Bingyu quite a few pastries and snacks, as well as a piece of news.
“The Sect Master said to let Master bring you all along to Taiyue Peak tomorrow afternoon.”
Shaoyang Yu still hid her face behind her mask, making her expression impossible to see. However, Ji Bingyu could catch a thread of worry in her tone.
“Second Senior Sister, rest assured. Nothing bad will happen.”
When facing Shaoyang Yu, Ji Bingyu always put on an obedient face.
This was her Second Senior Sister who had constantly spoiled her.
She must never ruin her image of a gentle and endearing little junior sister in the other’s heart.
Holding onto such thoughts, Ji Bingyu lowered her head, shyly pursing her lips, and said in a soft, delicate voice, “I was very careful when I hit her. Aside from the first blow that struck her head, I didn’t hit any vital spots like her brain, heart acupuncture points, or the back of her neck later on.”
“I hit her all on the face.”
Shaoyang Yu: “…”
Shen Hege: “…”
This sounded like it made a lot of sense, but why did it feel like something was off?
—This was fundamentally off everywhere, wasn’t it?!
Shaoyang Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Unable to hold back, she raised her hand to rub Shen Hege’s head, then pinched Ji Bingyu’s small face.
Before either of them could protest, Shaoyang Yu spoke up.
“There is no need to refrain on my account. I ran into Master Qianming and Junior Sister Yu on the road just now, and I have already learned everything that happened.”
The playful grin hanging on Ji Bingyu’s face froze, her expression dulling for a moment.
The reason she was acting spoiled and playing dumb was simply to derail this topic.
Regardless of why Shaoyang Yu hid her face with a mask, it bound to involve a past she did not wish to mention.
Some matters could become jokes as one talked about them, and amidst lighthearted banter, those shallow loves and hates would be completely taken lightly.
Yet other matters could not be spoken of, thought of, or remembered. Even a moment of reflection would tear open the scars, causing those hard-won scabbed wounds to bleed and split open once more, exposing stark white bones.
Thus, Ji Bingyu tried every possible way to lead the conversation toward her own brawling, yet she hadn’t expected Second Senior Sister to notice the subtle signs anyway.
Shen Hege also tensed his body, saying in a low voice, “Senior Sister, I am sorry.”
“Alright, why does each of you have such a gloomy face? I didn’t blame you.”
Shaoyang Yu picked up a slender willow-leaf cake and placed it in her mouth.
The sweet and rich taste spread in her mouth, twisting and turning, as if transforming into a breath of yesterday’s spring breeze that quietly blew into her heart.
“There is no need to apologize. Rather, it is I, your senior sister, who should thank you.”
Recalling the words Aunt Master Yunxiao had said and the scenes seen through the Shadow Recording Stone, Shaoyang Yu pursed her lips, an indescribable feeling rising in her heart.
She was not good with words. She merely looked fixedly at her junior brother and sister before her, repeating once more, “Thank you.”
Thank you.
Ji Bingyu originally didn’t need to pry into other people’s business, and Shen Hege could have also stayed out of it.
Yet neither of them did.
Even though there were thousands of “better” and “wiser” ways to solve it, they still chose the most direct and passionate one.
Ever since being abandoned by her family, it had been a very, very long time since anyone had protected Shaoyang Yu like this.
When she was fourteen years old, after the high-and-mighty young lady in Huaizhou City explicitly showed disgust toward her using “sharing the same name” as a reason, Shaoyang Yu, who was originally called “the eldest young lady,” instantly fell from the clouds.
She was forced to change her name, rejected by her birth father, and her mother passed away to protect her. Immediately following that, her face was slashed by others, leaving behind scars…
Shaoyang Yu had long tasted all the warmth and coldness of human relationships.
All the pain was borne by herself, and all the sadness was hidden in her heart.
She could not shed tears simply because there were far too many painful things, and she had already become numb.
Until she was brought to Xueyu Peak by Rong Qingyuan.
Until she met everyone at Changqing sect.
Until now.
Shaoyang Yu was not a person skilled in speech.
Being able to say the words “thank you” was already not easy.
Looking at Ji Bingyu, who was still uneasy and anxious, the corners of her mouth hidden behind the mask curled upward unconsciously, waves of warm currents surging in her heart.
“You have already beaten her up, and now you know to be afraid?”
Shaoyang Yu gently patted her head, speaking as if coaxing a child, “It does not matter. Master will go with you tomorrow, and I will go too. The Sect Master will not punish you.”
Ji Bingyu went silent for a moment, softly muttering, “I am not afraid, either.”
Ji Bingyu was truly not afraid; she was merely regretting.
—If she had known Yu Qianxue was so capable of causing trouble, she should have laid her hands on her even harder!
She should have let the suona smash her mouth to pieces!
…
To be safe, Ji Bingyu went to find Rong Qingyuan early the next morning to talk about this matter, preventing any twists and turns from arising in the afternoon.
The sky was dim, with a light drizzle scattering in the air.
Rong Qingyuan still wore a green robe that trailed on the ground, though his inner garment was swapped for deep blue.
Hanging at his waist was a bright yellow jade pendant suspended by a crimson tassel.
In short, it was still a familiar, flashy, and chaotic combination.
That it did not look out of place on him was entirely supported by his flawless face.
Ji Bingyu muttered in her heart that when she had time in the future, she must properly teach her master a lesson regarding the question of aesthetics.
Forget it today.
With so many things going on, it was better to resolve them first.
Seeing Ji Bingyu rushing over directly through the rain without even holding an umbrella, while her spiritual energy was completely insufficient to support her in warding off the rainwater,
Rong Qingyuan let out a soft sigh and retrieved a green bamboo umbrella from his storage ring.
Slender fingers rested on the green jade umbrella handle, making them appear all the whiter.
On the surface of the umbrella, a pattern of a phoenix seemed to be drawn in black and white ink.
As for the brushwork and technique, Ji Bingyu didn’t understand it; she only felt that this image revealed an untameable, aloof wildness amidst its delicate elegance.
Looking up from afar, it was as if the phoenix on the umbrella surface were about to soar into the sky.
—It truly had the aura of a top-tier big shot!
Rong Qingyuan held the umbrella over her head.
Ji Bingyu was forced to step a bit closer, whispering her intention in a low voice.
“Did you think that relying on just a few of you that day could hide it from Qianming?”
Rong Qingyuan bent his finger and tapped lightly on Ji Bingyu’s head, “Although your master also feels that old fellow Qianming has become stuck in his ways and increasingly rigid in recent years.”
“However, he is a Nascent Soul cultivator after all. How could you few disciples who have just entered the Dao possibly compare to him?”
Ji Bingyu pondered for a bit and understood.
Even though Master Qianming had walked a narrow path in recent years, he was still a Nascent Soul powerhouse, far from what a few small fry like them combined could withstand.
“If Chang qing hadn’t been protecting you, I’m afraid you wouldn’t have been able to make a move at all that day.”
Rong Qingyuan unhurriedly explained the reasoning clearly to Ji Bingyu.
If it were Shen Hege or Shaoyang Yu, Rong Qingyuan would never explain things so clearly, otherwise, given the personalities of those two, they would probably swallow any bitterness directly into their stomachs whenever they encountered hardship in the future.
However, Ji Bingyu was different.
Rong Qingyuan wasn’t afraid in the slightest that Ji Bingyu would become frightened, terrified, or hesitant because of this.
Sure enough, after listening to Rong Qingyuan’s words, Ji Bingyu didn’t feel discouraged at all; on the contrary, her spirits were immensely lifted.
In ancient times, Liu Sanbian composed lyrics by imperial decree, and today, Ji Bingyu beat people up by official command!
(T/N:After failing his civil service exams, Northern Song dynasty poet Liu Yong (Liu Sanbian) wrote lines boasting he preferred drinking and composing lyrics over political fame. Upon seeing this, Emperor Renzong rejected his candidacy, telling him to go write lyrics instead. Liu Yong sarcastically adopted the title as his artistic brand. So he began introducing himself across the entertainment districts and brothels of the capital with a self-mocking title:”Liu Sanbian, Composer of Lyrics by Imperial Decree”. In modern web novels and Xianxia comedies, referencing this idiom means getting “officially” licensed to do something outrageous, rowdy, or unorthodox.)
This was simply too satisfying!
Ji Bingyu instantly wasn’t afraid at all. She pulled Rong Qingyuan back to Wutong Dwelling with great enthusiasm, and when her excitement peaked, she even performed her imitation of Master Qianming’s Immortal Wind at the Lotus Pond for him.
Ji Bingyu blew away joyfully, while Rong Qingyuan rested his chin on his hand and watched her, his smile faint, shallow, and elegant.
From time to time, he even voiced a few pointers, slightly adjusting the tone and making a few transition pitch changes.
Paired with the spiritual enegry Ji Bingyu mobilized, it instantly made the style of the tune even more underworldly.
No, not just underworldly.
It was an underworldly vibe laced with a bizarre joy, as if after gusts of ghostly wind, an ice fish suddenly leaped out of the pond, grinning and chuckling ‘hehe’ at you, with its eyes emitting a strange glow!
Others played music sheets, while Ji Bingyu—what the duck—played plain absurd!
“Very good.”
Rong Qingyuan nodded with satisfaction, “A-Yu is very talented. Go perform it for your Uncle Master Qianming in a while, so he knows his teaching wasn’t in vain.”
Li Fuqing, who was forced to listen to the second half: …
This is just your dad’s level of bullshit!
He cautiously raised his eyes to look at Rong Qingyuan, thought for a moment, and carefully weighed his words, “Master, did that old fellow Qianming do something improper again?”
Rong Qingyuan thought for a bit and shook his head, “Not really.”
Li Fuqing widened his eyes, cautiously turned his head to look at Ji Bingyu, and carefully turned back again, whispering, “Then, then this disciple thinks it’s better not to let Junior Sister go present it to Uncle Master Qianming.”
Li Fuqing felt he was just shy of shouting out loud.
—Master, Master Qianming’s crime does not warrant this, Master!
Looking at the scene before her, the corners of Ji Bingyu’s mouth twitched, her expression complex, “Eldest Senior Brother, do you happen to have another nickname called ‘Li Lianying’?”
(T/N:In Chinese history and popular culture, Li Lianying was the most famous and powerful imperial eunuch of the late Qing Dynasty, serving as the chief advisor and close confidant to Empress Dowager Cixi. So calling someone a eunuch in Chinese banter is a lighthearted way to tease them for acting like a spineless, fawning brown-noser in front of authority.)
No wonder she overthought it; of the two people before her, one was composed, relaxed, and noble in demeanor, while the other was cautious and utterly bootlicking—it was simply the standard setup of an emperor and a little eunuch in a court drama!
Although Li Fuqing didn’t know who ‘Li Lianying’ was, he assumed it wasn’t anything good, so he said testily, “I’ve never had that nickname. On the contrary, Junior Sister, you ought to consider taking some advanced music theory classes.”
Ji Bingyu said discontentedly, “Eldest Senior Brother, are you looking down on my Na?”
As if sensing its master’s anger, the Na, which had been lazy all this time, suddenly shook its body and emitted the most primitive, long cry!
The scream of a marmot instantly echoed through Wutong Dwelling, startling a flock of birds and insects into flapping their wings outside the window.
Even the spirit tiger guarding Shouren Peak next door began to roar loudly.
In an instant, the ground shook and the mountains trembled, the wind howled and the rain poured down, and the sycamore leaves by the window drifted down, showering all over Li Fuqing’s face.
Li Fuqing: “…Quack.”
Even Shaoyang Yu and Shen Hege, who had just arrived, couldn’t help but shudder.
Shen Hege said admiringly, “As expected of Master. Not having seen you for a day, you can actually achieve drawing all things together with a single sound.”
Not knowing the reason, Shaoyang Yu also nodded and said solemnly, “That moment just now seemed capable of invoking a tragic song from all creation. It truly has a deep inner reserve, beyond what ordinary people can reach!”
Ah, this…
In an instant, even someone as thick-skinned as Ji Bingyu fell into a guilty silence.
In the end, it was Rong Qingyuan who spoke up to break the stalemate.
Ignoring everything that had just transpired, he casually informed Li Fuqing of the whole story behind Ji Bingyu thrashing Yu Qianxue as if nothing had happened.
Li Fuqing, who always loved watching a good drama and never worried about things getting out of hand, immediately switched sides on the spot, expressing his desire to go with them to Chang Qingzi’s Taiyue Peak.
He also added that if Ji Bingyu were to beat someone up next time, she must bring him along.
Li Fuqing rubbed his hands together, “If you ask me, since those people from Piaomiao Peak are so good at causing trouble, why don’t we just throw a burlap sack over Master Qianming next time…”
Before he could finish his words, he sheepishly shut his mouth under Rong Qingyuan’s “kind” gaze.
Throwing a burlap sack was no longer doable, but Li Fuqing was still worried.
Although he knew Chang Qingzi had always been fair and was not the rigid, conservative type, there were far too many uncertain factors.
Take Shen Hege, for example.
As Eldest Senior Brother, although he was a bit unreliable at times, Li Fuqing knew Shen Hege’s personality all too crystal clear.
Aloof from worldly strife, extremely gentle, and possessing a terrifyingly good temper.
Let alone making a move against fellow disciples, just the act of indulging Ji Bingyu in hitting someone this time could probably make this guy, who abided by the conduct of a gentleman in every word and deed, wrestle with himself internally for a long time.
What if that Yu Qianxue from Piaomiao Peak started weeping after a few words in a moment, and Shen Hege suddenly felt guilty?
Even if he didn’t feel guilty, given Shen Hege’s pure and kind nature, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be tricked into giving things away by the other side!
“Eldest Senior Brother, rest assured.”
Ji Bingyu poked her head out from the floating boat, whispering, “Second Senior Sister and I already agreed on a strategy yesterday. There won’t be any problem.”
Li Fuqing was dubious.
Considering he hadn’t been able to correct Shen Hege’s nature for so many years, could Ji Bingyu really make Shen Hege change his nature in just one night?
No.
If Ji Bingyu could guess Li Fuqing’s thoughts, she would tell him that she hadn’t thought that way at all.
As early as yesterday, after the three of them had a discussion, Ji Bingyu, thinking about Shen Hege’s habit of taking all the blame upon himself, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
Since Shen Hege wasn’t good at refuting others and subconsciously wanted to take the blame, wouldn’t it be fine to just change the way he spoke?
Ji Bingyu secretly gave herself a thumbs-up in her heart and said to Shen Hege, “Tomorrow, if Master Qianming asks you, you just say—”
…
“Shen Hege, you speak!”
Master Qianming knew he was in the wrong first regarding Yu Qianxue, but his disciple had been hit right in front of his face, and Master Qianming couldn’t swallow this insult.
Now, in front of the Sect Master, he decided to latch onto their only mistake.
So what if Xueyu Peak had strength in numbers? As long as he could trap Shen Hege in the snare, he wouldn’t have to worry about not gaining the upper hand!
