The White Moonlight Subdues Everyone with a Suona - Chapter 43
Chapter 43: Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
As for Ji Bingyu’s song…
How should one put it? You really couldn’t tell she was playing a piece of music, because what came out of her instrument didn’t resemble music at all—it was entirely unrelated.
Sect Master Changqing fell silent for a moment, then slowly turned his head to look at Master Qianming.
“Junior Brother, did you teach her this too?”
Master Qianming: “…No, I didn’t. It has nothing to do with me.”
Master Leshui rubbed his temples.
Even with his Nascent Soul stage cultivation, he had almost been blown away by that single, screeching “AH—” from the suona.
The main issue was that the sound from Ji Bingyu’s suona wasn’t just a plain, simple “AH.”
That single syllable took on thousands of transformations in her hands, full of cadence, twisting and lingering endlessly around the rafters.
It wasn’t just the elders; even Li Fuqing, who had been tormented by the suona for a long time, could barely withstand this sudden “music.”
With a wooden face, he said, “Others say that hearing celestial music momentarily brightens one’s ears, making one forget the taste of meat for three months.”
Shen Hege remained silent. Looking at the stiff face of his senior brother, he ultimately decided against telling Li Fuqing that those two lines didn’t actually go together.
Shen Hege, whose blood was also surging, forced a smile and asked Li Fuqing, “So that’s Senior Brother’s current state?”
“No,” Li Fuqing shook his head. He gazed toward the arena, his eyes distant and deep.
“I want to eat goose meat.”
“To commemorate my ears, which I know not when will see the light of day again.”
In the past, I really underestimated her!
Little Junior Sister actually possesses such power! Despite being only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, she managed to shock a Nascent Soul cultivator on the spot and terrify Golden Core cultivators to their very cores!
Such power is comparable to defeating someone of a higher tier—truly terrifying!
After Ji Bingyu finished playing, everyone present had numb, lifeless expressions, looking as if they had collectively lost the courage to go on, with only one foot left outside the grave.
Ji Bingyu’s single suona piece had nearly sent everyone off, but Yu Qianxue, who was standing directly across from her facing the sound attack, was in a far more miserable state.
Earlier, trapped between fire and water, she had chosen to dive into the flames. Consequently, she felt her entire body burning hot. Meanwhile, the large goose chasing behind Yu Qianxue was arrogant and wild to the extreme. The lead goose was valiant and spirited, puffing out its chest, holding its head high, and marching in an eight-character waddle—acting with complete leisure like a cat playing with a mouse.
Without a doubt, she was the mouse.
Why did Yu Qianxue know this in such detail?
—Because, at one point, she couldn’t resist looking back.
The very second Yu Qianxue turned her head, the large goose’s expressionless face suddenly came alive.
Its tiny, bead-like eyes filled with mockery, and the corners of its beak curled upward, slowly revealing a supremely wicked smile.
Yu Qianxue: …?
Were all geese in the cultivation world this unique? Or was it just the one in front of her?
In that split second, Yu Qianxue felt utterly bewildered.
The moment she faltered, her pace slowed. Then, in less than a second, she watched the large goose flap its spotless white wings and charge headlong toward her.
Before Yu Qianxue could even scream, the large goose—
Hard-pecked her right on the butt?!
Yu Qianxue: ?!?!?!
If a man had treated her like this, Yu Qianxue not only wouldn’t be angry, but would take it as flirting and feel immensely proud.
But being played like this by a woman filled Yu Qianxue with nothing but absolute humiliation!
Seething with rage, she grabbed the disciple about to read the results immediately after tumbling off the arena stage, screaming shrilly, “I didn’t lose to her! On what grounds do you say I lost?!”
The announcer disciple had seen many defeated competitors who were either dejected or frustrated, but their emotions were usually directed at themselves.
Of course, some hot-headed ones couldn’t control their anger, but rarely was anyone this hideous and twisted.
The bright sunlight beamed down on Yu Qianxue, revealing her contorted features with painful clarity. The harsh sun cast her shadow long across the ground, making her look almost like a creature of the Demon race at first glance.
The announcer disciple had never encountered such an unreasonable person. Caught completely off guard, he took a flustered step back, waving his hands: “Fellow disciple, don’t raise your hands, let’s talk this out nicely…”
Indeed.
Now was not the time to drop all pretenses.
Yu Qianxue calmed down slightly. Realizing the gazes fixed on her from below the stage, cold sweat broke out across her back.
She had always loved comparing herself to others—not to men, since it was natural for men to be stronger than women in her mind, so she only compared herself to women.
Ever since entering the sect, there were the gentle and refined Perfected Master Yunxiao and Senior Sister Lingyun yun of Ruyun Peak, the firm and sharp Shaoyang Yu of Xueyu Peak, not to mention Feng Feishuang and Hu Jiaojiao who had risen up later. Even Ji Bingyu, who had joined recently yet possessed stunning talent that shattered expectations time and again, had become a thorn in Yu Qianxue’s side.
And this time, the moment the suona sounded, Yu Qianxue recognized her opponent.
—It was Ji Bingyu again!
—Her again!
Her previous failures resurfaced in her mind, triggering such an intense reaction from the long-suppressed Yu Qianxue.
Remembering that the elders were watching from below, Yu Qianxue straightened her back, adjusted her facial expression into a mix of aggrieved hurt and vexation, stomped her foot on the spot, and cried to Master Qianming, “Master, your disciple refuses to accept this!”
With that shout, the expressions of the crowd shifted.
So this girl is a disciple of Piaomiao Peak?
Everyone knew that arena affairs within the sect were almost always managed by Master Qianming of Piaomiao Peak.
Over the years, he had been conscientious and reliable, never allowing any mishaps.
Now, since it was his own disciple raising an objection, it was only fair and reasonable for them to hear her out.
Once they heard it, there would be debate. With debate came disagreement.
And once there was disagreement, could the escalation of conflicts between their respective peaks be far behind?
Even if it didn’t show immediately, a thorn would be planted deep in their hearts, throbbing faintly from time to time, perhaps serving a major purpose in the future.
However, no matter how much Yu Qianxue had calculated, she never expected that before Master Qianming could speak, Rong Qingyuan—who had remained silent all along—would speak up first.
“What do you not accept?”
His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion, like a gentle breeze. His pale complexion easily made one worry about his health, yet Yu Qianxue didn’t dare lower her guard for a second.
Her body tensed up instantly, trembling uncontrollably. Though there was no sound in her ears, she felt as if a thousand voices were screaming at her to stay away.
All because the person who spoke was Rong Qingyuan.
Rong Qingyuan!
One melody slays ten thousand demons; a single string strikes awe into the world.
Everyone in the cultivation world knew this legend. Some admired it, some despised it, and some dismissed it as an exaggeration—only Yu Qianxue knew it was absolute truth.
That day, after Rong Qingyuan used his guqin music to slay the Red-Blooded Demon General, he had asked in that exact quiet, almost smiling voice—
“What do you not accept? You may speak your minds.”
The next second, the Red-Blooded Demon General’s head fell, blood splashing everywhere.
…
As memories intertwined with reality, Yu Qianxue could barely control her trembling. With a shaky voice, she managed to say, “Disciple… disciple does not accept this result.”
Yu Qianxue paused, tore off the disguise on her face, and pointed dramatically.
“She—Ji Bingyu didn’t play a song at all!” Yu Qianxue claimed.
“She used evil illusion techniques! She trapped me in a realm of illusion, and that’s the only reason she won!”
Hearing this, Rong Qingyuan’s brows furrowed slightly. His long eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath his eyes, softening his picture-perfect features.
A faint trace of sorrow seemed to linger between his brows, eliciting pity from anyone watching.
And watching this play out was Ji Bingyu, who had been enjoying the drama for a long time.
She hadn’t thought much of it at first; having dealt with Yu Qianxue a few times, Ji Bingyu knew exactly what kind of person she was.
Evil technique or not, the Sect Master could tell with a simple test.
However, seeing Rong Qingyuan looking troubled over this, Ji Bingyu—her mind completely dazzled by his beauty—took a sharp breath.
A surge of domineering, overbearing energy filled her chest.
The weather is turning cold; it’s time for the Yu family to go bankrupt.
Seeing Yu Qianxue drop her disguise and state her identity outright, Ji Bingyu simply removed her own face covering as well.
Instantly, a chorus of gasps and murmurs erupted across the venue. Some disciples even tumbled to the ground on the spot, looking at the stage with complete disbelief.
Although many disciples who had taken classes with Ji Bingyu at the Hall of Enlightenment had mentioned that Junior Sister Ji’s magical artifact was “definitely extraordinary” and “unlike any other,” no one expected it to be this extraordinary!
Or rather, even if someone had vaguely guessed it, they had been unwilling to admit it.
And today, all false illusions were ruthlessly shattered.
—Farewell, the delicate, ethereal, and otherworldly Little Junior Sister Ji Bingyu.
—Hello, the world-shaking, wild-goose-screeching, butt-pecking goose.
Pei Leye in particular—who had once used the four words “butt-pecking wild goose” right in front of Ji Bingyu—had a twitching eyelid.
His whole body shuddered intermittently, looking as though he might ascend to heaven on the spot.
Amidst the collective sharp gasps of the disciples, Ji Bingyu remained completely unfazed.
She calmly asked Yu Qianxue, “Who said I didn’t play a song?”
Yu Qianxue turned her head and insisted adamantly, “Your music was taught by my master, but that piece just now was definitely not my master’s ‘Immortal Wind at the Lotus Pond’!”
“That’s right,” Ji Bingyu puffed her chest out proudly. “That was my original fan-made version of ‘Immortal Wind at the Lotus Pond’…..”
She intentionally dragged out her tone, waiting until everyone’s hearts were suspended high in anticipation before slowly continuing.
“That day, after hearing Martial Uncle Qianming’s song, I was deeply moved. In a moment of epiphany, I felt as though I had understood something. So, after seven full days of secluded cultivation, I fused Martial Uncle Qianming’s music with my own personal demeanor, resulting in this piece.”
Ji Bingyu said solemnly, “To commemorate the deep, soulmate-like friendship between Martial Uncle Qianming and myself, I have decided to title this song—’Gloomy Wind in the Mourning Hall’!”
Li Fuqing, who had wanted to retort but found himself completely powerless: …
The rest of the disciples and elders: …
Master Qianming, who was just about to defend Ji Bingyu: …
There’s… really… no… need.
In the silence where a pin drop could be heard, only Rong Qingyuan let out a light chuckle.
“It is indeed so.”
“Master Qianming and I even helped Ah Yu revise this song for quite a long time. Perhaps because of this, combined with your unstable mindset at the moment, Niece Yu, you mistakenly thought Ah Yu had achieved the realm of creating illusions through sound.”
Rong Qingyuan’s voice was unhurried, carrying an innate soothing magic. After listening, many disciples came to a sudden realization.
Right! That’s obviously what happened!
Otherwise, if everyone heard the music, why didn’t the disciples below the stage have such a strong reaction?
Some disciples thought even deeper.
“Creating illusions through sound” was a realm that only music cultivators at the late Golden Core stage could attempt.
How could Ji Bingyu, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, possibly achieve that?
They cautiously glanced at Master Qingxu, who looked completely composed. Though he showed hints of weariness, his graceful posture remained unchanged.
Ji Bingyu, standing on the stage, held the exact same demeanor.
With a calm expression and clear eyes, though small in stature, her aura was magnificent.
In stark contrast, Yu Qianxue—trembling all over and not even daring to look at Ji Bingyu—seemed completely outmatched.
After making the comparison, everyone understood the situation.
Didn’t you see that even Master Qianming’s face turned black, and he didn’t say another word to defend his disciple?
Besides, Senior Sister Yu acted ruthlessly and used despicable tactics earlier. Did she really think none of us had eyes?
The disciples below exchanged knowing glances. At the same time, receiving a signal from the Sect Master, the announcer disciple stepped forward again and shouted loudly—
“Rouzhao Foundation Establishment Arena, Final Match: Snow Charm Holy Maiden vs. 500 Geese!”
“500 Geese, WINS—!”
Amidst the applause and the conflicted yet strangely amused gazes of the disciples, Ji Bingyu offered Rong Qingyuan a proud smile.
Look! This is the grand status your goose built for you!
According to the rules, the disciple who won the Qingyue Arena was allowed to go to the Treasure Pavilion to choose one treasure.
The Treasure Pavilion, as the name implied, was filled with countless treasures beyond measure.
Especially various cultivation techniques and musical scores, which came in such vast varieties that even Ji Bingyu listened with yearning.
While following the guiding disciple deep into the treasure pavilion, she conversed in her mind with Heaven’s Will that had arrived unexpectedly.
[How is the repair of the heavenly pillar on your end going?]
[Pretty good goose goose goose goose goose goose goose goose goose goose—]
[…What does pretty good mean?]
[It means it is not repaired yet, but it won’t collapse for the time being goose goose goose goose goose goose goose—]
After a brief silence, Ji Bingyu raised a nuclear-grade, sweet smile: [If you “goose” one more time, I will turn around and leave immediately, and I won’t care about whatever illusion score or anything else anymore—]
[—Dad, this son was wrong! Every fault belongs entirely to this child!]
Heaven’s Will transformed into the form of a child, wiping tears beside Ji Bingyu with a cheap expression.
[This son never expected that in just a few short days, you would evolve from a human into—]
Meeting Ji Bingyu’s amiable gaze and remembering that she genuinely dared to turn around and leave, Heaven’s Will hurriedly pulled back from the brink of becoming an orphan, applying the brakes right before the curve.
It cleared its throat with fake solemnity and put on a serious face: [Matters of Heaven’s Will really ought to be discussed with you.]
Ji Bingyu hadn’t cared initially, but she hadn’t expected Heaven’s Will to discuss the heavenly pillar seriously with her this time.
There was one sentence Ji Bingyu hadn’t said wrong.
Only by breaking could there be establishment.
Heaven’s Will had originally wanted to keep this heavenly pillar unchanged—that should have been the simplest way.
Yet no one expected that besides the cracks on the pillar, there were many other small, unsupposed-to-be-there fractures beneath the heavenly pillar.
These living mortals with diverse personalities were going to forfeit their lives simply because of those few meager strokes in the book, turning dim or perishing from then on.
Not just Ji Bingyu, but Heaven’s Will could not bear it either.
As Heaven’s Will, while being merciless, it was also emotional.
This was not contradictory.
If not merciless, where would the biting wind and bitter rain come from? Where would the swords and blades of frost come from?
If not emotional, why would the world be endless and vibrant? Why would spring return after winter?
People deserved to die, yet they did not deserve to die.
Precisely understanding this, Heaven’s Will likewise chose this most difficult path.
It was going to discard everything from the past and rebuild the heavenly pillar, even taking the risk of the impending birth of the supreme evil demon lord in the Demon Abyss.
And since it was a reconstruction, it had to be different from the past.
All other matters of Heaven’s Will could be resolved, except for one point: these characters who existed in the original author’s text.
Heaven’s Will needed to rely on Ji Bingyu to completely reverse their fates.
After finishing, Heaven’s Will felt a bit guilty and nervous.
After all, none of this had anything to do with Ji Bingyu. The original owner had escaped fate under the protection of the Ji family ancestors, yet Ji Bingyu, snatched from who knows where, had to shoulder this responsibility.
[I understand.]
Ji Bingyu looked as though she hadn’t been affected at all. Heaven’s Will looked her up and down, then blankly asked: [You aren’t even going to haggle?]
Ji Bingyu pondered for a second, testing the waters: [Is that phase still available? Shall we start over?]
Heaven’s Will vanished instantly.
Taking advantage of the idle chatter between the two, everyone had arrived at the Treasure Pavilion.
Unlike the grand and imposing aura of the Nine Layers Heavenly Pavilion, the Treasure Pavilion was entirely deep blue, accented with indigo and other colors. From the outside, it looked antique and refined, resembling a scholarly academy rather than a place hiding secret treasures.
Looking at the towering structure surrounded by trees and embraced by mountains right before her eyes, Ji Bingyu took a deep breath and stepped into the Treasure Pavilion.
Do not be fooled by her calm exterior earlier; in truth, she was nervous to death, her palms soaked in sweat.
Although she had harbored suspicions in the past, no one had ever spelled it out, so Ji Bingyu had simply pretended not to know.
Now that Heaven’s Will had explicitly acknowledged her ability to alter the fates of others, Ji Bingyu didn’t know how anyone else would react upon gaining such power, but she felt only nervousness.
Uncharacteristically, Ji Bingyu felt some dread.
She was afraid she wouldn’t do well enough—if only she herself were implicated, that would be one thing, but the crucial part was that others were involved as well.
[Don’t be afraid.]
A crisp, clear voice like spring water striking jade sounded in Ji Bingyu’s ear, causing her to widen her eyes immediately.
It was Rong Qingyuan!
How did he get in here?!
[I didn’t come in; this is just a pre-placed sound transmission.]
Though it was merely a “recording,” Rong Qingyuan seemed capable of guessing what Ji Bingyu was thinking.
[There is no need to worry about things that have yet to happen. Even if this time goes awry, it can still be remedied.]
His voice was clear and gentle, like cotton candy bought by the roadside in the mortal world—soft and fluffy, making one yearn to curl up in his embrace.
A single simple sentence instantly dispelled all of Ji Bingyu’s misgivings.
As expected of the Buddhist grand beauty Rong Qingyuan, he was simply reliable!
Watching Ji Bingyu, who had already started rummaging through the musical scores, Heaven’s Will also heaved a sigh of relief and mentally gave Rong Qingyuan a thumbs-up.
As expected of him!
Reliable!
…
The Treasure Pavilion held numerous treasures, and the score Ji Bingyu needed, the Twelve Phantom Sound Scores, was located specifically inside the Book Treasure Hall.
The so-called “Book Treasure Hall” was filled with towering bookcases scraping the clouds and nearly piercing the heavens, stacked layer upon layer. Standing at the entrance of the hall, Ji Bingyu couldn’t even see the end of them.
Trying to find a single score in a place comparable to a modern massive library purely by luck was akin to searching for a needle in a vast sea, looking for a blade of grass in a flower field, or expecting a pack of pigs to find Heaven’s Will.
Heaven’s Will: ???
“All in all,” Ji Bingyu softened her voice, pinching her tone as she smiled affectedly, “Little Will, if this book hall doesn’t have that book, I’m going to smash you to pieces.”
Heaven’s Will: .
The Twelve Phantom Sound Scores—do not let the name fool you into thinking it was a super powerful musical score; in reality, this score was comparable to that mysterious book from back then that induced slice-of-life demon lords to slice themselves up—it was extremely prone to inducing mental instability and making people depressed and gloomy.
In the original work, its owner was precisely the primary villain boss, Xie Yuan.
And the reason Heaven’s Will had forced her to come to the Treasure Pavilion at that time was precisely because of this.
“I think Sect Master Changqing ought to take this foul book that lacks literary virtue and toss it straight into a pig cage.”
Ji Bingyu muttered to herself while rummaging through the shelves.
She had originally thought that this search, akin to finding a needle in a haystack, would surely yield nothing. To her surprise, she turned out to be exceptionally fortunate this time. When Ji Bingyu casually pulled out the twelfth score, she happened to pull out the Twelve Phantom Sound Scores!
Ji Bingyu happily handed it to Heaven’s Will: “Alright, found it! Hurry up and edit it!”
Heaven’s Will was shocked and appalled: “I am not the one editing it! Dad! You are the one editing it!”
Ji Bingyu was even more shocked and appalled than it was: “Why am I editing it?! Shouldn’t it be you?!”
The two stared at each other, simultaneously discovering where the problem lay.
“The Qinghui Jade Brush isn’t with you?!” “Wait, is Xie Yuan about to arrive?!”
They exchanged glances and spoke in unison once more—
“It’s not with me!” “Right, he’s about to arrive! We need to speed up!”
They could not let Xie Yuan see the unedited Twelve Phantom Sound Scores, otherwise, following the trajectory of fate in this world, he would definitely be attracted by the Twelve Phantom Sound Scores and begin cultivating it!
All evil must be nipped in the bud!
“I forgot that your relationship with Xuanyuan Fentian is poor! Therefore, the Qinghui Jade Brush, which should have reappeared by now, is still with the Yan family!”
Heaven’s Will gritted its teeth: “Oh no, Xie Yuan will arrive here in three minutes!”
“Like this, I will temporarily lend my power to you! You edit this Twelve Phantom Sound Scores!”
With events unfolding abruptly, Ji Bingyu’s mind went completely blank until a jade-green brush suddenly materialized in her hand, at which point she realized what was happening.
Looking at the Twelve Phantom Sound Scores before her, whose text had already been wiped away by Heaven’s Will using its power, Ji Bingyu opened the first page with trembling hands.
As if triggering some bodily function, she involuntarily wrote a word on the very first line of the first page—
abandon.
The “a” had to be capitalized and pronounced aloud.
After finishing this word, Ji Bingyu exhaled a long breath, slowly closed the book, and silently placed it back on the bookshelf.
It was over.
Finally, everything was over.
…
Heaven’s Will, having witnessed everything: “?”
Heaven’s Will was puzzled: “And then?”
Ji Bingyu, caught off guard by the counter-question: “?”
Ji Bingyu looked even more puzzled than Heaven’s Will.
“There’s an and then???”
As her words fell, both fell into silence, staring at each other across four eyes once more.
Seconds later, Ji Bingyu knitted her brows and continued to ask in utter confusion: “What and then or no and then? It’s already over right here.”
She said profoundly: “You don’t understand, the word I wrote is not only the beginning of everything, but also the end of everything.”
Heaven’s Will: “???”
“But what I meant by editing was to edit the entire Twelve Phantom Sound Scores!”
“Dad! Every single page must bear your handwriting using the Qinghui Jade Brush I conjured, otherwise the edits won’t take effect and the original appearance will remain!!!”
Ji Bingyu: ???
Ji Bingyu: !!!
At this moment, she relived the terror of suddenly being called upon in class to recite spelling words from memory.
Too funny, apart from abandon, she hadn’t memorized anything else at all!
