The song concluded.
Master then patted Jiang Lin’s small head and said,
“Leaves are good, and convenient, but their capacity is limited. They are also not as suitable for cultivation as the Guqin or Xiao.”
Jiang Lin pondered his master’s words, remaining silent, offering no rebuttal.
He obediently followed his master to the Music Pavilion.
The Music Pavilion housed many instruments, including the Konghou, Suona, Jade Xiao, Guqin…
A dazzling array.
As Jiang Lin looked, his master followed closely behind.
Seeing him pause before the Guqin, his master said,
“The Guqin is excellent, it plays with great artistic conception, and many ascended seniors used the Guqin.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lin nodded, then moved to the next area.
Master: “The Jade Xiao is also good. This Jade is as white as jade, and it was used by a powerful being.”
Every time Jiang Lin paused, or lingered on an instrument for a moment longer,
His master would eagerly offer an explanation.
By the end, his throat was dry.
“…”
Just then, Jiang Lin suddenly stopped.
He reached out and picked up a long instrument.
Turning his small head back, he said obediently, “Master, I want this one.”
“Eh, this is…”
Master was surprised, picking it up and fanning away the dust.
Looking at Jiang Lin, then at the instrument in his hand, his gaze held a hint of confusion.
“Why do you want this?”
Black skin, a long neck, a straight bow, and a drum-like resonating body.
This was…
The Erhu!
Not many people still used this instrument.
Those he usually saw were mostly old men.
In the cultivation world, instruments like the Guqin and Flute were more commonly chosen.
They appeared more elegant, more ethereal.
Cultivators, weren’t they all striving for enlightenment and ascension?
And the Erhu…
Young people didn’t favor it, and children liked it even less.
Master imagined his young disciple, clad in white disciple robes.
In classrooms, on battlefields…
While everyone else drew swords, beat drums, or used talismans.
Then his disciple would find a spot, sit down, cross his legs, take out the Erhu, and play like an old man…
Master quickly shook his head, dismissing the peculiar image.
“You must think carefully. Your primary instrument is the most important companion for a music cultivator. Once you choose, it is very difficult to change later.”
“Yes! I’ve thought it through, Master!”
Jiang Lin nodded seriously, “When I was in the village, the village elder played the Erhu beautifully. It was very moving.”
It could be low and mournful, like weeping, bringing tears to one’s eyes.
It could be indignant and passionate, making one feel as if they were on the battlefield, fighting enemies!
Just like that day, when the bad guys came, the village elder played it.
That was a day he would never forget.
There was blood everywhere, bodies everywhere.
The village elder played one song after another, blood sprayed onto the strings, covering the Erhu’s original color.
The melodies, both sorrowful and enraged, echoed through the village, illuminated by the blood-red light.
‘Screech—’
The music abruptly stopped.
The world fell silent.
Xinyong Village was forever frozen at that moment.
All the children, including himself, were taken away.
Plop!
Plop!
In the vast blood pool, floated the bodies of children.
It was like a living hell.
…
Master sighed.
He patted his disciple’s head, “Alright, it shall be as you choose.”
Jiang Lin: “Thank you, Master!”
…
Time flowed by,
Young Jiang Lin grew up.
Witnessed and marveled at by the entire sect, his cultivation rose as rapidly as his height.
Just as people needed to eat at certain times, he needed to increase his cultivation at certain times.
It was unbelievably smooth.
Whether outer disciples, inner disciples, or core disciples, all looked up to Jiang Lin.
Challengers came one after another.
Jiang Lin didn’t want to fight them, but they were too persistent.
So, he posted a sign-up sheet at the entrance.
Asking those who wished to challenge him to register, and then arrange a time to fight together.
This seemingly provocative, but actually lazy, action successfully angered a group of young disciples.
How much did he look down on them?
“Team up? Fine!”
These disciples, filled with indignation, joined forces and formed an array.
“Is this really okay?” a disciple asked.
The leading disciple looked elsewhere, “This isn’t us being shameless; he’s the one who suggested it!”
The questioning disciple thought about it and let go of his slight unease.
Soon, the appointed day arrived.
The disciples who had formed teams set off with high spirits.
Then, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the disciples who were still observing saw Jiang Lin fly overhead.
Behind him floated rows of disciples, lying down and unable to stand, heading towards the Medicine Hall.
“…”
It ended too quickly.
Afterward, someone went to the Medicine Hall to ask the injured disciples about the battle.
The injured disciples were all silent.
That guy’s group attacks were too fierce.
Before the battle, he looked quite harmless.
After the battle, he’d play the Erhu, and his power was boundless.
In short,
From then on, fewer people went to challenge Jiang Lin.
As he passed through the sect, many called him Senior Brother.
However, after his cultivation reached a certain level.
Jiang Lin also felt what was called a bottleneck.
“Your journey so far has been too smooth. Why not go out and travel?”
Master suggested, also giving him many good items for self-defense.
“Thank you, Master!”
Jiang Lin went back to pack, and set off on an auspicious day.
Those inner disciples and core disciples who knew about it couldn’t help but laugh.
“That guy finally has a bottleneck too, hahaha—”
“Heaven’s will!”
Indeed, no one is perfect.
If cultivation had no bottlenecks, it wouldn’t be considered good cultivation!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As soon as they finished laughing, they were each reprimanded by their own masters or senior brothers and sisters.
“What are you laughing at? He only has a bottleneck now. What about you? How long have you been stuck at your bottleneck?”
“He’s going out to travel, to travel! You’re still just gaining experience. What’s there to be happy about?”
Traveling, gaining experience.
Although both have the character ‘历’ (li), their meanings are vastly different.
It’s like one is going on a vacation, sightseeing and having fun along the way. The other is going to work, and is still an intern, doing all the grunt work.
A group of reprimanded disciples put on bitter faces.
“…”
Can’t they just be happy for a moment?
They are cultivating immortality, not cultivating hardship, tat.
Master/Senior Sister/Senior Brother: Cultivate through hardship, and you will become superior.
Young disciples: …
Pah! They didn’t believe it.
Look at Jiang Lin (Jiang Lin), his cultivation was as simple as eating, drinking, and playing.
“Are we cultivating immortality or fake immortality?”
…