"Sister Xue Yi, how do you think I played compared to that peerless zither master?"
Despite the thunderous applause, Wen Xi was not particularly pleased. She had heard so much insincere praise that she had become numb to it.
The world was full of sycophants, and she detested them, longing only for honest evaluations. Hence, she wanted to know Tang Xue Yi's opinion.
If Li Xiao were present, he would naturally offer a fair critique. Since Li Xiao was absent, she could only ask Tang Xue Yi.
"There's no comparison at all."
Tang Xue Yi answered without hesitation.
She never lied, and her reply was quite blunt.
The master's music was heavenly, while Wen Xi, no matter how well she played, still couldn't match it.
One was heaven, the other earth; naturally, there was no comparison.
Although Wen Xi played very well, comparing her to Ji Mo could only be described as worlds apart.
"Miss Tang, do you mean to say my young lady played better than that mysterious zither master?"
Xiao Lan showed a smug expression, mistaking Tang Xue Yi's words for praise of her mistress, making her feel honored.
Wen Xi's lips curved slightly. It seemed her earlier guess was correct; the so-called peerless zither master was nothing special.
She was immensely proud and very confident in her zither skills. Apart from a handful of grandmasters, she believed few could match her.
Tang Xue Yi remained silent. Silence was the wisest choice at that moment; she couldn't embarrass Wen Xi to her face.
More importantly, she had no way to prove Ji Mo's musical prowess and could only let them misunderstand.
Wen Xi, being sharp and intelligent, noticed the subtle expression on Tang Xue Yi's face and seemed to realize something was amiss, a storm of shock brewing in her heart.
Could it be that Tang Xue Yi's words meant the opposite of what she thought?
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
She found it hard to accept.
She would rather believe she was slightly inferior than accept "no comparison at all." Those seven words were too devastating.
Just then, a melody drifted from the direction of the Purple Bamboo Forest.
"It's him, his music!"
Upon hearing the familiar aura within the melody, Tang Xue Yi was ecstatic, almost shouting with excitement. She was completely certain it was that master playing.
The master had finally appeared!
Wen Xi felt a roaring in her head, her face filled with shock: "Heavenly music, it truly is heavenly music."
The notes that drifted over seemed to possess a magical quality. As soon as the music began, it made one's soul tremble, resonating with it, completely immersing them in the beautiful artistic conception.
The ancient wise, the modern mad, the beauty with white hair...
The beautiful music seemed to tell touching stories, the ebb and flow of the melody narrating countless joys and sorrows, the love and hate of the human world, all eventually transforming into a sigh of freedom!
After a long while, the music lingered, as if still in their ears, refusing to dissipate.
Everyone present wore expressions of shock and enchantment, completely immersed in the music, unwilling to awaken.
"Indeed, there's no comparison. I am but a firefly, yet I dared to vie with the bright moon."
Wen Xi gave a wry smile, utterly convinced.
Such zither skills were truly at the pinnacle, unmatched in the world.
"This is not his true strength; he might have only used thirty to forty percent of his power."
Tang Xue Yi spoke.
The master clearly held back, not entering a state of unity between man and nature, nor employing the method of resonating with the Dao. Otherwise, the effect would have been even more terrifying.
It was highly possible that after one piece, everyone present would collectively break through.
"How is that possible, Sister Xue Yi? You must be lying to me, right?"
Wen Xi simply refused to believe it this time. If his power was already this terrifying with only thirty percent of his strength, what would it be if he went all out? Would it be the sound of the Great Dao?
What realm would that be? Divine?
Tang Xue Yi did not reply. Her figure had already vanished from the spot, rushing towards the Purple Bamboo Forest.
"There's no hurdle in life that can't be overcome. Old man, cheer up; tomorrow will be better."
Ji Mo patted Li Xiao's shoulder, comforting him gently.
This piece could reignite one's passion for life and foster a positive mindset, which should be helpful to the elder.
Li Xiao trembled all over, so moved that tears were about to stream down his face.
He had been searching for the master for so many days, and now he had finally met a living person.
And the master must have known his grievances and played "A Sigh of Freedom" specifically to comfort him.
Wasn't "Xiao Yao" part of his name? The master must have tailored it specifically for him.
"Disciple, what virtue or merit do I have to deserve this piece? Sir, please accept this bow from your disciple."
Li Xiao was incredibly excited and was about to kneel on the spot.
"A man's knees are made of gold. Sir, please don't make me lose years off my life. I wrote this 'Sigh of Freedom' for you, so please don't kneel."
Ji Mo truly couldn't stand this old man. At his age, why would he kneel so readily?
Moreover, he wanted to take him as a disciple. What was going on?
Honestly, he was not the type to be a teacher. How could he possibly teach such a skilled old zither master?
"This piece is for you."
Ji Mo wrote out the musical score as quickly as possible, handed it to Li Xiao, and then left in a hurry, afraid the old man would grab his pant leg and kowtow to become his disciple.
When did his personal charm become so strong?
Ji Mo was quite puzzled.
"Master Li Xiao, where is that master?"
When Tang Xue Yi arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest, she was disappointed again; Ji Mo was nowhere to be found.
"Alas, the gentleman has left. Perhaps I was not devout enough, and the gentleman did not wish to take me as a disciple."
Li Xiao was filled with regret. He must have been too excited and lost his composure, scaring the master away.
However, when he saw the musical score in his hand, he was filled with renewed determination, believing that where there is a will, there is a way, and he would surely move Ji Mo in the future.
Wen Xi stood by the balcony, her mood unable to calm down; the blow was too great.
Her pride had vanished into thin air in the face of Ji Mo's music.
"As expected, there's always someone better than you, and a heaven beyond the heavens."
She took out the yellowed paper, looked at "An Epigram on a Humble Dwelling," and fell into a silent daze.
Just then, a gust of wind swept through, blowing the paper away.
Coincidentally, it landed right in front of Ji Mo.
Ji Mo, who had just rushed out of the Purple Bamboo Forest in a hurry, had a piece of paper fly into his face.
Upon seeing it, the handwriting seemed somewhat familiar.
Wasn't this "An Epigram on a Humble Dwelling" that he had written a couple of years ago while practicing calligraphy? How did it end up here? It was truly uncanny.
Ji Mo felt a chill run down his spine, and he quickly tore the paper to shreds and threw it on the ground.
When something that had disappeared for two years suddenly reappeared, anyone would be scared.
And Wen Xi, on the upper floor, saw this scene and her heart shattered.
What had she seen? Something she cherished as a treasure was torn to shreds and thrown away.
That was an unparalleled treasure; how could he do such a thing?
"Xiao Lan, quickly pick it up for me!" Wen Xi anxiously shouted.
After Xiao Lan painstakingly collected the torn pieces of paper, she found that no matter how she pieced them together, a part was still missing.
The wind was too strong, and the scraps of paper had already been blown away somewhere, impossible to find.
Wen Xi had never hated anyone so much. She vowed to find this disgusting man and punish him severely to vent her anger.
Just as Wen Xi was about to arrange for people to pursue Ji Mo, a voice rang out.
"I forbid you to touch him."