Due to the lack of information, Zhao Ya thought for a long time but still came up empty; with no choice, he returned to Guangde Square, planning to find a solution tomorrow.
Meanwhile, as he departed, in an unremarkable residence on Yuzhu Alley, a lean man was playing the erhu.
His bow moved as if a fast and fierce storm, pouring out a melody both gentle and urgent, just listening to it left people breathless.
Yet in this situation, a refined and gentle young man standing before him responded melodiously, perfectly integrating his winding and mellow tune with the erhu’s sound.
The audience in the room listened intently, not daring to even breathe heavily.
Finally.
When the last line of song was sung, the erhu music, which was as wild as a rushing flood, abruptly stopped.
In an instant, the wind ceased, the rain stopped, and the room fell into an unusual silence.
Everyone was lost in the shocking moment, only reacting after a while before breaking into applause.
"Bravo!"
"Little Yue’s music is getting better!"
"I say, Mr. Mo’s erhu truly lives up to its reputation, it’s simply miraculous and breathtaking."
Praises surged like a tide.
This gentle and refined young man was the opera performer who had risen to fame in Yuzhu Alley, named Yue.
At this moment, his eyes shone brightly, and he bowed deeply to the elder musician in excitement.
"Thank you, Mr. Mo, for your help."
"You’re welcome; it’s due to your exceptional insight. I merely went with the flow," said Mr. Mo while gently putting away his erhu.
"I still have to thank you, Mr. Mo. Without you, I couldn’t have passed this hurdle," Little Yue insisted.
Their conversation was confusing to outsiders.
Only a few veteran opera enthusiasts could grasp the gist.
This Little Yue, though exceptionally gifted, had always struggled to surpass his limitations in musical nuances due to his age.
It was a significant obstacle to his rise to fame.
Yet just now, with Mr. Mo’s miraculous erhu skill, Yue managed to accomplish a highly challenging piece, marking a major breakthrough.
How could Yue not be grateful?
However, Mr. Mo was unmoved, simply packed his erhu and was about to leave.
At this point, a middle-aged man approached with a smiling face, holding a stack of silver notes.
"Thank you, Mr. Mo, for your guidance. A small token of respect, please kindly accept it."
Mr. Mo did not refuse, taking the notes and bowing slightly before stepping away.
Upon exiting, he could still hear the noise and flattery from inside the house.
The flattering words were so intense and obsequious, you’d think they were honoring their own father, not an opera actor.
But Mo Xu was accustomed to this, unfazed by it.
Even though Yuzhu Alley had a peculiar reputation in Changping Square and throughout Yan Capital City, many avoided it.
Yet numerous dignitaries secretly came here for enjoyment.
From what Mo Xu knew, at least three noble family members and two court officials were among those listening inside.
These figures, prominent outside, became somewhat frantic here, even willing to humble themselves to amuse their favored opera actors.
Mo Xu also knew that those who could lift someone up intensely could just as coldly abandon them.
During his years in Yuzhu Alley, he had seen such things happen often.
Many "peerless" opera performers, who enjoyed fleeting fame through appearance or music, met unfortunate ends, except for the few wise enough to retreat with grace.
For instance, the opera performer named Yue, who recently began gaining popularity, was heavily adored by patrons willing to spend lavishly on him now.
But when tired of him, they’d discard him as quickly as tossing a rag.
Ultimately, they were mere playthings in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy families.
Upon stepping outside, Mo Xu took a deep breath of the early spring air, then turned to head home.
With his musical skills, he lived quite well in recent years, even managing to buy property in the expensive Yan Capital City.
Though just a modest courtyard in Changping Square, close to a brothel in the backyard, it was a place to settle.
In a moment of daze, Mo Xu even thought if life continued this way, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad.
All the conflicts and fighting in the Jianghu, he was growing tired of it.
With this thought, he suddenly let out a slight sigh.
Although he gained great fame in the opera industry, he never collaborated long-term with any troupe, playing just one piece a day.
And he would leave immediately after, never lingering.
This made him a legendary figure among many.
Only he knew he did this to avoid drawing too much attention and exposing his identity.
Even though he was now in Yan Capital City, thousands of miles away, Mo Xu never underestimated those people’s abilities.
He lived cautiously and carefully.
Lately, Mo Xu frequently felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen.
Hence, he kept a low profile, rarely showing his face.