For just a split second, Lin Xun felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately noticed Granny Feng cast an imperceptible glance at him as though she was warning him.
He couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Isn’t the old woman too worried? Does she think that I would eat Liu Qingyan?
Even though he had such a thought in his mind, he said aloud, “Apologies, I was just a little surprised. I didn’t expect a legendary figure would suddenly appear in front of me.”
A hint of a smile came to Liu Qingyan’s lips. She had seen many youngsters like Lin Xun, and some were even more rude than he was when they met her.
However, compared to them, Lin Xun’s eyes remained clear and calm from beginning to end. He showed not a hint of admiration, fanaticism, or even obsession like the others. Liu Qingyan admired him for that.
Liu Qingyan gestured to Lin Xun to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea. “Young Master, when I saw you a few days ago, you suggested that I find Master Xun. Does that mean your master has confidence in repairing the Ancient Law Ocarina?”
“I will need to take a look first to know.” Lin Xun said after a thought.
Liu Qingyan quickly brought out an old-fashioned dark-purple wooden box and opened it. Housed inside was a teardrop-shaped item around the size of a palm.
It was indeed an Ancient Law Ocarina. It was shrouded in an azure-jade glow and had nine tone holes in total. Even just sitting in the box, it exuded a time-honored aura.
“Young Master, please take a look.”With a solemn face, Liu Qingyan carefully picked up the Ancient Law Ocarina and handed it to Lin Xun.
This was one of the rarest treasures in the world. It had almost vanished with time, so it was incredibly hard to find one in the world. Anyone else wouldn’t be able to recognize it, but Lin Xun was very familiar with it because he had heard Mister Lu play it many times when he was a child. It produced an incredibly unique sound and so it was engraved in Lin Xun’s memory.
When Lin Xun laid eyes on Liu Qingyan’s Ancient Law Ocarina, he unconsciously thought of Mister Lu and sank into deep melancholy.
He held the item in his hand and expertly placed his right index finger on the hole closest to the mouthpiece. Then, he gently tapped the nine holes of the Ancient Law Ocarina. Wisps of sound—heavy, high-pitched, clear, melodious, obscure—all came rushing out and reverberated in the air.
Liu Qingyan’s bright eyes lit up. The tapping action alone showed that Lin Xun was an expert and had a deep understanding of the Ancient Law Ocarina.
Granny Feng was just as astonished as she was. She looked at Lin Xun ruminatively. She had never thought that the person she invited there would actually understand such a rare musical instrument.
This dispelled many doubts in her mind. If even the apprentice knew the thing so well, Master Xun surely wouldn’t be worse than his apprentice.
If Granny Feng knew that the so-called Master Xun was Lin Xun, how would she feel?
Lin Xun didn’t notice her strange gaze. He put the ocarina to his ear and listened closely. Vaguely, Mister Lu’s voice and smile emerged in his mind.
It was a snowy night. Mister Lu sat alone on the mountain near the mine prison, drinking alone with a wine jar in his arms.
When he felt tipsy, he took out the Ancient Law Ocarina that he always carried with him and he called over Lin Xun, who was only seven years old at the time. He didn’t say a word and just blew into the Ancient Law Ocarina.
The tune, lonely and empty, drifted with the snow. It gave off an indescribable loneliness and sense of melancholy. Unknowingly, Lin Xun, who was only seven at the time, started sobbing with tears falling. It was the first time he had felt the taste of loneliness.
At the end of the tune, Mister Lu lifted up Lin Xun for the first time in his life. He put him down in front of him, looked into his eyes and said softly, “Remember this tune. This is the last trace your mother left.”
Since then, Lin Xun had deeply remembered the Ancient Law Ocarina and had recalled Mister Lu’s words.
It was only after a long moment did Lin Xun wake up from his thoughts. When he raised his head, he saw Liu Qingyan staring at him with a smile.
Lin Xun froze, knowing that he had lost self control. Liu Qingyan most likely noticed it since any art cultivator able to play the Ancient Law Ocarina no doubt had an intelligent mind.
Liu Qingyan was no doubt very outstanding, otherwise she wouldn’t have the achievements she had.
“You seem to have something on your mind?” Liu Qingyan asked in a soft voice.
Lin Xun nodded and then changed the topic. “Your Ancient Law Ocarina is indeed damaged. All music in the world consists of the five notes, Do Re Mi So La. Only the Ancient Law Ocarina is extremely unique and can produce nine different tones…”
When it concerned the repair of the Ancient Law Ocarina, Liu Qingyan became extremely serious. She was like a dedicated student listening intently.
Granny Feng couldn’t help but study Lin Xun.
She had accompanied Liu Qingyan to almost everywhere of the empire and had visited countless rune masters, from rune grandmasters in the Divine Workshop to masters living a secluded life in the mountains, but no one had been able to repair the Ancient Law Ocarina.
The repair of the Ancient Law Ocarina had been troubling Liu Qingyan for a long time. Granny Feng’s heart ached when she saw her like that. She had originally given up hope of fixing Liu Qingyan’s problem, but who would have thought that a youngster in Haze City would bring them a glimmer of hope. Granny Feng couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Lin Xun’s appearance was clearly a delightful surprise to her. This was obvious from her serious and earnest look and the glow of excitement on her face. She was like a little girl at that moment.
“One of your Ancient Law Ocarina’s notes is damaged. This note is called ‘Xu’, and the sound is like wind blowing in the abyss of an empty valley. It seems insignificant, but it is actually the core spirit of the Ancient Law Ocarina. Only with its presence can the other eight notes resonate with one another and produce completely different tunes when played,” Lin Xun explained in a serious voice.
He was simply repeating Mister Lu’s analysis of the Ancient Law Ocarina. He remembered that Mister Lu had also attempted to create a new Ancient Law Ocarina by himself in the past.
However, regardless of how hard Mister Lu tried, the crafted Ancient Law Ocarina still had some imperfections.
Mister Lu had invested a lot of time and effort into the Ancient Law Ocarina in order to correct those flaws. Although he did successfully fix them in the end, he still wasn’t completely satisfied with the sound it produced. In the end, he destroyed his creation.
Fortunately, although Mister Lu had failed despite his efforts, Lin Xun had learned a lot from the process of making the Ancient Law Ocarina.
Liu Qingyan’s Ancient Law Ocarina was a perfect item passed down from endless years. Its damage was completely different from the newly created Ancient Law Ocarina, so its problems could be resolved.
“Then with your ability...No, your master’s ability, can he repair it?”
Liu Qingyan clutched the corner of her sleeve tightly, her eyes sparkling with hope and nervousness. It was as though Lin Xun’s words could decide her life.
Even her anxious and hopeful look was charming and would move the heart of anyone. This was Liu Qingyan. Her frown, her smile, and everything about her had a unique beauty and charm.
At that moment, Granny Feng swept a cold glance over him, as if she was saying, oy, don’t you dare say he can’t!
Although Lin Xun didn’t like Granny Feng’s aggressive and threatening attitude, Liu Qingyan’s anxious and hopeful face melted his heart. He cleared his throat with a cough and said seriously, “This matter isn’t difficult but also isn’t simple.”
Granny Feng glared at Lin Xun like she had seen through his little tricks. “Kid, if you have any requirements, just say it. If I lose my patience, don’t blame me for resorting to violence!”
Liu Qingyan said in worry, “Granny, if you use violence, Yan’er will be angry.”
Granny Feng felt helpless. “Fine, fine, Granny will promise you to not use violence.” As she was speaking, she swept another glance at Lin Xun.
It was a silent threat.
Lin Xun smiled slightly, seemingly unaware of her threat. “Miss Yan’er, the reason why it’s difficult is because it takes a lot of time and energy to repair it. I’m afraid that it can’t be repaired in a short time.”
Liu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. “As long as it can be repaired, it doesn’t matter if it takes a little time.”
Lin Xun nodded. ”That's good.”
Liu Qingyan lit up with joy. “So, Young Master, do you promise to help me repair the Ancient Law Ocarina? If that’s the case, I will pay you any amount you want!”
Granny Feng’s heart thudded. Silly girl. He hasn’t even stated his conditions yet you already agreed. He’s going to take advantage of you !
Granny Feng interrupted, “Kid, tell me about your conditions.”
She fixed her cloudy eyes on Lin Xun as though she was saying, ‘If you dare make a ridiculous request, you won’t be able to walk out of here alive.’
Lin Xun coughed again and said with a smile, “Miss Yan’er, don’t worry and leave the matter to me. As for the conditions...”
Granny Feng's eyes narrowed, glinting fiercely.
“I will discuss it with Granny Feng,” Lin Xun continued.
Granny Feng breathed a sigh of relief. This kid is tactful.
A bright smile bloomed across Liu Qingyan’s face like a flower in the rain. “Then, please can you follow Granny.”
Lin Xun got up and said goodbye.
Liu Qingyan suddenly bit her cherry-red lips and asked, “Young Master, if...if you don’t mind, can you let me watch the repair process?”
“No!”
Granny Feng and Lin Xun answered at the same time. Both were taken aback but both were also satisfied with each other’s response.
Lin Xun was worried that Liu Qingyan would see through his identity as Master Xun.
Granny Feng was worried about Liu Qingyan’s safety. What if that kid Lin Xun decided to kidnap her?
Their unanimous objection made Liu Qingyan sigh in disappointment. Her expression would make anyone take pity on her.
What was a peerless beauty?
She was the epitome of one!