Morning.
A thin mist permeated the air.
The air was damp and cool, and the sky was faintly tinged with the dawn.
Hmm, today, the fog is unsuitable for going to school.
With this excuse, Nian Jiaojiao, having finished breakfast, began to stretch her body in the courtyard.
Swish, swish, swish—
The sound of Xuan Yi wielding a wooden sword caught Nian Jiaojiao's attention.
She saw the man dressed in black, exceptionally capable. He had a straight posture and a handsome face, his muscles rippling with explosive power. As he danced with the sword, his eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
Nian Jiaojiao's interest was piqued. She bent down, picked up a withered branch from the ground, and said to Xuan Yi:
"Come on, let's spar!"
With that, she lunged at Xuan Yi with the withered branch.
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao approaching, Xuan Yi didn't retreat but advanced, raising his wooden sword to block.
The two exchanged blows, engrossed in their playful fight.
Especially for Xuan Yi, who had always practiced swordplay alone; having someone to spar with was more than he could ask for.
At this moment, Yu Chuan carried his qin to the front courtyard and began to play.
As if to complement the fighting scene, his fingers danced swiftly across the strings. Upon closer listening, a subtle aura of battle intent could be detected.
Half an hour later, Nian Jiaojiao and Xuan Yi ceased their exchange, and Yu Chuan's music also came to an abrupt halt.
At this moment.
Clap, clap, clap—
Clap, clap, clap—
Accompanied by applause, a clear female voice echoed from the entrance shrouded in thick fog:
"Junior Sister Nian, what spirit! And what excellent swordsmanship."
Nian Jiaojiao recognized the voice and called out:
"Senior Sister Lei!"
Lei Juan emerged from the mist, accompanied by another woman.
"Hahaha, Junior Sister Nian, I was in seclusion when you got married, so I couldn't make it. I must make up for your wedding gift."
Saying this, Lei Juan approached Nian Jiaojiao and handed her an ancient wooden box.
Nian Jiaojiao bowed her head to receive the wooden box and thanked her:
"Thank you, Senior Sister Lei."
Then, she looked at the woman beside Lei Juan, asking curiously:
"And this is..."
"Oh, let me introduce you. This is Elder Qiu's daughter, Qiu Hezi, Senior Sister Qiu. And this is Nian Jiaojiao." Lei Juan said.
Qiu Hezi looked at Nian Jiaojiao with goodwill in her eyes:
"Junior Sister Nian, I've heard much about you."
Nian Jiaojiao smiled shyly, then felt a touch of confusion.
Had she become famous in the sect already?
At this moment, Lei Juan beside them provided an explanation:
"Junior Sister Nian, rest assured, besides our sect leader, Elder Qiu, myself, and Senior Sister Qiu, no one else knows about you."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
At this point, Qiu Hezi's gaze fell upon Yu Chuan.
Nian Jiaojiao frowned:
"Senior Sister Qiu?"
The other person didn't seem like someone who would be discourteous.
Qiu Hezi snapped back to attention and said apologetically:
"My apologies, was the person playing the qin just now this one...?"
"Oh, this is my first husband."
After speaking, Nian Jiaojiao pointed to Xuan Yi beside her and said:
"And this is my second husband."
Qiu Hezi said:
"How long has your husband been studying the qin? Oh, Junior Sister Nian, please don't misunderstand, it's just that I sensed a true essence within the music."
Before Nian Jiaojiao could reply, Lei Juan raised her eyebrows in surprise:
"True essence? Only those with a talent for the qin can comprehend this."
Nian Jiaojiao's heart stirred:
"Oh? Jiaojiao is new to cultivation, I hope both Senior Sisters can offer guidance."
Qiu Hezi explained:
"Those who can comprehend the true essence within music can enter the Dao through music."
Lei Juan added:
"Just like Miss Wushuang at the tea house last time, she didn't enter the Dao through reading, but through music."
Nian Jiaojiao: "Since one can enter the Dao through music, why are there so few people who study music?"
"Junior Sister Nian, are you asking why the academy doesn't seem to place much importance on the course of 'Music'?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
Lei Juan continued:
"After all, 'Music' is considered a minor path. Not to mention that in the entire Great Yue, there are only a few dozen people who have entered the Dao through music. In our Qingzhou alone, including that Miss Wushuang, there are only two.
Moreover, those who enter the Dao through music progress far slower than scholars. And among the cultivators listed on the rankings, not a single one has entered the Dao through music."
Nian Jiaojiao didn't care about the speed of cultivation for those who entered the Dao through music. She suddenly thought, since other talents could lead to the threshold of cultivation, could Yu Chuan and the others...?
Therefore, Nian Jiaojiao asked:
"My first husband has only been studying the qin for a little over two months, and he's already reached this level. Can he enter the Dao through music?"
Two, two months?
Lei Juan and Qiu Hezi were simultaneously shocked.
To touch the threshold of true essence in two months, this speed was comparable to scholarly pursuits!
Then, Lei Juan recovered and said with a wry smile:
"Such talent is unheard of. As far as I know, that Miss Wushuang has exceptional talent for the qin, but she started learning from a young age, only touching the threshold at seventeen and fully comprehending the true essence at twenty-two. She is now twenty-eight and has achieved her current cultivation.
However, cultivation requires not only talent but also a cultivation method!"
Nian Jiaojiao frowned:
"Doesn't our sect have this method? Aren't we a miscellaneous sect, covering all sorts of disciplines?"
Lei Juan replied:
"If it were in other sects, there truly wouldn't be. Although 'Music' is a minor path, our sect should have collected one or two cultivation methods. However, this... the Dharma cannot be publicly disseminated."
Nian Jiaojiao pondered and suggested:
"Given my first husband's excellent talent, why not let him join our miscellaneous sect as well."
After hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, Yu Chuan looked anxiously towards Lei Juan.
If he could truly cultivate, he would be able to help his wife more in the future.
Unexpectedly, Lei Juan shook her head without hesitation:
"The miscellaneous sect does not accept males."
The fire in Yu Chuan's eyes instantly extinguished.
Nian Jiaojiao refused to give up:
"Is there really no other way?"
Lei Juan and Qiu Hezi exchanged glances, and then Qiu Hezi spoke:
"There is a way..."
Nian Jiaojiao's heart stirred: "Senior Sister Qiu, please speak freely."
Qiu Hezi said:
"The sect's cultivation methods cannot be transmitted publicly; this is an ironclad rule. But to obtain the methods, one doesn't only have to go through the sect."
Nian Jiaojiao looked puzzled.
She didn't understand, wasn't it said that in Qingzhou sects, only the miscellaneous sect possessed the cultivation methods for 'Music'?
At this moment, Qiu Hezi explained:
"Besides obtaining cultivation methods through sects, individual cultivators also have different opportunities. When I was young, I obtained a cultivation method for 'Music'."
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan looked at Qiu Hezi with shining eyes.
Qiu Hezi coughed a few times and said no more.
At this moment, Lei Juan beside them said:
"Junior Sister Nian, this cultivation method is precious..."
Nian Jiaojiao understood.
She would naturally not accept favors without working for them.
"Senior Sister Qiu, as long as Jiaojiao can do it, Jiaojiao will definitely accomplish it."
At this moment, Yu Chuan stood up and came to Nian Jiaojiao's side, saying:
"Wife, perhaps we should let it go."
Such favors were the hardest to repay.
Qiu Hezi smiled and said:
"Brother-in-law, you don't need to worry. I won't make any demands that are too difficult for Junior Sister Nian."