Chapter 40: Song of the Proud Wanderer

Chapter 40: The Melody of Laughing Proudly in the Martial World

Liu Zhengfeng was just as bewildered by these words. What was going on? Start what? Qu Yang, meanwhile, was secretly amused, as if he now understood the joy that Zheng Jian had felt earlier, but his face betrayed nothing. “Weren’t you going to thank Brother Zheng? Go ahead, don’t keep Brother Zheng waiting.”

Liu Zhengfeng wore a look of utter confusion, but as he glanced behind Qu Yang, inspiration struck. “Brother Qu, you carry your zither, and I have my flute with me. Why don’t we perform a duet to thank our benefactor for saving our lives?” he declared in a clear voice.

“Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!” Qu Yang was overjoyed, clapping his hands and laughing heartily. Their friendship was founded on music, and after Liu Zhengfeng had nearly lost his life at his gold-basin handwashing ceremony, what could be more fitting than the two of them performing together in gratitude to Zheng Jian?

Liu Zhengfeng immediately turned to Zheng Jian. “What do you think, benefactor?”

Zheng Jian was somewhat surprised, but wholeheartedly agreed. “To hear the two of you perform together would be an honor beyond measure. I can only wish for it.”

In his previous life, Zheng Jian’s favorite was the TVB version of “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” starring Jacky Lui, especially the eponymous musical piece. Now, to hear the legendary duet performed firsthand was a blessing indeed.

Even the young lady, Qu Feiyan, applauded in delight. Clearly, though she had heard it many times before, she never tired of it—a testament to the two men’s extraordinary musical mastery.

Without delay, Qu Yang unstrapped his seven-stringed zither, sat cross-legged, and placed the instrument on his lap. Liu Zhengfeng, too, produced a flute from his robe. The two exchanged a glance, full of unspoken understanding. Qu Yang’s hands moved first, the strings resonating with a dignified and elegant tone.

Liu Zhengfeng closed his eyes and played the flute, the gentle notes gradually blending into the zither’s melody.

Zheng Jian and Lin Pingzhi also sat down and listened attentively.

In no time, the harmonious fusion of zither and flute achieved a seamless unity. The stately sound of the zither paired with the ethereal charm of the flute seemed like a dialogue, as if mountains and flowing waters conversed, drawing listeners irresistibly into their world.

Suddenly, the zither’s melody climbed to a soaring pitch, while the flute’s tone deepened, the two weaving together like drifting threads in the wind, endlessly intertwining, stirring the soul.

As the performers infused their inner strength into the music, the sound grew ever more enchanting, with not a trace of discord. Now the zither adopted a ringing, forceful timbre, as if signaling battle, yet the flute remained gentle and melodious. Soon, the zither too softened, rising and falling unpredictably.

After a while, the zither’s theme shifted again, as if seven or eight zithers were playing at once, and the flute’s melody became increasingly complex and varied.

As Lin Pingzhi listened, he was moved to tears, as if he could hear his parents calling to him.

Zheng Jian, meanwhile, discerned within the music a lament over the irreconcilable divide between orthodox and unorthodox worlds. The music’s rise and fall made his blood surge with emotion.

At the height of intensity, the zither faded into accompaniment, while the flute soared alone, lofty and aloof, as if the two instruments stood alone atop the world, accompanied only by the bright moon and the chilly breeze.

Then the music shifted once more, returning to a gentle, flowing warmth, as if new hope had emerged from despair, growing ever more passionate.

At length, the last notes faded, and the two musicians slowly opened their eyes.

Beside them, Qu Feiyan and Lin Pingzhi were already weeping openly, while Zheng Jian was deeply moved.

“Such a melody should only exist in heaven. How rare it is to hear even once in this world!” Zheng Jian exclaimed sincerely. Listening to this piece, he felt much of the resentment in his heart dissipate, leaving him feeling serene and clear—words like “radiant and unclouded” seemed apt for these two men.

Qu Yang, hearing this, could not hide his pride. “This piece is the fruit of my lifetime’s study of ancient texts. I even excavated twenty-nine tombs from the Western and Eastern Han dynasties, and finally discovered Ji Kang’s ‘Guangling Melody’ in Cai Yong’s tomb. Only after years of collaboration and refinement between the two of us did it become what you hear today.”

Liu Zhengfeng sighed, “If not for your timely intervention today, my family would have been slaughtered, and this ‘Melody of Laughing Proudly in the Martial World’ would have vanished from the world forever beneath the ruins of my house...”

The thought of today’s ordeal still left Liu Zhengfeng shaken.

Zheng Jian knew well that had he not changed the course of the gold-basin handwashing event, this piece would indeed have been lost, only to be revived with Ren Yingying’s appearance much later.

Knowing the two musicians had now fulfilled their lifelong wish, Zheng Jian felt quite happy for them, especially since he had also managed to save Qu Feiyan, who had died so tragically in the original story.

“Well, the piece is done. It’s time for me to take my leave. What will you two do now?” Zheng Jian gathered his thoughts and smiled easily.

Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang exchanged a look, and Qu Yang replied, “Brother Liu has retired from the world, shunning all matters of the martial realm. I, too, wish to retreat into seclusion. Let the righteous and the unorthodox contend as they please; I have no wish to interfere any longer. From now on, Brother Liu and I will devote ourselves to music for the rest of our days. Brother Zheng, I do have a rather shameless request, and I wonder if I should voice it?”

Zheng Jian replied, “Then perhaps you shouldn’t…”

A look of utter dejection crossed Qu Yang’s face, as if his hopes had been dashed.

Qu Yang truly feared Zheng Jian’s sharp tongue, and hurriedly explained, “I am eager to retire, but I cannot bear to leave my granddaughter Feiyan behind. I hope you might take her with you, even if it’s just as a maid to serve you tea. That would be better than letting her accompany an old man like me into the wilderness.”

At this, Qu Feiyan burst into tears. “Grandfather, I don’t want to! I don’t want to leave you!”

Qu Yang gently stroked her head. “Be good, Feiyan. Listen to me. I’m getting old and can’t take proper care of you anymore. I fear for your safety within the sect; it’s no place for a young girl. From now on, you’re to follow your Brother Zheng.”

Zheng Jian hesitated. Last time he returned from the mountain, he brought back Ruan Qiuqiu. This time, Lin Pingzhi was fine, but now another young lady… Though his conscience was clear, he couldn’t help but feel like he was collecting girls…

Qu Yang saw the hesitation in Zheng Jian’s eyes and pleaded, “Brother Zheng, for the sake of my heartfelt request, please agree… My days are numbered…”

With no other choice, Zheng Jian relented. “All right, all right, stop acting so pitiful! I’ll take her with me.”

When you’re already burdened, what’s one more? When you’re already deep in debt, you stop worrying about it. At worst, he’d just conceal Qu Feiyan’s identity and say he picked up a little girl—she’d be good company for Yue Lingshan and Ruan Qiuqiu.

Qu Yang, seeing Zheng Jian agree, immediately brightened, with not a trace of his earlier frailty.

Old fox! He simply wanted to enjoy a peaceful life with Liu Zhengfeng and thought of Feiyan as a burden, yet he made it sound so pitiful!

Zheng Jian secretly disdained him.

Qu Feiyan sobbed miserably, not daring to disobey her grandfather, feeling more wronged than ever.

“Well then, if that’s settled, we’ll take our leave…” Zheng Jian was so exasperated with himself he could have slapped his own face. He was eager to go, afraid that the longer they stayed, the more trouble might arise.

“Brother Zheng, wait. Please accept this ‘Melody of Laughing Proudly in the Martial World’ score. We have no further use for it. Please pass it on so it doesn’t vanish from the world again,” Qu Yang called out, stopping Zheng Jian and handing him the music score.

Zheng Jian could only accept it speechlessly, then turned and left.

Behind him, the always-overlooked Lin Pingzhi tugged Qu Feiyan along to catch up.

Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng watched the three disappear into the forest, exchanging a satisfied glance, with no more regrets.

…

The third update, brothers.

(End of chapter)