Chapter 369 - 214: Music Master, Play a Tune?_4

Words : 1512 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 369: Chapter 214: Music Master, Play a Tune?_4... ""Hunger" was supposed to have been eradicated, wasn’t it? Now they’re calling me over again, what’s the deal this time?" The Music Master sat in the back seat of the car, complaining about having to take on a mission in the middle of the night. Suddenly, a ball of flame appeared before him. He flicked his fingers, extinguishing the fire. Instantly, a stream of information exploded in his mind. As he processed the information, a pattern resembling the character "川" formed between his brows. "Trouble with the kidnappers? Now that’s a task I wouldn’t mind." The Music Master was arrogant by nature. He looked down on the future of others, including Zhou Xuan—he rarely held anyone in high regard. His belief was steadfast: his own future was the one worth banking on. "One day, I’ll master the nine-incense flame ceremony." With such a prideful temperament, encountering the likes of kidnappers naturally left him irate. Yet, over the years, divine suppression and the Painter’s counsel had kept his temper in check. This time, finally presented with an opportunity to provoke the kidnappers in a major confrontation, he couldn’t help but rejoice. Immediately, he sent back a flare, responding to the Painter—there was no need for persuasion on his part; all he required was the time, place, and target. ... "Turns out these kidnappers are running such a grand operation, one intricately tied to the Evil God? Perfect timing too—if we seize this occasion and eliminate the entire ’kidnapper’ Tangkou, that would be ideal." Shang Wenjun, the Witch Sect Master, had her own ways of gathering incense flame, just like Zhou Lingyi. She spent countless hours each day meditating, utilizing her Perception to connect with magic skills, and sensing the divine breath beyond the Heavenly Dome. Ever since the emergence of the kidnappers, disorder within the Witch Sect had grown rampant. Disciples were no longer focused on enlightenment but instead turned to trading human goods to amass incense flame. Time and again, Shang Wenjun punished such offenders. During the harshest crackdowns, she even executed witches deeply involved with the kidnappers. But even so, it failed to deter the disciples’ reckless association with the kidnappers. Over time, the Witch Sect’s disciples became increasingly corrupted by them. "The kidnappers have entrenched themselves in Mingjiang Prefecture for thirty years; the Witch Sect barely resembles its former self anymore." Now that the Painter had offered to spearhead the initiative, it was time to deliver a heavy blow to the kidnappers. If the Five Gods were to mete out punishment, so be it—she’d bear the consequences. With that thought, Shang Wenjun released a thread of red silk, weaving it into the form of a painting. She lightly pushed the red silk scroll forward, sending her intent to the Painter. "If it’s to end the kidnappers, I will give it my all." ... The Painter received the reply, his spirits surging. With all three parties in agreement, it was time to act—first, by apprehending the kidnappers who managed operations. "The manager is Mo Tingsheng. Though he’s just the kidnappers’ White Paper Fan, the Suffering Scholar once mentioned he’s the group’s number two figure, second only to the Hall Master." Zhou Xuan, seeing the Painter’s resolve, shared the information he had. "Mo Tingsheng? Starting now, we—the Bone Elder Association, the City God, and the Witch Sect—will pool our efforts to locate him, no matter how deeply he’s hidden." The Painter declared fiercely. "Once you catch Mo Tingsheng, notify me—I have ways to make him reveal Jing Deng’s whereabouts." Zhou Xuan instructed the Painter. At this point, Gu Ling, Zhao Wuya, and Qing Feng arrived. Clutching a compass, Zhao Wuya carefully glanced at Yun Ziliang. "Grand Master, I’ve brought my fragrant compass..." Yun Ziliang caught the perfume smell emanating from the compass, visibly uncomfortable, before waving his hand dismissively. "I’ll educate you later. For now, activate your compass and detect the anomalies surrounding Mingjiang Dragon Tail." "Yes, sir." Zhao Wuya complied, reciting the "Gold Division Technique" and activating the fragrant compass. The compass needle rotated three times to the left and three times to the right before suddenly "clunking" and sinking. "Grand Master, the compass isn’t responding..." "Let me see it." Yun Ziliang snatched the compass. At that exact moment, the Music Master’s car pulled up to the inn. All at once, the fragrant compass needle spun wildly, faster than an electric fan. Its internal plate, engraved with marks for the twenty-four mountains, Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, Heavenly Stars, and the Five Elements, began rotating counterclockwise with vigor. "Damn, this broken compass really grows guts... Just one missing person makes the difference, huh?" The arrival of the Music Master’s seven-incense flame aura emboldened the compass completely. "Gold Three, Water Four, Qiankun Star, Dingyuan Mountain, Sixth Branch." Following the compass needle’s movements and the inner plate’s markings, Yun Ziliang read aloud, calculated momentarily, and requested a map from Zhou Xuan. He circled the location of the "Guan Mountain Wood Pile" and said, "Based on the compass’s guidance, Guan Mountain Wood Pile is tonight’s site of the Dragon Tail anomaly, assuming the compass’s prediction isn’t wrong." Zhou Xuan took the map. Zhao Wuya curiously asked, "Grand Master, do the Dragon Seeking Heavenly Masters of the Ganying Sect also read compasses?" "Have you flipped the Heavenly Gang? I’m your Ancestor Master—if I can’t read a compass, I might as well jump into the river." Yun Ziliang impatiently tossed the compass back to Zhao Wuya, sniffed his hand, then grimaced. "Ugh, reeked my hand with your perfume." "Grand Master, you can’t burn bridges after using me." Heartbroken over his compass, Zhao Wuya muttered. ... With the compass locked onto the position, the group set out toward Guan Mountain Wood Pile. The so-called wood pile referred to an old lumber mill. Deep forests covered Guan Mountain. As they reached the base of the mountain, their journey uphill became treacherous, each step sunken into uneven terrain. Trailing behind Zhou Xuan, the Music Master quietly observed him. Along the way, he had heard the Painter boast that Zhou Xuan singlehandedly unraveled Hunger’s schemes and pinpointed the third Evil God of Mingjiang Prefecture. "This young Nuo God... Can someone so youthful truly possess such skill?" The Music Master remained skeptical. "Music Master, why do you keep staring at me?" Zhou Xuan asked, without turning his head, sensing the gaze emanating from behind. His Perception, fully restored to its peak state, naturally detected the unusual attention focused on his back. "You actually noticed me watching?" The Music Master sounded surprised. "You’ve been staring long enough—I’ve tolerated it till now." Zhou Xuan finally turned back, smiling as he remarked, "Only just today did I find out you’re called Lord Qin—the name’s so... delicate." The Music Master: "..." Since Zhou Xuan had killed Lu Yusheng, he had officially stepped into the view of the Bone Elder Association’s higher ranks. The Music Master had previously debated with the Painter inside the Bone Elder Temple about Zhou Xuan’s potential, holding an unfavorable opinion of him. On the journey here, he had envisioned multiple scenarios for his meeting with Zhou Xuan—but it never occurred to him that Zhou Xuan’s opening line would be so... unexpected. "I use the Bone Zither as my totem, why wouldn’t I be called Lord Qin? Delicate or not... well, maybe a little..." Even he wasn’t overly fond of the title "Lord Qin." "You didn’t bring a zither, though." "I play my rib cage like a zither. Strumming against the chest cavity creates zither-like music," the Music Master explained, gesturing toward his chest. Listening, Zhou Xuan reached out and tapped his chest. Sure enough, the resulting sound resembled a faint "sol" note. "That’s interesting." Zhou Xuan praised. "..." The Music Master. He deeply disliked people who had no concept of personal boundaries. Then Zhou Xuan said, "This mountain’s pretty boring. Since you’re here, Music Master, why not play us a tune?" "Do you think I’m your servant? Play you a tune?" The Painter saw the Music Master’s anger brewing and prepared to interject, yet Zhou Xuan continued, "Hearing the zither tones reminded me of a song. It’s grand in title—called ’A Laugh Amidst the Vast Ocean.’ The tune itself is remarkable, and the lyrics are particularly poetic. I wanted to teach you this piece, so you could play it and uplift the group’s spirits. If you’re unwilling to play, then forget it." The Music Master’s interest piqued at the song’s name. He had thought Zhou Xuan was teasing him, but it turned out to be genuine talk of music. Curious, he asked, "Good song, you say? Hum a bit for me?" Just hum? Unperturbed, Zhou Xuan confidently began singing: "A laugh amidst the vast ocean, waves surging to the shores, drifting along tides, living only for the moment..." The Music Master had barely heard two lines before instinctively tapping along to the rhythm. Was the song truly enchanting? "Damn it, motherfucker, this is unbelievably good." The Music Master’s emotions were ignited, his heart deeply stirred...

Chapter 369 - 214: Music Master, Play a Tune?_4

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