Aldrian was led to the neatly arranged plum blossom trees at the back of the mansion, where a vast garden stretched out before him. Although it was not the blooming season, and the trees did not display their full beauty, he did not mind.
He decided to sit under one of the plum blossom trees that he thought was good. Since it was not the blooming season, the tree’s branches were bare, without any blossoms, allowing him to see the clear night sky even as he sat beneath it. Looking up, he saw countless stars glimring in his eyes. He liked gazing at the stars, just as "he" did.
"The stars are the jewels of the cosmos," he thought, repeating what "he" had once said.
Aldrian had agreed with everything "he" said back then. Because he loved watching the stars, he felt the vastness of the universe, which often made him wonder, What would it be like to fly to that star? Or how far is it? How long would it take to reach that place?
All of these thoughts, even if subconscious, were a form of intent—a driving force that pushed people to reach for the sky. They would strive toward that aspiration, and in doing so, new knowledge would erge. And to think, it all started with sothing as simple as gazing at the stars.
Elena had already put so distance from him so as not to disturb him. Ever since Aldrian ca out of the underground place, she had sensed sothing different about him, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. She only knew that, for now, he seed to want to be alone.
After a few minutes of gazing at the stars, Aldrian suddenly took out a guqin and placed it in front of him. Although it was not the sa guqin he had seen in his vision a few hours ago, the Spirit of the Great Path could serve as a substitute for now. He thought that the guqin from his vision was "his" original guqin—the Guqin of Origin.
Under the night sky, Aldrian finally began to play. The strings resonated with each pluck, weaving together a beautiful lody. At this mont, he played the sa piece that the phoenix ancestor had once played when she sat beneath a plum blossom tree. It was the music she had said was inspired by "his" guqin playing.
Elena, who had been watching Aldrian’s every movent, was initially stunned when he took out a guqin. Can he really play? she wondered. But the mont his fingers touched the strings, her question was answered. A soothing lody filled the air, its beauty undeniable. Amazed by Aldrian’s skill, she simply sat, closed her eyes, and allowed herself to be carried away by the music.
Aldrian kept playing, fully imrsed in the music. He felt the scarf on his arm tremble slightly, but he continued undisturbed. The sound spread throughout the entire mansion, reaching the ears of everyone inside. Although his music was not at the level of "him," it was already affecting the surrounding nature. The flow of heaven and earth energy seed to slow in response, and the sounds of animals quieted, as if making way for the guqin’s lody.
Baron Rosalind, who was still in conversation with Old Man York in the baron’s room, also heard the guqin and decided to seek out the source of the beautiful sound. As they stepped outside of the room, they noticed that all of the mansion’s residents had already halted their activities, captivated by the music. When they finally arrived at the back garden, they saw Elena and in the distance, Aldrian, playing the guqin.
The sound continued to spread, reaching even beyond the mansion and into the city. The denizens who heard the guqin’s lody were bewildered by its sudden appearance, as if the music had erged from nowhere. They did not know where the sound ca from, yet it felt as if it were playing right beside their ears.
One by one, all activity ca to a halt as people paused to listen. Even though they were unfamiliar with the lody, an inexplicable feeling welled up within them as they heard the music.
Aldrian kept playing, and at that mont, he felt as if he were in the presence of the phoenix ancestor. It seed as though she were sitting beside him on his right, smiling as she listened to the music. The scarf on his arm and the guqin she once played only made her imaginary presence feel even stronger.
As the music finally ca to an end, Aldrian opened his eyes and subconsciously glanced to his side before letting out a sigh.
"What was I expecting?"
That figure belonged to the past. He had never t her in this life, and he didn’t even know if she was still alive.
Shaking off the thought, he decided to continue. He played another piece—this ti, a lody once perford by "him," a composition ant to capture the majesty and vastness of the universe—the beauty of the stars, the heavens and earth.
At this mont, his temperant, his figure, everything about him resembled "him". A sense of déjà vu washed over him as he played. The effects of this lody were far greater and more expansive than the one before. The heavens and earth themselves were listening, and his domain resonated with the music. Everyone within his domain could faintly hear the guqin’s sound.
Aldrian remained unaware of this, but even if he had known, he wouldn’t have minded. He simply wanted to play this piece, one created by "him" in the past that resonated deeply with his heart.
Many sought to find the source of the music and et the one playing it. However, only a few knew the truth, the Rosalind family or those who had seen Aldrian from the mansion, and his group in Caritas.
Since Sylphia and the others had already heard Aldrian play the guqin before, they were familiar with his style and the beauty he could evoke through his music. Moreover, the Spirit of the Great Path produced a sound clearer and more enchanting than any other guqin they had ever heard, leaving a distinct impression on those who listened. That was how they imdiately recognized that Aldrian was the one playing.
Sylphia stood outside on the balcony, listening. The mont the music reached her ears, she knew it was Aldrian. Yet, this piece stirred sothing different within her—a sudden longing, an aspiration to reach the heavens. She wanted to soar across the sky, to explore the vastness of the universe, to fly freely and witness the beauty of the cosmos.
Baek Jimin felt the sa, and in truth, everyone who heard the lody was overco by the sa yearning.
On this night, all beings within Aldrian’s domain heard his music. And from that mont on, many would speak of the mysterious sound of the guqin and the enigmatic player who created it.
-------------------------------
By the ti the eastern horizon began to show signs of sunrise, painting the sky in shades of purple, Aldrian finally stopped playing. He had perford the piece he had heard from "him" many tis, as well as a lody of his own creation that born in his mind when inspiration had surged through him like a tidal wave after he sat beneath the plum blossoms.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Aldrian stood up and stretched. His gaze fell to his arm, where the scarf still clung to him. A small smile crossed his lips as he sensed its quiet joy from having heard his guqin’s music, even though he had never bound this artifact to his soul. Perhaps it was because of the strong karmic bond from the past—because "he" was the one who created it.
Aldrian stored the guqin away before turning to his left, where he saw Baron Rosalind and the others watching him in awe. As he approached them, the baron let out a sigh and spoke before Aldrian could say anything.
"Young Master, you are truly talented. I doubt there is anyone like you on this continent. Not only are you a formidable sword cultivator, but you also excel in music. What a masterpiece—a breathtaking lody that even granted insight into the essence of music. This is the kind of music that allows its listeners to grasp the deeper aning behind each note played."
Beside him, Old Man York nodded in agreent.
Aldrian smiled at the baron’s complint.
"Is that so? I never expected Your Excellency to hold my playing in such high regard. I’m truly flattered," Aldrian said before turning to Elena.
"I’m sorry for staying out here all night, playing the guqin. I hope—"
"No, no, Young Master," Elena interrupted, shaking her head. "In fact, I’m glad you kept playing. I hardly noticed how quickly ti passed while listening to your music, and I felt no discomfort whatsoever. On the contrary, I am the one who should be grateful for witnessing such an extraordinary performance. It is truly a blessing to hear your music." She gave him a slight bow as she spoke.
Aldrian smiled and nodded. "I’m glad you enjoyed it."
He then shifting his gaze to the baron, "Your Excellency, I need to discuss sothing with you, sothing concerning your family’s past."
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