C3 The Melody of the Raging Wave

"Yes!" The two guards promptly received their orders and hastened away from the Golden Feast to gather intelligence.

Wu Ji gazed thoughtfully at the young man playing the zither beyond the beaded curtain, her eyes sparkling like stars. It was her first encounter with such a musician; indeed, it was likely a novelty for the entire palace.

"I simply can't fathom why the Master would consent to your betrothal to him. Given your stature and the Qian family's standing within the court, becoming the First Wife of a Prince would be beneath you!" Qingzhu, the maid, vented as she toyed with her goose-yellow dress.

Qingzhu had been Wu Ji's companion since childhood, and Wu Ji empathized with her protective sentiments.

"Qingzhu, had anyone else spoken those words, they would now lie slain by my sword. It was I who agreed to this marriage. Without my consent, even my father would be powerless to compel me," Wu Ji stated with a serene tone.

"Being born into the Qian family, my future spouse was always destined to be of royal lineage, a choice neither I nor my sister ever had. Marrying any other prince would thrust the Qian family into the maelstrom of court politics. Qin Xuan harbors no ambition for supreme power; marrying him is the only way for the Qian family to extricate itself from the tumultuous struggle for dominance, ensuring both my father and I a life of tranquility."

"I may not grasp the intricacies of state affairs, but I just feel Qin Xuan is unworthy of you, Miss," Qingzhu sulked.

Nevertheless, she quickly shifted the conversation, "Miss, we were originally here today to oversee preparations for the Sword Pavilion's Rite of Induction in ten days, but he's disrupted everything. And yet, you still speak in his defense."

Every three years, Atrela holds the Sword Pavilion's Rite of Induction, where outstanding youths are selected to serve the Empire. During this period, prodigious disciples from all sects flood into Eshago, vying for a chance to shine. As the Deputy Master of the Sword Pavilion, Premier Wu Xiangguo always dispatches observers to Eshago to monitor these disciples, guarding against any hidden agendas.

Wu Ji left the General's Mansion today with the intention of gathering information on the disciples from various sects this year. She hadn't anticipated crossing paths with Qin Xuan.

"Miss, it's said that Yu Qing, the senior disciple of the Grayhands Sect, has reached the pinnacle of the Innate Realm. He's only a step away from entering the body tempering realm and embarking on the path of a true master. Even the Premier holds him in high regard. Miss, if only you had accepted Brother Yu Qing's proposal back then..."

"Qingzhu, you're speaking out of turn!" Wu Ji's brows knit together in a slight frown.

The young maid quickly clamped her hand over her mouth, well aware of her mistress's temperament. She knew that even if the Premier himself spoke, if Wu Ji didn't want to hear it, she wouldn't be pleased.

"Yes, Miss. I'll say no more, alright?"

Seeing Qingzhu genuinely remorseful, Wu Ji's expression softened somewhat.

Outside the beaded curtain, Qin Xuan had finished performing a piece, and the second level of the Golden Feast erupted in applause.

"Mr. Qin, what exquisite musicianship!"

"I've never heard this tune before—it's quite invigorating!"

"Absolutely, the song is bewitching. At first, it left me disoriented, but as I listened, I found myself irresistibly drawn into the rhythm. Had Mr. Qin not been flesh and blood before us, I might have suspected some enchantment!"

"Encore, encore!"

The patrons on the second level were exceedingly gracious. They recognized that despite Qin Xuan's simple attire, the fabric of his clothing was of the finest quality, clearly indicating that he was not in want of money. Making an acquaintance of his caliber in Eshago could be quite advantageous.

"Then I shall humbly perform another," Qin Xuan said, his heart swelling with pleasure, as he prepared to play another piece.

Suddenly, a clear male voice echoed from the corridor, "Mr. Qin's playing doesn't seem to match the local styles of Eshago. May I inquire about your teacher's school?"

All eyes on the second level turned to see four young people—two men and two women—seated at a table at the end of the corridor. The speaker, dressed in the garb of a Grayhands Sect disciple with a sword at his side and his long hair neatly tied up, looked towards Qin Xuan as he spoke. The other three at the table clearly looked to him as their leader.

"So it's Senior Brother Yu Wu from the Grayhands," someone recognized among those gathered for the Sword Pavilion's Rite of Induction.

The Grayhands had sent three disciples to the grand ceremony, and Yu Wu was among them. Rumor had it that his popularity rivaled that of the eldest disciple, Yu Qing, particularly among the junior sister apprentices of the sect.

Qin Xuan had heard Squirt mention this before. He hadn't expected to encounter one of the Grayhands' favored disciples while out performing.

"I'm just dabbling for fun, without a formal mentor, hoping to bring a smile to my audience," Qin Xuan said cheerfully as he set up his Tongmu Zither. "I'm in good spirits today and have brought two zithers. If you're interested, my servant can fetch the other, and we can play a duet?"

Qin Xuan was merely extending a courteous offer, as was customary among scions of distinguished families.

However, the Grayhands disciple was unimpressed. He coolly remarked, "As I suspected, someone with a master wouldn't play such unrestrained pieces."

The comment seemed laced with derision.

Yu Wu wasn't just stirring up trouble; Qin Xuan was unwittingly drawing attention. Yu Wu had brought two junior sister apprentices out to gain experience, and until Qin Xuan's performance, everything had gone without a hitch. Initially, the junior sisters had dismissed Qin Xuan's music skill, but as he played, their disdain turned to admiration and praise.

This irked Yu Wu, the second senior brother. His sect's junior sisters admiring someone else? Was he considered insignificant in his own sect?

Qin Xuan was oblivious to these undercurrents, but he detected the sting in Yu Wu's words. Just then, the system interface opened, revealing a surprising update:

Name: Qin Xuan

Level: Fifth Level of the Congenital Stage

Music Skill: 2.5

Rites and Music System Unsealing Progress: 2%

Martial Cultivation Realm: Third Level of the Congenital Stage

Wow!

Just wow!

After a morning's effort, Qin Xuan's music skill had improved by 0.6. This boost in proficiency catapulted him directly from the Acquired Realm to the Third Level of the Congenital Stage. The pace of his progress was astonishing!

Upon this realization, Qin Xuan turned his gaze to Yu Wu. Even with his current level of mastery, he was unable to discern Yu Wu's realm. This meant that the second senior brother from the Grayhands Sect had to be beyond the fifth level of the Congenital Stage.

Given that...

"I quite like the moniker 'Raging Wave,'" Qin Xuan said earnestly, bowing slightly in thanks. "I appreciate the nickname. I'll have to buy you dinner sometime as thanks."

Yu Wu had been seething with rage, his earlier remarks intended to incite Qin Xuan. With his own power at the seventh level of the Congenital Stage, he planned to overwhelm Qin Xuan and thus redeem his reputation in the eyes of their junior sister apprentice.

But to his surprise, Qin Xuan didn't rise to the bait!