White Robe - Chapter 50
The plum blossom dance is played three times, but the prince is nowhere to be seen; the cries of crows echo in the vast sky.
"A thousand years of history unfold, a melody of elegance and romance..."
The melodious sound of the zither drifted through the valley.
A gentle mountain breeze stirred, causing my black hair to flutter softly around me. I felt all my senses merge into the music, my own voice echoing through the mountains. The music seemed to inspire me to sing, and before I knew it, I was singing. My thoughts flowed with unprecedented clarity; the first plum blossoms, the lingering snow, the cliffs and misty mountains before me all transformed into lines of seven-character verse flowing from my lips—
At that moment, I forgot everything, including myself.
With a soft "ding," the heavenly melody stopped abruptly.
The three people in the grove remained silent for a moment.
The music we just heard was truly divine, unlike anything we'd ever heard before. If someone had been attacking us with swords, we probably wouldn't have dodged. But even the most ruthless person would likely have laid down their weapon upon hearing that music.
After what seemed like an eternity, the man from Plum Valley slowly opened his mouth and said, "I have been studying the zither for over fifty years, and this is the first time I have ever played this piece so exquisitely. This young lady harmonized with the sound of her jade hairpin, which shows that she is extremely skilled in music."
Hearing the praise from the people in Plum Valley, I blushed and said softly, "Sir, you are mistaken. I know nothing about music. But I have heard this piece before."
"Ah!" exclaimed the man from Plum Valley. "You...you've actually heard of this piece! Tell me, what's the name of it?"
I slowly said, "This piece was originally a flute piece, said to have been played by Huan Yi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was once called 'Plum Blossom Melody' and 'Jade Concubine Melody,' and it was very popular in the Tang Dynasty. However, due to the wars at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the score was lost. But in the Ming and Qing Dynasties..." At this point, I quickly changed the subject and said, "But I was fortunate enough to hear a musician play it when I was young. He said that this piece originated from 'Plum Blossom Melody,' so I called it 'Three Variations on Plum Blossom'!"
"Three Variations on Plum Blossom, Three Variations on Plum Blossom... I never imagined before that this zither piece, with its three sections of harmonics, each on a different note on the same string, would best capture the meaning of 'Three Variations'!" The man in Plum Valley suddenly burst into laughter: "What a wonderful Three Variations on Plum Blossom! It wasn't in vain that I went to such lengths to find the score for 'Plum Blossom Melody,' and then meticulously refined and varied it. Although this piece follows the ancients, it is no longer the same old tune. Since it came into my hands, it should truly be called 'Three Variations on Plum Blossom'!"
Shang Shaozhang smiled slightly and said, "It seems that Bai Yi has passed the test this time."
The laughter in Plum Valley continued unabated for a while before finally subsiding, showing how delighted he was. Hearing Shang Shaochang's question, he stopped laughing and said, "Excellent, excellent! The name is good, and the poem is good too! However, using my name, Ju Xue, isn't as simple as just listening to music and composing poetry. Without inside connections—"
Shang Shaozhang suddenly interjected, "You only need to try it to know the truth. She can use it now with just a little adjustment of her breathing."
The man from Plum Valley exclaimed in surprise, then laughed and said, "So that's how it is. My swordsmanship emphasizes comprehension above all else. This young lady has a very strong grasp of the art, and she is certainly capable of inheriting my mantle, Ju Xue." He then changed the subject and said, "However, I will only accept her as my disciple if she can enter my Plum Blossom Formation and allow me to come out of the formation to meet her."
I saw that Young Master Shang and the Three Masters of Meigu were chatting animatedly, completely ignoring me, an insider. I couldn't help but feel angry. Those mysterious Three Masters of Meigu had repeatedly made things difficult for me; they were truly despicable. I snapped, "Young Master Shang, take me away! I don't want to learn martial arts from this coward…from this person! With you by my side to protect me, I don't believe anything will happen!"
Shang Shaozhang laughed and said, "How could you say that about the old...senior?" Although his words were reproachful, his eyes were smiling, and he didn't take this "senior" seriously at all.
All that could be heard was Mei Gu San Jue saying calmly, "It seems you can't enter this Plum Blossom Formation, nor will you see me. I thought you were so clever, but I didn't expect you to be just average. It's a waste that Young Master Shang went to all that trouble and risked his life to bring you to me."
"You—" I raised my eyebrows and said angrily, "How do you know I can't let you leave the valley!"
Mei Gu San Jue said, "Then I'll see just how clever you can be."
I laughed in fury and said coldly, "If I burn this plum blossom formation, what will you do then?"
All that could be heard was an angry shout from the people in Plum Valley: "You—you dare!"
I chuckled and said, "What's there to be afraid of?"
Suddenly, a man in Plum Valley laughed and said, "The plum blossoms planted here are the finest varieties from all over the world. A single tree can sell for a hundred gold pieces. Would you really be willing to let all that gold and silver turn to ashes?"
I said calmly, "I've seen plenty of gold and silver, far more than a hundred taels of silver. Since I can't take these plum blossoms with me, they're no different from ordinary plants in my eyes as a merchant. You used such precious plum blossoms to create an array, perhaps thinking that anyone who tries to break through would be reluctant to damage them, but once inside, they would never be able to get out. But you didn't consider that these plants can be destroyed by fire. Why would I bother trying to break through? If you don't leave the array yourself, I might just do something like burning a zither and boiling a crane."
The man in Plum Valley pondered for a while, then suddenly laughed and said, "It's all ice here, even the plum branches are covered in ice and snow. Even if you have a tinderbox, where are you going to find anything to start a fire?"
A cold glint flashed in my eyes as I said, "When I do things in white, success is the only goal." My hand reached around my neck, and I removed the mink coat. I said in a deep voice, "This fine mink coat is dry and warm; it's perfect for starting a fire." As I spoke, I pulled a tinderbox from my robes. Ever since I didn't know how to use it last time and was laughed at by Young Master Shang, I had learned how. With a flick of the wrist, a small flame ignited in my hand.
I laughed and said, "How about we make a bet? If you don't come out, I will definitely set this plum grove on fire."
The tinderbox had burned out, and I slowly moved the small flame toward the mink coat in my hand.
"Alas..." A sigh suddenly echoed from the plum grove. The person in the plum valley slowly said, "I have lost. Come out."
Amidst the dense plum blossoms, a slender figure in white gradually emerged.
He was walking, but he gave the impression of floating, drifting above layers of plum blossoms, slowly making his way out of the plum grove. White petals, scattered by the wind, constantly landed on his clothes. The entire plum grove seemed to merge with him. The mountain wind billowed his white robes, as if his whole being was about to fly away with the gentle mountain breeze into the distant, misty mountains—
The man in white walked up to the plum grove, stopped slowly, and smiled slightly at me, saying, "What a clever girl."
I stood there, staring at the man in white, unable to utter a single word!
These are the three wonders of Meigu!
His swordsmanship was unparalleled, his formations were unparalleled, and his lightness skill was unparalleled.
The zither is gone, the wine is gone, the books are gone!
But all these skills are no match for him!
None of them can compare to the gentle smile he gave when he raised his head and held a plum branch in his hand.
His hair was already gray, his face had several wrinkles, and even his hands had some spots. He was no longer young; at fifty-nine, it was certainly not a young age.
But this man's eyes were exceptionally clear and bright! Clear and bright like the brightest, most azure sky after a rainstorm. These eyes had transcended the boundaries of age, even surpassing the boundaries of "youth"!
Even if he is old and looks aged, his eyes are enough to make him look younger, more energetic, and more attractive to beautiful women than an eighteen-year-old.
Shang Shaozhang was also very handsome; in fact, he was better looking than most men his age, and possessed a mature charm. Walking down the street, some girls would peek at him from behind their sleeves, then giggle shyly. This sometimes made me a little angry, but also secretly pleased.
After all, having one's lover in the spotlight can make one feel proud in a way.
But I bet if Shang Shaochang and Mei Gu Sanjue were to walk together, nine out of ten women would look at Mei Gu Sanjue.
Because every word he utters, every gesture he makes, even a smile or a glance, is fatally captivating.
Mei Gu San Jue exclaimed in surprise, "So this is the kind of girl who is so extraordinary." He then laughed and said, "In the past twenty years, this is the first person who has been able to threaten me." His voice was deep and magnetic, and his laughter carried a special and deadly allure.
I took a light breath and laughed, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."