Wandering Songs at the Ends of the Earth

Wandering the World

1. Traveling Song

Early autumn, dusk, by Mirror Lake, in Zui Dongfeng, the most bustling restaurant in Linzhou. The proprietress, Ruyi, swayed gracefully up to the top floor pavilion of the restaurant. On a small couch by the window, a boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old lay listlessly.

"Oh my, what's gotten into you this time?" Ruyi swayed in front of the young man, feigning a stare. "Could it be—this wandering has finally led to lovesickness?! Who is your beloved? How old are you? What kind of person do you look like…?"

"Hey beautiful, can you please stop shaking me like that?! It's making me dizzy!" the boy muttered in annoyance.

"Oh, this is my own creation, the 'Wind Swaying Willow Step.' Little Ge'er loved it when she was learning to dance!" Ruyi struck a pose as if she were the number one dancer in Linzhou back in the day.

"I'm not that old fox! What are you so smug about!"

"Old man... cough! It's been half a month since we last met. How is Zelang?" Ruyi feigned admiration and a slightly shy expression.

"I'm going to die!"

"ah!"

"Next time I see that old fox, I'll definitely..." The boy gestured fiercely with his hand.

"Little Ge, please have mercy! You continue here, I'll go down and check on things. It's almost Mid-Autumn Festival, time to count money until your hands are sore!" Ruyi was really annoyed by Xingge's words. She wondered what had happened to this master and disciple pair this time, and she slipped away while talking.

The boy watched the figure sway away. Ten years ago, the old fox saved Ruyi, the number one dancer in Linzhou. He then used some connections to settle Ruyi's enemies. Ruyi then brought in a famous chef named Ada, and together they opened this Zui Dongfeng restaurant. The boy had been exploited and forced to perform here since he was a child. He had been traveling freely for the past three years and had just returned. And now he's back again... That's bad enough, but there's something even worse... That old fox is such a villain!

I turned to look out the window. The setting sun dyed Mirror Lake red, a gentle breeze ruffled the autumn water, and red leaves fluttered in the wind... I felt depressed!

-----------------------------------------The Past of Xingge--------------------------------------

From the time Xingge became aware of things, she lived in the mountains near Linjia Town in Linzhou. There lived an old man and an old woman who always called themselves "Old Servant" and addressed Xingge as "Little Miss." There was also a young master named Ze who would appear at their home for three or four months of the year, whom Xingge habitually called Old Ze. Xingge knew that she had no blood relation with them, because the two graves they often took her to see were her biological father and mother.

There was a study in the house, which was where Lao Ze spent most of his time when he was home. Lao Ze was a refined and multi-talented man, especially skilled in calligraphy, painting, and playing the zither. He spent most of the year traveling the world with a narrow bundle. When he was at home, besides teaching Xing Ge, he would often sit in his study, playing the zither and reciting songs in front of a painting of a beautiful woman, sometimes whispering, sometimes lost in thought.

When Lao Ze was not at home, Xing Ge would occupy the study, and gradually discovered that there had been traces of four people in the study.

The first person was a man named Jing, and most of the items in the room bore his rubbings. There were also several collections of his own writings. The collection covered all sorts of subjects, from poetry appreciation to strategies for governing the country, women's grooming, palace construction, martial arts classics, medical texts, methods of discerning character… even sexual techniques. There was also a large cabinet in the room, specifically for storing exquisite mechanical tools, as well as many mechanical and engineering blueprints. Judging from the arrangement and style of the study, Jing was the original owner of the study.

Another signature is "Mei," which should belong to a woman. This woman and Jing were lovers. There are some of their love writings in the study, as well as a diary of Mei, which records Mei and Jing's daily life. The words reveal her to be a quirky and clever beauty.

The names of these two people are the same as the words on the tombstone.

The third one is Lao Ze. Lao Ze's belongings are displayed in a separate cabinet, mostly calligraphy, paintings, musical scores, and that long, narrow bundle...

The last one, the one Xingge felt was the most intimate, the most familiar, the most real, and the warmest. It was the beautiful woman in the picture that Lao Ze was staring at in a daze. This beauty had silently accompanied Xingge through decades of loneliness in the study, her watery eyes always gazing warmly at you from any direction. She always wore a gentle, bright, and radiant smile, making those who saw her feel as if they were surrounded by spring blossoms. However, apart from this picture, Xingge could only imagine the beauty's elegance from Lao Ze's music and gaze, and speculate about the past between the beauty and Lao Ze.

Xingge was exceptionally talented from a young age, praised by everyone in the village. However, Old Ze showed no delight. Sometimes, when he was tired of teaching Xingge, he would look at him with a mixture of blessing and curse, sighing, "So lifelike!" Xingge knew he was referring to the one in the grave, and felt displeased. Even if he resembled this annoying Old Ze, it was better than resembling a grave! Old Ze was, after all, alive! But Old Ze wasn't often home, so from a young age, Xingge was like dried seaweed soaking in a sea of books, aimlessly and indiscriminately absorbing knowledge, and even practicing some skills from the books. His grandparents often said, "So lifelike!"

Until she was seven, Xingge clearly remembered that it was a single-volume book with a black cover and white thread binding, telling the story of a wandering knight. One man, one horse, one zither, one sword, traveling the world.

When Xingge met Lao Ze again that year, he told Lao Ze that he wanted to be a chivalrous knight-errant with both courage and a heart of music in his life!

A strange light flashed in Lao Ze's eyes. He picked up the zither and slowly began to play a tune Xing Ge had never heard before. The music was gentle and soothing, like silk threads slowly lingering in his heart, carrying joy, longing, and melancholy... the blazing sun, the bright moon, the vast ocean, the boundless grasslands, from the highest heavens to the deepest hells... birth, old age, sickness, and death; joyful encounters, resentful meetings, loving separations, and unfulfilled desires...

Xingge felt a surge of heat rush to his heart. The music stopped for a long time, and he still couldn't produce a single note. He only wanted to follow this old man to the ends of the earth.

Old Ze looked at Xing Ge quietly, then chuckled softly, "Don't want to stay here anymore? Want to wander the world from now on? Fine! I'll help you!"

Six years later, Xingge finally realized—he had been fooled!

Six years

Old Ze said that a wandering knight must be proficient in martial arts, practicing diligently through the coldest winters and hottest summers. At the same time, he helped Zui Dongfeng sweep away all sorts of shady characters.

Lao Ze said that a wandering knight-errant must be proficient in music, singing, and dancing, and also serve as a musician and dancer in Zui Dongfeng.

Old Ze said that even wandering knights need to eat, and a gentleman loves money but acquires it in a proper way. He sang as he went... while also working as an accountant at Zui Dongfeng.

Old Ze said that a wandering knight is alone and must know how to take care of himself, and that singing... is the second chef of Zui Dongfeng.

Lao Ze said that a chivalrous knight-errant should be erudite and sing while traveling... As a result, everyone in Linzhou knew that Zui Dongfeng had a living history book.

Old Ze said the wandering knights still need...

As Ruyi counted the silver notes, she said, "Zelang! This little Ge is truly amazing; he can do anything!"

While enjoying the food, Ada said, "Young Master Ze, my culinary skills have finally been passed on. Little Ge'er has truly surpassed her master!"

The elderly couple passed away one after another, each holding Old Ze's hand before they left: "Young Master Ze, thanks to your excellent training, our young lady is so outstanding. We can finally give an explanation to Young Master Jing..."

Xingge roared, "You old fox!!! Six years ago, you took advantage of my youth and used 'Wandering the World' to lure me in... I worked for nothing for six years! I wanted to be a wandering knight-errant, not the top courtesan of Zui Dongfeng!!!"

Old Ze chuckled inwardly. Six years to realize! He still spoke sincerely, "Xingge! You've finally found yourself. My martial arts and cultivation can no longer guide you. You can go to the people on this list one by one and hand over these tokens. Remember not to get the order wrong. They will make you more like a wandering knight. You can come back in three years to see if you can become a qualified wandering knight!"

Xingge pondered for a moment, then took the roster and the token. "I will first go to Yanshan to ask for something I need."

"You've taken a fancy to that old devil's thing?!" This was unexpected for Lao Ze. He narrowed his phoenix eyes and chuckled, "I've always disliked that old devil. It'll be difficult for him to find out you're my disciple! Your 'Sea Moon' isn't good enough for you?"

"You old fox, you want to enslave me for another ten years with 'Sea Moon', don't you!" Xingge smiled strangely, and Lao Ze felt a chill run down his spine.

The next day, Xingge, dressed as a young man, headed towards Yanshan.

2. Famous musical instruments and precious swords

Since ancient times, a true hero must have a famous zither and a precious sword by his side!

Famous zithers in this dynasty include Haiyue, Feipu, and Li Sao.

The Sea Moon and Flying Waterfall were palace treasures in the previous dynasty, and should logically remain in the palace in this dynasty as well. That old fox must have obtained the Sea Moon through some unknown means, and then concealed the inscription on the soundboard, making it so that only those skilled in such arts can discern its sound. It's unlikely that Ruyi and Ada even knew it was the Sea Moon; this old fox is trying to lure them with this. How hateful!

The most legendary is the "Li Sao," a zither typically made with a paulownia wood top and a cata

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