Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 10 Tiandou City

Zhu Zhuqing landed lightly on the other side of the shaft, her long black hair fluttering in the wind. "Thank you." Her voice was cold yet gentle, like melting snow in early spring.

Feng Yao was concentrating on driving the carriage, a faint smile on his face. "It's just a piece of cake."

A brief silence fell. The girl warily examined Feng Yao's profile, a cold glint in her eyes. Suddenly, her claws, like lightning, pressed against Feng Yao's throat. "You could have left on your own, why did you take the risk to help me?"

Feng Yao's expression remained unchanged, not even slowing down the carriage. "Seeing injustice? On a whim?" He chuckled. "Or maybe I just wanted to hear you say thank you?"

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, and finally relaxed a little, slowly retracting her claws: "Zhu Zhuqing." She briefly stated her name, which was considered as an acknowledgement of this explanation.

"Feng Yao, a zither player." Feng Yao nodded slightly, his eyes swept over her bleeding arm, and he took out a bottle of medicine from his soul guide. "Why did the people from the Xingluo Zhu family come to the Tiandou Dijie?"

"How do you know—" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly opened her eyes wide, murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

"The Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Spirit is unique to the Xingluo Zhu family." Feng Yao handed the medicine bottle over, a hint of teasing in his eyes. "Your vigilance is very consistent with the characteristics of a cat."

Zhu Zhuqing stared at him for a long time, and finally took the medicine bottle: "Thank you." Her voice was so soft that it was almost drowned out by the sound of horse hooves.

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent throughout the rest of the journey, but occasionally glanced at the mysterious musician. She felt that Feng Yao knew more about her than he seemed to know, as if an invisible hand was secretly controlling everything.

The carriage sped along the official road. After an unknown amount of time, the outline of a city appeared on the horizon.

"Do you know where this is?" Feng Yao asked softly.

Zhu Zhuqing looked surprised: "You are the one who is from Tiandou, right?"

"To be honest," Feng Yao said with a wry smile, "this is my first time away from home. I was going to Tiandou City to study, but the driver ran away when he heard a fight, and now I don't even know where I am."

A rare hint of apology appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cold face. "This is the Kingdom of Barak. Soto City should be just ahead."

A flicker of surprise flashed in Feng Yao's eyes. Soto City—of course he knew what this meant. But he had already made up his mind; he would never seek hardship at that so-called "Monster Academy." For him, the simulated training environment was his primary consideration; there was no need to waste time "suffering" during his prime years of cultivation.

If the conditions were the same six years ago, he wouldn't have stayed at Notting College for even a single day longer.

As dusk fell, the towering walls of Soto City came into view. Zhu Zhuqing gracefully got out of the car in front of the city gate and gave Feng Yao a deep look before leaving: "I will repay this favor."

Feng Yao watched the graceful figure disappear at the city gate, the smile on his lips gradually fading. He shook his head gently, turned around, and led the carriage through the city, searching for a car dealership. The prosperity of Soto City was indeed unexpected. Shops lined the streets, and the cries of hawkers echoed one after another. It was indeed much more lively than Notting City.

After leaving his carriage at a sizable carriage shop, Feng Yao simply wandered the city. The setting sun gilded the city, and street performers drew passersby to stop and watch. He paused with interest at a small stall selling odds and ends, fiddling with a few delicate items.

As night fell, Feng Yao's stomach began to complain. He walked into a well-decorated restaurant and ordered a few local specialties. After eating and drinking, he called the waiter to ask about accommodations, but was told an unexpected news:

"Excuse me, sir. The Soul Master Academy is recruiting students these days, so all the hotels in the city are full."

Feng Yao frowned, put down his teacup, and asked several more shops, but received the same answer. Standing on the dimly lit street, he sighed helplessly and had no choice but to return to the car dealership.

"Leaving at night?" The car dealer looked at the generous customer in surprise. "It's already dark now."

"The price is negotiable." Feng Yao threw out a golden soul coin, which drew a dazzling arc under the light.

Soon, a brand new carriage pulled out of Soto City. Feng Yao leaned against the carriage, gazing out the window at the receding outline of the city wall. The moonlight was like water, stretching the shadows of the trees lining the road. He gently stroked "Fuxi" in his arms and closed his eyes thoughtfully.

Ten days later, as the first rays of morning light began to fall, Feng Yao finally stood beneath the towering walls of Tiandou City. Atop the towering gatehouse, the three gilded characters "Tiandou City" gleamed brightly in the morning sun, while the armor of the soldiers defending the city reflected a chilling light.

After paying the entrance fee, Feng Yao joined the bustling crowd as he entered the city. The broad main street could accommodate eight carriages, and the buildings on either side, with their soaring eaves and angled corners, fully displayed the grandeur of the imperial capital. The shop signs swayed gently in the morning breeze, and the aroma of breakfast stalls mingled with the sound of distant bells.

Feng Yao was in no rush to go to Yuexuan. He knew the importance of first impressions and decided to rest up first.

He found an elegant restaurant in the city and ordered several Tiandou City specialties. The crystal shrimp dumplings were translucent, the steamed sea bass was tender, and a pot of the best Biluochun tea washed away the fatigue of the journey.

After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, he found an upscale inn in the bustling district. He requested a superior room and told the waiter to prepare hot water. He soaked in a tub strewn with flower petals, the warm water soothing the aches and pains from days of travel.

After bathing and changing, Feng Yao stood before the bronze mirror, carefully arranging his appearance. He changed into a moon-white robe and tied a jade belt he had purchased on the road. The young man in the mirror had clear features and a distinguished demeanor, no longer the village boy he had been.

Before leaving the inn, Feng Yao asked the waiter where Yuexuan was located. After crossing several bustling streets, an elegant three-story building appeared before his eyes. Its moon-white exterior, carved rosewood doors and windows, and a harp emblem hanging in front of the door shone softly in the sunlight—this was Yuexuan, renowned throughout the Tiandou Empire.

After tidying up his clothes, Feng Yao took out the letter of recommendation with the violet wax seal and gently knocked on Yuexuan's door.

"Yuexuan hasn't arrived yet, but what can I do for you?" A maid in a lavender dress opened the door, her voice gentle. Feng Yao handed over a letter of recommendation: "I'm recommended by the shopkeeper Ning of Notting City. I'm here to see Madam Yuehua."

The maid took the letter and saw the harp emblem on the wax seal. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Please follow me."

Passing through a quiet corridor, Feng Yao was led to an elegant small hall. The furnishings in the hall were simple yet luxurious. A large harp sat quietly on a piano stand in the corner, several landscape paintings hung on the walls, and a faint scent of incense lingered in the air.

Soon, light footsteps were heard. Feng Yao looked up and saw a woman in her early thirties strolling in. She was dressed in a moon-white dress, her hair tied up in a simple bun. Her face was dignified and beautiful, and the most striking thing about her was her eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts.

"Are you the Feng Yao that Manager Ning recommended?" Tang Yuehua's voice was as sweet as a mountain spring, yet also carried a hint of majesty. "I heard that your zither skills are quite special."

Feng Yao bowed respectfully, his movements graceful and appropriate. "Greetings, Madam. Before leaving, Shopkeeper Ning specifically asked me to send his regards to you. I only have a basic understanding of music, so I really don't deserve the word 'special'."

Tang Yuehua raised the corners of her lips slightly, motioning him to sit in the guest seat: "Don't be so modest. I know Manager Ning very well and he never exaggerates." Her slender fingers stroked the edge of the teacup, and she looked at the young man in front of her thoughtfully.

"Thank you, Madam, for your kindness." Feng Yao bowed slightly, his attitude humble but not arrogant.

Tang Yuehua's eyes flashed with admiration: "Would you mind letting me have a glimpse and witness your piano skills?"

"This..." Feng Yao hesitated slightly, "It's really embarrassing to show off in front of the lady."

"Please." Tang Yuehua raised her hand gracefully and pointed to an exquisite rosewood piano stand in the hall. Her tone was gentle but could not be refused.

Feng Yao no longer refused, slowly walking towards the zither platform. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, until his mind was completely calm, then he gently stroked the strings. The "Fuxi" guqin appeared before him, and two bright yellow, century-old soul rings slowly rose, emitting a soft light.

With a gentle pluck of the qin's fingers, the melody of "High Mountain and Flowing Water" flows out like a clear spring. The sound begins like the gurgling of a stream, then cascades like a waterfall, and finally settles into the tranquility of a deep pool. It's impossible not to be mesmerized.

Feng Yao was completely absorbed in the music, completely lost in it. Meanwhile, a flicker of astonishment crossed Tang Yuehua's beautiful eyes. In her perception, the entire hall seemed transformed into a real landscape—she could hear the gurgling stream, feel the mountain breeze on her face, and even smell the fragrance of grass after the rain. Such exquisite qin artistry, it made one feel as if they were there!
The last note slowly faded into the air, but its lingering sound seemed to linger in the hall. Tang Yuehua let out a soft breath, the amazement in her eyes lingering for a long time. "I'm afraid Tiandou City will have another popular instrument from now on." The corners of her lips curled up slightly, with a certainty that seemed to be foresight.

As she gracefully rose to her feet, her moon-white skirt flowing like ripples. "From today on, you will be Yuexuan's student." She slowly walked towards Feng Yao, her delicate fragrance wafting in the breeze. "I'm afraid I can't teach you much about musical attainments. Even if I switch to the harp, with your talent, you'll definitely master it quickly."

Tang Yuehua paused, her gaze deepening. "But in Tiandou City, music alone is far from enough." She gently raised her hand, her fingertips tracing the edge of the piano platform. "What matters most here are the rules of the game among the nobility—those subtle rules written in the eyes, hidden in the gestures, and integrated into the conversation. I hope you can gain something from this in Yuexuan."

"Thank you, Madam, for your guidance." Feng Yao bowed gracefully, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He knew exactly what Tang Yuehua was referring to—Yuexuan's other renowned feature across the continent was its aristocratic etiquette inherited from the imperial court.

Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a dappled shadow between the two of them. Feng Yao wore a calm smile, "Although I come from humble origins, I understand that in Tiandou City, proper behavior is often more important than the number of spirit rings."

Tang Yuehua's eyebrows raised slightly upon hearing this, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. She slowly walked towards the window, her moon-white skirt swirling in the light. "Don't be late tomorrow at noon." As she turned, the pearl hairpin in her hair swayed gently. "I hope you can quickly grasp these principles of survival, just as you mastered the art of playing the zither."

"Junior will take his leave first." Feng Yao bowed slightly, his voice as clear as jade, and his demeanor was already elegant.

"This way, distinguished guest," a maid stepped forward, folding her hands before her belly in a standard court salute. Her voice was soft, her manners graceful, even the sway of her skirt as she led the way was perfectly timed.

Feng Yao followed the maid through the winding corridors of Yuexuan, noticing every detail along the way - the zither patterns carved on the pillars, the fresh flowers and bonsai placed at the corners, and even the rhythm of the maid's hairpin swaying as she walked, all revealing the unique rhythmic beauty of Yuexuan.

Stepping out of Yuexuan's gate, Feng Yao strolled through the bustling streets of Tiandou City. The sunlight gilded the magnificent buildings, while the cries of street vendors mingled with the ringing of royal bells from noble carriages.

Six years of arduous training were vividly remembered—from the young boy clutching a guqin in Notting City to the current twenty-sixth-level spirit master. While not as fast as Tang San's cultivation, this achievement had already attracted offers from all the high-level spirit master academies in Tiandou. Feng Yao gently stroked the "Fuxi" in his arms, remembering Yu Xiaogang's reluctant expression when Tang San invited him, and couldn't help but smile.

"Lan Ba ​​Academy," he muttered to himself, his pace unconsciously slowing. He had originally decided not to get too involved with Tang San, but Manager Ning's letter of recommendation had led him to Tian Dou City. Now, apart from Lan Ba, there was no other suitable choice.

Feng Yao strolled on the bustling streets of Tiandou City, his inner conflicts surging like the tide.

"Lanba Academy," he murmured softly, his slender fingers unconsciously caressing the "Fuxi" musical instrument case in his arms. The delicate wood grain of the case soothed him slightly, but it couldn't calm the turmoil in his heart.

"But if I don't go to Blue Tyrant Academy, where can I find a suitable environment for mimicry training?" This thought lingered in his mind like a thorn in his flesh. He thought of Zhu Zhuqing's cold figure when she left. "Since we were going to meet in the end, why didn't I go to Shrek with Zhu Zhuqing?"

But then, another voice sounded coldly in his heart: "What's the point of going? Won't I still be excluded from the Shrek Seven Devils in the end?" Feng Yao's mouth curled up into a bitter smile. He knew better than anyone what kind of person Yu Xiaogang was.

The choice he made six years ago resurfaced before him—he'd rejected the path of a pure support-type spirit master precisely because he saw this clearly. Even if he cultivated his support abilities to the utmost, how could he rival the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda? How could he surpass a food-type genius possessing innate full spirit power? More importantly, he loathed Yu Xiaogang's condescending attitude, the way he manipulated people under the guise of "doing things for your own good."

"In his hands, Tang San is nothing more than a tool to prove his theory." Feng Yao sighed softly and continued walking forward. The lights from the shops on the street made his profile flicker.

He naturally considered Tiandou Royal Academy, but the demanding admission requirements deterred him. He was either a hereditary aristocrat or, like Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, had a Titled Douluo-level backer. Feng Yao, on the other hand, was just a commoner spirit master from Notting City.

"Maybe." His gaze suddenly turned to the back, where Yuexuan was, whom Feng Yao had left not long ago. "It's time to change my thinking."

(End of this chapter)