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

Chapter 11 Dugu Yan

The morning sun slanted through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows across the Yuexuan courtyard. Feng Yao followed the maid who led the way through the winding corridors. The sleeves of his moon-white gown swayed gently with his steps, and the tassels on the jade belt around his waist swayed rhythmically, making him look like a walking ink painting.

"Dear guest, please come this way." The maid stopped in front of a carved rosewood door, bowed slightly, and said in a whisper, "Today's etiquette class will be taught by Madam Yuehua herself. The new students are waiting here."

Feng Yao nodded in greeting, his slender fingers gently pushing the door open. Inside the spacious hall, a dozen elegantly dressed young men and women sat on either side. His gaze was drawn unconsciously to a figure by the window—a green-haired girl leaning lazily against the carved window frame. The sunlight cast an amber halo over her emerald eyes, making her look like a thorny rose.

"Emerald green eyes. Could it be..." Feng Yao's heart moved slightly, and he calmly chose a seat by the window in the back row, where he could sit with the shadow of the wisteria flowers hanging outside the window to block his view.

Snakes have always had keen senses. Almost the moment Feng Yao's gaze fell, Dugu Yan glanced up, as if aware of something. Dugu Yan casually appraised the new student. "He's a handsome young man, with a respectful gaze." Unlike those pretentious aristocratic children, this young man's eyes were free of those disgusting evil thoughts.

"Lingling," Dugu Yan nudged the silver-haired girl beside her with her elbow. She parted her red lips but said nothing. In a whisper that only the two of them could hear, she said, "Lingling, look at that new handsome guy."

Ye Lingling shook her head helplessly, her long silver hair shimmering with ripples as she moved. "Sister Yan, Madam Yuehua hates whispers in class."

"It's so boring," Dugu Yan said, playing with a strand of green hair that fell on her shoulder, a hint of impatience flashing in her green eyes. "Grandpa insisted on making me learn all these red tape. I might as well go play with snakes."

As the two whispered, the hall door opened again. Tang Yuehua, clad in a flowing, cloud-like dress, strode in gracefully, a gilded hairpin swaying gently with her steps, yet not a sound was heard. The entire hall instantly fell silent; even the birdsong outside the window seemed to have tactfully ceased.

"Today we will be studying the etiquette of a court audience." Her voice was like a mountain stream, clear yet gentle. "Please follow my demonstration."

Feng Yao observed Tang Yuehua's every detail intently—the curve of her back as she bent, the folds of her sleeves as she raised her arms, even the shift in her gaze from downcast to level—all with such precision that it seemed as if he had measured it. His imitation was almost mirror-image, even his breathing rhythm meticulously matching the demonstration.

Tang Yuehua glanced around the room, taking in everyone's performance. Ye Lingling's natural elegance, Dugu Yan's absent-mindedness, Feng Yao's meticulous attention to detail. She nodded silently inwardly. Years of instruction had honed her discerning eye—she could tell at a glance who was putting their heart into their work and who was just going through the motions.

"This new student," Tang Yuehua suddenly stopped, raised her jade hand and pointed at Feng Yao, her fingertips shimmering like pearls in the morning light, "please step forward and demonstrate for everyone."

Feng Yao rose calmly, his moon-white robe cascading like water. He walked to the center of the hall and, under the gaze of the crowd, slowly bowed. At that moment, time seemed to stand still—his slender figure traced an elegant arc. His right hand gently pressed against his left chest, his left hand falling naturally, every joint bent with perfect precision. As he rose, his robe fluttered like the wings of a white crane.

"Very good." A glint flashed in Tang Yuehua's eyes, and a barely perceptible smile played at the corner of her lips. She took two steps closer, the faint fragrance of orchids wafting through her body. "However..." She suddenly reached out and gently touched Feng Yao's slightly tense shoulder. "Etiquette is a conversation between the heart, not a rigid mold."

Feng Yao felt a warmth on his shoulder, a touch as light as a feather yet as heavy as a thousand pounds. He raised his eyes to meet Tang Yuehua's gentle gaze, and heard her continue, "Look at the way the stream meanders around the rocks. Have you ever seen two streams that are exactly the same?"

"I understand." Feng Yao took a deep breath and saluted again. This time, his movements were less calculated and more relaxed, as if he were genuinely conversing with an elder. As he stood up, a lively glint appeared in his eyes.

Tang Yuehua nodded with satisfaction. "The essence of etiquette lies in sincerity, not in form. Remember, the noblest etiquette is to make everyone feel comfortable and at ease." She swept her eyes over all the students present. "Now, please practice again with this understanding in mind."

Soon, after the etiquette class ended, everyone filed out and walked towards the piano room along the sun-filled corridor.

When I stepped into the music room, Tang Yuehua was standing by the window, tuning a crystal harp. Sunlight filtered through her slender fingertips, casting tiny specks of light across the strings. Seeing Feng Yao arrive with the others, a barely perceptible flicker of satisfaction crossed her eyes, and the corners of her lips curled upwards.

"Please take out your instruments." Tang Yuehua's voice was like a clear mountain stream, gently echoing in the spacious piano room. "Today we will play together."

Feng Yao sat down in front of a harp stand in the corner, his slender fingers gently stroking the unfamiliar harp. This unfamiliar gesture immediately drew a burst of suppressed laughter. Several nobles exchanged playful glances, and one blond youth even exaggeratedly covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking.

"Poor little handsome boy," Dugu Yan whispered to Ye Lingling beside her, leaning against the window, amusement in her emerald eyes. Her own zither-holding technique wasn't quite right either, but due to her status, no one dared to comment.

Tang Yuehua seemed oblivious to this, and simply tuned the strings of her zither. She knew Feng Yao's zither skills all too well—his zither skills were no less impressive than hers, and she believed that Feng Yao would soon silence all those who mocked him.

Feng Yao ignored the snickers around him. He concentrated on trying a few notes, and the clear sound of the vibrating strings made him nod slightly. The tone of this harp was as clear as autumn water, and the lingering sound was like mountain mist. It was truly a rare and fine piece.

"Are you ready?" Tang Yuehua's gaze swept across the audience and finally fell on Feng Yao.

Feng Yao raised his eyes, met her gaze for a moment, and nodded gently. The sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a fine shadow beneath his drooping eyelashes, obscuring the sharp gleam in his eyes.

As the first note rippled through the piano room, Feng Yao's brows furrowed involuntarily. His long eyelashes trembled, and the tips of his ears twitched in time with the rhythm, like a cat gazing at its direction. Amidst the chaotic chorus of music, his keen hearing caught a melody like a clear spring—it was Tang Yuehua's piano music, like bright moonlight piercing the clouds, carving a clear path through the chaos.

Feng Yao's tense brow gradually relaxed, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. His slender fingers began to move awkwardly across the strings, plucking with initial hesitation before quickly finding the rhythm. Though his movements were still immature, each note landed precisely on the beat, like a fledgling eagle learning to fly, clumsily yet resolutely following the path of its leader.

His harp playing gradually became distinct from the other students'. It was no longer an imitation, but began to resonate wonderfully with Tang Yuehua's melodies. The two streams of sound sometimes paralleled, sometimes intertwined, weaving a captivating rhythm in the air. The nobles who had previously mocked him unconsciously stopped playing and stared in surprise at this young man they had assumed knew nothing about the harp.

Inside the piano room, Tang Yuehua's music flowed like a clear spring, each note as precise as a meticulously carved jade. Feng Yao's music, though a little raw at first, held a unique vitality, like a wild vine in the mountains, groping for support.

Suddenly, a miraculous transformation occurred—Feng Yao's melody seemed to have found its home, interweaving perfectly with Tang Yuehua's. The two streams of sound met in mid-air, creating an incredible resonance. Tang Yuehua's fingertips paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected Feng Yao's understanding of music to be so profound.

Feng Yao closed his eyes, completely absorbed in the music. His harp no longer followed Tang Yuehua's melody, but began to dialogue with it. As they sang and sang in harmony, they unexpectedly brought out a profound artistic conception not found in the original piece. The air in the harp room seemed to freeze, and everyone held their breath. A strange light shone in Tang Yuehua's beautiful eyes. She calmly changed the tune, playing a complex variation. Feng Yao almost instantly understood her intention, and the tone of his harp shifted, not only perfectly continuing the variation but also adding a touch of agility to it. The resonance of the two harps grew stronger and stronger, and the sound waves formed faint ripples in the air that were visible to the naked eye.

Dugu Yan had already stopped what she was doing, her emerald eyes filled with surprise. Ye Lingling's mouth widened slightly. Although she was a master of music, she had never seen anyone match Madam Yuehua's musical prowess.

Ye Lingling tilted her head slightly, her silver hair falling from her shoulders. A flicker of surprise flashed in her lavender eyes, and her gaze unconsciously followed Feng Yao's slender fingers as he plucked the strings of his zither. "How marvelous," she thought to herself. "His zither music is so different from Madam Yuehua's. One is as clear as a spring, the other as deep as a valley, yet they blend perfectly in the most subtle details."

"What?" Dugu Yan suddenly came closer, her warm breath brushing against Ye Lingling's ears, her voice full of teasing, "Our Lingling, have you taken a fancy to this handsome boy?" Her emerald eyes flashed with cunning light, and her fingertips gently poked Ye Lingling's flushed cheek.

"Sister Yan!" Ye Lingling hurriedly lowered her head, her silver hair falling to hide the tips of her ears, which had instantly turned red. She subconsciously tightened the hem of her skirt, but she couldn't help but secretly glance at the figure in the center of the piano room through the gap in her hair.

As the music gained momentum, Feng Yao completely lost himself in the world of rhythm. His slender fingers danced across the strings faster and faster, his soul power unconsciously flowing with the rhythm. Two yellow soul rings quietly appeared around him. The sound of the piano gradually took on a strange rhythm, as if it could penetrate the depths of his soul.

Tang Yuehua was the first to notice something was wrong. She keenly noticed the subtle changes in the air inside the piano room—the sound waves, under the blessing of soul power, produced substantial vibrations. Just as she was about to speak out a warning, something unexpected happened.

"puff--"

A blinding stream of emerald green blood spurted from Dugu Yan's mouth, gleaming eerily in the sunlight. She felt as if struck by lightning, her previously lazily leaning figure suddenly lurching forward. Her emerald-like hair cascaded down in a mess, obscuring her instantly pale face.

"Sister Yan!" Ye Lingling's exclamation shattered the silence of the piano room. Her silver hair flew, and she moved almost instantly to Dugu Yan's side. The Nine-Hearted Begonia spirit blossomed in her palm, and pink healing light poured down like a stream. Her usually calm face was now filled with anxiety, and panic flickered in her lavender eyes.

The piano room erupted in uproar. The noble students retreated in panic, and someone knocked over the piano stand, causing a sharp crash.

Feng Yao awoke as if from a dream, the zither music abruptly pausing. He stared at the scene before him in astonishment, his fingers still hovering over the strings. Tang Yuehua also immediately stopped, her moon-white sleeves tracing an elegant arc through the air. She quickly walked towards Dugu Yan, her brows filled with solemnity.

"Don't panic!" Tang Yuehua shouted, her voice imbued with undeniable authority, instantly calming the commotion in the piano room. Her moon-white skirt swayed gently as she walked quickly, and she approached Dugu Yan like a wisp of gentle breeze.

"Sister Yan, how are you feeling?" Ye Lingling half-knelt on the ground, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall. The Nine-Hearted Begonia blossoming in her palm emitted a soft pink halo, and she unexpectedly discovered that Dugu Yan's soul power was unusually stable, even smoother than usual.

Dugu Yan panted softly and raised her face, a flicker of surprise in her emerald eyes. She reached out to wipe the blood from her lips and suddenly realized that the tightness in her chest that had been with her for years had inexplicably disappeared. Her gaze fell on the pool of emerald green blood on the ground, and her pupils suddenly constricted—this was the venom of the green phosphorus snake she had known since childhood.

"What on earth is going on?" Dugu Yan's heart was filled with shock, but she did not show any emotion on her face. "I have to tell Grandpa as soon as possible."

Tang Yuehua had already arrived and gracefully leaned over to check: "Student Dugu, are you okay?"

Feng Yao also stepped forward quickly, the hem of his long gown rising slightly due to his hasty movements. He bowed deeply, his voice filled with sincere apology: "I am rude, I lost myself in the moment and used my soul power."

Dugu Yan waved her hand, a meaningful smile on her lips. "It's none of your business." She slowly stood up, her emerald hair swaying gently with her movements. "It's me who should thank you."

Ye Lingling glanced at her friend in confusion, only to find that Dugu Yan had returned to her usual lazy demeanor, but her emerald green eyes were still flickering with an unfathomable light.

Feng Yao stood still, his surface calm, yet a turbulent storm was brewing within him. His slender fingers unconsciously rubbed against each other, a glint of brilliance flashing in his deep eyes.

"Infusing soul power into the sound of the zither could actually force out the venom of the Jade Phosphorus Snake, which was woven into the bloodstream." This unexpected discovery made his heart beat faster. He quietly observed Dugu Yan's expression, noticing the barely concealed shock and contemplation in her eyes.

Feng Yao's thoughts raced. Perhaps this accident today was the opportunity fate had bestowed upon him.

Feng Yao's lips curled up slightly, then quickly returned to an apologetic expression. He bowed respectfully to Dugu Yan and said, "I'm relieved if Miss Dugu is alright."

Tang Yuehua flicked her sleeves lightly, her moon-white dress casting a faint halo in the sunlight. She glanced around at everyone, her gaze lingering on Feng Yao for a moment. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes—a mixture of reproach and a hint of unspoken admiration.

"Let's end today's class here." Her voice was clear, like pearls falling on a jade plate. "After you go back, you may want to carefully experience the music you just learned." When she said the word "experience", she looked at Feng Yao meaningfully.

The noble students looked at each other in bewilderment, but no one dared to raise an objection. They bowed respectfully and took their leave, but before leaving, they couldn't help but glance at Feng Yao a few more times.

Feng Yao bowed slightly, his slender fingers unconsciously rubbing together, a blush on his face: "I have been rude today and have disturbed Madam's leisure. I will take my leave now."

Tang Yuehua looked at him like this, a hint of a helpless smile flashing in her eyes. She raised her hand gracefully, her fingertips drawing a beautiful arc in the air: "Go."

Feng Yao bowed deeply again, his sleeves fluttering as he turned. His steps seemed leisurely, but a bit faster than usual, as if he was trying to escape this place that had both embarrassed him and brought him great rewards.

(End of this chapter)