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

Chapter 72 Getting along
The following morning, the mist still lingered over the lake at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy. Feng Yao, dressed in white, sat before a wooden zither stand, his slender fingers plucking the strings to create a melodious, flowing sound. Morning dew dripped from the stand, splashing onto the bluestone slabs.

"Xiao Feng, those two old guys, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, are here. Be careful." She Long's voice rang in Feng Yao's ears, and then disappeared without a trace.

Feng Yao's fingertips trembled slightly on the strings, yet the music continued to flow like clouds and water. His eyes were slightly closed, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the morning light, as if he were completely immersed in the music, oblivious to She Long's telepathic message.

"They came quickly," he thought to himself, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

As Feng Yao played, the music grew deeper and deeper, each string vibrating in harmony with the rhythms of heaven and earth. He appeared to be absorbed in the music, but in reality, his soul power was quietly circulating throughout his body, and he was sensing everything around him as he played.

As the morning mist dissipated, gilded embroidered shoes rustled softly across the dew-covered lawn. Ning Rongrong stood by the lake, her gaze piercing like a knife as she looked at the white-clad figure playing the zither.

Feng Yao sat upright in the morning light, his slender fingers flowing across the strings of his zither, seemingly blending seamlessly with the surrounding lake and mountains. This ethereal quality, however, only intensified Ning Rongrong's disgust. She would never forget the story this young man had told her in Martial Soul City.

Admittedly, Feng Yao's story makes some sense, but it's not her logic. In her eyes, Xiao Wu is a living, breathing person. She hates it when Feng Yao compares Xiao Wu to those vulgar things, but now she is also trapped in this inhumane logic.

"Pretending." Ning Rongrong snorted coldly, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm. She hated Feng Yao's all-knowing look, and she hated even more that he always bluntly revealed the truth she least wanted to face.

Ripples spread across the lake, reflecting her slightly distorted face. At that moment, Ning Rongrong suddenly couldn't tell whether she hated Feng Yao or hated herself for having to bow to reality.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong stared intently at Feng Yao's nonchalant demeanor, feeling that Feng Yao was extremely hypocritical. He spoke of countless reasons, but in the end, he was still compromising to gain benefits from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

A resolute glint flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes. She was determined to show her father and two grandfathers just how hypocritical this so-called genius soul master truly was! As long as Feng Yao showed even the slightest weakness in front of her...
"Then, Dad won't force me to see him anymore, right?" As this thought flashed through her mind, Ning Rongrong didn't even notice the bitter smile that appeared on her lips.

The morning breeze ruffled her carefully styled hair, a few strands clinging to the corners of her slightly reddened eyes. She abruptly raised her hand to wipe them away; she was determined to expose this arrogant fellow in front of Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone!
"Hey! You playing the piano!"

Ning Rongrong's arrogant voice pierced the morning mist, and the jade pendant hanging from her waist jingled with her hurried footsteps, sounding particularly jarring on the tranquil lakeside. Her gilded embroidered shoes slammed heavily on the bluestone slabs, and the wind stirred by her skirt startled the egrets roosting on the shore.

Feng Yao didn't even lift his eyelids. His slender fingers lightly plucked the strings, producing a series of clear, melodious notes like pearls falling onto a plate. His composed demeanor only fueled Ning Rongrong's anger.

"I'm talking to you!" Her eyebrows shot up, and her slender hands, brimming with soul power, suddenly swung towards the zither table.

"Zheng——!"

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the sandalwood zither stand, an invisible wave of sound suddenly exploded. Ning Rongrong felt a tingling sensation in her fingertips, and was pushed back three steps by a force that was both soft and strong, her carefully styled hair becoming even more disheveled.

"You!" She clutched her numb right hand, her cheeks flushed red with anger.

Feng Yao slowly raised his eyes, his fingertips pressing on the still trembling strings: "Miss Ning, is this how you 'exchange'?" His voice was as clear and cold as the morning breeze brushing across the lake.

"Exchange?" Ning Rongrong sneered, her glassy eyes filled with mockery. She didn't believe Feng Yao couldn't see through her father's intentions—this pretense only made her seem like an unreasonable child. In the morning light, she saw her reflection on the piano table, looking utterly pathetic.

“If Miss Ning is unwell and this makes her irritable, she should go back and rest.” Feng Yao lightly plucked the strings of the zither, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather.

Ning Rongrong stared intently at that calm, handsome face, her chest heaving violently, causing the tassels on her gilded dress to tremble. From childhood to adulthood, when had she, the apple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's eye, ever suffered such disrespect? Which of those princes and nobles hadn't fawned over her and tried to please her in every way?
"He's just a commoner Soul Master with a bit of talent." She bit her lower lip hard until she tasted blood and realized it. Her fingertips dug deeply into her palm.

Ning Rongrong turned around angrily, her gilded embroidered shoes slamming heavily on the bluestone slabs, making a crisp sound. Just as she was about to leave in a huff, she suddenly stopped.

"I'm so angry I've lost my mind," she thought to herself. She went out, and her two grandfathers were surely nearby keeping watch.

Ning Rongrong suddenly changed her mind and gracefully turned around. She deliberately softened her voice: "You're right, Rongrong was rude."

She lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her snow-white neck. Beneath her seemingly humble demeanor, a calculating glint flashed in her eyes. Since she was going to tear off this hypocrite's mask, she might as well play along—she wanted to see how long this sanctimonious fellow could keep up the act under the watchful eyes of two Title Douluos!
In the shadows of the alternate dimension, Gu Rong frowned, his withered fingers unconsciously rubbing together. He watched Ning Rongrong suppress her anger and feign meekness, shaking his head with heartache: "This boy is utterly ungrateful! Yesterday, Feng Zhi made concessions to the Crown Prince, and today he doesn't even give Rongrong the slightest bit of face."

Chen Xin raised his snow-white, sword-like eyebrows slightly: "Perhaps, quite the opposite." He gazed intently towards the pavilion, "Rongrong and he are actually in the same boat—one unwilling to be bound by sect rules, the other loathing to be controlled by power."

Gu Rong was taken aback by these words, then suddenly understood. He stroked his chin with his long, slender fingers. "Wonderful! In that case," a glint of light flashed in his eyes, "we old folks have been meddling, haven't we? No wonder Feng Zhi contacted this kid through the Crown Prince."

Chen Xin nodded slightly, his eyes deep and unfathomable beneath his snow-white, sword-like eyebrows. He suddenly understood the key—if Ning Fengzhi directly contacted Feng Yao through the person in Notting City, he would inevitably be branded as "taking advantage of a favor." But going through the Crown Prince would be a completely different story.

Xue Qinghe had shown Feng Yao a great kindness by mentoring him. By having the Crown Prince exert pressure on him, the favor could be repaid, and the relationship between Feng Yao and the royal family could be sown. At that time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would reappear as the "savior," and with his relationship with Ning Rongrong, they could not only make Feng Yao willingly serve the school, but also weaken the power of the Heavenly Dou royal family in a subtle way.

Gu Rong suddenly understood. In the distance, a fallen leaf swirled and plunged into the lake. Chen Xin gazed at the two figures on the lakeshore, a look of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and regret). Ning Fengzhi's move not only schemed against Feng Yao's relationship with the Crown Prince but also encompassed the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. "However..." Chen Xin suddenly frowned, "that kid has the carefree personality of an old poisoner, yet his mind is deep and calculating. Fengzhi's schemes may not succeed."

Gu Rong grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "It's alright. If he doesn't know what's good for him... hmph." Bone spikes were faintly visible in his sleeve.

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously concealed their presence.

Feng Yao lightly stroked the strings of the zither, observing Ning Rongrong's sudden change without revealing his true feelings. The girl had just been furious, but now she was adopting a conciliatory attitude; such a rapid change of expression was truly intriguing.

"Interesting," he thought to himself, his expression remaining perfectly composed. He could clearly see the calculating glint in Ning Rongrong's eyes. However, these little tricks were of no importance to him—as long as he could keep this young lady in check, Qian Renxue would be able to gain even more benefits from Ning Fengzhi.

The music grew clearer and more melodious, and Feng Yao's lips curled into a faint smile. The current situation was more favorable than he had anticipated. If things went smoothly, Qian Renxue might be able to firmly grasp the Heavenly Dou Imperial Power with the help of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School before Bibi Dong launched her Soul Hunting Operation.

Feng Yao nodded slightly, his fingertips lightly caressing the strings: "Since Miss Ning has come to exchange methods of distraction control, why don't we begin practicing now?" His voice was calm as water, but his gaze never left the zither.

Ning Rongrong was taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in her glassy eyes—what kind of exchange was this? If it was just about letting her practice alone, then what was the point of her coming here in the first place?
"But..." She bit her lower lip, adopting a pitiful look, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, "Dad said he wanted me to learn from you." Her voice trailed off, tinged with a deliberate shyness. Her large, watery eyes stared straight at Feng Yao, as if filled with a thousand grievances.

Feng Yao then raised his eyes and glanced at her indifferently, his gaze as calm as a still well: "My music will help you cultivate concentration control." After saying that, he said no more, his slender fingers plucked the strings, and clear, melodious music poured out like a stream.

Ning Rongrong's chest heaved violently, and even the good temper she had cultivated at Shrek Academy nearly crumbled. But thinking of her two grandfathers who were secretly observing her, she suppressed her anger. With a gentle wave of her jade hand, the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda slowly appeared in her palm, its seven-colored light intertwining with the sound of a zither, reflecting a hazy glow in the morning light.

"I'll see how long you can keep up this act," she thought to herself with a hint of resentment.

Feng Yao's zither music flowed like a clear spring, each note seemingly carrying a mysterious rhythm. Ning Rongrong was initially filled with resentment, but as the music entered her ears, she suddenly felt a cool sensation flow down from the top of her head, and her restless heart instantly calmed down like still water.

At this moment, her senses became sharper than ever before—the gentle touch of the morning breeze through her hair, the subtle sound of crickets flapping their wings in the distant grass, even the ripples created by fish swimming on the lake, all appeared vividly in her mind. The Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda spun on its own in her palm, and her soul rings flickered with the rhythm of her breathing. Her cultivation, which she controlled with distraction, was several times smoother than usual.

Ning Rongrong stared in shock at the figure playing the zither. She finally understood that Feng Yao's support abilities were in no way inferior to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and in some aspects even more profound. This zither music could not only calm the mind, but also enhance a Soul Master's perception, providing immeasurable benefits to any Soul Master's cultivation and combat.

Unbeknownst to her, she was completely immersed in cultivation. Her three spirit rings spun naturally like breathing, and the light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda resonated perfectly with the music, reflecting a dazzling seven-colored halo on the lake's surface. This was the first time in her life that she had experienced cultivation so thoroughly and enjoyably.

Feng Yao caught a glimpse of Ning Rongrong getting into the swing of things out of the corner of his eye, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he slowly focused on his own cultivation.

In the shadows of the alternate dimension, Gu Rong and Chen Xin stared in disbelief at the scene before them.

"You've started cultivating just like that?" Gu Rong's withered fingers unconsciously plucked a whisker, his face filled with disbelief. "When did Rongrong become so easy to talk to?"

Chen Xin's snow-white, sword-like eyebrows shot up: "Otherwise what?"

Gu Rong stroked his chin, a suspicious glint in his eyes: "This kid doesn't probably have some kind of weird fetish, does he?"

"You know nothing!" Chen Xin rarely swore. "This kid is a natural-born prodigy at cultivating weapon spirits. Only with a calm mind can one comprehend the true essence of weapon spirits." He gazed intently at the pavilion, "To be able to develop the sound of the zither to this extent..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly shone brightly, and her three spirit rings easily completed three perfect cycles. Gu Rong was so shocked that he almost fell out of the spatial rift: "This...this..."

Chen Xin sighed, "Aside from his lack of cultivation, this kid's developmental abilities are already enough to establish his own sect. The nobles at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy are utterly useless; this kid plays the zither all day and no one comes to learn a thing or two!"

Time flowed by quietly during cultivation. As Feng Yao's slender fingers gently pressed on the strings, the last lingering sound dissipated, and Ning Rongrong's amplified senses slowly faded away as well.

The noon bell rang precisely at that moment, its melodious sound echoing across the academy.

The two opened their eyes almost simultaneously. Ning Rongrong's eyes still held a hint of daze; this state of complete absorption in cultivation was something she had never experienced even during her most focused moments at Shrek Academy. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda gently spun in her palm, and she could clearly feel the progress she had made that morning.

Feng Yao had already stood up and was holding "Fuxi" in his arms. He glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was still lost in thought, and said calmly, "Let's go, it's time for dinner."

Before he finished speaking, he had already turned and walked towards the cafeteria, his moon-white robes fluttering gently in the afternoon breeze, showing no intention of waiting.

Ning Rongrong snapped out of her daze and hurriedly withdrew her martial spirit. Watching Feng Yao's departing figure, she bit her lip, but ultimately followed quickly. All the scheming and resentment of the morning had long since vanished. Now, only one thought filled her mind—could she continue to experience this magical zither music tomorrow?

(End of this chapter)