How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

Liu Yin had an inspiration in her heart. She picked up her pen and wrote down the lyrics in one go. Then she began to tune the music according to the lyrics. By this time, two-thirds of the time had passed and her music was beginning to be perfected. Madam Xue and her apprentice opposite her had stopped what they were doing and were looking at Liu Yin as if they were waiting for her to finish.

The ten judges on the judging panel seemed to have just had a disagreement. The magistrate and General Liu both looked rather grim, while the abbot of Wenyuan Academy and another wealthy man surnamed Xu were smiling and discussing something enthusiastically. The wealthy man Qian was watching the stage with great interest, the prefect seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, and Xue Xiucai kept wiping his sweat, seemingly a little restless.

After a short while, Liu Yin also stopped what she was doing, looked at the master and apprentice opposite her and smiled. Seeing that she had also stopped, and soon the incense had burned out, the host, Master Xu, immediately went up on stage and said to everyone: "Time is up, both sides can demonstrate. According to the draw results, the question setter will start first. Please welcome Master Xue."

Master Xue stepped forward and bowed, then gave up his seat to his apprentice. The young woman, holding her pipa, sat in the center of the stage and immediately began to play a tight and exciting piece of music, which made the listeners' hearts clench.

Liu Yin listened attentively, her hands unconsciously tapping along to the melody. As the other person began to sing the lyrics, just as she expected, the lyrics and music told the story of a young girl fleeing from disaster who encountered a life-threatening crisis. She was saved by a young swordsman when she was about to die. Grateful, she followed the young swordsman until he led her to safety, at which point they parted. The girl had already developed feelings of love for him, but unfortunately, she was too timid to express them. She carried this love in her heart and remained there for the rest of her life.

The music was tender and poignant, and the lyrics were quite charming. Even if the people of Huaicheng didn't frequent brothels, they often heard good songs and lyrics because of the fame of Qinhuai Prefecture. They all had their own ability to appreciate songs and lyrics, and at this moment they couldn't help but praise the good music and the good lyrics.

Seeing that his lyrics and music had moved the people of Huaicheng, Xue Dajia couldn't help but smile. Even the young girl's eyes flashed with pride, and her gaze towards Liu Yin was filled with provocation and disdain.

However, Liu Yin was too lazy to pay attention to the other party's provocation. In her opinion, such a song to express gratitude for saving a life was rare. For her, who was used to listening to all kinds of modern famous songs, it was not a classic. Moreover, thinking about the lyrics and music she wrote, she felt that the other party's intention was too narrow.

"Master Liu, please." Master Xue and his disciple Xie Li took nearly fifteen minutes to vacate the stage, and the young girl did not forget to make a provocative invitation as she left.

Liu Yin ignored her and picked up her pipa to walk forward. The girl's expression changed when she saw her attitude. It wasn't until Xue Dajia called her that she glared at Liu Yin and returned to her seat.

Liu Yin's music is different from her captivating opening. At first listen, it is playful like a mischievous child playing on the riverbank, and upon further listening, it is like the gentle tenderness of parents.

"Master, there's nothing wrong with this." Xue Dajia's apprentice tugged at her sleeve, listening to Liu Yin's ordinary opening remarks, and was somewhat disdainful for a moment.

"It is indeed somewhat ordinary, but since the other party dares to bring it up, there must be their own advantages. Just listen attentively and learn from it. Even if there are no advantages, there are still things to learn from her skills."

Although the girl didn't really believe it, she nodded seriously on the surface.

But then Liu Yin's pipa music took a sharp turn, a rapid series of plucked notes that sounded like a hail of bullets or a torrential downpour, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, making one's heart clench with dread.

Before people could react, the music turned gentle again, like a light rain tapping on a window, or like the warm sunshine soothing people's hearts. As the pipa music gradually changed, Liu Yin also began to sing the lyrics.

"Like a young child who lost his parents, his cries of sorrow echoed across the desolate wilderness. Neighbors offered helping hands, their warmth like a mother's embrace soothing his wounds. Under the low eaves of his humble dwelling, bathed in moonlight, he diligently studied beneath the starry sky. His teacher's profound kindness in imparting knowledge, the classics nourishing his heart..."

People heard about a carefree childhood, the fear of losing a dog, the comfort of neighbors, and how he grew up relying on the kindness of many families. Everyone found him a renowned teacher who treated him like his own child. People seemed to see a boy who stood up again under the care of many.

"As time flows by, his talent shines, and the king bestows glory upon him. In the court, he discusses the principles of the nation, his sharp words shaking the four directions. The pillars of the nation, with hearts of steel, vow to protect the land forever. Yet foreign enemies lurk on the borders, and war rages, as iron horses and golden spears break through the dawn's frost..."

Ultimately, under the guidance of his teacher, the care of the villagers, and the appreciation of the monarch, he rose from an orphan to a pillar of the nation. He longed to serve his country and the monarch with his life, hoping to become a model of harmonious relations between ruler and minister in history.

The sound of the pipa grew louder and louder as the young man's glory increased, but in an instant it took a sharp turn. War broke out on the frontier, and the pipa played rapidly, as if the battlefield was right in front of them. The soldiers fought desperately to protect their homeland, but the crisis had not yet disappeared and the country was in danger. The young man finally decided to abandon his studies and join the army. He wanted to protect his country with his life!

"The night is cold with the flames of war, a lone warrior abandons his pen and takes up a spear. He vows to slay the enemy chieftain and bring peace to his homeland, his iron will shining in the sunlight. The war drums thunder, urging the soul to revolt, the yellow sand and white bones exude the fragrance of battle. The land is shattered, and my emotions are overwhelming. I vow to protect my homeland to the death..."

The clash of swords on the battlefield was something this scholar had never witnessed before, yet he remained steadfast in his resolve, vowing to defend his country, the villagers who had raised him, the teachers who had instructed him, and the emperor who had admired him.

Arrows rained down, piercing the clouds; life and death hung in the balance. War songs echoed through the heavens, their heroic spirits shining eternally. Blood stained their battle robes against the setting sun, fearless in the face of death, they protected their homeland. Though orphans, they became generals, pillars of the nation, their names forever remembered.

"When the war drums ceased, the men were gone, but their heroic spirits linger, illuminating the world. The mountains and rivers remain, witnessing countless sunsets. An orphan became a national hero, his merits recorded in history. Though dead, his glory will live on forever, his name etched in the annals of history for eternity."

In the end, this passionate young man, this brave young general, gave his life on this battlefield. He used the wisdom taught by his teacher and the courage given to him by the people to protect his homeland and offer his final loyalty to his monarch.

"Alas, I was born at the wrong time, my country is in peril, I am the first to sacrifice myself. I wish to offer my blood to the Yellow Emperor, to exchange for a peaceful and prosperous land. The orphaned chick transforms into an eagle, soaring through the sky, its heroic spirit forever dwelling in the mountains and rivers. The pipa's melody expresses my deepest feelings, its mournful and poignant notes wetting my clothes. The hero is gone, but my love for him is unforgettable, his heroic spirit forever shining in all directions. The orphaned chick finishes its lament, tears streaming down its face, the pipa's sound fades, and the man is gone..."

The king who awaited the pillar of his nation, the teacher who awaited the obedient disciple, and the villagers who awaited the youngest son of his family, finally received a handful of his ashes. As he wished, his ashes were scattered on the battlefield, forever protecting the land he loved so deeply...

The pipa music, plaintive and sorrowful, came to a peaceful and serene end. Slender fingers danced across the pipa until the music faded away, and the story finally came to a close.

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue. Liu Jianniang's lyrics and music were indeed superb, just like her previous works "Candy" and "Pity Jade," simple and direct, yet capable of touching people's hearts.

"I'm so touched... Waaah... My young general..." Some of the soft-hearted boys in the audience were already crying their eyes out.

"It's all the fault of those invading villains, it's all the fault of those barbarians, poor boy..." The older folks also had red eyes, angrily denouncing the barbarians in the story who started the war.

Madam Xue's disciple was now filled with shame, while Master Xu grew increasingly panicked. Only Madam Xue wore a look of surprise mixed with admiration. She knew that Liu Yin's abilities were by no means inferior to hers; she knew that she had met her true match...