How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

Liu Yin opened her eyes. A thick fog obscured the surrounding scenery. She couldn't help but reach out and touch the white mist, only to find it icy cold. Looking around, she saw that everything around her was blindingly white, and the air was filled with a deathly stillness. Liu Yin should have been terrified by this sight, but her heart felt nothing. Although her subconscious told her that she should be afraid, her heart seemed to express an inappropriate calmness...

"Yinrong... Yinrong..." A soft, ethereal voice, carrying a warmth that touched Liu Yin's heart, suddenly lingered in her ears. But when she listened carefully, she found that the place was still deathly silent.

Suddenly, a beam of light pierced through the whiteness, making it even more dazzling, causing Liu Yin to close her eyes again.

Before her eyes could adjust to the light, she found herself standing next to a fishpond, and a noblewoman who looked very much like her was calling out to her.

"Yinrong, why are you standing here? Be careful not to fall in again." The woman took Liu Yin's hand with a worried expression, gently touched her forehead, and gave her some words of advice. Liu Yin was a little surprised, but a voice in her heart seemed to tell her that this was her mother.

Liu Yin felt only a blur in her surroundings, and she even realized that she could no longer control her body.

She could only watch as someone held her in their arms, played with her, and led her around, occasionally uttering words she couldn't understand.

Time passed without her noticing, and just as Liu Yin felt her perception of her surroundings becoming clearer, a sudden change occurred.

That day, she was sent to a quiet, secluded courtyard, and from then on she rarely saw her family.

She didn't know how much time had passed when the old woman who had been waiting by her side handed her over to another man in black. She vaguely heard the sounds of swords clashing, followed by a blinding flash of fire. She vaguely heard repeated instructions: "Live... Escape..."

"Ah!" Suddenly, Liu Yin sat up in bed. Lan Yan, who was keeping watch beside her, leaned forward groggily: "Miss, what's wrong?"

Liu Yin calmed her racing heart, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and said to Lan Yan with lingering fear, "It's nothing, I just had a nightmare. You should go and rest."

Lan Yan hesitated after hearing this, seeing that Liu Yin didn't want to say more, so she nodded and went back to the small couch where she was guarding the bed to continue sleeping.

Liu Yin breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Xiao Lanyan didn't press the matter further. For some reason, she didn't want to tell others about her dream.

After getting up and pouring herself a glass of water, she slowly recalled the dream she had just had.

When she first transmigrated, she had already received the original owner's memories, but perhaps because they were two separate souls, the memories she received were more like watching a memorable movie, and only the opening synopsis at that.

Therefore, she could only know the original owner's identity, current situation, and relationships with those around her, but all of the original owner's childhood memories were vague. This dream was the first time she had learned so much about the original owner's childhood.

'Perhaps this is the prelude to the fusion of souls?' Liu Yin had a guess in her heart.

Unable to sleep, Liu Yin sat on the edge of the bed with a glass of water, looking around the room.

Speaking of which, Madam Liu was quite devoted to her. The house was not big, but it was divided into three small rooms by a precious beaded curtain. The living room was on the right side of the entrance, the small study was on the left side, and the reception hall was in the middle.

In the living room on the right is a canopy bed with exquisite carvings and openwork patterns. To the left of the bed, close to the window, is a washstand with a carved copper basin, next to which is a dressing table with a copper mirror and jewelry.

At the foot of the bed was a screen embroidered with the Four Gentlemen (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum), behind which was a wooden bathtub. Further out was a large carved wardrobe, and next to it was a wooden cabinet supported by a tall carved shelf, under which were several pairs of embroidered shoes.

Looking further out, there was a round table covered with a plain tablecloth and several round stools. If you looked to the left, there was a small study. The small desk facing the entrance had all the traditional writing implements. Next to it was a tall bookshelf filled with books and antique ornaments. To the left was a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), and next to it were the musical instruments she had brought from Qingyin Hall. To the right was an embroidered bed.

The table was covered with ordinary ramie cloth, the quilt was made of fine cotton cloth that was not yet common in ordinary households, and the windows were covered with hemp fabric.

Unlike the exquisite and luxurious Qingyin Hall, this place exudes a warm and homey atmosphere. The more Liu Yin looked around, the more joy welled up in her heart, and gradually, sleepiness crept over her...

A burst of music broke the morning silence. The melody began clear and bright, like the awakening of the mountains and forests, the chirping of birds, making one feel as if a gentle breeze was blowing. A girl carrying a bamboo basket walked happily through the mountains, her voice growing more cheerful, yet tinged with anticipation and trepidation, like a young girl secretly meeting her lover. Then her voice became a little hoarse, and the rhythm slowed down, as if the girl in the music was encountering opposition from her family. Then the music suddenly shifted, bringing a joyful turn, as the girl's family finally gave their consent, and the two were happily married...

"This piece is nice, what's it called?" Liu Yin, who had nothing to do since waking up in the morning, was practicing a new piece on her pipa when she heard Madam Liu's voice.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Mother. This piece is untitled; I just wrote it." Liu Yin turned around and bowed to Madam Liu. Aunt Qian and Lan Yan, who were engrossed in listening, also came to their senses, looked at the mother and daughter with embarrassment, bowed, and withdrew.

"Is that so? How about I give you a name?" Perhaps because she was in a good mood that morning or because she had heard a nice piece of music, Madam Liu was intrigued by the idea of ​​giving you a name.

"Okay." Liu Yin was naturally happy to hear this, thinking it was just a way to bring the two of them closer.

"How about calling her Lianyu?" Madam Liu said after thinking for a moment.

"Lianyu? Where did it come from?" Liu Yin's eyes lit up and she quickly asked.

"..." Madam Liu seemed to think of something and paused for a moment before saying, "It was just a casual remark, whatever you like."

"Yes, I like it very much, thank you, Mother." Seeing this, Liu Yin didn't ask any more questions, and just smiled and accepted the name.

The mother and daughter were chatting happily when a maid from Qingyin Hall knocked on the door and came in: "Madam Liu, Miss Liu, Mother sent me to invite you. The ladies are all ready."

"Alright, Mother, then I'll head over first." Liu Yin stood up after hearing this, greeted Madam Liu, and was about to leave with her maid.

"Alright, be careful on your journey. Let Lan Yan accompany you." Madam Liu agreed with a smile. After calling Lan Yan over, she carefully instructed her to take good care of the young lady before letting the two of them leave.

This morning, the Qinhuai River was shrouded in a rare fog, which had not yet dissipated, vaguely resembling a thin veil covering the river surface.

The red-light district, which usually still had a hint of liveliness at this time, was unusually quiet. The delicate houses, shrouded in the thin mist over the river, had an almost otherworldly feel. After a while, the sounds of laughter and chatter gradually rose from the buildings. Some were full of energy, while others looked dejected. Even those who used to dislike each other seemed to have given up their competitive spirit and were now discussing the most magnificent and exquisite red-light district not far away.

The news of Qingyin Niangzi's accident had already spread throughout the red-light district. They should have been glad that they had one less competitor, but when they heard that she had amazed everyone on stage, they couldn't help but feel a little competitive. Before they could do anything, they heard that Qingyin Niangzi's old injury had relapsed and she had died.

Before they could even feel regret, they heard that Madam Xu of Qingyin Hall had spent a fortune to hire someone who wrote music and lyrics for Qingyin to teach the performers at Qingyin Hall. Before they could even finish feeling regretful, their hearts were filled with jealousy. As soon as it was light, some people started keeping a close eye on Qingyin Hall, wanting to find out who this person was that Madam Xu praised so highly. Of course, they also wanted to find out what kind of music had caused such a stir, and it would be even better if they could learn a thing or two from it.

Meanwhile, the courtesans in Qingyin Hall gathered downstairs, whispering among themselves. Contrary to what outsiders might expect, their schadenfreude was less pronounced and more reflected on the regret over the marriage and their hopes for the future priest. It wasn't until the head of Qingyin Hall arrived that the courtesans gradually quieted down.

"Alright, what's there to talk about? When the instructors arrive, you all better study hard and listen carefully. Anyone who dares to slack off will be in for a beating!" The head of Qingyin Hall was usually stern, but when she glared at the girls, they were all terrified.

"Mom, say less, the Minister of Education is here." Xu Yueling, still with her alluring demeanor, slowly walked over and said.

"Okay, did you all hear that?" Before leaving, she didn't forget to give everyone another lecture.

"Yes, we understand," the women replied in unison.

Upon entering, Liu Yin heard this reply, which startled her for a moment. Then, a row of black lines appeared on her forehead: 'What's the madam doing, so solemnly?'

After entering, there was a brief introduction. Liu Yin naturally noticed that many people looked at her with suspicion. However, seeing Xu Yueling and the maid still staring at her, and Liu Yin herself looking like she really didn't recognize them, she had no choice but to put aside her speculations for the time being.

"Today's lesson is 'Pipa Language,' which Qingyin played the other day. I'll play it once for you to listen to..."

"Pipa Language" is a famous piece by the music master Lin Hai in her previous life. The style of the music has incorporated the characteristics of instruments from all over the world. Although the style is sad and gentle, it has a completely different approach from the present. The repeated prelude brings people into the emotions of the music again and again.

The women's initial disbelief and suspicion quickly turned into amazement and admiration. As they watched the musician's fingers fly across the strings and listened to the music's story, their hearts were filled with unspoken emotions. Only when the music ended did they finally exhale the breath they had been holding for so long...

"Let's go through it one line at a time, first familiarizing ourselves with the fingering, and then infusing the emotions." Looking at everyone sitting in front of her, each holding a pipa, Liu Yin couldn't help but feel a sense of mission to pass on knowledge and resolve doubts.

"Yes..." The courtesans, holding their pipa and ready, answered in unison.

The courtesans practiced and repeated the music, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, sometimes continuous, until noon when they could finally play most of the pieces.

After Liu Yin clapped her hands to stop them, she told them to go and rest for the time being, and to prepare to practice songs in the afternoon. The courtesans put away their pipa, bowed to Liu Yin one after another, and then took their leave.

After they left one by one, Liu Yin put away her pipa, inwardly sighing, "They really have studied hard; they've mastered most of the pieces in just one morning. It seems I can gradually increase the tempo later."

Of course, Liu Yin didn't expect that her idea would be stillborn that afternoon, and she would receive an extremely big surprise...