Chapter 193: Master Flautist
Anji was a bright child. She learned all the finger positions for playing the xun and, within minutes, had learned how to play the simple children’s songs her brother used to play for her. Yan Ping allowed her excited disciple to play with the musical instrument for a while. Unlike other musicians who focused on elegance, Anji’s choice of instrument reflected her complicated character well.
Unlike the bamboo flute, which represents a solemn wanderer, the zither, which embodies sophisticated wisdom, or the pipa, which exudes elegance, the Xun flute was an unpopular choice of instrument. Unless there were a ritual or a grand event involving royalty, hardly anyone would choose to play the Xun. It was not the difficulty level that made this humble instrument unpopular. However, it was the simplicity that made it useless in more complicated song arrangements. Traditionally, Xun flutes can only play eight fixed notes. Unlike the erhu, there is no note bending. Zithers can easily play twenty different notes with some bending, making them a very flexible yet complicated instrument to master.
Of all the elaborate instruments available, Anji still chose the simplest. Her choice of song reflected her youth, and not even the limited note range could deter her from enjoying music. Yan Ping thought it was amusing to hear such a childish tune coming from such an ancient instrument. With thousands of years in history, the Xun flute emitted one of the most mysterious sounds, like a melancholic whisper in the wind. Yet, in Anji’s small hands, it transformed into a whistle-like tune full of innocence and joy.
"I’m glad to see you’ve mastered the notes very quickly and have figured out how to play music on it," Yan Ping smirked. "Now that you’re practically a master Xun flautist, I should start explaining why we’re learning music."
Calming down immediately, Anji put the Xun down and paid close attention. Yan Ping ushered her to a shelf and told Anji to look for a specific book. As there were no librarians around to assist them, Anji had to use the step ladder to search for what her teacher needed.
Pulling out several books, Anji realised they were related to advanced cultivation techniques for rarer spiritual circuits and physical conditions. Her brother’s unusual extreme Yang body should also be covered in some of these texts.
With all the books gathered in her arms, Anji had to use qi circulation to strengthen them. The books were old, but they were heavy as some of them were carved into bamboo scrolls instead.
Piling the learning materials on an empty desk, Anji arranged the materials and waited for Yan Ping to start the official lesson.
"I’m sure you know by now that your constitution is unusual," Yan Ping started, and Anji nodded along. "Ignoring the sealed cultivation core, the spiritual circuits within your body are distinct from those of others. It should not be surprising because there is another child in Mingfeng’s family with an extreme yang condition."
Ah, she was referring to Brother Yihao. Anji agreed. It might run in her family, seeing how half of the Celestial Dragon Sect’s heirs had special conditions. Genetics sometimes played a role in this.
"In your case, you were born with the ability to become a sage. However, the timing was wrong, and it became your curse. Your father tried to buy time with his limited skill, and I took a gamble to rewrite your original fate. If everything works out, you can become the most powerful cultivator known in the murim in twenty years, thanks to your unique spiritual circuits. No, I’m not referring to the artificial cores. I’m referring to the way your qi flows internally. This book will provide you with more information about the celestial root. You can read it as homework. However, for now, I will teach you the basics of the seven sounds and chakras, along with a mantra that you should use from now on whenever you meditate. The objective is to increase your understanding of harmonisation with the environment you are in. Unlike regular cultivators, you cannot harmonise with the energy outside by refining it internally. You might already come to the same conclusion that I have. However, you must now adapt your internal energy signature to match your environment like a plant."
At the conclusion, Anji mentally pictured herself as a plant with flowers sprouting above her head under the sunlight. She had come to a similar conclusion that if she could not change the external world, she could change her internal world as it was easier. However, to become a plant was an entirely different matter. Anji had no idea what plants do to cultivate. However, she was certain she did not have an unlimited supply of life energy to emit.
"Shifu! An- Ci Wang has a question!"
Although Yan Ping often used Anji’s birth name when they were alone and encouraged Anji to do the same, the child thought it would be more appropriate to use her courtesy name during official lessons.
"Speak."
Struggling to find a way to phrase her question properly without sounding ridiculous, Anji asked if she would die if she imitated the eternally giving nature of plants to adapt to her environment.
"Wouldn’t I be in big trouble if I had to absorb negative energy to harmonise with my environment?"
It was a valid question. Yan Ping liked how Anji considered many perspectives. In times like these, it reminded Yan Ping that Anji was still a child, not even ten years old. Her thinking was still somewhat straightforward at times due to her limited life experience.
"If you were given rotten food, would you eat it even if you weren’t hungry?"
The question was simple. However, it took Anji a long time to relate it to her previous question.
"It’s a matter of choice how you want to use the technique," Yan Ping explained further so her disciple could understand. "The knife is just a tool. In the hands of a chef and the hands of a murderer, it can do the job in different ways."
Hearing the explanation, Anji finally understood why they had to come to the restricted library for music lessons. Unlike other cultivation methods from orthodox sects, the method that her teacher planned to teach her might fall into a grey zone.
"Shifu, Anji understands now. I swear to use this knowledge only for good, never for evil!"
Patting Anji gently, Yan Ping nodded.
"I did not think you would use it for evil. Nevertheless, it is reassuring you understand what we are going to learn. If you want to complete the successor’s training and attempt the trial chamber in three years, this is the most suitable method. Today, we are merely here to cover some basics. From tomorrow onwards, I will guide you step-by-step through the techniques and theory involved in the isolated chamber reserved for sect masters and successor candidates."
Bracing herself mentally, Anji nodded. She made a promise to finish it in three years. With Yan Ping’s assurance, there was no room for hesitation.