239: The Girl Who Played the Flute

In the mountains and forests, by the flowing water.

“Woo woo~”

Zhou Xiutong and the other two left the market and arrived at this place.

They intended to rest here for a moment.

However, a flute sound suddenly entered their ears.

The three exchanged glances.

The flute sound was melodious and lingering, yet filled with sorrow.

The hint of longing within it made people shed tears upon hearing it.

“This…”

“Shall we go take a look?”

After all, the three of them had considerable cultivation.

They quickly detached themselves from this Concept of sorrowful longing.

Zhou Dingze’s eyes lit up, and he suggested to the other two.

Zhou Xiutong and Zhou Dingyang exchanged glances.

Such a moving flute sound was the first they had encountered on their journey.

“Let’s go.”

Zhou Xiutong nodded.

The three followed the sound.

Not long after.

They saw from a distance, on a large reef by the flowing water.

A simple maiden in a light green dress was sitting cross-legged.

The maiden’s face was sad, as if tiny tears were falling into the rushing water.

The three stood still, not daring to make a sound to disturb her.

After a long while.

The flute sound stopped.

On the reef, the maiden put down the green flute in her hand, her eyes lost in a daze.

“Maiden, do you have something on your mind?”

Zhou Dingze’s heart stirred, and he asked softly.

As soon as his voice fell.

The maiden seemed startled by the sound.

Her expression changed, and the tear stains on her face evaporated.

“It has nothing to do with you.”

The sadness on the maiden’s face was gone, replaced by a look of panic.

Her magical power surged, and she seemed to flee in a panic towards a certain direction.

“Maiden, stop!”

Seeing the direction the maiden was heading.

Zhou Dingyang suddenly shouted loudly.

However, after this sound, the maiden’s speed increased even further.

“That’s the direction of the depths of Mount Chong’a, where there are countless small Yao Beasts. With this maiden’s Qi Refining second layer cultivation, rushing in so frantically will surely lead to death.”

Zhou Xiutong said.

“This!”

“It’s all my fault!”

Zhou Dingze’s expression changed.

If he hadn’t suggested coming to find her, and hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have startled the maiden away.

“This matter started because of me; I cannot stand by and do nothing.”

Zhou Dingze gritted his teeth, said to the two, and chased after the maiden.

Zhou Dingyang gave a wry smile.

Before he could say anything, Zhou Dingze had already flown out.

“Let’s go, follow him.”

Zhou Xiutong, however, had no intention of blaming him.

The three followed, one after another.

The maiden’s cultivation was not high, but her speed was not slow.

By the time Zhou Dingze caught up.

He happened to see the maiden looking vigilant, holding a long flute in her hand, her face somewhat pale, and her magical power somewhat unstable.

Around her, several strangely shaped wolf-like Yao Beasts, glowing green, pounced towards the maiden in the center.

“Wall of Flame!”

A spiritual light flashed around the maiden, setting up layers of defense, but in Zhou Dingze’s eyes, this defense would crumble at a touch.

He couldn’t help but shake his head and muttered incantations.

A circular ring of fire suddenly appeared around the maiden.

“Awooo!”

As soon as those wolf-like Yao Beasts touched it, they howled in pain from the flames.

“Blazing Rain, go!”

Zhou Dingze pointed several times.

Streaks of flame transformed into meteors and shot towards the wolf Yao Beasts.

“Boom~”

After several loud noises.

A large cloud of smoke appeared.

The wolf Yao Beasts were all eliminated.

Zhou Dingze waved his hand, clearing away the smoke, then dissipated the wall of flame.

The maiden, who had been on high alert inside, saw that the wolf Yao Beasts were gone and suddenly relaxed.

Her tense expression also eased.

However, whether it was due to extreme fright or excessive exertion, her body began to fall towards the ground.

Zhou Dingze’s expression changed.

“Minor Fire Evasion Technique!”

Firelight flashed beneath his feet.

Zhou Dingze’s figure appeared beside the maiden, supporting her.

“Maiden, are you alright?”

Zhou Dingze dared not move recklessly, as men and women should not touch each other intimately.

The maiden saw Zhou Dingze and tried to struggle to her feet, but failed several times in a row.

“I am not a bad person.”

Zhou Dingze looked at the maiden’s vigilant expression and quickly spoke with a wry smile.

Seeing that Zhou Dingze indeed made no other moves.

The maiden’s expression softened slightly.

“Who are you?”

The maiden’s slightly nervous voice rang out.

Zhou Dingze, however, did not answer.

“This place is not suitable for long stays, maiden, please forgive my offense.”

Seeing that the maiden no longer resisted.

Zhou Dingze felt a faint Yao Beast aura, and his heart tightened.

He said to the maiden.

He held her in a horizontal embrace and rushed towards the outer reaches of the Mount Chong’a mountain range.

The maiden struggled several times, but could not break free, her delicate little face filled with embarrassment and anger.

She pinched Zhou Dingze’s arm fiercely.

Then her face turned red.

Zhou Dingze’s mouth twitched, but he dared not say more.

A moment later, he rendezvoused with Zhou Xiutong and Zhou Dingyang, who had caught up.

Evening.

By a campfire.

Looking at the maiden, who sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring blankly at the campfire.

The three were somewhat silent.

Li Qinglan.

Her entire family was harmed by villains.

Fortunately, she was saved by a musician from Yuefu and brought back to Yuefu.

However, in Yuefu, she was ostracized by her fellow disciples due to her talent in the Dao of music.

Thus, she took advantage of a mission to secretly leave, wanting to pay respects to her parents, and while staying here, she unexpectedly ran into the three of them.

This was the information the three had just managed to extract from the maiden’s mouth with great difficulty.

These words were a mix of truth and falsehood, but Li Qinglan’s sincerity moved the three, which is why their expressions were somewhat somber.

“Maiden Li, the place you are going is on our way. How about you travel with us?”

“This way, we can look out for each other on the road.”

The three exchanged glances.

Zhou Dingyang extended the invitation.

The three originally had no destination, so whether it was on their way was entirely up to them.

“No, I just misunderstood you, yet you saved me without holding a grudge.”

“I cannot trouble you any further.”

“I can manage on my own.”

Li Qinglan said with a determined look, quickly refusing.

“It’s alright, we were in the wrong first. Consider it an apology.”

Zhou Xiutong said with a smile.

Seeing Zhou Xiutong speak.

Li Qinglan struggled for a long time before agreeing.

Zhou Dingze’s face lit up with joy.

Li Qinglan took out the long flute from her waist.

And gently played it.

The campfire, the mountain forest, the chirping of insects, the maiden playing the flute, the melodious flute sound… Looking at Li Qinglan, whose face was flushed, fragile, yet resolute in the firelight, Zhou Dingze was momentarily entranced.