Otherworldly Evil Monarch

The song had already ended, but Lin Qing Yin remained standing there silently. His expression hadn’t changed, and only his eyes flickered with emotion. The jade xiao still hung beside his lips, and the sorrowful air around him had not dissipated in the slightest.

Complete silence!

After a long time, he finally lowered his hand, and the crowd was able to breathe again. With a very heavy tone, he asked Jun Mo Xie. “Brother Mo, for this first match, I do not ask that Brother Mo compete with me in xiao techniques. I only wished to ask Brother Mo, what did you think of my Heartbreak Hymn? What are the flaws? And who did I compose the song for? If there are any deficiencies, how do I improve? In the future, what shall my path be?”

When Lin Qing Yin said the words ‘I do not ask that Brother Mo compete with me in xiao techniques’, Zhan Yu Shu’s face turned exceedingly unsightly, and a ruthless expression appeared in his eyes. But when he heard the following words, his face relaxed again.

From the way he saw it, Lin Qing Yin’s questions were simply making things difficult for his opponent on purpose. Everyone had their own story and experiences. Inspirations were all gleaned from their personal feelings, which resulting in them composing their own works.

Wanting others to determine who the song was written for after listening to it just one time? This Mo Jun Ye hadn’t even met Lin Qing Yin before, so how would he know who he wrote it for? Wasn’t that just making things hard for others?

As for where the mistake was… and how to improve upon it; that was an even more ridiculous request. Zhan Yu Shu had been talented since a young age and had also dabbled in music for a period, having some understanding on the subject. Even he felt that this was an exceedingly great tune. For such an excellent song, how was one supposed to tell where the mistake was!

Everyone’s state of heart was different, and just the slightest disharmony from the heart of the composer would mean a world of difference in the interpretation of the music. Apart from yourself as its composer, how was anyone else supposed to tell where the mistake was?

As for the last sentence, where should his path be in the future… that was even more difficult. You are a person who pursues nothing but music… could your path still be on Xuan Qi cultivation? But that question actually had a meaning of not being willing to continue on that path.

In that case, it was basically impossible to tell what path you should take in the future…

Looks like this fellow hadn’t forgotten my warning! Let’s see how this Mo Jun Ye handles this round. Zhan Yu Shu could not help but to feel a smugness in his heart.

In fact, it was not only Zhan Yu Shu who thought this way. Regardless of whether they knew music or not, everyone also had the same thoughts. In that moment, a hint of admiration appeared in their eyes as they looked at Lin Qing Yin. Looks like this fellow is a really vicious dog that knows how to bite ah! Not only does he not bark, he even obtains the favorable impression of the others first, before unexpectedly sinking his teeth in. A single bite is enough to claim a person’s life ah…

Looking at the deep pondering expression on that Free and Natural Physique prodigy’s face, everyone sneered with interest… In fact, everyone felt a little regretful in their hearts. From the looks of it, this competition might end in a single match, leaving them with nothing to see!

The crowd all scoffed as if they were looking at an interesting show.

But what these people didn’t know was that Lin Qing Yin’s questions might have seemed difficult, but he was actually already going easy on his opponent. This was something that those who are not immersed in music would not understand. Because he’d actually told Jun Mo Xie all the answers using his xiao!

As long as Jun Mo Xie repeated everything that he’d conveyed in the music, he would pass with ease…

“This Heartbreak Hymn is indeed not bad. It’s an excellent song that one can not get enough of. There is nothing wrong with the song itself; it’s a song that wrenches the heart, with nowhere to find a knowing ear! It could be said to be reaching the acme of perfection and beauty!” Jun Mo Xie said with a smile. “But from the perspective of musicality, the emotions conveyed are too biased, causing it to be a blemish in an otherwise perfect song.”

When Young Master Jun’s words came out of his mouth, all the musician experts on the judges’ panel immediately sat up straight as they stared at him unblinkingly, afraid to miss a single word.

“A song is nothing but a medium with which musicians use to convey their emotions. Whether it is sorrow, pain, happiness, love, anger, hatred, battle or slaughter, everything can be transmitted through songs. However, apart from transmitting the emotions of the performer, the musician must not forget their responsibility towards the audience! A truly excellent song should be pleasant but not obscene, mournful but not distressing. After listening to it, others should feel more relaxed in their hearts. Since it’s a sorrowful song, the intention is to evoke the same feeling in the listeners’ heart, helping them release their own emotions and relieve the stress in their minds… But Brother Lin’s song is too exceedingly sorrowful that after listening to it, one would end up feeling even more desperately hopeless about their life. That is quite different from the original intentions of music! Although it is not as extreme as travelling in the opposite direction, it still feels as if you’d gone somewhat astray of the path!”

Jun Mo Xie smiled lightly and continued. “One could say that the successful parts of this song are also where its greatest flaws lie!”

“Well said!” An old man on the judges’ panel stood up and said excitedly. The others who understood music also nodded in agreement. Such an analysis was not only extremely relevant to the point, it had also pointed out the critical point with a single stroke!

Lin Qing Yin fell into deep thought, and nodded solemnly: “Then… in that case, how should it be remedied?”

“Remedied? That can be both simple and difficult!” Jun Mo Xie said faintly. “Saying that might sound contradictory because music is something that comes from the heart. I’ve just said that this song has already attained the level of near perfection, and there are no visible flaws. The true problem is with your heart. For such a sad and moving song, you actually maintained the same expression while playing it out. From the looks of it, you had performed it with a mental state of one who’d completely lost hope. The name Heartbreak Hymn, had already expressed the emotions of this song. The so-called remedy is just a switch in the state of mind when you play this song. The moment your state of mind changes, the feelings evoked by the song will change as well. If you cannot do that, it won’t matter no matter how you try to change the song and the melody. This is why I said that it is both easy and difficult!

“Or perhaps you will retort that if you changed your state of mind, it would change the original meaning and emotions of this song. But I will ask you in return: should a person’s life really be so devoid of hope? Why not try looking at it from another angle? Try turning hopelessness and pain into remembrance and memory. That should be enough. I trust that the person who could inspire you enough to compose this song so wholeheartedly must have a very deep relationship with you. Moreover, there must be many beautiful memories between the two of you… These memories are your most precious treasures that no one else can invade or rob you of. If you think of these memories while you play the xiao, even weaving your emotions into the song… I trust that it will definitely be very different. At that time, we will hear your sorrow, longing, and reminiscence instead of hopeless grief! At that time, this Heartbreak Hymn will be a completely perfect song, existing eternally with that person in Brother Lin’s heart!”

Lin Qing Yin’s shoulders trembled slightly as his eyes suddenly filled with tears…

“As for who it’s written for… I’ve already hinted at this in my previous answer. If I’m not wrong, Brother Lin has written this for a beautiful young woman.”

Jun Mo Xie looked at him warmly and continued. “And your grief should be because this beauty had passed away because of an accident, not because her love is for another. Otherwise, your song would definitely have a hint of resentment or hate. Instead, there was only…”

Lin Qing Yin sighed deeply and closed his eyes as two lines of tears ran down his cheeks. “You’re right! Brother Mo is absolutely right. So what if the song is perfect! A song that wrenches the heart, with nary to find a knowing ear! Xiao Ling… my Xiao Ling… We will never meet again…”

A face smiling as sweetly as a flower appeared in front of his tightly shut eyes again, her eyes clear and gentle, cute and beautiful. In the blink of an eye, he was looking at her, his eyes filled with tears, as she lay on the bed, withering due to sickness…

In that moment, Lin Qing Yin seemed to have returned to the past as he sat under the moon with her, gazing into her eyes while he swore a solemn pledge to accompany her through life and death, good times and bad…

“Xiao Ling ah…” Lin Qing Yin sighed deeply again as tears dripped from his cheeks.

Jun Mo Xie fell silent and recited softly. “Twas hard to meet thee and then bid farewell. The easten wind blew weak and all flowers fell. Silkworms weave until death do them relax; candles weep nightly to the last drop of wax… ¹ Brother Lin has deep emotions, gaining the admiration of us all. But if that Miss Xiao Ling saw you like this, she would surely feel exceedingly saddened and worried…”

This poem was undoubtedly one of the best works of Li Shangyin. He’d only recited half of the poem, and everyone was immediately moved! Miao Xiao Miao mouthed the few sentences of the poems with an intoxicated lok on her face. Such deep emotions, such beautiful elegance… why is every sentence that comes out of his mouth so amazing…

In that moment, her heart trembled as a realization appeared in her mind. If he hadn’t experienced such an emotion personally, how could he write such a touching poem? Could it be that he already… when she thought here, a strange emotion appeared in Miao Xiao Miao’s heart. It was as if her heart ached for him… and also a bit of gloominess for herself…

“Silkworms weave until death do them relax; candles… weep nightly to the last drop of wax…” Lin Qing Yin mumbled in a shocked manner as he extricated himself from the sorrowful state and asked, “Dare I ask Brother Mo, what should I do now?”

“Go as your heart wills! Do as your heart wills!” Jun Mo Xie looked somewhat pitifully at this heartbroken youth. “Brother Lin has his own path to thread. You should know what you should do, and what you shouldn’t do… It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be full of emotions. But you must not let your emotions cage you. Break out of this cage, and with the vast skies and wide earth, where could you not go?”

“Many thanks to Brother Mo for your pointers!” Lin Qing Yin said with great gratitude on his face, thanking him in a heartfelt way. “Brother Mo’s comprehensions in the path of music are vastly superior to me! This one is willing to admit my loss. Hur hur… ‘pleasant but not obscene, mournful but not distressing’… Qing Yin will forever remember Brother Mo’s guidance! It’s only a pity that after today, we will never meet again. I hope that Brother Mo can turn calamities into fortune, accomplishing great deeds quickly!”

“Many thanks to Brother Lin for your well wishes!” Jun Mo Xie said with a slight smile.

Lin Qing Yin’s words about turning calmities into fortune, naturally referred to this dangerous situation. Disguising his curses for the Zhan Family brothers in his words of blessing, how could Jun Mo Xie not understand this much?

Lin Qing Yin laughed aloud and kept his jade xiao, returning to his original spot.

The first match had ended with the Free and Natural Physique young prodigy Mo’s complete victory! Seeing the judges all raising up the “victory” signs for Jun Mo Xie, Zhan Yu Shu’s face turned exceedingly ugly.

“This round was a contest on music! But Mo Jun Ye only said a few words and passed without displaying even a bit of musical ability. How can he be declared the winner just like this? Only if he played a song and performed better than Young Master Lin will we be convinced!” A voice rang out, instantly echoing out loudly.