Chapter 35: Nangong Minghui’s Longing

"This Wang Chu is truly not simple. If he were just an ordinary person, he would certainly have accepted Fairy Fan's invitation to join the Sound Sect. His refusal can only mean that he has already joined another faction—one that is unspeakable and cannot be made public."

If there was anyone among those present who was not particularly surprised by Wang Chu's decision to decline the invitation, Jiang Wan was certainly one of them. For an ordinary person to refuse an invitation from the Sound Sect would indeed be incomprehensible. But if this person were a member of the Northern Underworld, it would be easy to understand.

"This Young Master Wang not only knows how to cook and enjoy life, but he is also deeply versed in the way of music. Are all people from the Northern Underworld this outstanding?"

To the conjecture Jiang Wan had transmitted via voice, Si Bingyan responded from the side. Her focus seemed to have wandered a bit.

Jiang Wan looked at Si Bingyan and, upon discovering that the gaze she fixed on Wang Chu was unexpectedly fervent, she was instantly consumed by a burning rage: "Well, well, Si Bingyan! I brought you here to track down Northern Underworld members, and you, of all people, are losing your heart to a guy who is highly likely to be one? You brazen hussy, do you have any sense of shame at all?"

Si Bingyan withdrew her gaze and lowered her head, feeling somewhat guilty: "The Princess has misunderstood. How could your subordinate lose her heart to such a person? I simply felt that this man was somewhat extraordinary."

Jiang Wan let out a cold snort: "You had better just be feeling that, otherwise, don't blame me for being unkind!"

Si Bingyan felt a tremor in her heart, and her overheated brain instantly cooled down: "This subordinate would not dare!"

...

Wang Chu’s repeated refusal left Fan Shuyun feeling incredibly depressed. However, depressed as she was, she would not go so far as to use force to compel him to join the Sound Sect. After all, there were so many people watching.

"If you ever regret this, Young Master, you may come to the Sound Sect to find me. Its gates will always be open to you."

Wang Chu nodded: "Very well. If the day comes when I wish to cultivate immortality, I will surely seek out Fairy Fan first."

Fan Shuyun cupped her hands toward Wang Chu and bowed slightly: "Young Master Wang, until we meet again."

"Wait a moment." Wang Chu hurriedly called out to stop her.

Fairy Fan’s beautiful eyes flashed: "What is it? Have you changed your mind so quickly, Young Master?"

"No." Wang Chu waved his hand. "The Fairy still owes me eight middle-grade spirit stones. You haven’t forgotten, have you?"

The light in Fairy Fan’s eyes dimmed instantly, and the upward curve of her lips froze. *To think you actually remembered...*

Fairy Fan lamented inwardly, and in an instant, sixteen middle-grade spirit stones appeared in her hand. "Here, returned to you."

Wang Chu took only eight: "I only need eight; there is no need for the extra."

Fairy Fan stowed the remaining spirit stones away, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "Heh, what a principled man you are, Young Master."

Having said this, she did not wait for Wang Chu to respond. With a turn, her figure vanished from the restaurant instantly. Once she was gone, the cultivators sitting around Wang Chu who had yet to leave all wore peculiar expressions. So, everything Wang Chu had said was true—this Fairy Fan really had owed him spirit stones beforehand?

...

Like the Northern Underworld, the Sound Sect was a newly emerged force that had only made a name for itself in the last few hundred years. Its strength might not be as great as the Northern Underworld’s, but its influence was no less significant. Any disciple who emerged from the Sound Sect was pursued and admired by cultivators wherever they went. The reason was not only that their songs were pleasant to the ear, but also that their songs offered various benefits to cultivators.

Different disciples from the Sound Sect could provide different advantages. For example, when Fairy Fan sang, she could help cultivators below the Divine Transformation Realm make progress in their cultivation. Fairy Chu, on the other hand, could increase the probability of a cultivator experiencing an epiphany.

Among these people, if one were to ask who provided the greatest benefit, aside from the legendary and elusive Sect Master of the Sound Sect, it would have to be the current greatest beauty in the world, Nangong Minghui. When Nangong Minghui sang, she would fulfill a cultivator’s vision based on their inner desires at that moment. If a cultivator below the Tribulation Transcendence Realm wished to improve their cultivation, they would see varying degrees of advancement while listening to her songs. If they wished to improve their techniques or spells, their proficiency would increase rapidly. In short, listening to Fairy Nangong sing was an experience where one could see their dreams come true while enjoying exquisite music.

Precisely because of this, hearing her sing was no easy feat for cultivators across the continent. Ever since the Sect Master of the Sound Sect had gone into seclusion, this most gifted songstress beauty had rarely preached in public. Many cultivators who had just stepped onto the path of immortality did not even know what this legendary fairy looked like. They could only grasp a sense of her immense charm from the shallow descriptions and snippets of talk in books.

"Dang~"

In a very elegant and unique courtyard, a woman with curly white hair, emerald eyes, snow-white skin, a refined nose, cherry lips, and smooth, flawless facial features sat alone before a zither, playing a melody. She wore only a simple white dress, with no adornments on her head or ears. Even so, she exuded an intensely cold and noble air, like a snow lotus on an icy mountain, making others dare only to watch from afar, never daring to approach easily.

A breeze blew past, brushing the hair by her ear. Her hands paused, and she turned to look in the direction of the wind, raising a hand to touch the air, her crimson lips parting slightly: "I remember the last time the Venerable Lord gently stroked my hair, it felt just like this."

As she spoke, a glimmer of joy flickered in her eyes, and her downcast lips curled into a slight smile. But soon, she became somewhat dejected and muttered: "Sigh, when will the Venerable Lord finish his mortal trial and come to keep me company?"

If the disciples of the Sound Sect were to see their usually stern Master Nangong acting like such a young girl toward the breeze, their jaws would surely hit the floor.

"Sigh." Nangong Minghui rested her chin on her jade hand, staring blankly ahead: "I really want to go find the Venerable Lord."

Just then, someone sent her a message via long-distance sound transmission: "Minghui, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this voice, Fairy Minghui became as energized as if she had been injected with adrenaline. She straightened her posture and pressed her hands against the zither: "I am playing the zither."

"Oh?" Wang Chu asked curiously: "What song?"

Fairy Nangong thought for a moment and replied: "Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days of Missing You."

Wang Chu was silent for quite a while before transmitting back: "You are still as cheesy as ever."

Fairy Nangong narrowed her eyes and smiled: "Thank you for the compliment, Venerable Lord."

Wang Chu: ......