Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Calm Heart Zither Technique and Zither Practice

On the way, Chen Mo flipped through the records of Magic in his hands as he walked.

As expected, just as the Steward of the Wandering Bookstore had said, any Melody Class Magic required a certain foundation in music theory. Otherwise, it was absolutely impossible to produce any Spiritual Qi fluctuations relying solely on a Zither and ten fingers! If one forced its execution, they might even suffer a backlash. Therefore, to Cultivate the Calm Heart Zither Technique, one first had to learn how to play the Ancient Zither.

And when it came to who possessed a Mastery of music theory within the Marketplace, Chen Mo thought about it and could only come up with one place—the Fragrance Pavilion. The Female Cultivators there didn’t just have profound attainments in Dual Cultivation Techniques; Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting were also mandatory courses for them. Otherwise, who would be willing to spend large amounts of Spiritual Sand just to get intimately close to a Female Cultivator?

Chen Mo had arrived fairly early. During the day, there were no Female Performers greeting guests outside the Fragrance Pavilion’s brothel. Inside the hall, some were undergoing Cultivation while others were casually chatting. Naturally, in the backyard, there were also those practicing various unique skills and provocative arts. After all, this was their entire life.

The moment Chen Mo stepped into the Fragrance Pavilion, the Female Performer at the counter immediately recognized him. In the White Snake Marketplace, who didn’t know that the man before them was Song Yunxi’s favorite? Soon, two or three Female Cultivators gathered around him.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what brings you here today?"

"Is Fellow Daoist Hong here?" Chen Mo didn’t want to waste time on these people. For learning the Zither, going directly to Hong Yan was definitely the right choice.

"She is, she is. Please wait a moment."

The leading Female Cultivator, adorned with rouge and powder, hurried toward the backyard with dainty steps.

Chen Mo casually found a table and sat down. The Female Cultivators who had been meditating or chatting over tea all quieted down, casting occasional glances his way. A short while later, a graceful figure drifted over.

Hong Yan tightened the silk ribbon around her waist. Her face was full of a charming smile as she said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, what wind blew you here? I thought you had forgotten the girls of the Fragrance Pavilion!"

This was the first time she had seen him come alone. When the others informed her, Hong Yan could hardly believe it.

"I wanted to see you. Is that not allowed?" Chen Mo returned her smile and responded teasingly.

"Allowed, of course it’s allowed!"

"Then isn’t it a bit inappropriate to stay out here?" Chen Mo stood up and looked around. Seven or eight Female Cultivators with alluring figures and half-untied light robes were watching them.

"How could it be! Fellow Daoist Chen, right this way, please!"

The two entered a private room side by side, blocking out the other Female Cultivators who wanted to follow.

Just as Hong Yan was about to welcome him properly, Chen Mo asked, "Does Sister Hong possess a Mastery of Melody?"

"Naturally. Do you wish to listen?" As soon as she spoke, she suddenly realized that despite knowing this man for several years, she had never actually played for him!

"Play a song."

After burning incense and cleansing herself, she set up the Zither for a solo performance. Hong Yan, dressed in red, tied up her freshly dried long hair and gently tucked it behind her ears. She lightly pressed a piece of red rouge paper between her lips and gave a charming smile. Her palm lightly caressed the Zither strings. With a pluck of her fingertips, a rhythm was formed. Following the rising and falling tempo, Chen Mo quickly became immersed in her music. Gradually, he closed his eyes and relaxed his body and mind. The fatigue brought on by his long periods of bitter Cultivation slowly dissipated at this moment...

As the sandalwood incense gradually burned out, Hong Yan gave a final strum with her five fingers, bringing the sound to a close. She wore a gentle smile; after a single song, the charm of a mature Female Cultivator became even more captivating. Hong Yan was very confident in her Melody skills; otherwise, she wouldn’t have climbed step by step to her current position! Whether in the Ancient Dust Marketplace or the White Snake Marketplace, the newly arrived Female Performers—whether in Dual Cultivation or in Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting—were all personally trained by her.

On the other side, after the song ended, Chen Mo slowly opened his eyes. Hong Yan’s bright eyes held a trace of expectation, seemingly waiting for his praise. She believed that anyone who heard her Zither playing would be thoroughly won over. Moreover, that previous song wasn’t just mere Zither music!

"Is it the Calm Heart Zither Technique?"

Chen Mo’s question took Hong Yan by surprise. She nodded, somewhat astonished that he knew of it. However, his next words made her doubt if she had misheard!

"If I were to learn it, how long would it take to be as good as you?"

"What?"

"If I want to learn Melody, how long will it take to reach this level?" Chen Mo repeated.

"You’re saying you want to learn?"

"Correct!"

For a moment, Hong Yan didn’t know how to answer. The path of Melody was mostly immersed in by Female Cultivators. But even so, this kind of Technique was still considered unpresentable in the Cyan Yang Sect. As an Immortal Sect that wielded swords, almost no one dabbled in this path. If there were any, it was only people like Hong Yan who learned it to please men!

"Does Fellow Daoist truly want to learn?" Hong Yan confirmed once more.

"Of course. If possible, from now on, come to my house every day at 3:00 PM to teach me for an hour until I’ve completely mastered it," Chen Mo stated his thoughts. Nowadays, the vast majority of his Magic had reached Great Success. Apart from his daily farming and breeding, he spent most of his time on Cultivation. However, taking out an hour every day in the short term for this Cultivation was still acceptable to him.

"If Fellow Daoist Chen doesn’t mind, then it’s decided?" Hong Yan felt incredibly joyous in her heart. Being able to build a relationship with him would make things much more convenient for her in the White Snake Marketplace from now on!

"As for the compensation, let’s calculate it at one Low Grade Spirit Stone a year for now, how about that?" Chen Mo had originally planned to give a bit more. After all, he now earned forty-five Low Grade Spirit Stones a year just from Breeding. But on second thought, even if he had Spirit Stones, this wasn’t the way to spend them! One had to know, some Spirit Plant Cultivators wouldn’t be able to save up even one stone in their entire lifetimes!

Hearing these words, Hong Yan opened her mouth wide. She wanted to refuse. After all, Chen Mo asking her to teach him was already giving her a lot of face. But this was a Low Grade Spirit Stone! How could she possibly refuse?

"Since you’re not speaking, I’ll take it that you have no objections. You prepare the Zither, and we will... start tomorrow." After Chen Mo finished speaking, he stood up, picked up the cup of wine on the table, downed it in one gulp, and walked straight out of the room.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, let me see you out!" Hong Yan, snapping out of her daze, quickly got up to see him off.

"No need."

Looking at his retreating back, this female Steward of the Fragrance Pavilion felt her thoughts drift. Having read countless people, she had found this Spirit Plant Cultivator, who was so passionate about farming, somewhat inscrutable since their very first meeting. Now, his behavior was becoming even more incomprehensible. She thought that perhaps this was because he had never truly been a Spirit Plant Cultivator.

"Sister Hong, it looks like he really likes you. Every time he comes, he asks for your company," Xia Wan teased from behind, half-leaning against the red door, wearing only a wisp of thin gauze.

Over the span of more than a year, this woman had completely accepted her new identity and integrated into the Fragrance Pavilion. Now, her appearance was becoming increasingly charming, and there were faint signs that she would become the Fragrance Pavilion’s star courtesan! In the current Xia Wan’s eyes, sleeping with one man was sleeping, and sleeping with a hundred men was also sleeping. What difference was there between exchanging her body for Spirit Stones and exchanging sweat for Spirit Stones?

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