The melody concluded, yet Lin Qingyin remained frozen in place, his expression utterly unchanged, only his eyes revealing a vacant bewilderment. His jade flute still rested against his lips, poised as if to play, the overwhelming aura of sorrow surrounding him not having dissipated in the slightest.

A profound, absolute silence followed!

After a long pause, Lin Qingyin listlessly lowered his hand, a look of utter dejection etched upon his face, and addressed Jun Moxie: "Brother Mo, for this first round, I do not ask that you compete with me in the art of the flute. Instead, I must ask you: How is my Shattered Heart Chant? What are its flaws? For whom was it composed? If there are shortcomings, how can they be remedied? And, what path lies ahead for me?"

The moment Lin Qingyin uttered the phrase, "I do not ask that you compete with me in the art of the flute," Zhan Yushu's expression tightened, a venomous glint flashing in his eyes; but as he heard the subsequent questions, his demeanor immediately softened.

To his ears, Lin Qingyin’s questions were deliberately meant to trap and confound. Everyone harbored their own personal stories; inspiration struck only when emotion was stirred by a scene. To ask someone who had never even met Lin Qingyin before—as Mo Junye hadn't—who the piece was composed for? Was that not harassment?

As for the flaws and how to remedy them, that was even more preposterous. Zhan Yushu considered himself highly talented for his age and possessed a keen insight into musical theory. He judged this piece to be the finest he had ever encountered in his life; how could such perfection possibly harbor a flaw?

If one absolutely must find fault, he mused, it is because no one else’s emotional state can truly align with the composer’s. A slight dip in mood during creation results in a world of difference. How could Mo Junye possibly know?

And the final query—what path lies ahead—was the most elusive. Lin Qingyin devoted himself entirely to music; could his future possibly involve Profound Qi? Asking this now suggested a desire to abandon this field entirely.

"Then his future path is uncertain..."

"It seems this fellow hasn't forgotten my warnings! I wonder how Mo Junye will handle this round." Zhan Yushu felt a surge of smugness.

In truth, it wasn't just Zhan Yushu who thought this way; nearly everyone present, whether knowledgeable in music or not, shared the same sentiment. A flicker of awe arose in their eyes as they regarded Lin Qingyin: this guy truly was a dog that bit, not just barking first, but first gaining favor, only to deliver a fatal strike that left no room for recovery...

Then, they turned their attention to the supremely gifted prodigy across the stage, whose expression was deep in thought. A sense of schadenfreude began to spread among the crowd. "Let's see how he answers." Some even felt a touch of regret, fearing this grand confrontation might end in a single round, robbing them of further spectacle!

The Music Master seated on the judging panel allowed a look of amusement to cross his face...

These observers did not know that this round, though seemingly designed to stump, was actually Lin Qingyin taking a less demanding path. Those not steeped in music would never grasp it. Because everything—everything—had been conveyed to Jun Moxie through the resonance of that flute music!

Whatever Jun Moxie heard, he only needed to articulate it to pass the test...

"This piece, the Shattered Heart Chant, is truly excellent; undeniably a rare composition."

"Viewed solely as a standalone piece, it is entirely without fault. A tune that rends the heart, leaving one to search for a kindred spirit across the desolate horizon! It is, practically speaking, flawless perfection!"

Jun Moxie spoke slowly, "However, if we evaluate it based on the intention and mood of the music, it leans too heavily toward one extreme, creating a slight blemish on an otherwise flawless white jade."

As the Great Young Master finished this sentence, the Music Master on the judging panel was visibly moved, his sharp, bright eyes fixed on Jun Moxie’s face, not daring to blink, fearful of missing the words that followed.

"The essence of music is merely an emotional conduit for us performers. Whether joy, sorrow, rage, or the clamor of battle, music can express it. But, in performing music, beyond expressing the performer's own feelings, one must also be responsible to everyone who hears it! Truly great music strives for harmony without being indulgent (le er bu yin), and sorrowful without causing harm (ai er bu shang). It should allow the listener's mind and body to feel released, finding ease. Even a sad piece aims to evoke a shared human feeling, thereby lessening the soul's pressure... But Brother Lin's piece, though undeniably sad, leaves the listener deeply oppressed. Upon finishing the tune, one cannot help but feel a despair as if life itself is meaningless. This deviates greatly from the fundamental purpose of music! While not a complete betrayal, it certainly treads toward a misguided path!"

Jun Moxie smiled faintly: "One could say the greatest success of this piece is also its most significant vulnerability!"

"Well said!"

On the judging panel, the old master exclaimed in excitement, involuntarily applauding; others who understood the subtleties nodded slightly. Such an assessment was not only utterly apt but struck directly at the core truth!

Lin Qingyin pondered, then slowly nodded his head: "In that case... how should it be remedied?"

"Remedy? It could be simple, or exceedingly difficult!"

Jun Moxie stated calmly, "My assertion is not contradictory. Music stems from the heart's voice. I already said the piece itself achieves a state of perfection, with no inherent flaws. The true issue lies in your state of mind. For such a mournful melody, you maintained an unmoving countenance throughout, indicating you played it with a feeling of ultimate, absolute despair. The title, Shattered Heart Chant, already embodies this intent. The remedy, therefore, is merely to change your state of mind. Once the heart changes, the musical atmosphere shifts. If you cannot alter your mindset, any technical remedy is meaningless. This is the true meaning of my 'simple or difficult' statement!"

"You might argue that reverting your despair would negate the original intent behind creating the piece. But I ask you: Is life truly that utterly hopeless? Why not try approaching it from a different angle? Try transforming the despair into profound longing or remembrance. That should suffice. I believe the person who inspired you to create this piece must be deeply significant, and your shared history together must hold many beautiful memories."

"These memories are your most precious treasure, wealth that no one can seize or steal. If you recall these moments while playing, perhaps even infuse that lingering affection into the music—I believe the result will be vastly different. Then, what we hear will be sorrowful reminiscence, not crushing despair! Only then will the Shattered Heart Chant become a flawless masterpiece, immortalized with Brother Mo and the one you long for!"

Lin Qingyin stood stunned, tears suddenly welling in his eyes: "As for whom it was composed for... I hinted at it earlier. Brother Lin, if I am not mistaken, this piece was composed for a cherished beauty, a hongyan."

Jun Moxie looked at him warmly: "And this hongyan of yours, I surmise, passed away unexpectedly... It is not the grief of separation or resentment, otherwise, your music would contain elements of blame and hatred. Since those are absent, the conclusion remains the same..."

Lin Qingyin drew a long, shuddering breath and closed his eyes tightly, murmuring as if in a dream: "Correct! Brother Mo speaks the truth. What use is a flawless composition? A tune that rends the heart, leaving one to search for a kindred spirit across the desolate horizon! My Xiaolian... I will never see her again..."

Behind his tightly shut eyelids, a radiant, smiling face seemed to appear—bright eyes, charming and lovely—only to instantly morph into tear-filled eyes... a delicate, withered flower face...

In that instant, Lin Qingyin’s consciousness drifted hazily, seemingly transported back to days of old, sitting by moonlight with his sworn soulmate, sharing the moments under wind and rain...

"Xiaolian..." Lin Qingyin sighed deeply... Tears streamed down his face.

Jun Moxie remained silent for a moment, then softly recited: "Meeting is hard, parting is harder still; the East Wind is weak, and myriad flowers wither. The silkworm spins its thread till death, the candle burns its wax to ash before the tears dry..." [A partial verse from Li Shangyin's poem]. "Brother Lin, your devotion runs deep, earning my respect. However, if Miss Xiaolian could see you like this, whether in the heavens or the netherworld, she would surely be consumed by endless worry and perpetual regret..."

This poem, indeed Li Shangyin's timeless masterpiece, though only half-quoted, struck a chord in every listener as the words were uttered. Miao Xiaomiao savored every syllable, finding the taste lingering, utterly intoxicated by the sheer depth of emotion and beauty... Why was it that every word uttered by him sounded so captivating and soul-piercing...

A sudden tension gripped her heart: If one had not personally endured such an experience, how could one compose poetry so profoundly moving? Had he already... Thinking this, Miao Xiaomiao felt a strange emotion bloom within her—a pang of pity for him... and perhaps a touch of sorrow for herself...

"The silkworm spins its thread till death, the candle burns its wax to ash... the tears... finally dry..."

Lin Qingyin mumbled the lines in a daze, suddenly overwhelmed by grief: "May I ask, Brother Mo, what should I do from now on?"

"Follow your heart! Create according to your heart!"

Jun Moxie looked upon the sentimental man with a measure of pity: "Brother Lin, you have your own path. You know what you should and should not do... Sentimentality is not inherently a vice, but do not let your deep feeling become your cage. Break this cage, and the world is vast—where can you not go?"

"Thank you, Brother Mo, for your guidance!"

Lin Qingyin bowed deeply, his face alight with gratitude, utterly convinced: "Brother Mo's comprehension of the Way of Music indeed far surpasses mine! I willingly concede defeat; haha... 'Harmony without indulgence, sorrow without harm'... Qingyin will surely keep Brother Mo's earnest teachings in mind! It is a pity that we part today; we may never meet again. Here, Qingyin wishes Brother Mo safe passage through misfortune, good fortune amid disaster, and swift attainment of the pinnacle of supremacy!"

"Thank you, Brother Lin, for your kind wishes!"

Jun Moxie smiled.

The eight characters Lin Qingyin spoke—fēng xiōng huà jí, yù nán chéng xiáng (turn misfortune into fortune, meet difficulty and achieve success)—were his subtle way of referring to the current dangerous situation, implicitly blessing Jun Moxie while casting a subtle curse upon the Zhan brothers. Jun Moxie understood this perfectly.

Lin Qingyin laughed heartily, tucked his jade flute away, and gracefully returned to his original position.

The first battle was a complete victory for the genius Mo, possessing the Ethereal Constitution! Watching the judges simultaneously raise their 'Victory' placards toward Jun Moxie, Zhan Yushu’s face turned ashen.

"This contest was about the Way of Melody! Yet Mo Junye passed by merely speaking a few sentences without showing any musical talent whatsoever. How can he be declared the victor? He must perform a piece himself, one that surpasses Young Master Lin’s Shattered Heart Chant! Only then can we be truly convinced!"

A voice cried out, instantly met with widespread agreement.

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