As the verses manifested before Miao Xiaomiao, she became utterly lost in them... "Three hundred and sixty days a year, the wind's knife and frost's sword relentlessly press upon me; how long can bright beauty last, before one day, lost and hard to find, at the world's end, where is the fragrant mound? Better to gather the exquisite bones in a brocade pouch, and let pure earth cover the romance; born pure, return pure, far better than sinking into mire and ditch. Today you are buried by those who laugh at your folly, but who will bury me in days to come? Look how spring wanes and flowers begin to fall, that is when beauty fades and dies, in that moment; one dawn spring ends and beauty ages, flowers drop and people perish, unknown to each other!"
As she wrote, tears involuntarily welled up in Miao Xiaomiao's eyes, as if she could see a thin, sickly woman, her frail body struggling to gather the fallen petals, carefully collecting them one by one, placing them into a sachet she had sewn herself, and then gently burying them in the earth, eventually transforming into a wisp of fragrant soul...
In a daze, Miao Xiaomiao almost felt as if that woman were herself. "Though I do not have that sickly body, living within this Illusionary Estate, constantly under the crushing weight of power struggles, who knows which day I might become a pawn in a political marriage, forced to wed someone I completely dislike, perhaps even detest profoundly..."
If that were the case, then perhaps it truly would be better to 'Better to gather the exquisite bones in a brocade pouch, and let pure earth cover the romance; born pure, return pure, far better than sinking into mire and ditch.'...
Just as everyone was steeped in the aesthetic mood of these verses, a faint, ethereal flute melody suddenly seemed to drift from the ends of the sky, sounding vague and distant...
The Dirge of the Flower Burial!
One tune of the Dirge of the Flower Burial, a hundred souls stirred by shared grief.
The flute mourned, weeping and complaining, as the former splendor of countless blossoms, all their allure and charm, was slowly unfolded in everyone’s hearts, only to gradually vanish, finally becoming nothingness, a single lingering breath. "When the melody finally ceased, after a long, long while, still no one dared to speak first, as if the exquisite music still lingered in the air, echoing for days, its charm unending." "Alas... this piece..."
That music virtuoso couldn't help but rub the corner of his eye, where a clear drop of moisture undeniably shone: "It is truly superb, like a divine symphony from the heavens. For an ordinary person to hear it played once in this lifetime is a life truly lived to the fullest!"
"Indeed," Miao Xiaomiao's consciousness still drifted in the music, her voice somewhat faint and distracted, her eyes hazy, almost unconsciously murmuring, "This is the most beautiful flute piece I have ever heard in my life..."
"Perfect? No, this is a flawless piece. Brother Mo, this composition has finally shown Qingyin what the true meaning of melody is! What the true Way of Music entails! Having heard this piece today, Qingyin suddenly feels that all my prior learning is utterly worthless." Haha, I dared to boast of being the foremost musician among the youth of the Illusionary Estate, yet I hadn't even brushed against the edges of true music," Lin Qingyin said, captivated and completely convinced.
When these words were spoken, even Zhan Yushu couldn't help but nod slightly. He was a man knowledgeable in musical theory and truly couldn't deny his conscience at that moment. He then realized this contradicted his allegiance, so he shook his head again. But feeling that shaking his head betrayed his true feelings, he ended up nodding once more...
The Dirge of the Flower Burial—the lyrics and composition were impeccable! The beauty of the melody was something none of them had ever witnessed!
The helpless sorrow, the lingering desolation, intertwined with the noble sentiment of 'born pure, return pure'—this deeply moved everyone...
Having heard such a perfect piece, the consensus was unanimous praise; even those aligned with Zhan Qingfeng couldn't find a single flaw in the music! Jun Mo Xie had secured victory in the first round with overwhelming dominance!
No one dared to mention comparing it with the 'Heart-Shattering Dirge' again, because the difference was simply heaven and earth... incomparable...
"Brother Mo, might I ask the esteemed name of this talented lady?"
Lin Qingyin asked with utmost humility, a look of yearning flickering in his eyes. Although Jun Mo Xie had mentioned that this woman had passed away several centuries ago, after hearing the Dirge of the Flower Burial, Lin Qingyin could visualize the frail beauty struggling against the autumn wind and rain to sweep the fallen blossoms alone, as if she were present...
He almost wished he had been there himself, just to offer some comfort to that ill-fated peerless beauty... "Coincidentally, her surname is also Lin, your very own clan, Brother Lin."
Jun Mo Xie sighed softly, "Her name is Lin Daiyu."
Jun Mo Xie felt a pang of emotion, having finally understood something since transmigrating: the advantage held by a traverser is simply too vast!
Putting aside other things, he was sure that anyone who had attended primary school on Earth carried with them a condensed fragment of China's five thousand years of civilization when they crossed over into this other world, "Especially the poetry and music that the ancients revered—bring them here, and they are unbeatable... She was even named Lin... What a woman of noble heart and exquisite beauty..."
Lin Qingyin softly exhaled, a look of wistful melancholy on his face.
"Brother Mo, this musical score for the Dirge of the Flower Burial, could I... could I possibly copy a version for myself?"
Miao Xiaomiao asked softly, a trace of shyness on her face.
"Naturally, I can! It would be my sincere honor to assist Miss Miao."
Jun Mo Xie readily agreed.
"Thank you sincerely, Brother Mo, for gifting me such a wondrous piece."
Miao Xiaomiao offered a shy smile, her eyes flashing with a fleeting tenderness.
Beside them, Zhan Yushu and Zhan Qingfeng, the two brothers, simultaneously revealed a sharp flash of intense jealousy! The way they looked at Jun Mo Xie became markedly more venomous.
With his divine sense, Young Master Jun naturally detected those two abnormal currents of intense resentment. He casually glanced sideways, and a thought suddenly struck him: on the surface, it appeared Zhan Yushu was pursuing Miao Xiaomiao, and Zhan Qingfeng was merely assisting his younger brother. But why did Zhan Qingfeng also bear such an expression?
Could Zhan Qingfeng also harbor ambitions for Miao Xiaomiao? Was his prior association with her not purely for the sake of his brother?
If that were the case, then Zhan Yushu was likely being kept in the dark! Or perhaps only Zhan Qingfeng understood the true situation... If so, was this something worth exploiting?
He believed that this single detail, if utilized correctly, could very well be the starting point for discord within the Zhan family, perhaps even leading to their complete rupture! There are two things men absolutely cannot tolerate. The first is betrayal from a brother they trust implicitly; the second is allowing anyone to covet their woman!
And it seemed Zhan Qingfeng had now encroached upon both of these territories!
If this secret were to explode between the brothers... it would likely be quite a spectacle, perhaps even more lively than today's proceedings.
Jun Mo Xie plotted silently, his expression betraying nothing.
The result of the first round was clear: the genius with the Ethereal Body, Mo, had utterly dominated!
No one had any objections; no further quibbling was possible, lest the speaker be cursed by the others!
Though the first round had concluded, in the context of this gamble, it was merely the beginning. Next came the second round. The original plan was certainly to push hard for the next challenge immediately after the first, leaving this man no time to breathe. But now, after the Dirge of the Flower Burial, before everyone had recovered, there was a moment of complete silence as no one stepped forward—a momentary void!
Humans are such creatures: they harbor jealousy and defiance toward those only slightly superior to them, but when confronted by someone vastly superior, it transforms into admiration and reverence.
For instance, comparing a man with ten thousand Yuan to one with a hundred thousand Yuan, the latter might just think the former was lucky; if they were compared to Li Ka-shing, both the ten-thousand and hundred-thousand Yuan men would only offer worship... because the benchmark is a legend, and comparing oneself to a true legend—is that not idiotic?...
This was Jun Mo Xie’s situation now! Before the first contest, the genius Mo was a 'legendary' talent; now, he was a truly great genius, and everyone's perception had shifted dramatically!
In fact, the main reason these individuals who were meant to challenge him today were present was certainly due to the instigation, promises, and benefits offered by the Zhan family. As for someone like Lin Qingyin, he was essentially coerced into coming...
But before arriving, as outstanding talents themselves, they genuinely felt unconvinced! These people had considerable achievements in their respective fields. While they couldn't yet claim to be world-famous, many were already well-regarded and highly influential within the Illusionary Estate...
Youthful fame breeds arrogance, does it not?
But the arrival of the possessor of the Ethereal Body immediately stole the attention of all the high-ranking officials and powerful figures in the Illusionary Estate! No matter what further achievements they attained, those achievements became insignificant before the legendary Ethereal Body this person possessed!
Especially since this physical constitution was innate, having nothing to do with Mo Junye’s own efforts, which only fueled their imbalance!
However, after today's display, especially after the Dirge of the Flower Burial, everyone present set aside their arrogance! They were undoubtedly proud, and their minds were focused on gaining something from today's events, but that did not mean they could lie against their conscience...
The depth of his musical attainment was enough to make everyone gape in astonishment, let alone the fact that he was the possessor of the Ethereal Body?
Regardless of innate talent, he was truly an outstanding figure!
"Allow me to face Brother Mo in the second round?"
Finally, someone stepped forward. The newcomer was a slender youth, balanced and composed, his face radiating an air of confidence, a subtle feeling that he held the reins of strategy and command over everything...
His eyes glittered sharply, but this sharpness was not the clarity born from Xuan Qi cultivation; rather, his eyes were naturally agile and particularly spirited. Though young, the youth possessed an extremely stable demeanor. Jun Mo Xie recognized at a glance that this young man's self-control likely surpassed that of many seasoned elders.
"May I ask your name, sir?" Jun Mo Xie inquired.
"Brother Mo, this young man is the Young Chess King of our Illusionary Estate, Qi Wanjie!"
Miao Xiaomiao supplied the introduction: "Qi Wanjie began studying chess in childhood and achieved fame at nine. By thirteen, he was unrivaled within the Illusionary Estate! He no longer needs to participate in the Estate’s periodic chess competitions, because everyone else is merely vying for second place! The title of Chess King has remained his, unbroken for twelve consecutive years since he mastered the art!"