Death… and me

The music of the zither continued to linger in the air. Although the sound was soft and faint, it did not cease to shake people's hearts thunderously. Everyone had unknowingly entered a magical realm just by listening to the tune of the music.

Chu Yang's heart was as calm as water; he watched his life quietly flash through his mind from a third person point of view. He was seeing memories that were heart-wrenching, ones that were so painful that they were shattering his heart into pieces!

When he was just a teenager, a fire had raged all over Beyond the Heavens Sect. In his white robe, Meng Chao Ran fought amidst the flames with his long sword. His countenance appeared calm, yet at the same time, hopeless. With one palm, he knocked Chu Yang unconscious and buried his body beneath the corpses. With this, he had given Chu Yang a chance at life…

He had no one to rely on after leaving Beyond the Heavens Sect. Initially, he placed his trust in the wrong people because he was just a youth with a lack of experience. He had almost lost his life and even had to flee, becoming just like a speck of dust amidst the countless lives around him… Time and again, people would continually deceive him and hunt him down, forcing him to figure out ways to escape death. Having gone through all these, he eventually became cruel, cold, and heartless…

He retreated deep into the mountains to cultivate his martial arts. Finally, when he had gone to Iron Cloud, war and destruction were happening all over the place…

As he travelled across Jiang Hu, he would kill and rob endlessly. This was ultimately the reason for his path towards becoming the Poisonous Sword Revered Martial Artist. It was a bloody path; one with countless corpses being left behind on his trail…

By nature, he was not actually a heartless person. After having made his first kill, he felt sickened for three days straight. However, these were the people that would kill him if he had not killed them! The world was vast, but there was no one by his side. He was all alone on a bloody path for survival…

It was not until one fateful day when he discovered a purple bamboo forest. He lingered at this place because it had brought back fond memories of his childhood. Unexpectedly, he had met a woman who was dressed in red…

What kind of woman was she? She was graceful, stunning, yet fragile-looking. However, there was a sense of strength and disdain hidden from within. At the same time, there was a sense of sophistication and elegance.

Every action of hers carried along a hint of finesse…

It was as if she was a heavenly being as she stood right in front of him…

Up to this day, he still remembered the conversation from that unexpected meeting…

…

"May I ask what your name is, miss?"

"My surname is… Mo, Mo Qing Wu…"

"Good. That is a really nice name."

"Really?" All of a sudden, Mo Qing Wu's beautiful eyes became desolate and she murmured, "My mother once said…"

"What did she say?"

"My daughter's heart… Mo Qing Wu…"

"My daughter's heart… Mo Qing Wu…" Chu Yang repeated these words in his mind and said, "Your mother must be a truly caring person…"

'Qing Wu', coupled with the surname 'Mo' ahead of it, gave her name a completely contradictory meaning. Her daughter's heart should not be as weak as a gentle dance at all. If her heart was weak, this would mean that she would be weak, and people would betray her!

Although this was just a name, it was also an advice that her mother had given to her!

"It's such a coincidence that you're also here at this purple bamboo forest!"

"I'm fond of purple bamboo…" Mo Qing Wu smiled softly, concealing the desolation in her heart, "Purple bamboo… The colour I liked most as a child was… the colour purple… It is truly unforgettable…"

"Really? Haha, me too. As a child, I grew up in an area with purple bamboos… However, the people were eradicated after, along with the purple bamboos…"

Even though their voices were solemn and faint, both parties could clearly discern the yearning and sadness from hearing each other's voices. At the same time, they were both able to sense the immense hatred deeply engraved in the heart of the other person… They could also tell that the other person's shoulders were laden with burden…

At that point in time, Chu Yang did not know this of himself. However, he had just begun to understand himself…

Mo Qing Wu liked the purple bamboo because of her second brother's purple jade flute…

"Brother Chu, you have come again…"

"All those times seem just like a dream. The purple bamboo has been deeply etched across my heart… I feel as if something is missing in my heart if I fail to come to see the purple bamboo…"

"Hmmm, me too…"

"Brother Chu, if you come here the next time and meet me out of coincidence…"

"Go on."

"Ah… It's nothing…" Mo Qing Wu let out a faint smile…

Chu Yang closed his eyes. Two different lifetimes had been separated by reincarnation. He felt as if he could see Mo Qing Wu's smile from the previous life. The purple bamboos swayed back and forth, creating waves like in the ocean. Mo Qing Wu's red outfit fluttered intensely as she stood in the purple bamboo forest. Her beauty was simply out of this world.

Her smile, which was without any sorrow, carried with it a shyness and a hint of sweetness…

Qing Wu, did you know… it was that smile that conquered my heart!

Unfortunately, I was unaware of it…

"Qing Wu, are you here?"

"What a coincidence…"

"Umm, today is the Double Ninth Festival. Qing Wu, will you drink with me?"

"Umm, sure."

…

"Brother Chu… Chu Yang…"

"Mmm…"

"Brother Chu Yang, do you think that my dancing is beautiful?"

"I will have to see it for myself first."

"Haha. Today, we shall drink. I will dance for you, with the purple bamboo as a witness."

At that point in time, Mo Qing Wu's eyes were full of sweetness and joy as she looked at him so gently that it was like gentle flowing water…

Her red clothes fluttered softly. At that moment, Chu Yang felt as if all of the Nine Heavens had been reduced to just a dainty red figure. This graceful red figure was like a fairy hovering on the moon…

"A gentle dance in the misty smoke; looking at purple bamboo in the empty horizon; a lifetime, a dance, a man's enjoyment; a lifetime, a dance, a step in life!" Mo Qing Wu's soft singing appeared to sound out at the same moment…

The music from the zither rose slowly and was spreading around gradually…

The music came to a peak before it suddenly fell drastically. Everyone's heart simply moved along to the music!

At this juncture, Chu Yang's burdened heart was shocked violently. It was as if his fate was starting to change…

…

"Chu Yang… Please don't go…"

"I have to seek revenge for my master and my brothers. I have to go…"

"Chu Yang…"

"Chu Yang… Your heart is too cruel…"

"Chu Yang… Will you return?"

"I have no clue either…"

"Chu Yang, I have finally found you. Yet, you are still like this…? Please go back with me. Would you please go back with me?"

"…"

"Chu Yang… I'm worried about you… I've been feeling extremely uneasy nowadays…"

"…"

"Chu Yang… Your heart… Is it really made of stone?"

"My heart has been dead since a long time ago." At that time, all Chu Yang could think about were the ruined state of Beyond the Heavens Sect, the bodies on the ground, the sense of hatred that was deeply rooted in his heart, abandoned love, the insatiable need to cultivate his martial arts, and most importantly, revenge!

He could not bother to take notice, or even to have a look at, the heartbreak that was within Mo Qing Wu's eyes…

With her heart crushed, Mo Qing Wu turned and left…

Shortly after, Chu Yang unexpectedly had an ominous feeling that something bad had happened. As he thought about Mo Qing Wu and her most recent departure, Chu Yang could not help but feel more uneasy. In the darkness of the night, he felt as if he could hear Mo Qing Wu calling out his name over and over again…

"Chu Yang… Save me…"

"Chu Yang… You are too cruel…"

"Chu Yang… I need to see you again…"

"Chu Yang… I miss you…"

In an instant, Chu Yang's body had become a rapidly moving shadow, chasing after her with great speed. At this point in time, he had no clue as to why he was giving chase. Furthermore, he had no idea what he was chasing…

However, after travelling for around a dozen miles, he realized that Mo Qing Wu had been ambushed and was suffering from serious injuries…

All Chu Yang could feel was a massive explosion from inside…

He rushed towards them. Without any real reason, he slaughtered everyone who was part of the ambush…

In her last moments, Mo Qing Wu laid in his arms, displaying a look of happiness although she was in deep pain…

"Chu Yang… It has been a long time since you've held me like this. I'm so happy…"

"Don't move… Let me see your injuries. Let me see your injuries…"

"I don't feel any pain. There's really no pain at all…"

"Chu Yang… If there is another life and I can still see you once more, I hope that you will give me a proper look and notice that I'm prettier than a sword…"

"Chu Yang, hold me tight… Hold me tight… I, I want… to be held by you, like this, forever… Chu Yang, I am satisfied to be able to die right in your arms…"

"I do not have any regrets… After all, I got to see you at the very last moment."

"If there is another life…"

Her eyes were filled with hope and desire. However, everything had paused at that very moment! Her loving gaze remained affixed on Chu Yang's face, but it had lost its original liveliness…

This loving gaze had become eternal…

Chu Yang let out a deep sigh and realized that the music from the zither had stopped a while ago.

At this moment, in the great hall, everyone appeared solemn as they sighed. Some were even in a daze, not making the slightest bit of noise as they remained still.

Gu Du Xing sat next to Chu Yang as his eyes were filled with moisture. He was also thinking of the person who had to pay a dear price because of him… Gu Miao Ling.

Every person had his own unfortunate encounter. This one melody had caused Chu Yang to relive the sorrow from his previous life once more. However, what other people were experiencing were frustration, anger, guilt, and love from this lifetime…

This reincarnation melody was like a cleanse and purification of his fate!

"What a beautiful melody…" Chu Yang sighed from deep within, "The zither master's reputation is indeed well-deserved. However, this reincarnation melody is still lacking in something."

What was lacking was Chu Yang's own judgment!

Chu Yang did not exactly understand music. In the previous life, Mo Qing Wu used to dance with many melodies, both old and new. Naturally, Chu Yang had gained some knowledge about music.

While Chu Yang was not in the least bit of a musical genius, he was the only person who understood this reincarnation melody! This was because he was truly the only one who had experienced reincarnation!

When it came to reincarnation, there should be at least two lifetimes! Even then, that could barely be considered as reincarnation! However, when listening to this melody, Chu Yang could only recall his previous life! He was unable to recall any remnant of this lifetime!

Just as his mind was getting ready to move on to the next life, which was just about to happen, the music from the zither had stopped abruptly.

Hence, Chu Yang claimed that the melody was lacking!

The entire great hall was in an eerie silence. The only sound that could be heard was the cracking from within the large furnace in the middle of the great hall as it burned with a glowing fire and produced continuous heat…

After a long period of silence, the crowd burst into a thunderous applause…

The zither played two sounds as if the master was acknowledging the applause.

"Young Master Chu, you may ask me three questions about music. If I'm unable to answer any of these questions, I will have dinner with you." The zither master who had just played the melody said with a faint voice.

Chu Yang laughed. In an instant, he had restored his composure from his trembling heart, "Who would dare to question the zither master about music? However, there are some questions that I wish to ask Miss Xiao Lu with regards to the melody that you've just played."

"Oh?" An obvious trace of interest could be heard in Miss Xiao Lu's voice.

"This reincarnation melody has struck the heart of everyone here, whether they are poor or rich, good or bad! It is extremely clear that Miss Xiao Lu is very successful in her craft, but…"

"But… what?" Miss Xiao Lu asked curiously.

"But… this melody seems to be only half a melody! Miss Xiao Lu, why is this the case?" Chu Yang continued and asked softly.

Suddenly, Miss Xiao Lu had become quiet from behind the curtain, not making the slightest of sounds!