I Have A Dual World Seal

Chapter 1161: Chapter 1160: Ouyang Kui’s Rules

The reputation of the Lingwu Royal Mansion was quite effective, and they soon met Master Ouyang Kui in the hall of the Bitter Tea House.

A small, frail old man with a sparse goatee, his face sallow and eyes dim, seemingly unremarkable, yet he was a renowned Zuoqin Envoy in Zhongjing.

"Greetings, Master Ouyang." Jing Qianyu bowed, and Lu Zheng and the others cupped their hands in salute.

Ouyang Kui returned the gesture, took a seat, and looked at Jing Qianyu’s group, speaking politely yet distantly, "May I ask what brings you here, Commandery Princess?"

"This is Young Master Lu, Lu Zheng. Having heard of Master Ouyang’s illustrious reputation, he wishes to play a piece for you, Master Ouyang." Jing Qianyu said.

Lu Zheng and his companions weren’t the type to throw their weight around. Even when Si Lingxi invited someone to craft a zither in the past, she first played a piece for ten renowned zither craftsmen. Of course, the competition among those ten was none of her business.

"Oh?" Ouyang Kui glanced at Lu Zheng, noticing he was a young scholar in his early twenties, and couldn’t help but look down on him. However, he still nodded, "It’s a coincidence that a friend sent me two cans of Western Snow Peak tea, please enjoy them, Commandery Princess and your company."

Because of his reputation, many Qin Masters feared embarrassment and dared not seek him for a zither. Being humble is one thing, but being rejected by Ouyang Kui is another matter entirely.

However, those who dared to call on him had some skills, so it seemed he might hear a decent piece today.

Attitude is one thing, but as for making a zither, Ouyang Kui had his own standards, otherwise, he wouldn’t have his current status.

"Master Ouyang, you are too kind, please!"

As the words fell, another waiter hurriedly entered and whispered a few words in Ouyang Kui’s ear.

Ouyang Kui raised an eyebrow, "What a coincidence, for days I had no guests, but today two have arrived. Commandery Princess Qianyu, Young Master Taihua from the Liyang Marquis also brought a Qin Master to visit. If you all don’t mind, why not enjoy my Snow Peak tea together?"

Jing Qianyu looked at Lu Zheng, who naturally had no objection. Thus, Jing Qianyu nodded, "As you wish, host, we do not mind."

Ouyang Kui nodded and then instructed the waiter to lead the guests to the backyard, while he led Lu Zheng’s group away first.

...

Soon after, Lu Zheng saw Young Master Taihua Jing Taihua from the Liyang Marquis, accompanied by the Qin Master Yue Ziyuan.

"Commandery Princess Qianyu."

"Young Master Taihua."

The relationships between the Spiritual Martial King and Marquis Liyang weren’t too close, but Jing Qianyu and Jing Taihua were both from the imperial family and knew each other.

Then Lu Zheng noticed that Yue Ziyuan was looking at him with inexplicable hostility.

"May I ask where Young Master Lu is from and which master you studied under?" Yue Ziyuan inquired.

"From the Lingbei Daoist Clan, I didn’t study under any master, just self-taught." Lu Zheng replied.

"To catch the eye of the young princess of the Lingwu King, you can’t just be self-taught!"

Yue Ziyuan chuckled, "Then I look forward to Young Master Lu’s zither performance shortly."

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, not understanding why Yue Ziyuan was targeting him.

"I know your intentions." Ouyang Kui picked up the moon white porcelain cup beside him and took a sip of Western Snow Peak tea, the bitter water carrying a hint of fragrance, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

"And old as I am, my rules you must be familiar with." Ouyang Kui said indifferently, "It’s been over nine years since I last crafted a zither personally, and in three months, it will be the ten-year milestone again.

Though you’ve come a bit early, it doesn’t matter, as I have already emerged from seclusion and completed my research."

Lu Zheng blinked and looked at Jing Qianyu.

The ten-year milestone? What ten-year milestone?

Jing Qianyu also blinked, suddenly clapped her forehead, "Is the ten-year milestone approaching?"

Realizing, Jing Qianyu hurriedly explained to Lu Zheng, "Master Ouyang has a rule, apart from a Qin Master’s music impressing him, he crafts a zither every ten years, to verify his ten-year refining skills.

This zither mainly verifies Master Ouyang’s own path, and the conditions are somewhat relaxed, so many Qin Masters visit at this time, hoping to defeat other Qin Masters and acquire Master Ouyang’s new zither."

"There’s such a rule?"

Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, now understanding why Yue Ziyuan was hostile towards him, seeing him as a competitor.

But this display from Lu Zheng caused Ouyang Kui and Jing Taihua to take a closer look.

Unaware of this? Are they really planning to rely on talent to ask Ouyang Kui to craft a zither?

Mind you, in fifty years of Ouyang Kui’s fame, only three people succeeded in getting him to craft a zither based on sheer talent!

Any one of these three is a top Qin Master in the world today!

And there’s even talk that if nothing unexpected happens, no other Qin Master today is worthy of a zither crafted by Master Ouyang Kui.

"Tsk—"

But Yue Ziyuan sneered, a corner of his mouth lifting, as he knowingly nodded and said, "Young Master Lu, as a Qin Master, while visiting Bitter Tea House, you aren’t aware of Master Ouyang’s rules, I admire that."

Lu Zheng squinted his eyes, reading between the lines!

To say admiration was actually a sneer, clearly implying Lu Zheng was being clever and playing psychological games.

Jing Taihua’s eyes flashed, giving Lu Zheng a slightly strange look.

However, Ouyang Kui paid no mind at all; listening to music is subjective, but his ears aren’t deaf, how could some minor tricks induce psychological suggestion?

"Today’s sunlight is just right. Who would like to play a piece first?" Ouyang Kui asked.

"I’ll go first." Yue Ziyuan immediately said.

It is said that first impressions last, and after hearing or seeing many similar things, people tend to believe the first they hear or see is the best if the overall quality is similar.

Although Yue Ziyuan believed Lu Zheng was using tricks, since the other dared to enter the Bitter Tea House, he must have some skill, so Yue Ziyuan wouldn’t be careless.

Since so, I’ll go first!

"Please!"

Ouyang Kui made a ’please’ gesture, and the servant following Yue Ziyuan took out the Yaoqin from behind, opened the zither box, and placed the Yaoqin on the table in front of Yue Ziyuan.

"Feiye Zither?"

"Indeed, the Feiye Zither, from Master Lin Xuecheng under Bitter Tea House."

Ouyang Kui nodded approvingly, "Indeed Lin Xuecheng’s work, seems to have improved somewhat over the years."

Yue Ziyuan smiled slightly, extending his hand to play ’Yangguan Wild Geese Fly Nine Times Back’.

At Zhu Yang Pass on Zhongyang Dao, surrounded by mountains and nine locks, difficult even for birds, the wind rages, disturbing the clouds, while wild geese fly in all directions, nine times back.

The entire piece was filled with climaxes and twists. Even to Lu Zheng, it was on par with many famous ancient compositions from Blue Star’s history.

However...

Lu Zheng glanced at Yue Ziyuan. Though the technique was flawless, the emotion was insufficient. Despite trying to blend in, perhaps due to slight lack of foundation, it wasn’t quite enough, or rather, the performance wasn’t heartfelt enough.

Nonetheless, Ouyang Kui nodded, indicating it was well played, but he gave no further acknowledgment.

Then, everyone’s eyes turned to Lu Zheng.

In the next moment, Lu Zheng smiled slightly and tapped the gourd at his waist, and the Phoenix Tail Zither appeared on the table before him.

Ouyang Kui’s eyes flashed, frowning slightly.

Yue Ziyuan was initially startled, then quickly calmed himself, but upon seeing the Phoenix Tail Zither, couldn’t help showing a trace of sneer.