Chapter - 198 Disciples of the Eastern Heretic (7) (1/2)
Union is bliss, parting is woe, agony is boundless, for a lovelorn soul, sweetheart…
Give me word, a trail of clouds drifting forward…
And mountains capped with snow, whither shall my lonesome shadow go?”
The flute was originally joyous, but Li Mochou's song was filled with sorrow, her tone mournful, it was completely different from the tune of 'Liu Bo'. The voice became quieter, but the quieter it got, the higher it got.
Cheng Ying was slightly disturbed, she actually began to follow the song from 'union is bliss' and by 'parting is woe', she could no longer stop herself from following her. She was alarmed and quickly changed the tune, but the music from a flute is peaceful and serene but her internal energy was shallow, she could not produce a high tune to subdue the song of Li Mochou. She stumbled slightly and headed into the hut. She placed the jade flute down and sat aside. She began to play the zither. Yang Guo also started to sing to help.
Li Mochou's song was becoming more and more mournful; Cheng Ying's strings were producing higher and higher notes, a 'zheng' sound was heard as the first 'zheng' string on the zither suddenly snapped.
Cheng Ying was startled and her fingers became slightly disorganized, the zither's second 'yu' string snapped. Li Mochou's prolonged song was filled with tears, the third 'gong' string also snapped. Huang Yaoshi taught Cheng Ying the flute and zither; though she learned from a great master she was still young, her abilities with them were not profound.
Li Mochou had originally wanted to take the chance, when the opponent was disturbed and distracted with the broken strings, to break straight through. But she thought that, although the earth formation outside the hut seemed to be in a mess, yet hidden within were the changes of the five elements. She didn't understand this particular art and she had suffered many times in the ancient tomb, there were some worries in her mind. She suddenly had an idea; she wound around to the right and crashed through the wall in the midst of the music and song.
Cheng Ying's earth formation was placed to protect the front of the house and it slipped her mind that the sides of the house weren't guarded. Li Mochou slipped around the house and with her two palms crashed through the earth walls. Lu Wushuang was alarmed; she raised her sword and rushed into the house.
Yang Guo was injured and had no strength to stand up and fight, he could only lie there, not moving. Cheng Ying knew that if she fought Li Mochou she would lose her life in vain. She made a decision and forgot about life and death; she started to play the zither, a song of 'tao yao'. It was a beautiful tune, flowing with joy. In her heart she was thinking, ”I have had a life of hardships, dieing here by brother Yang's side means at least my life hasn't been in vain.” She looked towards Yang Guo. Yang Guo gave a subtle smile towards her, Cheng Ying was filled with joy and bliss, she sang:
”The beauty of the blossom burns brightly,
The zither flows the ocean spray,
The music carries the fragrance of flowers, the soothing spring breeze.”
The bitterness on Li Mochou's face gradually disappeared, she asked Lu Wushuang, ”Where's the book? Was it the Beggar Clan who took it?”
Yang Guo took out the 'Five Poison Codex' and threw it over to her. He said, ”The Beggar Clan's Chief Huang and Chief Lu are righteous and virtuous people, what do they want with this evil book? They long ago passed down an order to Beggar Clan members to not to open even one page of this book.”
Li Mochou saw that this book was in its original condition; she knew the Beggar Clan was a righteous clan and had strict regulations; most probably they did not take a look at her book.
Yang Guo also took out the two half pieces of handkerchief from his pockets and placed it down on the end of the bed and said, ”Take these handkerchiefs away!”