Chapter Fifty-Six: Cultivation in the Fallen God Valley (Part Four)

As they chatted, the moonlight began to illuminate the earth. Tonight, the moon was so round that Yun Chuxue couldn't help but stare at it in a daze. Her pretty face was flushed red from the drink, and even the bright moonlight couldn't conceal it.

The old man stroked his beard and, without a trace of drunkenness, said, "What's the matter, young lady? Are you missing your family?"

Yun Chuxue shook her head with a smile and said, "I'm an orphan. I have no parents, and the grandmother who took me in has also passed away. I miss my husband and child."

"Oh? How old is your child?"

"He's about four years old this year." As she spoke, tears slowly rolled down her flushed cheeks.

Wiping away her tears, Yun Chuxue turned to the old man and softly asked, "Sir, we've talked for so long, but I still don't know your name."

"Me? I don't remember. I haven't been out for many years, and no one has called my name in a long time. Let me think...," the old man pondered for a moment, then impatiently said, "I don't want to think about it. Young lady, why don't you give me a title?"

"Me?"

"Yes."

Yun Chuxue looked around at the night scenery, thought for a while, and said, "Elder Stillwater, how does that sound?"

The old man muttered it a few times before smiling and saying, "Good. Young lady, I'll give you two things."

With that, he took out two books from his spatial ring and placed them on the table.

By the light of the candle, Yun Chuxue saw that one book was a music score titled "Mirror Water Pavilion" and the other a dance manual called "Snow, Moon, Wind, and Flowers."

Surprised, Yun Chuxue exclaimed, "Sir, what is this?"

Elder Stillwater chuckled and said, "I remember obtaining these by chance when I was young. They are considered the most exquisite music and dance of their time, worthy of being called the best in the world. Today, I am giving them to you. You must master them within a year."

Yun Chuxue, puzzled, asked, "Sir, why? I don't really want to learn them. I have more important things to do."

"Young lady, this is for your own good. Although we haven't known each other for long, I can see that your temperament was once proud and dismissive, with a bad temper. Using this year to temper your heart will be far better than a year of diligent cultivation."

As Yun Chuxue hesitated, Mòxiàn advised, "Yun Chuxue, accept it. He's right. You remind me a lot of myself back then, and I suffered because of it."

Yun Chuxue bit her lip and agreed.

Elder Stillwater, like a happy child, smiled at Yun Chuxue and said, "Young lady, it's been a long time since I've talked this much."

Yun Chuxue, holding her bowl of wine and feeling tipsy, said, "Sir, I'm a bit sleepy..." With that, she laid her head on the table and fell into a drowsy sleep.

Elder Stillwater looked at Yun Chuxue without her mask and couldn't help but admire, "What a beautiful girl."

Taking a few gulps of wine, Elder Stillwater said calmly, "You can come out now."

Mòxiàn materialized from Yun Chuxue's spiritual sea and sat beside her, coldly asking the old man, "How did you discover me?"

Elder Stillwater sighed, "I'm old, having lived for hundreds of years, but my perception is still sharp. Are you her other soul?"

"No, I have a contract with her to borrow her body. I won't harm her. I just want to find an answer—who I am and fulfill a wish."

Elder Stillwater stroked his white beard and said kindly, "You've probably sought out many people."

"Yes. When I found Yun Chuxue, whose compatibility with me was so high, I was truly happy and relieved. If it weren't for me, she would be dead by now," Mòxiàn said, looking at Yun Chuxue with her translucent eyes.

"Teach her well. I'll go back in now. I can't stay out for too long." With that, Mòxiàn transformed into a beam of light and returned to Yun Chuxue's spiritual sea.

Elder Stillwater took out a blanket to cover Yun Chuxue and continued drinking alone.

When dawn broke, Yun Chuxue opened her drowsy eyes and murmured, "How did I fall asleep?" She rubbed her eyes gently, looked at the blanket covering her, and glanced around to find Elder Stillwater nowhere in sight. She called out, "Grandpa? Grandpa, are you not here?"

Just as she picked up the blanket and stood up, she heard Elder Stillwater's voice from inside the house.

"Coming."

Elder Stillwater walked over with a bowl of soup, saying, "Here, drink this to sober up."

"Okay." After drinking, Yun Chuxue followed him inside. The room wasn't very large, but it had a kitchen, bedroom, desk, and guest table—all the essentials. The most striking feature was the guqin placed on the bed by the window. Yun Chuxue went up to touch it and heard a few clear notes.

Elder Stillwater smiled and said, "This guqin is called 'Snow Moon.' From today, I will first teach you how to play it."

"Alright."

Yun Chuxue helped Elder Stillwater set the guqin in the courtyard, using a stone block as a stool. Finding the stone too hard, Elder Stillwater made a cushion out of a blanket and placed it on the stone block.

Elder Stillwater began teaching Yun Chuxue how to play the guqin. She practiced all day but couldn't get the notes right.

Feeling apologetic, Yun Chuxue said, "I'm sorry, Grandpa. Am I too stupid to even play a note correctly? But don't worry, I'll definitely get it by tomorrow."

Elder Stillwater wasn't impatient. He said to Yun Chuxue, word by word, "Don't rush. Playing the guqin requires patience. Your mind must be as calm as still water. Take it slow, there's no hurry."

Elder Stillwater's words made Yun Chuxue thoughtful. He continued, "Help me chop some firewood, and remember, don't use your spiritual power."

"Alright."

Following Elder Stillwater's instructions, Yun Chuxue began chopping firewood with an axe. Her first swing didn't split the wood; instead, the axe blade got stuck in it.

"You're not using the right amount of force. You need to find the right spot and strike forcefully to split it in half."

Elder Stillwater demonstrated, and Yun Chuxue watched intently. She was amazed when he effortlessly split the wood in half. "That's quite incredible."

"Finding the right method makes the task much easier."

Suddenly enlightened, Yun Chuxue sat by the guqin and began playing each note slowly. After playing all the notes correctly, she excitedly said to Elder Stillwater, "Grandpa, I did it!"

"Yes." Elder Stillwater nodded with satisfaction.

For the next six months, Yun Chuxue practiced the guqin during the day, chopped firewood in the evening, and observed the musical score while Elder Stillwater cooked. After dinner, she continued studying the score by candlelight late into the night.

In three months, Yun Chuxue became familiar with the score and spent another three months mastering it. One day, Elder Stillwater was drinking wine and listening to Yun Chuxue play "Mirror Water Pavilion," thoroughly enjoying himself.

After finishing her performance, Yun Chuxue sat beside Elder Stillwater, poured herself a bowl of wine, and asked, "Grandpa, how did I play?"

"You've mastered it well."

"The sword technique I practiced before, 'Heart Like Still Water,' helped me a lot in mastering 'Mirror Water Pavilion.'"

"When your mind is calm, your body follows. You will master the dance 'Snow, Moon, Wind, and Flowers' in less than six months."

She continued her routine, but instead of practicing the guqin, she practiced dancing. Each night, she would practice a little in the courtyard.

Six months later, Yun Chuxue was roasting game in the courtyard. She was supposed to leave a month ago but had promised Elder Stillwater she would stay for a year, so she spent the extra month keeping him company.

"Young lady, how long will it be before you return after leaving this time?" Elder Stillwater asked, a bit reluctant to part.

Yun Chuxue bit her lip and said, "I will come back to visit you once I've completed my tasks and bring you some good food and drinks."

"Good."

"Grandpa, can't you leave this place?"

Elder Stillwater shook his head and said, "I cannot leave here. I promised someone long ago that I would stay unless there are special circumstances."

"Oh." Yun Chuxue felt a bit regretful, but considering her current situation, leaving might put Elder Stillwater in danger.

After finishing their meal, Yun Chuxue put on her bamboo hat and mask, draped her cloak over her shoulders, and looked at Elder Stillwater with reluctance. She turned and bowed, saying, "Grandpa, I will definitely come back to visit you when I have the time."

Elder Stillwater chuckled warmly, "Good, good. It's enough that you have the intention."

With a heavy heart, Yun Chuxue left. After walking some distance, she turned back to see Elder Stillwater also looking at her. She then turned around and leaped away.