Chapter 287: From Now On, This Secluded Mountain Won't Be So Lonely

Chu Ge and Qiu Wuji returned to Cloud Horizon Mountain.

This time, the “loyal” Little Flame had provided them with pills, and Chu Ge intended to stay here for a while, practice diligently, and, in the meantime, tackle those discrepencies in the book.

In the book’s timeline, spring had already arrived, but the snow on Cloud Horizon Mountain was still falling, covering the mountain peaks in a silvery blanket.

Xuan Ji was still cleaning the mountain paths, taking care of the plum blossoms, and secretly listening to the sect master scolding her disciple:

“I took you out to the martial world primarily for cultivation, yet it’s either Xie Jiuxiao or that Abbot. You’re so happy with your act, but where is your cultivation? Where is your progress?”

Xuan Ji: “…”

I also want to meet Xie Jiuxiao and the Abbot. What kind of cultivation can compare to that?

Chu Ge spoke up, “Didn’t we go through the Flameheart Palace and have a showdown with the demons?”

“And you call that cultivation?” Qiu Wuji crossed her arms. “What’s the difference between that and playing house?”

“How can you call it playing house? They really wanted to kill me, at least it was more useful than sparring in our own sect.”

“So what progress have you made? Did you gain any insights from the fight at that time? Did it improve your swordsmanship or your cultivation?”

“Ummm, no.”

Qiu Wuji stamped her foot in frustration. “Go stand at the edge of the cliff for an hour! Think about what it felt like during the fight!”

Xuan Ji couldn’t help but smile.

Ever since she took on the junior martial uncle as her disciple, the sect master has become more human-like. She would get angry and stomp her feet. She used to be like an emotionless ice sculpture, and now, she was just like herself. She seemed even cuter than her with that puffed-up, helpless look.

Chu Ge was driven out of the house, rolled up his sleeves, and jogged to the edge of the cliff.

Although it was called a punishment, Xuan Ji couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation as she watched. The junior martial uncle stood at the edge, gazing into the distance as snowflakes fluttered around him, his robes billowing, he seemed to exude an aura of transcendence. It was as if he had become one with the entire mountain, melting into the white snowscape, like a link between the mountain and the sky.

It’s strange, is it just because junior martial uncle looks good?

Even if he looks good, it shouldn’t give rise to this kind of feeling, right? This is the kind of heavenly intention that only top cultivators can possess, like “I am one with nature” and “the unity of heaven and man,” isn’t it?

Xuan Ji recalled certain rumors.

Junior martial uncle might very well be the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, descending from the heavens to become mortal, and the sect master discovered him and accepted him as a disciple.

She didn’t know how credible these rumors were, and she didn’t know if junior martial uncle had any profound realizations while gazing into the distance on the cliff. In any case, as she watched, she herself seemed to gain some understanding of the Heavenly Dao, feeling like she was out of her body, wandering through the clouds and sea.

“Zing!”

A melody suddenly emanated from inside the house.

It was as if a sword of snow-cutting air had slashed through the clouds, and the flying snow disappeared, revealing the boundless azure sky.

Whether it was the music of the zither or the intent of the sword, it was unclear.

Chu Ge took out a jade flute from his sleeve and placed it to his lips.

The pure and clear sound of the flute began to play, harmonizing with the zither music, soaring into the sky.

The zither music also gradually developed a melodic tune, and the flute followed suit, intertwining and harmonizing.

Xuan Ji had never heard this melody before, and it felt somewhat peculiar, but it was still quite pleasant.

Of course she hadn’t heart it before, this melody was not known in this world because it was Chu Ge’s mobile phone ringtone, “If I Stop Writing Someday.”

For these two people, this song held a special meaning.

In the world of the book and the real world, no one else knew.

“♪ Forced to inject the author’s will into a certain part of the story/Changing eras, I boldly replace the omitted name/I, the madman, suppressed within shrewdness and wisdom/Forget the body and the world/But I still delude myself/Search for another self to take the place of a confidant…♫”

Chu Ge’s flute playing became increasingly familiar, initially playing the melody while Qiu Wuji provided accompaniment, but gradually, their roles reversed, and Chu Ge played the main melody while Qiu Wuji’s zither music accompanied him.

Chu Ge was somewhat surprised as well.

In the real world, Qiu Wuji rarely talked to him about music. Once, he had asked her to listen to some songs, and she had simply responded with “oh,” saying that she wanted to find some ancient zither and guqin pieces to listen to. However, he had never seen Qiu Wuji play music on her computer or phone in her daily life. Perhaps she occasionally listened to the girls playing the zither at Zhu Mengmeng’s tea house.

Qiu Wuji rarely hummed songs in daily life, and when she did, it was certainly not these cultured pieces.

Chu Ge had no idea that she had taken an interest in his mobile phone ringtone and had even searched for it intentionally.

Actually, it makes sense… Some meanings were already present in their daily interactions. There was no need to specifically discuss lyrics and melodies. If necessary, they could convey their feelings through their own performances.

No wonder when she saw the bamboo flute in the old house, her eyes lit up and she insisted on coming in to play the flute. Such a literary type.

“♪ I have once expressed myself alone in the name of the protagonist, and I have also used the tone of the audience to vent my obsession…♪”

As Chu Ge played the flute, he gradually became entranced. The music of the zither and the flute, both in the book and in reality, protagonist and observer, they were all him.

When you are part of the story, you become one with it.

Xuan Ji watched in a daze as her junior martial uncle played the flute on the cliff and the sect master played the zither inside the house. They had such great tacit understanding… This feeling of having a spiritual connection, of composing together under the azure sky, was so beautiful.

Seeing the smile on the sect master’s lips, that was beautiful too…

It’s fortunate to meet a kindred spirit in this world. From now on, this secluded mountain won’t be so lonely.

…

“When did you secretly listen to this song?”

“Do I need to listen to songs secretly? Right now, Qiuqiu over there, who’s busy drawing, is also listening to music, and you, the writing machine, have no idea.”

“…Speaking of which, the writing machine has resumed its rapid writing. I can write a new plot here, and later connect it seamlessly. Wow, if I don’t keep them all guessing, my name isn’t Chu Ge.”

“What are you using to write, a brush?”

“Yeah, can’t I write with a brush?”

“Do you even know how to write with a brush?”

“Come on, even though I’m a soul, I can wield a sword directly, let alone writing. It’s just that I can’t guarantee the speed. I don’t know the efficiency of writing with a brush, so I’ll give it a try…”

“By that logic, I can also start drawing some illustrations here… will you be able to take them out later?”

“Of course, why not!”

“You need to move a bit further, don’t stand so close, I can’t stretch out like this!”

“You don’t need such a large sheet of paper, make it smaller. What do you think you’re painting?”

The two of them squeezed and adjusted, eventually settling side by side, writing and drawing together on the long table.

Xuan Ji peered through the window.

Their harmonious music, paired with their calligraphy and painting, looked more and more fitting. It was truly a perfect match, like an ideal couple. But why am I thinking like this? They are master and disciple after all…

“Xuan Ji.” Qiu Wuji didn’t turn her head, but she calmly spoke, “If you keep sticking your head out, you’ll get a bump on your head!”

“Um, I have something to report to the Sect Master…”

“Then just say it, why are you being all cute over there?”

Xuan Ji simply couldn’t understand the term “being cute.” After staring at the scene in front of her for a while, she couldn’t figure out any deep meaning, so she gave up and said, “It’s just that Chu Tiange has returned. Right now, he’s in the Autumn Water Hall, discussing his experiences from the past two to three years with Elder Ye. Elder Ye mentioned that there are some matters that should be reported to the Sect Master, so I came to inform you.”

Both of their brushes stopped simultaneously above the paper, and they exchanged a synchronized glance.

“I have once expressed myself alone in the name of the protagonist.”

The protagonist has returned.

In a sense, the most important person in this world was not Chu Ge, but Chu Tiange.

If one were to say that Yan Qianli and the others were like sons to him, at most, they were godsons, while Chu Tiange was more like a real son.

He was Chu Ge’s projection, representing all of Chu Ge’s thoughts and goals. But now, Chu Ge had entered this world himself.

If Chu Tiange learned about certain things, would he hate them? Yet, Chu Tiange was indeed true son of heaven. Who could advance to the Divine Transformation stage within a few years?

Creator God once treated him as his own, and even when they began to view things separately, he still gave him the best treatment, the best cheats, the best cultivation techniques, the highest level of experiences, and the deepest insights, paving the smoothest path to the peak of this world.

When he went abroad, the Divine Continent almost stagnated. Qiu Wuji cultivated in seclusion, Yan Qianli recuperated, Yunxiao City disappeared, and Hongfa Temple remained silent. But when he returned, everything was revived, and the Divine Continent stirred. It could be said that the world revolved around him.

But Chu Ge had severed his love ties and taken away the female lead.

The implications here were extremely complex.

Chu Ge didn’t know if there was a possibility that… he might become an enemy.

“You…” Qiu Wuji looked a bit strange. “Do you want to go see him?”

Chu Ge stared at the manuscript he had written for a long time in silence, then suddenly smiled. “He once carried the shadow I projected of myself… Of course, I want to see him.”