Eternal Tale

Chu Zhen sighed inwardly and nodded gently, ”Alright, let’s go together.”

”Let’s go, let’s go!”

”Moo moo~”

...

Three figures gradually disappeared down the sandy road, but strangely, Chu Zhen was walking in the middle, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable since he wasn’t familiar with the other two.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to reject them. For some reason, he was afraid of hurting their Dao hearts.

In the heart of the ancient city, Chu Zhen led them to a music house. The wooden architecture had a unique charm, with a spacious courtyard, flowing streams, and lush greenery, creating a tranquil and elegant scene.

A weathered wooden sign hung at the entrance of the music house, inscribed with the words ”Harmony Pavilion.”

Chu Zhen seated them by the window, a spot seemingly reserved for him. The waiter, familiar with Chu Zhen, served tea without further interruption.

This place was quite proper.Chen Xun evaluated inwardly, unsure of Chu Zhen’s purpose for bringing them here. He asked, ”Fellow Daoist Chu, are you also skilled with musical instruments?”

”I was quite fond of them as a child.”

Chu Zhen’s cold and beautiful face softened a bit, as if letting go of some inner burden. ”I once met a senior who played the zither, and I was captivated for life, thus I grew to love playing it.”

He seemed to speak more, turning to Chen Xun, his voice still cool, ”Could it be that Fellow Daoist Chen is also skilled with instruments?”

”I know a bit, I can play the suona.”

Chen Xun modestly cupped his hands, yet his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, ”I also excel in singing, fishing, and painting, with a particular love for landscapes, though I’ve yet to find a kindred spirit.”

”Hehe.”

Chu Zhen suddenly laughed, and this laugh left Chen Xun and Black Bull stunned, as if a myriad of emotions converged on his face.

”Senior Brother Chen Xun, Black Bull, you’re back!”

...

Chen Xun was suddenly startled, cupping his hands, ”Fellow Daoist Chu, I lost my composure...”

”Fellow Daoist Chen Xun, Ximen Daoist.”

”Hmm?”

”Moo?”

”Could you tell me about her, the one in your hearts?”

Chu Zhen’s voice softened considerably, showing great patience, ”I can sense the regret in your hearts, a flaw in your Dao hearts, which is not good for cultivators.”

”Fellow Daoist Chu, perhaps another time.” Chen Xun smiled, but his gaze was evasive, ”You are you, she is she, I mean no disrespect to Fellow Daoist Chu.”

”Moo...” Black Bull let out a low call, his eyes trembling slightly.

”How about I play a tune for you two?”

Chu Zhen suddenly stood and bowed, her smile blossoming like a flower, no longer with that cold demeanor, ”Consider it a token of gratitude for accompanying me.”

Chen Xun softly agreed, nodding slightly.

Chu Zhen gracefully waved his long sleeves, leisurely walking to the center, the stone floor seemingly resonating with delicate notes under her steps.

She sat down slowly, gently placing a guqin on her lap, her fingers lightly brushing the strings.

A gentle breeze blew, causing Chu Zhen’s long hair to flutter. Her gaze was tender and focused on the strings, as if merging with them.

As her fingers plucked the strings, crisp notes lingered in the air, like a clear spring flowing through the mountains, each strike telling a story.

The music rose and fell, sometimes mournful, sometimes like a gentle conversation, and at times as turbulent as waves, spreading through the tranquil music house.

Chen Xun and Black Bull listened in serene silence, feeling the warmth and clarity of the music resonate within, a long-lost sense of peace.

After half an hour, the music gradually faded. Chu Zhen had already risen, and the waiters around cast amazed glances, bowing in silent acknowledgment.

”Truly worthy of Fellow Daoist Chu, comparable to my suona skills!”

Chen Xun savored the experience, loudly praising, ”This trip was not in vain.”

”Moo moo~~” Black Bull, though not understanding, felt it was good, not even noticing it was the first time Chen Xun acknowledged someone else’s skill.

Chu Zhen’s smile deepened, sensing the sincerity in Chen Xun’s words and the unconditional praise in Black Bull’s eyes.

She returned to her seat, leaving the guqin behind.

”Fellow Daoist Chu, don’t you have your own guqin?”

Chen Xun asked with some confusion, such an item should be carried at all times, ”A magical artifact like this can be crafted at any Refining Pavilion.”

”I haven’t found a suitable guqin yet.” Chu Zhen shook her head with a smile, ”A senior promised to make one for me when I was a child, and I’m still waiting for him to fulfill it. Since then, no guqin in the world can catch my eye.”

”Oh...”

Chen Xun realized there was a story behind it, ”Who is this senior? Black Bull and I can help you find him.”

”Yao Terrace Immortal Palace, longevity family, Jun, Jun Jing.”

A trace of sadness flashed in Chu Zhen’s eyes as she gazed out the window, ”We were once peers, but the difference in talent and resources has made us cultivators of two different worlds.”

”What?!”

”Moo?!”

Chen Xun and Black Bull stood up abruptly, eyes wide, Chen Xun’s voice trembling, ”Jun Jing?! Shi Jing?! When were you born?! Do you have your birth date and time?! Can you introduce us?!”

They exchanged a glance, something was off, terribly off!

”Fellow Daoist Chen?” Chu Zhen was startled by their reaction, her brow furrowing, ”What do you mean...”

As a cultivator, one would never casually reveal their birth date and time, as it was tied to one’s fate, and many powerful spells could exploit it.

Moreover, who was Shi Jing, and what were they talking about? Chu Zhen’s brow furrowed deeply.

”Fellow Daoist Chu... do you believe in reincarnation?”

Chen Xun’s face was somewhat excited, stepping closer to Chu Zhen, almost certain now, speaking mysteriously, ”You both have supreme heavenly roots...”

Chu Zhen stood up and took two steps back, there was no such thing as reincarnation in this world. Her expression turned cold, ”Fellow Daoist Chen Xun, please have some respect, I should be going.”

With that, she turned and left, realizing they had approached her with ulterior motives, even quite impure ones.

Chen Xun and Black Bull watched her hurried departure, their expressions complex, having acted too hastily without restraint.

They left shortly after, leaving behind a few cups of still-warm tea.

In the days that followed, Chen Xun and Black Bull would often encounter Chu Zhen by chance, and he would always say, ”Hehe, Fellow Daoist Chu, what a coincidence...”

”Moo moo~~”

Black Bull would always smile brightly.

Chu Zhen’s cold and beautiful face was somewhat embarrassed, whether it was during family outings or when the ancestor took her to visit old friends, she would encounter this man and bull.

The key was that the ancestor had no objections, even saying that the younger generation should socialize more. In the vast Ancient City of True Spirits, under the will of the True Spirit, no one dared to act recklessly!

Of course, the major event that shook the ancient city didn’t count, it was purely legendary.

Chu Zhen felt a bit helpless, never expecting even the revered ancestor to privately approve of their interactions, especially since Fellow Daoist Chen Xun was at the Unity stage... with no significant background.

They gradually grew to understand each other more deeply. Chen Xun and Black Bull never mentioned Liu Yuan or Shi Jing again, simply accompanying her quietly, often exploring the mountains and waters together.

Sometimes, when Chu Zhen played the guqin amidst the landscapes, Chen Xun would join in with his suona, and Black Bull would shake a bell, making Chu Zhen laugh.

She found herself gradually accepting these two ’friends’ from who knows where, now addressing them as:

Chen Xun, Black Bull.