Chapter 322

Chapter 322: Playing Music to Liven Things Up

The Huangfu Family lived year-round on this island, and the living conditions were indeed quite harsh. The so-called feast was merely a large round table laden with around ten simple dishes that looked utterly unappetizing.

The reason for such simplicity, besides the island’s extreme scarcity of resources, was that only the underage children within the entire Huangfu Family needed to eat; the rest had long since ceased requiring sustenance.

When Lou Yun and Gui You Quan arrived, eight people were already present. Apart from Huangfu Xuanlan and the two elders, Lou Yun was surprised to spot Huangfu Qin. However, thinking it over, it made sense; Huangfu Qin was, after all, the next clan head. With his status, he certainly had the right to participate in significant matters within the Huangfu Family.

Besides these four, the remaining four included the only female present, while the other three were all middle-aged men whose features bore some resemblance to Huangfu Xuanlan. Of course, these were only the ones showing their faces. According to Lou Yun’s observation, at that very moment outside the hall, there were no fewer than a dozen people lurking.

Seeing Lou Yun and Gui You Quan finally appear, Huangfu Xuanlan stepped forward with a broad smile and big strides. "Clan Head Lou, please come take your seats! We were only waiting for you!"

Since Huangfu Xuanlan was intent on putting on a show, Lou Yun was naturally going to play along. He quickly mirrored the enthusiastic expression. "Clan Head Huangfu, our sudden visit is already a disturbance. For you to receive us so warmly is truly generous. If you continue this courtesy, I’ll feel utterly ashamed!"

"Haha! Please, no need for such politeness! We live in this remote backwater, isolated from the world. We’ve only prepared some simple fare!" At this point, Huangfu Xuanlan suddenly slapped his forehead. "Look at me, so caught up in the joy, I forgot to introduce everyone!"

Lou Yun was already acquainted with the two Huangfu Family elders. The sole woman was Huangfu Xuanlan’s wife, Huangfu Hui. The three men bearing a resemblance to Huangfu Xuanlan were his three younger brothers. He actually had four brothers, making five siblings in total, but the youngest brother had been severely injured during the day by Gui You Quan’s Yin Ming energy.

Although Lou Yun clearly knew that given the Huangfu Family’s current state, it was impossible for them to effectively treat the fifth brother’s injuries, since they hadn’t brought it up, he certainly wouldn’t mention it first.

Huangfu Xuanlan placed particular emphasis on introducing Huangfu Qin. At this moment, Huangfu Qin remained expressionless, his eyes fixed unwaveringly and openly on Lou Yun.

Once everyone was seated, Huangfu Xuanlan and his three brothers immediately began frequently toasting Lou Yun and Gui You Quan. They constantly spoke polite platitudes, while Lou Yun and Gui You Quan accepted every toast, emptying their cups promptly. They hadn’t even touched their chopsticks yet but were already full from the wine.

In short, the scene throughout this feast was one of utmost harmony and congeniality. Neither side displayed the slightest hint of animosity.

Finally setting his cup down, Huangfu Xuanlan smiled slightly. "Clan Head Lou, you certainly have a formidable capacity! But merely drinking and eating like this feels rather dull."

Without waiting for Lou Yun’s reply, Huangfu Xuanlan turned directly to the two elders. "You two Elders are masters of music. Why don’t you showcase your skills? Play a couple of tunes to liven up the wine!"

The Second Elder nodded gently. "Since the Clan Head commands, I can only embarrass myself!"

As his words fell, he flipped his hand, and a guqin appeared!

This guqin was a common weapon, about three feet long and half a foot wide. It was entirely a rust-colored hue. The lute body was plain and natural, bearing only the grain pattern of the wood it was made from, devoid of any other decoration. It exuded an aura of ancient vastness. Compared to Huangfu Le’s guqin embroidered with large peonies, the Second Elder’s lute differed vastly in presence just by its aura alone!

Although Lou Yun, being a skilled weapon maker, had a nearly instinctive appreciation for all kinds of common weapon, at this moment, he had no heart to admire the Second Elder’s lute. Almost simultaneously, alert voices resounded in his mind and by his ear: Chang Xiang’s and Gui You Quan’s! "Be careful! The Huangfu Family excels at invoking the True Dream Realm through music!"

The True Dream Realm… Lou Yun had already experienced it once. It was precisely within a True Dream Realm that he had become Mr. Commoner’s disciple!

Later, Chang Xiang had given Lou Yun a detailed explanation about the True Dream Realm, but that explanation only scratched the surface. Lou Yun only half-understood. Nevertheless, he knew one thing for certain: if he fell into a True Dream Realm, his consciousness and actions could very likely be influenced, becoming uncontrollable by himself. He would be led by the nose by the one who created the True Dream Realm!

That would mean surrendering his entire being, his very life included, defenseless to someone else. It was an extremely perilous situation!

Hearing their warnings now, and recalling the previous experience in the True Dream Realm, Lou Yun hurriedly and quietly drew a long breath, steadying himself as quickly as possible.

The previous True Dream Realm, cast by Mr. Commoner, had been benevolent in intent—it aimed to recruit him as a disciple. The True Dream Realm the Huangfu Family was about to unleash, however, was clearly not merely meant to "liven the feast". Lou Yun had to muster absolute vigilance to face it.

Huangfu Xuanlan had been closely observing the reactions of Lou Yun and Gui You Quan. Though Lou Yun tried his utmost to conceal it, a flicker of unease inevitably surfaced. Spotting this flicker, a cold sneer rose in Huangfu Xuanlan’s heart. So it seems Lou Yun knows the Huangfu Family’s music can invoke the True Dream Realm. But even knowing that is irrelevant. He absolutely didn’t believe Lou Yun and his companion could withstand the music of both elders.

Huangfu Xuanlan felt Lou Yun was already a rat trapped in his hole. His demeanor subtly shed its former pretense. Smiling faintly, he deliberately adopted a slightly mocking tone, "Clan Head Lou, you seem a bit tense. Are you alright?"

Lou Yun was no ordinary man; he instantly detected the sarcasm in Huangfu Xuanlan’s voice and realized he had dropped the act. He responded without backing down, "I’ve long heard of the renowned mastery of your Huangfu Family’s music. Today, having the good fortune to hear it personally, especially performed by the esteemed Second Elder… naturally, I’m a bit excited."

As he spoke, Lou Yun had completely composed himself. His gaze swept briefly over the guqin in the Second Elder’s hands, and he offered a slight smile. "The Huangfu Family lives up to being one of the Nine Clans! This lute is actually forged from ebony wood, undoubtedly a prime example among common weapons! Though ebony is unfortunately quite rigid. Using it for a guqin might slightly affect the sound quality?"

Although Lou Yun’s skill in forging weapons still needed refinement, his discerning eye was already sharp. Thus, he instantly identified the material of the Second Elder’s common weapon and pointed it out, delivering a small blow to Huangfu Xuanlan’s smugness.

Indeed, Huangfu Xuanlan’s satisfied expression vanished instantly upon these words. What Lou Yun said was the plain truth.

Now, Huangfu Xuanlan lost all desire for further verbal sparring. He turned to the Second Elder. "Second Elder, you may begin!"

The Second Elder gave a slight nod. Resting the guqin horizontally on his lap, he extended his fingers and lightly plucked a string!

Instantly, a crisp, explosive note burst from the string! Lou Yun distinctly felt the air before him vibrate faintly due to this singular, simple sound!

Then, the Second Elder’s fingers abruptly accelerated. One simple, explosive note after another erupted, a rumbling sound growing louder and faster.

This didn’t resemble lute music at all. It sounded more like crashing waves against the void, like thunder from lightning—booming into Lou Yun’s ears, shaking his very heart.

Although Lou Yun felt the music was indeed extraordinary, it still couldn’t shake his spirit. So his expression remained composed.

Suddenly, the Second Elder’s fingers slowed. The sounds from the lute ceased being distinct individual notes, transforming instead into a continuous melody.

Listening carefully now, the lute’s sound resembled some creature’s shrill, miserable shriek! Mournful, piercing tones coiled and circled within the hall, each note sharply assaulting Lou Yun’s eardrums.

The sound was overwhelmingly unpleasant, making Lou Yun involuntarily frown. This small reaction wasn’t missed by the Huangfu Family members. Their faces lit up with pleasure.

The Huangfu Family’s lutes could not only invoke the True Dream Realm but also launch attacks with their music. Different tones corresponded to different levels of attack power. The weakest was the initial sound of single notes Lou Yun first heard. Next was the current screech, resembling a night owl’s cry. Following this were three more sounds, each progressively more potent.

Generally, if familiar with an opponent’s strength, a Huangfu member would play the corresponding tone directly. When unfamiliar with the opponent’s strength, and before invoking the True Dream Realm, they had to sequence the tones from weakest to strongest, playing each in order. This was solely to discover the limit of the opponent’s endurance to the music.

Seeing Lou Yun frown briefly at just the second tone, they thought this must be his limit. The plan then was, as the music evolved, if Lou Yun’s facial expressions changed accordingly, they could immediately invoke the True Dream Realm.

However, they had severely underestimated Lou Yun’s strength. His frown was merely a reaction to the unpleasant sound, not a sign that he’d reached his limit. So, under their eager expectation, the Second Elder finished playing the second tone and had to transition to the third!

This time, the music noticeably slowed. It became like the sobbing sound emitted during weeping, laden with profound sorrow. It slowly, steadily descended, enveloping Lou Yun completely.