Chapter 340
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 340: No Music Without a Mine at Home
Bai Wei spent the entire afternoon with little Michelle, reading books and furthering their study of magical spells.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. Most of the students focused on their studies, occasionally indulging in minor skirmishes.
As evening neared, Bai Wei returned to his own body and took a brief nap, sleeping deeply until the sun was high in the sky.
His sister was not home, and the familiar rhythm of his daily life was completely disrupted.
Fortunately, he had no concerns about his body. Even if he stayed up all night, his physical condition was resilient enough to endure centuries of neglect.
After waking, Bai Wei combined his breakfast and lunch into a single meal. As he ate, he pondered what to do for the day.
On regular days, he either had a lot to do or nothing at all.
Bai Wei didn’t have a conventional job, unlike some poor souls who spent their days typing away at a computer, working tirelessly through the night.
Or, his idea of a “proper job” was to marry a fair-skinned, beautiful, wealthy, and kind-hearted girl from Ming Country, who would also possess eight different personalities.
After marriage, his job would change. He would become a professional stay-at-home husband, helping with all manner of big and small troubles. As an assistant, he would easily overcome any challenges, using his skills to manage the household.
In the past, Bai Wei was an avid reader, enjoying romance novels, online stories, and engaging comics. Many of the male protagonists were like the legendary sweeping monk—ordinary in everyday life, yet capable of turning the tide with a single gesture when the moment came.
He even hoped to emulate this role. For those who had experienced countless reincarnations, for the former emperors, for the Judgment Knight judged by ancient religions, for the rare animal protectors, the commanding officer of the Monster-Slaying Bureau, and international friends and foes of evil gods—it was all “very simple.” But the critical question remained…
Where could he find a beautiful, wealthy wife with a great personality?
…
In his free time, Bai Wei continued to work at Izumi Dojo, making up for lost time.
After a few hours of training at the dojo, the disciples were exhausted, with no energy left for sparring.
Bai Wei, having just warmed up, hadn’t even broken a sweat.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, he finished his lessons and decided to visit the hospital.
To his surprise, he found Sakurai Shiru studying music on her own.
Caught off guard, the girl blushed, stammering as she awkwardly tried to explain herself.
Bai Wei was not well-versed in entertainment matters. When he was an emperor, he didn’t have time for cultural pursuits like music.
As a mentor, he understood the importance of the soldiers’ mental well-being. Therefore, the only songs they learned in the resistance army were a march called “Steel Torrent” and the Russian song “Katyusha.”
Why Russian songs? Because they embodied the Soviet spirit—powerful and invigorating, something Bai Wei felt was the pinnacle of human intellect. The Anglo-Saxons, by comparison, seemed primitive and less intellectually refined.
Bai Wei remembered that Sakurai Shiru was a fan of Hatsurai Wagaizuma, his wife.
“You don’t need to hide it from me,” Bai Wei said. “Learning music is a good thing, and the entertainment market is still quite large.”
Back in the days when the semiconductor industry was just emerging and phones were a rarity, cassette tapes and records were incredibly popular. Music was highly valued, and singers emerged in droves, with pop music earning far more than classical genres.
Hatsurai Wagaizuma’s music, while not very sophisticated compared to the 21st century, was still immensely popular and perfectly suited for its era.
Times create heroes, and the wave of the era gave birth to a music revolution, with celestial singers rising to fame—Zhou among them.
However, as the internet age arrived, the music world began to shrink, leaving behind only the small-time performers. Yet, live performances continued to shine brightly, like neon lights.
Bai Wei sat down and asked Sakurai Shiru what kind of music she was studying.
She answered without hesitation, “Piano.”
Bai Wei raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Isn’t it popular music?”
She shook her head. “I want to start by learning the piano.”
It seemed her ambition was not just to be a singer but to become a musician—one who could compose, write, and perform. If she mastered the piano, she would be considered a true musician.
In the 21st century, Bai Wei might advise her to abandon her musical dreams, but in this era, where technology was slow to advance and entertainment still relied on television, he could only say, “You have great foresight!”
“If you want to learn the piano, I can teach you the basics,” Bai Wei offered.
The little girl blinked and said, “Uncle, aren’t you from Ming Country? Shouldn’t you be playing the suona?”
Bai Wei coughed awkwardly. “Well… I do know a bit of the ‘Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix’ dance… just a little. I also understand the kind of joyful, celebratory tunes, like those for red and white occasions.”
He thought to himself, “Can you believe I once played the bugle charge as a mentor?!”
The suona was indeed notorious for its harsh, piercing sound, capable of breaking any sense of serenity.
Since there was no piano at Bai Wei’s home, he wondered if he should buy one. Given his finances, he asked, “How much does a piano cost?”
“I don’t know,” replied Sakurai Shiru, tilting her head innocently.
From behind, a voice answered, “A grand piano is over ten million yen.”
It was Kurosawa Yaka.
Bai Wei was taken aback. “Over ten million yen? Do you have an upright piano instead?”
Kurosawa Yaka shook her head. “I’ve only seen grand pianos at concerts. They’re not usually bought for personal use.”
Bai Wei thought for a moment. He had misunderstood. The rich girls from prominent families in Yingzhou studied traditional culture, and pianos were rare—most studied instruments like the shakuhachi or other traditional instruments.
Kurosawa Yaka continued, explaining, “First-rate pianists are very popular in Europe, especially in a city called Vienna.”
Bai Wei was taken aback. “Vienna… is that where the piano came from?”
“Yes,” Kurosawa Yaka replied. “Vienna became the world’s music capital, housing seventy percent of the world’s top pianists.”
Bai Wei thought to himself, “Cultural invasion… Why is Europa more modernized than us?”
Kurosawa explained, “The piano was created by the emperor who destroyed the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”
Bai Wei nodded. “Indeed, it was.”
In this world, Bai Wei himself had contributed to the improvement of the piano. As a prince, he had completed its design as a gift for his ten-year-old sister’s birthday. He had studied music and transformed the instrument, taking inspiration from Beethoven’s “Für Elise.”
Bai Wei had been an emperor of great achievement, hiding his true ambitions while subtly cultivating his own power. He had no interest in the throne, preferring to focus on his personal development.
Kurosawa Yaka lamented, “Though he created the piano, he left behind too few compositions.”
Bai Wei, however, thought to himself, “I simply copied it. If I really put my mind to it, I could compose a hundred songs a day.”
He had stopped composing after becoming emperor, as he no longer needed such distractions. And there was another reason—he had no one left worthy of his music, for they had all been taken from him.
As a child, Bai Wei had trusted his elder sister, Princess San, with whom he shared a passion for art. They often discussed music and painting. But tragedy struck when a bloody month of assassinations took place, wiping out most of the royal family, including Princess San.
The Crown Prince and Second Prince were eliminated, and Bai Wei, the least likely heir, became the ruler. But his dead relatives soon returned to life, having used decoys to orchestrate their survival.
The power struggle for the throne continued, with Princess San re-emerging and claiming victory.
In the end, Bai Wei was forced to face the painful reality. After a final confrontation, he was left with nothing but his music and memories of those he had lost.
The memory of that blood-soaked time made Bai Wei think twice about his former self. Now, listening to music once again, he felt a deep yearning.
He reached out and gently stroked Sakurai Shiru’s hair. “Let me teach you the piano score for ‘Dedicated to Elise.’”
