Chapter 10: What Kind of Rudeness Is This?

"Ah!"

Huangfu Meng suddenly snapped back to herself, letting out a sharp scream and hastily pressed down on the spinning top. Her little face was drained of all color, not a hint of blood remained. Every inch of her skin throbbed with intense pain, as if she had barely escaped death. Just moments ago, she felt as though the vast path of Yin and Yang emanating from the top had nearly erased her existence altogether. Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!

"Oh, this..."

When Huangfu Meng noticed her official robe, she gasped again. Her previously pale cheeks now flushed a miraculous crimson. The robe was torn to shreds, hanging on her body by barely half, exposing swathes of snowy skin. Even the twin mounds of her chest were barely covered, visible through tatters and gaps.

"What should I do? What should I do?" Huangfu Meng was mortified, overwhelmed with shame. Such disarray was a grave disrespect to the Master. Why did she have to touch that top? How foolish!

At that moment, Chen Changsheng and his daughter returned from planting fruit trees.

"Miss Huangfu, my apologies for keeping you waiting alone for so long." Chen Changsheng led Chen Die'er into the house, only to see Huangfu Meng standing in the center, her back turned to them. He asked curiously, "Oh? Miss Huangfu, what's wrong?"

"I, I..." Huangfu Meng's heart quivered, inwardly lamenting her predicament. How could she face the Master in such a state?

"Miss Huangfu, what happened to you?" Chen Changsheng was utterly puzzled.

Chen Die'er, her bright, spirited eyes full of curiosity, also looked at Huangfu Meng with suspicion.

"I... cough, Young Master Chen, I was cultivating, and something unexpected happened, so... so..." Huangfu Meng wished she could vanish into the earth, so mortified she was. Had she known, she would never have touched that top, not even under threat.

In the end, she bit her lip and slowly turned around. Her cheeks bloomed like peach blossoms, her head lowered, unable to meet Chen Changsheng's gaze.

"Uh, well..."

Seeing Huangfu Meng barely clothed, Chen Changsheng's breath caught, and he discreetly swallowed—irresistible!

Witnessing this, Chen Die'er's mouth fell open in shock. She blinked her pure, luminous eyes and said, "Sister Huangfu, you were really careless to end up like this."

Indeed, who could deny it?

Huangfu Meng longed to slap herself. She stole a glance at Chen Changsheng, who seemed only dazed, not at all angry. She felt a surge of relief and asked timidly, "Young Master Chen, you don't blame me?"

Chen Changsheng suddenly came to himself and asked, "Blame you for what?" As he spoke, his gaze swept lightly over the exposed curves of Huangfu Meng—what a figure, dangerously alluring!

"I... am like this, and you don't blame me for being disrespectful?" Huangfu Meng looked down at her tattered robe and asked softly.

So that's what she was worried about?

Tsk, what a refined young lady!

Chen Changsheng could hardly believe his ears. "Miss Huangfu, how could you say that? You only ended up like this because of an accident while cultivating."

He chuckled privately—what disrespect? If anything, he wouldn't mind if she wore nothing at all.

"Ah..." Huangfu Meng exhaled deeply, truly relieved, though still shy. She respectfully clasped her hands, saying, "Thank you, Young Master Chen, for your magnanimity. I was afraid you'd blame me for sullying your immortal abode."

"Miss Huangfu, you're too reserved," Chen Changsheng replied with a gentle smile.

This Huangfu Meng was truly remarkable. Her greatest worry was that he might blame her, not her own embarrassment, and her manner remained so courteous and restrained. The cultivators of this world were nothing like those described in fantasy novels from his previous life—quick to anger and violence. Here, they were genuinely refined and amiable.

Though Huangfu Meng was still slightly abashed, she gradually relaxed. Glancing at the ancient zither, she asked, "Young Master Chen, do you also understand music?"

"I know a little, enough to amuse myself now and then," Chen Changsheng replied with a smile. "Does Miss Huangfu also play? If you’re interested, why not try? It’s a pleasant diversion."

"Not at all! Not at all!" Huangfu Meng instinctively stepped back, casting a timid glance at the zither.

Play it? That would be courting death!

Chen Changsheng noticed her fear and was slightly puzzled. It was only a zither, not a monster—what was so frightening about it?

He did not insist. His gaze once more subtly lingered on the barely covered grace of Huangfu Meng's figure before he seated himself before the zither. "Since Miss Huangfu is so interested in the zither, it’s clear she has some understanding of music. Let me play a piece for you, as a distraction."

"I wouldn’t dare claim any deep understanding, only a superficial grasp," Huangfu Meng hurriedly demurred. In truth, her talent for music was extraordinary; she was renowned as the Little Immortal of Music in White Emperor City. Yet before this Master, she dared not show off.

Chen Changsheng merely smiled, saying nothing more. He placed his ten fingers lightly upon the zither strings, preparing to play.

Huangfu Meng instinctively stepped back again, fear written on her face. After her recent ordeal, she was like a startled bird.

Tinkling notes flowed gently from Chen Changsheng’s fingertips.

"Ah..." Huangfu Meng gasped softly, blinking in amazement.

The melody he played was still the Music of the Great Dao. Yet this time, it was entirely different from what she had produced earlier. His music was long and profound, seeming to arise from the deepest recesses of soul and heart.

Soon, images uncontrollably arose in Huangfu Meng’s mind: picturesque green mountains, serene waters, birdsong clear and refreshing, a slender boat drifting gently on verdant streams—a veritable immortal realm.

She felt herself enveloped by the gentle music, immersed in that celestial scene, merging with it completely.

Her mind became crystal clear. Paths of cultivation she had never grasped before now revealed their true essence, easily comprehended.

A faint cracking sound came from within her.

A breakthrough!

Yet Huangfu Meng remained standing quietly, eyes closed, her whole being utterly lost in the music.

A breeze stirred, fluttering her ragged robe, baring even more of her snowy skin, yet she remained oblivious.

Another soft crack sounded within.

Another breakthrough...

A lingering note resonated from the zither, trembling further and further, finally seeming to vanish into the depths of soul.

The music faded, but Huangfu Meng stood still, eyes gently closed, the melody still echoing in her mind, unable to escape its grasp.