The Silent Path of the Swordsman

Chapter 5 - The Flute

“Lianhua Forest?” Luo Yin's eyes widened at those words, her expression clouded with concern. “But that forest...”

“There is no need to worry,” Hua Lianyi interrupted calmly. “I can assure you that your son is safe. I came here only on Luo Yi's behalf to bid you farewell, because he told me he left for Lianhua Forest without informing you. He also asked me to apologize to you for leaving home without saying goodbye.”

Hearing those words, Luo Yin's eyes gradually became misty. Lowering her head, she murmured inwardly, 'Luo Yi, Mother is proud of you. You're proving to me through your unwavering determination that even the impossible can be made possible.'

She wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, then cupped her fist before her chest and bowed respectfully to Hua Lianyi. “Please forgive me for greeting you so rudely earlier. I believe you now. Please... take good care of my son!”

Hua Lianyi gave a slight nod. “I will protect your son and train him until he becomes as strong as I am.”

The moment she finished speaking, Hua Lianyi vanished from sight like smoke carried away by the wind. Luo Yin could only stare at the place where the woman had been standing before whispering softly, “A Legendary Realm Cultivator!”

Among cultivators, the Teleportation Technique could only be mastered by those who had reached the Legendary Realm.

In truth, Luo Yin had suspected it from the very beginning. The woman's manner of speaking, her unwavering composure, and the extraordinary power she displayed all pointed to a single conclusion. However, her worry for her son had clouded her judgment. Only now did she feel certain.

What Luo Yin did not know, however, was that Hua Lianyi was not actually a Legendary Realm Cultivator. Rather, she was a practitioner of the Nature Breathing Technique, which granted her power comparable to that of a Legendary Realm Cultivator.

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Meanwhile, back in Lianhua Forest—more precisely, inside the Underground Library—Luo Yi was completely absorbed in reading a book titled The Art of Calming the Mind. He believed that by studying it, he would master the Nature Breathing Technique more quickly, since his master had told him that the technique required an exceptionally high level of tranquility.

Just as he was deeply engrossed in the book, a gentle radiance suddenly shimmered before him, gradually taking the silhouette of a person. Within seconds, Hua Lianyi appeared soundlessly in front of Luo Yi, as though the light itself had carried her there from another place.

“Yi'er,” Hua Lianyi called softly, her voice as calm as ever.

Luo Yi gave a slight start before quickly turning around. “Master?”

“I've just returned from meeting your mother.”

Luo Yi's eyes widened. “Master has already been to my house?”

Hua Lianyi nodded. “I delivered your message and conveyed your request. I could tell from the look in her eyes that she loves you dearly and is proud of you, even though she didn't say it aloud.”

Hua Lianyi glanced toward the bookshelves surrounding them before her gaze settled on the book Luo Yi was holding.

“Is that The Art of Calming the Mind?” she asked gently as she walked closer.

Luo Yi nodded. “Yes, Master. I thought that if I understood this book, I'd be able to master the Nature Breathing Technique more quickly.”

Hua Lianyi smiled faintly. Then she raised a hand and retrieved something from the storage ring on her finger—a silver jade flute that shimmered beneath the light cast by the crystals hanging from the ceiling of the chamber.

“In that case, let me show you a deeper way to experience tranquility.”

She raised the flute to her lips and began to play a gentle melody.

The music drifted softly through the chamber like a spring breeze. Each note seemed to seep directly into Luo Yi's heart, calming his mind as though every burden he carried had simply melted away. His body felt lighter, his eyelids grew heavy, and his consciousness nearly drifted into the realm of dreams.

Hua Lianyi slowly lowered her flute. Her gaze fell upon Luo Yi, who was seated cross-legged on the tiled floor of the Underground Library with his back lightly resting against a bookshelf. His eyes were half-closed, as though he were struggling against the drowsiness brought on by the enchanting melody she had just played.

Seeing this, Hua Lianyi smiled faintly.

“Don't fall asleep here, Yi'er. Come to your room,” she said gently, her soothing voice seeming to carry on the tranquility woven by her music.

“I'm sorry, Master,” Luo Yi replied. “I wasn't planning to sleep. But the melody from your flute was so beautiful that it filled me with an incredible sense of peace. It was so comforting that I nearly fell asleep while listening.”

Hua Lianyi offered, “Would you like to learn how to play the flute?”

Luo Yi nodded with a bright smile. “Please teach me, Master!”

“I don't think I'll need to teach you how to play the flute,” Hua Lianyi said.

Luo Yi's smile faded slightly, though his eyes remained filled with eager anticipation.

Hua Lianyi slowly walked over to him before sitting cross-legged across from him. She pointed at the book still in Luo Yi's hands.

“Open to page one hundred and seventy-eight,” she said calmly.

Luo Yi obeyed, turning the pages until he found the one she had mentioned. There he saw an illustration of a flute, proper finger placements, and several notes explaining the basic techniques for producing tones.

“You can learn on your own with that book,” Hua Lianyi said before handing the flute to the young man. “Take it.”

“Thank you, Master.” Luo Yi accepted the flute with a delighted smile, gripping it eagerly as though he could hardly wait to begin learning.

“Practice diligently.” Hua Lianyi rose to her feet. “But don't forget to rest,” she added before walking toward the spiral staircase.

“Yes, Master!”

After his master departed, Luo Yi stared at the flute in his hands with unconcealed curiosity. He glanced once more at page one hundred and seventy-eight, carefully studying the finger positions and breathing techniques illustrated there.

Slowly, he raised the flute to his lips. Adjusting his fingers according to the diagram, he took a deep breath before gently blowing into it.

The sound that emerged was off-key and completely uneven.

Luo Yi smiled faintly. “So it's not as easy as it looks.”

But he refused to give up. He returned to the book, adjusted his fingers, and tried again.

This time, a simple tune emerged. It was still rough and unpolished, but far clearer than before. Soft notes echoed throughout the Underground Library, bringing a new atmosphere to the chamber.

He continued practicing, one note after another, until a short melody gradually took shape. Though simple, it carried a profound sense of tranquility.

Suddenly, the flute in his hands trembled lightly.

Luo Yi lowered the flute and stared at it with wide eyes. “What just happened?”

But nothing else happened. The flute merely gave that slight tremor, perhaps from the resonance of the last note he had played. He let out a slow breath, trying to calm himself.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the spiral staircase.

Luo Yi turned sharply, his body instinctively tensing. Yet the footsteps were light, slow... and completely unfamiliar.

'That doesn't sound like Master's footsteps,' he murmured quietly.

The footsteps drew closer. Whoever it was had nearly reached the top of the staircase.

Luo Yi tightened his grip on the flute. His eyes remained fixed on the entrance, his breath caught in his throat.