I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 276 - 265: Old Monster (Part 3)

A rich and sonorous sound suddenly resonated in the Ancient Moon Studio, startling Guan Kui so much that he almost dropped the painting in his hand...

Duan Rong had one foot already out of the studio’s threshold when he suddenly heard a profound and ancient melody, like the desolate footfalls of a giant on the silent, solitary earth...

Duan Rong felt his heart tremble and turned his head...

The winter sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating Lv Qingzhu’s profile. She held the xun, slightly larger than a goose egg, expertly between her hands, as her fingers danced deftly across the six holes...

Duan Rong marveled at how such an ancient and vast sound could come from such a tiny object.

After a while, Lv Qingzhu stopped playing and smiled, saying, "Not bad, I can actually play it." She looked at Guan Kui and asked, "How much for this xun?"

Guan Kui stood there, dumbfounded behind the counter. Hadn’t the shopkeeper said that no one could play this anymore?

"Twenty taels of silver coins."

In truth, Guan Kui had no idea how much that xun should cost; it was just there to fill the shelves. The shopkeeper had never mentioned its price, seemingly believing no one would ever buy it.

So Guan Kui randomly quoted a price.

Lv Qingzhu looked at the xun in her hand, her eyes filled with doubt. When she turned, she noticed Duan Rong standing at the entrance.

Lv Qingzhu then looked back at Duan Rong, her smile refreshing, and said, "Touch it and take a look at this xun for me."

Duan Rong felt a bit uneasy with Lv Qingzhu’s familiar demeanor, but because of her status as a Sect Envoy, he had no choice but to comply.

Duan Rong reached out slightly, read the Artifact Spirit of the xun, and discerned its authenticity.

"This xun is an ancient artifact, and it has some age," Duan Rong said, noticing in the doorway’s light that its surface appeared covered in fine, shallow scratches. "However, someone polished it later, which has damaged its condition somewhat."

After speaking, Duan Rong returned the xun to Lv Qingzhu, who looked at him gratefully and said, "So that’s how it is. Thank you for resolving my doubts."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "Miss, please don’t call me by that undignified nickname. My name is Duan Rong."

Lv Qingzhu chuckled and said, "I am Lv Qingzhu. But I have recently taken a new name, so you can also call me Lv Qingshan."

Duan Rong smiled a little. This girl’s Cultivation Realm far surpassed ordinary people, yet her interests remained refined and innocent, her words amusing and forthright.

At this moment, Lv Qingzhu took the xun and turned to Guan Kui, saying, "Since this xun is an antique, I won’t take advantage of you. Let it be one hundred taels of silver coins."

"Ah..." Guan Kui was momentarily stunned, not expecting a business deal to proceed in this manner.

Duan Rong watched the silken strands of Lv Qingzhu’s hair fall behind her head, thinking, "This girl is quite generous..."

Duan Rong then turned and left, fearing that if he lingered any longer, Lv Qingzhu might find something else for him to appraise.

Lv Qingzhu paid the silver coins, and Guan Kui handed over a wooden box. A Mo reached out to take it, and the two left the Ancient Moon Studio.

Guan Kui watched their departing figures with great joy, thinking, "Five hundred taels earned in such a short time!"

Lv Qingzhu and A Mo walked out of the Ancient Moon Studio, and Lv Qingzhu stood at the entrance, glancing around to find that Duan Rong had already left.

A Mo said, "That touch was impressive."

A Mo knew well that her young lady had great skill in appraising old items, yet this person called ’touch’ seemed even more skilled, offering guidance to the lady.

Lv Qingzhu nodded and said, "Indeed, a true expert in antiques!"

Lv Qingzhu once again looked at the xun in her hand, smiled faintly, and murmured, "This item...Grandpa will surely like it..."

It was her Grandpa who had taught Lv Qingzhu how to play the xun.

Even as a child, she knew her Grandpa could play this instrument.

The lonely old man’s figure, playing the xun under the moon’s glow in solitude, had left an indelible mark on her young heart.

So, as she grew slightly older, she pestered her Grandpa to teach her to play...

Lv Qingzhu and A Mo had just left the Ancient Moon Studio when Tang Wanhong lifted the curtain and came out. His face was stern as he told Guan Kui, "I’m stepping out for a bit; keep an eye on the shop."

Guan Kui said, "Shopkeeper, that Ink Chrysanthemum Painting and xun were just sold, and we’ve taken in five hundred taels."

Guan Kui spoke as he handed over five pieces of silver notes.

"Ink Chrysanthemum Painting?" Tang Wanhong counted the notes, his mood greatly improved. "Not bad!"

"Yes, the Ink Chrysanthemum Painting fetched four hundred taels, and the xun sold for a hundred taels!"

"What? The xun sold for a hundred taels?" Tang Wanhong laughed heartily, "Who bought it? Someone with too much money on their hands?"

Guan Kui said, "A young lady, she could play the xun."

Tang Wanhong laughed, "Are you joking? She can play the xun? That thing was lost to time over a thousand years ago! Unless she’s a monster who’s lived for over a thousand years, she couldn’t possibly play it!"

Saying this, Tang Wanhong had already slipped the silver notes into his sleeve and stepped outside.

Watching Tang Wanhong’s retreating figure, Guan Kui muttered, "She really could play it? That young lady was quite pretty, how could she be an old monster?"

Guan Kui felt that sometimes his shopkeeper wasn’t very reliable.