82: Buy sheet music

At the zi hour, Qin Feng received new intelligence from the System right on time.

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed]

[White Intelligence: The eldest Young Miss of the Hangzhou City Lord's Manor has recently become obsessed with a new type of pastry called 'Jade Dew Balls.' She eats them every day, and the City Lord has ordered people to hire the master who makes this pastry into the manor at a high price.]

[Yellow Intelligence: Liu Xiaowan, the sister of Ghost Hand Liu the Fourth, is being secretly held by the Cao Gang in an underground secret room of the abandoned 'Bing-7' warehouse in the West City pier district. The guards are two Incense Masters of the Cao Gang at the Early Stage Grand Martial Master level, working in shifts. The entrance to the secret room is hidden and equipped with simple warning mechanisms.]

[Blue Intelligence: Fragments of the lost ancient music score 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers' (three pages in total) are currently in the private collection of the owner of the 'Ink Fragrance Study' bookstore by the West Lake. The owner is an elegant man who treats them as treasures; they cannot be obtained without a high price and great sincerity.]

Looking at these three pieces of intelligence, Qin Feng felt greatly reassured. His goals were very clear!

The gossip from the City Lord's Manor was temporarily unimportant and could be ignored. The intelligence on rescuing Liu Xiaowan was crucial; it not only gave the exact location but also detailed the guard strength and defensive measures, which greatly reduced the difficulty and risk of the rescue. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers' pointed clearly to the 'Ink Fragrance Study.'

He immediately found Tower Master Su Yuetang and reported the situation.

"Tower Master, the location where Liu Xiaowan is being held has been identified. It's underground in the Bing-7 warehouse at the West City pier. The guards are two Incense Masters of the Cao Gang at the Early Stage Grand Martial Master level," Qin Feng said succinctly.

A sharp glint flashed in Su Yuetang's eyes. "Good! I will arrange the hidden guards immediately, and they will be under your command. Move at the zi hour tonight; you must rescue her silently!"

"Understood," Qin Feng nodded, then changed the subject. "Additionally, the key item to befriending the Wonderful Sound Workshop, the fragments of 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers,' has also been located at the 'Ink Fragrance Study.'"

Upon hearing this, a look of gratification appeared on Su Yuetang's face. "Deacon Qin's methods are indeed extraordinary! If this succeeds, our Hundred Flowers Palace will truly have a firm foothold in West Lake City!" She paused for a moment, took out an exquisite Storage Pouch, and handed it to Qin Feng. "Inside are two hundred thousand gold coins. You previously advanced one hundred thousand for the chamber of commerce's affairs; this is the branch's compensation to you, as well as the funds for purchasing the music score. You must obtain it!"

Qin Feng did not decline and took the Storage Pouch. He knew this was the branch's recognition and trust in his abilities. "I will not fail my mission."

Leaving the Hundred Flowers Villa, Qin Feng went straight to the 'Ink Fragrance Study' located in the literati gathering area by the West Lake.

This was an antique bookstore. The storefront wasn't large, but it exuded a thick scholarly aura. Inside, bookshelves stood tall with numerous classics, and the air was filled with the unique scent of ink and old paper. The shopkeeper was an elderly man wearing a washed-out blue robe, with graying hair and a refined temperament. He was sitting behind the counter, wearing reading glasses, carefully repairing a damaged ancient book.

Qin Feng was in no hurry to state his purpose. Instead, he first browsed the shop casually, his gaze sweeping over rows of bookshelves before finally stopping at the section displaying zither and chess scores.

The old man looked up at Qin Feng. Seeing an unfamiliar young man with an extraordinary temperament who didn't look like an ordinary scholar, he lowered his head and continued his work without greeting him.

After looking around, Qin Feng found no trace of 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers,' knowing that such an item must be kept in the shopkeeper's private collection. He walked to the counter and cupped his hands in a polite greeting. "Old gentleman, this Junior takes the liberty of disturbing you."

The old man put down his tools, looked up, and appraised him through his reading glasses. "What advice does the Young Master have?"

"I have heard that you have a rich collection in your shop, old gentleman. This Junior has a preference for ancient music scores, especially the long-lost 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers.' I wonder if the old gentleman would be willing to part with it?" Qin Feng got straight to the point, his tone sincere.

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed the old man's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and shook his head. "The Young Master's information is quite well-informed. However, this old man does not have that score. Please leave, Young Master." His tone was flat, carrying an indisputable refusal.

Qin Feng knew it wouldn't be that smooth, but he wasn't discouraged. He continued, "Old gentleman, this Junior is sincerely seeking to purchase it. I heard that only three pages of fragments remain of this score. This Junior is willing to pay a high price, only seeking a glimpse to fulfill a lifelong wish."

The old man appraised Qin Feng again. Seeing that his eyes were clear and his attitude was sincere, not appearing fake, he pondered for a moment and said, "Young Master, it's not that this old man is unwilling to fulfill your wish. It's just that to me, this score cannot be measured by gold or silver. It carries a period of time, a sense of sentiment. I'm afraid I cannot comply."

Qin Feng understood that against such an elegant person, money alone was not enough; he had to cater to his interests and show sincerity. He thought for a moment and said, "I understand your meaning, old gentleman. Gold and silver are vulgar things that indeed defile the elegance of ancient scores. I have heard that you are skilled at repairing ancient books. This Junior happens to have a piece of 'Pine Smoke Ancient Ink' from the previous dynasty. Although it is not a peerless treasure, the ink color is pure, the glue is light, and the quality is firm. It might be of help to the old gentleman in repairing ancient books."

As he spoke, he took out a black ancient ink stick in a brocade box from his Storage Pouch (actually from the System space, which he had obtained from a previous small Opportunity) and presented it with both hands.

The old man's eyes lit up slightly. For a book lover, the attraction of a piece of good ink sometimes indeed surpassed gold and silver. He took the brocade box and opened it. He saw that the ancient ink had a simple and unsophisticated shape, a dark and moist luster, and a faint scent of pine. It was indeed high-quality ancient ink.

He stroked the ancient ink, and a hint of movement appeared on his face, but he still did not give in.

Seeing this, Qin Feng knew the timing was about right and directly brought out his trump card. He gently placed a gold card containing one hundred thousand gold coins on the counter.

"Old gentleman, my heart in seeking the score is as clear as the heavens and earth. In this Storage Pouch, there are one hundred thousand gold coins. This Junior is willing to use this ink plus one hundred thousand gold coins to exchange for those three pages of fragments. This is not to measure the value of the ancient score, but all the sincerity I can offer. I only hope the old gentleman can fulfill this obsession of mine, so that this dust-covered ancient score can have a chance to sound again in the hands of someone who understands it."

One hundred thousand gold coins! Plus that priceless Pine Smoke Ancient Ink!

This price far exceeded the market value of the three pages of music score fragments themselves! Even the well-traveled old shopkeeper was shocked by Qin Feng's massive gesture and the 'obsession' and sincerity he displayed.

He looked at the ancient ink, then at the heavy Storage Pouch, and finally, his gaze fell on Qin Feng's young face, which was filled with determination and sincerity.

A brief silence fell over the shop, with only the breeze from West Lake outside gently brushing past.

After a long time, the old man sighed deeply, a complex yet relieved smile appearing on his face. "Forget it, forget it... Perhaps this score is destined to be with the Young Master. Staying here with me, it is after all just a dust-covered object. I hope that in the Young Master's hands, it can truly reappear in its full glory."

He turned around and carefully took out a kraft paper package tied with gold thread from a locked red sandalwood box behind the counter. Untying the gold thread, inside were three yellowed pages with slightly damaged edges, but the handwriting and musical notes were still clearly legible.

It was exactly the fragments of 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers'!

"Young Master, please keep it safe." The old man handed the music score over with a solemn expression.

"Thank you, old gentleman, for fulfilling my wish!" Qin Feng suppressed the excitement in his heart, took the hard-won three pages of fragments with both hands, and carefully stored them away. Then, he pushed the ancient ink and the Storage Pouch over.

The old man only accepted the ancient ink but pushed the Storage Pouch back, shaking his head. "I have already received the Young Master's sincerity. These one hundred thousand gold coins are too heavy; I am just a poor scholar and do not deserve them. Since the Young Master has great use for them, keep them for elsewhere. I only hope you will treat this score well and not fail it."

Hearing this, Qin Feng felt even more admiration for this old man of noble character. He no longer insisted, took back the Storage Pouch, and gave the old man a deep bow. "Your high integrity, old gentleman, this Junior will remember it in my heart. I will not fail this score!"

Carrying the fragments of 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers' and having only consumed a piece of ancient ink, Qin Feng walked out of the Ink Fragrance Study. The sunlight sparkled on the West Lake, and his mood was just like the lake's light—bright and full of hope.