83: Gifts and Appreciation

It was mid-morning, the sunlight was perfect, and the lake breeze was slightly intoxicating. Carrying those three precious remnant pages of the "streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers," Qin Feng arrived at the Wonderful Sound Workshop located near "Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer," one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake.

The Wonderful Sound Workshop was no ordinary music hall; it was an expansive garden-style architectural complex with pavilions and terraces arranged in an orderly yet scattered fashion. With white walls, black tiles, and upturned eaves, it was hidden among weeping willows and swaying lotus ponds. Before one could even hear the string and bamboo instruments, one could already feel its elegance. The workshop gate was guarded by two fair-faced maidens dressed in pale green dresses; their expressions were calm, but their eyes held a hint of unapproachable aloofness.

Qin Feng straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and cupped his hands. "I am Qin Feng, here specifically to visit Workshop Master Su. I trouble you to announce my arrival."

One of the maidens sized him up. Seeing that he was young and his clothing was not particularly luxurious, she gave a routine refusal. "This Young Master, I apologize, but our Workshop Master is not seeing outside guests today. Please return another day."

Qin Feng was not surprised. He smiled slightly and added, "Please inform the Workshop Master that Qin Feng has come bringing the very thing she has been searching for—'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers'."

"streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers?" The maiden had clearly heard of this name. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and her attitude softened slightly. "Young Master, please wait a moment." She turned and walked quickly into the workshop to report.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the maiden returned with a look of disbelief on her face. She gave Qin Feng a respectful bow. "Young Master Qin, the Workshop Master invites you. Please follow me."

Passing through several moon gates and winding around corridors and water pavilions, the maiden led Qin Feng to an exquisite small building by the water. A plaque hanging on the pavilion read "Rain Listening Pavilion," and the environment was extremely serene.

Stepping inside, he saw a woman dressed in a moon-white, elegant long dress with her back to the door, playing the zither by the window. Her figure was graceful; even from just a back view, she exuded infinite elegance and an indescribable air of nobility. Faint sandalwood incense burned by the zither table, blending with the fresh air from the lotus pond outside the window, refreshing the mind.

Hearing footsteps, the music stopped abruptly. The woman slowly turned around.

Only then did Qin Feng see her appearance clearly. She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with features as beautiful as a painting and skin fairer than snow. Her temperament was ethereal and refined, as if she did not belong to the mortal world. Her clear eyes fell upon Qin Feng, carrying a hint of curiosity and scrutiny.

"You are Qin Feng?" Su Xiaoxiao's voice was like her zither music, clear and moving.

"I am Qin Feng, greetings to Workshop Master Su." Qin Feng cupped his hands in salutation.

Su Xiaoxiao did not immediately ask him to rise. Instead, she walked closer, scrutinizing him carefully, a flash of realization in her eyes. "Qin Feng... Could you be the young hero who, a year ago in Star South City, assisted City Lord Xia Wuyin to turn the tide, heavily damaged the Barbarian army, and even participated in the slaying of the Barbarian Martial King?"

Qin Feng was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected his reputation to reach this place, nor that she would know the details so clearly. "Workshop Master overpraises me. Defending the land and the people is my duty; I do not dare call myself a hero."

Su Xiaoxiao nodded gently, her tone carrying a bit of approval. "Half a year ago, City Lord Xia went to the capital to receive rewards and mentioned you before the throne. He said that although you are young, you possess extraordinary courage and both wisdom and valor. You repeatedly performed miraculous feats during Star South City's crisis and are a pillar of the nation. When Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager heard of this, they also admired you greatly, saying that such a young talent should be grandly rewarded. It's just a pity to hear you had already joined the Hundred Flowers Palace..."

She paused, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry. "I didn't expect you to come to West Lake City now and even become a Gold-Medal Deacon of the Hundred Flowers Palace. Even more unexpected is that you could find 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers'."

Qin Feng understood in his heart. As a branch of the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion, the Wonderful Sound Workshop was indeed well-informed. He smoothly took the carefully wrapped three remnant pages from his robe and presented them with both hands. "By a stroke of luck, I learned that Workshop Master has a refined taste for this score. This Junior was fortunate enough to find it and has come specifically to offer it to Workshop Master as a small token of my regard."

Su Xiaoxiao took the cowhide paper bundle. When she untied the gold thread and saw those three yellowed pages carrying ancient rhythms, even with her Heart-Nature, her eyes couldn't help but burst with irrepressible joy! She reached out her slender fingers, carefully stroking the musical notes as if touching a lost era.

"It really is 'streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers'! And it's preserved so well!" She looked up at Qin Feng, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Deacon Qin, this item is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold to me! I, Su Xiaoxiao, will remember this favor!"

She cherished the musical score and put it away. Her mood was clearly excellent, and her attitude toward Qin Feng became several degrees more cordial.

"Deacon Qin is so young yet possesses such cultivation and boldness; even more rare is this Heart-Nature and Opportunity." Su Xiaoxiao praised him, then her tone shifted slightly with a hint of recruitment. "I wonder what Deacon Qin's plans for the future are? Do you intend to stay in the Hundred Flowers Palace forever? If you are interested, the doors of my Wonderful Sound Workshop—or rather, the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion—are willing to open for you. With your talent, whether you stay in the Wonderful Sound Workshop to study musical Dao and martial arts, or if I recommend you to enter the Six Fan School to serve the Imperial Court, your future would be limitless."

This was throwing out an olive branch, and a shortcut leading directly to the core institutions of the Imperial Court!

If it were an ordinary Martial Artist, hearing the appreciation of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, coupled with the personal recruitment of the Workshop Master, they would likely have been shaken with excitement. But Qin Feng knew his own secrets; with the System in his possession, he was destined to never be fully dependent on any single power. The relatively loose environment of the Hundred Flowers Palace was more suitable for his current stage of development.

A look of appropriate gratitude and regret appeared on his face as he cupped his hands. "Thank you for your kind regard, Workshop Master! I am overwhelmed by the appreciation of Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and yourself. However, I have already promised the Hundred Flowers Palace to serve as a Deacon. To be entrusted by others is to be loyal to their affairs. Right now, the West Lake City branch is in a turbulent period; I cannot leave at this time. That would not be the conduct of a gentleman. I hope Workshop Master can forgive me."

His reasons were sufficient and his attitude sincere; he expressed respect for the Imperial Court while also demonstrating his trustworthiness and sense of responsibility.

Hearing this, a flash of admiration crossed Su Xiaoxiao's eyes, and she did not press him. She simply cherished talent and had mentioned it in passing. Seeing that Qin Feng's mind was made up and his reasons were honorable, she no longer forced the issue.

"In that case, everyone has their own ambitions, and I will not force you." Su Xiaoxiao smiled slightly. "Deacon Qin's commitment to his word is admirable. Since you have given me such a generous gift, my Wonderful Sound Workshop is not one to be ungrateful. If the Hundred Flowers Palace encounters any 'inconveniences' in West Lake City in the future, as long as it does not violate the laws of the Imperial Court or the duties of the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion, my Wonderful Sound Workshop can provide appropriate care."

This was an explicit promise! "Appropriate care" could play a decisive role at a critical moment.

Qin Feng was overjoyed; this was exactly the effect he wanted! With this promise from the Wonderful Sound Workshop, it was equivalent to obtaining a protective talisman. When facing the Cao Gang and the Green Robe Tower, he would have much more confidence.

"On behalf of the Hundred Flowers Palace, I thank the Workshop Master!" He bowed solemnly once more.

They exchanged pleasantries for a while longer, discussing some superficial views on musical martial arts (Qin Feng, relying on insights far beyond his age and miscellaneous information occasionally provided by the System, handled himself quite appropriately). Seeing that his goal was achieved, Qin Feng rose to take his leave.

Su Xiaoxiao personally saw him to the outside of the Rain Listening Pavilion. Looking at his departing back, light flickered in her beautiful eyes.

"The hero of Star South City, a Gold-Medal Deacon of the Hundred Flowers Palace, and even able to find a lost ancient score... This Qin Feng is indeed not simple. It seems some waves are about to be stirred in West Lake City because of him." She whispered to herself, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Having obtained the "streams and clouds of the xiao and xiang rivers" and successfully securing the potential support of the Wonderful Sound Workshop, Qin Feng felt the sky was clear and the lake scenery was even brighter as he walked out. The second link of his interlocking stratagems had also been successfully fastened.

Next, it was time to concentrate all his energy on the operation to rescue Liu Xiaowan tonight.