"I'm here to see master Ling. Can you please tell him that Chen Yinying is here."

  Chen Yinying asked a servant of Mu Feixue's mansion. She had arrived the next day at evening to start her lessons. The servant returned after 15 minutes and took her to the guest room.

  Why did he make me wait for so long? Is he playing some sort of mind games?

  She opened to the door and found him sitting with a single cup of tea and a plate of biscuits on the the table.

  "Have a seat."

  She sat down across him and made herself comfortable.

  "Now let us continue-"

  "Before that, have some tea."

  Her eyebrows raised quizzingly at the lone cup on the table. So it was for me. She lifted it and was about to take a sip when she felt an intense gaze on her. Across the table there he was, staring at her with a acute look. Instantly suspicions bloomed in her mind.

  is it poisoned? Did he put something suspicious in it?

  Seeing her holding the cup in the air without drinking it, Ling Yun questioned.

  "What's the problem? Is something wrong?"

  His voice sounded genuinely confused but his sharp look never left her face. She took a sniff and could only smell the wonderful fragrance of tea.

  I can't stall for too long. He has no reason to hurt me so it must be a test of my trust.

  With her heart racing, she hesitantly took a sip. Immediately she tried to check internally if there was anything wrong.

  "How was it?"

  "Umm, it was good."

  She was so stressed that she didn't notice the taste. Again her suspicions were raised. What did he mean by that question? Is he taunting me?

  She looked up from the cup right into his blue eyes. His clear gentle pools didn't have a hint of any deceit or malice. She realised that she was being overly paranoid. Maybe he like a good host genuinely wanted to know if she liked the tea.

  Yes, the one who is lying and deceiving is me.

  With her fears abated, she gulped it down taking her time savouring the flavour. It was oolong tea with honey blended into it leaving a hint of lingering sweetness on her tongue. The salty biscuits were perfectly paired with them.

  "So let us begin master."

  "Why don't you call me by my name? We aren't at the Thousand Fragrance Pavilion so there is no need for that."

  She saw it as his attempt to slightly lower the veil shrouding her. They both knew that she wasn't a simple musician but-

  "How can poor girl like me can call master by his name? After the kindness shown to me that night, in my heart master will always be master~"

  Chen Yinying finished with a flirtatious wink at which he simply sighed. She would continue this game for a little longer.

  She began her lesson while he listened attentively to her. Again he was having problems with it. Listening to him for a few times, she asked him to play a song like he used to without using the Seven Harmonics technique.

  This time he played beautifully but after listening to his song, she finally figured out the reason.

  "Master, you were self taught, right?"

  "No one was there to teach me. But still I believe I got pretty decent at it."

  Ling Yun was smirking confidently at her. After all those failures, he finally got the chance to show off.

  There lies the problem.

  "Master is really good for someone who was self taught. But what master is doing is producing simple music, not the art of music mastery. Here every note produced should be naturally imbued with harmonic Qi as easy as breathing. The reason for master's failures is that you try to incorporate the Seven Harmonics technique in your songs when it should be the opposite."

  She took so long to figure it out because when she was taught by her senior, the Seven Harmonics technique was her base. Only after mastering it, did she started learning different songs.

  "What do you mean?"

  "It means forget everything you know and start from the beginning. Forget about playing full songs and practice producing single notes using the Seven Harmonic techniques."

  I know it must be hard. Hearing that the skills you have honed all your life are useless and startin-

  "So that was the problem." The look on his face was that like a problem he has been stuck on was finally solved.

  "I was trying to treat it as an auxiliary technique when it was the foundation. I wasted too much time last night."

  Isn't he accepting this too easily?

  Ling Yun looked at her shocked face and understood what she was thinking.

  "You don't need to be that surprised. I have long learned that in order to reach higher, you have to sacrifice your pride. Otherwise you will never move forward and will remain stuck in a rut forever."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  His voice rang clear but somehow she felt like it was tinged with melancholy, a sorrow he carried all alone.

  "Wow! As expected of master!"

  She started clapping and cheering loudly which made him red with embarrassment. He cleared his throat and they shifted their focus on the lesson.

  An hour later, she walked outside the mansion fully satisfied. She felt they had gotten a bit closer and his interest in her music lessons was rising even more. Everything was going as planned.

  But unknown to her, there was a small smile hidden behind her fox mask unseen by the world.

  ***

  Little Bai was playing in the garden far away from him. Ever since he began his music practices, the snake would run away from him whenever she saw the flute in his hand.

  Hmmph, what does a snake know about music!

  Ling Yun turned his eyes away from the snake and began blowing once more. It was hard to break free from his older habits but now he could see a clear path ahead of him.

  He was taking the art of music mastery as another hobby like spiritual cooking to distract himself. Truth be told, he had a feeling that he would soon reach his ceiling in alchemy. He was getting closer and Mu Feixue's lessons were decreasing.

  His master was happy and proud of his growth but all he could feel was another incoming bout of frustration. He had no peer, his only comparison was the him of yesterday.

  He could never forgive himself if he went a day without making any effort to improve himself.

  "Baby, come here."

  He paused in his playing when he heard his master's sound transmission. He quickly opened his third eye and saw his master with her friend An Ning in the guest room. While he made his way towards the room, he tried to think of all possibilities.

  When he entered, the first thing he saw the sullen look on his master's face with An Ning looking like she was fed up.

  "Yun'er, master will be going in seclusion for a month."

  His eyebrows were instantly raised at this bombshell. From all time they had spent together, he had never seen her exert any effort except while teaching him sometimes. Riding him on bed doesn't count. His master was like a fat lazy cat.

  Why would she need to do this? Is she near a cultivation breakthrough?

  "Not just a month! Two months and it could be even more."

  An Ning spoke out loud in a scolding tone. Ling Yun had never seen her this serious. Usually An Ning would always try to accommodate his master's whims.

  "An Ning can I cut back on some pills this time? My disciple's teaching has reached an important stage so I can't delay his training for too long."

  "Absolutely not!" An Ning thundered.

  "Feixue, you can't go back on our deal. And don't think I don't know you are just looking for excuses."

  "Wait a moment. Can someone please explain what's going on?"

  Ling Yun couldn't follow the conversation and was starting to get confused. An Ning calmed herself and explained the matter while shooting heated glares at Mu Feixue.

  The gist was that there was deal between Mu Feixue and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. In exchange for money, she had to refine some pills for them from time to time.

  The Hundred Treasures Pavilion will be holding an auction in the Blue Moon city soon and requested through An Ning to refine three third rank pills and many second rank pills. Mu Feixue who hated to work wasn't looking forward to it.

  Also there was another reason, her nightly pleasures with him. Refining third rank pills is not easy and can take an entire day without break. During this time, she couldn't afford any distractions.

  "Can I watch you working? Maybe I can learn something from watching you."

  Mu Feixue looked at him and he could feel her soft gaze peering into his eyes. Baby I feel the same as you. I want to keep you close with me but-

  "Sorry Yun'er but it is too soon for you. You wouldn't understand anything at your level and without divine sense you can't even follow the process of refining."

  Tchh. I hoped that maybe it would help me gain some kind of inspiration.

  His frustrated look didn't escape Mu Feixue which caused her heart to skip a beat. I'm sorry for causing you so much pain, baby. This seperation is only temporary, our hearts are linked forever.

  "Don't worry Yun'er, master will finish this and come back to your side as quickly as possible."

  "You can take a break. Your master told me you have been pushing hard and has been worried about you."

  An Ning also chimed in her thoughts.

  A break? What will I even do in a break? I can't afford to fall behind-

  While he was pondering, the image of Granny Sha appeared in his mind. Ling Yun realised that it had been years since he had seen her. She had cared for him so much but he had nearly forgotten about her.

  I should take this opportunity to visit her. She will be shocked when she drinks my tea. She used to say that I will never reach her level.

  Making up his mind, Ling Yun told them about his plans. To his surprise, Mu Feixue easily agreed to let him go. He thought she would strongly oppose that but after his repeated 'testaments of love', the trust she had in him couldn't go any higher.

  Mu Feixue blindly believed that her baby will always return to her side.

  She asked An Ning to procure some artifacts and talismans for his protection which An Ning readily agreed. Ling Yun never thought about that but his master will never allow any harm to fall on him.

  After finishing their discussion, An Ning left. It was decided that he would be leaving tomorrow. But before that-

  "Baby, come to my chambers. Master is going to cover you with her scent so you don't feel so lonely."

  ***

  "You don't have to come tomorrow."

  Chen Yinying had just finished another lesson with Ling Yun when she was hit with this surprising news.

  After he recognised the problem, he had started making good progress. The timbre of his flute has gotten much richer. It will make his songs full of colours when he plays in the future.

  "What happened master?"

  "I am going to visit my hometown for some business. I may be gone for months. Don't worry, I will reach you when I come back."

  How could she not worry? It has only been a week since she started her lessons. Anything could happen within months.

  Ling Yun was reclusive person who hardly ever left the mansion so not much information was available about him. From their interactions, he seemed to be a scholarly type who only cared about studying alchemy.

  But at least he hasn't become a wild eccentric madman lost in the pursuit of the Dao and knows how to conduct himself in society. He was a good host and she always looked forward to the delicious tea and snacks that would be served.

  And most of all, he was a good person and was considerate enough not to call her out on her lies. Many times she could see his eyebrows twitch whenever she shamelessly pretended to be a simple musician but he didn't push further.

  He wasn't playing this game for some ulterior motives like her, he was only respecting her boundaries. She decided to make a bold gamble.

  "Master, can I come with you on your journey?"

  His face instantly stiffened.

  "Why?"

  "I have never been outside this city and always wanted to travel outside. Maybe I will find some inspiration for my new songs."

  His eyebrows twitched again at her lies. "You really expect me to believe such a flimsy reason?"

  She cutely pouted at him. "Master are you this mean to girls? We shy maidens can't be brave like you men. When a pretty girl is requesting to accompany you, try to understand her feelings before bluntly putting her on spot."

  She could see the red blush creeping on his cheeks. This is another trick she had learned to deal with him. When everything fails, shamelessly flirt to throw him off balance.

  "It is a win-win situation for both of us. I get to experience new places and you get to enjoy company of a pretty girl. Also a journey without good music isn't fun at all."

  Now, time to final blow.

  She cutely batted her eyelashes at him with a pleading tone."Please let me join, master."

  Ling Yun stared at her with narrowed eyes for sometime before sighing heavily. He muttered something under his breath but she could only make out "shameless minx".

  "Fine. Meet me tomorrow in the morning."

  "Yes! Thank you master. I knew you wanted me."

  "Why you-" he could barely finish his sentence when she barreled towards him and wrapped him in a tight hug. His embarrassment reached its peak as he tried to pry her off him carefully without touching something inappropriate.

  But there only a single thought in her mind, this journey would be a make or break for her future.