Fu Ye finally returned to his senses the moment he heard the melody played by the other young man. The tune was decent, and the technique wasn't bad either—but something was missing. There was no soul, no intent behind the sound. It was all form, no spirit.
As a grandmaster of the guqin, Fu Ye couldn't help but frown. This wasn't just a matter of skill; it was a lack of true artistic conception. It seemed he'd have to teach the boy a little lesson.
---
The music came to an end after five minutes. Around them, the students whispered in awe, impressed by the boy's ability to compose on the spot—an ability that usually marked a true master. But Fu Ye remained unimpressed.
"Well?" The smug young man tilted his chin proudly. "Aren't you overwhelmed by my amazing performance?"
Fu Ye merely sighed and shook his head.
"The melody is fine, but it lacks shape and soul," he said plainly. "You're too impatient. You must calm your heart before touching the strings."
The other party's expression darkened, but before he could explode again, Fu Ye sat down before the guqin, fingers already moving.
As the first notes rang out, the air within the classroom changed. A fierce, chilling aura swept through the space like a silent storm.
He had chosen to play "Ambush from Ten Sides"—one of the most murderous and intense pieces from his past life. With each note, a deadly intent surged through the room.
The students stiffened. Those who were ready to mock Fu Ye seconds ago now trembled silently. They dared not speak, barely daring to breathe. This wasn't just music—it was a battlefield made of sound.
What they didn't know was that Fu Ye, aside from being a guqin grandmaster, had also fully mastered sword intent. His killing aura wasn't just a performance—it was a lingering breath of true danger.
---
Just then, the classroom door quietly creaked open.
A graceful figure stepped inside.
The moment her foot touched the threshold, the music surged toward her like a tide of steel and blood. Yet she did not flinch. Her calm eyes found the source—Fu Ye.
This was Tang Yuehua, the founder of Yuexuan. Renowned across the continent for her grace and mastery of the four arts, she had long developed a sharp eye for excellence.
Fu Ye's performance continued, his fingers dancing with rising intensity. He had never cared much for guqin in the past, but now… now he realized its power was not inferior to the sword. The same force, the same sharpness—it merely took another shape.
Even the students, moments ago shaken to their core, were now captivated. The fear gave way to awe, their minds swept up in the song's world of shadows and clash of blades.
Tang Yuehua stepped forward, her eyes softening as she listened. Though the aura was fierce, it wasn't hostile—it was art, pure and powerful.
When the final note faded, the room fell into a stunned silence. Then—
Pa! Pa! Pa!
A round of applause echoed through the room.
Fu Ye turned his head.
Tang Yuehua stood at the front, dressed in flowing silver robes, her elegant light blue hair tied into a refined bun. Her gray eyes, clear as moonlight, studied him with a gentle yet piercing gaze.
"Sir," she said softly, "your piece was exceptional. Your skill… surprised even me."
---
She took a step forward. "I've never seen you in Yuexuan before. Even nobles must seek permission before enrolling a student here. So tell me—who are you?"
Fu Ye smiled politely and replied, "Greetings, Sister Yuehua. I am Fu Ye. I hope you'll forgive my uninvited presence."
Her calling him "sir" had revealed that she already guessed he hadn't come through proper channels. But what of it? He didn't stir up trouble. He simply… audited a class.
After all, if one wanted to pursue a woman, one had to be bold, thick-skinned, and persistent.
"Since you've come as a guest, and your skills match mine, I suppose I can let you stay," Tang Yuehua said, her voice calm yet firm. "With someone like you, perhaps I can finally relax a bit."
Fu Ye blinked. Relax? With me? What does she mean by that?
Before he could ask, she turned to an assistant nearby. "Xiao Zhang, bring Fu Ye's guqin to the front. He'll join me in teaching today."
"Students: …?"
"Fu Ye: …??"
---
The guqin class lasted just two hours—an entire morning. Normally, Fu Ye would nap through a lesson like this. But now, seated at the front beside Tang Yuehua, with dozens of eyes watching him, he could only yawn discreetly.
When the final note was played, Tang Yuehua announced, "That concludes our morning guqin class. In the afternoon, Teacher Li will lead calligraphy and painting. Be prepared."
She was strict while teaching—so much like the teachers Fu Ye remembered from his past life.
Fu Ye yawned again. Odd. He never got tired like this, but after teaching, he felt drained.
Clearly, he wasn't made for academic life. He preferred cheating the system—literally. After all, it was only because the system had maxed out his guqin skills that he found this class dull. Without it, he might still be lost on the first string.
---
"Fu Ye," Tang Yuehua called as she stood, "come with me. We'll handle your entry paperwork."
"…Huh? Entry?"
Three minutes later, they arrived in an elegant office. Tang Yuehua pulled out a printed form from a drawer and handed it to him.
Fu Ye stared at the sheet. "An entry application form?"
Wait. Was she… hiring him?
"You're not here to formally join Yuexuan as a teacher?" she asked, puzzled.
Fu Ye coughed lightly. "Ah… no. I just came to… get a job."
---
(End of Chapter)