The lute song played by Huang Que was utterly different from the little tune she sang earlier at the tavern.
This song had a strong ancient style, and it sounded nothing like a folk tune; rather, the song felt more like a battle melody.
Even Yun Sheng, who wasn’t well-versed in musical theories and could only listen to modern "Divine Songs" like "Little Apple", felt a surge of passion while listening.
According to the changes in her Marrow Jade Technique and Magic Soul just now, the turnaround in Yun Canglang’s condition might have stemmed from the lute song played by Huang Que.
Yun Sheng could confirm that while listening to the song, her Magic Power and Marrow Jade Technique were greatly enhanced; her Magic Power could at least reach the peak of Great Magic Director, and her Marrow Jade Technique could achieve breaking through the fourth Qi Meridian.
"Divine Doctor Yun, are you referring to the song I just played? I call it the Nameless Song," said Huang Que, embarrassed after being profusely praised.
Although Huang Que was the daughter of a military general, due to her family circumstances, she had lost the opportunity to study and train in martial arts from a young age.
In her early years, she had even helped some wealthy families by doing laundry and other chores.
One day, while she was washing clothes by the river in the unbearable cold coupled with hunger and chill, she fainted by the freezing riverbank.
In the severe cold of winter, just as Huang Que’s body was freezing and she was nearing death, she heard the sound of a zither.
"At that time, my limbs were numb from the cold, and I vaguely saw someone playing the zither on the frozen river. That zither sound made one’s blood boil as if having drunk a big mouthful of pepper. Gradually, my hands and feet began to feel again," Huang Que reminisced.
After hearing the zither sound, Huang Que felt strength throughout her body and was not so cold anymore.
By the time she wanted to see who was playing the zither, that person had already left; she only managed to catch a glimpse of a silhouette from behind.
Though it was just a silhouette, Huang Que was certain that it was a woman.
That was an incident from four or five years ago. The river where Huang Que washed clothes was called Moon River, not far from the Yun Family Army Camp, a river less frequented by people. Because of its clear and sweet water, it also served as the main water source for the Yun Family Army on regular days.
Huang Que had a good perception and remembered most of the zither song after hearing it once, and she transcribed it at home by herself.
Her mother, who passed away early, was once a musician at the Year Music Hall. When Huang Que was young and her family was well off, she had learned some basic zither skills from her mother.
She then composed and played the zither herself, and over time, that lute song came into existence.
Using the sound of the lute to soothe her father Captain Huang’s illness was an ingenious trick Huang Que discovered unintentionally. She noticed that whenever she played the lute, her father’s languid spirits would improve significantly.
Thus, Huang Que deliberately played a song for her father every three or five days.
As for the little tune in the tavern, it contained a few notes from this zither song.
Regrettably, after encountering that mysterious woman by the river that one time, Huang Que never met her again.
This zither song was also incomplete; Huang Que did not hear it in entirety, and the woman did not finish playing.
That’s why Huang Que named this music piece the Nameless Song.
"Huang Que, have you ever learned to harness fighting spirit or Magic?" Yun Sheng now roughly understood the whole story.
The woman Huang Que encountered must be an erudite recluse; merely having such a fortuitous encounter is already a sign of great fortune.
Just as money is easy to get but good fortune is hard to find, whether she could meet that woman again is still an unknown.
What Yun Sheng thought was that if an ordinary person like Huang Que could play with such effect, then what would the outcome be if she learned fighting spirit or magic, or if Yun Sheng herself played?
"My father taught me some basic fist techniques when I was a child, but it’s been many years, and I’m afraid it’s all been neglected," Huang Que’s eyes sparkled as she heard about fighting spirit and magic.
Huang Que’s age is in the prime of her youth.
In her heart, she still envies Yun Sheng’s magnificent magic and Old General Yun’s sublime combat skills.
She understands that even a slight chance of becoming a mage or martial artist could greatly improve her family’s situation.
Yun Sheng took Huang Que’s pulse and tested her magic sensing ability, regrettably finding that Huang Que’s physique had no trace of magic power, but the good news was that there was a faint fighting spirit within her.
"Your bones and meridians are quite good, the only drawback being you missed the best age for martial arts training. In a few days, when you go to the Martial Arts Hall, I’ll prepare some vitality-improving medicine for you to use with the basic training there. I think you still have a chance to become a martial artist," Yun Sheng particularly liked Huang Que’s temperament, believing such a woman should not be buried in rough mundane tasks and endless poverty.
When Huang Que received this news, she was overjoyed.
"Divine Doctor Yun, you’re truly our family’s savior. Huang Que really has nothing with which to repay you. I can see you are quite fond of that zither song; I’ll give you the sheet music for it," Huang Que took out the carefully preserved music score and gave it to Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng had cured her father and provided her with an opportunity to practice martial arts. For Yun Huangque, today was surely the happiest day of her life.
If it had been before, she would never have dreamed of becoming a martial artist, and if Yun Sheng were a man, Huang Que would willingly give herself to him in gratitude.
This zither score might be crucial in ensuring Yun Canglang’s hands fully recover, and Yun Sheng indeed found it very interesting, so she kept it with her.
After leaving the Huang Family, Yun Sheng walked toward Moon River as previously mentioned by Huang Que.
Moon River is located north of the Yun Family Army Camp, surrounded by lush grassy wetlands. In this season, the grass grows lush and green, and one can smell the scent of fresh grass from afar.
The shape of Moon River, on usual days, resembles the crescent of an eyebrow.
But due to the rain that had fallen recently, the river had widened considerably, turning the crescent into a full moon, with the river brimming and the surrounding grass and reeds growing thickly.
As Yun Sheng walked along the river, she did not notice anything suspicious or noteworthy.
As she turned back around the riverbank, Yun Sheng saw a solitary figure standing on the slope beside the river.
The person had a tall silhouette, his right arm dangling empty, exuding the unique dignity of a soldier even from a distance.
He stood alone on the slope, gazing blankly at the babbling Moon River, seemingly lost in thought, not even noticing Yun Sheng’s approach.
Even from just a silhouette, Yun Sheng recognized him at once.
"Uncle?" Yun Sheng had not expected to see Yun Canglang here.