Chaotic World Book
Chapter 182 - 178: Boating on Tai Lake

Chapter 182: Chapter 178: Boating on Tai Lake

"This is Tai Lake, huh..."

The small boat gently swayed to and fro, aimlessly drifting on the lake. Zhao Changhe lay at the bow, basking in the sunlight without complaint of the heat.

The breeze off the lake actually felt rather cool.

Or perhaps it was more that a calm heart naturally feels cooler?

Gazing out at the endless expanse of water, so clear that even the fish below were visible, other boats could be seen in the distance, and the sound of fishermen’s songs carried on the wind, pleasant to the ear.

For a northern man who had never seen the sea, it felt like this was it. Yet it seemed to be stiller than the sea, without the vast and boundless waves, and it lacked the rolling and forceful momentum of the rivers he had seen. Instead, it was more exquisite, serene, and gentle.

Just like Tang Wanju.

As if gathering all the beauty of the world into one person, just one glance was to see Jiangnan.

People say the West Lake is reminiscent of a certain beauty, and it seemed appropriate to apply that to Tang Wanju; whether adorned in light makeup or done heavily, she always appeared fitting.

She sat in the cabin, leisurely playing her zither, playing a tune Zhao Changhe had never heard before.

It was the type of thing that in ordinary life would be considered too slow and uninteresting, and perhaps would be underappreciated. But in this moment, in this setting, it was like ripples on water in the heart, like a light breeze across the cheek—so gentle, it only made one wish to not entertain any other thoughts, content to just be intoxicated by this clear wind and bright lake.

Forget the flash of blades and shadows of swords, the life or death in a blink, the worldly affairs, the chaos, they all felt worlds away.

Zhao Changhe pulled out an old gourd of wine, tilting back his head to take a large gulp.

Yue Hongling is the dream of the Worldly Society, isn’t this just it?

What is it to wander the world with a sword and a cup of wine, with a slim waist easily handled... indeed, this is it.

It’s just that the slim waist isn’t one’s own; let’s round up and count it that way for now.

Tang Wanju’s beautiful eyes fell on the outside of the cabin, on Zhao Changhe who lay leisurely drinking, some annoyance in her gaze.

Thinking it was him playing music for her, and yet she ended up playing for him. There he lies, drinking wine leisurely, as if he’s brought the girl from the bamboo building at the back of the Wanhua Tower in Sword Lake City here for company.

Tang Wanju thought about it and found it somewhat amusing, feeling that Zhao Changhe’s attitude really was a bit like that... so casual.

Previously, he had said that every word he spoke had to go through several rounds of thought in his belly, but once you get to know him, he is like this, this man really has no taboos.

"Hey!" She finally couldn’t hold back and called out, "Are you letting me rest, or pulling me in as a zither master to accompany your scenery?"

Zhao Changhe’s voice came lazily from outside the cabin, somewhat unclear amidst the lake wind, "Didn’t you say to live for myself, so wouldn’t that mean today you are serving me?"

Tang Wanju was both annoyed and amused, "You’re pretty good at going with the flow, aren’t you. Missing your servant girl Sisi already?"

"Where, where, you are my master," Zhao Changhe replied with a laugh, "But why bother about who plays for whom when you’re carefree and at ease? Are you comfortable now?"

Tang Wanju really wanted to hum in affirmation, yet she put on a stern face, "I’ll be comfortable if you play the zither and I lie there drinking wine."

"Such a miser," Zhao Changhe chuckled as he sat up and moved into the cabin, "I just haven’t learned it well yet, right master? Will you continue to teach me?"

The two had specifically chosen a small wupeng boat instead of the Tang family’s large painted barge for this carefree atmosphere. As Zhao Changhe squeezed into the cabin, it felt almost as if half the space had been taken up by him.

Tang Wanju somewhat helplessly moved aside, indicating for Zhao Changhe to sit in front of the zither.

But as soon as he came over, it felt incredibly cramped, with both of their arms touching.

Tang Wanju gave him a sideways glance without expression, while Zhao Changhe stiffly observed the zither.

"Forget it," said Tang Wanju, not wanting to fuss, and began teaching, "The zither requires finger techniques, not just plucking with One Finger Zen to produce sound. Watch like this..."

Her fingers, like white jade, danced upon the strings—twisting, stroking, plucking, elegantly fluid. Although she was demonstrating fingering techniques, Zhao Changhe found himself forgetting, simply captivated by looking at her hands.

Truly beautiful.

"Alright, can you try this plucking method?" Tang Wanju nudged him expectantly with her shoulder.

After a long moment of concentration, Zhao Changhe hung his head, "I didn’t catch it; demonstrate again, please."

Tang Wanju was perplexed, "This morning you learned that complex ultimate skill, teeming with Sword Intent and overflowing with endless variations and potentials, and you comprehended it clearly after just a few tries. This technique should be very simple for you, especially since you have experience learning the Dark Weapon techniques from Yue Hongling. Why have you become slow now?"

Zhao Changhe’s head hung even lower as he murmured, "Just looking at the hand..."

Tang Wanju: "?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Tang Wanju, expressionless, held her hand a few inches before his eyes: "Look enough at this point, and if it’s not enough, look for another hour."

Before Zhao Changhe could say anything, the hand suddenly lifted and "smack," it slapped his face: "You can even touch it!"

"Damn..." Zhao Changhe’s face stung not from the slap itself, but from the embarrassment.

Tang Wanju squinted at him for a while, then suddenly said, "Actually, if you learn this, it could evolve into a set of Acupoint Seizing Skill. Your martial arts practice is short, and your skills are mainly in using swords, with a significant shortfall in unarmed combat. This could be a valuable supplement."

Zhao Changhe was instantly energized: "Quick, demonstrate it again! I only need to see it once to learn it!"

Tang Wanju was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

But it was true. Once Zhao Changhe linked the technique with his Martial Arts understanding, he really did learn it after watching just once. It might have been a bit unfamiliar, but the movement and understanding were truly and completely grasped, so simple that a second demonstration was entirely unnecessary.

"Now let’s teach you this string-muting technique..."

The small boat floated leisurely at the Lake Heart, with the male apprentice and female mentor sitting side by side in the narrow cabin, the scent pervading the air, shoulders inadvertently touching, their heads leaning close, whispering softly.

The passing boatmen saw this and couldn’t help but show a toothless grin.

Such a lovely scene.

He’d have to urge his own lousy son to find a wife when he got home, already grown and still frittering days away fishing.

As the sun gradually set, the lake glimmered with a golden sheen, occasionally disturbed by fish jumping and splashing back down, sending ripples across the water. From a distance, the boatwoman’s song floated over, soft Jiangnan dialect, touching the heart, more beautiful than the fisherman’s song outside Qinghe, and now the murderous air had settled into tranquility.

Tang Wanju reclined against the cabin’s edge, also holding an exquisitely small wine pot, leisurely drinking from the spout.

The poor bear of an apprentice was still inside, familiarizing himself with the fingering, uncertain if it really could transform into the Fuxue Hand, which actually was just something Tang Wanju had teased him with.

It should have been him playing while I listened, do you really think I’m one of those girls from the Wanhu Lou Courtyard?

Inside, Tang Wanju was devising a Fuxue Hand technique on the fly, modifying her own hand methods, integrating some zither fingering techniques, so that when taught to him later, it would complete the set.

Do you really think the head honcho doesn’t deceive? Ultimately, the devised finger technique wouldn’t be bad, it might even gain some standing in the Worldly Society...

Fishermen’s songs ebbed and flowed on both shores, mainly love songs, leaving Tang Wanju with an indescribable feeling in her heart.

She had always been somewhat afraid of such scenes, such ballads in the past, for they could distract the heart from serious matters, a so-called enervating music inciting complacency.

But today, it seemed fitting, except for the love-centric content of the songs.

"Hey," Tang Wanju took a sip of wine and called into the cabin: "You said you have songs in your heart. With such a scene, why not complement it with a tune?"

"The girls’ singing sounds quite pleasant, a lovely voice. I’m thinking about giving them a reward. Why should I disturb them?"

"This soft and weak stuff suits a man like you? Give me a song of the Worldly Society, let me hear what kind of resounding language the Bloodthirsty Asura has to offer."

"Yet with such a scene, it’s entirely unfit for resounding language. Are you intentionally trying to extricate yourself from this frivolous mood?"

Tang Wanju paused, silently continuing her drink.

He was too perceptive.

And he understood her too well.

It’s strange, how could he understand her so well when there hadn’t been much interaction between them?

"Let’s skip the resounding language. Would you like to hear the women’s song?" asked Zhao Changhe suddenly.

Tang Wanju snapped back to reality, surprised: "Aren’t what they are singing the women’s song?"

"With so many women in the world, can all of them only sing of romantic affections?" Zhao Changhe plucked the zither strings a few times, changing the original exercise melody into something more free and unrestrained.

Tang Wanju turned to look back into the cabin, as his unfamiliar singing voice came through: "No matter how cold the wind, I won’t flee; no matter how beautiful the flower, I don’t desire; let me drift..."

Tang Wanju stared blankly toward the distant sunset, initially wanting to say, "This is the song of Yue Hongling, not my own." But as she kept listening, she gradually became lost in thought, no longer wishing to speak.