Chapter 86 Night Talk (Part 2)

"Lin — Wan — Rong —" Qin Xian'er repeated a few times, her face somewhat shy. In a soft voice, she said, "Young Master, do you really intend to spend your whole life as a servant in the Xiao family? With your talent and knowledge, how many people in this world are worthy of your service?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Living a peaceful life is not easy; how can one have so many demands?"

Qin Xian'er sighed deeply, and after a long time, she said, "Young Master, please wait a moment."

She turned around and rummaged through something on the bed. Lin Wanrong only heard a flurry of rustling sounds before Qin Xian'er emerged with a package.

She unfolded the package and took out two small books, handing them to Lin Wanrong, "These are for you."

Lin Wanrong took them and saw two beautifully bound booklets. One was titled "Bodhidharma Subduing Tiger Fist," and the other, more surprisingly, was boldly inscribed with the three characters "Yi Jin Jing." The "Yi Jin Jing" was well-known. Lin Wanrong was a bit dizzy. Was she expecting him to practice martial arts again?

As expected, Qin Xian'er said seriously, "Young Master, you often travel outside and are so talented that it's inevitable others will be envious. These are some self-defense techniques gifted by some friends of mine. I'm giving them to you, Young Master, hoping they can keep you safe."

Lin Wanrong shook his head with a bitter smile. Qin Xian'er asked, "You don't like Shaolin Kung Fu, Young Master? No matter, I have others." She took out another booklet from the package titled "Celestial Big Dipper Sword Technique" and said, "Young Master, this is a unique skill of Wudang..."

Seeing that Lin Wanrong was still shaking his head, she continued to search, bringing out the Emei Chaotic Sword Technique, the Kongtong Seven-Injury Fist. Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded as she kept bringing out more books. ‘This girl, is she wholesaling martial arts secrets?’ He wondered if they were just cheap goods. However, these booklets looked ancient and seemed to be genuine.

Qin Xian'er noticed that he didn't seem interested in any of the books, and unconsciously, she had emptied the package. She couldn't help but blush, asking, "Young Master, is there really not a single book that you're interested in?"

Seeing her look disappointed, Lin Wanrong suddenly remembered the look on Xiao Qingxuan's face when she gave him the secret book yesterday. He thought to himself, ‘Are women so fond of fighting these days?’

He was grateful for Qin Xian'er's kindness and said with a smile, "It's not that I don't appreciate them, but they don't appreciate me. Miss Qin, I'm not young anymore. I'm afraid it's too late to start learning martial arts."

Qin Xian'er sighed, acknowledging the truth in his words. Given his age, it was indeed a bit late to start learning martial arts.

Lin Wanrong, however, took it lightly and laughed, "Miss, I will always remember your kindness. But while I have no fate with martial arts, I do with beautiful women. Perhaps I will need Miss Xian'er's help in the future."

Seeing his cheerful character, Qin Xian'er admired him and giggled, "Young Master, you've been talking, but you're not being very serious."

Seeing Lin Wanrong silently smiling, Qin Xian'er suddenly spoke softly, "I regard you as a dear friend, treating you with sincerity. I ask you to keep today's matters secret for me."

Recalling how Xiao Qingxuan had tried to glean Qin Xian'er's identity from him, Lin Wanrong realized that she indeed was not an ordinary person. However, since she was so forthright with him, he felt obligated to reciprocate. He nodded and reassured, "Don't worry, Miss. I didn't see anything today."

Qin Xian'er was delighted to hear this, and her enchanting smile could outshine all the flowers.

Lin Wanrong stared at her, lost in thought for a while, then finally let out a breath, thinking to himself, ‘This girl, along with Xiao Qingxuan, are truly captivating.’

Seeing him staring at her, Qin Xian'er couldn't help but lower her head shyly, asking gently, "What... what are you looking at?"

Startled back to reality, Lin Wanrong quickly replied, "Nothing... actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Miss Xian'er."

Hearing this, Qin Xian'er was overjoyed and replied eagerly, "Please tell me, Young Master. As long as I can, I will do as you ask."

Seeing the surprise mixed with a blush on her face, Lin Wanrong couldn't help but tease, "Are you not afraid I might make an unreasonable request?"

Looking at him with a thousand kinds of amorous expressions, she replied, "A woman like me, a mortal, how could I possibly catch your eye, Young Master? Even if I were to wait on you, I fear you wouldn't glance my way."

As she spoke, a hint of melancholy appeared on her face. Lin Wanrong thought to himself, she really was a bewitching creature. Her sad expression alone could ensnare countless men's hearts.

Collecting his thoughts, Lin Wanrong said, "Actually, it's nothing much. A friend of mine is opening a tavern in a few days. I would like Miss Qin to help me find two girls to perform some songs."

"Oh?" Qin Xian'er asked curiously, "What kind of songs? We have plenty of girls who can sing at the Miaoyu Pavilion. What type of girls are you looking for?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Wanrong said, "I'm looking for two younger girls with delicate features and similar height. Oh, and they should sing well."

Qin Xian'er laughed, "That's easy, Young Master. Please wait a moment." She left and returned after the time it took to brew a pot of tea, bringing in two young and beautiful girls. Smiling, she said to Lin Wanrong, "Young Master, these girls are still young and have good voices. What do you think?" She then told the girls, "This is Young Master Lin, greet him."

The two girls curtsied and said in soft voices, "Little Cui (Little Lian) greets the Young Master." Their voices were crisp, like orioles singing, and Lin Wanrong thought to himself, Qin Xian'er indeed has a good eye. Not only were these girls beautiful, but their voices were also quite pleasant.

Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "Hello, ladies. I believe Miss Xian'er has told you. I want to teach you a song, so you can perform at the tavern's opening day."

Little Cui and Little Lian glanced at Qin Xian'er. Seeing her nod slightly, they replied together, "We'll follow your instructions, Young Master."

Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment and said, "This little song is called 'The West Chamber'. It's a folk tune from my hometown, derived from a very famous story, 'The Romance of the West Chamber'."

"The Romance of the West Chamber?" Qin Xian'er asked with interest. "I haven't heard of this story before. Could you tell us about it, Young Master?"

Lin Wanrong gave Qin Xian'er a wry smile. He knew this mischievous girl wouldn't let him off the hook and now he had to tell another story. Qin Xian'er wrinkled her small nose and playfully glanced at him. Her eyes were filled with amusement, as if listening to him speak brought her great joy.

"It's an old story about a scholar and a beauty. Once upon a time, there was a wealthy young lady named Cui Yingying, and she had a maid named Hongniang..." Lin Wanrong fully utilized his storytelling skills, narrating the 'Romance of the West Chamber' with great excitement and suspense. Qin Xian'er and the two maids were engrossed in the story, and after a while, they burst into laughter, "I didn't expect such an interesting story. This scholar Zhang is indeed very fortunate."

Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, Lin Wanrong nodded and said, "This folk tune from my hometown is based on that story. Both the melody and the lyrics are very simple. I assure you, ladies, you will learn it in no time."

Qin Xian'er watched Lin Wanrong with interest, her face flushing slightly with what might have been shyness.

For the sake of his tavern business, Lin Wanrong cast aside his embarrassment and softly began to sing:

"Passing by the West Chamber, a fragrance fills the air,

The lady next door is still amidst the flowers,

Forgotten the direction of my shoes,

Stopped at the age of melancholy of eighteen or nineteen,

Dare to ask how to appreciate the flowers in the basin,

Want to compare it to the young lady's appearance,

Willing to be a piece of mud next to the flower,

Even in non-March, it can intoxicate.

The day before the summer solstice,

The scholar walks through the West Chamber once,

Encounter the young lady at the window sill waiting for the rainy day,

How many times have famous poems been read, how many volumes of famous paintings have been copied,

The ignorant scholar's dream is in the West Chamber when he is young,

I pass by the West Chamber again,

Daydream of twelve years ago,

Writing down the you and me of that year,

A song of the water tune song head,

I pass by the West Chamber again,

Twelve years later, the talented and full of wit,

The flowers are still there, but the people have already left,

That flower, always blooming, people difficult to retain."

Luckily, he had plenty of practice singing to girls in the past, so he didn't feel too embarrassed once he finished the song.

Qin Xian'er remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Young Master, this little song from your hometown is indeed extremely simple, yet incredibly pleasing. I previously thought that what I had learned was quite impressive. But today, I've realized that I was really just a frog in a well, seeing only a narrow piece of the sky."

Lin Wanrong thought to himself, ‘Naturally, these popular songs needed to have simple and catchy melodies to be widely circulated. If they were all sung in the same drawn-out style as your little tunes, who would listen?’

Yet, Qin Xian'er seemed to have developed a great interest in this little song. After having him sing it once more, she sat in front of the zither. With a delicate touch, she remarkably played the entire song.

Seeing Lin Wanrong's stunned expression, Qin Xian'er asked shyly, "Young master, did I not play well?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head, "Not that it wasn't good, it was too good. Miss Qin, if you were to sing this little song, I guarantee you would bewitch all the men in the world."

Qin Xian'er's face turned red, and she said shyly, "Young master, please don't speak like that, I'm not worthy."

Lin Wanrong took a deep breath. This Qin Xian'er was sometimes flirtatious, like a young wife longing for love, and sometimes shy and innocent, like a quiet maiden. She truly was ever-changing, captivating one's soul.

Though Little Cui and Little Lian were first-time listeners to this popular song, they quickly grew to like it. Lin Wanrong taught them how to sway their hips, how to walk with style, and how to maximize their body's charm.

Qin Xian'er watched from the side, greatly amused. From time to time, she would glance at Lin Wanrong, her face blooming into a smile like a blossoming flower.