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The next day, the first ray of morning sun had just pierced through the night, and the village was still enveloped in a thin layer of mist. The crowing of roosters rose and fell, breaking the night's tranquility and signaling the start of a new day.
Feng Xiao had woken up early. Normally, at this time, he would be shouldering his basket, carrying his tools, and heading towards the back mountain. But today, he merely tidied his room in silence, tying the package he had prepared yesterday to his body. Standing at the doorway, he quietly surveyed everything in the room, a hint of reluctance in his gaze. Perhaps, for a long time, he would not return to this place.
Feng Xiao, who came from the modern World, although not proficient in cultivation, clearly understood the path he was about to embark on—a path full of unknowns and challenges, yet also containing infinite possibilities.
After silently watching for a while, Feng Xiao turned and walked towards the village entrance. By this time, the uncles and elders in the village who were going to the market should have already gathered at the entrance.
Soon, Feng Xiao saw those familiar faces. He smiled and walked over, greeting them one by one.
"Little Feng, you're here," a middle-aged man greeted with a smile.
Feng Xiao nodded and replied, "Morning, Uncle."
"Little Feng, are you going to sell mountain goods with us again?" another villager joked.
"Don't talk nonsense. Little Feng awakened his spirit power yesterday. With his package today, he must be going to the Spirit Master Academy," a person next to him corrected.
The man, hearing this, looked relieved and patted Feng Xiao's shoulder: "Congratulations, congratulations. Little Feng is going to make a name for himself this time."
"I'll take that as a good omen," Feng Xiao replied with a smile, his tone grateful.
"Alright, hurry up and get on. The village chief has already told me to take you into the city," the middle-aged cart driver waved, signaling Feng Xiao to get on.
"Thank you, Uncle," Feng Xiao smiled slightly at the middle-aged man, then deftly jumped onto the donkey cart.
After some pleasantries, Feng Xiao sat on the donkey cart, gazing into the distance, a look of anticipation appearing on his face. The donkey cart slowly started, its wheels creaking as they rolled over the muddy road at the village entrance.
Listening Spring Village was not far from Nuoding City. In less than half an hour, Feng Xiao followed the main group to the familiar Nuoding City. After entering the city, Feng Xiao parted ways with the villagers.
"The enrollment deadline for Notting Academy is on the day of Jingzhe. There are still a few days left, so I'll find a place in Nuoding City to earn some gold coins first," Feng Xiao mused to himself.
Money, for most Spirit Masters, might just be a number, but Feng Xiao knew very well that he desperately needed money now. With insufficient innate spirit power, if he wanted to achieve anything in cultivation, he would inevitably need to spend a lot of time and resources. And money, precisely at this stage, could help him grow quickly, and could even be said to be the key to "buying time."
With money, Feng Xiao would be able to enroll as a normal student, without having to do meaningless odd jobs for a living. More importantly, during the critical period of growth, he would also be able to get enough nutrition to lay a solid foundation for future cultivation.
Thinking of this, Feng Xiao did not rush to report to Notting Academy, but decided to first wander around Nuoding City to see if there were any opportunities to earn money.
Soon, his gaze was drawn to a rather serene teahouse. The teahouse's facade was ancient and elegant, with bamboo curtains hanging at the entrance. The faint sound of a zither and the hushed whispers of tea guests could be heard from within. Feng Xiao's heart was filled with joy, and he was about to step inside when he was stopped by the attendant at the door.
"Where did this little beggar come from? Go, go!" The young attendant frowned, his face full of impatience, his tone impolite.
Feng Xiao was stunned for a moment. He looked down at his plain coarse cloth clothes, and a trace of helplessness appeared on his tender face. Only then did he realize that his current appearance indeed did not resemble a zither player, but rather a homeless wanderer.
Helplessly, Feng Xiao slowly retreated under the young attendant's disapproving gaze. His peripheral vision swept over the teahouse's door curtain, and he thought to himself: This teahouse looks quite elegant and is clearly a place for nobles. If he could perform inside, the tips would naturally be the highest.
"It seems I'll have to use some tricks," Feng Xiao thought silently, a confident smile playing at the corner of his lips.
He did not go too far, but found an empty space on the street and sat down. With a thought, the Seven Stringed Zither appeared in his hand. He gently stroked the strings, and with a slight pluck of his fingertips, a clear and elegant zither melody flowed out like water.
The zither music began like morning dew falling, crisp and pure; then it gradually turned melodious, as if a mountain breeze swept through a bamboo forest, carrying an indescribable elegance and tranquility. Feng Xiao's fingertips danced lightly on the strings, each note seemingly coming to life, weaving into a moving picture in the air.
Pedestrians on the street were gradually drawn by the zither music and stopped. Some praised in low voices, some listened silently, and some even took out a few bronze coins from their pockets and gently placed them in front of Feng Xiao. The zither music was like a lament, as if telling a distant story, making people involuntarily immerse themselves in it.
Not far away, the tea guests inside the teahouse also faintly heard the melodious zither music. Some lifted the bamboo curtain and peered out; some put down their teacups and listened attentively. Even the young attendant who had previously driven Feng Xiao away couldn't help but show a surprised expression, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
Feng Xiao's zither music did not stop, but became even more graceful and moving. He knew his chance had come.
Sure enough, not long after, a richly dressed middle-aged man walked out of the teahouse. He slowly walked to Feng Xiao, listened quietly for a while, and only when Feng Xiao's fingertips gently fell, and the last note dissipated in the air, did he slowly speak: "Little friend, at an age when you've just awakened your Spirit, your zither skills are extraordinary. May I ask who your esteemed teacher is? What is his name?"
Feng Xiao raised his head, a smile flashing in his eyes. He shook his head slightly, his tone humble: "Thank you for your appreciation, senior. My name is Feng Xiao. My skills are a family tradition and have no master, so they are not worth mentioning."
The middle-aged man quietly observed Feng Xiao, his gaze lingering on the package beside him for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
"It seems Little Feng wants to find a job here," the middle-aged man smiled kindly, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation.
Feng Xiao did not feel embarrassed by being exposed directly; instead, he smiled calmly, his tone composed: "Senior has sharp insight. I wonder if you think highly of my humble skills?"
The middle-aged man showed a hint of surprise upon hearing Feng Xiao's answer. He hadn't expected a child to be able to respond so calmly and composedly. He nodded, his tone showing more approval: "Of course, your zither is very special, and your zither skills are much better than those of the zither players in my teahouse. How about this, I'll give you one hundred gold coins a month, and you only need to come to my teahouse to perform one piece of music daily. The guests' tips will all be yours."
Feng Xiao, upon hearing this, also showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected this Manager Ning to be not only astute but also well-versed in business. Using "hunger marketing" tactics, he could maximize profits without affecting the livelihoods of other zither players, killing two birds with one stone.
"What, not satisfied?" the middle-aged man asked with a light laugh, seeing Feng Xiao's silence.
"No, no, this junior is very satisfied," Feng Xiao quickly shook his head, then bowed slightly to the middle-aged man, his tone respectful: "Thank you for taking me in, senior. How should I address you?"
"No need to be so polite. My surname is Ning. Just call me Manager Ning," the middle-aged man replied kindly.
"Ning... No wonder his insight is so sharp," Feng Xiao was secretly startled, a flash of realization in his eyes. He vaguely guessed the identity of Manager Ning and the power behind him.
"Let's go, little friend," Manager Ning said softly, his tone carrying a hint of intimacy.
Feng Xiao slightly regained his composure, put away his Seven Stringed Zither, and stood up to follow Manager Ning into the teahouse. The young attendant stood bowed to the side, his face full of embarrassment and regret, but he dared not say anything more.
Upon entering the teahouse, Manager Ning calmly instructed a maid: "Take the little friend to wash up."
"Yes," the maid bowed respectfully, then turned to Feng Xiao, her tone gentle: "Young master, please follow me."
"Thank you, Manager Ning," Feng Xiao politely smiled and thanked Manager Ning, then followed the maid away.
Walking behind the maid, Feng Xiao's lips curved into a faint smile. He knew that his first step had been taken steadily.
After washing up, Feng Xiao changed into the clothes Manager Ning had prepared for him. A simple and elegant green robe, with a cloud-patterned belt tied at his waist, and delicate dark patterns adorning the cuffs and collar, which was both noble and fresh. At this moment, he no longer seemed like the student who had come from the village, but rather like a young master from a noble family, exuding a sense of composure and elegance in his every move.
Led by the maid, Feng Xiao arrived at an elegant table. A cup of clear tea was placed on the table, its aroma wafting, complementing the surrounding zither music. Feng Xiao understood, and with a thought, the Seven Stringed Zither quietly appeared on the table. He gently stroked the strings, and with a slight pluck of his fingertips, the zither music flowed out like water.
Inside the teahouse, the zither music began again. This time, Feng Xiao's zither music was even more distant and profound, as if it carried a magic that brought the entire teahouse into a tranquil World. The zither music flowed like a clear spring, like a mountain breeze, and like moonlight, each note seemingly telling a distant story. The tea guests put down their teacups, closed their eyes, and immersed themselves in the beautiful melody, as if forgetting the hustle and bustle of the mundane World.
Manager Ning stood not far away, his gaze sweeping over the intoxicated tea guests, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He murmured in a low voice: "Just relying on zither skills and that Spirit that has not yet attached a spirit ring, he can make people quickly enter such an intoxicated state... In the entire Heaven Dou Empire, perhaps only the lady of Moon Pavilion can do it."
His gaze fell on Feng Xiao again, with a deeper meaning in his eyes. He knew that what he had encountered today might not just be a young man with extraordinary zither skills.
The zither music gradually faded, but the teahouse remained silent. A moment later, the tea guests awoke as if from a dream, applauding and praising, and countless tips were given. Feng Xiao smiled slightly, put away his Seven Stringed Zither, and nodded slightly in greeting to everyone.
This was a World of Spirits, but also a World ruled by nobles. Music, as an indispensable part of noble life, was both a symbol of status and a legacy of noble culture. And Feng Xiao, with his innate talent for zither skills, seemed to hold an admission ticket to the noble World.
Soon, Manager Ning had the maid bring up Feng Xiao's earnings from today's performance on a tray. On the tray, gold coins were neatly arranged, gleaming golden, estimated to be about a hundred. Feng Xiao looked at the wealth before him, his face expressionless, but a hint of surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes. He hadn't expected that just one piece of music could bring such generous earnings. However, carrying these hundred gold coins would indeed be inconvenient for a child.
At this moment, Manager Ning was also silently observing Feng Xiao. Having been in business for many years, he had seen all sorts of people, but Feng Xiao was the most unique child he had ever met. Born in humble circumstances, yet possessing astonishing zither skills; facing a huge amount of wealth, he could maintain such a calm attitude, and even a hint of distress appeared on his face. This maturity and wisdom beyond his age made Manager Ning's evaluation of Feng Xiao even higher.
At this point, Feng Xiao raised his head and said to Manager Ning: "Manager Ning, please keep this money for now. It's not convenient for me to carry it around."
Manager Ning smiled and nodded upon hearing this: "Alright. If you need money, you can withdraw it at the teahouse counter at any time. When the amount is sufficient, I will send someone to the bank to convert it into a card for you, which will be convenient to carry. In addition, if you don't have a place to stay for now, you can stay here temporarily, no need to be reserved."
"In that case, thank you, Manager Ning," Feng Xiao bowed slightly to Manager Ning, his tone filled with sincere gratitude.
"No need to be polite. From now on, my teahouse's business will depend on Little Feng," Manager Ning said with a smile, patting Feng Xiao's shoulder.
As a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School sent out for business, Manager Ning knew very well that Feng Xiao would not stay here for too long. Although his observation of Feng Xiao's talent was not too high, with Feng Xiao's Spirit and zither skills, Feng Xiao would definitely secure a place in the noble circles of Heaven Dou in the future.
As expected, in a few days, Feng Xiao's reputation spread throughout Nuoding City. The unique timbre of the Seven Stringed Zither, combined with Feng Xiao's superb zither skills, captivated countless tea guests. Even the nobles in Nuoding City came to hear the young zither player's performance. Feng Xiao, who had not yet received his first month's salary, earned a fortune in just a few days from tips alone. If it weren't for his young age, people would probably have already come to him to become his disciples and learn zither skills.
Time flew by like a white steed. As the day of Jingzhe approached, Feng Xiao also woke up early, withdrew all his earnings from the past few days at the counter, and headed towards Notting Academy.