FRGNM -Chapter 235 Touching Strings

Murong Ming let out a bitter laugh and turned back into the room, saying nothing further.

On the carriage, Ling Ruoxi held the compass in her hand. On it were inscriptions like Qiankun, Zhen, Xun, and a line with something like Yi-Mao-Wei. Deeper inside were the yin-yang lines, and at the center was a strange arrow pointing forward, as if hinting at something. With three marks on the shoulders, it was utterly incomprehensible.

Even old Murong Ming had studied it for years without understanding it—how could she figure it out at first glance? She let out a faint smile and put the compass down. Luo Mingyu, curious, asked, “From the way you looked just now, it seems you recognize it. Does the Poison Scripture mention this too?”

“Not at all. But I do know the compass.” Back when she was still an assassin, hidden dangers were countless. Besides studying the I Ching and Bagua, Ling Ruoxi often examined many other things. She had knowledge of various things, though she wasn’t an expert in most. Her greatest expertise, if anything, was in killing.

She pinched the compass and looked at the arrows. Calmly, she explained, “The direction of the red arrow points north; the opposite is south. Once the fixed directions—east, west, south, north—are determined, the next arrow indicates the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. From them, you can determine orientation. The final arrow points to a specific spot. To locate the Purple Bamboo Divine Needle, these must be used together…”

Listening to her explanation, Luo Mingyu finally understood. Looking at it this way, pinpointing the location of the Purple Bamboo Divine Needle would be easy. With the map in their possession, they could know where the needles were and then use the compass to calculate precise positions—finding them would be effortless.

Eyes sparkling, Luo Mingyu excitedly lifted her up. “Little one, how do you know so much? Who gave you this? Is it accurate?”

“I taught myself. Seeing this felt familiar—maybe I knew it in my previous life.” Ling Ruoxi looked proudly at him, determination flashing in her eyes. She would find all the Purple Bamboo Divine Needles and bring them back!

Nangong Mo had ascended the throne, bearing all the responsibilities of governance. He handled all state affairs, reviewed memorials, and, as the day of his grand wedding approached, he finally married his queen, Qian Yi. He oversaw external matters while she managed the palace. Occasionally, she advised him on state affairs, moving forward or retreating alongside him—never shirking responsibility.

Across Duanyun, all respected the new empress. Even those with rebellious hearts fell under her management. The kingdom flourished, and Nangong Mo’s life would only see one queen, whom he loved eternally.

On the carriage road, dust rose behind the galloping vehicle, sprinting toward the distant city. The sweat-blooded horses led the way, dragging the carriage swiftly. Only upon arriving at the city did it slow.

“What speed! A journey that usually takes three days was completed in just one and a half.” The woman in white slowly stepped down from the carriage, her veil hiding her face. Only her bright, spirited eyes scanned her surroundings, the upward tilt of her eyes betraying her good mood.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to her, pointing at the carriage. After all, sweat-blooded horses were rare—no magical beast could compare. Moreover, the woman was stunning—how could no one notice?

“Only you would say that’s fast—I almost vomited!” The blue-clad one jumped from the carriage, pressing a hand to his chest, eyes watering from the ride.

Meanwhile, Silver Wolf casually stepped down, hands behind his head, raising an eyebrow. “What, you puked? How? The speed’s just right; your constitution is too weak.”

“Go, I’m not arguing with you, little wolf.” Suppressing the urge to vomit, the blue-clad one glanced at the sign ahead: Qingzhou City, a smile tugging at his lips. They had finally arrived.

A fair hand lifted the carriage curtain. A man in white stepped out, long hair draping his shoulders, lips slightly curved upward. His presence radiated a sacred light, naturally drawing the gaze of onlookers. Though his face was masked, revealing only his mouth, countless women still screamed in admiration.

“What’s going on? Why so lively?” Luo Mingyu smiled faintly, holding Ling Ruoxi in his arms, gently touching her nose with a light laugh.

The blue-clad one waved dismissively. “Nothing. We can go in. Li Gongzi will send someone to fetch us, but it’s still early—we can explore a bit.”

“Qingzhou City is beautiful, built among the mountains and bamboo seas. It’s perfect for cultivation, and also convenient for finding things.” According to the map, a Purple Bamboo Divine Needle was somewhere within Qingzhou. They had traveled light, coordinating with Nangong Mo, but once they left the country, they would need to travel to other nations to find the remaining needles.

Luo Mingyu nodded. “Indeed. You all go have fun. Ruoxi and I will walk around.”

“Going off without us, huh? Fine, fine. Enjoy your world—we won’t disturb you. But remember, don’t remove your masks. If we see your faces, we won’t leave!” Silver Wolf grumbled, still blaming Nangong Mo for the mess.

They left without farewells. The man who had been going mad issued proclamations across cities, offering a reward of ten thousand taels for their capture, causing near trouble with local authorities. Eventually, they had to return and say goodbye. Only Ling Ruoxi was approached for conversation, making Silver Wolf nearly faint with frustration.

Once outside, the townspeople recognized them as Nangong Mo’s allies. Their enthusiasm was mostly directed at the strikingly beautiful Ling Ruoxi and Luo Mingyu. To avoid trouble, both masked themselves.

If they met Nangong Mo again, Silver Wolf would surely beat that man to a pulp. His silver hair flowing, he glanced at the sweat-blooded horses and headed straight for Qingzhou City. The exhausted horses exhaled heavily, nearly collapsing. Imagine fleeing for your life—how could the speed not be fast? With such a magical beast behind you, fast was mandatory.

“What are you looking at?” Luo Mingyu held a pearl hairpin, watching those around him.

Ling Ruoxi’s eyes were drawn to the opposite side: ordinary buildings, but from one came a melodious zither tune, ethereal as if divine. Yet beneath the beauty was a hint of sorrow, sending a shiver through the heart.

“Do you like this?” Luo Mingyu asked softly, putting the hairpin down, wrapping an arm around her waist as they moved forward.

Inside the flower-decked pavilion, countless young gentlemen listened to the music. Accompanists played pipa and flute. At the center, a figure sat under a white veil, delicate fingers moving across the strings, emitting a strange fragrance that intoxicated all who watched.

So beautiful… so fragrant.

Everyone fell silent, mesmerized.

“What song is this?” Ling Ruoxi asked lightly. Though she didn’t understand music theory, she liked the song. It felt as if something was guiding her forward, and her heart longed to lift the veil and see the seemingly divine figure.

A burst of applause arose. The veiled figure stood—tall, about 1.8 meters, muscular yet elegant, tying back long hair before departing.

“Do you like this?” Luo Mingyu asked softly, patting Ling Ruoxi’s head.

Quickly stepping forward, he lifted the veil and sat on the cushion.

“Who’s this brat, running over there? Get him out!”

“Yes, you want to play the zither? That’s the Fairy Girl’s seat—come out!”

“Madam, come out! Kick this brat out!”

Everyone in the pavilion grew angry, eager to confront the boy. Even Ling Ruoxi was stunned—was the reaction really that extreme for borrowing a zither briefly?

The madam in red came forward, fanning herself. “Young master, this is the Fairy Girl’s place. Please speak properly, and don’t cause trouble, or don’t blame us for being harsh!”

“Madam, I borrow your zither to play a song for the one I love.” He tossed a gold ingot down, fingers touching the strings to play.

A nearby man’s expression darkened. Slapping the table, he pulled a silver note worth a thousand taels from his chest and threw it forward. “Brat! Who cares about your money? Get out, don’t insult the Fairy Girl’s seat!”

Cold light flashed in Luo Mingyu’s eyes as he pressed the strings.