TRWSB – Chapter 148 The Melody of Mystery

Bi Liuyun raised his eyes and spotted Hailin in the distance.

He waved enthusiastically and called out, “Young Master Hailin, you’re here at the seaside too?”

Hailin stepped closer and said, “Just now, I thought I heard the voice of the renowned Lyricist Bi.”

Bi Liuyun chuckled awkwardly. “My singing isn’t that good. Please forgive me if it offended your ears.”

Shaking his head with a serious expression, Hailin replied, “Not at all. Your voice is enchanting—its echoes linger like a melody that lasts for days. I really enjoy it.”

Qi Shaorong blinked in disbelief. Is he being sarcastic? No… He doesn’t look like it. This world really is full of surprises—different strokes for different folks. Hailin’s taste is… truly unique.

Zhuang Hao nudged Qi Shaorong with his elbow and whispered, “Do you think this Young Master might have a masochistic streak?”

Qi Shaorong muttered, “…” I was wondering the same thing!

Bi Liuyun’s eyes lit up with delight. “Really? You truly think my singing is good?”

“Absolutely. I never lie. I wonder if I could ask you to honor me with another song?” Hailin asked earnestly.

Qi Shaorong stared wide-eyed, utterly speechless. Does Hailin have a grudge against the sea’s fish? I worked so hard to stop Bi Liuyun from turning this area into a graveyard of fish, and here Hailin is encouraging him. What a lack of empathy for marine life—especially for someone from the Sea Clan!

Bi Liuyun smiled. “Sure! What would you like to hear?”

“‘A Summer Night.’”

Tilting his head nostalgically, Bi Liuyun murmured, “An old song, huh?”

Hailin nodded. “Yes. Do you know it?”

“Of course!”

Zhuang Hao’s eyes twinkled as he exclaimed, “I get it now! This Sea Clan heir wants to woo Lyricist Bi and is buttering him up by showing interest. Still, enduring Bi Liuyun’s singing just to strike up a conversation—that’s dedication.”

Qi Shaorong frowned. “We’d better move a bit farther away.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “I was thinking the same.”

Bi Liuyun began singing again, his voice wailing through the air like a banshee’s cry. Hailin stood nearby, beaming and clapping along, perfectly in sync with Bi Liuyun.

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao retreated to observe from a safe distance.

“You know,” Qi Shaorong remarked in amazement, “it seems like Young Master Hailin genuinely loves Bi Liuyun’s singing. Is this the Sea Clan’s unique taste?”

“Not necessarily,” Zhuang Hao replied, glancing at the pained expression on the face of another Sea Clan member nearby.

Qi Heng approached, carrying a basket of oysters.

“Is Liuyun still singing?” Qi Heng had used the excuse of gathering oysters to escape the moment Bi Liuyun started.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Yes, he found a kindred spirit. It doesn’t look like he’ll stop anytime soon.”

Frowning, Qi Heng gazed at the smiling Hailin and muttered, “It seems Hailin genuinely likes Liuyun’s singing. Could the Sea Clan’s aesthetic really be that different from ours? If so, why are so many fish dead?”

Qi Shaorong sighed, “If we let him continue, this entire coastline will reek of dead fish.”

Zhuang Hao looked contemplative, his thoughts swirling.

Qi Shaorong noticed his expression and asked, “What’s on your mind? You look uneasy.”

“There’s something unusual about Bi Liuyun’s voice,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Do you think singing that bad is easy to achieve?”

“No, I mean it has a unique power. His voice seems to paralyze the fish in the water, and then it kills them. I don’t think he’s doing it intentionally—his voice naturally carries this lethal quality,” Zhuang Hao explained.

“I’ve heard that the songs of the Merfolk are mesmerizing, but if a Merfolk sings with malice, their melody becomes a deadly weapon—like Bi Liuyun’s now.”

“If Liuyun could fully harness the power of his voice, he might one day use it to subdue enemies,” Zhuang Hao added.

“Legend has it a Merfolk warrior once wiped out tens of thousands of enemy troops with just one song,” Zhuang Hao continued. “Could Bi Liuyun be connected to the Merfolk in some way?”

Qi Shaorong frowned. “That’s unlikely. Liuyun can’t even swim! A landlubber like him has nothing to do with the Merfolk.” Though… his knowledge of Merfolk secrets is suspiciously detailed.

Zhuang Hao’s brows furrowed deeper. Is there really no connection?

Since arriving at the Azure Sea Plains, Bi Liuyun had displayed an unusual familiarity with the Sea Clan and its intricacies. While he appeared calm on the surface, there were moments when he seemed weighed down by a hidden burden.

Qi Shaorong turned to Zhuang Hao and said firmly, “When Liuyun is ready to talk, he’ll tell us. If he doesn’t want to share, we shouldn’t pry.”

Zhuang Hao smiled faintly. “I understand.”

It seems Qi Shaorong had also noticed something odd about Bi Liuyun, but…

The Song That Stirred the Seas

Qiheng took a deep breath, stood up, and said, “I’ll go persuade Liuyun to stop singing.”

He walked over to Biliuyun and Hailing, smiling as he said, “It’s lunchtime. How about we pause for now and grill some fish?”

Reluctantly, Biliuyun stopped singing.

Hailing looked at him with a smile, “I was honored to hear you sing today, Master Biqin. I hope I’ll have the chance to enjoy it again.”

Biliuyun nodded, beaming. “It’s rare to find someone who appreciates my singing. If you’d like to hear more, just come find me anytime.”

“Certainly!” Hailing replied, his face radiating joy.

Despite the abundance of fish Biliuyun’s singing had killed, the small group could only manage to grill a few.

“What a pity!” someone remarked. “Hailing left before the fish was ready, saying he had other matters to attend to.”

Qishaorong flipped his fish on the grill and smirked. “Perhaps his appetite was ruined by listening to the singing for so long.”

Biliuyun frowned. “What do you mean by that, young master?”

Qishaorong laughed nervously. “I mean, he probably filled up on the joy of music and didn’t need food anymore.”

With a huff, Biliuyun said, “Even if you don’t understand the beauty of my voice, there are always those who do.”

“Yes, of course,” Qishaorong nodded quickly.

Meanwhile, Hai Xiao walked beside Hailing, trying to suppress his curiosity. Finally, he blurted out, “Young Master, you seemed to get along well with Master Biqin.”

“Not bad,” Hailing replied with a smile.

“You listened to him sing for so long… Did you really enjoy it?” Hai Xiao asked cautiously.

Hailing shook his head. “Not at all—it was awful.”

Hai Xiao was taken aback but secretly relieved. He had started to wonder if his master had peculiar tastes. “Then why did you listen for so long if you found it unpleasant?”

“Because… it was so bad it was almost nostalgic.”

Hai Xiao raised a brow. “Nostalgic?”

Hailing shrugged. “I’ve heard worse. So, in comparison, it wasn’t unbearable.”

The King’s Command

In the underwater palace of the Dragon King, Hailing stood before his father. “You called for me, Father?” he asked respectfully.

The Dragon King frowned. “I summoned you a while ago. Why are you only arriving now?”

“I was delayed by a small matter on the way. What’s the urgency, Father?”

“The Sea King Pearl has reappeared,” the Dragon King announced.

Hailing’s eyes widened. “Has the Merman Clan already found it?”

“No,” the Dragon King replied, shaking his head. “But the Sea King Disk, which connects to the pearl, began to resonate. That means the pearl briefly surfaced somewhere.”

“Where?” Hailing asked.

“In the human territories,” his father said. “It appeared for only a moment before vanishing again.”

Hailing nodded solemnly. “I understand. I’ll do my best to retrieve it.”

The Dragon King gave him a pointed look. “The Sea King Pearl is the treasure of our clan. You must find it before the Merman Clan does, especially if you wish to avoid marrying their princess.”

Hailing’s expression darkened. “I understand.”

The Dragon King chuckled. “So, you truly dislike the Merman Princess, do you?”

Hailing lowered his head, remaining silent.

An Ominous Attack

Qishaorong yawned as he entered the room, only to feel an ominous presence. Instinctively, he backed away just in time to avoid a bolt of lightning striking where he had stood.

Zhuang Hao leaped forward, shoving Qishaorong aside as a shadowy figure lunged at him. “Hand over the Sea King Pearl!” the figure growled.

Qishaorong retreated, bewildered. The Sea King Pearl? Why would they think I have that?

Zhuang Hao engaged the attacker, who vanished into the shadows with incredible speed. Suddenly, a haunting melody filled the air. Waves of sound attacked the surroundings, forcing the hidden assailant to reveal himself.

Zhuang Hao seized the opportunity, delivering a decisive strike that incapacitated the enemy. He then threw several scrolls onto the fallen figure, ensuring they were thoroughly defeated.

Biliuyun stepped forward, inspecting the body. “It’s someone from the Shadow Electric Eel Clan—expert assassins,” he noted.

Qishaorong stared at the lifeless figure, tilting his head. “He kept asking for the Sea King Pearl. What would I do with such a thing? I don’t even have it!”

Biliuyun’s expression darkened. “Young Master, come with me. I have something to discuss with you.”

He paused before adding, “Zhuang Hao, Qiheng—you should come too.”