Everyone Says I’m Cold and Aloof, But I Just Have Social Anxiety! - Chapter 16

His hand reached out instinctively, resting upon the strings. As he touched the body of the instrument, it unintentionally let out a crisp “ding.”

That single sound seemed to strike a chord deep within his heart, giving him a surge of courage. Gu Qingzhi steadied his mind and, following the fingering and melody in his memories, began to play.

Yan Luochen watched blankly from the side, even forgetting to sway his folding fan. His gaze was entirely captivated by Gu Qingzhi’s slender fingers and his focused expression.

As Gu Qingzhi played, the elegant music flowed through the pavilion like a gurgling stream. Yan Luochen couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Senior Brother, this music is truly beautiful; it is as if it can make one forget all their troubles.”

Gu Qingzhi did not respond, immersing himself completely in the performance. His fingers danced nimbly across the strings, every note seemingly imbued with endless emotion.

When the song ended, the lingering melody hovered in the pavilion for a long time.

“This zither was a gift from Uncle Xuan Ling when I was a child. He is a musical cultivator. At that time, he wanted to teach me how to play personally, but I kept him at a distance. Later, I taught myself.”

Gu Qingzhi slowly lowered his hands, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Yan Luochen snapped back to reality and said eagerly, “Senior Brother, you taught yourself, and yet your skills are this transcendent?!”

Gu Qingzhi shook his head slightly; he simply felt that it had all come naturally.

[It must be due to muscle memory. This feeling is quite marvelous.]

Yan Luochen: ? Muscle memory? Does he mean he forgot because he hadn’t played in a long time, and now that he’s playing again, it’s all coming back?

He snapped his folding fan shut, slapped it against his palm, and spoke again: “It looks good and sounds even better. Senior Brother, you must play for me often in the future.”

Gu Qingzhi smiled faintly. “Very well, whenever you wish to hear it.”

Yan Luochen asked curiously, “Senior Brother, what were you thinking about just now while you were playing?”

Gu Qingzhi pondered for a moment before answering, “I was thinking that perhaps music is a vent for one’s emotions, and an expression of the heart.”

Yan Luochen nodded as if he partially understood. “I don’t quite get it, but I can feel the emotion in the piece.”

Gu Qingzhi smiled and stood up, gazing at the distant scenery in silence. A breeze brushed past again, fluttering the hems of their robes. At this moment, the atmosphere in the pavilion was tranquil and beautiful.

Within the Yuqing Immortal Sect, the sunlight fell softly upon every corner, adding a touch of mystery and serenity to the immortal mountain.

Inside the main hall, sandalwood incense rose in curls. Gu Yuan sat in the seat of honor, discussing sect affairs with Jian Han. Having finished their official business, Jian Han appeared somewhat hesitant. He spoke up: “Master, why not let me handle Junior Brother Yan’s instruction? Junior Brother Qingzhi has a solitary nature, I fear…”

Gu Yuan was momentarily stunned, then said, “Han’er, you saw it yourself. It is rare for my son to make a friend, and now that he has become your Little Junior Brother, this arrangement of mine is actually intentional.”

Jian Han showed a look of hesitation. “This…”

Gu Yuan waved his hand lightly and added, “Enough. Besides, as my eldest disciple and their Big Senior Brother, you should help me shoulder more of the sect’s burdens. Do you intend to slack off?”

Jian Han hurriedly bowed. “Yes, Master. This disciple spoke out of turn.”

Although Jian Han was indeed Gu Yuan’s eldest disciple and had followed him since childhood—making him, in some ways, even closer than the biological son Gu Qingzhi—the bond of blood was still a missing link.

Years ago, when Gu Qingzhi was only three or four years old, he had been brought back to the sect by Gu Yuan. From then on, Jian Han had a junior brother. For a long time, Jian Han had met only a cold shoulder despite his warm efforts. He often dangled toys and delicious treats in front of Gu Qingzhi, trying to get his attention.

But Gu Qingzhi always responded with a cold, heartless gaze, as if he had no soul. He wouldn’t say a word, and he was stingy with even a flicker of a smile.

Jian Han hadn’t cared much at the time, as Gu Yuan himself hadn’t been particularly attentive to Gu Qingzhi back then. Jian Han simply believed that as a senior brother, it was his duty to look after his young junior.

However, once Gu Qingzhi turned six and was tested to possess the Superlative Mutated Ice Spirit Root, Gu Yuan became extremely devoted to him. Everyone assumed Gu Qingzhi’s cold and solitary nature was due to the nature of the Ice Spirit Root.

It was from that point on that Jian Han stopped being as close to Gu Qingzhi as before, and a seed of jealousy began to grow. Gu Qingzhi began his cultivation then, taking only four years to reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment by the age of ten. Four years later, at fourteen, he reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Yet, his cultivation saw no further progress until he was eighteen.

It wasn’t until Gu Yuan returned from a trip to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion that he instructed Gu Qingzhi to enter seclusion to charge for the Golden Core Realm. During that time, Gu Yuan was constantly filled with anxiety, worrying about his son’s seclusion.

Jian Han had learned from Gu Yuan’s own mouth that this seclusion was a matter of life and death for his junior brother. His feelings at the time were beyond words a complex mix of joy and sorrow.

When Gu Qingzhi finally emerged, Jian Han saw that same aloof and indifferent expression again. Simply because he had achieved the Golden Core in two years, his reputation was once again held high by the masses. In that moment, Jian Han’s inner jealousy was deeply reignited.

A moment later, Gu Qingzhi and Yan Luochen were seen walking into the hall side-by-side. Their steps were firm and powerful, their robes fluttering in the breeze. As they stepped into the hall, the gazes of the four men met.

“Master, my senior brother and I have come to speak with you regarding the journey to the Danxia Sect to seek an antidote,” Yan Luochen spoke first, his voice steady and firm.

Gu Yuan nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the two, and just as he was about to speak, he remembered something. “Luochen, you haven’t collected your Proclamation Disciple Tablet yet, have you? You two left in such a hurry the other day that you didn’t even light your Soul Lamp.”

A Soul Lamp, also known as a Life Lamp, is inextricably linked to a cultivator’s life. If the lamp goes out, it signals the cultivator’s fall; it is a barometer of their safety.

Yan Luochen was stunned for a moment, then looked at Gu Qingzhi, who gave him a slight nod. Yan Luochen clasped his hands and said, “In response to Master, this disciple has indeed not yet received my identity tablet or lit my Soul Lamp.”

At this, Jian Han took a step forward and offered, “Master, why not let me take Junior Brother Yan to the Affairs Hall to collect his identity tablet and light his Soul Lamp?”

Gu Yuan nodded in approval.

Yan Luochen quickly thanked Jian Han, “Thank you, Big Senior Brother.”

Yan Luochen followed Jian Han out of the hall. Along the way, the scenery of the Yuqing Immortal Sect was like a painting the peaks were elegant and the clouds swirled around them. They walked along a path paved with bluestone, the flowers and trees swaying in the wind as if greeting them.

Eventually, they arrived at the Affairs Hall. After Jian Han greeted the deacon, the man quickly produced a silver tablet and handed it to Yan Luochen. The words “Yuqing” were engraved on the silver, shimmering coldly in the sunlight.

Yan Luochen accepted the silver tablet, his gaze instinctively falling upon the identical silver tablet hanging at Jian Han’s waist.