Chapter 54 Close It Down

"Why? Naturally because smashing the restaurant would mean our own losses. Leaving aside the fact that it is originally our Zheng clan's descendants who protect the Third Floor, doing such a thing would bring us considerable trouble. Just think, if it really were smashed, then many future collaborations would become impossible to continue. Why do such a thing that harms others without benefiting oneself?"

Zheng Yugong retorted to Zheng Liyuan, leaving the latter entirely at a loss for how to respond.

"Very well, do you have any ideas? Speak your mind and let us hear them." Zheng Tianhai knew Zheng Yugong very well, recognizing him as the sharpest mind within the Zheng clan. Since he spoke in this manner, he surely had a plan in mind.

"I do have some ideas, which amount to nothing more than forcing a cooperation. As long as this Jia Ping'an knows what's good for him, he will have to sell certain things whether he wants to or not. As for him refusing—hm! It wouldn't be the first time someone has vanished without a trace within Ninguta." His voice was low and steeped in murderous intent, making it clear that Zheng Yugong had actually harbored the intent to kill.

Zheng Yugong was the counselor of the General's Mansion and the public-facing leader of the Zheng clan. Since even he had made such a decision, it was evident that Jia Ping'an no longer had any choices left.

Thinking of the counselor's abilities and methods, Zheng Tianhai and the other two could not help but let out a long breath of relief. Entrusting the matter to someone so dependable naturally gave everyone peace of mind. Thus, the meeting concluded with Zheng Tianhai announcing that the matter would be handled personally by Zheng Yugong.

...

Chan Shi and her maid Dong'er were returning home through the night.

Along the way, Chan Shi remained largely silent. She was completely shaken by the piece *Ambush from Ten Sides* played by Bai Ruolan.

As someone who also made her living through music, Chan Shi knew very well the kinds of benefits a truly great piece could bring to its creator.

In this era severely lacking in entertainment, the birth of a new composition would invariably attract countless admirers, and the person who premiered it would reap endless rewards, naturally being remembered by people for many years to come.

Take the State of Xuan, for instance—how many years had passed without a single new musical piece appearing? People like them survived entirely on melodies passed down from their ancestors. Yet no matter how well one played them, playing the same old tunes over and over would inevitably induce a sense of boredom.

As far as Chan Shi knew, several musical masters in the State of Xuan had more than once attempted to compose their own pieces to establish their reputations and earn more wealth. It was just that... it was far too difficult.

The emergence of a new composition was not something that could be conjured up on a whim; it required a certain artistic conception, as well as a catchy melody that would captivate a vast audience until people began to praise it.

Conversely, if the produced piece failed to astonish the eyes or delight the ears, it was better not to bring it out at all, lest one become a laughingstock and invite mockery.

Take Chan Shi herself, for instance. She had once thought of creating her own compositions, but after struggling for a long time, the tunes she produced turned out completely mediocre. They were fine for amusing oneself in a small courtyard at home, but as for playing them to an audience outside—well, she might as well forget it.

However, this did not negate Chan Shi's exceptional talent in music. On the contrary, any fine composition, once it fell into her hands, only required her to listen a few times to imitate it with seventy or eighty percent accuracy, and given time, reaching ninety or even one hundred percent was entirely possible.

It was precisely because of this ability that she had been able to make a living in Ninguta relying on her own skills all these years, and live quite comfortably at that. Whenever many households celebrated birthdays or auspicious occasions, they would invariably invite her to set the mood, and the commissions they offered were never meager.

She had originally assumed that upon the opening of the Third Floor, they would certainly invite her, and she had even been pondering which musical pieces she should perform. Yet unexpectedly, no invitation arrived, not even on the eve of the opening day.

Driven by a mixture of perplexity and curiosity, Chan Shi had come on her own accord, venturing even to the second floor where she heard the ethereal melody of *Ambush from Ten Sides*, after which she was completely captivated beyond control.

Chan Shi, who had only intended to take a look and leave, ended up staying all the way until evening, remaining until Bai Ruolan stopped playing before she finally returned home somewhat reluctantly.

Even on her way back, the melody of *Ambush from Ten Sides* kept echoing in her mind.

"This must be a new composition! No, it is definitely a new composition." First doubt, then certainty. By the end, Chan Shi's tone had grown resolute.

"A new composition? How could that be?" Dong'er muttered with utter disbelief upon hearing this.

"There is nothing impossible about it. If it were an old tune, it is impossible that I would never have heard it." Chan Shi shook her head, then as if recalling something, added, "Whether it is a new piece is actually quite easy to figure out. Tomorrow I will go and ask Sister Bai, and I shall know at once."

Indeed, curiosity had thoroughly seized Chan Shi. If this were not a new piece, she could not possibly have heard a composition with such profound artistic conception and left no impression behind. Of course, there was also the possibility that Bai Ruolan had brought the piece from Changdu. If that were truly the case, then a musical master had likely emerged in Changdu, and if so, she would definitely seek them out as a teacher.

For Chan Shi, music was her greatest love. In pursuit of her passion, she was willing to travel thousands of miles.

Chan Shi had already made up her mind to ask Bai Ruolan where *Ambush from Ten Sides* originated. If it came from some master, she was determined to make their acquaintance and seek instruction, and if necessary, becoming their disciple would be her utmost honor.

Coincidentally, Tong Weixing, who was also returning home at this moment, wore a similarly absent-minded expression.

He had stayed inside the Bade Pavilion for the entire day without stepping out once.

For no other reason than that upon the desk of the Bade Pavilion lay a book of poetry personally written by Jia Ping'an, which recorded as many as a hundred poems of various styles.

Among them were quite a few famous and timeless masterpieces passed down through the ages.

Without exaggeration, taking out just a single one at random would shock a figure like Master Tong profoundly, let alone finding a full hundred of them.

Wandering in this sea of literature, Tong Weixing was so immersed that he could not extricate himself. At times he was thrilled, at times exhilarated, and at times he would slam the table in admiration.

The appearance of a hundred classic poems was like opening a window for Tong Weixing, granting him deeper insights into the realm of poetry. So engrossed was he that he skipped dinner entirely, leaving the delicacies untouched by his side while remaining completely oblivious to them.

It was not until the Third Floor closed its doors for the night that he reluctantly descended from the fourth floor.

Today's experience had completely overturned Tong Weixing's worldview. He had previously thought that Jia Ping'an was merely struck by a sudden flash of inspiration that day, using four poems to counter his one and utterly defeating him.

All of that was merely a coincidence; after all, expecting a mere sixteen-year-old youth to possess profound life insights or write timeless poetic masterpieces was sheer nonsense.

It was not until the emergence of *Journey to the West* that Tong Weixing began to take Jia Ping'an seriously, his intuition telling him that this was someone exceptionally skilled at storytelling with boundless imagination.

If he were merely a stubborn old pedant, how could he possibly conceive of heavenly courts, halls of Yama, or figures like Tathagata and Guanyin?

He had thought he was already looking upon Jia Ping'an with high regard, but until seeing that book of poetry today, he finally realized that his own vision was still too narrow, that he had underestimated the person and slighted this youth.

"Those who excel are teachers; those who excel are teachers. Never look down on someone simply because they are young." Upon stepping out of the Third Floor, such phrases kept flashing through Tong Weixing's mind, his agitated emotions refusing to settle for a long time.

Had it not been for the mischief of his pitiful pride, Tong Weixing might even have considered taking Jia Ping'an as his master right then and there.

Having visited the Bade Pavilion, Tong Weixing's perspective on Jia Ping'an had undergone a massive shift. Experiencing a similar transformation was Hu Buyun, the General of Ninguta.

He also returned to the mansion just as the Third Floor was closing. The moment he stepped inside, he summoned his cousin Hu Buxin, and his very first words were, "Shut down the Huaicai Restaurant."

"Shut it down? Why?" Although Hu Buxin had long anticipated that after the opening of the Heaven's Third Floor, his Huaicai Restaurant would likely face even harsher times, it still didn't warrant closing its doors entirely.

"Do you still need me to explain why? You went to the Third Floor today and witnessed the situation for yourself; surely you got a taste of it. Do you honestly think you can surpass that Jia Ping'an? Let me tell you, I'm afraid even the Yuelai Restaurant will soon fail to hold its ground, let alone our own establishment." Hu Buyun shook his head as he spoke.

Previously, Huaicai Restaurant's business was already poor, and the reason it remained open was simply to avoid letting the Zheng clan monopolize the market entirely.

Now that the Third Floor existed, it was equivalent to someone actively making trouble for the Zheng clan. Since that was the case, Huaicai Restaurant lost any reason to continue operating. Keeping it open would bring nothing besides financial losses and humiliation.

"Oh." Though Hu Buxin felt somewhat reluctant, since it was his cousin's order, he had no choice but to comply.

"Right, find an opportunity to spread the news that Jia Ping'an possesses a white fox." Hu Buyun's subsequent remark instantly plunged Hu Buxin back into shock.

"Spread the news?" Hu Buxin suddenly felt as though his brain could no longer keep up.

"Yes, spread the news," Hu Buyun replied with an utterly resolute expression.

He could tolerate Jia Ping'an growing powerful, but he would absolute not allow him to pose a threat to himself. Previously, his plan was to use his own capabilities to defeat the Zheng clan and thereby become the true general and undisputed master of Ninguta.

Now it seemed—since there was a better method available, why not use it?

Let the Zheng clan and Jia Ping'an fight each other first, and then reap the fisherman's profit—wasn't that a splendid idea?

Hu Buxin was also quite sharp; it was just that on many matters, he failed to think of the solution instantly. Now that someone had given him a hint, his train of thought opened up in an instant, and the depression he felt over the closure of Huaicai Restaurant vanished entirely. "Rest assured, cousin, I know how to handle it."