Chapter 3: Harpist (6)
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Although the demon crowd had long given up any expectations of Lin Nan after witnessing Trissa’s wonderful harp sounds, out of respect for the God of Harmony, Muse, the tavern gradually fell silent just before Lin Nan was about to perform.
In truth, before entering the tavern, Lin Nan didn’t have a clue about the harp.
So it was no wonder she felt a strong fascination with the western instrument that resembled a harp from her world. After all, seeing a familiar instrument in a different world made her develop a certain attachment to it.
She yearned to listen to the soothing and intoxicating melodies that would remind her of her carefree, blissful days.
But what she hadn’t expected was that merely wanting to touch the harp, which gave her feelings of warmth and nostalgia, would be met with Trissa’s cold rejection—there was even a hint of disdain and mockery in her tone.
This sparked a flicker of murderous intent in Lin Nan.
Yes, with her current strength, she could probably reduce the entire room of demons to dust with just a finger.
But that wasn’t her style.
Even if Trissa disrespected her, it hadn’t come to the point where her d*ath would be the appropriate apology.
She wasn’t a bloodthirsty person; if she conquered the demon race through slaughter and violence, how was that any different from the divine clan eyeing the Asking Dao Continent?
Taking a deep breath, Lin Nan decided to defeat Trissa using the harp, the very thing Trissa excelled at.
It’s important to remember that there’s always someone better, and if a person gives up humility, they’ll eventually meet their end in arrogance.
Her passive skill, “Phenomenon,” activated as soon as Lin Nan focused her thoughts.
The incredibly exquisite harp, glowing with its own aura, was indeed eye-catching.
However, when Lin Nan finally sat before the harp and placed her hands on the strings, nervousness crept in.
Could she really outperform someone who had already integrated the harp into her being and mastered the craft to its limits?
…
When Trissa saw Lin Nan sitting there, her posture even more novice-like than a beginner, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
She truly hadn’t expected that the foreign woman who’d been challenging her for half the day was an absolute beginner.
Did she really think that just because she owned a beautiful harp, she could play it freely?
How ridiculous and laughable!
If that woman had performed first, wouldn’t Trissa have had an easy victory?
But, this was fine too; at least she’d be providing the audience with an incomparable harp performance, showcasing just how talented she was as a harpist. That would surely earn her the support of a crowd led by Morris—what a bonus!
As for that demon woman… Ha! Trissa turned her head away, unwilling to look at her any longer.
The onlookers saw nothing wrong with Lin Nan’s posture and were waiting in silence for the good show.
As everyone anxiously anticipated the spectacle, Lin Nan’s delicate fingers, like fresh green shoots, finally moved.
“Ding ding dong dong…”
As Lin Nan plucked out one or two notes, Trissa still couldn’t be bothered to even glance at her.
But as a series of obviously skilled and delightful melodies crashed into her eardrums, Trissa suddenly turned her head, fixated on Lin Nan.
To her astonishment, Lin Nan’s demeanor seemed to perfectly merge with the splendid harp before her. Her fingers, as delicate as jade, danced gracefully between the strings. As people listened, their eyes were irresistibly drawn to her elegant and gentle posture.
Wait a minute… Was she pretending to be a novice before?
How crafty! But what good did that do? The ultimate judgment lay with the God of Harmony, not some silly little tricks.
Trissa’s hazel eyes narrowed slightly as she began to genuinely listen to Lin Nan’s performance.
Hold on, why had she never heard this piece before?
You see, being a harpist was a unique profession for demons that had been passed down for thousands of years, but the songs that remained were fewer than a hundred.
Every song played by harpists was a classic, each with its own unique skill effects. Creating a new piece of music was no easy feat.
Just because you could play well didn’t mean you had the gift of composition.
The former came from practice, while the latter required creative inspiration and exceptional talent.
Across the last few millennia, aside from the initial handful of songs at the beginning of the harpist profession, successors had only created a little over twenty songs.
Thus, the most basic requirement for a harpist was to master these one hundred songs, imbuing them with magical energy while playing to potentially create corresponding skill effects.
A skilled harpist could even simplify complex pieces to unleash weakened versions of the skills.
And, of course, under urgent circumstances, this practice was approved by the Harpist Academy, becoming an accepted industry norm.
So, when Trissa heard the unfamiliar notes, she was momentarily stunned, her mind swirling with disbelief.
How could this—this mere demon woman—perform a piece that had never appeared in the harpist academy’s repertoire?
Before Trissa could make sense of it all, as the beautiful notes continued to dance, her expression grew increasingly serious.
Because upon listening, she realized that, from a professional standpoint, Lin Nan’s technique was nearly on par with hers, and perhaps even a bit better.
That unparalleled, exquisite sound, flowing like a river, though not loud, felt as soft as a rainbow and poetic. At times warm, at times mysterious, it was as if all of nature’s beauty was gradually unveiling before her.
Paired with the harp’s delicate and artistic presence, the melodies were elegant, pure, and gem-like in their clarity, like morning dew on a leaf.
The lingering sound of the harp resonated deeply, refreshing the listeners as if they were gazing upon the enchanting beauty of a fountain under moonlight, immersed in an atmosphere of poetry.
Even Trissa, who had held a grudge against her, found herself unknowingly captivated by this celestial music, unable to escape its spell.
Not just Trissa, at that moment, everyone present forgot their schemes to drag the demoness off stage, fully conquered by this unbelievably captivating piece.
“Petals! It’s petals!”
Adeline was the first to exclaim.
As the incredibly beautiful music played, pink petals began to flutter gracefully through the air.
Everyone looked up, astonished, as the tavern ceiling had seemingly vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of blue sky.
A gentle breeze brushed by, carrying with it the enchanting harp sounds, and a mystery of fragrances along with cascades of petals filled the air.
People were left dumbfounded, having never witnessed such an extraordinary sight.
