Chapter 4: Harpist (7)
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“What… what on earth is going on?”
Adeline’s mouth was agape, and her eyes were as round as saucers.
She even instinctively pinched her thigh hard, and only after confirming that the pain was all too real did she dare to believe that what she was seeing wasn’t some wild hallucination.
It wasn’t just Adeline; everyone present was swept up in the enchanting music, unable to extricate themselves from its grip.
Suddenly, the dim, dingy tavern vanished, replaced by a brilliant blue sky and bright sunshine.
People felt as if they’d been transported to a mountain meadow bathed in the warmth of spring, with grass growing and birds chirping, enjoying nature’s bountiful gifts along with the delightful tunes.
At one moment, it seemed so natural, so obvious.
But soon, Morris was the first to snap back to reality. His rather handsome face among the Demon Race was now twisted in horror, as if he’d seen a ghost.
He’d intended to jump in and ruin the show, but before he knew it, he found himself spellbound by that demoness’s music. It was so powerful that he inadvertently crossed the boundaries of time and space, landing in a breathtaking yet terrifying place.
Morris looked around in disbelief.
Was this real, or just an illusion conjured by that demoness?
He cautiously touched a flower blooming at his feet; the sensation was vividly real, and its gentle fragrance was refreshing.
With a determined tug, he yanked the vibrant flower from the ground for a closer inspection.
He couldn’t find a single flaw, not even the soil clinging to its roots, which had a unique fresh scent of the mountains.
Could it be that the demoness’s harp magic had transported them to another realm?
When Morris looked up at Lin Nan again, the performer and her lavish harp were perched on a raised platform in the middle of the meadow.
Bathed in gentle sunlight, the exceptionally graceful lady had miraculously changed into a completely different outfit.
Her pure white, fitted gown carried an air of sanctity, the long train flowing like water from the edge of the platform to the grass, matched with the beautiful sound of “ding ding dang dang” from her harp.
Even Morris, who had always sought to repress her, was completely stunned in that moment.
Though her beauty may not have been perfect by all standards, her aura was akin to that of a Muse goddess gracing the scene, making it impossible to look away.
His mind was reduced to two simple words: “So beautiful, so enchanting… so beautiful, so enchanting…”
Morris’s subordinates mirrored their count’s reaction; each one looked like a country bumpkin who’d just stumbled into a grand mansion, unable to believe they had suddenly gone from a cold, dark night to a bright, blooming paradise.
With the double impact of marvelous music and this fairyland, they were instantly filled with awe and admiration for the master of this ethereal place.
Gone were any memories of the melodies played by Trissa earlier.
As Trissa witnessed this scene, her mind exploded like a thunderstorm, shattering her established beliefs.
The mysterious melodies she had never heard before,
And the powerful spell that could instantly transport everyone from a shabby tavern to a fairyland,
Left Trissa both shaken and pale.
She was thrilled because, as the recognized genius of the Harpist Academy, she thought she had reached the limits of what a harpist could achieve.
She stood at the peak of harpist capability, something nobody in the past few millennia had done.
What she never expected was that this spontaneous outing would lead her to not only meet another harpist who wasn’t a member of the Demon Race but also to witness a performance that far exceeded her so-called limits.
It was clear that once this lady reached the Demon Race Imperial Capital,
She would certainly cause a stir, pushing the harpist profession—once thought to be nearly perfect—to even greater heights.
But the thought that made her pale was that she had foolishly ridiculed this harpist beforehand, and made a solemn bet before the God of Harmony, Muse. If she lost, not only would she destroy the fruit of her labor—the harp—but she’d never be able to play again for the rest of her life.
For someone like Trissa, who’d aspired to be a harpist all her life, this was more painful than d*ath.
With that thought, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the flower-covered grass, unable to hold back her sobs.
As the last note faded,
People were utterly silent.
It seemed they were still unaware that the music had ended, the beautiful, flowing notes still lingering in their minds like a dreamy river.
It felt like an eternity had passed, or perhaps just a fleeting moment.
Adeline was the first to break the spell, her fair hands clapping vigorously, turning bright red as if that was the only way to express her overflowing emotions.
While applauding, she didn’t forget to turn to Xi and shout, “Incredible! Your companion must be a goddess come down from heaven!”
Xi stared intently at the figure on the platform, the very embodiment of serene, otherworldly grace, and quietly withdrew his card.
Ha! How dare he doubt the master’s abilities; what foolishness!
When he next interacted with her privately, he must apologize to the master, or his guilt would never be laid to rest.
After Adeline began clapping, those who were still lost in the lingering echoes finally snapped out of their daze, immediately erupting in shouts and applause.
As startled birds flapped chaotically away, their jubilant shouts echoed throughout the valley.
Lin Nan slowly stood, her off-shoulder dress showcasing her perfect figure, the train trailing behind her like wings, as if this goddess could take flight back to the heavens at any moment.
She walked to the edge of the elevated platform, giving a slight bow to the crowd cheering for her.
And at that moment, people’s vision suddenly blurred.
The once bright and vivid valley instantly reverted back to the dim and cramped tavern, and the scattered crowd was suddenly jumbled together, some even tumbling to the ground due to the sudden chaos, prompting hearty laughter from the onlookers.
Morris looked at Trissa, who was pale and slumped to the side, then glanced at Lin Nan on the stage and suddenly said coldly,
“By the rules, whether the performance is good or not is up to us to decide, right?!”
The tavern fell silent.
People remembered that prior to the wager’s formal initiation, Trissa had led them in swearing allegiance to the God of Harmony, Muse, to judge the skills of both performers fairly and squarely.
Ha, could there even be any suspense left?
Trissa, although equally skilled, was still a notch below Lady Lin.
But why did Morris’s gaze toward them feel so strange?
Could it be he wanted them to collectively vote for Trissa?
