Chapter 46: Distant Sound

...

Two teenage boys and girls walked into the store, making the already small shop feel a bit crowded.

"Hey, there are people here. Hello!" The girl in pink clothes greeted Zeng Yi in a friendly manner.

"Hello."

Surprised that someone greeted him, Zeng Yi responded with a nod.

The boy in blue also greeted Zeng Yi.

"Wow, is this your cat? So cute!" The girl exclaimed when she saw Xiao Ju sitting on Zeng Yi's shoulder.

"Yes."

"Can I hold it?" She asked Zeng Yi with familiarity.

"Xiao Wu, don't bother others." The boy reminded the girl and then apologized to Zeng Yi.

"I'm sorry, my sister has a somewhat playful personality. I hope she didn't offend you."

"It's okay, no problem." Zeng Yi replied, feeling a growing fondness for this polite boy.

But wait, the girl called her sister Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu? Isn't that the female protagonist in Douluo Continent? Then this boy must be Tang San!

Zeng Yi couldn't help but think.

He also remembered that he had read about this plot in a book.

His gaze unconsciously shifted to the person lying on the recliner.

Could this person be the principal of their academy?

Oh my! I actually met the legendary protagonist! What should I do now? Should I ask him for an autograph?

Now, Zeng Yi's heart was filled with excitement. Seeing the protagonist from the novels he had read in front of his own eyes felt surreal.

However, Zeng Yi didn't show his excitement.

"Just wanting to touch the cat, yet you are making a big deal out of it, bro!" Xiao Wu complained to Tang San, and then she approached Zeng Yi again. With her big watery eyes filled with anticipation, she asked, "Can I hold the kitty, please? Just for a little while."

Um... it depends on what Xiao Ju thinks." Xiao Wu suddenly appeared in front of him, and her faint fragrance reached Zeng Yi's nose. He couldn't help but take a step back in embarrassment and said, "So its name is Xiao Ju!"

Hearing Zeng Yi's words, Xiao Wu smiled with delight and looked at Xiao Ju on his shoulder, saying, "Xiao Ju, can sister hold you?"

"Meow~"

"Wow, it said it agrees!"

Xiao Wu exclaimed happily and reached out to pick up Xiao Ju.

This left Zeng Yi speechless. They act like they can understand Xiao Ju's words. And Xiao Ju, can anyone just pick you up if they are a girl?

"Sorry, my sister has always been like this, making people helpless." Tang San looked at Xiao Wu who was playing with Xiao Ju and apologized to Zeng Yi.

"It's okay, I don't mind." Zeng Yi smiled and said.

"Tang San."

"Zeng Yi."

"Are you a swordsman?" Tang San asked. When he entered the store, he noticed this man. His attire caught his attention—wearing a green robe and carrying a sword, he exuded a restrained atmosphere, but also gave off a sense of sharpness, reminding Tang San of a profession called "swordsman" from his previous world.

"Yes."

When asked by Tang San, Zeng Yi answered calmly.

Just as I thought. Tang San thought to himself.

After a brief conversation, Tang San began to appraise the items in the store, while Zeng Yi took down the bamboo flute hanging on the wall and examined it. The bamboo flute was about two feet long, brownish-yellow in color, with intricate carvings on its surface. It had six small holes, which made it a traditional six-hole flute.

Zeng Yi gently stroked the bamboo flute, with a distracted expression and a heavy heart, revealing a sense of sadness.

"Hey sis! Just now, your brother learned a tune on the flute. Want to give it a listen and evaluate it for your brother?" Tang San joked.

"Oh, you can play the flute too?"

"Get lost! Let's be serious, will you listen?"

"Listen! Why not?"

"Then here I go."

...

"Wow, you play well!"

"Hehe, of course. Have you forgotten who your big brother is?"

"I didn't expect that besides playing games all day, you would also learn to play the flute?"

"Haha, life needs some artistic embellishment."

"Is it to impress girls? Do you have a girlfriend?"

Uh... can we not talk about this?"

Mom! Dad! And little sister! What are you all doing now? I miss you so much!

Recalling scenes from his memory, Zeng Yi's eyes became a little moist. He could hardly remember the faces of his own family anymore.

It's been over ten years!

"Zeng brother, is something wrong?" Tang San noticed that Zeng Yi seemed a bit off and asked.

Being reminded by Tang San, Zeng Yi also realized that he had lost his composure.

"Sorry, seeing this bamboo flute reminded me of something from the past, and my emotions got the better of me." Zeng Yi smiled and said to Tang San, but Tang San felt that this smile was forced, hiding endless sadness.

It seems he also has a story. Tang San silently sighed in his heart.

Zeng Yi held the flute and turned to the dozing boss, asking, "Boss, how much does this bamboo flute cost?"

"Ten thousand spirit coins."

Hearing Zeng Yi's voice, the boss lying down slowly opened his mouth, his voice carrying a deep magnetic tone.

"Ten thousand! Are you crazy about money?" Hearing this price, the three people in the store were stunned. Zeng Yi was about to speak, but a furious voice resounded first, which was Xiao Wu's voice.

"Boss, aren't you just randomly setting the price? If you don't want to sell, just say so." Zeng Yi also angrily said. He knew that this principal was quite greedy, but asking for ten thousand spirit coins right off the bat was too much.

"This price is indeed unreasonable." Tang San also added.

"No! The price remains the same."

That magnetic voice rang again, and the boss opened his eyes, his sharp gaze locked onto Zeng Yi, making him feel as if he were being stared down by a fierce bird of prey, causing his hair to stand on end.

"It's still ten thousand spirit coins. If you can pay, take it! Or..." The boss slowly spoke, then paused.

"Or what?"

Is there a condition?

Considering what he said, Zeng Yi felt a glimmer of hope and asked.

"If you can play a tune on this flute that satisfies me, I'll give it to you directly." The boss said again, then stopped looking at Zeng Yi, closed his eyes with a satisfied expression, and lay down again.

"Play a tune?"

This condition surprised Zeng Yi. He hadn't expected it.

When Xiao Wu heard this request, she immediately became excited and looked at Zeng Yi who was holding the flute absent-mindedly. "Brother, can you play a tune?"

"Since Zeng brother wants to buy this flute, he probably knows how to play a tune." Tang San looked at Zeng Yi and said. He was also interested in hearing Zeng Yi perform.

"I can play a tune."

Zeng Yi looked at the flute in his hand and said lightly.

"In that case, hurry up and play for this villain so that I can know what it feels like to listen to the flute." Xiao Wu urged eagerly.

"Hehe, it's been a while since I played, so it might be rusty." Zeng Yi said lightly, walked to a wall, leaned against it and held the flute with vertical hands, then began to play.

After a while, the sound of the flute emanated from the instrument. The melody was slightly deep, sometimes heavy, sometimes gentle. It reverberated in the store, melancholic and endless, infused with a sense of loneliness that touched the heart.

The tune Zeng Yi played was the same tune played by Yasuo in the game, called "The Distant Melody of the Deer." The original intention of the melody was the affectionate cries of male and female deer to express their love for each other. However, when heard, the melody exuded a desolate and lonely feeling.

The melody, combined with Zeng Yi's own feelings of sadness and loneliness, filled the entire store with a sense of sadness, stirring their emotions.

The wind also accompanied the melody, revolving around Zeng Yi's body. His clothes and long hair swayed with it.

This wind was a lonely wind, carrying a strong sense of sadness.

...