Yun Jin, with her adorable pigtails, fetched paper and brush, brewed a pot of good tea, and sat by the window, beginning to conceive the lyrics for her play.
"Alas—
A broken swan's single feather, reunion is thrice denied.
A fool's foolish grievances, consumed by obsession and madness.
All because of the wicked beast's sacrifice, destined to bring disaster.
Were it not for a maiden drawing her sword, all lives would be lost!"
After a sip of tea, Yun Jin's thoughts flowed like a spring, her brush moving as if divinely guided. The first half of "The Divine Maiden Passes Judgment" was completed in a flurry of ink.
"Alas—"
Yun Jin rose and began to dance, humming the lyrics of "The Divine Maiden Passes Judgment." With Feng Yi as her sole audience, she showcased her exceptionally solid fundamental skills, improvising her performance.
"Were it not for a maiden drawing her sword, all lives, would be lost!"
As the first half concluded, the soul-stirring high notes continued to echo through the room.
"Excellent!"
Feng Yi applauded, standing up to cheer Yun Jin's performance.
Watching Yun Jin's performance in the game was, after all, no substitute for being present before her, witnessing her performance firsthand.
A true, unparalleled masterpiece!
Though the story of "The Divine Maiden Passes Judgment" was simple, under Yun Jin's agile and expressive performance, it sent shivers down one's spine and stirred the heart.
"Feng Yi, please forgive my amateurishness. How should the latter half of the lyrics be naturally guided? It's truly perplexing..."
Yun Jin finished her performance, giving Feng Yi a shy smile. She then sat beside him, speaking with a look of confusion.
"Don't rush. There's plenty of time. I have some excellent tea gifted by an immortal. I'll brew some for you to try..."
Feng Yi took a small pinch of the Clear Jade Tea gifted by Granny Liu and brewed it with sweet spring water. He knew that when Yun Jin encountered a creative bottleneck, a cup of good tea would often reignite her inspiration.
The Clear Jade Tea, cultivated by Granny Liu, not only tasted exquisite but also refreshed the mind and sharpened the intellect. Feng Yi considered it a weaker version of "Enlightenment Tea"! He was confident that after drinking the Clear Jade Tea, Yun Jin would be able to complete the entire "The Divine Maiden Passes Judgment."
"Immortal's good tea? No, no, this is too precious. Yun Jin cannot possibly accept it!"
Upon hearing Feng Yi introduce it as immortal tea, Yun Jin quickly stood and waved her hands in refusal. Such precious tea was beyond her means.
"Usually, I'm reluctant to drink such precious tea myself. Inviting you today is just my excuse to indulge. Please, don't be so polite with me..."
Feng Yi's words were half-true and half-jest, meant to put Yun Jin at ease.
"If that's the case, then Yun Jin... will accept with gratitude!"
Yun Jin accepted the teacup from Feng Yi, blew on it gently, and watched the jade-green leaves dance in the cup. Her heart felt sweet. She understood that Feng Yi's mention of "indulgence" was merely an excuse to make her feel comfortable accepting it. The primary reason was to encourage her creativity, hence the deliberate selection of such precious leaves.
'It seems I owe Feng Yi another favor!' Yun Jin mused to herself.
However, she had already accumulated many favors from Feng Yi, so one more wouldn't make much difference. But how was she to repay all these debts? Yun Jin fell into deep contemplation.
"I've got it!"
Yun Jin took a sip of the tea, her mind instantly clearing. Amidst her complex thoughts, she found the optimal path forward. Forgetting her worries about repaying Feng Yi, she returned to her desk, picked up her brush, and with vigorous strokes, the latter half of the lyrics soon appeared on paper.
"Feng Yi, could you take a look and tell me if there are any parts that need modification?"
Yun Jin stopped writing, smiled, and handed the paper with the latter half of "The Divine Maiden Passes Judgment" to Feng Yi.
"Hmm... this might be better changed to 'Jiang Fu Yao.' And here..."
Feng Yi, referencing the lyrics from Yun Jin's final performance in the game, pointed out a few differing phrases for Yun Jin to consider.
"Like this?"
Yun Jin rested her chin on her hand, pondering. She felt that both versions of the lyrics had their merits, and she was momentarily undecided about which was superior.
"Fleeting mortal ties, ethereal destiny calls,
Heavenly bonds dispersed, Jiang Fu invites...
Karma in the mortal world, distant and faint, smoke vanishes~"
Yun Jin decided to sing both versions to carefully savor the subtle differences. Ultimately, she chose Feng Yi's version because it flowed more smoothly, and the scene it described was more moving and resonant.
Just then, outside Yun Jin's dressing room, several seasoned veteran performers had gathered. They had been members of the opera troupe since Yun Jin's grandfather managed it. After Yun Jin inherited the "Yun Han Troupe" from her grandfather, they had continued to assist her wholeheartedly in its management. These individuals had spent almost their entire lives within the "Yun Han Troupe," and having watched Yun Jin grow up, they treated her as their own child.
Upon hearing that an outsider had come to see Yun Jin and had even entered her dressing room, they had rushed over in anger. It was as if their painstakingly cultivated prize cabbage had been dug up by a wild boar.
"Yun Jin is no longer a child, how can she be so indiscreet? Letting a strange man into her private room, how will she ever get married?"
"Exactly! We all watched Yun Jin grow up. We can't let some scoundrel ruin her reputation. Let's all go teach that ignorant brat a lesson!"
However, when they overheard that the young man was discussing opera within the room, and that he and Yun Jin were creating an extraordinary play together, their attitudes underwent a complete reversal.
"I knew Yun Jin was sensible. She wouldn't let just anyone into her room easily. Since that gentleman is discussing opera with Yun Jin, it's understandable to make an exception..."
"Indeed. Yun Jin has grown up. After her performance just ended, she's already busy researching new scripts. Such diligence and effort make me very proud!"
They all bent down, pressing their ears against the door and walls, listening to Yun Jin sing the new play. They marveled incessantly, completely forgetting why they had come in the first place.
"Fellow old-timers, based on the voices, that gentleman doesn't seem very old. And Yun Jin is also of marriageable age. What do you think..."
"Are you suggesting we try to matchmake Yun Jin with the gentleman she's creating the play with?"
"I think it's feasible!"
"Let's ask Yun Jin and the gentleman their thoughts first..."
The older performers, having stumbled upon this topic, lost interest in eavesdropping. They gathered in a circle, engaging in a lively discussion.
"Feng Yi, could you please step out for a moment? I need to change into a suitable costume. I'll perform it completely on the stage in the backyard later, and you can help me see if there's anything lacking..."
Yun Jin stood and said to Feng Yi.
"Alright, I'll wait for you outside."
Feng Yi nodded, opened the door, and was immediately surrounded by a group of elderly people, all eagerly bombarding him with questions he couldn't quite understand.
"Young man, what is your name? Where do you live? How many people are in your family?"
"Young man, are you married?"
"Young man, how is your health?"