Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 6] Chapter 65

[Vol. 6] Chapter 65: A Taste of Music

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Violet and her companions had been drifting along the Kaiyuan Grand Canal for over half a month.

Although their objective was to follow the clues leading to Cangyun Mountain in search of the Western Origin Spirit Maiden, to be honest, Violet wasn’t in any particular rush.

She knew Hen too well. If the Western Origin Spirit Maiden was truly connected to Hen, or even Hen herself, an enemy like the [Yokai Controlling Sect] would be no threat to her. They’d likely be led around in circles, thoroughly outmaneuvered. Even if Hen were just an ordinary person here, that would remain true.

And if it was merely a case of a similar name or some unrelated situation, then there was no need for urgency at all.

At the end of the day, Violet had only one real goal: to set foot on the Spirit Veil Immortal Island and find the clues Hen had left behind. Since Hen had hinted so strongly at it, Violet was certain she was on the right path.

So, in reality, Violet was simply using this journey as a way to pass the time and deepen her understanding of the Ancient Spirit Realm continent. A sort of leisurely preparation before the true exploration began. Otherwise, she’d have flown straight to Cangyun Mountain alone instead of meandering down the canal.

Of course, while it might have appeared leisurely, Violet had actually been quite busy during this time.

*Weng~*

With a light pluck of her fingers, Violet let the final lingering notes of the melody fade into silence. She lifted her hands from the strings of the zither and exhaled softly, expelling a breath of stale air.

*Clap clap clap clap…*

In the quiet room, Meng Rui, who had been silently listening at her side, broke into enthusiastic applause.

“Amazing. Violet, you are the most naturally gifted person I’ve ever met. To think that in less than a month, you’ve progressed from a complete beginner with no understanding of the zither to someone capable of performing [Mortal Sigh] with near perfection.”

“Do you know how long it took me to reach this level? I spent several years achieving the same, even after being steeped in music since childhood and laying a solid foundation. Even then, my teacher praised me as a prodigy with talents rivaling hers…”

The white-haired girl shook her head with a wry smile, her expression tinged with a touch of resignation.

“‘There’s always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky.’ That saying couldn’t be more true. Miss Violet, your skills on the zither are already at a professional level. Aside from a few specific pieces and scores, there’s really nothing more I can teach you. The rest… will have to come from your own exploration.”

“Hmm… Thank you for these past days. For such a small instrument with just seven strings, there’s quite a lot to it,” Violet remarked as she stood up, casually opening the cabin window to gaze out at the calm, boundless surface of the canal.

Although Meng Rui praised her exceptional aptitude, Violet’s rapid mastery of the zither was not solely due to her divine lineage or excellent memory.

Initially, she didn’t feel much, but as she started playing the zither and listening to Meng Rui’s explanations of its principles, a sense of familiarity stirred within her. It was as though she had encountered something similar long ago, in some distant, forgotten past.

The radiant sunlight poured over her pristine white robe, its feather-like patterns and her smooth, jet-black hair catching the light to emit a soft, lustrous glow, creating an ethereal, otherworldly image.

“……”

Watching her, Meng Rui suddenly felt a strange illusion that this black-haired girl, whom she had come to know over the past month. Initially expecting to be an intimidating senior yet finding her approachable and kind.

Unable to stop herself, Meng Rui called out, hoping to hold her back.

“Violet… are you leaving?”

Violet didn’t turn around, her gaze still fixed on the water’s surface as she smiled softly and responded with a question.

“All good things must come to an end, Meng Rui. The [Music Fairy Ship] should now be within the borders of Ji Province, correct? We’ll be arriving at Xiangshou County soon, won’t we?”

The white-haired girl nodded slightly.

“Yes, it’s about three more days of travel. Xiangshou County is the terminus of the Kaiyuan Grand Canal and the [Music Fairy Ship]’s journey. We’ll dock there for some rest and then sail back westward to continue our performances.”

“Three days, huh…”

These past days have been unusually relaxing.

The saying that music can nurture the soul is certainly true.

Since arriving in this world, Violet had always been on high alert for potential threats from this unfamiliar realm, constantly engaging in various explorations and seeking to understand the deep mysteries hidden behind the world, as well as the many enigmas surrounding herself.

Though this process was fascinating, over time, it had begun to wear on her, occasionally leading to mental exhaustion. This sensation had become even more pronounced after temporarily parting ways with her most reliable and important companion, the dragon girl.

While her divine body brought many benefits and conveniences, it also carried a detached mindset, making Violet increasingly indifferent to trivial matters. She either couldn’t bring herself to care or found it difficult to take notice of them.

She felt no fear, no excitement, no worry, and no anticipation.

Looking back, this state was not a recent development. It had always been with her, from the very beginning, but she had become aware of it early on and had consciously been trying to suppress it.

When she first encountered the [Feather of Destruction] in the [Tidal Deep Valley], and later met the mysterious golden-eyed Violet for the second time, the latter’s seemingly intentional yet meaningless riddles had again made the priestess wary.

So, upon boarding the [Music Fairy Ship] and witnessing the [Music Fairy Flower Show], Violet decided to take this opportunity to try learning, or rather, to feel and enjoy things that had nothing to do with power. She hoped that through music, she could maintain the calm that rarely stirred in her heart anymore.

And so far, it seemed to be working.

At least now, she felt a sense of regret at the upcoming parting. While it wasn’t a sweet emotion, it was something that Violet hadn’t felt in quite some time.

She turned and smiled.

“How about holding one more [Music Fairy Flower Show] before we leave, with three days left?”

“This piece, [Mortal Sigh], plus some scene arrangements, should be the key to entering that dream, right? This time, I want to try it for myself. I wonder if Miss Meng Rui would be willing to give me that chance?”

The elegant aura lingering after playing the zither, combined with the pure radiance naturally exuded by the girl, blended together at that moment with her gentle smile, framed by the rising sun behind her. It seemed as if it was a perfect harmony, as if it had been crafted by nature itself.

That was the aura of charm.

“Mm…”

Adding to that, her slightly ambiguous words, somehow caused Meng Rui’s heart to flutter. Her fair face flushed slightly, and she hurriedly lowered her head, as if to hide her embarrassment.

“Well… since you’ve put it that way, I suppose it’s not impossible. The music of the [Music Fairy Ship] isn’t just my responsibility. Becoming the main subject of a dream takes a lot of energy, so most of the time, other sisters share the hosting duties. It’s been a while, and if I calculate the time, it should be about right…”

“Hehe, that’s great! Then I’ll be counting on you, Teacher, to help me out. After all, it will be my first time performing.”

“F-first time…?”

Noticing the slight awkwardness in the other’s expression, the black-haired girl tilted her head in surprise.

“Yes, what’s wrong? By the way, why are you always looking down?”

“Cough… It’s nothing! A bug just flew by!”

“…?”

Having spent a considerable amount of time with this black-haired girl, Meng Rui understood that she wasn’t the type to intentionally make subtle, suggestive remarks.

It was more likely that she was simply captivated by her aura, combined with her own daydreams, causing her to lose her composure and become embarrassed. Meng Rui quickly shook her head, raised her head again, and restored a normal expression.

“Then let’s set the time for the [Music Fairy Flower Show] to be tomorrow night. That will give us enough preparation time and prevent us from being flustered due to the upcoming docking. Also, if you want to use [Mortal Sigh] to open the dream, there are some details that still need to be adjusted… Let me teach you now.”

Meng Rui took a few steps forward and sat down on the wooden bench, which still carried the warmth of the girl’s body.

“I’ll play it once. Violet, listen carefully.”

“Okay~”