CH 175

Fang Yun listened attentively to their explanations, combining them with the various books on the qin he had read before, he began to sort out the similarities and differences between the qin paths of the two worlds in his mind.

"From an appraisal perspective, both worlds place equal importance on the structure, material, tone, and age of the qin. The factors of the qin maker, also known as the qin craftsman, also need to be considered. However, the qin craftsmen of the Holy Origin Mainland also need to appraise an additional item, the 'weight number'. Besides, the Holy Origin Mainland's research on materials is more detailed, because the Treasures of Literature have higher requirements for materials. But by overemphasizing materials and weight numbers, less research is done on the age. On the other hand, the ancient Huaxia nation of the other world, due to many people collecting ancient qins, has deeper research on the age than the Holy Origin Mainland of this era."

Fang Yun continued to sort out his thoughts and found that the Holy Origin Mainland currently does not have a complete "theory of age determination by crack patterns". The so-called crack patterns are traces left on various parts of the qin body due to the interaction of time, environment, and playing. There are snake belly cracks, flowing water cracks, fish scale cracks, cow hair cracks, etc. This is the most important method for Song Dynasty qin craftsmen to appraise the age of ancient qins.

However, Fang Yun still found some books on the Holy Origin Mainland mentioning "crack patterns", but none of them systematically sorted out these crack patterns. The "theory of age determination by crack patterns" still does not exist.

Before long, Fang Yun discovered that in terms of qin skills, the Holy Origin Mainland at this moment is similar to the ancient Huaxia nation of the same period. The qin path emphasizes right-hand techniques and neglects left-hand techniques, focusing more on momentum, strength, and character, but is far inferior to later generations in terms of technical details. The later generations, on the other hand, place equal emphasis on both hands.

If the momentum, strength, and character of the qin path of the Holy Origin Mainland are retained, combined with the more exquisite finger techniques of the later generations that emphasize both hands, it can definitely take the qin path of this world to a higher level.

With the help of the Heavenly Book, Fang Yun was able to sort out the flaws in the qin path of the Holy Origin Mainland in just half an hour. The reason why they can't be called defects is that with the passage of time, even if Fang Yun does not interfere, the qin path will gradually improve.

"If all the flaws in the qin path can be remedied, it will be enough to enhance the strength of the human race. The actual effect is no less than a Semi-Saint! If someone can win the first killing qin 'Hao Zhong' as a result, it would be equivalent to having at least two more Semi-Saints' power! In the future, the flaws in all aspects such as qin, chess, painting, military, agriculture, industry, and commerce must be remedied as much as possible!"

"In terms of the qin path, the finger techniques and appraisal methods can be slowly improved. The War Poetry should be written as soon as possible, because the killing power of the Presented Scholar level War Poetry is not enough. And the War Poetry is not as widely accepted as the war poems, so even if I create it, it won't count for much."

Fang Yun was lost in thought when he suddenly felt Yang Yuhuan tugging at his sleeve. Looking up, he found that everyone was looking at him. Everyone had a kind smile on their faces, except for a few old qin craftsmen who looked displeased.

Yang Yuhuan whispered, "They recognized you. Just now, a qin craftsman asked why you were here too."

Fang Yun guessed that those old qin craftsmen thought he was distracted and not listening attentively, so he bowed and smiled, "After listening to the profound discussions of Mr. Yu, Mr. Pan, and Mr. Du, I was immersed in the qin path of the three masters and couldn't extricate myself. I didn't hear what was said just now, I hope you all can forgive me."

The expressions of those who looked displeased softened, and one of them nodded, "A few days ago, an Accomplished Scholar said you were arrogant, and I scolded him severely. Because I saw you at the Dragon Boat Literature Festival's celebration banquet, and you are not an arrogant person. Since you say you are contemplating the qin path, with your talent, there must be something unique about you. Let's hear it."

Fang Yun sighed inwardly, this old man is really not easy to deal with. If his understanding of the qin path is not deep, the other party will criticize him without mercy. If he can have unique insights, the other party will definitely praise him greatly, promoting the name of the qin path of the literary model, which is very beneficial to the qin path.

Fortunately, Fang Yun was really contemplating the qin path. He slightly furrowed his brows, making a reminiscing expression, and said, "The qin just now was not infused with talent three times, it should only have been infused twice."

"Oh? Tell us about it."

Everyone's eyes lit up. Fang Yun's literary reputation was too great. Since he dared to say so, he must have confidence. Maybe he could make a definitive statement, because just now many people had different opinions and there was no conclusion.

Fang Yun did not rashly agree, but said, "May I take a closer look?"

"Come on." An old man waved with a smile.

Everyone made way, and Fang Yun let go of Yang Yuhuan's hand and walked to the table in front, carefully observing the qin on the table.

The qin is only a hundred years old and does not have crack patterns. Crack patterns can not only infer the long-term environment of a qin, but also infer its existence period.

Fang Yun found that this qin only had one type of "ice crack" on the surface. As long as the qin is over a hundred years old, it will have this kind of crack pattern. If it is over two hundred years old, other places will have "cow hair cracks", but this qin does not have them.

Comparing with the content in the "Qin Book", Fang Yun slowly said, "If my guess is correct, this qin should have been placed in a city near the sea within the last fifty years, but before that, it seems to have always been in a very dry desert area."

A qin craftsman who was over fifty years old asked in surprise, "How do you know? I have never told anyone about the origin of this qin!"

Everyone became more curious. It was normal for a master to determine the age based on the qin inscription, material, and manufacturing techniques, but no one had ever been able to tell the environment of several decades.

Fang Yun got confirmation and was greatly relieved. He continued, "The gentlemen have already appraised it and it has been infused with talent at least twice. But as for whether it has been infused three times... The talent of a Presented Scholar's Treasures of Literature dissipates in a hundred years. If it has been infused with talent three times, this qin should have at least three hundred years of history. But this qin is only two hundred years old, how could it have been infused with talent three times?"

"What method did you use to determine the age of this qin?" An old man asked.

Fang Yun naturally couldn't immediately throw out his experience that was hundreds of years ahead. This wasn't about poetry and literature, it required a lot of accumulation and practice to prove. So he said, "In the process of studying the way of the zither, I discovered this method from a fragment of a predecessor's book. However, this method still has many areas that are not perfected, so I am slowly researching it."

Many people nodded. The method of determining the age of a zither was not ordinary, it was difficult to complete without the efforts of several generations, and it was normal to have secrets that were not passed down.

"Then let Mr. Sanjue make the final judgment." Someone looked at the oldest man.

Fang Yun thought to himself that it was indeed him. If he had Mo Nv, it wouldn't be surprising. This old man had reached the third realm in calligraphy, painting, and the way of the zither, which was extremely rare, so people called him Xu Sanjue, Mr. Sanjue, and he was also a Great Scholar. However, after being injured more than a decade ago, his literary palace and The Courage to Write were damaged, and he disappeared.

Xu Sanjue seemed to open his mouth with great effort and slowly said, "This zither was made by a zither maker from Moquan, probably about 220 years ago, and has been infused with the talent of two Presented Scholars."

"Since Mr. Sanjue has said so. Then the dust has settled, this zither is a double Treasures of Literature zither. Next, please ask Master Dai to teach the 'hook' in the right hand fingering and the related fingering combinations."

Fang Yun originally thought that this place was just a place to trade Treasures of Literature zithers, and only found out when he came in that it was a zither meeting, so he should discuss the zither first and then trade. So he stayed to study carefully. Yang Yuhuan was also learning the zither, and she listened more attentively than Fang Yun, taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

After listening for an hour, Fang Yun felt Nunu tugging at his clothes with her little paw. He turned his head and saw that outside the zither meeting, a neighbor who had come to the Dragon Pavilion with him was saying something to Pang Presented Scholar.

Fang Yun knew that Nunu had heard something related to him, so he quickly walked out, with Yang Yuhuan closely following.

"What's going on?" Fang Yun asked.

The neighbor immediately said, "Mr. Fang, you should go quickly. If you're late, Fang Da Niu and Xiao Ying will be finished!"

Fang Yun said, "Let's go! Talk while we walk!"

"The dragon people's talent scout wants to select Xiao Ying to be a maid in the Dragon Palace. Xiao Ying disagrees, and Fang Da Niu is protecting Xiao Ying. That talent scout won't leave, saying that he can't do anything in the Dragon Pavilion. But as soon as he leaves the Dragon Pavilion, he will immediately take Xiao Ying away! These dragon people are too outrageous! To select a maid for the Dragon Palace, they have to get the person's consent and then go to the official to register. Even a fool knows what they want to do!"

Fang Yun asked Pang Presented Scholar who was beside him, "Can those people with dragon blood forcibly take away the girls?"

Pang Presented Scholar said, "Dragon people have dragon blood, they naturally think they are superior, so they act more domineering. However, the laws of the Dragon Palace are very strict, they are very shrewd, so they use the guise of selecting beauties for the Dragon Palace, even if they fail, they won't receive too heavy a punishment. I guess they dared to do it because they saw that Da Niu and Xiao Ying were dressed ordinarily."

Fang Yun remembered that even Feng Yuanjun said that the dragon people of the dragon clan were domineering, so he asked Pang Presented Scholar, "Does this kind of thing happen often?"

"Not often. But it happens several times a year, some are punished, some hide in the Dragon Palace, and we can't do anything about it." Pang Presented Scholar said.

"Let's go. I don't believe that this Jade Sea City is the world of the dragon people!"

Pang Presented Scholar reminded in a low voice, "You'd better be careful, these dragon people are not easy to provoke, they are probably the blood of a dragon grandson or even a dragon son. The Whale King is here, he is always watching everything in the Dragon Pavilion, if you make a move, he will know in a few breaths. He won't give you any chance to hurt the dragon people."

Fang Yun didn't say anything.

Several people hurriedly went. Yang Yuhuan had to jog to keep up, her figure swaying like a willow branch, beautiful beyond words.

Nunu stood solemnly on Fang Yun's shoulder.

Before long, the neighbor pointed at a group of people and said, "They're over there."

Fang Yun looked as he walked, hundreds of people were gathered there, among them were several dragon people who were taller than ordinary people, and Fang Da Niu was protecting Xiao Ying in the corner with his body.

Fang Yun shouted loudly, "Da Niu, don't be afraid, with me here, no one can do anything to you."

A young dragon man in a gorgeous brocade robe turned his head to look, there was a small horn the size of a little finger in the center of his forehead. When he saw Fang Yun wearing the clothes of an Accomplished Scholar, he sneered, "A mere Accomplished Scholar dares to speak wildly? What, do you want to do it here? Tsk tsk, and brought a beautiful... uh..."

Suddenly, a giant appeared in front of the young dragon man, he was as tall as a two-story building, like a tower!

Everyone immediately guessed the identity of this giant, because only the legendary Whale King would be so tall after transforming, and everyone knew that the Whale King was stationed in the Dragon Pavilion, so they were immediately frightened and retreated, looking at Fang Yun and the others with sympathetic eyes.

The young dragon man pointed at Fang Yun excitedly and said, "Haha, Lord Whale King, I knew you would find out right away, this little Accomplished Scholar..."

He saw the Whale King raise his hand and slap the young dragon man. The young dragon man was slapped and flew, hitting the wall.

The dragon people had extremely strong physiques, but he was still seriously injured by this slap, spitting blood from his mouth, sitting on the ground looking at the Whale King in grievance, not understanding what had happened.

Nunu's mouth was wide open in a big circle, blinking non-stop.

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Fang Yun was stunned, thinking: This isn't right, logically, the dragon people should have called the Whale King to deal with me, but why is this Whale King helping me?

Everyone else was also confused, thinking could it be that the Whale King had gone mad? (To be continued.)