CangGong courtyard. I was alone, craving some runes on a normal bamboo shoot.
''Not again!'' I uttered in frustration.
These were the same demonic runes I was trying to inscribe but even though they looked simple, they weren't so easy to use it seemed. So, before trying these out on my antique flute, I was practicing on bamboo shoots.
I threw the one in my hand and picked up another one. Using the sharp knife, I began engraving the runes again. There were two methods of inscriptions. One was to directly write the runes and another was to engrave them.
Needless to say, the latter method was better and lasted a long time. However, engraving was many times more difficult than writing.
Most of these demonic runes were about planting a seed in the minds of someone. With my knowledge, I could roughly categorize these runes into three types.
The first type was clearly to carry the demonic Qi and intent. Without the first type, the music would have no effect.
After people hear the music, a seed would be planted in their minds, which would make the user's intent fester in the minds of people with the help of that demonic Qi. That was the second type of rune.
As for the third type, it was the most vital rune, meant for controlling the hearts of people who have heard the music.
I had already realized that not just charm or lust, I could make a person do anything for me. The weaker their minds, the faster they would be affected by my playing.
''Damn it, so close.'' I had done better than the last time but messed up the third rune. I had to be absolutely sure of my capability to inscribe these runes without fail. Only then would I use them on my flute.
Bamboo after bamboo, the time passed but I didn't manage to perfectly inscribe even once. I soon realized that I was doing the most difficult job from the get-go. What if I first tried writing and then engraving?
At this thought, I prepared a brush and ink and got to work. I managed to do it on my first try but I wasn't satisfied by my inscription.
I took some breaks and practiced inscriptions until night came. One day wasn't enough, so I slept and started again tomorrow.
With a fresh morning start, I already saw huge progress than yesterday. Just when the morning was about to be overtaken by noon, I had engraved perfectly on a piece of bamboo shoot.
The moment I did that, a dark blue hue appeared on the demonic runes and they glowed brightly. The runes turned dark as smoke came out from the bamboo's surface. In the end, the material couldn't hold the power contained behind the inscription and crumbled.
I shook my head and picked up another bamboo shoot. This was my first perfect try. It could be luck and I didn't want to take any chances.
…
Around the evening, I finally came out of the courtyard, yawning loudly. I was proficient in inscribing those demonic runes now.
The main reason it only took two days was that the Immortal Zuifan was an inscription grandmaster. However, even with all the knowledge, the current me could only reach the expert level, not even master.
Still, that was good enough for me. There weren't that many experts in this world. I could say for sure that no grandmaster of any field existed in this lowly mortal world.
The most cultivators here could reach was master level, and the masters of here and those of higher worlds had such a large disparity that even comparing would be stupid.
I had not yet inscribed my flute. I planned to do that tomorrow morning with a fresh mind. At present, I was heading towards the Immortal Wine Hotel.
When I reached there, I found Chunu and Feng Yi. My little sister had advanced to Meridian Opening 1st rank while Feng Yi was at Viscera Purifying 4th rank.
''Hey, you are…'' Feng Yi felt like she had seen me before but couldn't tell that it was me.
''Can't you recognize this 'great master'?'' I laughed and only then did she realize it was me.
''Zuifan!'' She was first finding it hard to believe. Just what magic was it?
We got inside my room and it seemed the two girls had been practicing their own stuff. I sharply looked at Feng Yi seeing the small pill cauldron here. I had forbidden her to practice alchemy in this place.
However, she was too astonished to even feel guilty.
''Y-you're so handsome…'' She blushed and looked down while playing with her fingers. However, I heard her soft mutters, with no shyness contained in them. ''I wonder how many innocent girls' lives will he destroy with such a face…''
'This little…' I felt my eyebrows twitch. For a second, I thought that she was just like any other girl.
''Big brother.'' Chunu came beside me and glanced at me admiringly. I patted her head and asked, ''How have you two been? Where is Ling'er?''
Chunu felt my hand and snuggled closer while Feng Yi tried hiding her pill cauldron below the bed.
They told me how their days went and complained that I wasn't around most of the time. I learned that Lingling had gone to the Hidden Leaves Forest to hone her skills. She had reached the fifth rank of Viscera Purifying, surpassing even Feng Yi.
''How did you turn so handsome? Tell me the secret!'' Feng Yi casually sat on my lap and nudged me.
''I'm tired, I'll tell you tomorrow.'' I sighed and lay on the bed. The lantern hanging by the ceiling moved gently due to the wind coming from the back window.
Chunu went back to practicing her inscriptions. She was using the writing method and her fingers were stained by the special ink which Inscriptors used.
She didn't ask me that much but had noticed my Brilliant Light Physique. Feng Yi, however, kept nagging me.
''I want to be more beautiful as well.'' She lay beside me and rolled to my arms.
''You're pretty enough,'' I said and stretched my legs. My back was aching from sitting in one position for a long time. Inscribing took a lot of mental energy and doing it all day took a toll on my brain.
''A compliment from the great master, this Feng Yi will remember it for eons to come!'' She used my arm as a pillow and said cheekily while trying to rest her left thigh on my belly.
I sighed and closed my eyes. I planned to sleep for a bit and then eat something. Hmm, maybe I could go to the arena after inscribing the flute… no, I should try out the flute first…
My thoughts turned hazy as I felt sleepiness overtaking me. A few minutes later, I felt a soft sensation on my chest. I peeked my left eye open and found Feng Yi staring at me while hugging. The warmth of her body was relaxing. I lazily turned over and pinned her below me.
''I heard you joined the Fu clan.'' Feng Yi gently stroked the back of my head.
Her attitude changed and she was finally acting normally. I mumbled a few things in her ears and closed my eyes again.
Feng Yi stayed like that below me and breathed slowly. I sensed her wanting to move her legs but they were tightly bound by my thighs. She sighed but didn't complain.
I could feel the slight movements of her body as she tried to find a comfortable position under me. I gave a light pat on her head, signaling her to stop moving so much. Feng Yi pouted and mischievously blew hot breaths in my ears.
Seeing me having no reaction, she also closed her eyes. I felt her belly, her breasts, thighs, hands, and waist. Feng Yi's body was softer than the bedding and her heat was something I wasn't planning to part with.
I could smell the herbs on her body. Hmm, so fragrant… what? She was messing around with expensive plants again.
Soon, I heard Feng Yi's breathing turning rhythmic as she also fell asleep. If I had been awake, I would have seen Chunu's caring gaze and would have felt her hands massaging my back.
…
The next day, a peculiar tune of a flute was passing through room 122. My forehead was a little sweaty but my posture was straight as I sat on the window sill and blew my flute.
Below me, one of the guards opened and closed the gates for no reason. When the sound of the flute finally stopped, he didn't even know why he did it.
''Perfect!'' I was overjoyed. This test showed me the range and effectiveness of my newly inscribed flute.
Indeed, I had managed to carve demonic runes on this antique. Now, the flute's color was dark red like my sword. There were violet runes on its inner and outer surface. They looked like tadpoles floating around.
This metallic flute had a dangerous sheen to it. When I blew it, I saw the runes glowing slightly, coming in contact with the demonic Qi of this world. After its transformation, I simply named it Demonic Flute.
I tied it on my waist and walked out of Chunu and Lingling's room.. Hehe… I couldn't wait to try it out on someone.