Chapter 9

Xue Mu turned his head to ask Yue Xiaochan, "Didn't you say that everything except strength is trivial? Why is this music so exquisite?"

Yue Xiaochan replied lazily, "Because sound is also a part of martial arts, and our sect is particularly skilled at it. What you're listening to has already incorporated some of our sect's superficial charm techniques, which is why it feels like it touches your soul. If the technique is withdrawn, the level would be just average."

"Uh..." Xue Mu truly understood. Anything useful for martial arts, such as clothing and music, would develop to a high level because they were part of charm techniques. On the other hand, things like calligraphy, poetry, and literature, which were not useful for martial arts, were just hobbies and developed to a lesser extent.

It wasn't just their Star Moon Sect that was like this; the world was like this.

Yue Xiaochan pointed to her nose, "If you're really interested in music, I'm the top expert in the world. Coming here to listen to the courtesans sing is just a waste of time."

You've never shown me... When will you play the flute in the bamboo forest? Xue Mu didn't want to argue with a child, so he asked straightforwardly, "Compared to the music, the lyrics just now were incredibly vulgar. What does 'My husband hasn't come for a long time, my heart is anxious' mean? Can't it be any more stupid? No matter how good the music is, it ruins the atmosphere! Do the guests really buy it?"

"Do you think the guests know how to read? Even if the girls sing beautifully and emotionally, what's the point if the guests don't understand?" Yue Xiaochan looked at him strangely, "Isn't that how the world works? Like when you write martial arts manuals, the easier they are to understand, the better. Unless you intentionally want to mislead people, making them practice incorrectly would just cut off your own lineage and ruin your path."

So are you saying Huang Shang is an idiot? Daoist terms can mislead people, and Mei Chaofeng's lack of education can be an excuse, but why is the main text in Sanskrit... Xue Mu realized he had been brainwashed by Yue Xiaochan's words and started to doubt if Huang Shang was a bit foolish... After a long while, he responded with a twitch of his lips, "What you're saying... I thought the capital was prosperous, and people wouldn't be so illiterate. How could they not understand a song?"

"It has nothing to do with the capital. Only those from major sects and noble families pay attention to literacy, after all, they have a rich heritage." Yue Xiaochan thought for a moment, "Most people can read basic texts, as the bookshops sell foundational techniques that need to be understood. Besides, if they get lucky and find a legacy one day, not being able to read would be frustrating. Anyway, that's how it is. No one cares about flowery language. Remember the year when someone sent a flowery congratulatory message to the emperor, and the emperor wrote in response: 'All nonsense.' It became a laughingstock. Don't be like that."

"What other books do you have besides manuals?"

"Does the history of the founding of the country count?"

"Alright,勉强算 (barely counts)."

Xue Mu suddenly felt that the literacy rate in this world might be shockingly high, as everyone needed manuals, and their reading comprehension was probably not low. They weren't the illiterate people he originally thought. However, they only saw words as a condition and medium for martial arts, emphasizing practical value, and did not develop literature. In this world, literature was probably the most neglected subject, with poetry and songs still at the level of folk songs, and popular novels had not yet developed.

Xue Mu found this world increasingly interesting... Their practical approach to words made sense, but the people in this world seemed unaware that playing with words could have effects not inferior to charm techniques, and words had a terrifying ability to spread and brainwash, which was hard to achieve with other methods—Xue Mu was not concerned with literature but with propaganda.

They were all competing, yet no one had discovered the power of written propaganda. Especially this sect, which had music and charm techniques, did not use these advantages for promotion or celebrity endorsements, treating them only as auxiliary subjects to martial arts.

No, they do have celebrities, and Xue Qingqiu is one. If someone joins the sect out of admiration or wants to learn about the Star Moon Sect, Xue Qingqiu's influence accounts for at least 99%, which is why they focus so much on martial arts?

Still, the saying goes, different paths lead to the same destination. People in this world stubbornly believe that only strength is the foundation, which is fundamentally correct but too rigid.

Xue Mu even thought that with the Star Moon Sect's foundation, if he were to manage it, there would be countless ways to bring about a dramatic change in this world within a few years, who knows?

Bringing the world to his pace and defeating them with his rich experience—perhaps this is what a穿越者 (穿越者, time traveler) should truly do?

Looking down, there were few guests in the hall. Some were hugging courtesans while demonstrating techniques, and the courtesans would even extend their delicate hands to spar with them, accompanied by soft music, creating a ridiculous scene that made Xue Mu laugh.

What an interesting world, it's getting more and more intriguing.

At this moment, Meng Lan entered with a wooden tray, carrying a few dishes and a pot of wine. Yue Xiaochan looked at her with a smile, "Why are you serving the dishes yourself? Could it be that you fancy our Xue公子 (Xue Gongzi)?"

Meng Lan smiled, "With the Young Sect Master here, we can't let the clumsy servants ruin the atmosphere."

Xue Mu tasted the dishes, which were quite good. It seemed that basic needs like food developed quickly everywhere...

The wine was even better... It was smooth and soft, with a rich aroma that permeated his lungs. Although it wasn't very strong, its ancient charm quietly spread, making Xue Mu feel as if he were in a mountain stream, with clear water flowing, creating a very mystical effect.

This world, after all, had a mystical quality, and some things couldn't be judged by common sense.

Yue Xiaochan, however, seemed in a bad mood, eating a few bites and then putting down her chopsticks, sighing, "Master went to the Six Fans, I wonder how it's going."

Meng Lan smiled, "With the Sect Master personally handling it, there's nothing that can't be done."

Yue Xiaochan glanced at her, "Everyone knows that Xiahou Di's mind is not normal. Saying such nice things is meaningless, Sister."

Meng Lan seemed a bit embarrassed and lowered her head without speaking.

Yue Xiaochan continued, "When we were young, I remember you weren't the type to flatter people. Otherwise, you might have entered the inner sect long ago... This time, you seem very different..."

Meng Lan remained silent.

Even Xue Mu, who was immersed in the exotic food, looked up at her. Compared to her previous eagerness, this moment's Meng Lan seemed like a completely different person, her silence surprising him. The Meng Lan who exuded charm seemed like a fleeting glimpse in a dream.

Their sect, indeed, had many multifaceted people. Does the Star Moon Sect mean being fickle?