Chapter 61

"《Jia Yi》 is the piece I will play. I composed it myself," Meng Tuoluo said.

Then, she gracefully sat in front of the harpsichord, extended her delicate hands, closed her beautiful eyes, and began to play.

Lan Ling closed his eyes, not missing a single note, for this was the original composition of the other party.

As soon as her hands touched the keys, the beautiful melody began to float in the air.

With just the first note, Lan Ling immediately felt Meng Tuoluo's unparalleled talent in music. It was a very subtle feeling.

A master's skill is evident from the first move.

Everything in the world is a combination of certain elements, and music is no exception.

For a master, a piece of music has life and vitality, and each note effortlessly touches the soul.

Meng Tuoluo, standing before him, was a master among masters. Lan Ling easily sensed that this woman's musical talent surpassed that of Mentor Nia, who was a renowned musician throughout the entire Anger Wave Kingdom.

Meng Tuoluo was completely immersed in her own world. She had only spent two months composing this piece, just as she had spent two months making her wedding dress.

Those two months were the most beautiful, happiest, and most hopeful times of her life.

During those two months, waiting to become a bride, it seemed as if every breath of air was sweet, and the sky was pink.

In this beautiful time, countless inspirations flew out of her mind.

So, this was her best, most beautiful, and most smoothly created piece.

Because her heart was no longer beautiful, she could never create such a beautiful piece again.

Lan Ling closed his eyes, as if he could see a scene.

A girl, about to be married, was sewing her wedding dress with great happiness, stitch by stitch.

Every day, she looked forward to the wedding day, her heart filled with infinite hope and a bit of nervousness.

For her beloved, she wanted to see him every day, but she also wanted to save all her longing to release her love on the wedding day.

This piece of music was truly beautiful, far exceeding Lan Ling's expectations.

Frankly speaking, this piece was no less beautiful than some famous pieces on Earth, for it was created during the most beautiful time with the most beautiful heart.

The entire piece described the joy, hope, beauty, and slight unease of a bride-to-be.

Meng Tuoluo's skill in playing the harpsichord was so high that Lan Ling was completely entranced.

...

"Clang..."

The music abruptly stopped, and the piece's atmosphere ended, for the bride was about to put on her wedding dress, and the wedding was about to begin.

At this moment, Meng Tuoluo was already in tears.

All the beauty in her life ended with the last note of the piece.

A few years ago, she put on her wedding dress and went to the holy hall to welcome the happiest moment of her life.

However, what awaited her was a cold nightmare. The groom appeared, but he was holding another bride.

Since the man was also from a top noble family and the invitations had already been sent out, the wedding had to proceed. Only the bride was changed to another woman from an even more prestigious family.

Wearing her wedding dress, Meng Tuoluo appeared in the hall and became a laughingstock to everyone. This was supposed to be her wedding, and this was supposed to be her groom, but the bride became someone else.

At that moment, her life and everything else came to a halt.

Despite the deep guilt in her lover's eyes, he dared not even look at her.

From then on, an angel fell, and a nightmare-like black widow was born.

Meng Tuoluo vowed that she would never shed a single tear in front of a man again. So, she turned her back to Lan Ling and wept silently.

She remained immersed in her thoughts for a long time.

Lan Ling said, "You have been punishing yourself with his mistake all along."

Meng Tuoluo's heart trembled, but she did not respond.

Lan Ling continued, "By killing every handsome man, you seem to be taking revenge on him, but he remains unscathed, while you continue to sink deeper into despair."

Meng Tuoluo still did not answer.

Lan Ling went on, "If you continue like this, you will die within three years. You will commit suicide. Because you are an angel, even if you fall into a demon, you can only cry in hell, not sing."

"Enough, don't say any more," Meng Tuoluo wiped away her tears and turned her face. "Let's start our bet. Play your piece and show me. I don't believe anyone can surpass me. If you win, we will consummate our marriage after the ceremony, and I will give myself to you."

Then, she stood up and left the harpsichord.

Lan Ling walked up, sat down, and said, "Your piece is very good, and I don't dare to say mine is better. But your piece ended before the wedding began, while mine is the entire fantasy of a wedding."

Then, Lan Ling closed his eyes, took a deep breath, raised his hands, and slowly lowered them.

A beautiful and exquisite melody floated from his hands.

He played a famous piece from Earth, "Wedding in a Dream," a simple yet classic and beautiful piece.

Even the first few notes could pierce the listener's ears and enter their heart.

For someone as refined, sensitive, and fragile as Meng Tuoluo, the piece completely conquered her.

For someone like her, it was not just about how well it was played, but about the scenes and stories behind the piece.

She was deeply and thoroughly entranced.

Lan Ling's piece, a classic and timeless masterpiece, was so captivating that even the barbarian maids outside, who had no musical background, stopped cleaning and stood still to listen.

These people, with no musical knowledge, knew that it was truly beautiful.

Music is an immortal language, transcending any civilization and race. Especially classic and beautiful music, which is not formed by words but by the heart.

Lan Ling's "Wedding in a Dream" was just like that. Anyone who heard it had only one feeling.

It was truly beautiful and melodious, despite its simplicity.

...

Lan Ling raised his hands and finished playing.

The beautiful notes seemed to linger in the air, still circling around the ears, never landing.

Meng Tuoluo kept her eyes closed, sighing deeply. She knew she had lost.

There was no reason, just a very simple feeling. The other party's piece was more beautiful and melodious.

After a long time, Meng Tuoluo opened her beautiful eyes and looked at Lan Ling for the first time.

With just one glance, she seemed to want to see through Lan Ling's mask and into his heart.

He was a slightly slender and somewhat melancholic handsome man, with a calm gaze that hid a bit of madness.

He was probably as sensitive and had a dark side as she did. Otherwise, he wouldn't have guessed her tragic past on the first day.

In the short battle of the past few days, whether in mind games, aesthetics, or musical skill, he had completely outmatched her. And she, Meng Tuoluo, was once the most outstanding among the candidates for the Holy Maiden of the Holy Dragon Temple.

But in every aspect except martial arts, he surpassed her.

In this battle of the sexes, she, Meng Tuoluo, was almost completely defeated.

"This piece is a tragedy," Meng Tuoluo said.

Lan Ling nodded and said, "Yes, because the groom died."

"Why did he die?" Meng Tuoluo asked.

"To save the bride," Lan Ling replied.

Meng Tuoluo laughed softly and said, "So, you will save me too?"

Lan Ling shook his head and said, "My life's mission is to protect my sister. However, if I am destined to die, I hope my death can save your heart."

Meng Tuoluo's beautiful face trembled and she asked, "Why?"

Lan Ling said, "Because we are the same, capable of becoming angels or demons."

These words became the sharpest arrow, instantly piercing Meng Tuoluo's heart.

Becoming an angel or a demon was the best description of her life.

Her various masks shattered, for facing someone who understood her so well, cherished her so much, and even had the same personality, any pretense was meaningless.

"Alright, you win again. Your mind games, your painting skills, and your musical skills all surpass mine," Meng Tuoluo said. "I will keep my promise and give my purity to you after the ceremony."

With that, she left.

Lan Ling knew she would not come back before the wedding.

All his efforts could now end, and he would wait for the wedding and the judgment of fate.

To die or to live?

...

On the full moon, the auspicious day arrived, and the wedding ceremony began!

On this day, the Viper Tribe was decorated anew, and everyone wore red festive clothes.

Because the female chief of the Viper Tribe was getting married again, and this time it was more grand than any previous one.

In the chief's hall, there were red candles, red decorations, and flowers everywhere.

Even the children who looked decent were called to scatter petals and candy, just like a real wedding.

Lan Ling designed a white wedding dress, and Meng Tuoluo had it made, but she did not wear it, for this was not a real wedding, but merely a ritual of bloodshed and slaughter.

She wore the same dark red tight dress. For once she put on the white wedding dress, she would become an angel.

But wearing the dark red dress, she became a demon, for it was the color of blood. Now, she still chose to be a demon.

There was no festive music, for the two who could play were in the ceremony.

So, in the eyes of the barbarians, the two played the game of getting married.

First, they bowed to heaven and earth, then to the ancestors, and finally to each other.

The entire process was like a silent play.

The only sound came at the end of the ceremony, when a strong barbarian, the leader who had pursued Lan Ling, shouted in a broken voice, "The ceremony is over, send them to the bridal chamber!"

...