His face bore not a trace of emotion, even carrying a hint of sternness. This made Yue'er, who had been about to ask a question, awkwardly stop herself. She obediently cleared the bowls from the table and then fetched ink, brush, and paper to practice calligraphy at the desk.
That day, after finishing her calligraphy practice, Yue'er approached her master again. Seeing he held no book, she intended to chat with him for a while. Instead, he retrieved a zither from his cosmos sack, placed it before him, and began plucking its strings lightly.
The tinkling notes rang out, crisp as pearls falling onto a jade plate. His slender fingers danced lightly across the strings, a mesmerizing sight.
She was somewhat surprised, for it was rare to see her master play the zither. And to play it so beautifully.
