Quentin smiled faintly, making a shushing gesture. "It seems that after more than twenty years apart, I truly need to have a good talk with old Yale Leaf."
Maya glanced at Piero and Darius nearby, whispering, "Master, what about them?"
Quentin cleared his throat softly. A violet glint flashed in his eyes. Piero and Darius, lost in their dazed immersion, finally snapped back to awareness. Taking a deep breath, Darius exclaimed, "Exquisite! Truly exquisite! Praise the Sanctum! This is the first time I've witnessed the true power of a Lute Magus. Master Guild Master, I look forward to learning much more from you in the future."
Quentin shook his head. "What you experienced was the potency of mental magic, not the appreciation of melody. The difference between Mental and Elemental paths is vast." As he spoke, he subtly positioned his body to block Darius and Piero's view, giving Maya a meaningful look.
Maya understood. "Thank you, Master Quentin Shaw, for blessing my son with magic. If you have the time, might I invite you to visit the Emerald Canopy? My husband and I would like to extend our hospitality as hosts. What do you say?"
Quentin nodded. "Then I shan't stand on ceremony."
Darius remarked with some surprise, "Praise the Sanctum, Maya, I don't think I've ever received such an invitation!"
Maya smiled faintly. "There will be opportunities later. Master Quentin, please."
The Emerald Canopy, named for its resemblance to a "sea of jade-green emptiness," referred to a dense, flourishing bamboo forest. Its essence lay in its myriad shades of emerald bamboo creating a unique landscape. Flickering light revealed nothing but soft green radiance, each stalk standing proudly erect.
For Arcadians, the Emerald Canopy was an enigmatic place. It produced abundant fresh bamboo shoots, yet no one had ever penetrated its depths. Its true expanse remained unknown, stretching across the borders of Arcadia and Poland to its west. Anyone venturing deep would inexplicably find themselves emerging from their point of entry. The reason remained a mystery. Besides bamboo shoots, the forest offered no other rich resources, so it remained largely unnoticed and undisturbed.
The temperature within the Emerald Canopy differed vastly from Lunaria. Perhaps due to the dense bamboo growth, the oppressive heat dissipated upon entering, replaced by refreshing coolness.
Maya, cradling her precious son and accompanied by Quentin, walked through the sea of bamboo. She remarked, "Senior, your stamina is remarkable. We've walked so far, yet you show no sign of fatigue. For a mage like you, it's truly my first encounter."
Thirty li was nothing for a warrior, but for a mage, it was a significant distance. If one looked closely, a faint aura of energy enveloped the swaddled bundle – Maya's battle aura protecting her son from the residual heat.
Quentin chuckled ruefully. "Haven't you heard the saying? 'Of a hundred useless arts, the lute is supreme.' As a Lute Magus, I lack the acceleration spells elemental mages wield. And I prefer not to have attendants. Wherever I go on the continent, I rely on these two legs. Over time, naturally, I can walk farther than most, my stamina surpassing mages of other schools."
As they spoke, Quentin noticed the bamboo ahead seemed to shimmer slightly. A knowing smile touched his lips. He snapped off a bamboo shoot from beside him and continued walking forward, tapping rhythmically on the stalks beside him. The taps varied in speed, producing unique sonic vibrations. Without waiting for Maya to guide him, he walked directly into the heart of the forest. The Emerald Canopy, an impenetrable maze for ordinary folk, posed no barrier to an old friend like him.
Maya, seemingly expecting this, showed no surprise. Her steps became illusory, seeming slow yet covering ground swiftly, following Quentin into the bamboo depths.
Near the center of the Emerald Canopy, a neat row of bamboo huts nestled among the groves. There were over a dozen structures of varying sizes, their forms elegantly obscured by the swaying bamboo shadows. Before Maya and Quentin reached the huts, a hoarse voice emanated from one of them, "Ying'er, why have you brought an outsider? Have you forgotten what I told you?"
Before Maya could respond, Quentin chided with a laugh, "Well, well, Yale Leaf, won't you even see an old friend?"
The door to the central bamboo hut swung open. A figure like a bolt of lightning appeared before Maya and Quentin almost instantly. Though incredibly fast, the movement flowed like drifting clouds, lacking any sense of abruptness.
Yale Leaf stood half a head taller than Quentin. Gray-white hair cascaded down his back. His wrinkles were noticeably fewer than Quentin's, making him appear around fifty. His posture was ramrod straight. Piercingly sharp eyes held an intimidating intensity, radiating the seasoned aura of a mature man. Recognizing Quentin, his large, broad hands immediately shot out to grasp his shoulders. Quentin didn't evade, letting the hands clamp down firmly.
"My old friend! You came? It's been over twenty years since we last met!" Yale Leaf exclaimed excitedly.
Quentin's typically composed demeanor vanished before Yale Leaf. He made a slightly comical expression. "Here to see you! You still look so young, while I've grown old. Cultivating battle aura is truly better! Magic ages one too quickly. I believe you're a year older than me, aren't you?"
Yale Leaf retorted gruffly, "Young? What young? Haven't you noticed my hair is nearly white? Come, inside!" He pulled Quentin towards the hut without glancing at his grandson in Maya's arms.
The bamboo hut's interior was spartan: bamboo bed, bamboo table, bamboo chairs – that was all.
Yale Leaf picked up the water pitcher from the table and poured a cup of clear spring water for Quentin. "This is from the spring beneath our Emerald Canopy. Taste it."
Quentin took it, sipped, and praised, "Clear, cold, and sweet. Excellent. You know how to live well."
Yale Leaf sighed, "Over twenty years since we last met, you old rogue. Did you come specifically to find me? You know I've stepped back from Bamboo Sect affairs. Even if something happened, it's none of my concern now."
Quentin laughed heartily, "I haven't said anything yet, and you've already washed your hands of it? What do you think I came for? I'm staying."
Yale Leaf's eyes widened in surprise, "Staying?"
Quentin nodded, "I've just returned from the Sanctum."
Hearing "Sanctum," Yale Leaf's expression instantly shifted, becoming somber. "You went after all. So... you've reached Violet Rank?"
Quentin squinted, studying his old friend, "Haven't you as well? Show me."
Yale Leaf glared back, "Enough nonsense." A faint violet aura emanated from his body – proud, unyielding energy. The immense pressure made Quentin's eyes gleam intensely, "Good! First Tier! You're also First Tier! Seems neither of us has fallen behind the other."
Yale Leaf stated matter-of-factly, "I'm no match for you now. At the same tier, no magic or battle aura on Aerion can defeat your Zither Magic. Don't think I don't know that!"
Quentin smiled faintly, "My melodies only reveal their true power after playing beyond the first third. At the same tier, couldn't you just run? What could I do then? Chase you on foot?" He took another sip of water.
Yale Leaf threatened darkly, "At this distance, believe I could finish you in one blow?"
Quentin remained relaxed, "I don't believe it."
The two locked eyes, then burst into simultaneous laughter. Both Quentin and Yale Leaf hadn't felt such genuine joy in a long time.
Laughter subsided, Yale Leaf's expression turned serious. "Old friend, truthfully... what's the Sanctum like?"
Quentin's face darkened. He sighed, "Don't ask more. The Seven Pagodas of the Sanctum are beyond our comprehension. When I challenged the Illusion Pagoda, I didn't even meet the Tower Lord."
Yale Leaf fell silent for a long moment before speaking with a hint of sadness, "So... there's no hope, then."
"No!" Quentin's eyes suddenly blazed with intensity, as if struck by a surge of excitement. "There is hope! And it's right before us!"
A fierce light ignited in Yale Leaf's eyes, "What is it? Tell me quickly! Is there truly hope to stand against the Seven Pagodas?"
Quentin smiled mysteriously, sitting back down without speaking.
Yale Leaf grew impatient, "Playing games? Out with it, or I'll resort to force!"
Quentin chuckled, "Still the same hot-headed temper. I sometimes wonder how you even cultivated Bamboo Aura to this level. After my Sanctum trial confirmed my Violet Rank and placed me on the Rainbow Roll, they asked where I wished to serve. I chose Arcadia." He paused, meeting Yale Leaf's gaze meaningfully. "Because you are here. So I came. As long as you agree, I can stay for at least a dozen years."
Yale Leaf's expression shifted, suspicion dawning, "Old friend... I feel like you're setting a trap for me. What's this 'hope' you speak of? Get to the point."
Quentin nodded, "Fine, I'll be direct. Our hope... is your grandson."
Yale Leaf jolted in surprise, "Are you mad? Didn't you see Ying holding him? My grandson was born with only eight fingers! He'll struggle even to grip a weapon firmly! How can he possibly be our hope? I only wish for this child to live a peaceful, ordinary life."
Quentin scoffed, "That's from your perspective. From mine, it's completely different. Eight fingers, born perfect – it's the disciple I've dreamed of! Without the hindrance of the forbidden pinkies, it offers immense advantages for Zither cultivation. More importantly, your grandson possesses an innate, extraordinary sensitivity to music. If you let him study the Zither under me, he is our future hope. Honestly... I chose Arcadia over stronger kingdoms primarily because you are here. You know once our power reaches Violet Rank, further progress becomes excruciatingly difficult. And for a Lute Magus like me, reaching Violet Rank grants powerful Zither Magic, but the flaws are significant. So... I conceived a solution. And this solution... requires your cooperation."
Yale Leaf frowned, "My cooperation? I cultivate Bamboo Sect Aura. How can I cooperate with your zither?"
Quentin explained, "On Aerion, there are precedents for magic paired with battle aura – so-called 'Magic-Martial Dual Cultivation.' But no one has surpassed Blue Rank. Modern mages disdain diverting focus to cultivate battle aura. The method I conceived uses battle aura to enhance Zither Magic – using aura to amplify the range of sonic waves, even directly powering sonic attacks. Only a Lute Magus could possibly cultivate this way. And your Bamboo Aura, saturated with the essence of nature, is the most perfect complement to zither resonance. I came hoping to find a disciple first, then persuade you to teach him Bamboo Aura. Combining the strengths of our two sects could create a super Lute Magus! Perhaps... it could break through the limits of Violet Rank. But before I could even settle in and search for a disciple..." Quentin gestured towards Maya and the baby, his eyes burning with fervor, "I met your daughter-in-law and grandson. Eight fingers born perfect! A rarity in the world! This opportunity I will not let slip. Old friend, in my entire life, I have never begged anyone. This time... I break that rule. I beg you... let your grandson become my disciple."
Rising, Quentin Shaw bowed deeply to Yale Leaf, his expression utterly solemn.