thefictionvixens Chapter 27 Initial Cooperation
Chapter 27 Initial Cooperation
He bound the completed manuscript into a book, and wrote the four characters "Starry Night Talks" on the cover with a brush, signing it "Wen Yansheng"—which is both a homophone of "Yan" in his name and also subtly implies "using literature as an inkstone to write about the stars."
"Wen Yansheng..." Xiao Wu murmured the name, then suddenly smiled, "That's a beautiful name! What about me? I want to help too!"
"You'll be in charge of reading the first draft." Yan Zu pushed the newly completed story, "The Clever Fox Teases the Three-Headed Wolf," in front of her. "Take a look and see if there are any parts that need revision."
Xiao Wu immediately picked up the scrap paper and began to read it carefully. A moment later, she burst into laughter, "Hahaha, this fox is so clever! Little brother Azu, what you wrote is even funnier than what you told!"
Seeing Xiao Wu's happy expression, Yan Zu felt a warmth in his heart.
He gazed into his spiritual world—the phantom of the Xuanyuan Sword floated silently, its golden patterns about one percent brighter than three months ago. It was the faint, yet undeniable, power of will gathered from classroom questioning and knowledge dissemination; though thin, it represented real growth.
"The path of culture... is indeed feasible."
As dusk deepened, the lanterns of Notting College lit up one by one, casting a warm glow on the blue brick path. Yan Zu finished tidying up his manuscript and winked at Xiao Wu: "Sister Xiao Wu, I'll take you somewhere."
"Where are we going?" Xiao Wu immediately jumped up and curiously followed him out of the dormitory, around to a secluded spot on the back mountain of the academy.
Here, the grass and trees are lush and green, and the moonlight shines through the treetops, casting dappled patterns of silver light. The chirping of insects rises and falls, and the evening breeze carries the fragrance of grass, easing the heat of the day.
Yan Zu took out a harp from his storage soul tool.
Under the moonlight, the harp appeared a warm, milky white, with smooth lines that seemed to be carved from a cloud. Several strings were crystal clear and emitted a faint glow.
This is a harp called "Flowing Clouds" that he received a few months ago when he checked in monthly.
The system description states that this zither is made of special spiritual wood, and its strings contain the power of moonlight. When played, it has a calming and tranquilizing effect, subtly nourishing the listener's spirit.
Yan Zu discovered that his sign-in system mostly contained daily necessities and snacks (such as spicy strips) for everyday use;
Monthly check-ins will reward you with some special or useful items and cultivation resources;
The annual check-in for each person's birthday is the real highlight, often triggering a critical hit and yielding heavyweight rewards such as martial spirits, cultivation techniques, and carriers of civilization.
He sat cross-legged on a flat bluestone, placed the harp on his lap, and gently brushed the strings with his fingertips.
Thanks to the "Exquisite Mind" talent, all the techniques and music theories related to harp playing have been imprinted in my mind as if by instinct.
Xiao Wu leaned over and gently touched the strings. Her fingertips felt a cool touch, and the strings vibrated, producing a clear and melodious sound that softened the chirping of the surrounding insects.
"What a beautiful zither! Little brother Azu, would you like to play it for me?"
After a moment's thought, a simple yet incredibly melodious and pure tune from Earth flowed from his fingertips—"The Flying Insects".
There are no complicated techniques, no exciting melodies, only crystal-clear notes, like a mountain stream, tinkling and slowly spreading in the silent night sky.
The music seemed to blend seamlessly with the moonlight, carrying a gentle longing and a soothing, tranquil power. Yan Zu subtly infused the music with a faint trace of the auspicious spirit of the Qilin, adding an indescribable warmth and peace to the melody.
Xiao Wu blinked curiously at first, but as the music entered her ears, she gradually calmed down, hugged her knees and sat down next to Yan Zu, resting her chin on her knees, her eyes becoming dreamy and soft.
The music seemed to resonate directly in her heart, washing away the fatigue of her daytime cultivation and soothing the unease hidden deep within her heart due to her transformation and past experiences. She felt as if she had returned to the Starry Forest, and to her mother's embrace.
The students who were cultivating in the dormitory all stopped circulating their soul power. The restlessness caused by the bottleneck in their cultivation was quietly dispelled by the gentle sound of the zither, and their soul power became smooth. The younger students leaned against the window, their eyes clear, no longer noisy, but listening quietly, as if they were on a moonlit meadow with fireflies dancing around them, their hearts filled with warmth.
Even the patrolling teachers slowed their pace, a long-lost sense of relaxation appearing on their faces; the fatigue from teaching all day was largely washed away by the clear, melodious tune. Some wanted to find the source of the music, but were soothed by its peaceful atmosphere and unwilling to break the tranquility.
—This was a melody they had never heard before. It lacked the excitement or obscurity of the Douluo Continent's soul music. With just the simplest melody, it touched the softest part of people's hearts. This is the unique, cross-regional and global appeal of Blue Star culture.
On the back mountain, Xiao Wu sat obediently next to Yan Zu, her chin resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on him.
Moonlight fell on the boy's handsome profile as his fingertips danced nimbly across the strings. The music mingled with the chirping of insects and the evening breeze, creating a gentle night scene. She felt an unprecedented sense of peace in her heart, her breathing slowing down with the melody, as if all her unease and weariness had been soothed by the music.
As the music ended, its lingering notes seemed to linger in the night sky. Xiao Wu took a long time to recover, then suddenly rushed over and hugged Yan Zu's arm, her face flushed with excitement: "Brother Zu! What...what was that piece of music? It was so beautiful! I've never heard anything like it before! It felt...like my heart was completely cleansed!"
"It's called 'The Flying Insects'," Yan Zu said with a smile, gently stroking the body of the Liuyun zither.
"From now on! From now on, will you play for me often? Especially when you're tired from practicing!" Xiao Wu looked up, her eyes full of longing.
"Okay, as long as you want to hear it," Yan Zu agreed.
From then on, whenever the moonlight was bright and she had a break from cultivation, Xiao Wu would pester Yan Zu to go to the back mountain.
The melody of the Flowing Cloud Harp became a little-known scenic spot on the back mountain of Notting Academy, and also another heartwarming secret between Yan Zu and Xiao Wu. These simple notes from Earth, like the first pebble thrown into a lake, though light, have already stirred ripples of a new understanding of "beauty" in the hearts of some students at Notting Academy.
Three days later, in the backyard of Rongbaozhai.
The shopkeeper was a lean, middle-aged man surnamed Chen. He wasn't very powerful, but his eyes were sharp. He carefully examined the ten story manuscripts brought by Yan Zu, his expression growing more and more serious with each reading.
"Mr. Wen Yansheng... is truly a young prodigy." Shopkeeper Chen put down the manuscript and looked at the "author's agent" in front of him, whose face was obscured by a hood.
—Of course, this was Yan Zu in disguise. "These stories, though simple, are quite interesting and contain subtle wisdom about life. I wonder how you would like to collaborate, sir?"
Yan Zu lowered his voice, mimicking the calm tone of an adult: "Two methods. First, Rongbaozhai buys out the copyright and pays the royalties in a lump sum."
Secondly, the partnership will be a profit-sharing arrangement. The first print run will be one hundred copies, priced at one silver soul coin. For every copy sold, I will receive 60%, and your company will receive 40%. Subsequent print runs will follow the same terms.
Shopkeeper Chen quickly calculated in his mind. The price of one silver soul coin was extremely low, making it affordable even for ordinary people.
The cost of a hundred copies is only a dozen or so Silver Soul Coins; even if they're all lost, it won't be a big deal. But if these stories can truly attract readers…
"May I ask, sir, are there any sequels to these stories?"
"We can provide ten articles per month, for at least a year," Yan Zudao said. "If sales are good, we can also release an illustrated hardcover edition."
Manager Chen's eyes lit up. He had been running Rongbaozhai for many years and knew the derivative value of cultural products.
If it can truly become a series, it will bring not only monetary gains, but also reputation and influence—and influence is one of the resources that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School values most.
"Alright! Let's do as you say, a profit-sharing partnership!" Manager Chen decided. "The first print run will be one hundred copies, and they'll be on the shelves in three days. As for royalties... how about the fifteenth of each month?"
"Alright," Yan Zu nodded, "but I have one request—all transactions must be kept confidential. Under a pseudonym, no one will be asked about your real identity."
"Of course!" Manager Chen said with a smile. "At Rongbaozhai, customer privacy is paramount."