Chapter 1124: Chapter 1124: Meeting Ah Xia Again
In the radiant morning sunlight, a burst of melodious flute music suddenly resonated, akin to a symphony of birdsong, delightfully enchanting.
Qin Sisi’s eyes lit up abruptly. This tune—Ah Xia had played it before, and the timbre of the flute sounded remarkably similar to the Ice Bone piccolo.
Ye You noticed the change in Qin Sisi’s expression. After a brief pause, he retrieved the piccolo from his storage ring—the one acquired from that little boy—and handed it to Qin Sisi, asking, "Does this look familiar to you?"
Taking the piccolo, Qin Sisi looked astonished and responded with a surprising question: "Isn’t this Ice Bone piccolo my creation? Why is it in your possession?"
Ye You didn’t answer immediately but pointed to the transparent leaf attached below the piccolo and asked, "What’s the deal with the image on this leaf?"
He certainly didn’t appreciate his current fiancée—and future wife—being depicted frequently by another man.
Qin Sisi shook her head, a trace of confusion flickering through her features, and replied, "I don’t know. That leaf isn’t something I added."
Ordinary leaves are typically green and fragile. However, this leaf had undergone a process to remove its chlorophyll, enhanced magically for added resilience, and finally crafted into a transparent, pliant form—a testament to the artisan’s meticulous care.
She picked the leaf up for closer inspection, belatedly realizing the drawn woman bore a striking resemblance to herself. A little stunned, Qin Sisi lifted her gaze to Ye You and asked, "Is this supposed to be me?"
Ye You chuckled in exasperation and ruffled Qin Sisi’s hair, saying, "What do you think?"
Qin Sisi felt somewhat awkward. When Ah Xia had mentioned gifting the less refined Ice Bone piccolos to children with a love for music, she’d been moved by his kind-heartedness and had given them away without hesitation—never expecting that Ah Xia would attach such a leaf and even illustrate her image upon it.
"You still haven’t told me—how did this piccolo end up in your hands?" After a brief moment of silence, Qin Sisi recalled Ye You hadn’t answered her question yet.
This time, it was Ye You’s turn to look uncomfortable. Rubbing his nose, he replied, "I saw a little boy playing the flute and took it from him."
"How could you take something from a child?" Qin Sisi couldn’t suppress her reproach.
Ye You offered an embarrassed explanation: "I didn’t take it by force—Qing Xun exchanged plenty of items and spirit stones with him for it."
Qin Sisi shot him a disapproving look but decided to say no more. The Ice Bone piccolo was promptly reclaimed by Ye You, who declared he would keep it as a memento.
The melodious flute music continued to waft merrily across the morning light. Qin Sisi paused to listen more intently, then turned to Ye You and asked, "Do you want to meet the person playing the flute?"
"Who?" Ye You didn’t quite grasp Qin Sisi’s implication.
Qin Sisi smiled faintly and said, "If my guess is correct, it’s likely Ah Xia."
Qin Sisi briefly recounted to Ye You how Ah Xia had rescued her and accompanied the merchant caravan to Midair City. She spoke highly of Ah Xia’s musical talent and virtuous character.
Ye You frowned deeply as he pulled Qin Sisi into his arms and whispered, "Could you not praise him so much?"
Qin Sisi immediately understood Ye You’s thoughts. She blinked playfully and asked deliberately, "Why shouldn’t I praise him?"
Ye You raised an eyebrow. "Better than me?"
Qin Sisi laughed. "What do you think?"
Ye You laughed too, leaning down to nudge his forehead against hers. He was tempted to hug her tightly and steal a kiss, but with Qing Xun and the others nearby, it wasn’t the most convenient setting.
Holding Qin Sisi’s hand, Ye You said, "Fine. I’ll go meet him. After all, he’s your rescuer—it’s only right I thank him properly."
Qin Sisi nodded. Ye You rallied Qing Xun and their group, and together they followed the direction of the flute music.
Underneath a sparsely foliaged tree, Ah Xia stood silently, the Ice Bone piccolo at his lips, with enchanting flute notes spilling forth.
Ah Xia’s eyes were slightly closed. Amid the melodious tunes, his mind wandered back to the arduous journey with the merchant caravan. The elegant and lovely figure he recalled—it was his fairy, his longing, the exhilarating spark of his youthful crush and tender yearning.
But alas...
The beautiful flute melody gradually mellowed into a subdued, wistful tone—as if a carefree brook had traversed towering peaks and flowed into a wide river. It had matured, acquiring composure and, perhaps, harboring secrets.
"Ah Xia." Amidst his intense immersion, a soft call echoed behind him.
The flute music halted abruptly, and Ah Xia’s body stiffened.
Was that voice a hallucination?
Slowly turning around, Ah Xia finally laid eyes on the fairy of his heart.
"Master Fairy—it really is you!" Overjoyed, Ah Xia rushed forward, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Qin Sisi.
"Ahem..." Ye You coughed twice from the side.
Only then did Ah Xia shift his focus to the people accompanying Qin Sisi. Since they were with Master Fairy, they must be her friends. Smiling courteously, Ah Xia greeted them with politeness.
Ye You swept his Divine Sense over Ah Xia and discovered he was merely a mage. Instantly, his competitive spirit eased, and he returned the greeting with equal politeness.
Qin Sisi, however, expressed mild surprise and said, "Ah Xia, you’ve leveled up, haven’t you?"
Ah Xia shyly smiled and replied, "Yes. After returning, I practiced the magic skills you taught me earnestly every single day. My magical power has grown significantly. Just a few days ago, I advanced to mage practitioner."
Qin Sisi immediately congratulated him. Ah Xia bashfully scratched his head with a sheepish laugh.
Ye You glanced at Ah Xia thoughtfully. When Qin Sisi first encountered him, he had been merely a magician—her description of him as "insignificant in stature, yet grand of heart" seemed fitting indeed.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ah Xia invited Qin Sisi to visit his home, mentioning how his grandfather had always wanted to meet her.
Qin Sisi sought Ye You’s opinion, and after a brief contemplation, he nodded.
Mei Ji had undoubtedly deployed numerous guards across Midair City to search for them. This area appeared deserted enough that the search parties were unlikely to find them anytime soon. Stopping by Ah Xia’s home for some rest seemed acceptable.
With Ye You’s approval, Qin Sisi agreed to Ah Xia’s invitation.
Ah Xia beamed joyously and led the group towards his house.
As they strolled, Qin Sisi chatted with Ah Xia, learning that his household lacked parents and consisted only of his grandfather, who had been his mentor in practicing magic.
Ye You walked silently alongside Qin Sisi, observing her animated conversation with Ah Xia without uttering a word.
Fearing Ye You might feel upset, Qin Sisi deliberately clasped his arm, subtly signaling their bond. As expected, Ye You’s expression softened considerably.
Ah Xia noticed the intimacy between Qin Sisi and Ye You. His gaze instantly dimmed despite the smile he maintained. Arriving at his modest home, he invited Qin Sisi and her company inside to rest.
