Chapter 399: Why Are You Silent?

"[Soul Depiction]..." Chen Ling asked in confusion. "But my Third-Rank skill isn't this... Does that mean I can never achieve perfect disguise?"

"Your skill is different because you are roleplaying yourself, while we are roleplaying other characters... In the end, our core is the same, still based on the sense of belief," Mo Jiao said earnestly. "And as long as it is based on the sense of belief, with practice and guidance, you can also do things similar to us."

"For example... basic skills?"

"That’s right. Besides potentially allowing you to master 'perfect disguise,' [Singing], [Reciting], [Acting], and [Fighting]—each basic skill can have wonderful changes under the blessing of the sense of belief... These are 'extra skills' learned through acquired effort, not bestowed by the Divine Path, and are skills that cannot be stripped or sealed by any means."

"These skills may not be very powerful, but sometimes they can play an unexpected role... This is the 'secret technique' of our Opera Divine Path."

Mo Jiao paused.

"Of course, the secret technique Master wants to teach you is of a higher level, but before that, you must first have solid basic skills."

"Extra skills, secret techniques of the Opera Path..."

In Chen Ling’s mind, he immediately recalled the mental power sealed by Tan Xin’s [Stop War] in Aurora City, and the skills locked by the Clown’s white ash not long ago... If he could learn basic skills, not to mention what kind of ability he could have, at least in the future when he encountered such sealing abilities, he wouldn't be helpless.

Chen Ling nodded heavily:

"I understand, Senior Brother. Let’s start."

A satisfied smile appeared on Mo Jiao’s face. He drank some tea and continued,

"Junior Brother, this is your first time contacting singing training, and Senior Brother doesn't know what your own foundation is like... Next, I will sing a passage, and you try your best to imitate me. I’ll see if you have talent."

"No problem."

Mo Jiao cleared his throat and sang loudly:

"The ice wheel of the sea island begins to turn, seeing the jade rabbit, the jade rabbit rises early in the east. That ice wheel leaves the sea island, the universe is exceptionally bright, the bright moon is in the sky, just like Chang'e leaving the moon palace, the slave is like Chang'e leaving the moon palace, just like Chang'e descending from the nine heavens, cold and clear~ falling into the Guanghan Palace, ah, in the Guanghan Palace." (Note 1)

Hearing Mo Jiao sing this passage, Chen Ling was still a bit dazed. On one hand, there were too many words in this passage, and on the other hand, its melody was winding, requiring high standards for pitch and rhythm.

Chen Ling swallowed silently.

Chen Ling was very clear about his own singing ability. Ever since his teacher said he was tone-deaf when he was a child, he hadn't even been to a KTV after growing up, at most humming a few lines while wearing headphones... At this moment, suddenly being asked to sing a passage, he couldn't help but feel a bit scared.

"What’s wrong, Junior Brother?" Mo Jiao smiled gently. "You just sing, don't need to be too professional, I’m just looking at your vocal conditions."

"...Okay."

Seeing that Mo Jiao had already said this, Chen Ling could only bite the bullet and open his mouth. Intermittent sounds rang from his throat:

"The ice wheel of the sea island... begins to turn, seeing the jade rabbit... the jade rabbit rises early... what..."

The smile on Mo Jiao’s face gradually stiffened.

When he finally finished singing the last word with difficulty, the whole courtyard fell into dead silence. Mo Jiao stood there silently, his hair messy in the wind.

Chen Ling blinked and asked tentatively: "...Senior Brother?"

"Oh, very good!"

A smile was squeezed onto Mo Jiao’s face. "Junior Brother, your breath is not bad, it’s just... it’s just that your pitch is a bit off."

Chen Ling nodded thoughtfully. "Then what’s next?"

Mo Jiao paced back and forth in the courtyard, thinking seriously for a long time, then looked at Chen Ling as if he didn't believe in evil.

"Next, let’s practice pitch properly... In a while, I will sing a note, and you try your best to sing that note with me, keeping our notes on the same level, understand?"

"No problem."

Mo Jiao took a deep breath and sang a note,

"Ah~~"

"Ah~~↑~↓~←~→~"

"..." Mo Jiao paused. "Ah~~~"

"Ah~~——~↓↓↓..."

Mo Jiao: "............"

……

Afternoon.

"From now on, I will teach you [Acting] among the basic skills."

Luan Mei was wearing a cheongsam, standing tall in the center of the courtyard. As a breeze blew, pieces of plum blossom leaves fell from the wall, covering the earth.

Luan Mei didn't prepare chairs or tea for Chen Ling, but just stood there, her gaze like a winter lake, cold and calm.

She looked at Chen Ling and spoke slowly,

"[Acting] is an extremely important part of performance. A mature performer needs to be able to reflect the character’s personality, emotions, and inner world through their own movements... And first, one must practice body posture, including flexibility, coordination, rhythm..."

Hearing this, Chen Ling suddenly had a bad premonition...

"Usually, those who practice basic skills are children, so they need to stretch their ligaments and open their backs... However, you have already been promoted to Third-Rank, so you shouldn't need to worry about physical fitness. The most important thing is to control the rhythm between movements, and then learn to control expressions and eyes."

Luan Mei spread her palm, and a cassette tape was lying quietly there. With a thought, it disappeared without a trace...

The next moment, melodious music sounded from the void.

"To practice rhythm, start with dance... Follow my movements and learn slowly."

Luan Mei didn't care about Chen Ling’s reply, but started to step with the music, light as a breeze on the grassland. Her slender body began to dance in the courtyard, and the plum blossom petals all over the ground were rolled up, making people feel refreshed.

Chen Ling didn't dare to make a sound, but could only nod silently, watching her movements while trying his best to imitate and keep up...

"The movement is slow."

“……”

"Fast."

“……”

"Is your body always this stiff?"

“……”

"Missed a beat again..."

“……”

……

The night grew darker.

The fragrance of food drifted from the dining table. Chen Ling shoveled rice into his mouth silently, his speed much faster than yesterday, as if he were really hungry.

Opposite him, the young man was still holding the rice basin, shoveling rice into his mouth crazily. Seeing Chen Ling opposite him eat more than half in a short while, he couldn't help but sigh:

"It seems that today’s practice has been very effective. Starting tomorrow, the Sixth should change to a big bowl."

"That’s right. Practicing [Singing] is okay, but [Acting] is also quite physically demanding," the senior brother beside him said with a smile. "Today, I heard music playing in the second’s house all afternoon. He practiced for at least four or five hours, which shows that Junior Brother is very hardworking... Tomorrow, practicing [Fighting] should be even more tiring."

The third senior brother nodded slightly. "Before he leaves in a while, I’ll change him to a big bowl."

"Speaking of which, to what extent has Junior Brother practiced?" the senior brother asked thoughtfully. "With Junior Brother’s talent, plus his hard work, it shouldn't take long to master the basic skills, right?"

Chen Ling’s body shook slightly, and he lowered his head to eat faster.

On the other hand, Luan Mei and Mo Jiao, the rice and dishes in their bowls were almost untouched, sitting there like two gloomy statues.

The young man raised an eyebrow and smiled:

"Second, Fourth, why are you silent?"

……

……

Note 1: Selected from "The Drunken Concubine."

It’s Chinese New Year these past two days, there are many things to do, and Sanjiu also needs to catch his breath... So there have been two updates a day recently~~~ Wishing all brothers and sisters a Happy New Year in advance!