[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off":3,"chapter-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-88":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Bound to the Sign-In System, I Took Off",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2336142,4567,"Chapter 88: A Single Erhu Pulls the Heartstrings","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Please listen to the question: Among the following lines of poetry, which one has nothing to do with Go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A: A friend was expected but did not come by midnight; idly tapping chess pieces, they fall like petals into the lamp’s glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>B: On the board, idle battles rage; people judge right from wrong as they please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>C: The spring wind has again greened the southern riverbank; when will the bright moon shine upon my return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This question was practically free points—even if Qin Yun didn’t understand poetry, just by looking at the words he could instantly grasp it—A and B both mention chess pieces and boards; if the answer wasn’t C, it would be a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing clearly understood too; she gave Qin Yun a glance, her eyes plainly saying: This kill’s yours, go grab it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun got the hint immediately: “C!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct answer! Congratulations—you only need to answer one more question to advance smoothly. Listen up:”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The legend of the ‘Rotten Axe Man’ originates from which ancient figure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing smiled, lifting one corner of her mouth, and whispered to Qin Yun: “We already mentioned this person’s name during the poetry contest earlier—do you remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun thought for a moment, hesitated slightly: “Wang Zhi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing nodded lightly: “That’s him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to Wang Zhi, Qin Yun immediately answered “Wang Zhi,” instantly drawing murmurs of approval from the audience; with three correct answers in a row, they had successfully advanced—but they still needed to answer the next two questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host looked at Qin Yun with a knowing expression, as if to say: Brother, you’ve got some serious skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen up: What is the next line after ‘One day in the immortal realm equals a thousand years of human toil’ from Meng Jiao’s ‘Rotten Axe Stone’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Qin Yun’s eyes lit up instantly, and he blurted out: “The two games remain incomplete; all things have turned to emptiness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host was surprised: “Huh? This prop actually knows something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing happily nudged Qin Yun’s arm: “Big Brother Qin, you’re amazing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun smiled calmly: “I don’t know much poetry, but this one I actually remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun wasn’t good at poetry; the only lines he could recall offhand were probably “The sun beats down as I hoe the fields”—most other poems, if not right in front of him, he couldn’t even remember the characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth question didn’t stump Xia Xiaoxing either; together, they advanced to the semifinals with a perfect five-for-five score, temporarily leading the competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, after the second round, only thirteen of the original twenty-four teams remained; the semifinals still had a third round, and the attrition rate was brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The third round, ‘Pearls Strung Together,’ requires linking characters into poetry. There will be two rounds; each round gives a set of keywords, and you must form one or two lines of poetry fitting the theme within the time limit. Let’s invite the team currently in first place to take the stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the competition progressed, the audience seats of the Tianyuan Dao Hall filled up with more and more people, mostly locals from the surrounding area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host suddenly wore a gossiping grin: “Before we begin, may I ask you two—are you a couple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun’s forehead instantly darkened with sweat—what the hell was this host gossiping about? Didn’t he see how many young guys’ eyes had lit up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t answer the host’s question; instead, she said: “Host, please give us the question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience sighed in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host laughed heartily: “Miss Xia, Mr. Qin, listen up: The five characters for the first round are: Ke, Shan, Qi, Yu, Xian. Form one or two lines of poetry using these keywords. Three-minute countdown—begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun obediently played the role of a slacker; Xia Xiaoxing thought briefly, then quickly had her answer. She smiled at Qin Yun and said: “Ke Shan idle for chess, Qi Yu accompanied by clear wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted in astonishment, followed by applause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though most couldn’t judge poetic meter or structure, understanding the meaning was the clearest indicator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone with even a little culture could grasp the meaning of Xia Xiaoxing’s verse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host turned his gaze to the several older people seated at the right table; after receiving their approval, he announced loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you compose this yourself?” Qin Yun whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing nodded: “It’s nothing special—given so many characters, it’s not surprising I could make something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen to the second round’s five characters: ‘Qi, Song, Shi, Xian, Jing.’ Three-minute countdown—answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Xia Xiaoxing didn’t even pause; she answered immediately: “Qi falls amid the pine wind; idly watching clouds above the stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, this answer was also accepted; Qin Yun and Xia Xiaoxing advanced to the finals. But the system didn’t immediately pop up a reward notification—it clearly required them to actually reach the finals to complete the check-in task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The finals would be held in the afternoon, also consisting of three rounds, but significantly harder than the semifinals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stepped out of the Tianyuan Dao Hall, Xia Xiaoxing wore a smug expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Qin, am I awesome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Incredibly awesome. This slacker here is trembling in awe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing burst out laughing: “These are all trivial matters—it’s just about how much knowledge you’ve stored, nothing innovative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Easy for you, but to me it’s like listening to celestial scripture.” Qin Yun genuinely believed Xia Xiaoxing had exceptional talent in this area; in this era, few people still spent time on Chinese poetry, especially someone with her obvious wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing blushed slightly at the praise: “Let’s go to Food Paradise—I’ll treat you. There’s delicious food there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing lunch, they wandered nearby to digest, then returned to the Tianyuan Dao Hall when time was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing glanced at the other teams and whispered: “Big Brother Qin, according to the rules, the finals use a points system—the total score from all three rounds decides the champion, so don’t worry about losing points in the second round.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the second round?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Qu Cai Shi—it’s like ‘you draw, I guess.’ Both of us must act out poems using gestures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun understood her meaning; he nodded: “Don’t worry—I might get lucky and draw something I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When time came, the host took the stage, gave a brief opening, then invited Qin Yun and Xia Xiaoxing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first round of the finals is ‘Poetry Hidden in Characters’—you’ll be given a keyword and a reference, and you must name the complete poem and its author. Miss Xia, Mr. Qin—any questions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both shook their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The host immediately gave the first character: “Ke.” He added: “Hint: Tang poet Liu Yuxi used the Rotten Axe legend to lament the passage of time. Three-minute countdown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuxi—Qin Yun associated him with “Ode to a Humble Abode,” which he’d memorized in school; now he only remembered: “A mountain need not be high; if there’s a immortal, it becomes famous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and he also remembered the cliché: “The bleak lands of Bashan and Chu water”—as for the rest, he’d need to see it to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Xia Xiaoxing, this was no challenge; her vast poetry reservoir required only a quick search to find the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I chant old verses, hearing flutes’ mournful tune; returning home, I feel like the Rotten Axe Man—Liu Yuxi’s ‘In Response to Bai Juyi’s Poem at Our First Meeting in Yangzhou.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct answer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted in cheers; after the morning’s match, many had already been won over by Xia Xiaoxing, especially since she was so beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next question: The keyword is ‘Qi.’ It’s from a poem by Song poet Lu You, depicting Go as a pastime of leisure, subtly implying withdrawal from the world. Three-minute countdown.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the host finished speaking, the hall fell silent; all eyes turned to Xia Xiaoxing. Qin Yun, sitting beside her? Just a prop—why would anyone bother looking at him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing thought briefly, then confidently recited: “Lu You’s ‘Autumn Rain Growing Cool, Thinking of Xingyuan’: When no official duties detain me, and guests have left, I debate two games of Go over the table.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct answer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun was about to praise her when the system alert chimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Check-in task completed. Random reward obtained: Erhu skill +1】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Erhu Skill LV1: Strings respond to the heart, sound connects all things; one bow sets the tone, revealing truth】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, musical theory flooded his mind; once the torrent of musical knowledge settled, erhu techniques surged forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All erhu techniques—vibrato, glissando, tremolo, plucking, spiccato—became second nature; pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing were all precisely controlled. Whether performing traditional masterpieces with tender, lingering melodies or modern pieces with dramatic shifts, every note was flawless, every emotion perfectly conveyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, after absorbing the erhu skill, he had become an erhu master—just as the skill description said: strings respond to the heart, sound connects all things, one bow sets the tone, revealing truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the system ensured mastery by first imprinting foundational musical theory—meaning even if he never gained another instrument skill, he could now easily learn any other instrument on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Awesome!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yun sighed in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, basic move, no big deal.” Xia Xiaoxing mistook Qin Yun’s mutter for praise of herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The competition continued. During the Yi Qu Cai Shi round, they both drew blank—Xia Xiaoxing’s gestures confused him, and his gestures confused her. They scored zero in this round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, in the final round, Yi Jing Fei Hua Ling, Qin Yun didn’t need to help—Xia Xiaoxing swept the field alone, using her solid poetry knowledge to claim first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a simple award ceremony, Qin Yun and Xia Xiaoxing slipped away quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus ended Qin Yun’s affairs in Quzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Xia Xiaoxing, where in Quzhou can I buy an erhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back, Qin Yun, adhering to the principle of not wasting skills, planned to get an instrument for his car—he’d play wherever he went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tune that breaks the heart—where in this vast world can one find a true listener? Absolutely glorious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Xiaoxing thought: “I’ll have to ask Ah Li for advice—I don’t come to Quzhou often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the hotel, Zhong Li was free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Erhu?” Zhong Li blinked, curious. “Mr. Qin, you play the erhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A little. Just a tiny bit!” Qin Yun demurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Li pondered: “Do you have preferences for the strings—steel or silk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel strings are the modern standard; silk strings were used before the modern era and are now niche, but carry richer tonal qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each has its own character—depends on the player’s musical style and personal taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can find suitable ones, I’d like one of each.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Li nodded: “Leave it to me. I’ll have them delivered tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Li smiled: “It’s nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, two erhus were delivered to the room. Qin Yun, possessing both instrument repair and erhu skills, instantly recognized them as masterworks: the steel-string model was made of old rosewood, the silk-string one of small-leaf rosewood, and the craftsmanship was exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Zhong, how much for these two? I’ll transfer you on WeChat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Li waved it off: “Money? Don’t mention it—that’s being distant. Friends help each other; maybe I’ll need your help someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her insist, Qin Yun hesitated briefly, then accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the Zhong family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandmaster Zhong had just sat down when he was told two items from his collection were missing; he flew into a rage, his beard quivering and eyes bulging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That damned girl! She’s made me furious—those were custom-made by master artisans, and she just took them and gave them away…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1953,"2026-06-20T21:37:28.858Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","692561c938a0d4a32be56f34eee21fa1cb3273d70ba89a9508b6741aa471ddb4","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-89","bound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-chapter-87",329,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbound-to-the-sign-in-system-i-took-off-cover.jpg"]