Chapter 527: Chapter 470: Not Bad
Within the Court Music Academy, Celeste Martin’s pipa skills were among the best, and she had even received personal guidance from Charles Flores.

Charles Flores never easily instructed anyone unless he felt that the person had reached a certain level of proficiency and was worth cultivating, only then would he give some guidance.

Thus… Celeste Martin had great confidence in her pipa skills.

Of course, her confidence was soon validated.

Indeed, she played very well with a high level of performance.

She handled the details well and had a very strong expressiveness.

Few people could reach her level.

Being able to willingly receive guidance from Charles Flores, Celeste Martin indeed had something extraordinary about her.

In this matter, she had the capital to feel proud and arrogant.

Celeste Martin sat on the bench, with the powerful music radiating around her as the center, and the whole person sitting there seemed to be glowing.

More and more people gathered around, even Charles Flores, who had been conversing with someone in the distance, walked over and stood on the periphery, watching Celeste Martin through the gaps in the crowd.

Someone beside him said, “Master Flores, this student from the Court Music Academy has boundless potential.”

With a slight smile at the corners of his mouth, Charles Flores politely chuckled.

“Since you play so well… Master Flores can actually take on another disciple.”

Charles Flores looked at Celeste Martin, his eyes calm and indifferent: “Not bad.”

“Of course, it’s just ‘not bad’ compared to Master Flores.”

Charles Flores shook his head with a smile: “It’s just ‘not bad’ compared to my disciple too.”

The person next to him didn’t say anything further.

He had not seen Charles Flores’ disciple and didn’t know how proficient they actually were, he had only heard a little about them.

The girl in front of him already had a very high level of skill, but it was still only ‘not bad’.

At what level was his disciple then?

The Pipa music stopped, and the surrounding area was once again filled with enthusiastic applause and generous praise.

Charles Flores also looked away, not particularly interested in what was going to happen next. He and the person beside him continued their earlier conversation as they walked further back.

Celeste Martin got up with her pipa in her arms and gave a slight bow to the people around her before looking towards Daisy Zane.

The triumph and victory in her eyes were undisguised as if she had already trampled Daisy Zane under her feet. Even her tone was no longer concealing: “It’s your turn now.”

Since the last time she recorded the show, Celeste Martin hadn’t experienced such a day, where she could breathe so freely like today.

No matter how capable Daisy Zane was, she couldn’t surpass Celeste Martin.

Charlotte Lane looked at the victorious joy and distorted happiness in Celeste Martin’s eyes and then took in the surroundings.

She saw a girl holding a pipa who had just taken a step towards her, intending to borrow her pipa. Suddenly, Olivia Lane came squeezing through the crowd.

She held the pipa case in her arms like a treasure, her eyes sparkling brightly as she looked at Charlotte Lane.

Charlotte Lane looked at Olivia Lane standing in front of her.

She was breathing lightly, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, but very excited.

Looking into her bright eyes, Charlotte Lane felt as if everything around her had become unreal for a moment. The entire venue seemed to have gone through a reversal and change in time.

She was ten years old, and Olivia Lane was six.

Each time she played the pipa, Olivia Lane would be by her side.

After she finished a song, Olivia Lane would hold her cheeks with both hands, her eyes shining brightly, and say, “Sister plays the most beautiful music.”

Olivia Lane also learned pipa for a while, but Charlotte Lane always felt that Olivia Lane didn’t like the pipa itself, but liked the sight of her sister playing the pipa.

Charlotte Lane’s identity had not been made public, so Olivia Lane did not call her sister, but simply handed the pipa case to her.

Charlotte Lane snapped back to her senses and gently rubbed the top of Olivia Lane’s head before allowing her to open the Pipa case and take out the instrument.

It was the Pipa she had often used in her childhood at the Court Music Academy.

It had been well preserved and carefully maintained.

Charlotte Lane could not help but touch the strings of the Pipa.

If this circle of people were to be compared to a cultivation realm, then this Pipa would be her sword, which she had been bonded to since childhood.

It was the Pipa she was most skilled with, and although it had not been used for many, many years, it would always be her top choice.

“Mrs. Clark, it’s getting late,” Celeste Martin’s voice suddenly rang out.

As if she hadn’t heard, it was Olivia Lane who turned her head and glared at her.

“I haven’t played in many years,” Charlotte Lane said to Olivia Lane. “I might not reach the level you remember.”

Charlotte Lane did not deliberately control her volume, so some of those around her heard her too.

Subconsciously, Olivia Lane looked at her hand, knowing that her fingers were injured. After a pause, she repeated what she used to say as a child, “Your playing is the most beautiful.”

Charlotte Lane gave a faint smile.

“Plectrum,” Olivia Lane handed her another box.

With plectrum in hand, Olivia Lane stepped aside with the Pipa case, as Charlotte Lane took the Pipa and walked to the stool.

She carried the stool with one hand and took a few steps towards Arthur North, put it down, and looked at him.

Their eyes met, and Arthur North raised his eyebrows. The look in his eyes was one of expectation for her.

Charlotte Lane gave a slight smile, retracted her gaze, and sat down on the stool.

She cradled the Pipa, tested the sound, and then tuned it.

It hadn’t been used in many years; moreover, someone must have been taking care of it regularly, so its pitch accuracy was slightly off.

Celeste Martin stood by with a challenging smile, waiting to see what would happen.

Once the tuning was done, Charlotte Lane simply warmed up her fingers.

She then held the Pipa properly, placed her left hand on the strings, and began to play. The familiar tune of the Court Music Academy filled everyone’s ears once more.

It had been a piece of piano music just now, and now it was a piece of Pipa music.

Charlotte Lane’s fingers were beautiful, slender and fair, like priceless white jade.

As she held the Pipa and her right hand’s plucking techniques kept changing, her speed was fast enough to leave afterimages.

Yet every note was incredibly accurate, and each transition was smooth.

The tune was aggressive from the very beginning, requiring the player to produce a powerful momentum. However, Charlotte Lane managed to create an even more intense atmosphere based on that foundation.

She did not exaggerate her performance and maintained a calm, composed demeanor while holding the Pipa and sitting gracefully on the stool. Occasionally, she would glimpse at the Pipa, but most of the time, she simply closed her eyes and felt the music.

The contrast between the calmness of the person and the excitement of the tune created a powerful feeling, suggesting that one could control everything.

No matter how things change, be it a gentle stream or passionate vigor, they are always under one’s control.

Therefore, one can remain calm and detached, unfazed by any ups and downs.

It is difficult to reach this state, whether in life or in playing the Pipa. However, some people do manage to achieve it.

Celeste Martin’s smug expression changed as soon as Charlotte Lane played the first note and continued to evolve as the performance went on.

She couldn’t believe the sight before her and felt a surge of dizziness in her head. The more she tried to remember something, the less she could recall.

She even gradually lost the understanding of why she was standing there.

As she wanted to leave, her legs felt as if they were filled with lead, unable to move.

Astonished as well was Charles Flores, who had been chatting on the periphery of the crowd.