Even though Ao Cheng had gone to the heart of the lake with Liu Xi, Liu Xi was the Saintess of the Jade Sect, she couldn't abandon Ao Cheng to go back alone- and neither could the disciples waiting on the two large boats at the shore.
They retained the ability to shout across the water to the people on the shore. And although the writers who had presented before Ao Cheng were not as talented, they still showed promise, and were thus invited onto the large boats to chat with the numerous female disciples of the Jade Sect.
This ignited a wave of envy among the onlookers.
Jiang Xiaobai was also quite envious, especially considering that the verses Ao Cheng recited were taught to him by Jiang Xiaobai.
However, there was nothing wrong with having a chat with pretty women. Given the choice between the companionship of the female disciples of the Jade Sect or a century's worth of cultivation, Jiang Xiaobai would choose the latter without hesitation.
