In Quzhou, all nine talents simultaneously raised their heads, their faces pale. Mr. Lei was also sweating profusely.
He had received instructions from a noble in the capital to cooperate with all of Zhang Xiu's actions.
The courtesan resigned from the building, completely transformed by Lin Jialiang's exquisite poem.
A poetry gathering had propelled Lin Su to an extraordinary rise, gaining colorful fame, and the Holy Ones directly bestowed him a literary root.
On their side, it was an utter defeat!
A defeat to the extreme!
Zhang Xiu's literary path was broken. Once the literary path was broken, it meant his entire life's path was obstructed!
This was the greatest punishment for a literati, truly worse than death!
If an ordinary person's literary path was broken, there might be a solution. They could seek elixirs or medicines from Daoist sects or high-ranking members of the demon race, revive their literary root, and rebuild their literary path. However, Zhang Xiu's literary path was broken by the Holy Ones. Who dared to mend it for him? Who could mend it for him?
"What? I'm just stating a fact. Everything is the decision of the Holy Teacher. Any objections?"
"You..." Zhang Xiu spurted blood from his mouth. He wished he could devour Lin Su but ultimately didn't dare to say anything.
The others looked at Lin Su's smiling face and suddenly felt a chill.
Zhang Xiu was an outstanding figure among the younger generation. In the sudden turn of events, he accurately seized this young man's vulnerability, used the excuse of "anti-poetry," pushed him to the brink, and made his companions admire him to death.
At that time, everyone in the restaurant had a premonition that the Lin family was completely done for.
But this young man unexpectedly turned the tables against the wind and cleverly transformed Zhang Xiu's accusation into the Holy Ones' most abhorred "breaking of the literary path," gaining a heap of benefits for himself while also using the Holy Ones to completely ruin Zhang Xiu.
This young man was too terrifying!
Now, he revealed a smile in front of them. He seemed friendly, but was he still digging a pit? As soon as they jumped in, would they meet the same fate as Zhang Xiu?
Let's go!
Those in the front row simultaneously showed a glint in their eyes.
The beautiful woman holding the ancient zither also stood up, slowly walking towards Lin Su. Lin Su suddenly felt that everything around him, full of chaotic noises, disappeared in an instant. He seemed to be in a fairy palace, with only him and the beautiful woman left in the world.
The beautiful woman raised her hand, took off one of her earrings, and tossed it to Lin Su, accompanying it with a poetic and endless statement:
"I give you a golden bead, accompanying me through a lifetime of ups and downs!"
Great! Lin Su reached out to catch the earring...
Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang in his ears: "Hey! Evil creature..."
With a bang, the illusion in front of Lin Su disappeared, and the restaurant reappeared. A tall and powerful figure stood in front of him. The beautiful woman with the zither was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a zither spinning on the corridor, slowly falling down.
"Master Baoshan!"
The innkeeper of Haining Tower bowed deeply.
Everyone in the hall also exclaimed, "Master Baoshan."
Lin Su looked at this sturdy figure with some confusion. Was he really a master? Wasn't he a butcher? This figure, this momentum, this beard circling from the front to the back, it was a pity if he wasn't a butcher.
Master Baoshan slowly turned around.
Lin Su saw his front side. Thick eyebrows, big eyes, a tangled beard—looking at his appearance, he truly matched the temperament of a butcher. However, he was dressed in scholarly attire...
"Young man, do you know you just narrowly avoided the path of the fox demon?"
Fox demon?
Lin Su's eyes widened.
"Look!" Master Baoshan raised his hand, holding a golden bead. On the bead, a fox shadow was slowly dissipating.
The innkeeper of the restaurant exclaimed, "The zither-carrying lady is a fox demon? My apologies, my apologies, I was oblivious..."
The young people who hadn't left the restaurant were also shocked. The beautiful girl who had quietly stirred their young hearts with her zither playing, seated in front of them earlier, turned out to be a member of the demon race?
Lin Su frowned, "Why would she target me? I haven't offended her."
"She's interested in your talent and plans to have a romantic encounter with you, absorbing your essence."
What? A romantic encounter? Lin Su asked, "Will I die?"
"No, but you'll be utterly exhausted."
Damn! Who wouldn't be tired after a romantic encounter?
Is this kind of fatigue something every man likes and is willing to endure?
Why spoil such a good thing? This old man jumps out, making a fuss unnecessarily.
Even more outrageous was that he was there, looking pleased with himself, waiting for Lin Su to express gratitude.
Lin Su glanced at this, glanced at that, cursing the damn feudal etiquette in his heart. He bowed to Master Baoshan, "Thank you, sir, for your assistance..."
"The Master said, empty thanks are like insulting people," Baoshan said with a smiling face, "Lin Third Young Master, a mere empty thanks won't do!"
If this were the modern Lin Su, perhaps he would jump eight feet high and say, "Do you want a dog's face? You've disrupted my rare stroke of luck. Do you want me to give you money? I'm being generous by not fighting you..."
But in the old society, he still had to show respect to his elders, "What do you want?"
"Poetry!"
Several people who had already reached the entrance of the restaurant stopped simultaneously.
Master Baoshan was indeed a man of letters! Simultaneously, he was a renowned poet known for his carefree and unrestrained character. Such a person wouldn't bother with ordinary poetry. Asking him for a poem was unheard of.
Master Baoshan said, "Compose a poem with your sword, leaving behind a colorful masterpiece. If you can write about wine as well, what kind of masterpiece can you produce?"
With a loud bang, everyone in the entire restaurant became excited...
Will Young Master Lin write poetry again?
If he writes another masterpiece, it would be the biggest event in the literary world today, witnessing the birth of a poem that will be passed down through the ages. How fortunate!
This excitement was from the literati and scholars.
The innkeeper was even more excited because, after all, wine was the brightest signboard of the restaurant. If a masterpiece about wine appeared in the restaurant, wouldn't Haining Tower become famous throughout the world?
It must be said that people who run restaurants have the most sensitive noses. He reached out, grabbed the person next to him, and quickly brought the best wine...
In an instant, eight maids entered each carrying a bowl of wine, forming a large circle around Lin Su.
Lin Su's expression changed, "What do you mean by this?"
In modern Miao customs, there's a tradition of drinking a door-blocking wine during weddings. Could it be that this custom had crossed through time and space to this world? Was he not allowed to leave if he didn't drink? If he had to drink all this wine, he would have to walk out horizontally...
The innkeeper laughed, "Third Young Master Lin's literary talent is extraordinary. Haining Tower is willing to add more praise for the young master. This wine is for the young master's enjoyment..."
"Enough, do you need to be so sour?" The innkeeper's face twitched...
"Alright, alright, can I write a poem? Just don't force me to drink..."
Everyone's faces twitched...
The innkeeper was delighted, but his face turned bitter...
A beautiful woman took the lead, placing a tray with ink and paper in front of Lin Su...
Lin Su picked up the pen and turned his head to look at Master Baoshan, "Before I start, I have a question for Master Baoshan. You just said... 'The Master said, empty thanks are like insulting people.' Where does this come from in classical literature? It feels strange to me, as if it doesn't match the style of classical sayings."
Yeah, yeah, the scholars all felt the same...
Master Baoshan said, "If it doesn't match the style of classical sayings, that's right. This was said by a friend of mine. He's a businessman named Li Jinzi!"
Everyone's faces twitched...
Because his name was Li Jinzi, anything he said became a saying...
Lin Su was completely speechless. Okay, okay, I won't ask. I'll write poetry!
The pen fell!
"Grapes, fine wine, night, and luminous cups..."
As the first line of the poem emerged, three bright lights!
Everyone's breath held at the same time. Oh my, another miracle is happening...
"Desiring to drink, the Green Bell urges..."
Dazzling silver light, within which the "Green Bell" war drum sounded. The iron cavalry appeared faintly, in the silent and wonderful night, a great change unfolded...
"Lying drunk on the battlefield, do not laugh, how many people return from ancient battles?"
Suddenly, a seven-colored glow covered the entire restaurant. On the river outside, it seemed to echo with a fierce battle, majestic and mournful, yet a hint of wine fragrance penetrated...
Lin Su's pen suddenly stopped. The just-formed poem fell into Master Baoshan's hands. He lifted the poem with his left hand, and with his right hand, he drew a huge "boat" in the air, transforming it into a ship, which fell into the river, breaking the waves and leaving behind a line, "This is your token of thanks. I accept it, haha..."
"Old man! This is the property of the restaurant, leave it!" Suddenly, a roar came from the top of the restaurant. With a swoosh, a figure flew through the air and appeared on the roof, directly above Master Baoshan. A sword light slashed towards Master Baoshan.
Wow! Lin Su's eyes widened. Who is this person? A sword immortal?
Master Baoshan raised his hand, and a large seal suddenly appeared in the air. The seal was dense like a huge net, and the sword light was ground down in the net. But the net was also ground down by the sword light. The two disappeared at the same time, and Master Baoshan and another old man stood face to face on the river.
"Ding Hai, do you have no shame? Clearly, this is the kid repaying me, and you dare to snatch it?" Baoshan said.
"This is clearly named after the wine in this building."
"Absurd, if it's named after the wine in the building, the poem should belong to you. Then, if he names it after your daughter, does your daughter belong to him?"
"Sure!"
What? Baoshan was surprised.
Lin Su's eyes widened. These two old guys are speaking straightforwardly!
The topic changed, and Ding Hai said, "Baoshan, the poem is named after the wine, naturally, it should belong to the restaurant. You have no use for it. You only love wine and don't sell it. How about we make a deal? Give the poem to me, and I promise you top-notch wine for ten years, free of charge!"
Top-notch wine for ten years, free of charge?
This precisely struck the vital point of a wine enthusiast's life!
"On the contrary! If you don't give me face today, I'll make sure that all the restaurants under me won't sell you wine. Throughout Quzhou, you won't be able to buy a drop of wine..." Ding Hai added a fierce threat.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Baoshan, a renowned figure in the literary world.
Ding Hai, a business giant, also a high-ranking cultivator. They actually fought to such an extent over a poem.
Baoshan shook his head like a drum, "Ding Hai, wise men don't play tricks. I will never give you this poem! But... but let's discuss another way..."
What way?
They said something, and Lin Su didn't know what it was, but the two old men returned side by side from the river. Their eyes shimmered as they looked at him. Lin Su became a bit wary. What do these two old guys mean? Why do I feel like they're plotting against me?
"Third Young Master, look at how things have escalated..." Ding Hai lightly rubbed his hands in front of him. "Baoshan and I have been friends for twenty years. Because of your poem, we've become enemies. You're a straightforward person, and I'm sure you don't want to see this scene, right?"
Lin Su blinked, "Actually... how should I put it? I quite want to see it." This was true. A showdown between two masters, one in literature and one in cultivation, would be so exciting. You can't even see this in movies or TV shows.
Damn! Why aren't you following the script?
Ding Hai choked...
Lin Su rolled his eyes. I knew you two old guys were secretly talking, no good can come out of it. Sure enough, they both targeted me!
"Mr. Baoshan, you are an esteemed senior in literary arts. You should know that poetic sentiments require cultivation. Writing one poem a day, let alone three, is quite challenging..."
Exactly, exactly! Baoshan nodded.
Everyone on the periphery nodded as well.
They were all afraid of Lin Su. If he really went for three consecutive victories in one day, it would be very demoralizing and make scholars around the world doubt their lives.
Fortunately, this monster finally had a moment of lack of poetic talent.
Ding Hai seized the opportunity: "I'm not asking Third Young Master to write it now. As long as Third Young Master agrees, there's no rush. Even ten days or half a month is fine."
Lin Su hesitated.
Seizing the moment, Ding Hai continued, "If Third Young Master has any conditions, feel free to speak!"
Conditions? Hehe, this is what I've been waiting for!
Lin Su raised his eyes, staring at the precious ink and paper that had just been used...
Ding Hai, being such a shrewd person, immediately spoke up, "One stick of Sacred Incense, two top-grade treasure pens, and ten sheets of precious paper, all given to Third Young Master!"
In the tavern, a beautiful woman appeared with a tray in her hands. On the tray were a stick of Sacred Incense, two top-grade treasure pens, and ten sheets of precious paper.
The scholars on the periphery all had golden glints in their eyes.
All these items were treasures in the eyes of scholars, things that couldn't be bought even if you wanted to, and they were being given away for free!
Man compares with man, truly infuriating. In this instant, the dilapidated Lin family seemed to have returned to its glorious moment...