God-Level All-rounder Expert
Chapter 180 - 177, A Fierce Tiger Resides in My Heart, Gently Sniffing the Rose

Chapter 180: Chapter 177, A Fierce Tiger Resides in My Heart, Gently Sniffing the Rose

Kong Qingci had invited Fang Yi to Xuanhua Pavilion, and it wasn’t just for small talk. Upon her return, she relayed the reason to Fang Yi.

The reason Kong Qingci called Fang Yi over was primarily to introduce him to someone—Old Master Wang.

Old Master Wang, whose full name was Wang Zhuo, was a great calligraphy master. His calligraphy skills were formidable, and among his generation, he was highly respected. He had close connections with many high officials and was rumored to have acquaintances with some elders in Tianjing. His social network was very broad.

Hearing this, Fang Yi roughly understood Kong Qingci’s intention. Kong Qingci had invited Wang Zhuo over to set him up, to get to know Wang Zhuo. If he could gain Wang Zhuo’s favor, it would mean that he, Fang Yi, would also have connections.

"Miss Kong, my writing is really ugly. Introducing me to Old Master Wang won’t be of any use," Fang Yi said with a bitter smile.

Kong Qingci replied, "Even if your writing is ugly, Old Master Wang doesn’t only care about calligraphy. Old Master Wang knows some of the elders in Tianjing, and I don’t expect you to gain his favor immediately. I only hope he will remember you, and that will be enough."

Fang Yi was silent for a moment before saying, "Miss Kong, you’ve thought too much for me. You don’t have to do this."

Kong Qingci merely smiled radiantly and said, "Wealth is easy to come by, but confidants are hard to find."

Fang Yi’s expression turned slightly peculiar as he asked, "Haven’t you had friends before?"

Unexpectedly to Fang Yi, Kong Qingci actually nodded.

At that moment, the door was pulled open, and the cheongsam-clad woman who had been there before appeared and said, "Miss Kong, Old Master Wang invites you over."

Kong Qingci stood up and looked towards Fang Yi.

Since it was Kong Qingci’s kind intention, naturally, Fang Yi wouldn’t refuse.

The two proceeded to a room. The woman in the cheongsam gently opened the door, and the room immediately filled with an enticing and penetrating aroma of tea, even more intense than that of the Pu’er Tea.

In the elegant room, an old gentleman sat cross-legged, with a clean and adorable boy of about ten years old behind him.

"Old Master Wang." Kong Qingci entered, greeted with a smile, and inclined slightly in respect.

Old Master Wang waved his hand and chuckled, "Little Qingci, your grandfather was a friend of mine. You’ve often seen me; no need for so many formalities. Sit down and try the tea I’ve personally roasted. See if it matches the fragrance of your Pu’er."

Kong Qingci walked over, picked up a warm cup of tea, first smelling its aroma, then elegantly sipped it. She set down the teacup, praising, "Grandpa Wang’s tea indeed smells wonderful." Yet, she made no comparison to her own Pu’er Tea.

Wang Zhuo was obviously delighted, stroking his white beard and looking at Fang Yi, saying, "Little Qingci, this young man is..."

Kong Qingci quickly interjected, "Oh, his name is Fang Yi, and he’s a good friend of mine."

Surprise surfaced in Old Master Wang’s aged eyes as he looked at Fang Yi and said, "Fang Yi, to be called Little Qingci’s good friend, that’s a blessing you’ve cultivated over several lifetimes. Come, have a taste of this old man’s roasted tea."

Fang Yi responded and walked over. However, when he picked up the teacup and sniffed it, he didn’t drink with the elegance of Kong Qingci, but rather downed it in one gulp, looking quite uncouth.

"How could you do this, to treat the teacher’s tea with such disrespect!" The clean little boy turned red-faced, as if he wanted to rush over and give Fang Yi a beating.

Not only the little boy, but Wang Zhuo and Kong Qingci were also surprised.

Fang Yi, feeling embarrassed, smiled sheepishly and said, "I apologize, Old Master Wang, the tea reminded me of something I’ve had a long time ago and haven’t tasted in a while, so I couldn’t help myself."

Yet his words only brought another surprised reaction from Wang Zhuo, who asked, "Young man, do you know that this tea is very difficult to harvest and can only be found in a specific place? Could it be that you’ve really had it before?"

Fang Yi smiled and said, "Perhaps I’ve made a mistake. Please forgive me, Old Master Wang."

Upon hearing this, the clean little boy rolled his eyes.

Wang Zhuo waved his hand, indicating he wouldn’t mind, then Fang Yi and Kong Qingci sat down together. Wang Zhuo said, "Lad, go get the calligraphy model I brought and give it to little Qingci."

Kong Qingci felt somewhat helpless. She was already so grown up, yet Wang Zhuo still called her little Qingci.

The boy replied and took out the calligraphy model. As he unfolded it, there was the meticulously neat yet free and elegant brush writing, giving off a sense of beauty and momentum. However, as Fang Yi looked at it, he felt that compared to the sloppy old man at home, it was a bit too lacking, and he couldn’t help but frown.

Wang Zhuo noticed this detail and asked, "Fang Yi, what do you think of this old man’s writing?"

Fang Yi praised, "It’s quite good."

Yet, such words sounded as if a teacher was praising a student.

"The teacher’s writing is the best. Can you understand it?" The tidy little boy named Lad spoke very angrily, for in his heart, no one could match or compare to the teacher’s writing.

Beside them, Kong Qingci was somewhat worried. Her intention was to recommend Fang Yi to Wang Zhuo, but Fang Yi’s behavior could possibly make Wang Zhuo angry.

However, Wang Zhuo smiled and said, "Fang Yi, do you also know calligraphy?"

Fang Yi modestly replied, "An old man forced me to learn a bit in the past. The writing I do is quite ugly."

Wang Zhuo shook his head and said, "Don’t be humble. Qingci, you have paper and brush here, right? Bring them for Fang Yi." Although Wang Zhuo wasn’t angry, he was definitely somewhat displeased.

Kong Qingci bitterly smiled in her heart and had someone fetch Xuan paper and a brush, along with an inkstone and ink stick.

"Lad, grind the ink," Wang Zhuo said.

Lad, albeit very reluctantly, started to grind the ink for Fang Yi since he couldn’t disobey the teacher’s words. But he pouted, showing his childish temper.

"Mr. Wang, the characters I write really aren’t nice," Fang Yi said with a wry smile, not expecting to be pushed into this situation.

Wang Zhuo shook his head, signaling to continue.

So Fang Yi had no choice but to begin. Yet, as he picked up the brush and dipped it in the ink, he couldn’t start writing because he didn’t know what to write.

"You better write quickly! Can’t you write anything? Humph, feeling the trouble now? If you knew this would happen, why did you brag earlier?" Lad said contemptuously.

Fang Yi was at a loss for words, feeling belittled.

Suddenly, Fang Yi glanced at Kong Qingci’s gentle and beautiful face, dignified and refined, and an idea struck him. He recalled the phrase that the old man used to write in front of a photograph, and he had an idea.

The next moment, Fang Yi lifted his pen and began to write on the Xuan paper.

With each stroke and character, Fang Yi let his hand move freely, without the slightest hesitation, like flowing clouds and water, without a hint of dragging. Wang Zhuo, watching Fang Yi, narrowed his old eyes slightly, feeling a sharp and decisive aura emanating from this young man.

This aura was something he had felt before, only once from another person.

Even Lad, who had been quite dissatisfied with Fang Yi, stopped pouting and stared with wide eyes.

Picking up the pen, channeling strength, putting down the pen, all were done in one go.

Fang Yi set down the brush and smiled, "Mr. Wang, I’ve finished writing. My writing is ugly; please forgive me."

Lad immediately went over, picked up the Xuan paper, and handed it to Wang Zhuo. When Wang Zhuo saw the characters on it, his aged face suddenly turned stern.

"My heart harbors a fierce tiger, delicately sensing the rose. Excellent, excellent!" Wang Zhuo’s hands trembled with excitement.

(Please everyone, do your best to submit your recommendation tickets, Monday is very important, thank you!)