My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 242 - 197: You Promised to Take Me to Seek the Unusual

Chapter 242: Chapter 197: You Promised to Take Me to Seek the Unusual

The crowd was taken aback and looked around to locate the source of the voice.

The person who had spoken was none other than Du Yifu, beaming with a radiant smile.

Zhao Rong glanced at Du Yifu’s smiling face, the corners of his mouth curving slightly as he spoke, "Brother Du, what brings you here?"

Du Yifu stepped forward a few paces and, instead of answering immediately, turned his head to survey the people around him. Then, with a sudden burst of laughter, he turned back to Zhao Rong, saying,

"Brother Zhao, you really are impressive. Listening to your and Fairy Zhao’s conversation just now, it sounds like you’ve composed a poem about the State of No Self and also outwitted a Daoist gentleman. It really does inspire admiration in your elder brother here..."

Zhao Rong slightly pursed his lips and raised his hand to interrupt, "Brother Du, just say what you want to say, please. Qing Jun and I have matters to attend to."

Du Yifu’s smile stiffened for a moment before returning to its former glory. He chuckled and went straight to the point, "I would like to see that poem you wrote about the State of No Self. Hehe, but of course, your fairy, Fairy Zhao, probably doesn’t have it on her... right?"

He paused for a while, observing the expressions of Zhao Rong and Lingfei, and seeing no indication that they were about to produce the poem or start speaking, Du Yifu felt even more certain about a hunch he had. His smile grew even brighter as he let out a slight sigh.

"Well, it’s quite normal not to bring it, no worries. However, Brother Zhao, since you’re so capable, could you do us a favor? Fairy Liu’s spontaneous creation lacks but a single word. Just now, none of us could correct it, leaving a not-so-small regret at today’s Nuanyi Gathering. Brother Zhao, with your overflowing talent, will surely get it right without effort. Could you spare a moment to become Fairy Liu’s one-word teacher? You would not only help Fairy Liu resolve her dilemma, but you’d also be doing us all a great favor."

Having spoken, Du Yifu’s eyes fixed intently on Zhao Rong.

The participants of the gathering looked at each other.

Being shrewd individuals, they all understood the meaning hidden within Du Yifu’s words.

Show us if you’re a mule or a horse by taking a walk up there; don’t just talk the talk. Don’t just put on a show and leave. Show us some real skill.

The previously quiet gathering was suddenly filled with noise as people began murmuring amongst themselves, and the scholars who had come with Du Yifu echoed his sentiments, with many residence students also voicing their support.

"Yes, Master Zhao, please do us all a favor."

"It’s just the matter of changing one word; Master Zhao should be able to do it with ease."

"Indeed, please take the trouble, Master Zhao."

Liu Kongyi had initially frowned slightly when she saw Du Yifu step forward to speak.

The fact that Master Zhao had won the challenge against Teacher Tao should be true. Setting aside whether the East Coming Purple Energy Lingfei presented to support Master Zhao’s performance was worth it or not, Teacher Tao was in Taiching Prefecture and could be questioned at any time. Even though Teacher Tao might not entertain the inquiry, the likelihood of a lie was small. At most, Master Zhao had embellished the debate on Confucianism and Daoism, and his victory was slightly exaggerated.

Therefore, Liu Kongyi was somewhat displeased with Du Yifu’s interruption, but upon hearing that Zhao Rong was expected to be her one-word teacher, she became somewhat expectant.

Her clear and bright eyes stared at Zhao Rong amidst the cheers of the crowd, looking forward to his correction.

After hearing Du Yifu’s words, Zhao Rong exchanged glances with Qing Jun.

Judging by the look in his beloved’s eyes, it seemed that the poem "Shangye" was indeed on her person.

He did not wait for Qing Jun’s eyes to show hesitation or inquiry; he simply shook his head.

Why would I show the love poem I wrote for Qing Jun to you?

Zhao Rong pursed his lips, turned his head to look at the main table not far away, where the ink wash paper was being spread out again by Lvzhu and another Red Carp girl. He hadn’t wanted to show off meaninglessly as he had just now, but now when people had pushed him so brazenly, he wasn’t the type to be easily manipulated.

Zhao Rong glanced at Du Yifu’s beaming face, remained silent for a moment, shrugged his shoulders lightly, and the next second, he let go of Qing Jun’s hand that he had been holding, ready to go forward and scribble in a word casually.

However, in an instant, the hand he had just released was grasped again by someone.

Zhao Rong was pulled back.

Lingfei’s smile was as radiant as flowers, looking up at him, "Big Brother Rong’er, you promised to take me to seek out hidden beauties, let’s go!"

Zhao Rong was briefly stunned, gazing at the woman pulling him by his hand to move forward, just like she used to when she coaxed him out to play hooky as a child.

Zhao Rong felt the strength of Qing Jun’s grip on his hand.

He understood her little ploy.

Zhao Rong looked down at their hands clasped together, which were actually three, since Qingyi had also materialized a small hand and joined Qing Jun in pulling him.

It was like a child and his mother ...

Zhao Rong was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. In an instant, he moved, striding forward, surpassing Qing Jun, swapping places so that he was now pulling her and Qingyi along. Leaving everyone at the gathering behind, they marched into the bamboo forest without looking back, in search of secluded beauty.

The once noisy gathering fell silent in an instant.

Just like that, they left?

Everyone looked at each other once again in bewilderment.

Du Yifu had already felt uneasy under Zhao Rong’s gaze; his heart throbbed nervously. When Zhao Rong had been about to change the word, Du Yifu had instantly clenched his teeth. But now, seeing Zhao Rong take Lingfei and leave directly, Du Yifu’s eyes widened, and the corners of his mouth curled in a sneer, "Huh, leaving so soon? Is Brother Zhao feeling guilty?"

Many people at the gathering began to grow doubtful about certain matters that had just occurred.

Liu Kongyi, watching Zhao Rong’s retreating figure, slowly let her eyelids droop, displaying a look of disappointment. She shook her head slightly, standing there with pursed lips, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Du Yifu walked over to her with a beaming smile.

By the main table at the center of the gathering.

Just as Green Pearl had received a sign from the person in charge, she hurriedly joined another companion to spread out the used calligraphy paper again.

However, no sooner had they smoothed out the paper and pressed it down with a paperweight than an unexpected change occurred at the gathering.

Green Pearl looked up, her round eyes fixed in the direction Zhao Rong had left, blinked, and wondered, why did that phony simpleton run off?

She pursed her lips slightly and sighed softly, then reached for the bowl of clear water on the table, ready to clean up once more.

But, as her hand carrying the bowl passed over the calligraphy paper, it suddenly stopped.

The round-faced girl’s thick eyebrows shot up, and as she examined the lyrics below the bowl that no amount of revising could make excellent, she mumbled a few words to herself.

Then, Green Pearl took action.

The bowl she had been carrying was put back down, and with her fingertip moistened with clear water, she washed away the character "sui" that felt out of place in the verse.

This happened beside the main table, which was momentarily free of attention.

Green Pearl rolled up her sleeves and picked up the brush to apply ink.

Her companion, who had been ready to pack up, saw this and exclaimed in surprise, "Green Pearl, what are you doing?"

Green Pearl hummed a response, joking as she shook her head, "Writing a verse worthy of praise."

Without further ado, she penned a new character.

And so, the world gained another verse that soared into the State of No Self.

At the Nuanyi Gathering, at the central main table, in a flash, a tableful of flower shadows bloomed.

Moonlight, from an unknown source, spilled over the flowers, casting a tableau of shadows upon the table—shadows that danced with the flowers, as if the flowers were playing with the shadows!

This sudden phenomenon immediately captured everyone’s attention.

People hastened towards the main table, crowding around it closely.

Even Du Yifu, who had approached Liu Kongyi intending to offer gentle consolation, slowly turned back around.

Gazing upon the tableful of flower shadows, he was bemused after a few seconds of confusion.

And Liu Kongyi, who had been about to take her leave early from the gathering, widened her eyes in a flash, and the next second, she rushed to the table. She leaned forward with her hands braced on the tabletop, her eyes conveying sheer disbelief.

Like her, many others crowded around the main table, their eyes transfixed on the verse that had suddenly achieved the State of No Self. Under their collective gaze, searching unconsciously for some answer, their focus gradually converged on the round-faced girl standing with a brush at the table.

At that moment, Green Pearl paid no heed to the surrounding changes; she stared blankly at the verse on the paper that had ascended to excellence with just one added character.

The stunned maiden recited to herself:

"Listening to the water’s melody while holding wine, awakening from an afternoon’s drunkenness to unresolved sorrows. When will spring return after its departure? Before the dawn’s mirror, I lament the fleeting scenery, with profound nostalgia for what’s past... On the sand, birds in tandem, darkness falls by the pond, clouds disperse and the moon rises, the flowers toy with shadows... the flowers toy with shadows... Behind layers of curtains, dimly lit by a concealed lamp, with unpredictable breezes and a stillness setting in, should the fallen petals tomorrow... fill the path."

Liu Kongyi, Du Yifu, and others remained silently fixated on the spectacle atop the table.

A certain world emerged upon the paper.

The night was draped in darkness, clouds filled the sky, and in the dimly lit garden, a lone figure wandered, hesitant among the flowers, lingering. How could one admire this moonless, flowerless night? The figure was troubled, and just at that moment, as if by chance, the wind arose, dispersing the thick clouds, allowing the moonlight to pierce through. The flowers, already dancing with the wind, now played with their shadows under the moon’s gaze.

This scene before Liu Kongyi made her heart quiver, for she had spent the day in melancholy, waking up to seek the lost hues of spring, yet all was devoured by the night, leaving only darkness. Suddenly, in an instant, the moonlight shone, and the flower shadows mingled.

It was upon seeing this evanescent exuberance of spring as she was about to depart in disappointment that she came upon the inspiration for "Heavenly Immortal."

Liu Kongyi stared intently at the lone altered character "ning" on the paper—the very character that illuminated the phrase "flowers toy with shadows," elevating the entire verse and crystallizing her subtle feminine emotions of that moment.

Liu Kongyi murmured the line over and over, her eyes growing brighter with each recital.

Li Jinsu, who had arrived earlier, let out a long sigh, moved to say, "The phrase ’flowers toy with shadows’ hints at a breeze stirring the flowering trees; indirectly portraying the wind, and the flower shadows vividly charming. Just by the addition of this ’ning,’ the entire realm is revealed."

With but a single character, the entire verse blossomed into the State of No Self.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Green Pearl, their gazes filled with astonishment.

Green Pearl slowly snapped back to reality, suddenly aware of the strange looks being cast her way. She shook her body and vigorously waved her arms.

"It wasn’t me, not me. This word was suggested by Master Zhao Rong who just left."

In that instant, the atmosphere turned as heavy as if the air had solidified.

Color drained from Du Yifu’s face.

Liu Kongyi pursed her lips, her eyes resting on the "ning" word Zhao Rong had altered. She mused aloud after a long moment.

"Absolutely stunning."

——————

PS: Wow, what an ending. Next, let’s add something else, and then we’ll start a new thread.