Proud Goddess Falls in Love with Me
Chapter 144 - 144 143 Book Maniac Wang Zhiqiu_1

144: Chapter 143 Book Maniac Wang Zhiqiu_1 144: Chapter 143 Book Maniac Wang Zhiqiu_1 Lu Chuan’s eyebrows raised slightly; he hadn’t expected the head of the Azure Dragon Academy to be a woman.

Having listened to Wu Daolong speak for a while, he had always assumed the head was an elderly man.

However, thinking of Gu Hongzhuang’s fondness for calligraphy, he didn’t find anything strange about it.

He smiled at Wu Daolong and said, “No wonder everyone is putting in so much effort in their calligraphy here; it seems the head’s beauty is truly exceptional.”

Wu Daolong laughed and said, “Her beauty is indeed stunning; I had the fortune to catch a glimpse of her once.

However, the head is already in her forties.

Although she maintains herself like a woman in her twenties, she has ultimately passed her most beautiful age.

Otherwise, not only people from the world of arts would be drawn here.”

Lu Chuan nodded and said, “Let’s also quickly write a piece and have it sent in, lest there be no paper left by the time we’re done.”

Having said that, the two approached a table.

Lu Chuan picked up a brush from the table and wrote down four large characters: “Green Mountains and Clear Waters.”

Wu Daolong looked on curiously, wondering why Lu Chuan was so confident that the writing he produced would surely catch the academy head’s attention.

One could see Lu Chuan’s calligraphy flow like clouds and water, bold and majestic.

Though it was just writing, with each stroke, it was as if a beautiful landscape had sprung to life on the paper.

After finishing, Lu Chuan turned his head and asked Wu Daolong, “How’s my writing?”

Wu Daolong nodded and said, “It’s quite distinctive, but I don’t feel it’s better than what I wrote.

Are you sure the head will fancy your writing?”

With a look of helplessness, Lu Chuan patted Wu Daolong’s shoulder and said, “No wonder your writing doesn’t catch anyone’s eye; it seems you still have much to improve in calligraphy.”

After speaking, he signed his name on the paper and handed it to a student arranged by the Azure Dragon Academy to be there.

Next, he would need to wait for the head to review the calligraphy and have someone come out to notify him.

“The head of the Azure Dragon Academy stipulates that each day, only one guest is permitted to visit the academy, and this guest can bring along two friends.

Once someone’s calligraphy catches the head’s eye on that day, the tables will be taken away, and even if more people write afterwards, the head won’t review them anymore,” Wu Daolong explained to Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan smiled and said, “Then we’re quite lucky; no one has produced a piece that caught the head’s liking today.”

At that moment, the place not far away suddenly erupted into a commotion.

Many people turned to look in the distance, their faces showing surprise.

“Look quick, it’s the Calligraphy Maniac, Wang Zhiqiu!”

“My heavens, Wang Zhiqiu has also come to the Azure Dragon Academy.

There’s no point in us writing anything; it’s definitely a lost cause today!”

“Bad luck strikes today.

I thought I had acquired some skills by imitating Master Qingyun’s work, but I am far behind the Calligraphy Maniac.

It’s inevitable that I’ll get no chance today.”

…

Lu Chuan followed the gazes of the crowd and saw an old man, past his fifties with graying hair and a scholarly aura, approaching.

A few students followed the elder; each wore a face full of pride, clearly regarding it as an honor to be taken under Wang Zhiqiu’s wing.

Seeing Wang Zhiqiu arriving, Wu Daolong’s brow furrowed, and he said, “Why has Wang Zhiqiu come too?

This makes it harder for us to enter the Azure Dragon Academy.”

Lu Chuan asked, “Is he that impressive?”

Wu Daolong said, “He is considered the top person in Qingyang City’s calligraphy circle, with the title of Calligraphy Maniac.

His reputation isn’t limited to Qingyang City but extends across the calligraphy circles nationwide.”

“His expertise and research in calligraphy have reached the Transcendent Realm.

A single piece of his writing can sell for millions.

We certainly can’t compete with him; it looks like we can only come back here tomorrow.”

Lu Chuan smiled slightly, apparently unconcerned.

“Make way, haven’t you seen my teacher coming?

Don’t get in the way and disturb my teacher’s performance!” one of Wang Zhiqiu’s students declared forcefully.

Nobody dared to delay, and they quickly made room for Wang Zhiqiu and his entourage.

Wang Zhiqiu approached a table, picked up a brush, and with a powerful and graceful motion, quickly wrote four large characters: “Beauty beyond compare.”

Lu Chuan almost laughed aloud upon seeing these characters, thinking to himself that this old man must also be here for the academy head’s beauty.

After finishing, with a trace of arrogance on his face, Wang Zhiqiu said, “Take this piece in for the head’s critique.”

The students of the Azure Dragon Academy hurried to take the writing inside the academy.

Many people who saw Wang Zhiqiu’s writing were filled with admiration and envy.

“Indeed worthy of the Calligraphy Maniac; that piece just now was absolutely breathtaking, beyond an ordinary person’s reach,” they remarked.

“Alas, seeing that writing, I knew I had no hope; it’s simply not on the same level.”

“Disperse, disperse, staying here won’t give you any more chances.

The one invited to visit Azure Dragon Academy today must definitely be the book maniac.”

…

Many left with their heads hung low, as staying here was just a waste of time.

Wu Daolong sighed and said to Lu Chuan, “Let’s go too.

It’s certain we can’t get in today.”

Lu Chuan didn’t move and said, “Don’t rush.

The academy hasn’t announced the results yet.

It won’t be too late to leave after the announcement.”

Wu Daolong wanted to say that today’s outcome was already clear and it would definitely be Wang Zhiqiu, but he didn’t want to directly discourage Lu Chuan, so he had to agree, “Alright, then let’s wait a little longer.”

Before long, the crowd in front of Azure Dragon Academy had cleared out, leaving only Lu Chuan, Wu Daolong, and Wang Zhiqiu’s group.

Wu Daolong felt noticeably awkward and said to Lu Chuan, “Do we really need to keep waiting?

I think we could come back tomorrow.”

Lu Chuan said indifferently, “Wait.”

Wu Daolong was helpless and said no more.

At that moment, one of Wang Zhiqiu’s disciples glanced at the two of them and said in a condescending tone, “You two can leave now.

Haven’t you seen that everyone else has had the good sense to leave?

The one visiting Azure Dragon Academy today will definitely be my teacher.

You won’t have a chance!”

Lu Chuan looked at the person and said, “I disagree.”

The student immediately became infuriated and stared at Lu Chuan, saying, “What do you mean by that?

Do you think you’re better than my teacher?

Have you not heard of the book maniac’s reputation?”

Lu Chuan sneered and replied, “If the so-called book maniac’s disciples are all as uncouth as you, I doubt his skills could be all that high.”

Upon hearing this, several of Wang Zhiqiu’s disciples were instantly bristling with anger.

“Who do you think you are, to casually judge our teacher here!”

“Ignorant fool, our teacher is a hundred streets ahead of you in calligraphy; only a half-baked amateur like yourself would dare utter such words!”

“You must be some country bumpkin, right?

I’d advise you to go and learn about the book maniac’s reputation before you consider repeating those words!”

…

Wu Daolong furrowed his brows, unable to comprehend why Lu Chuan insisted on provoking the book maniac’s disciples, but he didn’t say anything, just sighed helplessly.

Wang Zhiqiu glanced at Lu Chuan and said coolly, “Alright, stop wasting time with this ignorant child.

If the Dean of Azure Dragon Academy sees this, he’ll laugh at us.”

One student glared at Lu Chuan and said, “If it weren’t for our teacher’s magnanimity, today we would have made certain you understood your place!”

Lu Chuan sneered and ignored the group of uncouth individuals.

A short while passed.

A student from Azure Dragon Academy ran out.

“The Dean is inviting a guest to visit the academy today!”

Wang Zhiqiu straightened up immediately, his face lighting up with excitement, for he knew that the person the Dean of Azure Dragon Academy wanted to invite was surely himself.

His disciples also looked delighted.

“I told you, my teacher’s works would undoubtedly impress the Dean of Azure Dragon Academy.

Today we get to bask in his glory and visit the academy too.”

“Of course, in all of Qingyang City, probably only our teacher has the skill level to visit the academy on his first try.”

One student sneered at Lu Chuan, saying, “Just look, two fools still waiting here without any self-awareness, really thinking they can outdo our teacher.

Ridiculous!”

Wu Daolong felt very embarrassed and tugged at Lu Chuan, saying, “Lu Chuan, the results are out, let’s go.”

Lu Chuan shook his head and said, “What’s the rush?

Let’s see who the Dean wants to invite.”

Wu Daolong’s face showed resignation, thinking you’re just too proud to accept defeat, it will be even worse when they announce who it is, making us lose more face.

Then, the student from Azure Dragon Academy approached them, surprised to see so few people left at the gate.

One of Wang Zhiqiu’s disciples stepped forward, saying, “You must be here to invite our teacher, right?

We will accompany our teacher inside.”

Wang Zhiqiu readied himself to enter Azure Dragon Academy, a smug look on his face as he was about to step forward.

The student from Azure Dragon Academy gave Wang Zhiqiu’s group a look and said, “You all wait a moment.”

He turned to Lu Chuan and Wu Daolong and asked, “May I know which of you is Mr.

Lu Chuan?

Is he still here?”