Chapter 9: Couplet

Chapter 9: Couplet

Next to the pavilion’s door, there was an old man in a gray robe, his head full of white hair, leisurely swinging a paper fan with his eyes closed. Upon hearing the commotion, he opened his eyes and sneered, “You’re quite persistent. Clearly, you don’t have the ability to enter, yet you come here every day. Aren’t you tired?”

“Oh, brought a helper this time?” The white-haired old man noticed Qin Feng behind Cang Feilan. He was about to mock them but seemed to notice something, his eyes widening. He abruptly sat up from the wicker chair.

“Such a thing... Boy, what’s your name?”

This person is so rude. He even called me a kid. Why am I kid?

Qin Feng frowned. “Elder, if you want to know someone’s name, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”

Cang Feilan looked at Qin Feng, her eyes seemed to say, “I didn’t expect you to be so bold.”

The white-haired old man was also taken aback but then chuckled, “I’ve lived for so long. You’re the second person who dares to speak to me this way. Young man, listen carefully. My surname is Baili. As for my full name, I won’t tell you. It won’t be beneficial for you to know.”

Damn, why is this old man so arrogant? And that look in Miss Cang’s eyes, did I accidentally offend some big shot?

Qin Feng swallowed hard and immediately changed his tone to be respectful. “Elder, forgive my earlier disrespect. My name is Qin Feng, just a scholar.”

“Qin Feng.” The old man muttered, his eyes full of meaning. After a moment, he reclined back on the wicker chair.

“The rules remain the same. If you can come up with the second line of the couplet, I’ll let you in.” The old man fanned himself, saying calmly.

“Please give us the first line,” Cang Feilan said after contemplating for a moment. Her tone didn’t sound very confident.

With a light tap of his index finger, Baili, the old man, didn’t take long before a blank scroll flew out from the pavilion, landing gently in front of Cang Feilan.

Qin Feng was curious, so he lowered his head to look. Written on the blank scroll was: “Heaven is the chessboard, stars are the pieces. Who dares to make a move!”

Wow, that’s quite audacious. Did they chew some Extra gum or something?

Qin Feng was familiar with this first line. In his previous life, he had been a top student. This couplet was originally crafted by Minister Li of the Ming Dynasty to mock the Grand Secretary Jie Jin, displaying grandeur and boldness.

He just didn’t expect that someone in this world could come up with the same first line.

Baili, the white-haired old man, continued to leisurely fan himself. “It’s not that I look down on you, but even if ten more like you come, you still won’t be able to answer this second line.”

This old man’s mouth is so venomous. If I had practiced martial arts, I would definitely beat him up. Qin Feng clenched his left fist. He forced a smile and said, “What if I can answer it?”

“In that case, I’ll let both of you in together.”

“It’s a deal!” Qin Feng waved his sleeve, then asked, “Do you have ink and brush?”

“Why not?” Baili pointed his finger lightly, and instantly, a blank scroll flew out from the pavilion. A brush, soaked in ink, followed.

Qin Feng took the brush, spread the scroll in front of him, and held the brush in mid-air. However, something strange happened. He knew the second line, but his hand holding the brush seemed to have a mind of its own and refused to move.

What’s going on? I know what the second line is, but my hand seems to be disobedient and won’t write it down!

Baili squinted, thinking that Qin Feng couldn’t come up with the answer. He said, “Young man, you don’t know your own limits.”

How can I endure this?! Qin Feng widened his eyes, clenched his teeth, and his right hand’s veins bulged. The brush, which had been hesitant, finally started to move.

At the same time, in his Sea of Knowledge, the waterfall of Literature Qi began to churn, turning into a stream and flowing into the brush tip.

The pressure on his fingertips suddenly decreased, and he continued writing at a rapid pace. When the seventh character was written, it felt as if his hand was holding a massive boulder.

Drip, drip.

Blood dripped from his fingertips. Baili saw this and hurriedly shouted, “Kid, stop writing! With your current abilities, you can’t bear it!”

Ignoring Baili, Qin Feng shouted, and the Literature Qi in his Sea of Knowledge erupted like a volcanic eruption, surging into the brush tip. His finger’s pressure suddenly decreased, and he continued writing rapidly.

When the last character of the couplet was completed, a white pillar shot up into the sky from the scroll.

Qin Feng felt as if all the strength in his body had been sucked away, and he sat down helplessly. At this moment, he felt as if his entire right arm didn’t belong to him anymore.

Baili moved quickly, appearing in front of the scroll. His face was filled with shock.

“The earth is the body of a pipa, and the roads are its strings. Who can play it?”