Little Yangzi, Can You Write Poetry?

The Lotus Tower was renowned among the literati and scholars of the Imperial City. For one, it had the backing of the Charm Sect. The Charm Sect was a genuine orthodox super-rank sect, and anyone capable of joining could rightfully be hailed as a beauty. Furthermore, the Charm Sect held the Lotus Tower in high esteem, treating it as an integral part of their disciples' cultivation. One could well imagine just what caliber of beauties populated the tower. Secondly, the women of the Lotus Tower were truly talented; even scholars from the Hanlin Academy might not best them. If one's writings earned the Lotus Tower's approval, one would swiftly make a name for oneself across the Imperial City. Naturally, the Immortal Fairy didn't care about any of that; she was just here to watch the excitement. Today was the Shangyuan Festival, making the Lotus Tower even livelier than usual. Inside, there was none of the heavy stench of rouge and powder typical of ordinary brothels. On the contrary, it felt more like a tranquil retreat as elegant as chrysanthemums, where cultured gentlemen and refined ladies mingled. There were also female cultivators in dazzling long dresses gliding through the air. Their broad ribbons and flowing sleeves fluttered in the breeze as they lightly strummed pipas, exuding the exotic elegance of the Buddhist Kingdom. The Immortal Fairy even spotted quite a few people she had beaten up in the Luotian Forest. Cultivation levels aside, when it came to well-rounded talents, the young scions of the Imperial City were undoubtedly second to none. From childhood, they studied both the principles of cultivation and Confucian scholarship in private academies, becoming accomplished in both the literary and martial arts. If they didn't study Confucian texts or know how to recite a few lines of classical poetry, then whenever they encountered an impressive figure in the future, all they could blurt out would be "Holy shit, that's awesome!"—which would simply be too humiliating. The Lotus Tower was a respectable establishment free of carnal dealings, so it wasn't strange in the slightest for women to visit. Meng Jingyu's curiosity was no less than the Immortal Fairy's. She gazed with both wonder and envy at the beauties, each distinct and charming in her own way. "The big sisters are all so pretty." "Are they?" The Immortal Fairy didn't feel much of anything. To her, the Charm Sect disciples looked average at best—none of them would even rank among the Ten Ancient Beauties, let alone compare to her, the very head of the Ten Ancient Beauties. "When you grow up, little girl, you'll definitely be prettier than all of them," the Immortal Fairy said earnestly. Her judgment of people was always spot-on, and she quite liked this little girl who had praised her fighting style as cool. She dotingly pinched Meng Jingyu's little nose. Meng Jingyu lowered her head, blushing, and let out a hum as faint as a mosquito's buzz. Meng Jingzhou, who had just walked in: "..." 'Wait, Senior Immortal, could you not use Lu Yang's face to say such cheesy things? It's really hard to look at.' Lu Yang, who was sparring with the Invincible Nascent Soul in the spiritual space, also paused his training and stared at the Immortal Fairy with an utterly bizarre expression. 'Fairy, do you even know the concept of propriety between men and women?' "Oh, Brother Lu has come here as well?" Luo Wushuang noticed Lu Yang arriving at the Lotus Tower. His cultivation had already returned to the early Soul Formation stage. "Lu Yang is here?" "The Lu Yang who showed off his might in the Luotian Forest?" "Where? Where is he?" The battle in the Luotian Forest had only just ended, so everyone remembered it vividly; even those who hadn't participated had heard about it. "It looks lively upstairs," the Immortal Fairy said, looking up toward the top floor of the Lotus Tower. Luo Wushuang was leaning against the railing on the highest floor, greeting them. "Why doesn't Brother Lu come up to take a look? I hear Ye Mengyin, a true disciple of the Charm Sect, has come to the Lotus Tower to cultivate. She's right on the top floor," Zhong Yi urged Lu Yang once more. The Immortal Fairy still ignored Zhong Yi, taking Meng Jingyu's little hand and walking upstairs. Meng Jingzhou raised an eyebrow, sensing that Zhong Yi was harboring ill intentions. But since the immortal wanted to go upstairs, did he dare stop her? "Brother Meng has arrived too," Luo Wushuang said, cupping his hands in greeting and inviting Meng Jingzhou and the others to take a seat at his table. Compared to when he was in the Luotian Forest, his attire at the Lotus Tower was far more refined and formal, giving his entire demeanor an air of elegance. "What's going on here?" Meng Jingzhou noticed that the top floor of the Lotus Tower was packed with literati and scholars. At the far end hung a veil of green gauze, behind which sat a female cultivator playing a zither. The notes jingled like flowing water, refreshing as a spring breeze. Luo Wushuang blinked in surprise. "Brother Meng didn't know? I thought you came for Ye Mengyin as well." Meng Jingzhou did know Ye Mengyin. She was a beauty on par with Junior Sister Tao. During the Grand Dao Ceremony, Ye Mengyin had participated as the Charm Sect's representative for the mid Golden Core stage, and her opponent had been Meng Jingzhou. Seeing that Meng Jingzhou genuinely didn't know, Luo Wushuang explained, "Ye Mengyin has only been at the Lotus Tower for half a month, yet she has already become its top belle. People spare no expense just to catch a single glimpse of her. "Yet she is a personal disciple of the Charm Sect, and she's even rumored to have the backing of Venerable Qianjiao. Why would she ever lack spirit stones? "So, Ye Mengyin set a rule: whoever writes a poem that satisfies her will be granted an audience, and she will perform a dance for them." Ye Mengyin's dancing was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also of great benefit to one's cultivation. Luo Wushuang pouted toward the seated crowd, gesturing for Meng Jingzhou to look. "And so, five days have passed, yet no one has managed to produce a poem that pleases her. "Today is the Shangyuan Festival, so Ye Mengyin requires today's poems to be related to the festival." Not everyone had come for Ye Mengyin's dance; quite a few were looking to make a name for themselves in the Imperial City. As they spoke, someone handed a finished poem to a maidservant, who then presented it to Ye Mengyin behind the green gauze. "The moon is round, the lanterns bright as day, The lantern market bustles in full sway. Laughter hides within the riddles sweet, Warm sweet dumplings make a tender treat." Ye Mengyin softly recited the poem, then resumed playing her zither. The crowd burst into laughter. It was nothing more than an ordinary piece of doggerel; how could anyone have the nerve to present it at the Lotus Tower? The person who wrote the poem fled in embarrassment. Shhhk! Zhong Yi snapped his folding fan open with force, turned to Lu Yang, and chuckled softly. "As a disciple of Daoist Buyu, Brother Lu ought to be well-versed in poetry. Why not give it a try? "Back in the day, Daoist Buyu left behind several famous masterpieces right here at the Lotus Tower." He wagered that while Lu Yang was exceptionally gifted in cultivation, he knew nothing of Confucian studies—otherwise, why had no one ever heard of it before? If Lu Yang failed to compose a poem, it would only add to the laughter and make him a laughingstock. The Immortal Fairy was bewildered. "Since when was I well-versed in poetry?" Zhong Yi was choked for words. He hadn't expected 'Lu Yang' to admit it so crisply and frankly, rendering his planned follow-up provocations completely useless. "Since Brother Lu is too timid to give it a try, why not let me have a go?" spoke a person behind Zhong Yi, casting a slightly contemptuous look at the Immortal Fairy. Only then did the Immortal Fairy notice someone following behind Zhong Yi. The Immortal Fairy pointed at him, adopting an expression of sudden realization. "Oh, I remember you! You're one of the guys I beat up in the Luotian Forest!" His combat prowess had been mediocre at best, leaving very little impression. In the spiritual space, Lu Yang helplessly explained the man's identity to the Immortal Fairy. "His name is Yang Changbin. His father is a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and he himself is a Confucian cultivator. Rumor has it that he began writing characters at three, composing poems at five, and writing essays at ten. His poetry and prose are quite famous in the Imperial City." Zhong Yi had deliberately brought Yang Changbin along to compose poetry at the Lotus Tower. Seeing Lu Yang here as well, he had planned to humiliate Lu Yang with poetry, using him as a foil before letting Yang Changbin take the stage. Unfortunately, 'Lu Yang' had seen through his scheme and hadn't taken the bait. "It's Yang Changbin!" "Damn it, why is he here too?!" Yang Changbin's fame was even greater than Lu Yang had imagined. Seeing Yang Changbin, the crowd wore dismayed expressions, as if the moment he composed a poem, he would surely win Ye Mengyin's dance. Yang Changbin smiled with confidence. Long before arriving, he had heard the topic Ye Mengyin set and had already prepared his verses. He ordered someone to bring the four treasures of the study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Wielding his brush like flying dragons and darting snakes, he wrote down a poem and asked the maidservant to carry it over. Behind the green gauze, Ye Mengyin stopped playing the zither once more. She softly recited the poem, and upon finishing, offered a rare critique: "A pity. The poem is a fine piece, but the rhetoric is far too ornate, which inadvertently renders it second-rate." The crowd roared with laughter. When they initially heard Ye Mengyin recite the poem, they had all thought it a masterpiece destined to win her favor. Who would have thought she would critique it without sparing him any face at all? Flushed with anger and shame, Yang Changbin whipped around to glare viciously at the crowd—especially at the Immortal Fairy, who was laughing the loudest. "Brother Lu laughs so heartily! You must already have a grand masterpiece in your breast. Why not write it down for us all to see?!" The Immortal Fairy scratched her head and hurriedly entered the spiritual space to seek the aid of her cheat. "Little Yangzi, do you know how to write poetry?" Lu Yang hesitated a moment. "Writing poetry is rather difficult for me, but if it's just reciting a few to hold up the facade, I do have some."