Chapter 136: Everybody look up at the sky, there's a flying machine!

Everyone's attention was drawn by Chen Xiang's movement.

Young Master Wang glared over with a cold expression, sneering, "What? Does Brother Chu find something wrong with my poem? I'd appreciate it if Brother Chu could offer some pointers!"

The others also sneered. Even Madam Xiao had said there was nothing wrong with this poem—could his standards possibly be higher than Madam Xiao's?

"Ah, no, no, Brother Wang is exceptionally talented. I have no issues, haha." Chen Xiang wiped a tea stain from the corner of his mouth and gave a dry laugh.

"Hmph." Young Master Wang let out a cold snort and ignored him completely.

Only Madam Xiao felt nothing. Whether Young Master Chu possessed true literary talent was unknown to her, nor did she care about such matters; she only wished for her daughter to be happy, which was why she wouldn't let Young Master Chu be embarrassed today.

Young Master Zhang hurriedly chimed in, "Madam Xiao, your nephew has also composed a verse, which I beg you to critique."

Madam Xiao nodded.

Young Master Zhang gave a slight cough and slowly chanted:

"Two or three inches of water rise and surge,
A purple-clay moon pot pours two hairs of tea.
Who holds the fragrant brew to pass around on all sides?
It only makes the bitter spring flag stir one's heart!"

"A fine poem! A truly fine poem!"

"Young Master Zhang's poem seems even better than Young Master Wang's."

"Young Master Zhang's poem was composed based on the Spring Flag tea. Although Spring Flag tea tastes bitter, a lingering fragrance remains in the mouth afterward—it is exceptionally fitting for the occasion and scenery!"

"Indeed wonderful, and it's even a seven-character regulated verse! I'm afraid this could spread throughout Liuxin City!"

...

Everyone wore expressions of utter amazement.

Only Young Master Wang looked as dark as charcoal. Young Master Zhang's poem was indeed somewhat better than his own, but this was certainly not what he wanted to see.

On second thought, however, now was not the time for their internal rivalries; he could settle scores later. The primary objective today was to humiliate Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang smiled inwardly. This poem certainly sounded quite rhyming, slightly better than Young Master Wang's, but it was just slightly better. He increasingly felt that he had wasted five hundred points of prestige value!

What kind of miserable lives were these scholars in Liuxin City living? They actually dared to claim such a poem could spread throughout the entire city?

Upon hearing it, Madam Xiao also exclaimed in admiration, "Young Master Zhang is truly brilliant; this verse can be called a masterpiece."

Hearing Madam Xiao's praise, a blush of bashful pleasure bloomed across Young Master Zhang's face.

Madam Xiao was not old, and being a cultivator, she possessed a seductive appearance and a superb figure. She was also the nightly object of longing for countless rakes in Liuxin City.

Yet the might and status she displayed kept them within touching distance yet forever out of reach!

Seeing Young Master Zhang's expression, a look of profound shock flashed across Chen Xiang's face.

Good grief, that wretched expression could be understood by any man. Who would have thought this fellow's gaze extended beyond Miss Xiao? He really knew how to play a thrilling game!

Madam Xiao, of course, noticed it too, but she paid it no mind.

"Haha, you flatter me, you flatter me indeed!" Young Master Zhang cupped his fists toward the crowd and said.

At this moment, Young Master Wang looked toward Chen Xiang and said with a smile, "Brother Chu, you won the championship at the minor poetry gathering yesterday, so your literary talent must be extraordinary. Now, amidst such wonderful scenery, why don't you also compose a poem for us to observe and learn from?"

The rest of the company looked at him with playful gazes. As talented scholars who had all been present yesterday, they naturally knew about Chen Xiang winning the championship.

Not only that, but within the span of a single day, the news that an unknown scholar surnamed Chu had stumped Master Qingliu with word puzzles had already spread throughout Dongliu Academy, and many people in this region were even discussing him.

Some busybodies had also leaked those word puzzles while deliberately withholding the answers, leaving everyone racking their brains in vain. This only served to make Chen Xiang's reputation even greater!

Their gathering today was partly out of resentment, so they naturally relished the prospect of watching Chen Xiang make a fool of himself. The two young masters, in particular, believed this would wash away their humiliation.

Madam Xiao smiled radiantly. Instead of intervening, she watched Chen Xiang with keen interest, eager to see how he would handle this.

With a helpless expression, Chen Xiang set down his teacup.

He originally didn't want to show off, but they were all forcing his hand. Wouldn't it be nice to just let him be a handsome man in peace?

"Sigh, since everyone insists, I suppose I have no choice but to make a fool of myself," Chen Xiang said with a conflicted expression.

Seeing this expression, the crowd chuckled inwardly.

They all assumed Chen Xiang was hesitating precisely because he couldn't possibly compose a good poem.

"Brother Chu, rest assured. Even if your poem isn't good, we won't laugh at you. After all, literary pursuits acknowledge no first, and martial pursuits acknowledge no second," Young Master Wang said with a smile.

"Quite right, quite right. Brother Chu, go ahead and compose boldly. There is only our circle here; even if your poem is poor, we won't spread it abroad!" Young Master Zhang added.

Everyone looked at him with sincere expressions, as if they truly cared about Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang sneered internally. With acting skills this pathetic, you still have the nerve to show off in front of me? If my poem turns out poorly, you'll probably blab it to the whole world the moment you step outside.

Yet was Chen Xiang the type to shrink back? He immediately stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window on the other side, facing the bustling street outside.

Unsure of what Chen Xiang intended to do, the others did not stop him.

Chen Xiang cleared his throat, gathered his internal energy into his dantian, and shouted toward the street outside, "Everyone, look up at the sky! There's a flying machine!"

Secretly employing a small technique, his voice boomed with immense volume, carrying across the entire street.

Everyone on the street heard the sound and instinctively looked up, only to see a brilliant blue sky with nothing in it at all.

Everyone wore a look of utter bewilderment.

"Who shouted?"

"I don't know."

"It came from up there at the Tea Fragrance Pavilion."

"Which young man yelled that?"

...

All their gazes were drawn toward Chen Xiang.

The people on the fifth floor wore puzzled expressions as well.

They wondered what on earth he was up to. Weren't they supposed to be composing poetry? Why was he howling out the window? And moreover, what was a "flying machine"?

Seeing that everyone's attention had been captured, Chen Xiang finally spoke up: "Today, as I am enjoying tea here in the company of two great scholars from Dongliu Academy, and these two talented gentlemen, inspired by their refined mood, have matched poems with me, a sudden flash of inspiration struck me. Therefore, I wish to compose a verse and dedicate it to all of you. Would everyone care to listen?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao, Young Master Wang, and Young Master Zhang were utterly dumbfounded.

What the hell—this fellow was actually pulling a stunt like this? Truly ruthless!

Madam Xiao felt a tinge of helplessness. Although she did not know the extent of Chen Xiang's literary talent, the difficulty of composing a verse that surpassed the two young masters can well be imagined.

And now that he had lured so many people into watching, even if she wanted to protect him, she would find it somewhat beyond her power. It would be fine if he came up with a good poem, but if he failed, he would undoubtedly suffer public humiliation today, making it impossible for him to associate with Lin'er afterward!

The crowd was stunned at first, but elation followed swiftly after.

They had seen fools, but never one this foolish. With Chen Xiang acting like this, they wouldn't even need to follow up; as long as his poem was substandard and they spread the word just a little, his reputation in Liuxin City would be utterly ruined!

They suppressed their laughter.

With a sigh of feigned regret, Young Master Zhang said, "Brother Chu, why put yourself through this? We were merely appreciating poetry together. By making such a spectacle of it, you're putting us in a very difficult position!"

"Brother Chu, I know you are quite talented, but you are simply far too arrogant. That is the greatest taboo for a scholar!" Young Master Wang also chimed in 'kindly'.

To be continued...