Chapter 2, Displaying Sharpness!

Chen Shaojun, do not speak nonsense

Regardless, neither father nor elder brother should meet such an end

The banks of the stream were quiet and still, and it was unclear how much time had passed. A young gentleman suddenly recalled the few words written by Chen Shaojun before his departure. Feeling a stir in his heart, he abruptly left his seat and walked over to Chen Shaojun's spot. He crouched down and carefully picked up the piece of xuan paper that Chen Shaojun had thrown on the ground. Just a glance was enough to make his eyes light up.

Jiang Bo, you can rest assured. I know what I am doing

A young scholar was incited by a speech from Chen Shaojun, stirring the emotions of the crowd, who began to slam their hands on the table in anger and curse. To compose poetry, one must first learn to create couplets, as creating couplets is the simplest of knowledge.

No one here will help you! Give up on that hope!

At this bamboo grove gathering, what brings you here? In fact, we have long been fully aware of your intentions. However, you need not waste your efforts. Today, I will make it clear. In the entire capital, anyone who dares to plead on behalf of the Chen family will be opposing all of us officials' offspring! Young Master Chen, you might as well return and prepare for your family's funeral arrangements!

Hmph

Not bad! Not bad, we will never agree!

Aren't you here to plead for your father

Chen Shaojun comforted him, his expression calm and composed, while the old butler's lips moved slightly, suddenly at a loss for words

The young gentleman in brocade closest to Chen Shaojun exclaimed in surprise

As for you, even a parrot imitating speech should possess some level of skill. It is not that I look down upon you, but with your abilities, do not even think about poetry; you cannot even come up with the simplest couplets!

You all take a look, Mr. Chen has left a couplet here!

Upon hearing these words, Xie Chuan's expression changed dramatically

Chen Shaojun did not know what this incredible supernatural ability was, but he did know that in this life he possessed what he had most yearned for and lacked in his previous life:

The friendship of a gentleman is as insipid as water, my father has a strong and unyielding character, and he has never had many friends in the capital. However, the serious illness of the Crown Prince has caused the entire capital to avoid the Chen family as if they were a plague.

As soon as Xie Chuan's words fell, the crowd erupted in an uproar

At this moment, in the depths of the bamboo forest, unknown to the crowd, no one is aware of a sharp gaze observing everything that is happening, revealing a smile that is intriguing.

Xie Chuan sat at the upper reaches of the stream, his gaze fixed on Chen Shaojun. Observing the changes in Chen Shaojun's expression, as well as the old butler hidden behind him, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind, and he let out a cold laugh

Your father and elder brother conspired with the Fourth Prince to rebel, putting the Crown Prince's life in jeopardy, and you still engage in such actions. The Chen family truly represents the disgrace among our officials, a shame to the Confucian and Daoist traditions

In a situation where the nest is overturned, how can there be any intact eggs?

Others also echoed in agreement

Chen Shaojun could never believe that his elder brother, who was wholeheartedly loyal to the court, would be a pawn of the Fourth Prince, nor could he believe that his father, who had taught him to be upright and honorable, would be implicated in such matters

Chen Shaojun possesses a father who is as imposing as a mountain, yet deeply cares for him, and also has an elder brother who is exceedingly affectionate towards him. Everyone shows him great care and attention, leaving no detail overlooked

Chen Shaojun still remembers that after receiving the news, he stood in the study, his fingernails digging deeply into his palm, blood flowing out without his awareness, his entire being resembling a walking corpse, in a daze.

Behind Chen Shaojun, beside the dense bamboo forest, the old steward of the Chen residence, dressed in blue, cast a glance, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes

Awake!

Zhou Yuan and Lu Zhi also stood up, staring at Chen Shaojun, and then followed suit to add insult to injury

Those who can participate in this flowing water and bamboo forest poetry gathering are certainly not just anyone who can casually compose a few poems. Chen Shaojun actually said that they couldn't even come up with the most basic couplets, which is simply outrageous

When Chen Shaojun learned from Jiang Bo that all the great Confucian scholars who entered the Holy Temple of the Three Provinces would be stripped of their Confucian credentials, and that in the end, almost all of them chose to end their own lives there due to the unbearable humiliation, it was as if he had been struck by lightning

Xie Chuan looked down from a height, his expression filled with unparalleled disdain

All past events and memories will be sealed away, only to awaken when the right moment arises

Regardless of whether it is Xie Chuan or others, both the - diagram - book and others have made every effort to exclude him. Not to mention agreeing, they didn't even give him the opportunity to speak, and even went so far as to add insult to injury, humiliating him relentlessly

On that thin rice paper, layers of mist and haze unexpectedly emerged, and they were even denser than before, with even specks of gold appearing.

Xie Chuan

"Jun'er, the correct way to write the character is like this: one horizontal stroke and one vertical stroke, both must be firm and straight, just like how one should conduct oneself in life..."

Hmph

As Chen Shaojun was pondering in silence

What!

... ...

The cultivator will be reincarnated and reborn, starting from the fetus, possessing a completely new life

Chen Shaojun cast a disdainful glance and soon turned his head to look at Xie Chuan above the stream

Have I spoken up?

After Chen Shaojun finished reciting this line, he suddenly grabbed a mouse whisker brush and swiftly wrote a few characters on rice paper, threw it on the ground, and turned to leave

If it were the previous Chen Shaojun, he would probably be utterly despaired. However, having awakened the memories of the immortal realm, the current Chen Shaojun is no longer the same as before. More importantly, he has already found a way to rescue his father and elder brother through his own strength.

Bold!

Chen Shaojun quickly subdued Xie Chuan without saying much to him. He shifted his gaze and immediately looked towards the other young scholars who were in agreement with Xie Chuan

When the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold

... ...

A gentleman has his pursuits and his abstentions; in all matters, one must act with a clear conscience. This is the reason your father named you 'Jun'! You must remember this well!

The matter concerning the Crown Prince is currently causing a great uproar throughout the city, creating a tumultuous atmosphere, and it is extremely sensitive. If such words were to spread, the Xie family would likely be exploited by those with ulterior motives, being cast into the ranks of the rebellious factions, bringing an unwarranted disaster upon the entire family

So despicable! I had just thought that he truly had such abilities. It turns out he was just copying. What a disgraceful scholar!

On both sides of the stream, everyone was overwhelmed by Chen Shaojun's striking and unstoppable aura, and surprisingly, no one dared to intervene, watching helplessly as the two turned and disappeared beyond the bamboo forest

Xie Chuan's gaze was sharp, and his expression was exceedingly resolute

Upon being reminded by Xie Chuan, everyone suddenly understood the sequence of events, each one of them instantly experiencing a moment of enlightenment

Non-phenomenal Rebirth

Young Master

"Since childhood, I have been hidden in the dense grass, and now I gradually realize the presence of the wild shrubs. People of the time do not recognize the tree that reaches the clouds, only when it begins to soar do they acknowledge its height! Our Chen family will never rely on others, Jiang Bo, we shall depart!"

Chen Shaojun raised his eyebrows and immediately looked over

In an instant, countless images surged to the forefront of my mind: the first time my father lifted me high, the first time he taught me to write, the first time he scolded me, the first time he silently kept vigil by my bedside for three days and nights when he was ill

Chen Shaojun took in everyone's reactions. If it had been in the past, he might have been stirred to the point of blood rushing to his head and his face turning red by the provocations of these aristocratic youths. However, having awakened the memories of the celestial realm, and with his former identity as the Artifact Sovereign of the celestial realm, how could he possibly care about such verbal disputes

Chen Shaojun, a fifteen-year-old boy, is powerless and alone, standing in isolation, with a sense of despair enveloping him.

The Chen family's downfall will ensure that he will not have a good ending either

Ah! I was wondering how he suddenly became so impressive, producing such remarkable calligraphy; it turns out he was copying his father's work!

Family affection

Only out of necessity did Chen Shaojun think of participating in the Bamboo Grove Poetry Meeting

For Chen Shaojun, the entire world has collapsed

This statement came unexpectedly, instantly capturing everyone's attention

That matter

Chen Shaojun immediately shot a fierce glance over, and with just one look, the usually fearless and audacious young master in brocade was left speechless, his heart suddenly constricted.

Chen Shaojun's voice was unremarkable, neither high nor low, suddenly resonating throughout the bamboo forest. With a swish, before the sound faded, in an instant, everyone was left in a state of astonishment

It is not about seizing possession, but rather about probing into the most profound and simultaneously the most awe-inspiring laws of life that exist between heaven and earth

Chen Shaojun clasped his hands tightly within his sleeves, firmly clenching his fists, and silently vowed in his heart

Chen Shaojun's expression was one of arrogance, showing no signs of fear

This is the most mysterious spell in the world, as well as the one with the highest failure rate, because it grants the practitioner a completely new life

The Fourth Prince colluded with the evil cult and the demon god, plotting a rebellion. He presented a magical artifact to the Crown Prince and used the artifact to backfire, severely injuring the Crown Prince, resulting in his current state of unconsciousness.

Chen Shaojun watched helplessly as everything unfolded before his eyes. However, this was far from over; the matter concerning the heir to the throne was of great significance. Soon after, his father was summoned by several Confucian leaders and brought into the Hall of the Three Provinces.

Young Master Xie is correct, Young Master Chen, with your inferior character, you still wish for us to plead on behalf of your father and brother, it is simply a delusion!

The shameless scoundrel has completely tarnished the reputation of our scholars. It is best to expel him quickly!

He is currently only concerned about his father

... ...

I truly overestimated you; I did not expect you to possess such limited breadth and demeanor. Unable to compare with me, you resort to claiming that I plagiarize poetry, revealing that the Xie family is no better than this. Furthermore, the Crown Prince is indeed blessed by the true dragon, with enduring fortune. Yet you constantly speak of the Crown Prince's life being in danger; what is your true intention behind this?

A father's love is as steadfast as a mountain, and great love is often unspoken. In Chen Shaojun's life, he experienced a warmth of family that he had never felt before. From that moment on, Chen Shaojun silently vowed to protect his family at all costs. He only wished that time would slow down a little, becoming a bit longer.

This time, Chen Shaojun attended the Bamboo Grove gathering not for the purpose of composing poetry, but rather due to the imprisonment of his father and elder brother as a result of the prince's contention.

What do you mean, Xie Chuan?

A few words captivated the crowd, causing them to leave their seats and gather around Chen Shaojun's table, where countless gazes converged upon the thin piece of rice paper.

"The punishment does not extend to the nobleman," indicates that the Confucian scholars who have committed grave errors will not be imprisoned but will instead enter the Hall of Three Provinces.

In legends, those who attempt the formless reincarnation face a perilous journey, having survived nine deaths and one life. Throughout history, no one has succeeded in this endeavor. However, if one were to succeed by sheer luck, they would be granted the blessings of heaven and earth, the protection of the great Dao, and would randomly receive an incredible supernatural ability

"Chen Shaojun, your father is merely a minor Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Who here does not hold a higher status than you? How dare you be so arrogant in our presence!"

Elder brother Chen Zhengche was imprisoned in a death cell after being falsely accused of being an accomplice of the Fourth Prince for having previously assisted in transporting goods for him

At the head of the stream, Xie Chuan was staring intently in the direction where Chen Shaojun had left, clenching his fists tightly, his face filled with unwillingness

Who said that I asked you?

Regardless of the circumstances, even if there is only a glimmer of hope, Chen Shaojun will not give up on rescuing his father and elder brother

Chen Shaojun, you are being too outrageous and too arrogant

"Chen Shaojun, is that poem really written by you?"

Chen Shaojun, your usual level is evident to all. As people of literature and art, the better we compose poetry, the higher our talent must be. With words that evoke mist and clouds, it is impossible for someone who can create poetry of such caliber to possess only a meager talent. Even I find it difficult to produce poetry of such high quality. Chen Shaojun, do you really think I cannot see that you are flaunting your father's poetry here?

Buzz

Chen Shaojun was only fifteen years old, even younger than that, and he was dressed in simple cloth garments. However, his gaze was exceptionally piercing, possessing a kind of authority that was entirely absent in someone of his age, which immediately left a profound impression on others.

Despite the numerous discussions among the crowd, Chen Shaojun unexpectedly stated that he was not there to plead for mercy at all, leaving everyone feeling as though they had been struck in vain, each person experiencing immense discomfort in their hearts

Hmph, what about the Deputy Minister of Revenue? Do you look down on the Deputy Minister of Revenue? Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river, everything is not yet over; who can say for certain who will be strong or weak in the future?

Chen Shaojun would never forget that when he woke up, his father's tightly clenched eyes slowly relaxed. The dark circles under his eyes were pronounced, and his eye sockets were filled with blood vessels. Despite being extremely fatigued, he forced himself to be spirited and gently said

He originally hoped that, considering they were all scholars of the Confucian tradition and shared a common lineage, Xie Chuan and the others would find some way to leverage their family's influence to rescue his father and elder brother, but things did not turn out as he wished

In the blink of an eye, countless memories surged forth, and Chen Shaojun recalled his father and elder brother

However, three months ago, a court upheaval suddenly brought Chen Shaojun to the brink of losing everything.

Father, rest assured, no matter what, I will definitely rescue you!