Chapter Nine, Couplets

What is going on? ... I clearly know what the second line is, yet the pen in my hand seems to have a mind of its own ...! ... It simply won't write down!

Qin Feng felt that what he held in his hand was not a brush, but rather a massive stone, and as the number of characters increased, this stone became heavier and heavier

Can you figure it out? The tone is not as cold as before, but rather carries a strange feeling

The earth serves as the body of the pipa, while the road serves as the strings; which one can be played

The pressure at his fingertips suddenly decreased, and he immediately gathered his strength to write swiftly and vigorously.

Hey, come on, it’s not that serious. It’s just a couplet that didn’t match, not like someone has died. Why be so extreme?

Cang Feilan clearly saw the contents of the white scroll, her delicate brows furrowed. She stood in place, pondering for a long time, remaining still for quite a while.

Can this still be tolerated

Qin Feng's right arm trembled, and sweat dripped from his forehead like rain as he struggled to write the second character—"zuò"

He always believed that a beauty as graceful and poised as Cang Fei Lan should be like an assassin in the ancient night, unaffected by external circumstances. However, he never expected that she would, like a young girl who failed an exam, become emotionally vulnerable simply because she couldn't match the couplets correctly

When the seventh character falls, the brush seems to weigh ten thousand pounds

What is the situation

"The rules remain the same as before. If you can come up with a matching couplet, I will let you in," the old man said leisurely while fanning himself.

This is ... ...

Qin Feng paid no heed; instead, he let out a loud shout. In the sea of divine consciousness, the literary energy waterfall began to boil, erupting like a volcano, surging into the tip of his pen.

Above the two fingers, blood dripped down. Upon seeing this, the old man from the Bai family hurriedly shouted, "Young man, stop writing! With your current abilities, you cannot bear it!"

... ... ''

"What does it matter to you?" The old man from Baili lightly tapped the rattan chair with his finger, and in an instant, a scroll flew out from the attic, along with a brush soaked in ink.

Meanwhile, in the Sea of Gods, the literary energy waterfall began to surge, transforming into a stream of water that flowed towards the brush held by Qin Feng

The written word can reflect the human heart; thus, it is evident that the person who composed the upper couplet is either in a high position or possesses grand aspirations

Qin Feng was taken aback, turning his head to look, only to see Cang Feilan cradling her arms, her body slightly trembling. Upon closer inspection, the mist in her light blue eyes clearly indicated that she was on the verge of tears from feeling wronged

The old man Bai Li lightly tapped the armchair with his right index finger. In no time, a white scroll flew out from the attic and gently landed in front of Cang Fei Lan

The old man from Bai Li suddenly moved forward, coming to the blank page in front of the book, his face filled with astonishment

Qin Feng swallowed a mouthful of saliva and immediately changed his attitude to one of respect, saying: "Senior, you jest. Just now, it was the younger generation who was lacking in manners. My name is Qin Feng, a mere scholar"

I can't believe it, why is this old man so arrogant, and that gaze from Miss Cang, I hope I haven't accidentally offended some big shot...

Tick, tick ... ...

Qin Feng felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he collapsed to the ground. At that moment, he felt as though his entire right arm was no longer his own.

In light of this, Qin Feng immediately said: "Miss Cang, you have helped me twice before. I have never been one to enjoy being in debt to others. How about I take care of this couplet instead?"

Qin Feng's eyes widened, his teeth clenched tightly, and the veins on his right hand bulged. The pen, which had been hovering for a long time, finally showed some movement.

Regarding this upper couplet, Qin Feng is certainly not unfamiliar with it. In his previous life, he could be considered an academic elite. This upper couplet was originally posed by Minister Li of the Ming Dynasty to challenge the Prime Minister Xie Xian, embodying a grand artistic conception and immense ambition

"It is settled with a word!" Qin Feng waved his sleeve and immediately asked, "Do you have ink and brush?"

The old man with white hair leisurely waved his fan and said: "It's not that I look down on you; even if ten more of you came, you still wouldn't be able to come up with this couplet."

Time passes second by second. Naturally, with Cang Fei Lan's abilities, he could not come up with a corresponding line. The old man from the Bai family yawned and disdainfully said, "You should head back early, do not delay my work."

Cang Feilan, upon hearing this, turned her gaze sideways, and her eyes seemed to convey the message, "I didn't expect you to be so bold"

The old man from Baili glanced sideways, thinking that Qin Feng could not come up with a suitable couplet, so he pretended to be mysterious: "Young man, you do not know the heights of heaven and depths of the earth"

When the last character of the couplet is inscribed, a white pillar rises into the sky from the blank paper

"Do not waste your efforts; today's first line is much more difficult than before. You couldn't answer the previous ones, let alone this one today." The tone of the old man from the Hundred Li clearly conveyed a sense of gloating.

Qin Feng furrowed his brows and said, "Elder, if you wish to know someone else's name, shouldn't you first introduce yourself?"

It is merely a couplet; if one cannot answer it, then one cannot answer it. Surely, Miss Cang would not mind too much. This was what Qin Feng thought, but unexpectedly, a faint sound of sobbing came from beside him.

This lower couplet is quite difficult to respond to, and it seems that Miss Cang has given it some thought... Qin Feng stood to the side; although he knew how to answer the lower couplet, he remained silent, as there should still be some decorum.

Qin Feng glanced over; this old man was truly despicable, actually enjoying bullying a young girl

Then let the two of you go in together

Wow, what a bold statement. Have you chewed on some Yida gum?

The white-haired old man was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "I have lived for so long, and you are the second person who dares to speak to me like this. Young man, listen carefully, my surname is Baili, as for my name, I shall not mention it, knowing it would not be beneficial for you."

Qin Feng took the brush, laid the blank paper before him, and held the pen in his hand, suspended in mid-air, yet he did not bring it down for a long time

You old fool, why is your mouth so reckless? How can you bear to bully such a beautiful woman?

Qin Feng... the old man murmured, his gaze profound and meaningful. After a moment, he lay back down in the rattan chair.

Oh, you brought a helper?" The white-haired old man noticed Qin Feng behind Cang Feilan. Just as he was about to speak in mockery, it seemed he discovered something, his eyes widening as he suddenly sat up from the rattan chair.

He simply did not expect that there are indeed others in this world who can create the same upper couplet

The old man Bai Li suddenly felt something was amiss, his fan came to a halt, and he opened his eyes wide, only to see the first character falling onto the white scroll— "Earth"

This old man has a truly venomous tongue. If I were practicing the Divine Martial Path, I would certainly give him a good beating... Qin Feng clenched his left fist tightly, a smile on his face that did not reach his eyes: "What if I could match the younger generation of - Tu - Shu?"

Beside the attic door, an elderly man dressed in a gray robe, with a head full of white hair, lay with his eyes closed on a rattan chair, leisurely waving a paper fan in his hand. Upon hearing a noise, he opened his eyes to take a look and then scoffed, "You really are persistent. Clearly unable to enter, yet you still come every day. Aren't you tired of it?"

Qin Feng, filled with curiosity, looked down and saw the white scroll boldly inscribed with: "The heavens form the chessboard, the stars serve as pieces; who dares to play?"

Next is the third character, the fourth character

"Go ahead and ask your question." Cang Feilan pondered for a moment, and her tone sounded anything but confident.

Cang Feilan lifted her head, her already enchanting and charming eyes, under the reflection of the mist, seemed capable of melting even the hardest stone

Miss Cang, are you... alright

On the other side, Cang Feilan gazed at the second line on the white scroll, her eyes sparkling with brilliance. Beneath the black scarf, her crimson lips parted slightly as she couldn't help but murmur.

This person is truly impolite, actually calling me a kid. How am I a kid?

I can't believe this... Young man, what is your name

Qin Feng straightened his body and cleared his throat, saying: "I can give it a try... Senior Bai Li, may I answer on her behalf?"

"You don't need to worry about it, I can come up with the second line right away," Cang Fei Lan replied stubbornly, with tears already forming in her eyes, swirling in her eye sockets.