Chapter Sixty-Nine: Reciting Poetry and Speaking in Riddles
Before the gates of Falling Cloud City.
Cultivators gathered in crowds, disciples from various sects coming and going, yet the most eye-catching were still those few refined scions from prominent families. Some people watched them quietly, their hearts stirred.
“Isn’t that Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu?”
“No wonder those two have such distinguished bearing. The Zhu and Qin families are both mighty clans dominating their regions in Yun Province!”
“Indeed, and both are the most outstanding disciples of their generation.”
“Their appearance here in Falling Cloud City must surely be for the Banquet of the Proud Talents!”
“It’s said that not only are these two exceptionally gifted in cultivation, but also possess remarkable talent and erudition. Many female disciples see them as ideal suitors.”
“Yes, for us cultivators, the path to enlightenment is often lonely. To be as elegant and carefree as these two is quite rare.”
The crowd’s words were filled with admiration.
Among the proud talents, Zhu Tianyun was exchanging polite conversation with Qin Yu.
“Brother Zhu, at this Banquet of the Proud Talents, you’ll surely steal the spotlight!”
“Brother Qin, what do you mean? I’m not sure I understand.”
“Haha, Brother Zhu, don’t feign ignorance. Everyone knows you composed a remarkable poem recently, so profound in its meaning that even your family’s Golden Core patriarch praised it, saying your future breakthrough will astonish Yun Province!”
“I dare not claim such praise. The old patriarch was jesting. My humble poem contains little true meaning.” Zhu Tianyun shook his head, then lowered his voice mysteriously, “But I heard recently a truly stunning poem emerged—‘Song of Inviting Wine.’”
“‘Song of Inviting Wine’? I’ve never heard of it,” Qin Yu replied, puzzled.
Zhu Tianyun chuckled, “Of course you haven’t, Brother Qin. This poem was composed by a disciple of the Only Me Sect!”
“The Only Me Sect?” Qin Yu’s face showed surprise and disbelief. “That’s one of the top sects in Yun Province, far beyond our cultivating clans. I always thought their disciples were all battle-hardened, not the scholarly type. I’d love to meet such a talent.”
As Qin Yu and Zhu Tianyun chatted, they unwittingly shifted the topic to Wang Ran.
At that moment, a clear, magnetic voice suddenly sounded in the crowd’s ears, as if descending from the heavens above.
“Others laugh at my madness.”
“I laugh at their blindness.”
“See not the tombs of Five Ridge’s heroes.”
“No flowers, no wine—only toil in the fields.”
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When the voice faded, a handsome young man in white, dignified in appearance, holding a folding fan, strode forward with an air of solitary pride.
Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu were stunned, their eyes widening, breath quickening in awe.
“Others laugh at my madness? I laugh at their blindness?” Qin Yu murmured, then looked excitedly at the young man in white and asked, “Fellow cultivator, did you compose this poem yourself?”
The young man smiled faintly and nodded, “Does brother have any critique?”
“Not at all!” Qin Yu hastily waved his hand.
Unlike the arrogant and conceited proud talents, he, though gifted, loved poetry and never looked down on learned individuals. Seeing this young man’s refined speech and powerful aura, clearly another remarkable talent, Qin Yu grew even more respectful.
Zhu Tianyun quickly interjected, “I am Zhu Tianyun, eldest son of the Zhu family, a Golden Core clan. May I know your name, fellow cultivator?”
The young man in white smiled with hands clasped behind his back, “I am not worthy—just call me Wang Sima.”
This Wang Sima was, of course, Wang Ran, seeking to earn Dao points.
He found these proud talents’ flowery talk amusing, and having learned from the crowd that they loved poetry, he was intrigued. After all, cultivators were usually thought of as brawlers like Bei Minglie or Xu Ke, yet here were those who appreciated the subtleties of literature, things only scholars in the mortal world understood.
Wang Ran pondered how best to approach them, and when poetry came to mind, his eyes brightened.
Thus, the art of impressing others lies in adapting—act cultured for cultured folks, act wild for the wild.
Seeing scholars, one must act the part.
Indeed, with the opening lines, “Others laugh at my madness, I laugh at their blindness,” he immediately drew their attention, earning a considerable amount of Dao points.
Now, Wang Ran’s demeanor held the pride unique to the learned. He conversed warmly with the two, quickly becoming familiar.
Zhu Tianyun, noticing Wang Ran and his junior sister’s extraordinary bearing, couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Wang, Miss Yan, are you here for the Banquet of the Proud Talents?”
The junior sister nodded proudly.
Zhu Tianyun’s eyes lit up, “Excellent! We’re here for the banquet as well. We can travel together.”
Qin Yu also smiled, “Yes, Brother Wang. Along the way, we can exchange poetry—how delightful!”
Wang Ran clasped his hands behind his back, seeming to hesitate before nodding.
The group approached the city gate, Qin Yu quickly gesturing in invitation.
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“Brother Wang, please.”
“Brother Qin, please.”
“Brother Wang, after you.”
“Brother Qin, after you.”
The two exchanged polite refusals for a while, then smiled and entered together.
“Brother Wang, your poetry is truly remarkable.”
“Just average, really.”
“Could you compose another? Perhaps on the vast heavens, majestic mountains and rivers, and beautiful women?”
“Then I shall oblige. Brother Qin, Brother Zhu, listen well. My poem is... Ascend to heaven and earth to court the noble sisters, overturn rivers and seas to subdue the lolis, steal stars and seize the moon to embrace the wives, day and night polishing the spear to battle the enchantresses!”
“My, how wet, how wet!”
“Brother Wang, you are a true genius of lust!”
As Wang Ran’s poem was recited, Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu were utterly amazed, showering him with praise.
They quickly became fast friends, and Wang Ran soon gleaned much useful information from their conversations.
For instance, who was hosting the Banquet of the Proud Talents? Which talents would attend?
These sociable scions hid nothing, explaining everything to Wang Ran.
It turned out the banquet was hosted by Falling Cloud City!
Although the city lord possessed only the Golden Core cultivation, his status was extraordinary. The force behind him was the powerful Wu family of Yun Province.
The Wu family was truly famed throughout Yun Province, known by all.
Rumor had it that three Nascent Soul patriarchs sat in the Wu family, their power so formidable that even the Only Me Sect treated them with solemn respect.
The city lord of Falling Cloud was the eldest son of the Wu family’s current generation, a playful and dissipated youth. Building Falling Cloud City was a whim, and the banquet was a further indulgence. With his status as Young Master Wu, the proud talents naturally attended, and over time, this became the most prestigious gathering in Yun Province.
Wang Ran was greatly interested. These details were unknown even to his junior sister. Had he not connected with Qin Yu and Zhu Tianyun, he would never have learned how influential the forces behind the banquet truly were.
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