In the prefecture governnt, Ding Qian was at his wits’ end, restless and anxious.
He summoned his attendant and asked, "Has the invitation from Jichuan County arrived yet?"
The attendant glanced at him furtively and carefully replied, "Master, the list was only released yesterday. There is still no news from Jichuan County."
Ding Qian raised an eyebrow, "Then how many other invitations are there?"
"Master, today we have received a total of fifty-three invitations from the scholars..."
Ding Qian couldn’t help but laugh with anger. This year, Yunjiang Prefecture had eighty-two scholar spots, and on the first day alone, fifty-three people had sent invitations.
Yet among them, there was no Chen Xu, no Chen Xu!
Fine, if the mountain won’t co to , then I’ll go to the mountain.
So people are a little too proud, not understanding the need to proactively greet the examiner in ti, and this is when soone needs to teach him, urge him, or remind him.
Ding Qian imdiately opened his mouth and instructed the attendant, "Go spread the news that I’ve recently acquired an ancient inkstone with a puzzling riddle within.
On April 23, at the Drunken Sunset Pavilion on Qihai Mountain, I wish to solve the riddle publicly.
If any talented scholars or gentlen arrive and can solve the riddle first, this office shall reward... no, no, that’s not right, it won’t do."
Halfway through his speech, Ding Qian suddenly rejected his own idea.
He clasped his hands behind his back, parading his official stance with a full belly, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.
Suddenly, he turned around and laughed, "Go, deliver a ssage to Mr. Zhong in Shiquan Lane and take my inkstone to him as well.
There’s no need to say too much, just ntion that the view on Qihai Mountain is just right, and that’s it."
The attendant took the order and responded but did not leave imdiately, instead lingering a mont.
Ding Qian couldn’t help but frown and ask, "What are you doing? Why aren’t you going?"
"Master." The attendant grinned, "Aren’t I just afraid that you might change your mind or have new instructions? I’m waiting just in case I miss sothing."
Ha, this fellow is starting to tease his own master now.
Ding Qian imdiately lifted his foot to kick him, but the attendant cleverly dodged and sprinted to the gallery, bowing as he asked:
"Master, master, on my way back from Shiquan Lane, I happen to pass by Mihang Restaurant.
Would you like to bring back so Dragon Beard Candy from Mihang Restaurant for you?"
Ding Qian imdiately put on a stern face, "What Dragon Beard Candy? Do you think your master is such a gourmand with an irresistible sweet tooth?"
"Yes, yes, you don’t like sweets, master. It’s just wanting to show my respect, heh heh, heh heh..." The attendant rushed into the gallery and left quickly.
Leaving Ding Qian in the courtyard coughing lightly, while smirking and cursing under his breath, "Old fox! Crafty fellow."
At the sa ti, he discreetly swallowed his saliva, then used a secret technique to peer at the roof of Gaosheng Inn.
He saw that the azure smoke in the distant sky had already vanished, leaving only a setting sun, swaying as if about to fall.
Ah, it really tickles the heart with a mysterious lancholy.
Blue smoke rises and falls, yet what kind of brilliant and exquisite poem could that be?
In the inn, Wu Zhengze rushed off to find Master Yao.
Cui Yunqi was still absorbed in the vibrant imagery evoked by "the spring wind blows again."
He only felt that under such calm yet continuous power, all hardship and adversity in the world would be nothing but fleeting shadows and ash.
At this mont, it seed as if he had a clump of wild grass in his chest, accumulating strength amidst the ashes, struggling bravely.
With his emotions swelling, he found it impossible to stay composed, much less leave after presenting a gift as he typically would.
Cui Yunqi brazenly lingered in the inn, racking his brain for a perfect topic:
"Brother Chen, we were interrupted last ti while discussing poetry collections, but I’ve co up with a new concept now.
Your previous ’Artificial Beast’ pieces were poems that ca after the stories. So why can’t poems like ’Flowers Are Not Flowers’ have stories first?
With a story, wouldn’t the transmission of the poetry be more profound?
We don’t have to write about people entering the Ghost Market, but we can write about encountering ghosts in dreams or when reading at night..."
After Chen Xu finished writing "Farewell on the Ancient Plain," the Ink Pool in the Sea of Literature swelled a bit more.
But his heart and spirit were still sowhat imrsed in the poetic imagery, mixed with a tinge of sadness, making it hard to express.
Cui Yunqi’s sudden idea struck him like spring thunder, sparking flashes of spiritual light in his mind.
Encountering ghosts in dreams? Encountering ghosts while reading at night?
No, it could also be entering a Ghost Market alone.
In the imaginative tales of supernatural markets, Ghost Markets are always imbued with mysterious and fantastical colors.
And the more mysterious sothing is, the more it often piques curiosity.
The best part is, Chen Xu could not only write about one Ghost Market, but he could write about many Ghost Markets!
With his Netherworld divine power, he could randomly enter a Ghost Market on the first day and fifteenth day of each month, just like going to a marketplace.
Though up until now, Chen Xu, due to the tight exam schedule, hadn’t used this feature of his divine power, but co the first day of next month, he might as well give it a try.
He could write ’Artificial Beast,’ as well as ’The Farr,’ ’The Palace Maid,’ and so on.
Once the Chapters increased, he could compile them into a ’Chronicles of the Strange and Mysterious,’ marking the first step in writing his own treatise.
A Great Scholar in the world might not have a magnificent poem or outstanding political achievents, but they must have their own thought propagation, which ans ’writing a treatise.’
Currently, Chen Xu only held the title of a scholar, seemingly far from being a Great Scholar.
The ’Chronicles of the Strange and Mysterious,’ focusing on supernatural stories and poetry collections, also fell far short of the standard for writing a treatise, but who can grasp the Way in a single leap?
The grand literary intuition and Dao’s charm also require gradual accumulation.
Today’s small steps and streams will lead to tomorrow’s vast distances and oceans!
Chen Xu kept his left hand always tucked before his chest, cradling the small Mouse Demon Ah Shi, now looking out at the sunset, and feeling as if another world lay within his heart.
He sincerely thanked Cui Yunqi, "Brother Cui, your words are truly like Jade Liquid Nectar, dispelling the mist of the path. Xu is endlessly grateful."
Cui Yunqi’s relationship with Chen Xu had always been like looking at flowers through fog, despite his repeated overtures of friendship.
He seed to have forged a friendship with Chen Xu, yet vaguely felt there was so kind of barrier between them.
This was the first ti he received such explicit and sincere gratitude from Chen Xu.
Listening to Chen Xu, Cui Yunqi suddenly felt dazed, his head dizzy and light.
All the aristocratic composure and restraint were now disregarded, as he stood in the inn, feeling as if he were stepping on a cloud.
Cui Yunqi beamingly laughed, hearing himself struggle to maintain his poise, "You overpraise , you overpraise ."
Then he heard Chen Xu say, "Brother Cui, after I finish turning the three poems from the Ghost Market into stories tonight, if you have ti tomorrow, may I visit you?"
Cui Yunqi was so thrilled that he almost leaped for joy.
Yet he instinctively replied, "No need to trouble Brother Chen. Haven’t you not fully recovered from your previous injury? I’ll co to get the manuscript tomorrow."
Chen Xu didn’t insist, and readily agreed.
Thus, Cui Yunqi, both delighted and dazed, took his leave from Chen Xu.
Once he left the inn, he suddenly ca to his senses and regretted not giving himself a harsh wake-up slap!
Foolish! Brother Chen visiting is a perfect chance to strengthen connections!
And he just turned it down!
A complete waste of the family’s teachings, it was foolish enough to make himself furious.
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