Chapter 25

As soon as these two lines of poetry were recited, the entire private room fell silent. Ye Qing did not mind and continued reciting:

The mountain ranges stretch across the sky, the peaks are dense and mysterious.

I have heard that many immortals learned the art of flying here.

One day they ascended to the heavens and the sea, leaving the stone chambers empty for ten thousand years.

The golden furnace is covered in dust, the jade pond is shrouded in tranquility.

When he recited up to this point, the people in the private room were moved. Someone ordered, "Someone! Remove these screens and let me see who this talented person is!"

Someone responded, and in a moment, the screens were moved to the walls, revealing the true appearance of the private room.

On the opposite side of the private room, a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six years old sat, his expression stern, looking over with a half-smile. Just as he was about to speak, Ye Qing continued reciting:

Ancient grasses and trees remain, the courtyard is cold with old ginseng.

I envy those who climb, desiring to preserve leisure and ease.

I have seen the wonders of all the mountains, none can match this peak.

My heart is tied to the green pines, forever understanding the guest's sentiments.

The meaning of this poem is, looking afar at Taiping Lake and Taiping Mountain, the temple of the Dragon Lord stands in the sky, the clouds drift slowly, the cliffs are tall, and the vegetation is lush.

It is said that many immortals learned the Dao here, ascending to the heavens and the sea, leaving the stone chambers empty for ten thousand years. The golden furnace is covered in dust, and the water pond conceals its mysterious face.

The world is vast and ancient, but only the grasses and trees grow. I have traveled through the Five Great Mountains, none can compare to this mountain.

I came here, sharing the heart of the green pines, to let go of worldly desires and understand the truth.

This poem was not originally written by Ye Qing; he merely made a few minor adjustments to fit the current situation. However, Li Bai, known as the Poet Immortal, imbued his works with a sense of the Dao. As the lines of poetry flowed one after another, the young nobleman's words were caught in his throat and he swallowed them back.

At this moment, the people in the other private rooms came to their senses and praised in unison, "Good, good poem!"

At another table, a middle-aged man stood up, "Good poem! Judging by your attire, you are a scholar. You are quite young, aren't you? Whose son are you?"

Though the middle-aged man was dressed casually, his demeanor was dignified and his presence commanding. As soon as he spoke, he immediately drew everyone's attention, and everyone knew he must be a noble.

Ye Qing bowed and replied, "I am Ye Qing, a descendant of the Ye clan from Pingshou County. I recently passed the child examination and came here to study. I was momentarily moved by the scenery and inadvertently startled everyone. Please forgive me."

"You have such talent, what sin is there?" The middle-aged man waved his hand, savoring the poem for a moment before instructing, "Write this poem on paper, display it on the wall, and let it spread your name!"

"Since you command it, how can I refuse?" This was an opportunity to gain fame, and Ye Qing happily agreed. The innkeeper hurried over and ordered, "Why haven't you brought ink and paper for this young master?"

In fact, there was already ink and paper in the private room, and a waiter quickly went to prepare it.

Seeing this, the young nobleman was displeased and was about to speak, but a middle-aged man tugged at his sleeve, and the young nobleman immediately fell silent.

After a moment, the crowd gathered around and cheered, "Good calligraphy, good calligraphy!"

The innkeeper was overjoyed and said, "Since Master Ye has bestowed us with his calligraphy and this fine poem, all your expenses here will be waived."

He then ordered someone to frame the paper and hang it on the wall.

The young nobleman huffed and, without eating, swept out of the room.

The group returned to a large inn. Once inside, the young nobleman asked, "Mr. Kou, what's going on? Just a mere scholar, and I have to give way?"

Mr. Kou hurriedly bowed and said, "Young Master, the scholar is a minor matter, but the other person is not. If I'm not mistaken, he is the county magistrate, a graduate of the imperial examination."

"Why should you fear? But why cause a conflict over such a trivial matter?"

"Graduate of the imperial examination!" The young nobleman glanced at him, frowned, and gazed outside, saying after a long pause, "I came here with Mr. Dai's guidance to seek an opportunity. Well, let's leave it at that."

The young nobleman should have been happy to hear this advice, but when Mr. Kou heard "Mr. Dai," a hint of jealousy arose in his heart. He said, "Young Master, you shouldn't let this go so easily. The scholar is a minor matter, but his maidservant is not."

"I have the art of physiognomy and can see that this girl has the bone structure of inner charm and the fortune to bring prosperity to her husband and master. If you obtain her, it will surely help you in the imperial examinations—"

Realizing he had said too much, Mr. Kou coughed and stopped speaking.

The young nobleman's eyes lit up, but he coldly said, "I understand. Let's not talk about this for now... Go and see the head of our family's business in the county, and tell him to give me twenty thousand silver taels as a tribute—I have my uses for it."

"Once he gives the money, he can report to the clan, I don't care. But if he disobeys my order—take the guards and kill him."

Mr. Kou responded, "Yes!"

"You repeat my exact words, and you won't be held responsible," the young nobleman slowly said. "I am not a wasteful person; in ten years, I may not have spent twenty thousand silver taels."

"But for a great cause, one cannot be stingy with money. I know what to spend on and what not to, and what rules to follow better than you."

"Also, don't think I am a petty person who can't stand others' talents. If it were before, I would have eagerly befriended him. But now, at this critical juncture, having someone skilled in poetry around feels ominous." The young nobleman frowned and waved his hand. "Go and take care of it."

Mr. Kou, drenched in sweat, stood up and repeatedly responded, "Yes!"

Seeing that the young nobleman had no more to say, he slowly retreated.

At this time, the innkeeper, accompanied by several waiters, personally led Ye Qing to a private room. Though it was called a room, it was actually divided into inner and outer sections.

Ye Qing rested for a while, half-lying on the bed, feeling a bit disappointed. The middle-aged man earlier was not the Dragon Lord, but a government official. While officials can bring some good fortune, it is not much, as fortune is not the same as reputation.

Generally, reputation can be converted into fortune, but at a ratio of about fifty to one. It's easy to understand that reputation means people have heard of you and appreciate you, but converting this into substantial support is not easy, and only substantial support can bring about a response in fortune.

Thinking about this, Ye Qing sighed and took a book from the table. It was a book called "Records of Strange Encounters," which described scholars' extraordinary experiences, assistance from ghosts and gods, and stories of celestial maidens offering themselves. The book was popular and widely loved, but these stories rarely converted into fortune.

The author, by writing this, could solve his basic living needs, which was already quite good. Ye Qing casually flipped through the book and gradually became lost in thought.

Suddenly, Ye Qing found himself in a courtyard, leaves scattered on the ground, bamboo shoots sprouting, stone tables and stools present, the scenery tranquil and charming.

A young woman in a simple blue dress stood by the window, gazing into the distance, her expression serene.

Ye Qing couldn't help but walk quietly, looking at her. She was both unfamiliar and familiar.

The young woman had eyebrows like a horizontal line of ink, eyes like autumn waves, a face of extraordinary beauty, and a simple hairstyle. The most captivating feature was the full moon-like aura that surrounded her.

She took a light step and was soon in front of Ye Qing, smiling, "Master, it's been so long, have you forgotten Qianqian?"

"It's you, Qianqian. You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you!" Ye Qing smiled bitterly, speaking frankly.

Qianqian did not comment, but gazed at him, "Master, no matter how I change, I am still yours. It's been so long, let's take a walk. How many years has it been since we last walked together?"

As she spoke, she walked gracefully, her posture elegant, making her seem like a beauty of the autumn waters, with the grace of snow and the soul of a full moon.

Ye Qing felt a sense of peace and tranquility, wishing to prolong this moment forever.

But after just a few steps, a mist enveloped them, and Qianqian disappeared. Ye Qing was startled, shouting, "Qianqian, Qianqian, where did you go?"

Just a few steps later, a sense of foreboding arose. The garden was still the same, but it was in ruins, with rocks scattered everywhere, clearly long abandoned.

The sky was dark, indistinguishable between dawn and dusk, and the silence was oppressive, making him feel a profound sense of loss.

Following a premonition, Ye Qing rushed to a certain spot.

After passing through a courtyard, he saw Qianqian leaning against a pillar, dressed in white, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, lying motionless.

In her hand was a long sword, but only half of it remained, the rest missing.

Without thinking, Ye Qing rushed over and pulled her into his arms.

At that moment, he felt a chill, his heart sinking. He quickly brushed the black hair from her face, revealing a face of extraordinary beauty, still smiling, but pale.

For a moment, Ye Qing felt his breath stop.

Qianqian's face was not originally beautiful, but from the age of sixteen, she began to transform, gradually becoming naturally beautiful, her smile and frowns charming, making those around her feel like they were basking in a warm spring breeze.

But now, everything was silent.

Ye Qing stared at her, and suddenly, a profound sense of loss and pain welled up, intense and overwhelming.

Qianqian was dead.

Who, and for what?

As soon as this thought arose, a mysterious answer came to him, making him catch his breath.

Anger, hatred, and enlightenment surged in his heart, transforming into a flame like a red lotus—was it because I was not strong enough that she had to sacrifice herself for me?

How strong must I be to be enough?

Before this great calamity arrives?

"Master, Master... Why are you having a nightmare? Wake up!"

Feeling hands pushing him, Ye Qing shivered and woke up. He looked around and saw that he was still in the inn bed, a book fallen nearby, the cool breeze blowing through the window, and Qianqian looking at him with concern, pushing him.

Recalling the dream, it was vivid in his mind. Ye Qing was dazed for a moment, gradually coming to his senses. He pulled Qianqian closer and said, "It's nothing, just a nightmare."

But his eyes, looking down, became even more profound.