CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 157 LI ZIJUN... WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS SHE?_2

Xiao Ruoching stared blankly at this scene, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Though she herself didn’t understand poetry, witnessing an even grander spectacle than before elicited a soft sigh.

The master is indeed like this... in every life.

Su Bei was instantly stunned. His heart seemed to stop for a moment. Then, a faint chill crawled up his back, and a cold breeze blew by, filling him with an icy coldness.

He truly had never composed this poem!

From where, then, did Li Zijun know of it?

Perhaps... it was a possibility Su Bei didn’t want to accept, yet it was somehow conceivable.

Could she, like him, also come from Blue Star? Only this explanation made sense!

Er Xia watched Su Bei for a long while, noticing he seemed lost in thought. Glancing at the poem appearing in the sky, Er Xia instinctively felt it was incomplete. Below the city walls, the crowd of Confucian scholars also began to discuss:

"This poem should have a second half; we just don’t know if Elder Su can still craft words of such artistic conception..."

"Elder Su’s first half was already divinely inspired, but now he’s hesitating. Could it be he hasn’t thought of the rest?"

"..."

After all, composing poetry isn’t something done on a whim; perhaps this was all there was to it, a perfect quatrain.

Er Xia looked up at the sky with hopeful eyes, wishing the remaining lines of the poem would miraculously appear. At that moment, countless people were gazing at the sky as the golden light shone brilliantly, making the first half of the poem sparkle!

"Moth-wing hairpins, snow-willow ornaments, threaded with gold,

Her laughter, a soft fragrance, fades into the night.

Through the crowd, I searched for her a thousand times,

Then, suddenly turning my head—

There she is, where the lanterns dimly burn."

Su Bei silently recited the latter half of the poem, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the three women in the distance.

In a flash, endless golden light surged between heaven and earth, and the sky revealed the second half of the poem!

At this moment, the world fell silent!

Only a resonant dragon’s cry was heard as a Golden Carp leaped from the water, soaring towards the bright moon!

Xiao Ruoching, not far away, stared blankly at the spectacle before her, her eyes blinking as she gazed at the completed poem in the sky.

She was stunned for a moment, murmuring softly, "There she is... where the lanterns dimly burn..."

Then, her face flushed like the rosy dawn. Under the glow of the sky’s myriad lanterns and golden light, she watched Su Bei’s backward glance, an intoxicating blush creeping to her ears. A hand delicately held the hem of her moonlit Qing Luo dress as her three thousand strands of black hair swayed in the wind.

That person... who were they talking about?

Was it me?

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP—

Applause broke out. Li Zhidong, smiling, looked at Su Bei and began to clap. Soon, applause echoed throughout the heavens and earth!

At this moment, everyone present, whether literate or not, was silently savoring the ambience captured within the poem.

Er Xia stroked his beard, his face flushed with delight, and looked meaningfully at Su Bei, saying, "The first and second stanzas are perfectly structured, but the artistic conception is paramount... The overall impression masterfully sketches a scene where visitors are like a woven tapestry and court ladies like clouds; the imagery leaps from the page..."

"Just the line ’lanterns like a thousand flowering trees, stars falling like rain’ portrays this scene and sentiment so vividly! The first stanza sets a lively scene, while the second concludes with quietude, creating a sharp, intense contrast! And that final line, so unexpected..."

"It seems I’ve disturbed Elder Su, possibly delaying that person awaiting him where the lights dimly burn..."

Su Bei, however, wore an expression of sudden understanding. Perhaps in the past, he might have nonchalantly accepted the multitude of compliments with an air of effortless grace, but now, he truly couldn’t bring himself to put on an act.

Upon realizing there was likely another transmigrator like himself in this world, Su Bei didn’t know what emotions to feel or how to face this possibility.

He sat down quietly, allowing the celestial phenomenon to unfold, looked at Er Xia, and suddenly asked, "Mr. Er Xia, Li Zijun... what kind of person is she?"

A question Su Bei feared would haunt him if left unanswered now filled his heart with doubt.

Er Xia was taken aback. Wearing a somewhat odd expression, he assumed Su Bei perhaps had a fondness for Li Zijun or was merely being polite. He laughed, saying, "Miss Zijun is very gentle. Recently, however, she has become very admiring of Elder Su and is extremely fond of his poetry and literary works."

Recently? Su Bei latched onto this critical word.

His eyes half-closed, with a casual air, he pretended to ask carelessly, "So, Miss Zijun didn’t like Su Mou’s poetry before?"

Er Xia laughed heartily and said, "Although Elder Su’s poetry is somewhat controversial, Miss Zijun has always liked it. It’s just that, in the past, her admiration wasn’t as frequent as it has become recently. Nowadays, she visits to appreciate his work very often—every few days, in fact."

Su Bei hesitated for a moment, then continued, "How recent is ’recently’?"

Er Xia looked at Su Bei with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he had suddenly become so interested in Li Zijun.

Su Bei, realizing his questions had been a bit too probing, quickly added with a smile, "Su Mou saw this child at the Sword Sect’s longevity feast a few days ago. I took a liking to her, so I was just curiously asking a bit more. My apologies, my apologies!"

Er Xia also laughed it off, waved his hand, and said, "No harm done. ’Recently’... perhaps about a month ago? I can’t say exactly when..."

A month ago? Su Bei carefully recalled this timeline. What was I doing back then?

Was it when he accepted his eldest disciple, Xiao Ruoching?

His thoughts were somewhat muddled.

「The Northern Border Pass.」

This was the first pass at the border between the South Wind Ancient Country and the Dongfeng Ancient Country.

Of the Twenty-One Provinces in the world, the Dongfeng Ancient Country occupied the lands of the Nine Northern States, while the twelve southern provinces belonged to the South Wind Ancient Country. Thus, they were commonly known as the Nine Northern States and the Twelve Southern Provinces.

After crossing the Broken Sword River, one had already entered the territory of the South Wind Ancient Country. The biting cold of Dongfeng was gone, replaced by a gentle warmth.

In this gentle breeze, several boats crisscrossed the river’s surface. Willows lined both banks, swaying gracefully. Orioles flitted among the lush grass. On the soft earth, scholars and ladies on horseback enjoyed the spring outing—a perfect tableau of Jiangnan in spring.

This was Jiangnan, renowned throughout the entire Twelve Southern Provinces. Within Jiangnan, Hua Province was the most famous, and Jinling was its crowning jewel.

Li Zijun sat atop the Cow Cart Magic Tool, feeling the warmth of Jiangnan. It was so different from the icy chill of Snow State; every blade of grass and every tree here seemed exceptionally poetic and picturesque.

Suddenly, the man sitting in front of the Cow Cart Magic Tool narrowed his eyes and said lightly, "Miss, sit tight. It seems we’ve attracted some attention."

Li Zijun leaned quietly against the cart wall and asked softly, "Uncle, are you confident?"

They had a considerable escort, and the Confucian School’s flag was openly displayed. Despite this, someone had targeted their decorated cart; the assailants must have come prepared.

Her uncle did not answer. Instead, he addressed the Confucian School disciple driving the cart, "Don’t stop. Keep going, and don’t speed up. Crush the Token and notify the Confucian Sage."

"..."

The disciple nodded.

Her uncle’s Spiritual Energy erupted instantly, swirling around the cart, and he declared, "May our carriage and fine furs, though worn in service, leave us with no regrets!"

"Protect!"

Instantly, bands of Spiritual Energy appeared around the cart, ceaselessly guarding it.

SWOOSH!

An arrow pierced through!

The next moment, an immense Evil Qi transformed into magnificent arrows, rolling in with a dense, bloody stench, heading straight for them.

Around Li Zijun’s body, three auras faintly stirred: the aura of sages, the righteous aura, and the Spring and Autumn Air!

Her eyes opened gently, her long lashes fluttering. Then, she murmured softly, "Evil Qi... the Devouring Heaven Demon Art?"

"..."

With a thunderous roar, the terrifying Spiritual Energy burst apart instantly!

Above, the sky was split: one part pitch black, the other bright.

Then, a hoarse laughter declared, "Daughter of the Confucian Sage, I have been waiting for you for a long time!"

"..."