Chapter 17

The youth's sword brows furrowed, his originally gentle and tranquil gaze completely vanished. The girl also stood up, walked to his side, and tightly grasped his hand.

Though it was only a pause, still less than a breath, the youth said, "Wait for the lamp to ascend the pavilion, each to attack the book!"

"Good!" The crowd couldn't help but burst into applause; the black-clothed man took the opening to shift sideways a step, backhanded a slash, and mockingly also heavily scored a line across the green-clothed man's chest, yet only his clothing tore, no blood seen.

Could he already be exhausted? I couldn't help but worry endlessly; for some reason, I simply didn't want to see them lose.

"Frozen water splashes the window, east two points, west three points."

The youth quickly replied, "Cut melon, split slices, seven horizontal cuts, eight vertical cuts."

"The Qian eight trigrams, the Kun eight trigrams, eight times eight sixty-four hexagrams—each hexagram has already fixed heaven and earth."

The youth's face flushed, he glanced at the girl, yet immediately replied, "Nine cries of the phoenix, nine cries of the crane, nine times nine eighty-one cries—each cry the phoenix and crane harmonizing."

The girl was also embarrassed, wanting to pull back her hand that she had been holding, but she couldn't.

The Fourth Prince's eyes shifted, his voice sounded again: "Lute, harp, pipa, like the eight great kings' appearance."

As soon as this couplet appeared, we couldn't help but curse him for being shameless; everyone knows it's an ancient absolute verse, even he himself doesn't know it, so how could anyone possibly match it in an instant?

"Demons and monsters, each of the four little ghosts has its own intestines!" The girl's voice was clear and pleasant, yet her tone was full of resentment.

Just as everyone, including the Fourth Prince, was stunned, the black-clothed man moved; he thrust out his left fist, but upon reaching the opponent's chest it suddenly turned into a palm, only hearing a muffled groan, the green-clothed man stood there holding his sword, unable to keep from pressing a hand to his chest and spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The black-clothed man stepped aside, his black blade actually returned to its sheath, though his hands still tightly gripped the hilt.

The Fourth Prince panicked, momentarily unable to think of a way to stump them; seeing the black-clothed man about to strike, he suddenly relaxed his brows and said: "Gazing River Pavilion, Gazing River Flow, on the Gazing River Pavilion gazes the Gazing River Flow; the pavilion stands for eternity, the flow endures forever."

I hadn't even had time to be astonished that the Fourth Prince would produce another couplet already matched, when I heard him say: "I want you to make another pair."

Everyone suddenly realized, and instantly became furious. Matching couplets is most prone to stagnating thought; once one thing is matched to another, it's set, and how could it be easily changed, let alone such an ancient absolute.

The green-clothed man steadied his breath, his eyes flashing with killing intent as he charged forward with his sword.

The youth glanced at the lone-standing black-clothed man, and for the first time a cold smile appeared on his utterly beautiful face, saying: "Sorry, you're all doomed to lose!"

"Poetry competition platform, poetry competition talent, on the poetry competition platform stands the poetry competition talent; the platform is unmatched, the talent is unmatched."

A burst of white light instantly spread around the black-clothed man, as if a huge dragon had suddenly roared forth, rushing straight at the green-clothed man. In the final instant, I only saw the black blade flashing with dazzling white light, carrying the force of a thousand jun, slashing horizontally down onto the green-clothed man.

After a thunderous roar, everything returned to calm; the black-clothed man, with a cold face, sheathed his black blade, not even glancing at the green-clothed man lying on the ground.

The Fourth Prince hurried over somewhat flustered, seeing him motionless, his voice slightly trembling as he asked: "Is he dead?"

"No." The divine doctor youth, while staunching the black-clothed man's blood, shook his head expressionlessly, saying: "The night's blade cannot kill him."

The Fourth Prince was about to ask what he meant, when the green-clothed man struggled to his feet, spat another mouthful of blood, and said: "My lord, don't rush, Qing Tong is fine. His blade has no edge."

"What?" The Fourth Prince blinked in surprise.

We too were astonished beyond measure—he, in a state of only defending, unable to move freely, fought with a bladeless sword against the Fourth Prince's top aide, Qing Tong, for so long and ultimately won!

After all, Qing Tong is ranked among the top three experts of Yin Country; just how deep and unfathomable is this person's strength?

Qing Tong clasped his fists toward the black-clothed man and said: "Thank you, sir, for showing mercy."

The black-clothed man's face turned cold, as if he had glared at the girl, then he said: "I didn't."

The girl stuck out her tongue, released the divine doctor youth's hand, and said: "Fourth Prince, can we consider ourselves to have passed the trial?"

The Fourth Prince blinked, then somewhat sheepishly said: "I have offended you greatly; I merely wished to gauge the three of your abilities, and I hope you won't hold it against me."

He then straightened his expression and said: "The next trial is also the final one; passing this trial makes you the sole person in a hundred years to have cleared all of Gazing River Pavilion's stages, destined to be remembered for eternity. This trial is not inherently difficult; it remains a matter of composing poetry to fit the scene, but the difficulty lies in the examiner."

After a brief pause, his gaze deepened: "A thousand miles of dust and smoke, arrogant to the nine heavens; who under heaven does not know him? —You three surely know who this is, right?"

Upon hearing this, both the youth and the black-clothed man turned pale.

At this moment no one pondered why they changed color; they were simply stunned by this line of poetry, for only one person in the world could live up to it—the number one talent under heaven, Lord Overheaven.

I don't know how we came to the final trial's venue; even before entering, the scent of wine assailed our noses, and we all felt drunk despite not having drunk.

Entering the "Unasked Pavilion", we saw a person clad in red already seated in the room, holding a wine pot and pouring for himself—it was Lord Overheaven. No one in the world could wear red with such domineering ease as a matter of course, except him; no one would even imagine a second.

Upon hearing the crowd enter, he didn't lift his head and said: "I've been waiting for you a long time."

But no one knew whom he was waiting for.

Only see the divine doctor youth furrow his brow, helplessly sit opposite him, and say: "Long time no see."

I hadn't expected the two to be old acquaintances; now even the Fourth Prince and the girl found it strange.

"Qi Ran, do you know each other?" the girl asked, then clapped her hands and laughed, saying: "Then can we bend the rules for this trial?"

The youth gave a wry smile: "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

Lord Overheaven lifted his head, glancing at the girl as if unintentionally; that glance wasn't outright contempt, yet it gave the feeling of being superior, and he said lightly: "Miss, do you still wish to take on this round?"

The girl hastily waved her hand: "I can't do it; better leave it to Qi Ran."

The youth couldn't help but laugh, saying: "I've already answered three rounds in a row; surely this round should also be your turn to contribute."

The girl was about to act shameless, but she heard Lord Overheaven laugh mockingly, leaned close to her ear and said a few words. The girl's expression instantly changed, her face turning deathly pale, while the crisscrossing scars on her face became even more pronounced.

The divine doctor youth's eyes turned cold, about to speak, but the girl bit her cherry lip and said: "You'd better not regret this decision. Pose the question!"

Lord Overheaven laughed heartily, drained a cup of wine, and said: "Alright, let's take wine as the topic."

Saying this, he pushed the wine toward the girl's face and said: "You can still back out now."

The youth's expression was unpleasant, but he didn't speak; he furrowed his brows, about to drain a cup of wine. The girl and the black-clothed man beside him, however, snatched the cup from his hand in unison, shouting: "What are you doing?"

The divine doctor youth gave a bitter smile, but did not insist further.

The girl's expression remained calm, she said coldly: "Lord Overheaven, can we begin?"

Lord Overheaven smiled slightly with admiration, waved his hand, and said: "Bring seven wine cups!"

The wine cups were brought; Lord Overheaven filled each one, then proudly said: "Then let me begin first!"

As soon as those words fell, he somehow shuddered all over, his whole body emanating boundless aura and charm. He lifted a cup of wine, drained it in one gulp, raised his head, and chanted: "The sun and moon seem to have matters; in one night they traverse a circuit."

The second cup was also drained in one gulp.

"Even plants and trees must grow old; can a life be free of worry?"

The crowd couldn't help but shout their approval; this poem is truly marvelous beyond words, Lord Overheaven indeed lives up to his reputation as the number one talent under heaven.

Third cup.

【One drink unties a hundred knots; a second drink dispels a hundred worries.】

Fourth cup.

【White hair despises the poor and lowly; it does not enter the drunkard's head.】

Fifth cup.

【I wish the East Sea's water would flow entirely into my cup.】

Sixth cup, Aotian Jun glanced at the Divine Doctor youth with a faint smile, raised his cup, and immediately drained it.

【How can we get Ruan Bubing to join us in wandering Drunken Village?】

At the moment the wine cup was set down, thunderous applause rang out in the hall. If before everyone only knew the reputation of the Number One Genius Under Heaven, then now they finally understood the true strength and natural aura of the Number One Genius Under Heaven.

A poem in seven steps—truly a sudden and extraordinary talent!

Aotian Jun lightly smiled at the girl and said, 'If you now seek his help, it's not too late.'

The girl was not angry; her face remained surprisingly calm. She said, 'I think it's unnecessary. Although it's not me defeating you, it's a pity—you will surely lose today!'

Aotian Jun stared, then somewhat annoyed said, 'Big talk is only for now; miss, please.'

The girl smiled faintly, as if she did not take Aotian Jun's name to heart at all. She slowly took the wine cup, likewise filled it to seven cups, and said, 'I will return these words to you unchanged, sir!'

Aotian Jun had by then calmed down, probably also feeling that competing with a little girl would be beneath his dignity, so he coldly watched her imitate his actions.

The girl grasped the cup with her slender hand, her gaze deepening, clear and bright like amber, her heroic spirit not inferior to Aotian Jun's.

She drained the cup and recited a poem. Though her voice still sounded youthful and immature, her momentum only grew: 'You do not see the Yellow River's waters rising above, flowing to the sea never to return. You do not see the bright mirror in the high hall lamenting white hair— in the morning like black silk, by evening like snow.'

The girl gave no one time to recover, her hand nonstop, she drained the second cup.

'When life goes well, one must indulge to the fullest; do not let the golden cup face the moon in vain. Heaven endowed me with talent for a purpose—though a thousand gold be squandered, they will return.'

'Clang—' Aotian Jun's wine cup fell from his hand without him realizing, and the hall grew even quieter than during the duel, so quiet that even breathing seemed deliberately suppressed.

The girl, however, did not stop at all, her gaze burning as she looked at the crowd, yet also as if she saw nothing.

'Cooking sheep and slaughtering cattle for fun, one must drink three hundred cups.'

The girl seemed somewhat unsteady on her feet, yet she still drained the fourth cup without furrowing her brow.

'Cen Fuzi, Dan Qiu Sheng, bring the wine, let the cup never stop. Sing a song with me, and lend me your ear.'

Fifth cup, the room remained silent, breath stagnant. The girl smiled and drained it.

'Bells, drums, jade and feasts are not precious; I only wish to stay drunk and never wake. Since ancient times, sages and worthies have been lonely—only drinkers leave their names.'

Sixth cup, the girl used her jade hand, already flushed with a faint peach‑red, to lean on the table edge, and drained it again.

'Chen Wang once feasted in Peaceful Joy, ten thousand cups of wine flowing freely in merriment. Why does the host speak of little money? Simply buy wine and pour for you.'

The slightly intoxicated girl exuded an aura of dominance. Her face was peach‑blushed, still bearing a ferocious scar, a vivid crimson, yet against the backdrop of her eyes—clear as amber, transparent as crystal—she appeared extraordinarily beautiful, captivating the heart.

The final cup, the girl gave a faint glance with those eyes etched into people's hearts, and drained it.

'Bang—' the tremendous impact of the cup bottom against the table echoed with the resonance of timeless verses.

'Five‑flowered steed, fur of a thousand gold, call the boy to go exchange for fine wine. Together we shall dispel ten thousand ages of sorrow.'

The girl turned toward the dazed Aotian Jun, who was in a dazed state, and hazily laughed, 'Number One Genius Under Heaven, I…… have I passed the trial?'

Before her words faded, her body went limp and she toppled backward.

The Divine Doctor youth reacted just as swiftly, stepping forward in a single stride to embrace her in his arms, and told the crowd, 'It's already late; regardless of whether we count this as passing the trial, I must take my leave!'

The Fourth Prince stepped forward just in time to block his path, and the black‑clad man behind the youth had already gripped his sword hilt.

The Fourth Prince hastily waved his hand and said, 'I harbor no ill will; this piece of jade from the Gazing-Heaven Pavilion is what the three of you deserve.'

He then took out a piece of snow‑white, translucent jade, on which a few characters were inlaid in gold: 'Gazing-Heaven Pavilion Chief'.

The youth pondered briefly, took it, and said, 'Thank you.'

'Young…… master……' Aotian Jun's voice rang out, 'Please take care.'

The youth turned his head to look at him, solemnly nodded, and said, 'You too!'

Having said that, he embraced the sleeping girl, and without looking back, the black‑clad man left the Lookout-Heaven Pavilion, leaving behind only the legend that filled the tower. »

When the middle‑aged man finished speaking, it was already approaching dusk; the golden slanting sunlight streamed into the spacious hall, casting brilliant light, as if, before the thoughtful crowd, it reenacted that astonishing, world‑shaking contest of old.

(End of chapter)