Chapter 157: Yu Xian'er Actively Invites

Upon hearing the scholar's introduction, a cultivator from Cool Prefecture instantly widened their eyes.

He pointed at the scholar, face full of shock, stammering: "He... he... he isn't the Holy Son Mo Jie of Cool Prefecture's Read Heaven Gate, is he?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up thousands of waves.

Some cultivators also from Cool Prefecture chimed in: "That's right, this person is indeed the Holy Son Mo Jie of Read Heaven Gate; I know him."

"It is said that Read Heaven Gate has a disciple who comprehended the Read Heaven Dao in just three months, using reading to enter the Dao, able to kill amid flying words, with extraordinary talent."

"I never expected him to be that genius disciple."

Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of astonishment.

"Read Heaven Gate, that is a sect power stronger than the Li family and even Three Cliff Mountain."

"It is said that Read Heaven Gate, outside Central Prefecture, is a superpower infinitely close to the Five Great Sects of Central Prefecture."

"No wonder Yu Xian'er is so interested in Mo Jie—he has outstanding talent, extraordinary background, and is well versed in poetry and books, far beyond us who only know drinking and merrymaking."

In the crowd, someone whispered, their words full of envy and jealousy.

At that moment, Mo Jie's eyes also flashed with fervent light; he slowly said: "If Miss Xian'er also enjoys reading and writing poetry, I happen to have collected some rare fine books and poems, as well as some of my own compositions."

"I dare to ask, may I invite Miss Xian'er to share a table and discuss reading together?"

After all, a graceful lady, a gentleman seeks a good match; with Yu Xian'er's beauty, how could he not be moved?

However, Yu Xian'er merely looked at him quietly; after a moment, she gently shook her head.

She said: "No need; if you can write an excellent piece in this literary contest and win first place, we can talk further."

Seeing this, the crowd let out another gasp.

"So it turns out Yu Xian'er really does like scholars."

"I don't know if this rough fellow of mine can win first place in the literary contest."

Saying that, a very proper swordsman glanced at his own hands, thick with calluses from long-term sword grip.

He sighed helplessly, then turned to a cultivator nearby and asked: "By the way, brother, do you know how to hold a brush?"

Upon hearing that, the cultivator stared speechlessly at the swordsman: someone who doesn't even know how to hold a brush also wants to win first place in the literary contest?

Truly laughable.

Immediately, the cultivator raised his head and responded to the swordsman with a light, indifferent tone: "Heh, actually I don't know either; my hands have always gripped a big hammer."

Thus, such voices rose and fell throughout the hall.

The people either self-mocked or felt envy, their expressions varied.

Meanwhile, Mo Jie beside her gave a faint smile, a flash of determined light in his eyes, and confidently said to Yu Xian'er: "Miss Xian'er, first place in the literary contest?"

"I am not talented, but I will first win first place in the literary contest, then sit and drink with Miss Xian'er."

"In the whole Mysterious Yellow Continent, if one says his talent isn't the strongest, but when it comes to reading, he claims second place, and no one dares claim first."

"Using reading to enter the Dao, killing amid flying words—this is no joke."

"His reading ability is top-tier even in Read Heaven Gate, while these rough fellows trying to compare themselves with him are simply laughable."

Yu Xian'er nodded and smiled: "Then go for it; I hope you produce a stunning, shocking verse."

She came here naturally also to seek a stunning, shocking piece to break her own heart-knot.

Upon saying that, everyone was again bewitched by Yu Xian'er, their souls overturned; they showed envious, jealous, hateful looks toward Mo Jie beside them, and felt deep regret for not having studied in their youth.

Meanwhile, inside the heaven-character-shaped small private room, Lin Yang had been quietly observing everything happening downstairs in the hall.

"First place in the literary contest?"

A bright light suddenly flashed in his eyes; his heart instantly gained a method to take Yu Xian'er as a disciple.

Next, he walked to the windowsill of the heaven-character-shaped small private room, a particularly conspicuous spot, and deliberately spoke out loudly.

"Fair lady need not fear wind and frost; there will be light to break through the misty skies, Miss Xian'er—let go of things a bit more."

Lin Yang's voice was not loud, yet unusually clear, and it directly pierced into Yu Xian'er's heart and mind, speaking to her innermost feelings.

Yu Xian'er's heart trembled; she hurriedly lifted her head to look at Lin Yang standing at the window of the heaven-character-shaped small private room.

Everyone else expresses love for her with ornate language in poetry, yet only this person voices her inner worries and even lets her let go?

Who exactly is this person? How does he know my worries? Yet she has never seen him before, never met him—how could he perceive these things?

Moreover…

"Fair lady need not fear wind and frost—is he telling her not to fear present difficulties?"

"There will be light to break through the misty skies—is he also giving her guidance toward a bright path?"

The intention is also too obvious.

She softly asked: "Sir, have we met before?"

Lin Yang replied lightly: "Just a first meeting; indeed we have not known each other before."

It is obvious that Lin Yang knows his poem successfully attracted Yu Xian'er's attention.

He indeed has never met Yu Xian'er, but he has the advantage of possessing a system that early on granted him heavenly sight.

He had long known Yu Xian'er's background in his heart.

Yu Xian'er is a daughter of the Imperial Clan, but not the sole child.

If she wishes to obtain the Imperial Clan's inheritance, she must pass the family assessment, standing out among her several siblings; unfortunately, Yu Xian'er's standing in the family is mediocre, and her siblings are extraordinarily strong, so she naturally has no advantage.

Yet she is determined to obtain that Imperial Clan inheritance; the gap between dream and reality fills her with worry.

Moreover, within her Five Emperors bloodline lies a tribulation—the Literary Tribulation.

She must obtain a stunning, shocking piece of writing to break through the Literary Tribulation's obstruction, allowing her strength to rise another level.

Therefore, in the Three Prefectures' land, where dragons and snakes mingle and hidden tigers lie, and with heroic wine beloved by scholars, swordsmen, and martial artists, she came here, becoming a courtesan, making friends through dance, holding a literary contest, hoping vainly that someone would write that stunning, shocking piece to break her heart-knot.

Since Lin Yang knows where Yu Xian'er's heart-knot lies, he has a method to treat it accordingly; when he just now composed a few verses to attract her attention, it was precisely for this purpose.

Regarding Lin Yang's answer, Yu Xian'er naturally held a half-believing, half-doubting mind; after all, someone who can in a single sentence lay bare her inner worries—how could they not know her? Or perhaps they have no motive?

Since you're not at liberty to reveal too much, your poetic talent is extraordinary—would you enter the literary contest? Yu Xian'er asked.

Lin Yang smiled slightly and said: "Miss Yu, don't be surprised that my clumsy brush can rhyme; as for poetry, I'm not especially good—it's just that when the mood strikes, the ink flows naturally."

"As for whether I can enter the literary contest, I'll just follow my mood," Lin Yang said calmly.

He knew in his heart that the initiative was now in his hands; agreeing too soon would make his intentions too obvious.

At this point, he needed to keep Yu Xian'er hooked, making her extremely interested in him, so that taking her as a disciple could proceed naturally.

Upon hearing that, Yu Xian'er was indeed hooked by Lin Yang.

She hastily said: "What if I personally invite you to participate?"