Chapter 373

The lame old man's face was as dark as water, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Xie Guan, don't think that the old monk Lianchi is here to protect you."

"You, a concubine-born son burdened with crimes, are you truly not afraid that I will tear you apart right here?"

The old man's words were full of threats, as if he were about to strike the next moment.

Seeing this, the chief eunuch hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him, saying anxiously, "Old Man Chang, you must not be impulsive!"

"The Third Master and Su Xiang are both waiting for a reply; Xie Guan has already written the poem, let's hurry and report back."

The old eunuch tried to ease the atmosphere, turning to look at Xie Guan, his tone urgent, "Young Master Guan, isn't that right?"

Yu Ke smiled comfortably to the side, pointing at the wine pot on the table, seemingly indifferent to the tension before him.

"Is a concubine-born son's life unimportant?"

Yu Ke spoke indifferently, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of coldness.

"I only know that my, Xie Guan's, life is heavier than the heavens."

"A gentleman should value his own body; my life is precious beyond words."

Hearing this, the lame old man's face darkened further, and his eighth-grade martial cultivation was released instantly, a powerful aura pressing down like layers of dense rain, making it hard to breathe.

Seeing this, the old eunuch's heart tightened.

"Old Man Chang, stop!"

Although he was also a martial artist of the upper three grades, he was ultimately no match for this old man who had always followed Su Xiang.

The old eunuch was anxious but dared not move to stop him.

But how could this young man withstand the pressure of a martial arts expert?

He must not let anything go wrong, causing trouble and ultimately displeasing Su Xiang and the Third Master.

Surprisingly!

The thin youth behind the desk, under the lame old man's pressure, remained unmoved, like an unshakable mountain.

Xie Guan, could it be that he possessed both martial arts and primordial spirit cultivation?

But even so, at his age, how could he withstand the pressure of a ninth-grade martial artist in the Xuan Dan Realm?

The great cauldron in Yu Ke's sea of consciousness rang silently, as if the heavens and earth were resonating, spitting out ten thousand rays of rosy light!

A faint, mysterious, and indescribable aura circulated throughout his entire body.

"I use the divine artifact to suppress my body!"

Following his memory, he had just learned a move from the "Jin Gang Zen Tathagata Jade Hand" in the carriage pavilion—"Buddha Hand Startling Waves."

A brilliant golden glazed Buddha hand appeared around him, like a guardian diamond, firmly gripping his form and resisting the external pressure.

Yu Ke was not worried about exposing his own cultivation and this Buddha hand.

After all, the lame old man had likely already reported his background to Su Xiang.

Su Jing already knew about his encounter with the Demon Master and Master Lianchi in the carriage pavilion.

A hint of surprise flashed in the old eunuch's eyes, and he muttered in a low voice: "Buddhist martial arts!"

His heart was full of doubts; wasn't this Xie Guan reported to be in close contact with the Sanzhen Sect?

How did he get involved with Buddhism again?

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly subtle!

Seeing that he couldn't suppress Xie Guan, the lame old man's aura climbed again, his blood and qi surging like a collapsing snow mountain, and a magnificent phenomenon suddenly appeared!

His true eighth-grade cultivation was revealed without reservation.

He snorted coldly, and his power swept out like a tide; the table made a "clucking" sound under this pressure, as if it were about to shatter at any moment.

The old eunuch's face changed; oh no, Old Man Chang was getting serious!

The lame old man was clearly trying to subdue him with force!

The lame old man was trying his best to control his power, otherwise, this quiet room would likely have been crushed to pieces long ago.

However!

Shockingly, Yu Ke's expression remained calm, as if a gentle breeze were brushing his face, with not a ripple in the water.

Xie Guan was even more unresponsive, as if he were ignoring the pressure.

The lame old man was secretly shocked; he never expected that a dignified eighth-grade martial artist could not suppress this youth!"

Yu Ke just smiled indifferently, reaching out to push the cup on the table toward the lame old man, his movements calm and unhurried.

The old man's face was grim, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes, but in the end, his gaze fell on the youth's calm side profile, and he forcibly suppressed his anger.

"Good!"

The lame old man said in a deep voice, "Xie Guan, this old man will pour you wine."

The aura on the lame old man's body was restrained, and the surging blood and qi of the snow mountain also disappeared.

Yu Ke's heart stirred, and the golden glazed Buddha hand vanished.

The quiet room returned to peace.

The old eunuch breathed a long sigh of relief.

The lame old man picked up the wine pot, shook it slightly, and the pot's spout poured out steaming, clear wine, filling the cup.

Seeing this scene, the old eunuch couldn't help but feel moved; Old Man Chang had followed Su Xiang since he was a child, and in Bianjing, even the powerful nobles of the nine great surnames had never made him bow his head, let alone pour wine himself.

Today, he had actually broken his rule for this youth!

In the quiet room, the atmosphere settled down.

The youth was heroic, drinking the warmed wine in one gulp without hesitation, and said loudly: "Good wine!"

After speaking, he laughed, "One matter should not trouble two masters; I trouble you to fill it for me again."

The lame old man's hand holding the pot trembled slightly, the veins on his forehead bulging, but he followed orders and tilted the pot again, the fragrance of wine overflowing.

To the side, the old eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead, his expression nervous.

Seeing this, Yu Ke slowly loosened his hand, letting the lame old man take back the paper with the poem he had just written.

The old man did not linger for a moment, turned, and left, leaving only one sentence behind.

"Xie Guan, take care of yourself; if this poem can catch Su Xiang's eye, it will be a great fortune."

"Otherwise, this old man will definitely let you experience what truly good wine is."

Especially the last two words, "good wine," were spoken in an icy tone, making one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

Yu Ke nodded indifferently, not minding at all.

That person who suppressed the prosperous age with one man, whose every utterance was the elegance of a vast nation with ten thousand states coming to pay homage.

Later generations admired his name and honored him as the Exiled Immortal.

His poems would naturally be passed down through the ages and shine in the history books.

After the old eunuch apologized to Xie Guan, he also left.

Yu Ke sat peacefully in the quiet room, not in a hurry.

This personal participation was a truly rare experience.

The feeling of being immersed in the scene had a wonderful, indescribable flavor.

He felt as if he had transformed into "Xie Guan," yet he was clearly aware that he was not the real him.

This feeling of walking in a dream, yet suddenly "waking from the dream," was truly too miraculous.

Yu Ke thought from Xie Guan's perspective, his spiritual sense becoming clearer than ever before; the obscure and difficult parts he had encountered in his primordial spirit cultivation in the past were suddenly understood.

The bottlenecks in his martial arts progress were also suddenly cleared. This experience, like "observing the Dao," was something he had never had in his previous life as Lu Chen during his "Heavenly Human Reincarnation."

"Service upgraded again!"

"Ah Ding, have you evolved secretly again?"

The great cauldron did not speak, only vibrating.

However!

Every time Yu Ke's personal participation ended, memories of martial arts cultivation and even most life experiences would disappear without a trace.

All gains could only be acquired after the "Heavenly Human Reincarnation" simulation ended.

This was like a "cognitive barrier," like a firewall in a program.

Yu Ke understood that without this layer of protection, just relying on the decades of memories from his first life as Lu Chen, he would likely be unable to bear it, and might even be unable to distinguish whether he was "Yu Ke" or Lu Chen.

Yu Ke warned himself, no matter how many times he reincarnated as a heavenly human.

Yu Ke would still be Yu Ke.

I have circled with myself for a long time; I would rather be myself.

～

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"It's been so long, and several more courtesans have taken the stage; the Flower Banquet is about to end."

"Why is there still no movement from above?"

Xie Yuan paced back and forth on the second floor, appearing somewhat anxious.

On Lady Xu's advice, they did not go upstairs to seek help from their elders, only letting Xie Qiyue go up to gather information.

If there was news of Xie Guan on the third floor, it would be passed down immediately.

Although Zhang Yunzhi's expression was calm, her hands were tightly clasped between her legs, revealing her inner anxiety.

Xue Hong had originally wanted to follow to the third floor, but was blocked by Xie Qiyue.

Li Shuwan pondered for a moment and said: "The Flower Banquet is likely about to end; Young Master Guan should have already finished the poem."

Xu Yuexi's gaze also turned toward the third floor, though her heart was thinking of other things.

Today, great grandmasters who shook the world, like the Demon Master and Master Lianchi, had gathered in Bianjing; what exactly were they intending?

She felt a faint sense of unease in her heart.

The academy was no longer the academy of the past; the four masters had long since gone their separate ways.

The Demon Master represented the Golden Family of the grasslands, the Eternal Heaven of the north!

Master Lianchi was the world-traveler of the Southern Buddhist Kingdom's Dongsheng Sect.

Coming to Bianjing, Xu Xiyue guessed, could it be for the academy?

Now, the academy's Third Master was at the Flower Banquet, and only the seriously ill Second Master remained to guard it.

Could their goal be to assassinate the Second Master?

Xu Xiyue thought of this, but then shook her head, denying the thought.

The academy was the hub of Bianjing's Jing Shen Array; who would dare to break in easily?

Then, what exactly were these two great grandmasters intending by coming to Bianjing this time?

Xu Xiyue's heart was full of doubts, and she felt a faint undercurrent surging.

To the side, Zhao Yang's mouth lifted in a smile, and he said leisurely: "What are you waiting for? The news that comes down later will likely be the news of Xie Guan's death."

Hearing this, Xie Yuan frowned tightly and retorted impatiently:

"Zhao Yang, if you don't want to wait, you can leave now."

"Seeing you is bad luck; it's truly annoying."

Seeing the anxious expressions of Xie Yuan and the others, Zhao Yang felt a bit more pleasure in his heart.

He toyed with the hand warmer in his hand, his smile deepening, and he said slowly:

"This young master insists on staying to see with my own eyes how Xie Guan is thrown into prison and how he is executed."

A rare look of joy appeared on Xie Renfeng's face to the side, as if he were full of anticipation for what was about to happen.

Hearing this, Zhang Yunzhi's face turned a shade paler.

Seeing this, Li Shuwan stroked her back and comforted her softly: "Young Master Guan is a lucky person; Sister Yunzhi doesn't need to worry too much."

Zhang Yunzhi shook her head gently, sighed slowly, and thought of her father, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Her father was an upright and incorruptible official who was unwilling to go along with the corrupt, let alone form cliques for personal gain; he had an excellent reputation among the people and was praised as a good official who was devoted to the people.

However, the world is unpredictable!

Just because of a land dispute between some commoners and the children of the nine great surnames, her father, although one of the nine great surnames himself, stood on the side of the commoners.

Those few acres of thin fields might just be the cost of an ordinary banquet to the nine great surnames, but they were the foundation of the commoners' livelihood.

Her father couldn't bear it; seeing the mother and son kneeling at the gate of the government office, he made up his mind to arrest the young master of the nine great surnames and pass judgment in court.

However, things were unpredictable, and this small matter ended up causing a huge stir in the city.

Her father was demoted because of this and sent far away to Zehu.

Her mother suffered because of this, becoming increasingly haggard, and the family had been unable to reunite for many years.

The young masters of the nine great surnames treated human life like grass but remained carefree.

This world always makes things difficult for good people.

Heaven is always heartless, just coldly watching the common people.

At the Flower Banquet, the nine great surnames spent money like water, extravagant and unrestrained.

While outside the capital, disaster victims were like a tide, displaced and homeless.

Young Master Guan had suffered his whole life, clearly full of talent that could not be displayed; it shouldn't have been like this!

Just then!

Xie Yuan noticed a graceful figure walking slowly down the stairs.

"Xie Qiyue, you're finally here! What's the situation up there?" Xie Yuan asked urgently.

Xie Qiyue walked over quickly, grabbed the tea on the table, and gulped it down.

Zhang Yunzhi hurriedly stepped forward and said softly, "Qiyue, drink slowly, don't choke."

Xue Hong also hurriedly moved a chair for her, his face full of concern.

Xie Yuan couldn't suppress his anxiety and pursued: "Big Miss Qiyue, what exactly happened up there? How is Brother Guan?"

Xie Qiyue caught her breath, kicked Xie Yuan, and chided: "Now you know to call me sister?"

She had wanted to mock Xie Yuan a few more times, but touching Zhang Yunzhi's concerned gaze, she had to cough lightly, put away her joking heart, and said seriously:

"Fourth Cousin, set your heart at ease."

"Xie Guan has already presented his poem to the fourth floor."

"I was on the same floor as Father earlier; the floor was full of Xie family elders, and I kept calling out uncle, uncle, until I was... parched."

"I saw the chief eunuch from the palace and Old Man Chang from the Su family walk up to the fourth floor, so I hurried down."

Hearing this, Zhang Yunzhi's heart couldn't help but tighten; Young Master Guan's poem had already been presented.

Xie Renfeng had also been paying attention here; hearing this, his gaze turned to the fourth floor, and he pondered inwardly.

Xie Guan's poem was finished; he didn't know if it could catch Su Xiang's eye.

Everyone fell into deep thought!

Xie Qiyue suddenly mentioned something, saying that on the third floor, while Xie Guan was writing his poem, he had actually made Old Man Chang of the Su family grind ink, warm wine, and pour wine for him.

Hearing this, Li Shuwan's eyes were full of surprise. This Old Man Chang was always by Su Xiang's side, his status was revered, and even the people of the nine great surnames had to respectfully call him "Old Man Chang" when they saw him.

And Xie Guan actually dared to let him do such trivial things; even the heads of the nine great surnames wouldn't dare to do such a thing.

Xie Guan's actions could truly be called wild and unrestrained.

Hearing this, Xie Yuan laughed loudly: "Brother Guan has never been one to suffer a loss."

Xu Xiyue also recovered from her deep thought and said softly: "You don't need to worry; since Young Master Guan can ascend this Inviting Immortal Tower, he naturally knows what he is doing."

The worry in Zhang Yunzhi's heart fell away a little.

Li Shuwan looked forward to Xie Guan's poem even more; she had copied down all three of Xie Guan's poems from today.

Xie Renfeng's face turned cold again.

If Xie Guan could really win Su Xiang's appreciation this time and escape death.

Tomorrow he would really be the one to suppress the elegance of all the courtesans at the Flower Banquet.

This was something he hoped never to see.

Zhao Yang mocked from the side: "Even if he writes it, so what? In such a short time, what kind of masterpiece could he write?"

"If it were me, I'd rather not write it than risk becoming a laughingstock and leaving behind a joke after death."

"He finally managed to accumulate some reputation today; if Su Xiang criticizes his poem as too poor later, not only will his life be in danger, but he will also lose all face."

His words were spoken slowly, carrying a hint of sarcasm and disdain.

Yet they were all the truth.

Li Shuwan and the others did not refute him.

Where in the world are there so many masterpieces, let alone composing a poem on the spot?

Poetry and prose require repeated deliberation, especially composing on the spot, which requires talent and state of mind; masterpieces are hard to find and often require repeated carving.

Now, forced into a corner and composing in a rush, with a blade hanging over his head.

A poem written in a rush would likely be hard to make people clap and cheer.

Xie Renfeng felt slightly more at ease.

Zhao Yang looked triumphant, about to say contemptuously, "Look... just wait and see..."

Just then!

From the fourth floor, a loud voice suppressed all the noise and clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Conveying the imperial decree of Su Xiang and the Third Master—"

"Invite Young Master Guan to ascend directly to the fourth floor!"

Xie Renfeng's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

The half-finished sentence in Zhao Yang's throat stuck, and he could no longer spit it out.

(End of chapter)