Chapter 565: Books and Swords Drifting, A Banquet of Blossoms!

【Look outside—overnight, the world has become unrecognizable.】

【The wutong trees outside the house have blossomed with pear flowers.】

【The stone table in the courtyard is buried under thick snow; the large water vat is sealed with a layer of crystal-clear, solid white ice.】

【The chirping of birds is gone—only an endless expanse of white remains.】

【Wutong rubbed her hands; the biting cold rushed against her face, freezing her nose red with every breath.】

【You feel it less deeply now—you don't feel cold at all. In the past one and a half months of martial training, your body has grown much stronger.】

【"Come inside quickly, Young Master—it's freezing out here."】

【You nodded and returned indoors, beginning to light the fire.】

【Though Wutong didn't want you to trouble yourself with such chores, your persistence left her no choice.】

【Beneath the stove, dry firewood and black charcoal were packed in; you rubbed your fingers together, and a wisp of flame sprouted between them—this was the supernatural ability granted by reaching the second realm of Primordial Spirit cultivation: "Still Mind."】

【You activated the "Five Dragon Prosperity Talisman" from the Seven Arts of the Yin Fu Jing—a talisman that enhances Primordial Spirit power—and you could now sketch it within your heart-sea.】

【As soon as you completed the talisman, the flame between your fingers surged violently, igniting the firewood with the heat of your heart and lungs.】

【Soon, the stove blazed fiercely, filling the room with warmth; even the tea on the warming brazier began to bubble gently.】

【You nodded in satisfaction, sat on the heated kang, and picked up the book beside the table to resume reading.】

【Lately, you've been reading only the book borrowed from Xie Yuan—mainly because it costs nothing; when Xie Yuan returns, you'll return it untouched.】

【You possess perfect recall—you long ago finished reading the Confucian classics and have begun studying the teachings of all schools.】

【During this period, the plate of lean meat Wutong adds daily is no longer enough—your appetite has surged dramatically; you now consume four or five catties of meat each day.】

【Of the four hundred taels of silver, after giving fifty to Dong Shao, expenses for winter clothing and furniture replacements were substantial—but the largest expenditure was your food. Gradually, you've already spent seventy or eighty taels.】

【Wutong must assist at the main courtyard in the morning, so she prepared breakfast early and left it in the pot.】

【Wutong learned needlework from your mother and is skillful—every lady in the various courtyards favors her work, and she receives payment for her help.】

【Alone in the room, you read books until noon, then slowly rose to remove the steamed pork from the steamer.】

【One hand held chopsticks to lift the meat, the other wielded the brush with effortless grace, ink flowing like wind.】

【You paid no mind to appearances, copying the calligraphy of Second Master and Xie Hong—and in this period, your skill in calligraphy has advanced rapidly.】

【You possess the talent "Spirit in the Brush"—within a short time, you've fully mastered Xie Hong's script, nearly replicating it perfectly, though lacking its spiritual essence.】

【Second Master's script you've also captured seven or eight tenths of in form and spirit.】

【But for you, it's still not enough.】

【Second Master's cursive script flows like characters falling from heaven—elegant, lofty, as if an immortal were wielding his brush.】

【Xie Hong's regular script—"each character a pearl"—every stroke, momentum, and technique reaches its peak, with no wasted motion.】

【Second Master's cursive. Xie Hong's regular script.】

【You are slowly forging your own style—each stroke carries Second Master's Lingdong spirit and Xie Hong's steady structure.】

【Your characters lie like an ancient dragon curled in a deep pool, move like a flashing sword's cold gleam, flow like iron horses crossing an icy river.】

【After practicing calligraphy, you visualize the Ghost-Slaying Sword—you've found a method to double your progress: you draw the "Ghost-Slaying Sword" you've internalized; each time you sketch it, your understanding of its intent deepens.】

【You slowly picked up your brush and painted: a divine general with a leopard's head, round eyes, thick whiskers, clad in a majestic crimson official robe, a seven-star treasure sword at his waist, leaping vividly onto the paper.】

【It was a "Divine General Capturing Ghosts" painting.】

【Even without dotting the eyes, a fierce, malevolent aura surged from the paper.】

You infused the artistic atmosphere of the "Ghost-Slaying Sword" into the painting—gradually, a sword-like intent, like the clear radiance of moonlight, spread through the "Divine General Capturing Ghosts" image.

【It seemed that the moment you added the pupils, the divine general would burst from the paper, howling to slay ghosts and exorcise evil.】

【Yet you merely blew gently on the paper—every supernatural effect vanished, returning to stillness.】

【After visualizing the "Ghost-Slaying Sword," you did not touch the "Ghost-Slaying Sword" in your heart-sea.】

【Lu Hua's warning still echoed in your ears: a dragon still lurks within the Xie Fu.】

【Just as you prepared to step outside and train in the courtyard, despite the freezing cold, two heavy, shuffling footsteps approached from the gate, crunching through the snow with a "crunch-crunch" sound.】

【You sensed something—just from the footsteps, you guessed one of the visitors' identities.】

【You pushed open the door!】

【You stepped out to meet them—Zhang Yuan and He Xiao walked side by side through the courtyard, each carrying a box of pastries and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.】

【Also wrapped in red paper was a slice of venison, with a character "Fu" written on it.】

【Zhang Yuan smiled broadly, his expression calm—as if he were a frequent visitor—while He Xiao appeared uneasy; since reading to you that one time, he had not set foot in this small courtyard again.】

【You smiled and welcomed them inside; they placed their gifts by the door, both clad in thick padded coats and fur hats, braving the sudden cold.】

【On the steps outside, they shook off the snow and mud from their boots before stepping calmly into the inner room.】

【Inside, the stove blazed warmly, a stark contrast to the freezing outside—revitalizing the spirit.】

【"The weather in Bianjing is utterly unpredictable—in a single day, heavy snowflakes fell like goose feathers," Zhang Yuan said casually, his tone tinged with apology. "Young Master Guan, you've been so busy these past half-months; today, I finally found time to pay a visit."】

【You nodded with a smile: "I was planning to send Wutong to pay you a New Year's greeting in a few days."】

【Your gaze turned to He Xiao, your smile sincere: "Master He, it's been a long time—how have you been?"】

【He Xiao's eyes flickered with complex emotion, then returned to normal; he quickly bowed: "Young Master Guan, you look even better than before."】

【Zhang Yuan nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on you for a moment, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.】

【Before them stood a youth with a simple hairpin holding his black hair, which cascaded over his shoulders, his face as radiant as polished jade.】

【Compared to his former refined, quiet demeanor, his complexion now glowed with a healthy flush—full of vitality, less frail.】

【Had he not dressed so clumsily, he might have passed for a scion of the Nine Great Clans.】

【The two sat on the kang.】

【Zhang Yuan naturally picked up the teapot, boiled water, and brewed tea, even preparing a cup for He Xiao.】

【He also watched He Xiao's expression closely—the once smooth-talking, jovial He Brother now seemed awkward.】

【Zhang Yuan knew full well the reason.】

【Back then, when Xie Guan was blind, he and He Xiao took turns reading to him—a rare bond of kindness.】

【But He Xiao, ever calculating, deemed this illegitimate son of the Xie Fu insignificant—unfavored by the Lady of the House, not worth his time to cultivate.】

【Thus, after Xie Guan regained his sight, he gradually distanced himself, treating the connection as if it never existed.】

Thus, after Xie Guan regained his sight, he gradually distanced himself from this relationship, treating it as if they were strangers.

【Over a month ago, at Su Yun's poetry gathering at Yuehua Pavilion, the final piece presented was this Young Master Guan's incomplete verse—now widely circulated.】

【Especially the line: "When fame is unseen, the heart remains unyielding; I light the lamp again to read my writings"—it stirred the hearts of countless frustrated scholars, who recited it eagerly.】

【"The roc flies north, the phoenix faces the sun, again bearing books and sword on a boundless road"—it inspired longing; many sought to complete the verse to extend its meaning.】

【Xie Guan's name gained some recognition in Xixiang Pavilion.】

【Of course, not all praised him—some mocked him, especially rival poetry circles hostile to the Yuehua gathering, declaring:】

【"A line or two—mere dregs and scraps! This is nothing but a flawed product from a kiln, unworthy of the refined hall."】

【Yet amid these disputes, a famed critic from Xifeng Pavilion, Jin Zitan, remarked: "Judging from the handwriting copied by Xie Guan, there is a hint of Second Master's spirit."】

But amid these debates, a Feng critic who frequented Xifeng Pavilion, Jin Zitan, praised: "From the handwriting Xie Guan copied, there is even a hint of Second Master's spirit."

【They grew curious—who exactly was this Xie Guan? His name had never been heard before.】

【After inquiries, they learned he was merely an illegitimate son of the Xie family—a youth not yet of age—prompting many to look down on him.】

【Worse, rumors spread: he was a boy who read alone in the courtyard, never attended school, deemed "morally worthless" by the Xie Fu, sent to study at the Li family's academy instead of the clan's.】

【Thus, those who had once "elevated" Xie Guan scattered in a flash.】

【Yet unexpectedly!】

【Another half-month later, the line "The roc flies north, the phoenix faces the sun, again bearing books and sword on a boundless road" somehow reached the academy and reached Second Master's ears.】

Another half-month passed, and Xie Guan's line, "The roc flies north, the phoenix faces the sunrise, bearing books and sword on a vast, uncertain path," somehow made its way to the academy and reached the Second Master's ears.

【"The roc flies north, the phoenix faces the sun, again bearing books and sword on a boundless road—now, books and sword drift, lost."】

【The news returned to Xixiang Pavilion!】

【In an instant, a stone stirred a thousand waves—Second Master's completion of the verse spread throughout Bianjing's court and streets.】

【It was said that Minister Su Xiang, upon hearing the verse, sighed deeply and inquired about Xie Guan's name; that night, he summoned Minister of Rites Tang Ziang to play go until dawn.】

【Xie Guan's name was now widely known in Xixiang Pavilion.】

【He Xiao had witnessed this firsthand—Second Master's completion of the verse, Minister Su's inquiry—enough to make his name rise swiftly.】

【He Xiao's visit today was an attempt to cultivate goodwill.】

【Zhang Yuan recounted the recent turmoil at the Yuehua poetry gathering to you, his eyes filled with admiration.】

【He had spent years in Bianjing, hustling tirelessly, yet remained obscure—while this youth, reading quietly in his courtyard, had written verses that stirred the world.】

【As an insider, you had remained secluded in your courtyard, buried in books, unaware of events beyond the Xie Fu.】

【A few days ago, Su Yun came in person, but before you could exchange more than a few words, he hurried away.】

【Wutong, as a maid, knew nothing of these matters.】

【When you heard of Second Master's completion of the verse, you were startled.】

【You and this Second Master truly share an unusual bond—you received his legacy from the lake, and his calligraphy scrolls.】

【Though you've never met him, you've already received his grace.】

【Zhang Yuan teased: "Now, many girls in Xixiang Pavilion are eagerly awaiting your arrival."】

【You shook your head, avoiding the topic—you noticed something different about this Mr. Zhang; he had never before casually mentioned women from Xixiang Pavilion.】

【He Xiao, seeing you seemed unconcerned, thought this was a case of "mending the fold after the sheep were lost"—"warming a cold hearth."】

【"Young Master Guan may not know—Mr. Zhang recently met a courtesan at Yuehua Pavilion; they fell in love at first sight and are now deeply devoted."】

"Young Master Xie may not know, but Brother Zhang recently met a courtesan at Yuehua Pavilion; they fell in love at first sight and are now deeply devoted to each other."

Zhang Yuanlai's face flushed red, and he hastily waved his hands. "It's not even a drop of ink on paper yet—don't go saying such things, Brother He."

You teased, "Master Zhang, you still have quite the market value."

Zhang Yuanlai hurriedly said, "Young Master Xie, don't tease me—we've only just met."

He Xiao chuckled beside him. "Brother Zhang, you're about to take a beautiful wife and concubine—truly enviable. But this matter may require Lady Zhao's intervention."

He Xiao genuinely envied him; after all, he had seen that courtesan—her bearing was dignified, her demeanor refined and well-educated, ranking among the second-tier top courtesans in Yuehua Pavilion.

He Xiao couldn't fathom it: why would such a woman choose Zhang Yuanlai, a man with no official rank or wealth?

Yet the fact stood before them!

You nodded; all the women of Yuehua Pavilion had signed indenture contracts. To redeem themselves, they needed not only silver but also the guarantee of a major household—without Xie Fu stepping in, Yuehua Pavilion would never release them.

Redeeming women from Yuehua Pavilion was not uncommon; many ladies of the Nine Surnames' households had once been top courtesans from the West Wing Pavilion, and no one mocked them for it.

It was still a worthy tale of romantic flair.

As if afraid He Xiao might bring it up again, Zhang Yuanlai didn't stay long—he hurriedly took his leave.

Before leaving, Zhang Yuanlai said: "This year's Qunfang Banquet at the West Wing Pavilion will be grander than ever—scholars from the academy, ministers of the Great Qi court, imperial consorts and princesses, even envoys from Great Sui and the Southern Buddhist Kingdoms, all come to Bianjing to attend."

"Young Master Xie, this Qunfang Banquet surpasses all previous ones—you cannot afford to miss it."

You nodded lightly at Zhang Yuanlai. He Xiao opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again, sighing silently as he departed.

Outside the gate, you watched the two of them trudge through the snow, their figures fading into the endless white expanse.

You tucked your hands into your sleeves and murmured softly:

"The Qunfang Banquet?"

"Are they all coming for this?"

(End of Chapter)