Chapter 779: First Volume_Chapter 779: The Word Game

First Volume_Chapter 779: The Word Game

"Lang" is a term of address for talented young men, which shows that this young scholar surnamed Liu is a famously handsome youth in Yucheng; otherwise, he wouldn't have attracted so many women to come cheer him on.

Among the women who came out of admiration, there were even young ladies from wealthy households. Though not as wild as ordinary women, their eyes still quietly stirred with affection as they whispered their assessments.

"This Liu Lang is young and handsome, and most importantly, he passed the provincial exam at such a tender age. His future is boundless. Given time, he might well become a second Li Yuhang."

"On the other hand, Qin Feng, though he has some talent, his reputation is far too poor. One simply can't bring oneself to like him."

Hearing the chatter around him, Liu the Juren raised his chin even higher, his brow brimming with smugness and arrogance, as if his juren degree had long since placed him above Qin Feng.

Ning Hu, who had been following at Qin Feng's side as a bodyguard, couldn't help curling his lip and muttering under his breath: "Are all the women in Yucheng blind?"

"Brother Qin holds the title of First Marquis Under Heaven, Lord of the Northern Border, wields great power, and is one of the ten richest merchants of Shedynasty. His literary talent has long been celebrated by the world. All these magnificent achievements, and they call it 'some talent'? Heh heh, these shameless women aren't just blind, they're short on brains too."

Qin Feng patted Ning Hu on the shoulder, signaling him not to act like a jaded wife.

Truth be told, compared with the strict customs of Shedynasty, Qin Feng actually preferred the open atmosphere of the Northern Di. After all, such an uninhibited scene of women cheering wildly was a rare sight in Shedynasty.

A fierce folk custom also meant an open one; everything has its pros and cons.

Just then, Liu the Juren struck a pose and cupped his hands: "Has Marquis Qin ever heard of the word game?"

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back and shrugged indifferently: "This word game is a pastime that came from Shedynasty in the first place. I am a native-born citizen of Shedynasty — what do you think?"

"I'd wager that nine out of ten literary games in the Northern Di came over from Shedynasty, wouldn't you say?"

Liu the Juren's face flickered with discomfort, but he pretended not to hear and went on by himself: "Since Marquis Qin knows the word game, that makes things easy."

"In a few days winter will be upon us. The land will freeze, all things will wither, and the countless common folk of the Great Di all long for spring to come as soon as possible. One might say that a single word 'spring' encompasses the most simple, heartfelt wish of the people."

"For this first round of the word game, let us take the character 'spring' as our theme. Allow me to take the lead and open for Marquis Qin."

Saying this, Liu the Juren paced back and forth in DaTang, putting on an act — now gazing upward in admiration, now lowering his head in thought. Every gesture radiated the refined air of a scholar, sending waves of excitement through the women outside the door.

What no one knew was that Liu the Juren cared nothing for those common beauties outside the door. He was well aware that Jing Ci Princess was watching from the wine house across the way, so he naturally had to show his finest side. If he could win the princess's heart, he could soar to the heavens and escape the common dust forever.

"Wow, worthy of Liu Lang — so handsome!"

"Heh heh, ever since the word game became popular in Yucheng, hardly anyone has been a match for Liu Lang. Even if Qin Feng is full of learning and speaks in ready-made prose, when it comes to poetry games, he may not necessarily win."

"If Liu Lang defeats Qin Feng, his fame will surely fill the world. When that day comes, he won't need to go through the Ministry of Personnel for training; he can enter officialdom directly, with a brilliant future ahead."

Amid the crowd's sighs of admiration, Liu the Juren finally had his inspiration. He rocked his head and began to chant: "The river of spring runs green to the sky."

The rules of the word game are similar to a chain game. Pick a theme — say, the character "spring" — and the two players revolve around that character, each composing one line of verse, continuing in turn like a chain.

Each line of verse may not exceed seven characters, and the character "spring" must move backward with each turn.

In the first line, "spring" is the first character; in the second line, "spring" must move to the second character, and so on.

If one finally cannot compose a line, that player loses.

What no one knew was that this kind of child's play, Qin Feng had long stopped playing back when he was wandering around Liang Capital — far too lowbrow…

Without a moment's thought, Qin Feng blurted out: "When spring comes, all things grow."

Everyone knew Qin Feng could not possibly lose right at the start, but no one had expected him to answer so quickly — virtually without the slightest hesitation!

Those who had been waiting to mock and provoke Qin Feng had no choice but to swallow the words on their lips.

Liu the Juren was also a little surprised. He had played this word game for years and faced countless brilliant scholars; even Yucheng White Crane Li Yuhang could not have answered so quickly…

Could it be that…

The man before them truly held ten thousand fathoms of poetry within him?

Liu the Juren refused to believe in any heresy. Moreover, since this theme was his own creation, he had long since studied many fine lines before Qin Feng's arrival. The reason he had rushed to pose the question first was to avoid any mishaps.

At this moment, Liu the Juren was thoroughly confident, snickering coldly to himself, thinking that Qin Feng's look of falling into a trap without realizing it was truly ridiculous and laughable.

He immediately followed up with the third line: "In second month, spring wind is like scissors."

The breathless crowd exhaled in relief and burst into applause and cheers.

"Ha ha ha, Liu Lang isn't slow at all either!"

"Worthy of being the great talent of our Yucheng! Today let Qin Feng see for himself the风貌 of Northern Di literature!"

Just as the crowd was swelling with pride, Qin Feng's voice rang out once more.

"No way to keep spring here."

The laughter cut off abruptly, and the way the crowd looked at Qin Feng changed again and again.

"This… this fellow, without even thinking? Could it be… he was prepared all along?"

"Even though this Qin Feng is not likeable, there's no need to slander him so. After all, the word game was set up by Liu the Juren, and the theme was chosen by Liu the Juren. Even if Qin Feng wanted to cheat, he had no opportunity."

"Full of learning? Hmph, I don't buy it!"

Watching the crowd's shocked and helpless expressions, Ning Hu could not hold back his laughter, feeling that these people comparing poetry with Qin Feng were simply seeking death.

Liu the Juren couldn't help but swallow, and hurriedly recited the final line he had prepared.

"The setting sun, spring across the four seas!"

Excitement shone in the crowd's eyes. Normally, when playing the word game, it would take at least One Incense Stick Time before the theme character reached the fifth position.

Yet in just a few breaths, Qin Feng and Liu the Juren had already exchanged five lines.

Such speed was absolutely unmatched by anyone past or future.

For a moment, the crowd on the scene actually forgot to mock Qin Feng, and only waited to see how Qin Feng would respond.

Moreover, Qin Feng's previous responses had all been five-character lines, but the character "spring" had now been pushed to the sixth position. That meant the verse Qin Feng composed next had to be seven characters, which was no different from narrowing Qin Feng's room to maneuver.

And the result…

Qin Feng still answered without hesitation, blurting out: "When wind and rain clear, spring has already left the sky."

The entire scene fell silent. Everyone stared at Qin Feng in disbelief, their hearts filled with awe.