Chapter 788: First Volume, Chapter 788: The Immortal in the Painting

First Volume, Chapter 788: The Immortal in the Painting

Zhao Huansu actually spent Ten Thousand Li Silver to buy a hollow reputation—this felt to Qin Feng like a pie had suddenly fallen on his head.

Did he need to think? Qin Feng naturally accepted with delight.

Meanwhile, the thief-servant had already run to the opposite Wine House and handed the painting to Jing Ci Princess with both hands.

Jing Ci Princess frowned slightly, regarding the painting with disdain—after all, she had never heard Qin Feng could paint.

But the moment she unrolled the parchment, she froze.

She stared blankly at her own image in the painting, feeling as if she were dreaming—how could anyone in Heaven paint a human so lifelike?

The scroll contained only black and white, yet… it was astonishingly real!

Jing Ci Princess's hands trembled slightly as she held the scroll; after gazing for a long while, she let out a long sigh: "With this single painting alone, Qin Feng can make every painter in Heaven bow their head."

"But why him? Why did he paint me?"

As Jing Ci Princess was lost in confusion, Qi Ya's gaze sharpened beside her.

Though Qi Ya was also shaken by the painting before her, mindful of Qin Feng's malicious intent, she gritted her teeth.

"Your Highness, do you recall one of the terms of the War Reparations was a marriage alliance?"

"The contract clearly stated in black and white: our Great Di must send a Princess to Liang Kingdom."

Hearing this, Jing Ci Princess trembled, stood up abruptly, and prepared to tear the painting—yet, staring at this astonishing work, she simply could not bring herself to do it.

In the end, she nearly exploded, flinging the scroll onto the table and glaring through the Window at Qin Feng across the way, her voice sharp: "Damned Qin Feng—I'd rather die than marry into Liang!"

"Qi Ya, bring my sword! Today, I'll make this thief kneel beneath my feet!"

At this moment, Qin Feng had already arrived at the final Guan Ka of the Fen Xiang Wen Tan, surrounded by a crowd.

Li Yuhang stood behind the desk, having waited there for a long time.

Li Yuhang had already known every move Qin Feng had made in the previous Guan Ka; he knew that even with his own poetic skill, defeating Qin Feng was impossible.

Li Yuhang had enough self-awareness to know this.

Thus, he abandoned his original plan to challenge Qin Feng in poetry and turned the strategy on its head.

"Qin Marquis's literary talent is peerless in the world—I am sincerely humbled."

"Even if I were the most ignorant man alive, I would never be foolish enough to challenge Qin Marquis in poetry—or rather… I yield!"

As he spoke, Li Yuhang bowed deeply to Qin Feng without hesitation.

The literati present had eagerly anticipated this final contest: Qin Feng of Liang versus Yucheng White Crane—no matter the outcome, it would become a celebrated tale.

But Li Yuhang's sudden submission took everyone by surprise.

Before anyone could question him, Li Yuhang pressed on, bluntly stating: "Yet I still possess discernment—if Qin Marquis can compose a poem equal to 'Out of the Pass,' then Qin Marquis wins."

At these words, everyone finally exhaled in relief.

So Li Yuhang had retreated to dig a deeper pit for Qin Feng.

The poem "Out of the Pass" was written by Qin Feng himself and had spread throughout Jiangnan and beyond, even revered by many literati as one of the greatest poems of the age.

Its status among the literati was unshakable.

This challenge Li Yuhang had posed—perhaps even Qin Feng could only admit defeat.

After all, this was an impromptu test; composing a top-tier poem in such a short time was nearly impossible. If Qin Feng yielded, the Yucheng literati could not only reclaim dignity but also use this moment to spread the notion that Qin Feng's literary prowess was not as miraculous as rumored.

The Beixi people were obsessed—anything to weaken Qin Feng's influence, they would do!

Li Yuhang appeared sincere, but inwardly he sneered, watching Qin Feng closely.

What they did not know…

Qin Feng was troubled—looking at Li Yuhang's shameless face, Qin Feng wanted to punch it into a swollen mess.

"Out of the Pass" was indeed a famed poem across Huaxia, but Qin Feng's mind held countless Tang and Song poems memorized inside and out.

Whether these immortal verses could surpass "Out of the Pass" was debatable—but at the very least, they could match it.

Yet…

The temptation of Ten Thousand Li Silver was simply too great.

The money itself wasn't much, especially for a clan as wealthy as Qin Feng's—but consider this: the sum could improve the diplomatic envoy's living conditions, fund future operations.

If they returned to Beixi County, the leftover silver could be added to Beixi County's treasury to further improve People's Livelihood.

One side was hollow reputation; the other, practical gain.

In the end, Qin Feng chose the latter.

Under everyone's gaze, Qin Feng gave a half-hearted bow: "I cannot do it."

At these words, the entire Huijuan Lou seemed to exhale deeply—so there were things Qin Feng couldn't do?

Everyone grew excited.

Li Yuhang was the most excited—he bore the weight of saving Yucheng's final dignity!

And by defeating Qin Feng himself, he would surely win Jing Ci Princess's favor.

"Hahahaha! Qin Marquis is a man of honor—willing to lose gracefully. I still admire you immensely."

"But I have one question."

"In the previous Guan Ka, your poetry flowed effortlessly, spontaneously—why, at the final one, do you surrender without a fight?"

"Could it be… you fear your poem would fall far short of 'Out of the Pass,' and ruin your own reputation?"

Li Yuhang's words clearly implied Qin Feng's poetic skill was merely average at best—not top-tier.

To directly denounce Qin Feng as worthless lacked credibility, so Li Yuhang employed a strategy of slow attrition, gradually undermining him.

This rhetoric naturally won the support of everyone present.

"Aside from his miraculous painting, Qin Feng's poetic talent is merely first-rate—not top-tier."

"Heh, Qin Feng, losing isn't shameful—after all, 'Out of the Pass' was your lifetime peak; it's understandable you can't surpass it."

Facing the taunts and belittlement of the crowd, Qin Feng felt no anger—he had already begun planning how to spend the Ten Thousand Li Silver.

At that moment, a cold snort came from behind.

"Lost? Consider yourself lucky!"

Qin Feng turned around and saw Jing Ci standing behind him, her eyes icy with frost.

The crowd froze for a moment, then immediately knelt in salute.

"Your Highness, Princess of Da Di."

Li Yuhang's heart leapt with joy—he saw this as the perfect chance to curry favor with the Princess, and shouted at once: "Qin Feng, seeing our Princess of Da Di, why haven't you bowed?"