0018. Shooting Down That Absurd Sense of Superiority

Luo Xue's brows moved slightly as she thought to herself, "A couplet probably won't be of much use." Upon hearing Mr. Mo Dao's words, the crowd's anticipation diminished; it was nothing more than another opportunity for Zhou Zitian to show off. Zhou Zitian glanced at Zheng Fanren with a look of both pity and disdain, and said coolly, "I didn't expect that after giving you a chance to open my eyes, you'd only resort to petty tricks to make things difficult for me. It's rather disappointing."

Zheng Fanren showed no reaction and continued, "Though it's a simple matter, it is rather interesting. The upper line goes: 'Smoke drifts along the dazzling eaves, reaching the swallow’s eye.' The meaning is that smoke follows the beautiful eaves and wafts into the swallow's eye. I wonder if Young Master Zhou could resolve my regret and come up with a matching lower line?"

The entire hall fell silent!

This couplet was many times harder than the previous ones. Many people stared, speechless, their wine forgotten and trickling down their chins, making for a rather comical sight.

With a thud, Zhou Zitian slammed his wine cup down hard on the table. Only when the wine splashed across the table did he realize his lapse in composure. His face darkened, as gloomy as storm clouds.

Luo Xue couldn't help but smile radiantly, and applause broke out around the room. They had delighted in Zhou Zitian's pride, but seeing that pride trampled underfoot pleased them even more.

Yet this joy had a bitter aftertaste, for they knew they were not even Zhou Zitian’s equal. Their gazes at Zheng Fanren became complex, their hearts a tumult of emotions.

After a moment, someone finally called out, "A peerless couplet, truly a peerless couplet!"

Mo Dao furrowed his brows tightly, reluctantly admitting, "This couplet is indeed ingenious, but since Brother Zheng doesn't even know the lower line himself, why use it to trouble everyone?"

Zheng Fanren replied with a smile, "I truly didn't mean to make things difficult for Young Master Zhou. I simply wanted to show everyone that there is no hierarchy in learning. Even if he could answer the lower line, the principle remains the same."

"The sages said, 'Among three people walking, there must be one I can learn from.' It seems learning arises from life itself, and true masters are found among the people. Couplets are an expression of respect and affection for both life and language, not a mere game of assembly to flaunt one's cleverness."

He took a sip of wine and continued, "Earlier, Ye Yinghua's upper line was quite interesting: 'Lacking food, drinking from the spring, how could plain water suffice to fill the belly?' It perfectly expresses the hunger of our Han scholars in pursuit of knowledge, gulping down plain water yet remaining unfilled—a sentiment laced with the charm of wordplay. But your lower line, about lacking talent and filling hunger, is incoherent and utterly devoid of poetic meaning."

Zhou Zitian glared at him, silent for a long time, before suddenly sneering and then replying calmly, "Well said. There may be no hierarchy in learning, but there is in cultivation. With your level of skill, I'm afraid sound reasoning won't avail you much."

Zheng Fanren turned with a laugh and asked, "Sister Luo, is he threatening to use mystical arts against me?"

Luo Xue chuckled, "I suppose you're no match for him."

Feigning alarm, Zheng Fanren cried out, "Then what should I do?"

Luo Xue turned to Zhou Zitian, her voice authoritative, "It's simple. I’d like to see who dares threaten you!"

Zhou Zitian's face darkened again, his tone grave, "Miss Luo Xue, are you truly determined to defend this servant? I am, after all, the young master of the Zhou family and a student of the Supreme Mystery Academy!"

Zheng Fanren put on a thoroughly downcast expression and sighed, "Ah, all geniuses are the same: first they play mind games, and when that fails, they use force; when force fails, they resort to their status. Can’t they be a little more original?"

His words completely offended Zhou Zitian, but Luo Xue still fixed him with a steady gaze and declared, "Exactly!"

The maid behind Zhou Zitian was furious, exclaiming, "Are you threatening the young master of the Zhou family?"

Zhou Zitian shot her a cold look, and she hastily retreated, clearly terrified.

Soon Zhou Zitian regained his composure and looked at Zheng Fanren with confidence. "With your learning, you’ll also be sitting for the Supreme Mystery Academy exam, I presume?"

Luo Xue replied, "Naturally."

Zhou Zitian became even more composed. "That will be quite a challenge. The exam questions are not easy, and helping you would not be simple."

Zheng Fanren paused a moment, then countered, "Are you trying to tell the world's scholars that the Supreme Mystery Academy exam allows cheating?"

Mo Dao’s face changed instantly; after all, he was an instructor at the Academy.

Zheng Fanren continued, "Unfortunately, bribes don’t work on me. Beauty, however, is another matter. For example, with a woman as lovely as Miss Luo Xue, I’d have no way to resist."

The audience, long since numb, could only wonder at the relationship between Zheng Fanren and Luo Xue.

Just then, a voice called from the back, "Zheng Fanren, I heard you visited Luo Xue’s pavilion the other day. I didn’t believe it, but now it seems the two of you are quite close."

Life is but a play, and acting is everything—Nangong Mo was not only a heartthrob but an accomplished performer!

As soon as he finished, many recognized him and called out greetings.

He continued, "Miss Luo Xue, how could you host a banquet without me?"

Mo Dao reacted quickly, eager to resolve the awkward scene. "Young Master Nangong, you’ve arrived at just the right moment. We were just discussing couplets and calligraphy."

Nangong Mo laughed, "And with Mr. Mo Dao here, there must be many fine works. Let me have a look!"

As he spoke, his eyes turned to Zheng Fanren.

Miss Luo Xue smiled, "I have some couplets written out. Let me show you."

Everyone assumed she intended for Nangong Mo to appreciate Zhou Zitian's calligraphy, and so paid little attention, for they had seen it before.

But in the blink of an eye, Nangong Mo began to tremble all over, his face stricken with shock, unable to speak for a long while.

The crowd was puzzled, murmuring among themselves:

"Surely not—would Young Master Nangong really lose his composure over a few couplets?"

"Keep your voice down. I hear he’s notorious for his lack of learning."

"Indeed, he is. A few couplets and he's utterly lost."

...

Zheng Fanren sighed, "A born actor like him should not have been born in this era."

At last, Nangong Mo regained his composure and asked, "Who wrote this?"

Luo Xue smiled, "He did," indicating Zheng Fanren.

Nangong Mo exclaimed, "Zheng Fanren, are you not lonely on the path of calligraphy?"

At these words, the slow-witted were left dumbfounded, while the quick-witted immediately stared at the paper in his hands and the characters upon it.

Zheng Fanren replied, "I'm not searching for defeat in solitude—why should I be lonely?"

Those in the know realized they were mocking Zhou Zitian's earlier claim of loneliness—the loneliness of the calligrapher's path!

Nangong Mo asked curiously, "Who is Seeking-Defeat-in-Solitude?"

Then he exclaimed, "What a name! What a name! With your calligraphy, if you still seek defeat, who else could be lonely?"

Zhou Zitian, of course, understood the jibe, but refused to believe Zheng Fanren could produce good calligraphy.

Nonetheless, he couldn’t help himself—he stood up, snatched the paper from Nangong Mo’s hands, and quickly grew flustered, muttering, "Impossible, impossible!"