Chapter 597 - 597: Couplets Competition

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The teacher approached and observed the game, stroking his beard and smiling slightly.

Tang Jinghong came over to look at the Go board, noting that there were only ten empty spots left. The game was currently a draw, and it was Chu Xuyuan’s turn.

Chu Xuyuan glanced at Tang Jinghong and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He placed his piece on the board.

Lin Jixian’s face changed slightly as he stared intensely at the board, hesitating to make his move.

Sweat began to form on his forehead. Was he about to lose to Chu Xuyuan?

In a moment of desperation, Lin Jixian thought of a move and placed his piece, smiling.

The situation on the board shifted back to a draw. He wiped his sweat and thought to himself, Chu Xuyuan might be unseasoned in chess skills, but he always found a way to turn the tables at critical moments. He shouldn’t be underestimated.

The teacher thought that this game would likely end in a draw again. A draw indicated that both players were outstanding, which was commendable.

The teacher stroked his beard, wondering if he could recruit Chu Xuyuan to the Imperial College.

As expected by the teacher, the game ended in another draw.

With this round of competition, twenty-four players were eliminated. Including Chu Xuyuan, Lin Jixian, and one player who had a bye, there were now twenty-seven players left.

The competition continued…

Once again, it was Chu Xuyuan and Lin Jixian playing. The others drew lots, with one person getting a bye.

Chu Xuyao, with his arms crossed, watched Chu Xuyuan and commented, “This game won’t end in a draw again, will it?”

Tang Jinghong replied, “The game of Go is full of changes; it’s hard to say.”

If the game ended in a draw, it would take at least half an hour. Chu Xuyao looked around and said, “Sister, Brother Jinghong, there’s a flower bed over there. I’ll go sit there.”

“Go ahead, 1’11 call you when we leave.”

“Ok.” Chu Xuyao headed to the nearby flower bed and sat down, only to overhear an argument.

A student from the Imperial College, Luo Jisheng, taunted, “So this is the level of Yunfei School’s students? They can’t even figure out a simple couplet.”

Qin Hechun from Yunfei School retorted with dignity, “I am merely the worst among them; it’s normal that I can’t figure it out. Please do not judge all students of Yunfei School by my performance.”

Zeng Ruijie, a student of the Imperial College, said aggressively, “You’re quite good at making excuses, but your inability to answer correctly is a disgrace to your academy.'”

Qin Hechun retorted loudly, “I’ve said it before. Although I’m a student of Yunfei School, 1 can’t represent the entire school.”

Luo Jisheng arrogantly declared, “Fine, then bring someone who can represent your school. Your school claims to focus on literature, music, chess, and painting, while ours is supposedly full of schemers. So, you’re telling me your specialized training only produces mediocrities?”

Qin Hechun fumed, “You…”

Zeng Ruijie smirked, tapping his fan lightly against his palm, “What’s wrong?

If you have the ability, show it. If not, just admit it!”

At this moment, a group of Yunfei School students gathered around a young man with delicate features, holding a fan painted with a landscape. The young man, Zhuang Yuyan, had a gentle demeanor that was refreshing to those around him.

Lu Zhaojian from Yunfei School angrily said, “Senior Brother Zhuang, they insulted all the students of our school!”

Zhuang Yuyan glanced over the crowd and smiled softly, “Claiming to know the world when you’ve never seen the world. I didn’t expect the students of the Imperial College to view things so one-sidedly.'”

Despite his young age, Zhuang Yuyan was the best at couplets in Yunfei School. He had stumped the master and created many unique couplets, earning a great reputation at the school.

His words slightly embarrassed the Imperial College students and further intensified the rivalry.

Luo Jisheng looked at Zhuang Yuyan with narrowed eyes, his words filled with sarcasm, “Enough with the nonsense. We’re not here for idle talk.”

“Good, we’re not here for that either,” Zhuang Yuyan replied, closing his fan and turning serious. “Since the students of the Imperial College think so highly of themselves, let’s see who is better.”

A space was cleared on the spot for the contest.

Quickly, crowds gathered, forming several layers around the competition. The rivalry between Yunfei School and the Imperial College was always a hot topic in Dalang, attracting much attention.

Chu Xuyao watched with great interest. Although he had heard of Zhuang Yuyan’s reputation in the school, he had never seen him compete in couplets in person. Today, he would have his chance.

The students from Yunfei School and the Imperial College stood face-to-face, clearly divided.

Another student from a different school who loved couplets, Liu Jiawen, volunteered to oversee the competition. Standing in front, he announced, “Each side will present a couplet, and the side unable to match it will lose. To be fair, we’ll do a best-of-five rounds. If there are no objections, let’s begin.”

Chu Qingzhi also noticed the commotion, “Jinghong, look over there.”

Tang Jinghong turned to look, “Such events happen every year. It’s one of the most exciting episodes of the Poetry and Rites Competition.”

“Who won last year?”

“Nobody won. Instead, a student from a smaller school took the victory. Both sides found it somewhat embarrassing, so it wasn’t talked about much.”

“Indeed.”

As they spoke, Zhuang Yuyan and Yan Jingkui, the best couplet writer from the Imperial College, each wrote an upper couplet on a piece of paper.

Zhuang Yuyan wrote, “Where you tread, auspicious clouds arise, bringing with you a touch of celestial grace.”

Yan Jingkui wrote, “Tea simmered in an iron pot, though no ambrosial wine, in each cup, contentment unfurls.”

After both had finished writing, Qin Hechun and Luo Jisheng hung their couplets on a vertical pole for display.

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

“Both are truly the best couplet writers from their respective academies. These couplets are quite impressive. The first one, though brief, seems more challenging to match.”

As the audience discussed and internally attempted to match the couplets, eager to contribute to their academy’s prestige, Liu Jiawen smiled and said, “Respected seniors, once you have thought of the lower couplet, please write it down.”

Soon after, both writers approached the desk to pen their responses. Before writing, they exchanged a glance, calm yet brimming with unspoken hostility.

Everyone craned their necks to get a better look. Chu Xuyao squeezed into the crowd, standing in front of the desk, thinking to himself that apart from the couplets, the calligraphy itself was also quite remarkable.

Quickly, both finished writing and stepped aside.

Qin Hechun and Luo Jisheng then hung the lower couplets in their respective places.

Zhuang Yuyan’s lower couplet was, “In the company of a true friend, be they in boots or fine shoes, a moment’s rest feels like a gentle wind’s caress.”

Yan Jingkui’s lower couplet was, “Once worldly veils fall from your eyes, in stillness, a hint of Zen should embrace.”

The audience quietly read the upper and lower couplets together. After finishing, they burst into applause, “Good, good, good…”

“Such neat antithetical construction, filled with human warmth. Excellent couplets indeed.”

“Coming up with these responses in such a short time shows their remarkable talent.”

Amidst the cheers, Zhuang Yuyan and Yan Jingkui looked at each other with obvious provocation in their eyes..