#196 - Spring Dragon Poetry Festival (I)

Wei Changtian, Liu Zongliang, and Ning Yongnian, the three protagonists of tonight's grand play, each held different goals, brimming with confidence in everything about to happen, and convinced that they would be the ones laughing last.

For now, nothing has happened yet, and it is too early to jump to conclusions.

But what can be foreseen is that this "Shuzhou Rebellion", as the beginning of a massive change that will sweep the country, will definitely not have a good outcome.

This is the essence of power struggles.

They exploit each other's interests, take advantage of each other's weaknesses, and ultimately either sacrifice one side or end up in mutual destruction.

As for all those involved, those who are used as pawns, or those who are not even worthy of being pawns, will be the victims of this monstrous conflict.

The country's rivers and mountains are drawn into the battle map, how can the people count on the joy of firewood and rice?

Please, sir, do not speak of being enfeoffed as a marquis, for the success of one general is built upon the bones of ten thousand.

It sounds tragic, but it's actually not that much of a heroic thing.

From ancient times to the present, in all walks of life, success is inevitably accompanied by sacrifice.

No one is willing to be someone else's stepping stone, so they must resolutely take the step

and then trample all opponents under their feet.

At the end of You Shi (5-7 PM), after dinner, Wei Changtian and Liang Zhen left Fulu Lane in the same carriage, taking only a few guards and no one else.

"Sister Xu, would you like to go to the poetry gathering and see the excitement?"

After watching the black carriage leave, You Jia asked Xu Qingwan with a smile: "I heard that the Poetry Saint will also be there!"

"Ah? This..."

Xu Qingwan hesitated.

She wasn't really interested in poetry gatherings, which were all about scholars; she would probably be more curious about a martial arts tournament.

Moreover, Wei Changtian didn't intend to take her along at all.

"But Changtian didn't..."

"Oh dear! Let's just not bother Young Master Wei!"

You Jia took Xu Qingwan's hand and劝道 with a smile: "We'll just watch from afar for a while, and if it's boring, we'll come back."

"Sister Xu, please accompany me!"

The two women had also left in a carriage, and Yang Liu Shi, hearing the sound of wheels, called Yuan'er into the room.

"Yuan'er, who just went out again?"

"It was Miss Xu and Miss You," Yuan'er replied with a smile. "The two young ladies said they wanted to go to the poetry gathering to see the excitement, and they just left."

"What?!"

Yang Liu Shi suddenly stood up upon hearing this: "They went to the poetry gathering too?"

"Yes."

Yuan'er looked puzzled: "Sister Liu Shi, what's wrong?"

"I..."

Yang Liu Shi didn't want to explain to Yuan'er, but hurriedly urged: "Prepare a carriage for me, I'm going to call them back!"

"Ah? Yes..."

Yuan'er looked clueless, but without asking any further, she agreed and wanted to run out of the room.

However, at this moment, Yang Liu Shi suddenly stopped her again.

"Wait a minute!"

"Yuan'er, do you know who suggested that they run off to the poetry gathering?"

"This..."

Yuan'er thought for a moment and whispered: "It seems like Miss You wanted to go..."

"I understand."

Yang Liu Shi pursed her lips thoughtfully, and after thinking for a while, she instructed: "Yuan'er, don't tell anyone what I just asked you, especially don't let Miss You know, okay?"

"Okay, I understand..."

Yuan'er blinked her eyes and nodded gently.

Compared to the "newcomer" You Jia, she trusted Yang Liu Shi more.

"Sister Liu Shi, what's wrong with Miss You?"

"It's nothing, I must have misunderstood her."

Yang Liu Shi shook her head with a smile: "Alright, don't think too much, I'm fine here."

"Oh, then do you still need a carriage?"

"No, you go and do your work."

"Yes."

Seeing that Yang Liu Shi didn't say anything, Yuan'er had no choice but to respond and leave the room.

Although she came out with a belly full of questions, she quickly put the matter aside after talking to Li Suyue.

As for Yang Liu Shi...

Although the embroidered room with red curtains was still lit with candles, the room was already empty.

Early Xu Shi (7-9 PM), outside Shuzhou City, Riyue Lake (Sun Moon Lake).

It was already night, but the entire Riyue Lake was brightly lit, with thousands of lanterns covered in oiled paper floating on the lake surface, together with the reflections in the water, creating a colorful scene, giving people a dreamlike feeling of being in the galaxy.

Not to mention the woman who was waving her sleeves and dancing in the pavilion in the heart of the lake.

Her long hair was casually tied with a white ribbon, and under the moonlight, her pink gauze skirt fluttered in the wind, and the Bigan flower painted on her brow seemed to carry some sorrow, but not quite, resembling a fairy who was both mysterious and pure, dancing gracefully in the starry sky.

The fairy Lingbo's socks are dusty, and she walks gracefully on the water in the moonlight. This scene can only be described as...

Damn, they really know how to play.

Sitting cross-legged on a small boat, Wei Changtian looked at the woman, and then looked at Liang Zhen, who was sitting on a small boat next to him, staring straight ahead. He thought that such a luxurious display was indeed beautiful, but also dangerous enough.

Although Riyue Lake is not too big, it is comparable to a dozen football fields.

This means that within such a large area, other than those invited to participate in the poetry gathering, others would definitely have nowhere to hide.

Unless they hid in the water.

But hiding underwater in the middle of winter... It's okay for a short time, but if it exceeds an hour, even a martial artist of the middle third rank might not be able to withstand it.

As a result, most of the assassins arranged by the Liu family could only be mixed in with the bustling crowd on the shore.

However, these people are not important.

"..."

Without making a sound, Wei Changtian glanced at a white-robed man sitting on the other side of the pavilion and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sect Leader of the Wangyue Sect (Moon Gazing Sect), Yan Shuyuan.

Wangyue, from this poetic name, it is not difficult to see the difference between the Wangyue Sect and the usual Jianghu sects such as the "Thunderbolt Gate" and "Golden Saber Gang".

One word—elegant!

They don't do much fighting and killing. The entire sect likes to write articles and poems when they have nothing to do. The disciples in the sect don't compete in cultivation and martial arts, but instead compete in poetry, lyrics, and songs. It can be regarded as a clear stream in the countless sects and factions in the world.

As the master of such a sect, Yan Shuyuan is naturally "elegant" to an excessive degree.

After breaking through to the second rank, he never cultivated at all, and spent his days traveling around, admiring the scenery, writing poetry, and leaving behind a romantic affair with courtesans everywhere when he was in the mood.

Eating, drinking, playing, prostituting.

To be honest, this is simply Wei Changtian's ultimate pursuit.

But if Li Huaizhong didn't lie to him, then this second-rank master with the same values as himself would be the Liu family's greatest reliance tonight.

"What a pity."

Wei Changtian smacked his lips, moved his gaze away, and prepared to admire the dance in the pavilion for a while.

However, at this moment, the crowd on the shore suddenly burst into an extremely enthusiastic cheer.

Listening to the boiling sound in the night sky, Wei Changtian didn't look back, and just based on the videos of fans picking up idols at the airport that he often saw on the Internet in his previous life, he knew—

Su Wu is here.