#203 - Spring Dragon Poetry Contest (VIII)

"A useless scholar." This complaint was lost in the deafening roar that engulfed the pavilion and wasn't heard by many.

On one side, there was a cheering crowd, and on the other, a cold "hero."

The scene was rather ironic, but Wei Changtian was in no mood to dwell on it.

The sudden appearance of the Imperial Guards added even more variables to tonight's main event.

"Splash!"

The sound of splashing water rang out as the burly man who had jumped into the lake to search for Shen Ran returned empty-handed, leaping into the pavilion soaking wet.

"Young Master Wei!"

The man in rough clothes looked angry, and upon seeing Wei Changtian deep in thought, he immediately questioned him loudly, "Why did you stop me?!"

"That villain has humiliated the scholars of Great Ning so thoroughly, how can we let him leave unharmed! You must give an explanation for this."

"Did he succeed?"

Wei Changtian's expression remained unchanged as he calmly interrupted, "You say he humiliated Great Ning, but I ask you, did he succeed?"

"He..."

The man was instantly speechless, his mouth open for a long time without uttering a word.

Wei Changtian glanced at him and continued calmly, "Furthermore, the Imperial Guards were only transferred from the Suspended Mirror Division to the Forbidden Army a few months ago. Are you already so loyal to your new master?"

"W-What Imperial Guards? I don't know what you're talking about!"

The man shuddered, his eyes darting around.

This guy's psychological fortitude is terrible.

Wei Changtian looked at the high platform again from afar, seemingly not preparing to speak any further.

But just as everyone thought the matter was about to pass, a golden light suddenly flashed in the pavilion, and then, without warning, shot straight towards the man's chest!

"You!"

The man didn't expect Wei Changtian to suddenly attack, but he reacted quickly enough, pushing off the ground and immediately flashing out of the pavilion, while simultaneously raising his saber to block his chest, narrowly avoiding the blow.

"Clang!!!"

"What are you doing?!"

His figure flying backward in the air, the man's face was full of shock, but his heart was slightly relieved.

Two brief exchanges had shown that Wei Changtian couldn't do anything to him, and at least his life wasn't in danger.

But...

"Swish!!"

The almost imperceptible sound of something cutting through the air was close at hand. At some point, an extremely short and small golden light had approached his neck!

The dark gold dagger flipped in the air, turning into a stream of light and returning to Wei Changtian's hand.

The man, now with his head separated from his body, fell into the lake with a thud, quickly staining the water red.

"Explanation? This is my explanation to you."

Returning the long saber to its sheath and putting the dagger into his sleeve, Wei Changtian looked coldly at the high platform again.

The crowd on the shore, who had just been excited, were now like they had been choked by a giant force, and the deafening cheers stopped abruptly.

...

Why did Wei Changtian kill that man?

Could he really be a spy from Great Li?

But he had clearly defeated Shen Ran with his own strength, saving the dignity of Great Ning's literati!

"Good! Well done!"

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, "Although that Shen Ran is scheming, his actions, in all fairness, don't deserve death!"

"If he were really killed, it would only show the narrow-mindedness of Great Ning's literati!"

"Young Master Wei did the right thing!"

"..."

"Yes! That's right!"

After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd began to echo.

"In my opinion, that man is probably the one who is scheming, trying to frame the reputation of Great Ning!"

"Exactly! A mere junior from a vassal state, Great Ning's literati shouldn't lower themselves to his level!"

"Young Master Wei's killing of that man may seem reckless at first glance, but it is indeed an act of distinguishing right from wrong!"

"Tonight, we really owe it to Young Master Wei!"

"..."

It's hard to say whether the group of people currently shouting "Shen Ran shouldn't die" are the same ones who were previously screaming "Kill him" at the top of their lungs.

Anyway, Wei Changtian was truly amused by this "surrealist" magical scene.

What?

Just because I can write good poems means everything I do is right?

You guys have truly mastered the saying "You're awesome, so you're right."

Finally, after looking at the silent high platform again, Wei Changtian withdrew his gaze, too lazy to care about these scholars who were desperately trying to exonerate him, and quickly pondered what he should do next in his mind.

Shen Ran's appearance was an accident, and the person has already escaped, so his matter can be put aside for now.

As for the Imperial Guard, it is currently impossible to determine whether he was instructed and why he wanted to kill Shen Ran, and who is sitting on that high platform is also hard to say.

Wei Changtian doesn't really believe that Ning Yongnian would appear here.

So... Li Huaizhong?

It's possible, but it doesn't matter.

The most crucial thing right now is the Liu family.

Glancing at Yan Shuyuan, who was sitting blankly on the small boat, seemingly still savoring the Spring River Flower Moon Night, Wei Changtian felt a bit speechless.

Big brother, weren't you supposed to come and kill me tonight?

Do it!

Could it be that a Spring River Flower Moon Night has subdued you? Have you changed your mind?

Then wouldn't all the arrangements I made before be a waste?

Should I strike first?

That won't work either, what if Li Huaizhong is lying to me?

Wei Changtian was caught in a dilemma for a moment, constantly chanting in his mind for Yan Shuyuan to hurry up and take action so that he could completely eradicate the hidden danger of the Liu family.

At the same time, Liu Zongliang, hiding on the shore, was even more anxious than him.

Liu Zongliang had been hiding in the crowd on the shore from beginning to end, so he naturally witnessed the entire Spring Dragon Poetry Gathering.

Wei Changtian composed nine world-renowned poems in a row, and the last Spring River Flower Moon Night even triggered successive anomalies, even transforming a real dragon.

These scenes of unparalleled glory almost made Liu Zongliang vomit blood on the spot, and his determination to kill Wei Changtian became even more intense.

But Liu's family's greatest reliance, Yan Shuyuan, remained silent.

Liu Zongliang knew that this Sect Leader Yan liked poetry, literature, calligraphy, and painting, so he was extremely anxious at this time.

Could it be that Yan Shuyuan is really unwilling to act because of this poem?!

But the opportunity is rare!

So many experts can't stay in Shu Prefecture every day to accompany him waiting for an opportunity to act.

So if Wei Changtian is let go today, who knows when the next good opportunity will come.

No!

Regardless of whether Yan Shuyuan is willing or not, he must force him to act!

Having made up his mind, Liu Zongliang gritted his teeth and stepped on the lake surface, heading straight for the small boat where Yan Shuyuan was.

"Sect Leader Yan!!"

"Please don't forget the agreement! Quickly take action and kill Wei Changtian!!"