Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Non-aggression Poetry Festival
Instead of sending Celestial Xiao out of the capital, Fang Chen came to an agreement with her.
Celestial Xiao changed into a maid uniform and altered her looks to disguise as Fang Chen’s maid. The two of them then made their way to the Great Xia River.
There was a poetry festival today. Not only were Great Xia’s outstanding youths and young misses going to be there, but scholars from Guhe, Longdu, and Yizhou would be participating too.
The one hosting this poetry festival was the Great Xia’s crown prince, and the theme for the day was ‘Non-aggression’. It reflected a wish for a more peaceful world.
“Your Great Xia’s scholars must be carefree to squander their time on poetry. Our Greenpine men would rather spend their time sparring and bettering themselves,” Celestial Xiao looked at the scene in disdain.
Fang Chen chuckled.
Hundreds of young scholars and misses were gathered by the Great Xia River. From time to time, they would indulge in the air of literary grace and compliment the scenery or criticize the current circumstances.
Not all of these young scholars or misses were powerless. Most were martial artists, though their martial cultivation had stopped at Ki Condensation. It was hard to find anyone who had reached Ki Explosion amongst them.
Fang Chen’s arrival initially didn’t catch much attention, but as he made his way toward the center of the crowd, someone finally noticed him.
“Fang Chen?!”
“What’s a martial artist doing at a poetry festival? Is he here to kill someone? It was just a few days ago that Li Huang died in his hands!”
“Brother Li was an exceptional literary talent. He had a bright future, but he offended a brute and died a premature death. A pity indeed!”
Such whispers could be heard from the crowd. Most scholars didn’t have a good impression of Fang Chen. In fact, they were his loudest critics when he fell in defeat five years ago.
Even though Fang Chen had regained his cultivation, he had been forbidden from ever entering the imperial court or leading an army, which meant he would never regain the authority he once wielded. This lessened the scholars’ fear of him, and they saw him as a mere martial artist.
“What’s he doing here?” Ye Qinghe stared at Fang Chen with a frown.
He was accompanied by talented youths and misses from distinguished backgrounds.
“The theme for today’s poetry festival is ‘Non-aggression’, but it drew Great Xia’s greatest aggressor here. What an irony!” a fair-faced young man sneered.
He was Tao Yu, the son of the Minister of Rites. He was a famed scholar in Great Xia’s capital, as well as one of the crown prince’s close aides. He and Ye Qinghe were dubbed as the crown prince’s Academic and Martial Guardians.
“Brother Tao, let’s meet him.” Ye Qinghe chuckled.
Tao Yu proudly replied, “Very well.”
The group of them made their way toward Fang Chen. The surrounding young scholars and misses tagged along upon noticing their movements.
“Isn’t this War God Fang? I never expected you to grace this Non-aggression Poetry Festival with your presence,” Tao Yu scoffed. “Are you here to offer us some pointers?”
The crowd erupted into laughter.
Fang Chen had never attended a poetry festival. In fact, he had studied at a school for no more than a few years before joining the military. It was likely that anyone here could fare better than him when it came to poetry.
Celestial Xiao was curious to know how Fang Chen would react to Tao Yu’s ridicule. Will he draw his sword and behead him?
“It’d be fun if he massacres all of them.” Celestial Xiao smirked.
“You are?” Fang Chen looked at Tao Yu quizzically.
Tao Yu’s smile froze in place, as he hadn’t expected Fang Chen to not know him. The nearby scholars and young misses also exchanged gazes.
“Fang Chen, you don’t know the number one scholar of Great Xia’s capital? I guess that’s no surprise coming from a brute who has no appreciation for literature,” Ye Qinghe saved Tao Yu from embarrassment while hurling an insult at Fang Chen.
“Ah, you’re the number one scholar of our Great Xia’s capital.” Fang Chen nodded in realization. “I have been idle, and I heard the crown prince was holding a poetry festival. I came here to join in the commotion and surround myself with the scent of paper and ink.”
Those words reduced the crowd’s enmity toward Fang Chen. At least he knows his own place. In truth, they were excited by Fang Chen’s participation as it boosted the prestige of this event.
Celestial Xiao was disappointed that she didn’t see the scenery she anticipated.
“Why? Am I not welcomed here?” Fang Chen asked with a smile.
“Of course not. I’m pleased to hear that years of reflection have changed your view of poetry. You’re more than welcomed here.” Tao Yu said with a smile. He flung his sleeves and gestured at the seats. “War God Fang, please take a seat.”
Fang Chen casually took a seat. He looked around and asked, “Is His Highness not here yet?”
“His Highness is inviting Jade Fairy,” Ye Qinghe replied.
Those gathered here were from outstanding backgrounds, but their eyes lit up when they heard Jade Fairy’s name. There was no one in Great Xia’s capital who hadn’t heard about the ethereal goddess gracing the Jade Fairy Boat.
Ordinary people might not even get a chance to meet her even if they bankrupted themselves.
“A secular woman is participating in today’s poetry festival?” one of the young misses murmured her dissatisfaction.
However, they had to hold back their complaints as the crown prince was the one hosting the poetry festival.
Just then, a procession could be spotted from afar. Ye Qinghe and the others stood up and patiently waited as the procession approached. It was the crown prince, though more eyes fell upon the beautiful figure standing next to him.
“It really is Jade Fairy!”
“She looks ravishing! There’s probably no woman who can compete with her in Great Xia’s capital… No, I’d say she’s unrivaled even in Greenpine, Guhe, Longdu, and Yizhou!” someone exclaimed.
Celestial Xiao snorted at those words. She was initially indignant to hear those words, but she couldn’t help but be awed when she finally got a good look at Jade Fairy.
“To think there’s such a woman in the world…” Celestial Xiao was stunned.
The scholars from Guhe and the other countries were enraptured too.
“This poetry festival is complete with your arrival, Jade Fairy,” the crown prince said with a smile.
He took a sweeping glance and spotted Fang Chen.
Jade Fairy noticed Fang Chen too. With a faint smile, she said, “Your Highness, you’re flattering me. It’s my honor to join the poetry festival.”
The crown prince chuckled. Lust flickered across his eyes as he admired Jade Fairy’s side profile.
