Chapter 76 - 75: Making a Name

Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Making a Name

A teahouse in Liangjiang Commandery.

"The sea reaches its end with the sky as its shore; the mountain reaches its peak with me as its summit.

"Like the sun rising again from the eastern hills, the great roc spreads its wings—"

CLACK!

"—only to resent the sky for being too low!"

A storyteller, his expression solemn and his voice resonant, gently set down his wooden gavel on the table.

This single poem alone was enough to make everyone repeatedly raise their heads. In an instant, all eyes converged on the old man.

The storyteller’s tone abruptly turned indignant, his eyes wide with righteous fury. "Ladies and gentlemen! Princess Wencheng of Jiang Country used this poem, ’Emerging from Antiquity,’ to make a wild claim! She arrogantly declared that this solitary poem could suppress the scholars of our Holy Dynasty’s Jiangnan for thirty years!"

Having said this, he slightly raised his eyelids, carefully observing the audience’s reactions.

Sure enough, the entire crowd erupted.

The hook worked perfectly. Their emotions were instantly stoked by his masterful stage presence.

"I’ve heard of this poem, and it does have a profound artistic conception, but she shouldn’t be so arrogant, right?!"

"A solitary poem suppressing our Jiangnan scholars for thirty years?! Damn it, does Princess Wencheng have a disease of the brain?!"

"This is going too far! Too far! When our Jiangnan literary culture was at its peak, when did we ever humiliate Jiang Country like this?!"

"How can a petty person become so arrogant after gaining power for just a day?!"

"..."

Seeing the crowd’s emotions suitably riled up, the storyteller’s lips curled into a faint, involuntary smile. Then, his face returning to a solemn expression, he replied, "It has been over a month since this poem was revealed, yet the Jiangnan literary circle has made absolutely no response..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the venue fell silent. Everyone exchanged dismayed glances, and for a moment, the atmosphere grew stifling.

"Can we really not suppress her?" someone asked weakly.

Everyone looked anxiously at the old man.

The storyteller chuckled softly. "Fortunately, the profound literary foundation of our Great Saint Dynasty’s Jiangnan has given birth to the ’Two Rivers Ode,’ which finally extinguished Princess Wencheng’s arrogance."

"Two Rivers Ode"?

What was that?!

Everyone’s eyes burned with fervent anticipation as they all stared at the old man.

"The ’Two Rivers Ode’? Tell us the details!"

"When did this happen? How come I don’t know about it?"

...

Despite the chaotic murmurs below the stage, the old storyteller remained entirely motionless, his eyes downcast and his mind tranquil. A serene smile remained etched on his face.

"Stop keeping us in suspense, hurry up and tell us!"

Someone finally lost their patience and tossed a handful of copper coins onto the stage as a tip. With someone taking the lead, the rest of the audience suddenly caught on and began to dig into their pockets, giving generously.

Before long, the tipped copper coins alone had piled up into a small mountain. There were even a few gleaming beans of silver scattered within...

The old storyteller could no longer suppress the corners of his mouth. Taking his time, he spoke softly, "Zeng Anmin, courtesy name Quan Fu, sixteen years of age, is the son of the Governor of Fengqi Road.

"He has been exceptionally intelligent and courageous since childhood. At the time of his birth, a ray of azure, cloud-piercing light descended from the heavens into the Governor’s Mansion. Lord Governor woke with a start, looked up, and to his shock, saw on the horizon..."

At this moment, everyone held their breath, watching the old man intently. There wasn’t even the sound of cracking sunflower seeds.

"...he saw on the horizon, the towering Confucian Saint Dharma Aspect!

"The Confucian Saint Dharma Aspect tapped his forehead three times at the Governor, smiled at him, and then swooped directly into Madam’s womb!

"In the very next moment, the cries of a newborn baby echoed from the delivery room!

"The crying was endless and incredibly vigorous!"

The old man’s words caused everyone to gasp in shock.

"The reincarnation of a Confucian Saint?!"

"This..."

"Is that really true??"

...

"Heh heh." The storyteller chuckled faintly. Picking up his wooden gavel, he gave it a light tap, silencing the entire venue once more.

He spoke slowly and methodically. "Young Master Anmin learned to read at three, practiced martial arts at five, and by eight, he could already debate the classics with Lord Governor!

"Fearing he might stray down the wrong path, Lord Governor used his own literary power to suppress the boy’s talent for sixteen years, just to stabilize his temperament.

"But how could the brilliance of a heaven-chosen genius truly be suppressed?!"

The old man laughed heartily. He looked at the crowd, his words flowing smoothly and effortlessly. "The moment the young master entered Shuidu Academy, it took him a mere quarter of an hour to comprehend Literary Qi. Within three days, he filled all seven hundred acupoints of the cosmic cycle to break through to the Purple Mansion.

"In just five short days, Young Master Anmin reached the Gentleman Realm, becoming the undisputed leader of the young scholars in our Liangjiang Commandery!

"A Realm that ordinary men strive their entire lives to reach, Young Master Anmin achieved in a mere five days!"

The old man cast a sweeping, placid glance over his audience.

By now, the venue was dead silent. The common folk didn’t understand the intricacies of cultivation, but they could still glean just how terrifyingly prodigious Young Master Anmin was.

His voice leisurely rang out again. "The rebellion case of Prince Jiang’s Mansion was entirely dismantled by Young Master Zeng at the tender age of sixteen.

"However, who could have expected that although King Jiang was dead, he had left a contingency plan! He ordered his loyal hound, Xu Tong, to lead eight thousand soldiers to besiege the Observation Department, trapping Lord Governor and his family inside!"

HISS!

Eight thousand soldiers!

What kind of concept was that?!

Everyone’s hearts sank. Some even pressed their lips tightly together, staring fixedly at the old man.

At this, the old man burst into roaring laughter. He stood straight up from his seat, his spirit soaring, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "On that day, Young Master Anmin stepped forth on swirling azure energy! He looked down disdainfully at the amassed soldiers, his voice ringing out loud and clear, looking every bit like a Banished Immortal as he chanted..."

He struck a dramatic pose, his eyes glaring wide with fierce intensity.

"Fine wine in luminous cups glowing by moonlight,

"As we prepare to drink, the pipa on horseback hurries us on.

"Do not laugh if we lie drunk on the battlefield!

"Since ancient times, how many who fought have ever returned?!"

The old man’s words sped up, firing at the crowd like a torrential downpour. "Following this single poem, a Confucian Saint actually manifested! The azure Vast Energy instantly suppressed the entire battlefield, trapping all the soldiers in place, unable to move a single muscle!

"That rebel leader, Xu Tong, his eyes splitting with rage, was pierced through the heart by ten thousand arrows manifested from that very azure energy!"

Having reached this climax, the old man gently lifted the teacup from the table, took a small sip, and looked at the crowd with a faint, enigmatic smile.

By now, the audience was completely engrossed in his tale. The entire teahouse was utterly silent.

After a long while, the old man finally spoke again, asking in a teasing tone, "I wonder, can Young Master Anmin’s ’Two Rivers Ode’ suppress Princess Wencheng’s ’Emerging from Antiquity’?!"

Bringing the story full circle and hammering home the theme.

The skill of this storyteller was truly evident!

ROAR!

The crowd below erupted into an absolute uproar. Everyone’s faces were flushed red as they shouted.

"Compared to this poem, Princess Wencheng’s poem isn’t even worth a fart!"

"To think Young Master Anmin possesses such immense talent!"

"The reincarnation of a Confucian Saint! The reincarnation of a Confucian Saint!"

"Young Master Anmin single-handedly suppresses Jiang Country!"

"Single-handedly suppresses Jiang Country!"

While the crowd was frantically waving their arms and shouting to vent their excitement, the storyteller had already quietly slipped away from his seat.

...

In the backstage area, the old man stood with the utmost respect.

Qi Bo, the most loyal hound of the Governor’s Mansion, was seated in front of him.

A look of approval graced his face. "Not bad."

With that said, he tossed a small piece of broken gold into the old man’s hands.

"The Master is truly generous!" The old man’s voice grew even more deferential.

But Qi Bo’s figure had already vanished, quietly appearing in the backstage of yet another teahouse...