Seeing that no one spoke, Master Xia instinctively assumed that everyone tacitly approved of his writing poetry. So he cupped his hands to everyone to express his gratitude and said, "Since no one has any objections, then I will make a fool of myself. Speaking of which, I just happened to think of a poem about peach blossoms. Today, I will take this opportunity of the Peach Blossom Poetry Gathering to leave behind a piece of my calligraphy!"

As he spoke, Master Xia dipped his brush in ink and began to write with great flourish.

While writing, he was still thinking: "Huh, who ground this ink?"

However, the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment, and then he began to write seriously.

Before long, Master Xia finished writing, and Magistrate Xu stood beside him, watching the whole process.

"As expected of Master Xia, with just this calligraphy alone, I'm afraid no one in the entire Anguo can surpass him!"

Master Xia waved his hand modestly and said, "Prefect Xu is too kind. Anguo is so vast, I dare not say such a thing."

Upon hearing this, the others chimed in, "Master Xia is far too modest. Your calligraphy is evident to all; there is truly no one else in Anguo who can match it!"

"..."

Being flattered is always pleasant, and Master Xia simply smiled and nodded without saying anything more.

Magistrate Xu picked up the Xuan paper and said, "Master Xia has finished writing. I will read it aloud for him!"

Jing Zhe also pricked up his ears, ready to listen.

"Ten thousand trees are full of spring, and everywhere people are reflected in red."

A warm breeze blows through the fairy temple, and spring returns to Jiangling.

The warbler should have fallen, and the butterfly should have been flying high in the sky.

I almost wished to paint this picture, for every branch is entwined with bamboo groves.

"What a beautiful poem! What a beautiful poem!"

As soon as Magistrate Xu finished reading, someone started clapping.

"The poem doesn't mention 'peach blossoms' at all, yet it vividly depicts the scenery of peach blossoms and willows covering the mountain. It truly lives up to the reputation of Master Xia!"

"..."

Master Xia nodded slightly after listening, quite pleased with himself. He had been thinking about this poem for some time, and this praise was exactly what he had expected.

At this moment, Magistrate Xu came out and gave a final summary: "We still don't know how Mu Bai and Miss Lin's poems are, but given the quality of Master Xia's poem, it is undoubtedly worthy of being added as a third masterpiece!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone in the crowd said, "Now it's up to Miss Lin and Young Master Feng to see whose poetry is superior, and who will leave behind the last piece of calligraphy!"

Prefect Xu was taken aback, then immediately said, "Mu Bai and Miss Lin will naturally leave their calligraphy, and besides, aren't there two more poems..."

As expected, Feng Mubai is no match for Lin Wan'er. If one of them has to leave behind a piece of calligraphy, it will naturally be Lin Wan'er. That's why Prefect Xu emphasized that there are still two pieces left.

At this moment, Fellow Daoist Feng stepped forward: "Prefect Xu, there is only one piece of calligraphy left, so only one of you, Young Master Feng and Miss Lin, can leave your calligraphy behind!"

"What happened?"

Magistrate Xu's face darkened.

Ma Shibin stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Prefect Xu, before Master Xia, Fatty Wei volunteered and wrote a piece of calligraphy in advance. This is Master Xia's second one, so there's only one left..."

After speaking, Ma Shibin and Feng Daoyou exchanged a glance, a cunning glint in their eyes. This was their plan: to deliberately hide Wei Pangzi's poem and then guide Master Xia to write one. This would inevitably cause conflict, and then Prefect Xu and the others would surely take their anger out on Wei Pangzi—after all, he was the only one who was easy to bully.

Hmph, let's see how you cry later.

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Xu glanced around the crowd a few times before fixing his gaze on Fatty Wei with unusual sharpness.

"What, has our Peach Blossom Poetry Gathering become so low-class? Anyone can leave their calligraphy here? Putting aside what others say, don't you know how to save face for yourself?"

"..."

Although Magistrate Xu didn't say this to any one person specifically, everyone knew that he was giving Fatty Wei a warning!

Master Xia also felt a little embarrassed. Although he also thought that Fatty Wei was just writing nonsense, after all, Fatty Wei was the first one to write. If he had known in advance, he definitely wouldn't have written anything. Now there was only one spot left, so he had to blame Fatty Wei.

So he said, "Let's take a look at Young Master Wei's poem first!"

Where is your poem?

Magistrate Xu looked at the table but still couldn't see it, so he started asking Fatty Wei.

Fatty Wei wasn't stupid. He probably guessed the reason for the matter. His eyes darted around and he said, "Oh, Magistrate Xu, I put it on the table as soon as I finished writing it. Brother Feng and Brother Ma were tidying it up. Magistrate Xu can ask them."

"Fatty Wei, you're spouting nonsense—"

Feng Daoyou and Ma Shibin broke out in a cold sweat and immediately retorted. Prefect Xu glanced at the two of them and then at Fatty Wei. He probably guessed the reason. It seemed that the three of them had some grudges, and Fatty Wei had been tricked by the two of them.

"Stop talking nonsense and show us his calligraphy!"

"..."

Fellow Daoist Feng originally wanted to argue his point, but when he met Prefect Xu's sharp gaze, he immediately backed down and quickly took out Fatty Wei's calligraphy from under a stack of Xuan paper.

If you still don't understand what happened after reading this, you're really stupid. Magistrate Xu glared at Fellow Daoist Feng again, as if to say that he would settle accounts with him later.

He felt that Fatty Wei's poem was definitely not as good as Master Xia's, so he would tear up his calligraphy later, leaving only one piece of calligraphy. Tearing up the calligraphy that had been properly preserved would be a great insult to the person involved, especially if it got out, it would ruin his reputation.

But Fatty Wei deserved it; Magistrate Xu wouldn't care about him.

So he decided to go and see what Fatty Wei had written. As soon as he looked down, he saw Master Xia next to him looking dazed.

He was startled and had a vague feeling that something was wrong, so he quickly went to check, and then his expression became just like Master Xia's.

This fat Wei... writes poems that are even better than Master Xia's?

We can't tear it up like that... If Fatty Wei's poem is mediocre, tearing it up is fine, it would only be embarrassing for Fatty Wei. But his poem is so good, if we tear it up, it would be Master Xia who would be embarrassed!

Therefore, Magistrate Xu dared not tear it up. His face was even more gloomy. He turned his head and glared fiercely at Fellow Daoist Feng and Ma Shibin. He would have to settle accounts with them properly after the poetry gathering.

"Young Master Feng has arrived!"

Just as the atmosphere was at a standstill, another commotion erupted in the front courtyard of Peach Blossom Temple, even more so than when Magistrate Xu had arrived.

Before long, a young man in white robes walked in surrounded by servants. Jing Zhe turned to look and saw that the young man was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, a few years older than him.

He was tall and slender with a handsome appearance. Although he couldn't compare to him, he was still considered a handsome man. He held a folding fan in his hand and exuded a scholarly air.

As soon as he entered the backyard, the crowd automatically made way for him. He walked straight to Prefect Xu and Master Xia, bowed and smiled, and said, "Greetings, Prefect Xu and Master Xia. I am late."

"..."

This young man was none other than Feng Mubai, the so-called "Number One Talent in Jiangling".

————