"Is Elder Xia really planning to let that kid be a judge?"

The latest intelligence has been delivered to Li Donglai, and when he saw one of the pieces of intelligence, a strange expression immediately appeared on his face.

Is there a problem?

Situ Changqing leisurely brewed tea.

"That one landscape painting alone, with its harmonious blend of artistic conception and atmosphere, is enough to quell all dissenting voices."

"Of course, if you insist on bringing up seniority, then I have nothing to say."

After saying that, Situ Changqing put the brewed tea into his mouth.

Did I mention qualifications?

Li Donglai glanced at Situ Changqing with annoyance: "What was the theme of this competition again? If I remember correctly, it was the four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, right?"

Situ Changqing continued drinking his tea, it was unclear whether he had listened or not.

"I'm just wondering, does that silly kid who has intermittent bouts of mental instability really know how to play chess?"

puff!

Situ Changqing suddenly spat out a mouthful of tea.

Li Donglai didn't bring it up, and he hadn't even thought about it in that direction!

The theme of the competition is indeed music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, so the judges selected must also have extraordinary knowledge in these fields.

Simply put, you not only need to be proficient in these four things, but you also need to be stronger than the contestants, if not overwhelming them.

Otherwise, what right do you have to sit on the judging panel and criticize contestants who are far superior to you?

If it were anyone else, whether it were the Xia family or other forces belonging to the organizers, they would treat this issue with caution and carefully scrutinize it.

But Lin Rui is too special.

This twenty-year-old young man was originally a musician and was the first piano master in Xiazhou, and even in China!

Would you question whether someone like that understands the guqin?!

Furthermore...

A landscape painting that blends artistic conception and aesthetics evokes the feeling of being a master of both calligraphy and painting in every viewer. Not to mention this competition, even looking at the whole of China, how many people would dare to question Lin Rui's strength in calligraphy and painting?

No!

For these reasons, everyone, including the organizers, subconsciously overlooked whether Lin Rui knew how to play chess!

"We can't just condemn him outright, can we? Can't we look at it from a more optimistic perspective? What if that kid is actually a very skilled chess player?"

Situ Changqing coughed and began wiping the water stains that had splashed on the tea tray with a tablecloth.

"With that unreliable, erratic guy, are you sure he can really handle something that requires brains?"

Faced with Li Donglai's confident retort, Situ Changqing remained silent.

What you said makes perfect sense!

I was speechless!

Situ Changqing couldn't help but picture Lin Rui sitting on the judges' panel, looking at the players with the same disdainful gaze he had for the chessboard, not at the players themselves.

Damn it!

This scene is absolutely outrageous!

Situ Changqing coughed again: "Did that old ghost Silver Fox think of this part?"

"I don't think so."

Li Donglai rubbed his temples, looking troubled: "Contact Chen Bin and ask him to come up with a solution. If all else fails, we'll just disrupt the game once it reaches the chess stage."

…

Unlike Li Donglai and Situ Changqing, Chen Bin didn't have the same headaches.

The deeper he got to know Lin Rui, the clearer he became about Lin Rui's unfathomable depths.

Of course, if the chess game is indeed Lin Rui's weakness, then he has more than a dozen ways to solve it on the spot.

For Chen Bin, these were minor incidents, not worth mentioning.

Of course, Chen Bin believed that the Xia family should have also discussed the rules of the game with Lin Rui.

Since Lin Rui is willing to take on the role of competition judge, there is no need to worry too much about his chess skills.

"Wenyao, there are quite a few celebrities here."

Zhang Chengzhang looked around curiously.

Sun Min was also observing the people coming and going around her: "As expected of Lizhou. In other states, let alone celebrities, even famous people rarely appear in public."

At this moment, Zhao Wenyao's expression was solemn.

His ability to enter the venue was not due to any exceptional talent in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The fundamental reason was that he was friends with Lin Rui and, through kinship, obtained three invitations from the Xia family.

"There are more pretentious people, like us."

Zhao Wenyao said something he didn't mean.

Zhang Chengzhang and Sun Min saw through it but didn't point it out. They looked at the other celebrities in the room, who were very knowledgeable about calligraphy and painting, unlike them, who seemed like country bumpkins visiting the Grand View Garden.

If I were to foolishly expose this hidden truth, wouldn't I be just insulting myself for being a country bumpkin trying to enter the city?

"Huh?"

Sun Min glanced at the event schedule, and a familiar name came into his view.

Cangquan Zuoyi.

"Cangquan Zuoyi signed up for both chess and guqin?"

Zhang Chengzhang followed Sun Min's gaze and asked in surprise, "I didn't expect this guy to have such a deep understanding of Chinese culture."

"Both chess and the guqin were originally brought from Shenzhou to the floating islands."

Sun Min frowned slightly: "However, after thousands of years of changes, the Floating Island Kingdom has long since developed its own unique style in chess and guqin."

Zhao Wenyao nodded: "Including in calligraphy and painting, many schools of thought have emerged in the Floating Island Kingdom, and many great calligraphers and painters have been born there."

"Chengzhang, you misspoke just now."

"What's wrong?"

Zhang Chengzhang looked at Sun Min with a puzzled expression.

"As early as hundreds of years ago, in the fields of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, the major schools of thought intentionally de-Sichuanized themselves."

"And when teaching his disciples, he deliberately guided them, saying that this was a new school of thought created by the Floating Island, far surpassing that of the Divine Continent."

"Therefore, after hundreds of years of evolution, today any person from Fudao who studies music, chess, calligraphy and painting will think that they are learning about the rich history of their country."

Hearing Sun Min's explanation, Zhang Chengzhang was indignant: "Isn't this distorting history? Does creating your own school of thought mean you can deny that the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were spread from China?"

No, not at all.

Zhao Wenyao shook his head: "They did not deny that the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting originated in China, but they have been making a big fuss about how they have already beaten the masters in these arts and are far superior to those in China."

"This attitude is very unpleasant."

Sun Min glanced at a man not far away, her gaze revealing a hint of disgust: "But as unpleasant as it may be, at least it doesn't disgust people. Compared to Mu Jin, Fudao still has some self-respect."

"Floating Island is simply unwilling to face history squarely, while those guys from Hibiscus Kingdom are always fantasizing about rewriting history. A few years ago, they actually went to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status for the four characters 'qin, qi, shu, hua' (琴棋书画).

Upon hearing Sun Min's explanation, Zhang Chengzhang almost blurted out, "Holy crap, this guy is shameless, truly unparalleled!"

"If I remember correctly, that guy is Li Guanghao, right?"

Zhao Wenyao followed Sun Min's disgusted gaze and immediately saw a man in his thirties with slicked-back hair and a powdered face.

"Yes, that disgusting guy who once visited Nanzhou."

"When I saw the name Li Guanghao on the list of contestants, I guessed it was probably him."

Sun Min's eyes showed even more disgust, with a hint of anger.

"Still can't let go?"

Zhao Wenyao sighed and gently patted Sun Min's shoulder.

Sun Min remained silent, but eventually sighed and turned to leave.

Watching Sun Min's retreating figure, Zhao Wenyao's expression was complicated, but he still followed her.

Of course, out of the corner of his eye, he still glanced at Li Guanghao not far away. At this moment, Zhao Wenyao had only one thought: With this kind of attitude, he's bound to be eliminated in the first round.