Wang Zhuo’s aged face was filled with excitement, his hands trembling as he held the rice paper. He stared at the phrase written on it, unsure whether it was the words or the calligraphy that stirred him so.
The boy was puzzled and couldn’t help but whisper, "Teacher, this writing looks quite ordinary. What’s so good about it?" He was unconvinced; more precisely, as a child, he felt disdain towards the adult Fang Yi.
In fact, even Fang Yi and Kong Qingci were surprised. Qingci had never seen Wang Zhuo lose his composure , not even in front of the elders.
Fang Yi felt it odd. His own calligraphy was so poor, was there any need for the old man to be so agitated? Could it be that he possessed a nearly demonic talent in calligraphy?
However, in the next moment, Wang Zhuo pierced through Fang Yi’s wild thoughts.
"Excellent line! An excellent line indeed!" Wang Zhuo extolled, flattening the rice paper on the table, "I once met a senior who had written a phrase . His strokes were sharp, his characters like a sword, truly conveying an overwhelming momentum, like thousands of troops and horses galloping—utterly terrifying. It left a lasting impression on me."
Fang Yi’s heart stirred. Could it be the old man? Only the old man could exude such murderous aura, so he respectfully asked, "Wang, do you remember the name of this senior?"
However, Wang Zhuo could only smile bitterly in response, "He never told me his name, I do not know."
Fang Yi pressed on, "Then do you know where he is now?"
Wang Zhuo replied, "I’ve heard he has already died."
Fang Yi’s mouth fell open, quite shocked, thinking that the senior Wang Zhuo had met was not the old man. The old man was still lively, brazenly spending Fang Yi’s money, living more comfortably than anyone.
"Fang Yi, I have an impertinent request," Wang Zhuo said.
"Please speak, Wang," Fang Yi replied.
"Could you... gift this piece of calligraphy to me?" Wang Zhuo asked.
Fang Yi was stunned and said, "But my writing is quite ugly."
Wang Zhuo smiled slightly, "Although your words do not reach the realm of a master, they are indeed dragon flying and phoenix dancing, carefree and ethereal. They contain a latent majestic momentum. Although not yet fully formed, at your age, it is already an extraordinary achievement."
Now it was Fang Yi’s turn to feel embarrassed. He didn’t think he was particularly remarkable in this regard, but Wang Zhuo’s praise made him wonder if he really was that impressive.
"Very well, if Wang likes it, then please take it," Fang Yi said.
They chatted for a long time until dusk when Wang Zhuo stood up, ready to take his leave. But just then, the door to the room was suddenly pulled open, and two people barged in—it was Lin Yuanhao and Li Zhengjie, and behind them, the hall manager Zhang Zhe’s complexion turned instantly pale.
Not only did Zhang Zhe see Fang Yi, but he also saw Qingci. He had greeted them earlier, warning Fang Yi not to come in, but there Fang Yi was, entering alongside the owner.
In a flash, Zhang Zhe felt a chill throughout his body, utterly distressed. He had hit a snag. How could he have imagined that Fang Yi was acquainted with Qingci?
Wang Zhuo glanced at the two uninvited young men, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes, "What business do you two young men have with this old man?"
Li Zhengjie hurriedly said, "It’s , we came here to request that Wang gift a calligraphy piece to Young Master Bai Mingqi."
Lin Yuanhao added, "Yes, please name your price, Wang."
The two stood confidently, chests puffed out, wearing faint smiles, looking as if they were sure of themselves.
However, Wang Zhuo’s slight displeasure grew more intense, "Go away, there are no calligraphy pieces here for you."
"How could that be, Wang? Isn’t there a piece right on your desk?" Lin Yuanhao said.
Even with Wang Zhuo’s impeccable cultivation, he was indignant at this moment.
"Bai Mingqi that little guy wants my calligraphy? Then let him come in person. My calligraphy is not so cheap as to beg to be given away. You two should leave now," Wang Zhuo said coldly.
The two became anxious, Li Zhengjie dissatisfiedly said, "Elder Wang, we do have some status after all. You send us away but allow this kid to stay. Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?" He pointed at Fang Yi.
Wang Zhuo let out a cold laugh and said, "Although his status may not compare to yours, his cultivation is something you two couldn’t catch up to in a lifetime!"
Invisibly, it was as if a resounding slap had hit both of their faces, causing them to flush with humiliation and looking extremely unsightly.
"You two had best leave quickly, or else I’ll have to see you out personally," Kong Qingci, who had till now been silent, spoke up with a serene authority. She was the master here and she had every right to decide how things were to be.
Li Zhengjie and Lin Yuanhao gritted their teeth unwillingly but had no choice but to leave. However, as they did, they glared fiercely at Fang Yi, not believing their cultivation could be inferior to his.
"Fang Yi, in three days at Broken Dragon Mountain, I’ll be there to see your defeat," Li Zhengjie said coldly.
"I will too," Lin Yuanhao’s hatred for Fang Yi had clearly reached a peak.
Fang Yi’s response to their words was simple. He said evenly, "Take care, I won’t see you out."
The room quieted down. Wang Zhuo stood up and sighed, "The young people these days rely on their little bit of status to think they are something special, not realizing they are just living off their forebears’ coattails. Not like the young people of the past, who all spoke on the strength of their true abilities, sigh..."
Wang Zhuo let out a sigh that carried the weight of the ages.
Fang Yi and Kong Qingci stood up to personally see Wang Zhuo out of the Xuanhua Pavilion, watching the old man leave with a neat little boy. They stood at the doorway, stable and unmoving.
"You’ve managed to connect with Elder Wang, and it wasn’t in vain that I put my mind to it today," Kong Qingci said, seemingly letting out a breath of relief.
"Miss Kong, thank you," Fang Yi genuinely responded.
Kong Qingci smiled and said, "It’s nothing, I’ve said before, wealth is easy to come by, but confidants are hard to find. So, from now on, don’t call me Miss Kong; call me Qingci instead. It feels more comfortable to the ears."
Fang Yi naturally wouldn’t be pretentious and said, "Alright."
Qingci then asked, "Do you really believe you can beat Bai Kuang?" She was indeed a bit worried. After all, the reputation Bai Kuang had made for himself in Moon City was built with his fists. It was an acknowledged fact in their circles.
Fang Yi smiled and asked, "Do you believe I can win?"
Qingci replied, "It’s not about what I think or don’t think. The Bai Family is dedicated to Martial Arts Training; most of them cultivate martial arts, and they are a family with deep martial inheritance. And Bai Kuang especially is recognized as a Martial Arts Training genius. Are you really up for it?"
Fang Yi remained unfazed and smiled, "Take a guess, do you think I can win?"
Without any hesitation, Qingci declared at that moment.
Fang Yi was slightly stunned, "Why are you so sure?"
With confidence glowing on her beautiful face, her eyes soft as she gazed at Fang Yi, Qingci said with pride, "You are my best friend, Qingci. I believe in you."
(I am truly grateful for everyone’s active voting and generous tips, thank you from the bottom of my heart.)