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Connecting Heaven Pavilion, Langhuan Academy
“Sage Of Writing” Han Yu was in the middle organizing the surviving manuscripts of ancient sages in preparation for the final Ten Thousand Sages Hall examination. This was already the tenth day of the Literary Excellence Convention. After a moment of cleanup, the woman apparently had inspiration. She went to a table, gathered her thoughts, and concentrated on writing.
Her writing posture was a bit odd. Her body was upright, neither slouched or hunched over in the slightest, straighter than a pine tree. Her wrist was in the air, holding golden-eyed suan’ni brush. This brush was refined from the fur of the Primeval Chaos Fierce Beast Golden-eyed Suan’ni, and this brush’s shaft was made from razor clam dragon bone. It was worth more than ten thousand star dollars; when it wrote characters, each line was filled with a domineering air. The brush was like a dragon, coiling about like a serpent.
“The dragon’s breath becomes a cloud, a cloud that is assuredly not as powerful as the dragon. Nonetheless, the dragon rides this breath through the vastness of mystery, approaching the sun and moon, eclipsing light and reflection, feeling shocking lightning, when it transforms, brings rain down to earth, submerges valleys. Thus, the cloud also is powerful…”1
A green-clothed young man walked close from behind and stared at the characters on the white sheet. He read slowly, his tone filled with awe.
“Fuqing,2 are you writing about dragons? So amazing.”
The green-clothed man extended a hand to feel the girl’s back.
Han Yu gently swatted his hand and calmly said: “Yuheng,3 why are you here.”
If an outsider saw this, they definitely would be shocked. Han Yu of the famous Seven Sages Of The Bamboo Grove, the one known as the “Sage Of Writing” and “Hundred Generations Exemplary Writer,” was surprisingly addressed by True Name by a man. Furthermore, the woman was not angry.
The man was Huang Yuheng,4 the ranked third Star Warrior of the Xuannü Seven Stars. In truth, he had another identity that people were not aware of: he was the Servant Star of Sage Of Writing Han Yu. Although Servant Stars existed in Star World, the truth was that Star Generals who contracted with Servant Stars were very rare because forming a contract was no small detriment to their Star Name. Future incarnations of this Star Name would be covered in a layer of filth, so Star World had but a few Servant Stars. Unless forced to, or perhaps out of personal relationships, a Star General would be unwilling to form a contract.
Han Yu and Huang Yuheng were the latter. Before Han Yu showed talent, before she made clear she was qualified to be the Sage Of Writing, the two of them were childhood sweethearts. When Han Yu bore a Star Name and became a Star General, Huang Yuheng was on the path of cultivation, his every step difficult, the gap between them growing larger and larger. After one argument with Han Yu, Huang Yuheng fell down a cliff and was left at death’s doorstep. In short, it was unclear whether Han Yu did so out of love for this childhood friend or to give this old sweetheart a tongue-lashing, she then signed a Servant Star contract with him, bringing him back from the brink of death.
This could be described as one of Star World’s most fortuitous encounters. Ever since then, Han Yu’s Star Name grew by leaps and bounds, and her literary spiritual powers grew stronger and stronger. When she attended her first Literary Excellence Convention, her works were described as being as vast as the Yangtze River, circulating everywhere, filled with fishes and dragons, ten thousand oddities and puzzles, as well as being replete with hidden meanings. And people who saw its unfathomable light, its heavenly hue, also would cower and not dare to give a light appraisal.
In her second Literary Excellence Convention, “Discourse on Teachers” shook the convention the moment it appeared, earning her the appellation, “Sage Of Writing,” and Huang Yuheng’s cultivation of Star Energy was also skyrocketing.
Han Yu’s “Discourse on Teachers” was able to enlighten the confusion of sages, and the benefits the people in the world could gain from reading it were boundless, able to enhance the talent of understanding. Her Discourse on Teachers was written for Huang Yuheng, and it also has changed his talent levels. In a short century, it allowed him to leap to stand as one of Star World’s seven strongest Star Warriors.
However, Huang Yuheng was not satisfied with third place at all. His biggest dream was to replace Su Mian as the head, to possess for himself fame like the Purple Rose Star Emperor’s, to henceforth justify that he could marry this “Sage Of Writing,” to share in this life together.
“Is there something on my face?” Han Fuqing continued to write as if nothing happened.
Huang Yuheng smiled: “No matter how long, I never grow tired of looking at Fuqing’s face.”
“Do not be too intimate with your words.” The Hundred Generations Exemplary Writer was not at all interested in his sweet talk. When they were little, she still had some complex feelings towards this childhood sweetheart, but as time passed, as her reputation as the “Sage Of Writing” grew, those feelings grew weaker and weaker.
Huang Yuheng clearly realized this. He also laboriously racked his brains to produce a contribution for the Literary Excellence Convention.
“How are your preparations this time? Yuheng, how many times have you participated in the Literary Excellence Convention? Might as well not come next time?” Han Yu wrote as she murmured, her gaze apparently not daring to look at him.5
“When I have a wife like you for help, Fuqing, I definitely can stand out this time.” Huang Yuheng confidently said: “I have already mostly comprehended the ‘Discourse On Horses’ you had me write, and I have also completely comprehended the Poetry Realm of the ‘Message To The Imperial Court.'”
“You must refer to that man named Chen Mo this time?” Han Yu asked.
Huang Yuheng was not too happy his childhood sweetheart was mentioning the name of another man. He retracted his smile and nodded. “Each embodying literary excellence for centuries, this poem is already taking Qu Yuan City by storm.”
“Two days ago, he competed at the ‘River Viewing Banquet’ with Su Shi. Not only did he complete her couplet, he even produced an absolute for the ages that left the Peerless Star Hero stumped.” Her brush stopped. Han Yu lifted her face. The girl’s bangs were long, her face quiet. From inside out, she exuded the steady personality of a coiled dragon. It was obvious why Su Shi evaluated her as “wise and elegant.”
“Willow pond locked in smoke, was it?” Huang Yuheng had only just returned from another banquet, “Son Of Heaven Of Poets” Wang Changling’s. At the banquet, the topic of Su Shi and Chen Mo’s contest was the spirited discussion of everyone, making him a bit sour.
But he had no choice but to admit that this man indeed had some talent.
He did not know how this “willow pond locked in smoke” came to be, but Huang Yuheng felt this line absolutely was not that man’s original creation. Perhaps this absolute for the ages came from some ancient ruin he had seen.
Otherwise, he was too talented.
“Regardless whether it is true or not, his jade pendant has already reached the purple level. Su Wanyang’s personality is not unknown to you. When even such an arrogant person is unable to handle Chen Mo, this man’s developments are already quickly overtaking White Clothed Court Official.”
“Hm, I will meet him for sure. The Ten Thousand Sages Hall definitely will not produce such a simple poem.” Huang Yuheng sneered.
“Yuheng, there are times you are too obsessed with becoming strong.” Han Yu’s gaze was a bit distressed.
“That is because I am still not strong enough.” Huang Yuheng said: “To be your man, Fuqing, I cannot be disgraceful.”
“You are already my person.” Han Yu said.
“I am not satisfied with being a Servant Star. I want to be someone like the Purple Rose Star Emperor.”
“You clearly realize…” Heavenly Scatter Star “Hundred Generations Exemplary Writer” Han Yu Han Fuqing wanted to say something but stopped. Then, she continued to write.
Huang Yuheng was silent awhile. He said: “Fuqing, I came to see the Mao Commentary this time.”
Han Fuqing’s eyes pointed. Several manuscripts were already arranged on the table. The Book of Songs was one of the Five Classics, and it was a pivotal work in verse for spiritual pwoer Star Generals. Those that obtained the Book of Songs could become the head of poetry spiritual generals, but the Four Books and Five Classics honestly already followed the sages to oblivion during ancient times. The Mao Commentary was a few surviving records and analysis pertaining to the Book of Songs. It received its name from the two Star Names that came from it, “Mao Heng” and “Mao Chang.”
These works of sages were originally retained inside the Central Star Field’s “Xinjie Academy,” and only a few people had access. However, for the sake of her childhood sweetheart, Han Fuqing acted a bit selfish.6 Of course, Su Mian also gave everything to help her close friend, Su Shi, so this was considered even.
After reading the Mao Commentary for a bit, Huang Yuheng suddenly said: “Fuqing, do you know of an ancient sage work called, ‘Writings of the Huainan Masters?'”7
“You refer to the Huainanzi.” Han Yu had some recollection. That should be a book that carried on the ancient Daoist Realm. It combined the Yin Yang, Mohism, Legalism, Military, Fate, Form, Confucianism and other Realms. The contents apparently spoke of the secrets of the sages. “Large” was “vast” in meaning, and “fierce” was “bright.” This book was like the Dao, encompassing vast and bright logic.
The Huainanzi was an incomplete collection, and it was very fragmented. A long look would instead leave people confused.
“How do you know of this?”
“I heard Su Mian mention it once before. Seems Su Shi is quite fond of it.” Huang Yuheng said.
Han Fuqing slightly wrinkled her brow. “I will help find it for you in a moment.”
“Many thanks, Fuqing. Your Servant is unable to return the favor and can only devote his life to you.” Huang Yuheng cupped his fist.
“Yuheng, Fuqing is interested only in turning you into a dragon.”
Han Yu finished writing when she said the word, “dragon.”
The Book of Changes says: clouds follow the dragon. It also says: Thus, where there is a cloud, there is a dragon.
…
Chen Mo looked at the Literary Excellence Pendant’s purple light. Apparently, the qualifications to enter the Ten Thousand Sages Hall was far simpler than he had thought.
Qin Weiyu sat beside him. The woman looked at the cloudy weather, great exhaustion upon her face.
“Back in the Outer Star Fields, Weiyu felt you were extraordinary, Chen Mo, but Weiyu never thought you actually could stand out in the Literary Excellence Convention.” Qin Weiyu shook her head. She had thoroughly underestimated this man.
They were all plagiarized anyways, Chen Mo muttered to himself.
Now, his name was already spreading throughout Qu Yuan City, already catching up to Liu Yong. “A reputation is like a passing cloud, what’s important is the mind.” Chen Mo said. “Weiyu, Still not found Luohua yet?”
“She is unwilling to burden me and thus left. Star World is vast, with nine thousand Star Fields. I would still spend my entire life searching for her.” Qin Weiyu warmly said.
“En. My reputation is already spreading, making people ask around. As long as Yan Jidao came to attend the convention, we can find her.”
“Thank you.”
“Do we still need to say thanks with our relationship?” Chen Mo feigned sternness.
Qin Weiyu faintly smiled. “Right, do you still go to the Outer Star Fields?”
“I can’t go back for now.” Chen Mo shook his head. He always wanted to return to the Outer Star Fields, but the journey was too far. It would require many years, and he was not the top Xuannü Realm. Furthermore, he had too many matters to attend to recently that he was unable to extricate himself from.
“What?” Chen Mo was a bit nervous. He hoped nothing had happened to his sister and the others.
“Weiyu heard that neighboring Basket Water Star Field’s great general ‘Training When The Rooster Crows’ Zu Ti8 desires the Northern Mansion Soldiers, to become master of the Tail Fire Star Field. She has attacked previously, and she colludes with the Tail Fire Star Field’s Wang Sengbian.” During those years she wandered the Outer Star Fields, Qin Weiyu came to learn many things.
“What? Wang Sengbian actually defected?” Chen Mo said in surprised. However, upon closer thought, the two of them had collaborated at most. They could not be considered allies.
“Wang Sengbian is a Star General, too, after all. She has ambitions for her Star Name, and Zu Ti has promised to take the Tail Fire Star Field with her. This way, Wang Sengbian can grow quickly. Weiyu also heard that Zu Ti got in touch with Murong Chui beforehand.”
Back then, Wang Sengbian had this plan when she lead the Northern Barbarians. This was not odd, then.
“And then?” For the first time, Chen Mo was a bit worried.
“You need not worry.” Qin Weiyu smiled: “I could not possibly inform you of bad news. The Northern Mansion Soldier Master Xie Xuan’s Star Name is outstanding. The previous one had an excellent reputation. She is also now the master of the Tail Fire Star Field, and her growth is extremely fast. Add on your elder sister’s aid and Murong Chui’s intervention, Zu Ti was killed. Wang Sengbian also perished.”
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- From Han Yu’s “On Dragons.” ↩
- 負卿 ↩
- 雨恆 ↩
- 黃雨恆 ↩
- Kind of cruel, tbh. Saves him on a whim and all but practically ignores him afterwards. But that’s just a Star General’s mentality. ↩
- Seems their relationship is actually quite complicated. At least she provides resources for him. ↩
- 淮南鴻烈, very literally, “the large and fierce of Huainan.” ↩
- ‘聞雞起舞’祖逖 ↩