All-around protagonist mentor

"Good! Well said!"

"Yes! That's exactly right!"

"Exactly! This Yizhilang is a despicable person!"

"Hmph! Such a despicable person, just now he was mocking us, how shameless!"

Qingxuan's words immediately drew cheers from the audience, who applauded and collectively supported him. However, various voices soon followed, all vehemently criticizing Yizhilang.

Since someone has taken the lead, what is there to be afraid of?

Let's get this going!

Seeing this, Yi Zhilang turned ashen with rage and nearly fainted. He had thought he was extraordinary and intimidating, but he never expected the situation to spiral out of control in the blink of an eye.

However, Yi Zhilang wasn't foolish enough to actually argue with so many people. He only angrily retorted to Qing Xuan, "You ignorant brat! You're just spouting nonsense! Is the intention of the Holy Platform so superficial?!"

When the Holy Emperor named the Platform of All Saints, he did not mean that everyone who ascended the platform was a saint. Rather, he hoped that those scholars who passed the imperial examinations would be good people and officials, study diligently, establish their own schools of thought, and ultimately become saints. It was an encouragement and inspiration.

However, that's just how literature and music are; everyone interprets them differently. Qingxuan's explanation isn't entirely wrong; it can indeed be interpreted that way, and that's what most people thought when they first heard the name "Zhong Sheng Tai" (Platform of All Saints).

Just like Yi Zhilang had been stirring up trouble for no reason, insisting that Yun Jian Yue's lyrics and music were empty, boring, and unreasonable, Qing Xuan deliberately misinterpreted the meaning of the Holy Platform in retaliation.

"Oh! Miss, Miss! Isn't that Qingxuan?"

Seeing Qingxuan appear in an inconspicuous corner, Mianyu was extremely surprised. She then grabbed Xuanyu's hand and exclaimed in a low voice.

Xuan Yu was also full of surprise, and asked in astonishment, "What's he doing here?"

Then, as if realizing something, Xuan Yu's face darkened. Mian Yu also realized something, and her heart leaped with joy. She deliberately feigned regret and sighed, "Oh dear, since Qing Xuan is here, then Young Master Jun must be here too? Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected that Young Master Jun, who looks so elegant and dignified, is actually also..."

"Shut up!"

Before Mianyu could finish speaking, Xuanyu poked her forehead with a finger, glaring hatefully at the scene in the hall, and snorted, "Keep quiet and continue watching!"

"oh......"

Mianyu immediately and obediently replied, pitifully rubbing her forehead, her eyes filled with indignation, feeling extremely wronged.

What did I say wrong?

In the main hall, Qingxuan ignored Yizhilang's words and said leisurely, "Originally, the five realms lived in peace and harmony, but the Holy Emperor of All Beings insisted on launching a war and igniting boundless flames of war. Whether it was for the sake of his so-called prosperous world of humanity or for his own selfish desires, this move ultimately caused widespread suffering and death, with countless families destroyed and people killed. It was truly an act against the will of Heaven."

"You scholars have studied the classics since childhood, and you should be able to distinguish right from wrong, understand righteousness, and dissuade the emperor from such unwise actions. But instead of stopping him, you offer him advice, sing his praises, and even claim that it is for the sake of the people."

Qingxuan looked Yizhilang up and down again, and laughed, "At first I didn't understand what had bewitched you, making you do such a thing that confuses right and wrong and has lost all conscience. But now, seeing Scholar Yi's expensive and luxurious clothes, I understand."

"Ah, luxury cars, fine clothes, sumptuous food, and a life of wealth and glory—who wouldn't want that? I understand, I understand~."

"Hahahaha~~~~!"

Qingxuan's words drew another round of laughter from everyone present, and the mockery and disdain in the laughter overwhelmed Yizhilang.

At this moment, Yi Zhilang felt his blood pressure soar and his anger surge to his head. He roared hoarsely, "Ignorant brat, how dare you spout such nonsense! What do you know! His Majesty the Holy Emperor is a man of great talent and ambition, with the world in his heart. We are impressed by His Majesty's magnanimity and serve him for the sake of his grand cause, not for mere wealth and glory!"

"You only see the casualties of His Majesty the Holy Emperor during these past few years of war, but you don't see how many people have died in history because of chaos! Didn't these chaotic times ultimately need a great ruler to quell them, allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity?"

"Have you not seen how, two thousand years after the collapse of the Wu Dynasty, the people have been in chaos, and there has been no holy ruler to govern the world? How painful is that?"

"Oh, I see~~~." Qingxuan nodded upon hearing this, feigning sudden realization: "So that Holy Emperor is so great, wanting to save all people from this chaotic world. But the problem is..."

Qingxuan then showed a puzzled expression: "In the past five hundred years, the world has been at peace, the five realms are stable, and there have been no major wars in various places. Even the extraterrestrial demons and ancient alien races in the Hidden Abyss Realm have obediently accepted the Martial Venerable's control and recuperated. They have even established connections with many sects in the other four realms through the Martial Venerable's matchmaking, and have been interacting with each other."

"In recent years, the entire cultivation world has been thriving and prosperous, and the common people in the mortal world have been living in peace and contentment, with plenty of food and clothing. Can this world be considered a chaotic one?"

"Ever since that Holy Emperor started the war, the number of refugees in this world caused by war has been increasing."

"The Martial Venerable had almost subdued and educated the alien races of the Hidden Abyss Realm, promising that the three races would no longer have conflicts. Who knew that before the promise was even fresh, your Holy Emperor launched an attack on the Hidden Abyss Realm, committing massacres and making the Martial Venerable look bad both ways."

"this......."

Yi Zhilang was speechless again, unable to think of a rebuttal for a moment.

"Heh heh, 'Two thousand years after the collapse of the Wu Dynasty, the people are in chaos, and there is still no holy ruler to govern the world. How painful is that?'"

Qingxuan repeated what Yizhilang had just said and smiled:

"Humanity rises and falls for ten thousand years, its traditions continue unbroken, and wise men will eventually establish order, just like a dog catching a mouse."

"good!"

The pairing of Qingxuan and Yizhilang drew cheers from the crowd, who looked at Yizhilang with even more disdain, and even Xuanxin received several contemptuous glances.

Although Xuanxin didn't care about these stares, she was still a little annoyed.

What kind of trouble is Yizhilang causing?

Yi Zhilang trembled with rage at the scene before him, his face flushed crimson. But in his extreme anger, Yi Zhilang calmed down a bit and suddenly sneered, "Oh, I see. You suddenly appeared, spouting nonsense and constantly trying to change the subject. I suppose this Wuyi Pavilion is afraid I'll expose Qionghua Yushou's true colors and lose face, so they sent you out to deliberately entangle me, right?"

"OK!"

Yi Zhilang's lips curled into a confident sneer as he said with a double entendre, "I'd like to see what abilities you, a mere junior, have that dare to challenge me to a duel and 'oppose' me to my face!"

Qingxuan raised his cup and smiled: "I was merely stating some facts and speaking the truth. Since Scholar Yi thinks I am going against you, then let me 'go against you' then. Please, Scholar Yi, give me a challenge."

"Hmph!" Yi Zhilang snorted, glanced around at the guests who were watching with amusement, pondered for a moment, then said with a mocking expression:

"A woman under the moon, a tower under the moon, a beautiful woman leans against the empty tower under the moon, longing for her beloved who does not return, filled with sorrow!"

Upon hearing Yi Zhilang's couplet, many people around him immediately showed expressions of shame and their eyes became guilty.

"Oh my, I didn't expect Scholar Yi to be such a considerate person~."

Qingxuan glanced at Yizhilang with some surprise, and casually said with a smile:

"Guests at the camp, wine at the camp, guests at the camp drink bitter wine, thinking of his beloved wife, he is filled with sorrow."

Upon hearing Qingxuan's second line, those who felt guilty and ashamed were first taken aback, but then their faces lit up with smiles, and they became righteous and applauded Qingxuan.

Yes, we're all just trying to make a living. Life is so helpless; bosses want to keep us company, friends want to treat us, and we really can't refuse. Actually, we all miss our wives at home, and drinking feels tasteless; we're filled with worries.

Yi Zhilang was taken aback by Qing Xuan's words, not expecting him to match the couplet so quickly. He also didn't fall for the trap in Qing Xuan's words, nor did he morally exonerate these people; he merely offered them a seemingly legitimate reason.

Seeing Qingxuan's quick wit, Yizhilang immediately became wary, his gaze darting around. When he saw the girls hiding in the upstairs private rooms, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he smiled darkly:

"Spring peaches last no more than three months in warmth, and eventually they will wither and fall, crushed into dust!"

"Hiss~." Qingxuan gasped upon hearing this, shaking his head repeatedly, "Oh dear, Scholar Yi, look at this. I just praised you for being considerate, and you immediately utter such cruel words. It's really... sigh."

Qingxuan poured a cup of wine, raised it to the girls, and smiled:

"Though the winter plum blossoms only endure the cold of winter, their fragrance lingers forever in the art world."

"good!"

Upon hearing this, another cheer erupted in the hall. This time, it wasn't just the guests who were cheering; even the girls who had been watching the situation from their private rooms were overjoyed and mustered their courage to come out and cheer for Qingxuan.

Clearly, Qingxuan's words of praise were meant for them, which moved the girls deeply.

At this moment, Yun Jianyue was not in a hurry to leave. She put the zither on the table, sat down in a chair, and watched with great interest.

Seeing Qingxuan respond again, and so quickly at that, Yizhilang was both shocked and furious, gritting his teeth as he pondered. Suddenly, Yizhilang noticed the wine cup in Qingxuan's hand and remembered a couplet he had discussed with a friend before. He then changed one character in that couplet and said smugly:

"A thousand cups of wine, a thousand cups of moonlight!"

Qingxuan's lips curled into a smile, "This couplet is quite poetic. Then I'll respond with..."

As she spoke, Qingxuan smiled brightly at the girls cheering her on in the surrounding corridor and said leisurely:

"Ten thousand mountains are free of snow, yet ten thousand mountains are adorned with flowers."

The moment this couplet was presented, cheers erupted once again in the hall, and the girls blushed with excitement, waving their hands in delight.

Yi Zhilang grew increasingly furious, his teeth grinding together. But in his haste, he couldn't think of a suitable couplet, so he resorted to his last musings, angrily shouting:

"His holy emperor is unparalleled, his achievements will be remembered for eternity!"

"Tch~." Qingxuan could easily see Yizhilang's predicament, and snorted disdainfully. She swung her wine jug and started walking, her face showing admiration. As she walked, she exclaimed:

"The gentleman is nameless, yet his calligraphy will be remembered for generations."

Yi Zhilang was greatly surprised, not expecting Qingxuan to answer so quickly. He then shouted angrily, refusing to believe it:

"The Great Holy Dynasty is thriving and prosperous, bustling with activity, and every family is wealthy and noble!"

"Hehe~~." Qingxuan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, her gaze sweeping over the private room where Jiang Shangqiu was. She turned around and laughed:

"May your business flourish and prosper year after year, filled with joy and excitement."

"Bang!"

Yi Zhilang was so startled that he took two steps back, crashing into the stage behind him. His expression was as if he had seen a ghost, and his eyes were bloodshot. He roared:

"With a heart as clear as the sun and moon, one roams freely through heaven and earth!"

"Hahaha~~~!"

Qingxuan laughed heartily, tossed aside his wine cup, raised the wine pot high, and the wine flowed from the spout like silver threads. Qingxuan tilted his head back and took a sip, saying with unrestrained joy:

"His mind is filled with both literary and martial talents, and he roams freely throughout the six directions and eight wastelands."

Yi Zhilang's lips twitched, his eyes almost bulged out, and he gritted his teeth, saying:

"Looking down upon the five realms, the magnificent landscape unfolds like a painting!"

Qingxuan picked up the wine pot again, tossed a strand of long hair behind her ear, and laughed loudly without turning her head:

"Looking back through history, the vastness of the past and present is all captured in poetry."

"You scoundrel..."

Yi Zhilang, trembling all over, pointed a finger at Qing Xuan, his face gradually contorting, covered in cold sweat. In his rage, he almost cursed, but fortunately, a last shred of reason held back his anger, preventing him from losing his composure. Then, Yi Zhilang gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and began to ponder deeply.

Qingxuan wasn't in a hurry, leisurely sipping her wine, waiting for Yizhilang to pose the question. Everyone around was completely captivated by this literary contest, their hearts pounding with tension as they watched the two in the arena with great anticipation, waiting for their couplets.

Finally, after about half a cup of tea's time, Yi Zhilang opened his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead, hatred blazing in his eyes, and a ruthless, determined smile appearing on his lips. He said, word by word:

"This country bumpkin is utterly useless, only knowing a few words and phrases. He doesn't understand the Four Books and Five Classics, yet he dares to show off his eloquence. He should be paraded through the streets, bleeding from all seven orifices, with eight or nine people gathered around to witness his truly miserable end!"

Upon hearing the first line of the couplet, Qingxuan burst into laughter, turning to Yizhilang and saying with a smile, "Oh ho, Scholar Yi, you're already resorting to personal attacks? Hehe, luckily my tongue isn't bad either~. Come, come, Scholar Yi, listen to what I have to say!"

"Old monkey with a crown, after ten years of hard study, he is ignorant of the nine trades and eight professions, disregards the seven virtues and six arts, and even kneels down to serve the powerful. He is also unable to distinguish between the five grains and is lazy. Judging from his two or three things, he is truly a beast."

The misdeeds Qingxuan mentioned were taken from the character of the salted fish prince played by Ru Shuang. Now, Qingxuan combined them with her previous remarks criticizing Yi Zhilang and pinned them on Yi Zhilang.

Who told you both to be scholars?

"Aaaaaah! This brat is so rude! Utterly despicable!"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhilang's face contorted in anger, and he roared in fury. He hadn't expected that his supposed absolute certainty would be contradicted by Qing Xuan so quickly, and with even more vile insults. Overwhelmed by rage and surprise, Yi Zhilang's reason finally crumbled, and he unleashed a torrent of curses:

"Black smoke is rising from your family's grave!"

Qingxuan showed an expression of self-deprecation and said:

"Songs rise from the mourning hall of your noble family."

Yi Zhilang's expression had become frenzied, and he roared:

"With a heart devoted to the Way, what fear do I have? Even ghosts and spirits will flee in terror, for righteousness will prevail!"

Qingxuan couldn't help but burst into laughter, cupped her hands in a respectful gesture to Yizhilang, and said with a smile:

"Brother, you are so noble and righteous, it turns out your mother was the one calling out for you in bed."

"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"

As soon as Qingxuan uttered those words, everyone in the hall burst into laughter, howling and spontaneously standing up to applaud Qingxuan wildly.

When you put these sentences together and think about them carefully, they really have a lot to say.

"You...you...you..."

Yi Zhilang's eyes were bloodshot. He pointed at Qing Xuan, unable to speak, his lips bitten raw by his teeth. Suddenly, with a "plop," Yi Zhilang spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering it everywhere. Then, with another "thud," Yi Zhilang collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably.

Yizhilang was so angry that he fainted!

"Hahaha~~~"

Yizhilang's miserable state did not elicit any sympathy from the people present; instead, it made them laugh uncontrollably, feeling extremely pleased with themselves.

"Oh my, Scholar Yi's demeanor is truly remarkable."

Qingxuan chuckled, took out a small folding fan the size of a palm from his sleeve, and opened it with a "whoosh." He smiled at Yizhilang on the ground and said, "Matching couplets is just for amusement, but I never expected that Scholar Yi would actually spit out dozens of ounces of blood while matching couplets. I am truly impressed. I should praise you, Scholar Yi, with the words, 'Like a wolf but not a wolf, Yizhilang, matching the king of kings, piercing through the intestines'~."

"Hahaha~! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

"Looks like a wolf but isn't? It's just a dog!"

"With such a narrow mind and limited knowledge, he's bound to get his guts exposed!"

"Haha! This young man's words are spot on, absolutely accurate!"

Qingxuan's words drew another round of laughter and cheers from the crowd, who all found the young man extremely interesting.

Just then, a hearty laugh came from behind the curtain:

"Young Master Qingxuan is very talented, and Yue'er admires him greatly. Please come to Mingyue Pavilion for a chat after you have finished dealing with the miscellaneous matters here. Yue'er has prepared a place to wait for you."

P.S.: Another day of losing countless brain cells OTN...