Chapter 47 - 47 – This is a good disguise!
Liu Xi stood on the solitary boat, as if the scene before her eyes was changing.
The quiet lake was bathed in moonlight, rippling under the cries of crows. Many maple trees lined the shore, and in the middle of the lake, a small boat floated silently, a candle flickering on board.
Not far away was a temple, its bell tolls drifting melodically amid the scenic beauty.
“Amazing!”
After coming to her senses, Liu Xi couldn’t hold back and instinctively praised it.
The crowd on the shore soon echoed her approving exclamations. Everyone was praising the poetry, its sublime tranquility captivating all who were present.
A flicker of astonishment passed through Ao Cheng’s eyes. Being illiterate, he had no understanding of these verses, but judging from the responses of the people around him and the sacred woman, this poem must be of a remarkable caliber!
Astonished, Ao Cheng could not help but glance at Jiang Xiaobai, shocked beyond measure.
Not only could Jiang Xiaobai recite poetry, but he could even effortlessly recite timeless verses?
Before this, Jiang Xiaobai had casually informed Ao Cheng about at least seven or eight ancient poems.
If Jiang Xiaobai knew of Ao Cheng’s astonishment, he would remain calm, and might even recite more.
By now, everyone was completely captivated by Ao Cheng’s literacy prowess.
“Who would have thought, the infamous eldest son of Dragon Valley City, possesses such literacy.”
“Indeed, if not for witnessing it today, I absolutely wouldn’t have believed that the indulgent Ao Cheng is actually this talented.”
“Could it be that Young Master Ao Cheng has always been a man of great self-restraint, hiding his true self from the world?”
“No doubt about it. How else could he have composed such an excellent poem?”
The people on the shore couldn’t help exclaiming in amazement, many of them feeling guilty for their previous contempt and mockery of Ao Cheng.
They had misunderstood Ao Cheng!
However, Liu Yuheng and Ao Fang held expressions like they’d swallowed something bitter; they knew Ao Cheng’s true nature only too well!
“This is impossible!”
At this moment, Liu Yuheng suddenly roared in anger, “Ao Cheng must be cheating! He absolutely isn’t capable of such literacy; he’s completely illiterate!”
Liu Yuheng was desperate to expose Ao Cheng’s hypocritical facade in front of everyone and reveal his true colours.
However, no one paid much attention to his statements.
Who hadn’t heard Ao Cheng’s previous poem? If he didn’t have an extremely high level of literary talent, who could write such verses?
Even the greatest literary geniuses of their time could do no more.
Moreover, if it were indeed a cheat, why didn’t the person who helped him write the verses take credit? After all, this was the only opportunity for him to get close to the sacred woman!
Who would want to miss out on that?
“What he said is true.” At that moment, Ao Cheng suddenly spoke up.
His words caused a great stir, shocking everyone.
A flash of anger cross Liu Xi’s eyes, “So you’ve really been cheating?
“In reality, I have no literary talent at all. My words were simply expressing my emotions towards the beautiful scene, I’m not worthy of catching your eye, Sacred Woman.”
Ao Cheng shook his head with a bitter smile, “I apologise for sullying your ears, Sacred Woman.”
He looked as if, after being pointed at by thousands, he had fallen into despair and given up explaining himself. His appearance made one’s heart ache.
Jiang Xiaobai beside him was speechless, astounded by Ao Cheng’s performance.
Well played, this guy!
Only after Ao Cheng had finished speaking did everyone understand. Ao Cheng wasn’t the one admitting defeat, he just felt helpless towards those who looked down upon him and was filled with prejudices.
Suddenly, Liu Xi’s solitary boat was engulfed by a cold aura, as if the surrounding temperature had dropped significantly.
This was merely a change in the atmosphere, but everyone’s hearts were trembling in shock.
The cultivation of the Sacred Woman of the Jade Immortal Sect had reached the Dividing Gods period!
“Sacred Woman, please don’t be deceived by him! He is truly illiterate, he doesn’t understand anything!” Liu Yuheng explained hastily.
But Liu Xi snorted coldly, “Shut up. Everyone has witnessed Ao Cheng’s literary talent. If someone of his capability can be called illiterate, then what are you?” “Or are you suggesting that you’ve written better poems?”
Liu Yuheng was rendered speechless in response, his face flushing like a pig’s liver while wishing for a crack in the ground to swallow him up.
This was a major disgrace!
She snorted once again, seeming unsatisfied and about to speak more. However, in the meantime, Ao Cheng hastily interjected.
“Sacred Woman, there is no need for you to get angry over someone like me. I admit my ignorance and wouldn’t want to disturb you.”
Saying this, Ao Cheng turned to leave.
“Wait. ”
Liu Xi quickly shouted, “There will always be a million prejudices in this world, Brother Ao Cheng, you need not concern yourself with them. Those guys simply don’t comprehend your literary talent.”
“Brother Ao Cheng, I wonder if you could spare some time to chat on my boat?”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuheng almost vomited blood in anger. His disdain for
Ao Cheng was now replaced by the same measure of shame.
All he wished for now was for Ao Cheng to drop dead.
But the Sacred Woman was already exasperated. If he were to speak up again, his chances with her would cease to exist.
So, Liu Yuheng and his associates chose to endure their raged hearts, watching Ao Cheng step onto Liu Xi’s boat with bloodshot eyes.
Although the onlookers too were displeased, they accepted that Ao Cheng’s displayed literary talent was beyond their pursuit, no matter how well they flattered him.
While looking at the small boat slowly moving towards the middle of the lake, many angrily clenched their fists and shook their heads, but helpless all the same.
Jiang Xiaobai witnessing this, breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Ao Cheng didn’t go overboard, so his mission was completed without a hitch. Otherwise, he would indeed be spitting blood.
“Congratulations, host. The hundred years of cultivation have arrived.”
As the system’s pleasing voice echoed in his mind, Jiang Xiaobai felt a wave of a blissful sensation washing over him. The immense spiritual power appeared in his Dantian, breaking through the bottleneck restricting cultivators for hundreds of years as if it were nothing.
In no time at all, Jiang Xiaobai’s cultivation reached to the pinnacle of the Yuan Infant Peak stage, a hundred years of cultivation paired with a Daoist body creating a formidable strength.
Jiang Xiaobai’s ascension happened incredibly quickly!
This hundred years of cultivation might not necessarily lead to a breakthrough if placed onto another person.
Looking at the small boat floating in the middle of the lake, Jiang Xiaobai wondered what Ao Cheng would be feeling. As for himself, all he knew was how awesome the situation had turned out to be.
Thanks to the breach in power levels, his sense of security had greatly increased.
This trip again reaped great fortune and rewards, making Jiang Xiaobai feel that Ao Cheng was his lucky star.. Who knew what more benefits he could gain tagging along?