Chapter Thirty-Seven: On Poetry and Tea Appreciation, Fine Rain Flows with Light

  First update, seeking support!

  Sitting in the backyard of Muxian An, Hong Haier sipped tea while taking in his surroundings, but furrowed his brow. Except for a faint aura of evil lingering around, it was probably due to the fact that the demons in Muxian An had been swallowing the sun and moon for a long time, and couldn't conceal their own auras with their magical powers.

  In the hut, however, there was still a faint scent of sandalwood in the air, which made Hong Haier extremely surprised. As he breathed in the sandalwood fragrance, his pores felt refreshed and comfortable.

  That is the essence of the wood element, which nourishes people, improves their physical constitution, enhances their cultivation, and stabilizes their Dao. It's hard to find elsewhere, but somehow it also exists here.

  Although it is said that the goblin in this temple is a plant that has attained enlightenment, it is not some rare and extraordinary flower or a supernatural being from the beginning of time. How can it produce the spirit energy of the second wood?

  How strange! Red Boy thought, but he became more curious about the wooden immortal hut. To say nothing of other things, just the heavy prohibitions and formations in the hut had already piqued Red Boy's interest.

  "Cough! Cough!"

  A voice came, but Hong Haier turned to look around and saw the Eighteen Lords walking in from a side door, followed by three people: a man in green clothes, an old man in black clothes, and a Taoist priest in blue robes.

  These three people, along with the Eighteen Arhats, were of different appearances. The first one had a frosty beauty and elegant demeanor, the second one had green hair that fluttered about, and the third one had a heart as black as ink. Red Boy saw them and already knew their identities.

  "However, it is making our esteemed guests wait for a long time, forgive us for being slow."

  As he walked closer, the Eighteen Arhats bowed to Hong Haier with a smile all over his face.

  "The eighteen Arhats are indeed mighty, but I am a fire cloud that has come uninvited, disturbing all of you seniors." The Red Boy also smiled slightly and stepped forward to pay his respects.

  "Come on, little friend, I'm here to introduce you to these three."

  That eighteen public heard the words of Hong Haier, but laughed and climbed up the pole, making a close gesture, holding hands with Hong Haier, and introducing to the three people on the side: "This is Huo Yun Dao friend, who has an extraordinary talent, at a young age he is already a heavenly immortal, and is a descendant of a famous family, with a profound foundation in his family's teachings."

  Listening to the eighteen public words, Hong Haier almost laughed and sprayed, good guy, you old thing, when did I tell you that I am a famous door after? Where does this family learning come from? Is this a scam?

  Just as he was about to speak, the Eighteen Arhats pointed to three people beside him and said to Hong Haier: "These three are also true immortals who have attained the Tao in the Wooden Immortal Temple, just like me. The one with frosty hair is called Gu Zhigong, the one with green hair is called Ling Kongzi, the one with a humble heart is called Fu Yunzhang, and I am called Jian Jie."

  "Cough, cough!" Having heard the words of the Eighteen Arhats, Red Boy could no longer hold back. His face turned bright red as he suppressed his anger. In his heart, however, a storm was brewing: "You old thing, how dare you be so shameless? A group of demons and monsters, yet you claim to be a True Immortal of Morality?" Moreover, looking at the attitudes of these four people, it was clear that they were using a condescending tone to look down on Red Boy.

  However, Hong Hai'er was displeased, but he remained silent and took a glance at the three of them before giving each of them a salute.

  "I've just heard that the Eighteen Scholars are men of great learning and talent, with a deep understanding of both ancient and modern times."

  The five of them finished their greetings and sat down around a stone table. Ling Xuzi carefully examined Hong Haier, then suddenly spoke up.

  "Ah!" Hong Haier was startled at first, then looked at Ling Xuzi and smiled slightly: "I'm ashamed, I've only read a little poetry and music, but the 18th master has mistakenly praised me."

  Although he said so, his face showed a blush of shame, but in his heart, he was secretly scolding Ling Yu Zi. It was clear that he wanted to make himself look foolish, and didn't know how to follow his own words, speaking tentatively just to test the waters.

  "Oh?"

  Upon hearing Hong Hai'er's words, Gu Zhi Gong and Fu Yun Sou looked at each other, a flash of inspiration in their eyes. Then, with a hint of a smile, they turned to Hong Hai'er and said: "Fire Cloud Daoist is too polite. We four are rustic villagers, idle and carefree every day, also fond of writing poetry and showing off our literary skills. Coincidentally, Fire Cloud Daoist is well-versed in music, why don't we have a poetry competition here, wouldn't that be delightful?"

  "Great goodness!" Upon hearing Gu Zhizhong's words, the other three also voiced their agreement. Even the red-bearded young monk on the side couldn't help but reveal a smile on his face.

  "What?"

  Hong Haier heard this, but his face showed a difficult expression. He then looked at the four people and saw that they were also looking at him with anxious faces. He let out a light sigh and nodded slightly, saying: "Since the four seniors have such an elegant interest, how could Huo Yun dare not follow?"

  This caused the four people on one side to be shocked, while the red-haired boy on the other side saw this and had a cold smile on his face as he looked at Hong Haier.

  "What's your view on the law, senior?" Red Boy saw this and remained calm, looking at Ling Kongzi with a glance before opening his mouth to ask.

  "What?"

  Although Ling Kongzi was good at showing off, his real intention was just to make Hong Haier lose face. Unexpectedly, he agreed so easily, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.

  "Cough! Cough!"

  "Instead, why don't we come up with a topic and each write a poem according to it? Then, we can see whose verse is the best and declare that person the winner. What do you think?"

  "What great kindness!" Upon hearing this, Ling Kongzi hastily nodded in agreement.

  Hong Haier saw this, but he smiled slightly and then said: "Then please ask the senior to ask questions."

  "What?" Yun Sou saw that Hong Haier had a confident expression, but his eyelids kept twitching, and he glanced at the three people on one side.

  The three of them saw this, but it was a tacit understanding, and they whispered to each other in private. After a brief exchange, the eighteenth public figure spoke again: "This time, let's take 'spring' as the theme, okay? But you must write about an object that has the spirit of spring."

  "Oh?" Hong Haier heard this, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, but he swept a glance at the people beside him, and saw that the red-bearded boy was looking at him with a pleased expression, but in his heart, he couldn't help but laugh secretly.

  Joke, don't you even know who Xiao Ye is? Although it's been a few years, the name Huo Yun Dao Ren has naturally spread throughout the Western Regions. His reputation for being elegant and refined in his writing has been passed down by many famous families.

  It seems that the goblins in this Mu Xian An are usually confined to their own homes and rarely venture out, only jumping around in their own thorny mountain area. Otherwise, how could they have never heard of their own reputation?

  Hong Haier was secretly laughing in his heart, thinking that testing poem writing with a time-traveler was like asking the Great Emperor of Longevity to hang himself. After going through nine years of compulsory education and the blood-and-tear-filled college entrance exams, who would still be afraid of these small problems?

  Thinking of this, Hong Haier turned his eyes to the grass and trees on one side, his gaze drifted over a dish of greenery in the corner of the wall, and he smiled slightly: "Just now, when I passed through the thorny ridge, I saw the new green all over the mountain, and it happened that there was a light rain. It just so happens that this sentence matches the topic of the seniors. So I'll say it out loud, and let the seniors take a look, Fire Cloud is making an offering."

  He didn't even look at the expressions of a few people, but instead looked at a patch of tender green in the corner of the wall, thought for a moment, and said:

  "Fine rain wets the flowing light, fragrant grass grows year after year with endless longing. Smoke locks the phoenix tower with infinite matters, vaguely, the swan mirror and mandarin duck quilt tear my heart in two."

  "My soul is free and easy, but when I wake up, the bed is covered with willow catkins. The thin curtains are not yet open, and the sun shines slanting in. How many lines of tears have you shed for the lingering spring?"

  "Hiss!"

  "Good!"

  "Good!"

  When they heard Hong Haier's words, the people who had seen him deep in thought and had a hint of disdain on their faces were now shocked and bewildered, involuntarily shouting out loud.

  "I'm afraid this is a clumsy work, please let the seniors comment." Hong Haier saw this, but he just smiled slightly and didn't care about the embarrassed expressions of several people, and sat down to drink tea on one side.

  "May I ask, sir, such a great verse, but it doesn't seem like the poetry we usually study, where is it from? Is there a title?"

  It was a long time before those few people came back to their senses, and with complex gazes they looked at Hong Haier. Even the red-bearded boy was full of astonishment at this moment. It was Fan Yun who sat down again and couldn't wait to ask questions.

  "Hehe."

  When Hong heard the words of Yun Yun, he smiled lightly and looked at everyone again. Seeing that several people had eager eyes, he opened his mouth and said: "This is not a modern song, but a distant divine dynasty, called 'You Xiong'. This is a folk song from its countryside, sung by people every day. I just followed the melody and matched the lyrics. When the time comes, let the predecessors see the joke. The name of this song is 'Nan Xiang Zi'."

  "Hiss!"

  The people around were even more astonished, and their gaze towards Hong Haier was filled with reverence. This is only because the spirits of these wooden sheds rarely venture out, although they occasionally sneak into human countries to steal some poetry books and classics, but after all, it's very limited.

  Otherwise, how could Hong Haier use a Yuanqu to deceive Hu Yuyang? Is there a Xun Xuanyuan? The Shao music created by Emperor Shun is indeed music, but also dance. How can the rustic and unsophisticated demons know about it when they have never seen the world, and that Shao music is the courtly ritual music, which ordinary people rarely get to see, so they don't know about it.

  "What a 'slanting sun, carrying your remaining spring tears for several lines'!" Just then, a pleasant female voice came over...