Chapter 106: The Golden Luck Woman, Saintess of Qinglian!
“Then let’s begin the test,” Lin Qi’an said, his words sparking astonishment from the crowd behind him.
The Crown Prince was voluntarily asking for a test! Why would he need one? Yunmo Dao Palace was practically begging for him to attend! If he failed the test and couldn’t get in, wouldn’t they be the ones left crying?
After some thought, there could only be one reason—Lin Qi’an wanted to set an example for others.
“But can the Crown Prince recite poetry? I’ve never heard of that before!”
“I don’t know…”
“His cultivation talent is unparalleled, but I’ve never heard anything about his literary skills!”
“What if he fails? That would be embarrassing…”
“Haha, if the Crown Prince fails, it’s Yunmo Dao Palace that’ll be crying! They went through so much trouble to invite him!”
“Exactly… If the Crown Prince doesn’t participate, all of us would have come here for nothing.”
At that moment, Saintess Mo Shuiqiu, along with several elders, came out to greet him. Upon hearing that Lin Qi’an had asked for a test, their hearts tightened. If he failed, the loss would be theirs!
Everyone was on edge, praying that the Crown Prince would be able to recite a few decent lines of poetry. As long as he could pass, they’d make sure he was allowed through.
After all, the difficulty of responding to the first line of the Flying Flower Order wasn’t particularly high. The elder in charge of issuing the test, however, was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling. If things went wrong, it might be his end!
He had to pick the easiest word possible.
“Your Highness, the word for this round is ‘flower.’”
All Lin Qi’an had to do was recite a line of poetry containing the word “flower” to pass the test.
While everyone expected him to take some time to think, Lin Qi’an immediately responded without hesitation. Before many of the real scholars had even recalled a poem about flowers, he had already opened his mouth.
“Last night, the sound of wind and rain, how many flowers have fallen?”
This line from the famous poem Spring Dawn was something Lin Qi’an didn’t need to think much about.
The crowd erupted instantly, with countless mouths agape, their eyes filled with shock.
“I’ve never heard this poem before! Did the Crown Prince compose it himself?”
“In just a short line, I can already picture the scene of falling flowers on a rainy night. This poem is on a different level!”
“No way, the Crown Prince actually has literary talent?”
“Not just talent, the imagery in this poem is something even ordinary scholars wouldn’t be able to come up with!”
“Uh… Could it be that the Crown Prince composed it himself?”
“That’s impossible. He’s already handsome and powerful—if he’s also skilled in poetry, how are the rest of us supposed to live?”
Even Zhao Qingmeng was surprised. In her previous life, there had been no such literary meet, and Lin Qi’an had only ever recited one poem to her when they were getting close.
She had assumed he copied it from somewhere, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.
“Such a beautiful poem!”
“Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!”
The flattery came in waves, with people falling over themselves to praise him.
“Oh my heavens! After hearing this poem, I had a breakthrough in my cultivation!”
The ridiculous praise kept coming, over-the-top and exaggerated. Zi Lianyou covered her face in embarrassment. In her heart, “Frosty leaves are redder than February flowers” was still the best…
“Wonderful!”
Yunmo Dao Palace collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Not only had the Crown Prince passed the test on his own, but he had also set a positive example, establishing the rules for everyone else.
“The test is complete. Your Highness, please enter!” an elder declared.
Lin Qi’an smiled and, with his maids, gracefully stepped through the gate of the sect.
The Crown Prince’s entrance boosted the confidence of Yunmo Dao Palace. One of the elders addressed the crowd, “Everyone, you have witnessed that even the Crown Prince underwent the test. Does anyone still have objections?”
With those words, the dissent disappeared entirely. If the powerful and domineering Crown Prince had shown respect, who else would dare cause trouble?
“Good. Since there are no objections, please line up for the test. Non-participants in the literary meet can rest at the mountain estate fifty li north.”
—
Mo Shuiqiu, dressed in an elegant and simple Daoist robe adorned with cloud patterns and ink bamboo, radiated a refined beauty. Despite the loose fit of the robe, her graceful figure was subtly visible.
“Your Highness, please follow me. We’ve already prepared a resting chamber for you. The literary meet will begin tomorrow, so if you need anything, feel free to have your maids inform me.”
By the door stood two maids in light skirts, their eyes brimming with spring affection. As they opened the door, a delicate fragrance filled the room.
The walls were adorned with various calligraphy and paintings, and the simple yet tasteful decor gave the room a refreshing atmosphere. It was clear that much effort had gone into preparing it.
“Not bad,” Lin Qi’an nodded with a satisfied smile.
“By the way, Your Highness,” Mo Shuiqiu continued, “we would like to invite you to act as a judge for tomorrow’s literary meet. Would that interest you?”
Being a judge at the literary meet was an honor, typically reserved for renowned figures like the Book Sage, the sect master of Yunmo Dao Palace, and national scholars.
Does this girl think too highly of me? You think I’m qualified for such a role?” Lin Qi’an asked with a smile.
Mo Shuiqiu gently smiled in return, “Though my knowledge is limited, I am well-versed in poetry and songs. The poem you recited earlier was unfamiliar to me, so it must have been your own creation. With such talent, you are more than qualified to judge!”
Lin Qi’an couldn’t argue with her. ‘This flattery feels quite nice,’ he thought.
In any case, he was looking for an opportunity to suppress the Destined Child, so being a judge wasn’t a bad idea. He agreed to her request.
—
Meanwhile, outside, the assessments for the various sects continued. Although cramming had its benefits, it didn’t help much, and at least 90% of the participants were rejected at the gate.
“Book Saint has arrived!” someone announced loudly, and the crowd parted in reverence.
The arrival of the Book Saint commanded respect, for no one could deny the prestige of a Saint.
Book Saint Wang Yi—an extraordinary talent who had attained sainthood through literature.
A man wearing a gray robe, his hair and beard both white, exuded an aura of immortality and transcendent elegance. His appearance was beyond ordinary. At every literary meet, he was an honored guest and judge, revered by countless scholars.
However, most people weren’t focused on him but rather on the figure following behind—the Saintess of Qinglian, Lu Miaoyin.
Dressed in a flowing green gown that bloomed like a lotus flower, her graceful figure and unparalleled beauty made her appear more like an immortal than a mere mortal woman. As she walked, all eyes were drawn to her, and gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.
The male disciples were especially entranced, some nearly losing their senses.
“She’s so beautiful…!”
“Such elegance and purity—she truly looks like an immortal!”
“I still think the Saintess of Tianchi is prettier.”
“You don’t get it. The Saintess of Tianchi is already the Crown Prince’s woman, so there’s no hope for us. But this one, the Saintess of Qinglian, never gets close to any man. She’s like a lotus—detached and untouchable. Makes it easier to dream, you know?”
“Bro, you’re way too honest!”
As the sea of admiration continued, the Book Sage and Saintess of Qinglian were invited inside. Being the top talent of the previous literary meet and a close friend of Mo Shuiqiu, the Saintess of Qinglian was naturally treated as an honored guest.
However, no one besides the Crown Prince was allowed to bring companions inside. Hence, a scholar dressed in Confucian robes, who had been following closely behind, was stopped at the entrance.
At that moment, a notification rang in Lin Qi’an’s mind.
【Ding! Destined Child “Ji Bai” detected. You have successfully intervened in the storyline.】
– Destined Child: Ji Bai free𝑤ebnovel.com
– Secret Treasure: None
– Luck: 600 (Purple)
– Core of DestinyLuck: Emperor Wenqu’s Manuscripts
– Current Reward for Killing Him: None
Reminder: When the target’s destiny drops below 100, you can seize their core of destiny and gain permanent destiny points, along with all associated rewards.
‘This protagonist seems weak… the rewards don’t look great either,’ Lin Qi’an thought. ‘Emperor Wenqu’s Manuscripts? Oh, so that’s his “golden finger.” He must be using that to shine at the literary meet, amaze everyone, and win the heart of the Saintess.’
Activating his Heavenly Fated Villain Divine Eyes, Lin Qi’an observed further.
Ji Bai—Hostility: 100
Lu Miaoyin—Hostility: 10
Another golden-luck woman, this time the Saintess of Qinglian, Lu Miaoyin. ‘She’s definitely worth taking as a maid,’ Lin Qi’an thought.
Mo Shuiqiu had her own charm too, so the final choice for his bedmaid would be between the two of them. And as for the one he didn’t choose—he would eventually claim her as well.
For now, though, he was content to watch the drama unfold.
“Who are you, kid? Trying to sneak in?” a guard called out as Ji Bai attempted to enter.
“I’m with the Saintess of Qinglian. Why can’t I go in?” Ji Bai retorted.
The elder glanced over, and Lu Miaoyin confirmed, “He is indeed from Qinglian Holy Island.”
“That doesn’t matter. Only those who pass the test can enter,” the elder replied. “The Saintess of Qinglian has earned special privileges, but that doesn’t extend to you.”
A wave of jeers followed from the crowd.
“Who’s this guy with no cultivation trying to attend the literary meet?”
“Must be some poor scholar who thinks he’s important!”
Ah, the classic treatment for a protagonist—immediate ridicule from the bystanders. Ji Bai sneered inwardly.
‘I’ve spent thirty years studying relentlessly, enduring hardship by the cold window. And I have Emperor Wenqu’s Manuscripts on me! They contain poetry the world has never seen before!’ He thought. ‘A mere “Flying Flower Order” test is nothing to me!’
These ignorant fools had no idea who they were dealing with. This literary meet would mark his rise to glory!
“The topic is: flower.”
“Hah, ‘flower’? How difficult could that be?” Ji Bai scoffed, stepping forward confidently. With a raised voice, he recited:
“Last night, the sound of wind and rain, how many flowers have fallen?”
As soon as he finished, the entire place fell into stunned silence. Ji Bai stood tall, hands behind his back, full of pride. This poem, taken from Emperor Wenqu’s Manuscripts, had never been shared with the world before. Surely they were all astonished.
But instead of praise, the crowd suddenly burst into uproarious laughter.
“Hahahahaha!”
“Where did this poor scholar come from? He’s copying the Crown Prince’s poem!”
“The Crown Prince just said that not too long ago. Does he think we’re fools?”
“Exactly! We may not have passed the test, but we wouldn’t stoop to plagiarism. How embarrassing!”
In that moment, Ji Bai stood frozen, completely petrified.
‘How… how is this possible?!’