Ye Qiu, upon hearing Changmei Zhenren’s words, whispered, “Old thing, you’re being too unkind, why smear Chongxu Daoist?”
“Hmph, this old man has long disliked him; back then, if not for that bull-nosed fellow surpassing me, this poor Taoist would be second on the Dragon List.”
Changmei Zhenren smiled sinisterly, “That bull-nosed guy doesn’t know yet that I’ve reached the mid-Foundation Establishment realm as a cultivator; next time we meet, this poor Taoist will beat him until he’s searching the ground for his teeth.”
Ye Qiu said, “As the saying goes, better to demolish a temple than ruin a marriage. As the head of a sect, what you did earlier was a bit excessive.”
“Where was it excessive?” Changmei Zhenren said, “That woman isn’t a good person; if they really got married, that man would be miserable.”
While the two were talking, the couple behind them started arguing.
Woman: “I’ve been with you for so long, how can you not believe me and instead believe a smelly Taoist you don’t even know?”
Young man: “Didn’t you hear? He’s the head of Wudang Mountain! The head of Wudang is a worldly expert; could he deceive me? Tell me, are you really pregnant?”
Woman: “Even if I am pregnant, so what?”
“You said you’d marry me and love me for a lifetime.”
“How come what you said are all lies?”
Young man: “I think there’s no need for this marriage; let’s break up!”
Woman: “What, just because I’m pregnant, you want to break up with me?”
“Do you love me or not?”
“Is blood relation really that important?”
Young man: “Break up!”
Woman: “Getting pregnant wasn’t intentional; we’re about to get married soon, as a grown man, can’t you be understanding towards me?”
“Besides, suddenly having an extra child can continue the family line for your household; shouldn’t you be happy about it?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
Young man: “Unreasonable, break up immediately!”
The woman flew into a rage: “Fine, I see now, all those words you said to me before were lies.”
“You heartless scoundrel.”
“Hmph, men really are no good!”
“…”
Ye Qiu, as a bystander, upon hearing the woman’s words, was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead, and he said, “Old thing, sorry, I take back what I said earlier.”
“Your approach was right.”
“A woman like that doesn’t deserve to live in this world.”
Changmei Zhenren smiled, “How about you go and take her out?”
Ye Qiu glared at Changmei Zhenren and said irritably, “The people I kill are those who deserve to die; although this woman is excessive, her crime doesn’t warrant death. Besides, what does it have to do with me?”
As they spoke, the two had finished the steps and walked a bit further, finally reaching the summit of Mount Tai,
Jade Emperor Peak!
At this time, there were quite a few tourists at Jade Emperor Peak, many taking photos with their phones.
Ye Qiu stood at the peak, overlooking the myriad majestic mountains below, gazing into the distance, finally understanding Confucius’s saying, “Climb Mount Tai and the world seems small.”
At the same time.
Ye Qiu’s heart surged with emotion, and he couldn’t help reciting the immortal line by the poet saint Du Fu describing Mount Tai.
“I will ascend the highest peak, and see all other mountains as small!”
Just then.
“Boom!”
The weather changed abruptly, thunder roared, a long bolt of lightning struck a bare mountain peak in the distance.
This scene stunned everyone.
In an instant, the lightning vanished, and thick green smoke rose from the mountain peak.
Changmei Zhenren said excitedly, “Little rascal, this poor Taoist has inspiration and will compose a poem.”
“Listen well, the title is ‘Ode to Lightning’.”
Changmei Zhenren shook his head as he recited, “Suddenly see a fire chain in the sky, suspect it’s the Jade Emperor wanting a smoke; if the Jade Emperor doesn’t smoke, why another fire chain?”
Ye Qiu felt like jumping off right there.
Because when Changmei Zhenren recited the poem, his voice was loud, and many nearby tourists heard it.
Some tourists were whispering to each other, occasionally casting strange looks at Changmei Zhenren; from their expressions, it was clear they were mocking him.
“So embarrassing!”
Ye Qiu felt somewhat mortified.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, a bald middle-aged man walked over, clapping while laughing, “Good poem, good poem!” New Bi Qu Ge
“Where is it good?” Changmei Zhenren asked with interest.
The middle-aged man said, “Daoist, your poem is simple and easy to understand, especially the line suspect it’s the Jade Emperor wanting a smoke; this metaphor is very vivid, full of romanticism. In my opinion, even if the poet immortal Li Bai were reborn and heard your poem, he would concede defeat and feel inferior.”
Changmei Zhenren beamed with joy, “I didn’t expect you to have quite a deep study of poetry!”
The middle-aged man took out a business card from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Changmei Zhenren, smiling, “I am Duan Dake, vice president of the Poetry Association.”
Ye Qiu was somewhat surprised; a vice president of the Poetry Association with such low appraisal skills?
Duan Dake added, “May I know how to address the Daoist? And in which Taoist temple do you cultivate? Someday, when there’s a chance, I’d like to discuss poetry with you.”
Changmei Zhenren smiled, “This poor Taoist is the head of Wudang Mountain, Taoist name Chongxu.”
Duan Dake showed respect, “So it’s the head of Wudang, my apologies, my apologies.”
Ye Qiu thought to himself, if Chongxu Daoist knew the old thing was tarnishing his reputation outside, who knows how angry he’d be?
“Head Chongxu, I didn’t expect that touring Mount Tai today would let me meet the esteemed head of Wudang; I’m so excited that poetic inspiration strikes, and I’ve composed a poem. Please appraise it, Head Chongxu.”
Duan Dake coughed twice, cleared his throat, then said with a rapt expression, “The title, ‘Touring Mount Tai’.”
“From afar, Mount Tai is black and fuzzy, thin at the top and thick at the bottom. If Mount Tai is turned upside down, thin at the bottom and thick at the top.”
Ye Qiu was dumbfounded.
This is called a poem?
Such a level, compared to Changmei Zhenren, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.
Moreover, someone like this as vice president of the Poetry Association, isn’t that smearing the association’s face?
Or has the current poetry scene declined to this extent?
“Head Chongxu, what do you think of my poem?” Duan Dake asked eagerly.
Changmei Zhenren nodded with a smile, “Not bad, not bad! Wonderful, wonderful!”
“Where is it wonderful?” Duan Dake pursued.
Changmei Zhenren said, “Your poem has simple and sincere emotions, using realistic techniques to show Mount Tai’s majestic grandeur; it’s remarkable.”
“In this poor Taoist’s view, your poem can stand alongside Du Fu’s ‘Gazing at the Peak’; if you were born in the Tang Dynasty, Du Fu would have to yield the title of poet saint.”
Duan Dake grinned from ear to ear, stepped forward to grasp Changmei Zhenren’s hand, and said emotionally, “Head Chongxu, you truly are my confidant!”
Ye Qiu couldn’t bear to watch anymore and pulled Changmei Zhenren away.
“Stop bloody wasting time, hurry and help me find the dragon vein.”
