Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Once he was out of the gardens, there was one person who stood idly by. It was someone Shen Lian knew, it was Shen Ruoxi.

Even though Shen Lian did not return to the Shen residence often, his power and influence grew with his every return. Even Shen Qingshi and Shen Qingsan treats him courteously without them knowing.

It was not that Shen Lian was harsh, but when a person’s position and influence increases, the way other people see him would be different.

Shen Ruoxi, who was prejudiced towards Shen Lian in the beginning and later understood the things about Shen Lian personally and even developed an understanding of Jianghu, had a kind of unexplainable and complicated admiration for him instead.

She still did not know that it was Shen Lian who rescued her from that dreamscape. So much time had passed after all, even if there were some recollections of it, it was later all a blur.

Even more, she did not know the beginning, nor the end.

“Ruoxi, were you waiting for me?” Shen Lian proactively greeted her. Shen Ruoxi was already 16 years old. She was at her best age, she stood gracefully, erect like a bouquet of lotus flower.

“I was about to enter when grandpa dismissed his attendee, so I just waited for you out here.” Shen Ruoxi bit her lower lips lightly, the young female’s fragrance wafted amongst the peaceful silence of the two people.

In Shen Lian eyes, even when Shen Ruoxi’s skin was very tender, he still could see the flaws on it. She was not as perfect as Xin Shisiniang but she felt more real.

Furthermore, Shen Lian did not have a younger sister in his previous life since his generation was during the single-child policy. He craved for a sibling.

Ultimately, there was an unbreakable blood bond in this world and Shen Lian had eventually thought of her as his younger sister, which was a complete opposite when he first came back to the Shen family.

“Is there anything?” Shen Lian did not beat around the bushes, he was about to embark on the path of cultivation to attain immortality and there was a chance that he would not be able to return to this life. If Shen Ruoxi had any requests, he would do all he could to help her.

“I thought of holding a plum flower appreciation and poetry gathering.” Shen Ruoxi lifted herself on her heels. As she ages, she becomes more ladylike and gentle.

“Just do it, plus, second uncle will not forbid you from holding a poetry gathering.” Shen Lian smiled.

“You know I am not as well versed as you even back then, can you help me with a poem?” Shen Ruoxi tugged on Shen Lian’s sleeve.

“I’m afraid I am not good enough and would embarrass you,” Shen Lian shook his head.

“There’s no such thing. If you were serious, it would definitely have an edge over the others.” Shen Ruoxi almost wanted to hug Shen Lian’s arm and shake it.

Lately, she had sneakily read many chivalric stories and she was able to simply use phrases such as having an edge over others.

“I definitely cannot come up with poetry by myself but I can help you copy a poem from someone else. I can guarantee that no one would find out,” Shen Lian casually said.

“Really?” Shen Ruoxi’s face showed her suspicion, as though saying that he should not cheat her just because she did not read much.

“Nope. You can choose to believe it or not.” Shen Lian lifted his foot and was about to leave.

“Alright, I believe you. Don’t think I don’t know you have a photographic memory. It should be enough to deceive them with a less notable poem.” Shen Ruoxi experienced Shen Lian’s superb memory by accident one time. Last year, while she was studying on the mat at home, her tutor gave her a question and she could not answer so she had to look through the books for it and copy it 100 times. Coincidentally, Shen Lian came back on that day.

Shen Lian used a martial arts skill that allowed him to teleport his voice to her, telling her that it was in which book, which page and which row.

It was impossible for Shen Lian to have known first hand because the tutor gave her the question spontaneously.

This showed that just how superbly good Shen Lian memory was.

The Shen family was not a scholarly prominent family, but there was no collection of books in the State Capital of Qing that was as vast as the Shen family’s.

Shen Ruoxi knew that sometimes, Shen Lian would go to the places where the books were kept and stay there, it was not a surprise for him to see a less notable poem and remember it.

Of course, it was impossible for Shen Ruoxi to know that Shen Lian did not spend too much time to remember every kept book, he also knew much strange news and weird occurrences that others did not know.

“Listen carefully, I am only going to say it once.” Shen Lian patted Shen Ruoxi on the head.

“Don’t make it too long, or else I cannot remember it.”

“It’s very short.”

“Then quickly tell me.”

Shen Lian was very well read. It was just that the even if the source of the poetry from this world was really remote, there was bound to be someone who knew about it.

The poetry he was about to give to Shen Ruoxi was from planet Earth.

The cultural background of the two worlds was quite similar and so the form of it was also the same.

There was one poem about plum blossoms that he had read flashed through, Shen Lian chose that and recited:

“The plum blossoms thrive in the wintery forest,

Not mingling with the plums and peaches to be reduced to secular;

Suddenly, the refreshing fragrance permeates through the night,

It scattered became the new spring of the world.”

Shen Lian’s inner Qi was sufficient. Even though he was humming, there was an air of artistic talent around him.

The words used in this poem was not really elegant, the origination of it was high and the concept was brilliant. It was actually fitting to Shen Lian’s qualities and it also coincided with him.

Ending on a breath, Shen Lian felt the meeting of his mind and senses, the long-stagnant checkpoint was actually loosening slightly.

“This poem won’t do.” Shen Ruoxi uttered.

“Why?”

“This poem is so good that other people probably knew about it long ago. If you ask me to present it, then I would just be embarrassing myself.” Shen Ruoxi was shocked and troubled. It would be great that this poem by Shen Ruoxi was above average but the thing was, this poem was easily understood, the rhyme was skillful, it was definitely well known. Which meant it would easy for people to see through it.

“If you believe me, then use it. If you do not believe me, then think of something yourself.”

“Fine, I’ll just say you were the one who wrote this. If it gets exposed, the ugly one would be you,” Shen Ruoxi humphed.

“I actually wished someone could expose it,” Shen Lian thought to himself. Shen Ruoxi reminded him that the poem with five characters by Wang Chongyang used by Ling Chongxiao during his storytelling was probably not from this world.

He wondered what secrets and wonders were in it.

Time flew by really quickly and it was the fifteenth already. The weather, however, was not good. The skies were clear for two days before a wave of cold air came by.

There was no star or no moon, only the lights on the ground were illuminating.

The lights of the Qielan temple was of course very bright like the day.

The second time Shen Lian encountered Xin Shisiniang was inside the yard of the Qielan temple of the Qielan Mountain.

The lights were dense and it flowed from the door like flowing water. Blending with the icy snow, it was translucent like water.

A sparse and horizontal plum blossom flower, a beautiful captivating young lady.

The light yellow flower, the dark red dress.

“With you here, I do not know whether to look at the flower or look at the person.” Shen Lian had a smile on his face. He was relaxed being in this temple in the deep mountains on this starless, moonless night.

“Firstly, I am not human. Secondly, the flowers are not as beautiful as I am. Young Master Shen is really clumsy with his words,” Xin Shisiniang laughed brazenly.

“The plum blossom is proud, the snow is beautiful, both are deserving of being admired, revered and loved. It is also meant to be put in sight, for me, there is no comparison.”

“I’ve met Ye Liuyun before and felt that he was not as good as you, but now I feel like you’re not as good as him.” Xin Shisiniang bent her finger and flicked the plum blossom flowers. The branches swayed and the shadows against each other.

“Oh, why is that so?” Shen Lian asked at the right time.

“He is not blind after all.”

Shen Lian gave a good chuckle and said, “You are the only lady that is most interesting amongst all that I’ve met in my life.”

“But you’re not so interesting, you’re like an old man. Where is the present you promised me?” Xin Shisiniang extended both her hands, her demeanor showed that either he gave her what she wanted or he could not cross over.