Su Po Xian's question came out of nowhere, and Chen Luo suddenly felt as if a huge hat had been placed on his head.
Chen Luo fell silent for a moment. Meeting Su Po Xian's gaze, he let out a soft sigh.
"Let's set aside the possible relationship between Cao Xueqin and me for now."
"Could it be that... this book isn't good?"
Su Po Xian froze. He stroked his beard, then nodded. "It's quite good."
"If you hadn't written it, this Saint would have planned to take Cao Xueqin as a disciple!"
"But if you did write it..."
"Then things become complicated!"
Chen Luo's expression also shifted uncertainly, but he still nodded.
"That's right. Cao Xueqin is me, and Dream of the Red Chamber was written by me."
It was only a book. If a Half-Saint truly wanted to know its author, Chen Luo had no way to hide it.
Su Po Xian wore an expression that said it was only as expected. He raised his hand and pointed at Chen Luo. "You..."
"Nicely done!"
Chen Luo: ∑(△｀)?!
"Don't really think you're the only clever person in the world." Su Po Xian filled his own cup with wine, then gestured toward Chen Luo. Chen Luo hurriedly picked up the wine jug and filled his own cup as well. They clinked cups and drained them in one gulp.
"After the events in the Grand Prospect Garden, Dream of the Red Chamber began to take on a different flavor," Su Po Xian said slowly after drinking. "For an ordinary Great Scholar, or even a seeker, perhaps nothing would seem wrong."
"But through a Half-Saint's eyes, the book has clearly begun to nurture a Qi of Rise and Fall, aligning with the Heavenly Dao!"
"This Qi of Rise and Fall is different