Xu Yi had no idea how serious the situation was and remained in the dark. But even if he was slow on the uptake, he knew that what had happened to him was good, not bad.
Once the filth stopped pouring out of his body, he darted outside, then back in again. When he returned, he had changed into a fresh blue robe and looked bright-eyed and vigorous.
He bowed to the fisherman. "Thank you for your help, Senior."
The fisherman waved a hand. "I told you, I came to ask you for a poem. I'm giving you a little something first. If the poem you write later doesn't satisfy me, I'll take it back."
Xu Yi straightened. The old monster standing before him was practically an immortal. He would never take the man's words lightly.
He hadn't expected that copying poems for so many years would put his life in danger.
"Please give me a prompt, Senior."
Xu Yi brought all his wits to bear, ready to meet the challenge.
"No prompt," said the fisherman. "Write a poem first. I'll take a look."
As he spoke, the bamboo rod in the fisherman's hand flicked. The hook spun through the air, and a series of moving scenes were drawn before them as though they were real.
The sky just outside the hall became a gigantic screen. With Cold Moon River at its center, scenes from every direction appeared in flowing streaks of light.
In one of them, Xu Yi spotted Xuan Lengyan hurrying through the crowd toward him.
The curfew had begun. Though the streets were still crowded, the skyways were already sealed. Xuan Lengyan ran until sweat beaded on her brow and her hair came loose.
Xu Yi sprang up and leaped out of the hall. "Senior, give me