"Would you like a boat ride, young master? You can't ride for free!"
Chen Lin had barely landed aboard when a voice rang out beside his ear.
Wafts of fragrance drifted into his nostrils.
The speaker was a young woman in a gauze skirt.
Her skin resembled milky-white porcelain, with a rich, lustrous sheen, and she watched him with a teasing smile.
"How many Nightmare Coins is the fare?"
Chen Lin immediately cupped his hands and asked.
"Heehee."
The woman covered her mouth and laughed.
"This must be your first Lantern Festival Gathering, young master. Nightmare Coins alone won't get you aboard this ship. There are four pleasure ships devoted to zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You must choose one of those four arts and display your talent."
Chen Lin frowned slightly.
Before he could speak, the woman continued.
"This is the Poetry Ship. You must compose a poem about the Lanshan Festival and win our young lady's approval to stay. Otherwise, we'll throw you into the river."
She covered her mouth and chuckled again.
Her lovely eyes roamed over Chen Lin, as though imagining him looking like a drowned rat.
"Ahem, ahem."
Chen Lin loosely curled his hand into a fist and gave two light coughs to cover his embarrassment.
He cupped his hands. "I was unaware of this rule and boarded your pleasure ship by mistake. I'll leave at once. Please forgive me."
The Nightmare Realm Rules came in every strange variety, and he was no poet. There was no reason to stay.
"Absolutely not!"
The woman's willow-leaf brows immediately shot up.
"What do you take our young lady's ship for? Somewhere you can board and leave whenever you please? Either compose a poem or be thrown into the river. There is no other choice!"
"Exactly! You want