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He Zhizhou.

Ning Ning's entire attention was captured by these two words, and her heart gave a quiet flutter. Seeing that he was looking toward a certain spot, she hurriedly focused all her concentration, following his gaze.

At the edge of her vision sat a handsome youth, leaning lazily against a tree trunk. His pair of peach-blossom eyes were narrowed in contentment, and set against the backdrop of the lush green forest, he looked just like a flower on the verge of blooming.

He had a languid air and naturally smiling lips, with corners that curved upward from birth. At this moment, as a smile tugged at them, he appeared even more carefree.

Judging by the reactions of the others, this He Zhizhou must be quite skilled at writing poetry.

"Since today's poetic theme is Danyun Peak, I shall make a fool of myself and offer a verse."

His starry eyes shone brightly. As he spoke, he straightened his posture, looking as refined and upright as a green bamboo.

Ning Ning had been at the Sword Sect for a long time and had learned many sword moves and techniques, but this was her first time hearing people discuss poetry and prose. Consequently, she developed some interest and patiently waited for him to begin.

She saw He Zhizhou look up at the layers of mountains in the distance, swaying his head leisurely: "The birds have flown away and vanished into the sky—"

Hm?

Ning Ning was stunned for a moment.

This poem was very familiar; it was precisely the first line from Li Bai's Du Zuo Jingting Shan.

The cultivation world was entirely fictional and had no intersection with the world she had once lived in; it should have been impossible for the same poem to appear here. Even if He Zhizhou were talented, his train of thought shouldn't be identical to Li Bai's.

Perhaps it was just the first line that was the same, a mere coincidence?

Ning Ning frowned slightly, suppressing the confusion in her heart, and listened as he continued: "—The lone cloud drifts on, idle and high. We look at each other, never tiring, only Danyun Mountain and I."

Alright, it was no coincidence. It was definitely Du Zuo Jingting Shan.

It was just that he had changed "Jingting" in the original poem to "Danyun." The level of imitation was akin to the difference between Adidas and Adadas.

But how could He Zhizhou know this poem? Could it be that he...

Was he also a transmigrator?

"We look at each other, never tiring, only Danyun Mountain and I. Good poem, truly a good poem!"

The onlookers, unaware of the truth, clapped with eyes shining, looking every bit like little fanboys: "This poem seems plain and tranquil, but it actually contrasts motion with stillness and blends emotion with scenery. In just a few words, it outlines an extreme sense of silence and solitude, far superior to those poems of ours that merely describe the scenery."

After finishing, they didn't forget to add a compliment: "As expected of you, Senior Brother He!"

Ning Ning: ...

Li Bai, resting in the afterlife, was laughing. He was laughing so loudly.

"After Senior Brother He went down the mountain for his trials, he has become so much more mature."

The other youth beside him asked with a face full of curiosity, "Senior Brother, I've heard that the secular jianghu is free and unrestrained. What do you think?"

"The jianghu?"

He Zhizhou chuckled and shook his head. "Wherever there are people, there are grievances; wherever there are grievances, there is a jianghu. People are the jianghu, and our Xuanxu Sword Sect is naturally no exception."

So profound! So insightful! As expected of Senior Brother He!

As his words faded, he once again reaped a pile of starry-eyed gazes from his fanboys and fangirls.

Ning Ning: ...

Do you believe that Ren Woxing and Linghu Chong would jump out of their coffins any minute and kick you right in the face?

She finally understood.

No wonder He Zhizhou's style was so outstandingly unique; it was simply because he was very likely a transmigrator as well. Not only had he pushed the modern concept of "being so poor one has to eat dirt" to the extreme, but he had also harvested countless little fans by relying on poems and quotes from another world.

"Senior Brother He's poetry has always been excellent."

Qin Shu caught a glimpse of Ning Ning's strange expression and assumed she was surprised by He Zhizhou's brilliant literary talent, so she didn't ask further. Instead, she called out crisply, "Senior Brother He, someone is looking for you."

He Zhizhou turned his head, his gaze meeting Ning Ning's complex look.

The unfamiliar young girl standing not far away was incredibly beautiful, with almond-shaped eyes and vermilion lips, her dark hair tied back loosely. Her face, shrouded in the shadows of the trees, was as white as porcelain and jade. A sliver of dappled sunlight fell upon the corners of her eyes, tracing a curve that was pure yet alluring.

A pale purple dress outlined her dainty figure. Just standing there without moving was enough to attract the attention of the vast majority of people.

He Zhizhou quickly recalled his memories and felt certain he had never seen this face before.

He had many flashy tricks and was quite famous within the Sword Sect. Although people did come to catch a glimpse of him for no reason, this was the first time someone as good-looking as her had appeared.

The youth hesitated for a moment, climbed down from the tree trunk, and walked toward the direction of Ning Ning. "Is the young lady here to see me?"

If she's here to collect a debt, I'm running away without a second word.

Having finally met another successor of socialism, Ning Ning tried hard to steady her tone, doing her best not to appear overly excited. "I've heard that Senior Brother He is learned and talented, with a particular gift for poetry. How about I provide the first line of a couplet, and you try to provide the second?"

As soon as these words came out, they nearly sent He Zhizhou packing.

Good heavens, although I've fooled quite a few people with ancient poems, those are just common knowledge that everyone in modern society knows. They have absolutely nothing to do with real talent.

As a fish that slipped through the net of quality education, reciting Du Zuo Jingting Shan and Jing Ye Si was already the extent of his mercy.

He had intended to use the excuse of feeling unwell to slip away quickly, but he hadn't expected the girl opposite him to be so quick-tongued. Not leaving him the slightest chance, she spoke again: "My first line is—"

He Zhizhou heard her say: "Odd changes, even stays the same."

Odd changes, even stays the same.

He stood frozen in place, nearly unable to process what those five words actually meant.

After a long while, his eyes finally widened into perfect circles, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

—It's "Odd change, even stay"!

When fellow countrymen meet, their eyes well up with tears!

In a fleeting instant, Ning Ning witnessed a miracle of human facial transformation.

He Zhizhou's expression was like a broken kaleidoscope; after cycling through dullness, shock, confusion, and embarrassment, it finally settled on an indescribable excitement.

His back trembled uncontrollably from agitation. He reached out with shaking hands to grip Ning Ning's palms, reciting that human scripture with utmost devotion: "Odd change, even stay; look to the quadrant for the sign."