After Zong Yun finished laughing, he said, "Yes, ten characters certainly qualify as simple! The topic also includes 'spring,' and this ten-character poem contains 'spring' too, so it fits the topic. I've said that for you. As for 'unusual,' please elaborate, Brother Yan. And don't forget to read the entire poem at the end so we can hear it."
"Please enlighten us, Brother Yan!"
"Truly, a gentleman would die for one who understands him! One gifts the Yan Style, and the other repays him by explaining his poem. I admire you, truly!"
Some people mocked them with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Yan Yukong said calmly, "Ignorant and unlearned! This is a classic reversible poem. It is merely the first appearance of this ten-character form. Only someone of Fang Yun's dazzling, extraordinary talent could create such an unusual poem."
"Oh?"
Once Yan Yukong finished, silence fell over the gathering. After he identified it as a reversible poem, many people suddenly understood and stared at those ten characters.
Orioles sang, bankside willows played with spring sunshine, dawn moon bright.
Duan Qing slapped the table and cried, "I'm such a fool! Foolish enough to think Void Sage Fang hadn't finished! Only after hearing Yan Yukong did I understand: this is a five-character reversible poem! Reading forward gives the first two lines, and reading backward gives the last two! There's no need for Yan Yukong to step in. Zong Yun, listen! I can read it to you myself! Orioles sang, bankside willows played; spring sunshine, dawn moon bright. Bright moon, dawn sunshine, spring; playing willows, bankside singing orioles!"
As he spoke, Duan Qing swiftly wrote Fang Yun's ten characters once forward and once backward, forming a reversible poem.
More than half of the thousand-odd people who had stood up looked ashamed. Yan Yukong and Duan