The long river ran through the city like a jade belt, water vapor shrouding its surface like an exceedingly thin mist. Green willow threads drooped from both banks, and countless people crowded along the shore.
At the sandbar, everyone aboard the dragon boats stood.
From a black-tiled tower, the Jade Sea Prefect recited a sacrificial text honoring the sages, signifying the official start of the dragon boat race.
"Raise the flags!" someone on the sandbar shouted.
The drummers on all five dragon boats gripped their red flags together and reinforced them one last time, ensuring they would not fall during the race.
"Beat the drums!" the man shouted again.
The five drummers struck their drums in unison. The beats were orderly and deafening, and the crowds on both shores erupted into cheers once more, so loud that Nunu's little ears flopped down to block the sound.
"Begin," Provincial Graduate Qian said.
The people on Dragon Boat Number Two sat down and began grinding ink.
Fang Yun had just finished grinding his ink and had yet to lift his brush when startled cries rang out from the crowd.
"Dragon Boat Number One has Literary Qi! It's still rising!"
Fang Yun immediately looked toward Dragon Boat Number One, where the Qing Kingdom contingent was. Beneath the Official Seal's power, he saw an orange glow of Literary Qi emerge from the page before Shi Dehong, the Poetry Lord's disciple. It continued to rise, already exceeding one foot and reaching the County-Exceeding standard.
The Academy Student before him snorted. "They truly came prepared. They must have spent months drafting in their minds, constantly pondering it without ever putting it to paper."
An Academy Student aboard Dragon Boat Number Three sighed softly. "As expected of the Poetry Lord's disciple. We might not be able to