"A whole series?"
Teng Zixiu frowned at Jiang Xiaobai's words.
The four-character poem alone had already left him unsure how to respond.
Yet Jiang Xiaobai actually intended to keep going?
As he stood there in shock, Jiang Xiaobai began, "An old friend brings fresh-brewed wine, inviting me upstairs to drink."
"Lamplight stirs along the street; wine's fragrance fills the crowded seats."
"Heh..."
Hearing those first two lines, Teng Zixiu's tightly knitted brows relaxed, and he smiled faintly.
The poem certainly sounded good and painted a vivid scene.
But compared with the preceding four-character poem, it lacked a little flavor.
Though it was still impressive, his own might not... be beyond comparison!
At that thought, Teng Zixiu felt considerably more at ease.
But just then, Jiang Xiaobai's voice rang out again. "I raise my cup and swallow the moon; my mighty song overwhelms the Nine Provinces."
Hm?
Teng Zixiu's expression changed.
A moment ago, it had merely been old friends drinking and lamplight along a street, but those two lines instantly lifted the entire poem to majestic heights.
The spectators below stirred noticeably as well.
"Ah, what a line-'I raise my cup and swallow the moon'!"
"Indeed! What tremendous spirit!"
"That's my teacher for you!"
Standing in the crowd, Fang Tong was full of admiration.
Yet Jiang Xiaobai's voice never stopped. Looking straight at Teng Zixiu, he said calmly, "Who beneath today's sky can rival me? Drunk, I laugh at kings and marquises!"
Drunk, I laugh at kings and marquises?
What an arrogant declaration!
Teng Zixiu's hands, which had just relaxed, clenched again.
"Well?"
Looking at Teng Zixiu's darkened face, Jiang Xiaobai asked with a chuckle, "Would you like to... recite your five-character poem for us?"
Teng Zixiu's expression shifted, but before he could speak, Jiang Xiaobai's voice rang out again.