When did Great Master Su post the results?
Yang Zhen was stunned for a moment, then Xue Zonglin pulled him toward a clock tower. The two squeezed for a long time, and even Xue Zonglin, who was so refined, cursed several times before they finally reached the clock tower.
At this moment, countless people gathered in front of the clock tower. There were frail old people who were being pushed around and were cursing, and children as young as seven or eight years old who were weaving in and out of the crowd, making quite a scene.
In front of the clock tower, two haughty little girls dressed as maids looked at the crowd. One of them, dressed in purple, was holding something that looked like a notice.
Another woman in white smiled, and the noisy surroundings immediately fell silent as everyone waited for her to speak.
Xue Zonglin whispered to Yang Zhen, "Brother Yang Kang, this is your first time here, you probably don't know about Great Master Su's announcement, do you?"
Yang Zhen nodded and said, "I was just about to ask you about that. Those two young girls in front seem a bit arrogant."
Xue Zonglin gave a wry smile and said, "It's more than just arrogance. Cui and Wei are Great Master Su's personal maids. Their status in Tieling City is even higher than that of some young masters from prestigious families. Countless young men want to gain their favor in order to get closer to Great Master Su."
Yang Zhen said with a smile, "No wonder those two little girls are so arrogant, it's understandable!"
Xue Zonglin scoffed and said, "Only those who are all talk and no action would flock to such low-level tactics. Those who truly possess great talent participate in the monthly grand competition. Once recognized by Great Master Su and placed on the Literary Brilliance Rankings, they will become famous Tieling City and be admired by everyone. If they can rise to the top of the ranking, they will even have the opportunity to debate with Great Master Su."
"Eloquence?" Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked, "What is eloquence?"
Xue Zonglin was taken aback, then gave an awkward laugh and said, "This... I, Xue..."
"Silence!" The woman in white glared at Yang Zhen and Xue Zonglin, then snorted, "Young Master Xue, do you have any objections to this announcement?"
Xue Zonglin's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, no, no, how could I dare to question Great Master Su!"
Yang Zhen chuckled and looked at the woman in white with interest. This woman in white was not very old, but she certainly had a big temper.
The woman in white hesitated for a moment, then looked at Yang Zhen and asked, "This young master looks unfamiliar. Have you just arrived in Tieling City?"
Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively turned to look at Yang Zhen, and began to whisper among themselves.
"He looks unfamiliar; I've never seen this young master before. Could he really be new to Tieling City?"
"I've heard that Yang Zhen, who spouted such arrogant words, has also arrived in Tieling City, and he even brazenly shouted in the crowd that he was Yang Zhen! He's truly outrageous!"
"But this person shouldn't be Yang Zhen, right? Even if Yang Zhen is arrogant, he probably wouldn't dare to come to the Bell Tower."
"So that's not the case!"
Hearing the surrounding chatter and seeing the white-clad woman's expression, Xue Zonglin hurriedly said, "Miss Wei'er, you misunderstand. This fellow Daoist is indeed new to Tieling City, but he is not Yang Zhen; his name is Yang Kang!"
Yang Zhen chuckled and said to the woman in white, "Miss Wei'er, I am Yang Kang!"
The woman in white gave a light snort and said expressionlessly, "Then please, Young Master Yang, refrain from making a scene!"
Yang Zhen smiled and said, "I'm so sorry, I couldn't help myself. Don't worry, miss, I'm a very low-key person, why would I do anything sensational?"
"Even better!" The woman in white glanced at Yang Zhen, a rare smile appearing on her face, and said, "Those who come here are all exceptionally talented, lest you, young master, become a laughingstock!"
Yang Zhen chuckled and said, "Thank you for reminding me, young lady!"
Xue Zonglin breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said in a low voice, "Brother Yang Kang, we'd better watch quietly. This place is full of Literary Talent Qi individuals, and many have already condensed their Literary Talent Qi Inscriptions. We must not act rashly!"
Yang Zhen nodded, looking curiously at the woman in purple.
Xue Zonglin looked at the woman in purple with anticipation when a hand suddenly patted his shoulder. He was startled and turned to look, his face turning grim.
" Gong Tianque!"
Yang Zhen turned his head in surprise and was immediately dumbfounded.
Damn it, this Gong Tianque is too flamboyant. He's wearing a pink fur-lined shirt and a light green hat, looking all spring-like, yet he acts completely self-satisfied. He shoves Xue Zonglin aside and says in a flippant tone, " Xue Zonglin, someone who can't even get into the Literary Brilliance Rankings, how dare you come here? I, Gong, don't have that kind of shame!"
"You..." Xue Zonglin's expression turned ashen as he looked at Gong Tianque and said, " Gong Tianque, let alone me, how could you possibly be qualified to enter the Literary Brilliance Rankings?"
Gong Tianque laughed and said, "Excuse me, it seems that I really might make it onto the Literary Brilliance Rankings this time!"
"What?" Xue Zonglin's expression changed, and he looked at Gong Tianque with surprise and doubt, saying in a deep voice, "Impossible!"
Gong Tianque looked at Xue Zonglin with disdain and said, " Xue Zonglin, remember the agreement we made. If I enter the Literary Brilliance Rankings, you will be kicked out of the Pill and Literary Academy!"
"Then you'll have to get into the Literary Brilliance Rankings first!" Xue Zonglin said through gritted teeth, though his expression was rather unpleasant.
Yang Zhen looked at the two of them curiously, and was about to speak when the crowd suddenly became noisy again.
Exclamations of surprise rang out all around, and even Cui and Wei frowned, but this time they did not stop them.
Yang Zhen followed the crowd's gaze, and the crowd parted automatically, revealing a group of people chatting and laughing as they walked towards them.
"It's Gan Bailin! I didn't expect Gan Bailin to come in person!"
"I've heard that Gan Bailin is the most popular candidate for the Literary Brilliance Rankings this year. He recently shocked the entire Pill and Literary Academy Pill and Literary Academy a single word, and he's the most talented student in this year's class!"
"That's not necessarily true. It's said that a little girl recently joined Pill and Literary Academy. She's incredibly talented and has already condensed her Literary Talent Qi Inscriptions at such a young age. She's also participating in this year's Literary Brilliance Rankings, but I wonder if she'll come to see the results!"
"My lord, you are unaware of this, but that little girl is very much favored by Great Master Su. The two have met several times already, and I've heard that she is currently inside Great Master Su's clock tower!"
"What?"
Everyone was startled and looked at Gan Bailin with strange expressions.
"No wonder Gan Bailin looked so pale. It turns out that even if he tops the list this time, he might not be able to debate with Great Master Su one-on-one!"
"That's not necessarily true; it all depends on what Great Master Su decides!"
Amidst the discussion, Gan Bailin and his group glanced to the side and walked straight towards Xue Zonglin.
Xue Zonglin's face turned extremely pale, and he even subconsciously moved behind Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Brother Xue, do you have a grudge against this Gan Bailin?"
Xue Zonglin smiled wryly and said, "I was just being blunt and said that Gan Bailin's talent was inferior to Tian Rou's, and that offended him."
Tian Rou?
Yang Zhen was taken aback, suddenly feeling that the name was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place it for the moment.
At this moment, Gan Bailin and the others approached Xue Zonglin, sneered, and said, "Since when can even nobodies come on the day the notice is posted?"
As he spoke, Gan Bailin gave Yang Zhen a meaningful look.
Yang Zhen pointed at himself, looking completely bewildered, and said, "Damn it, you even insulted this ' Sage of Saunter '?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback. Xue Zonglin turned pale and hurriedly tugged at Yang Zhen's sleeve.
Yang Zhen flung Xue Zonglin's hand away, walked up to Gan Bailin, and stared at Gan Bailin, saying, "Brother, what is your father's surname?"