In the inn's room, after three rounds of wine, the atmosphere was just right.

Wu Zhengze praised the good wine and hurriedly said, "No rush, no rush, come, come, Xu, write here."

Chen Xu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Master, I can't make every poem as a Cyan Smoke Poem, Master, this scroll of yours..."

It turned out that what Wu Zhengze took out was actually a blank scroll.

Wu Zhengze, tipsy, laughed loudly, "Who needs Cyan Smoke Poems? If there's no cloud and smoke on paper, isn't it sentiment nonetheless?

Chen Xu, you underestimate your master, come, write it here.

I want to carry it with me, to accompany me through the years."

Feng Yuanbai immediately stood up, personally helped to tidy up the desk, and fetched the inkstone and brush for Chen Xu.

As Chen Xu dipped the brush in ink, a wave of farewell sorrow surged in his heart.

Though it was not truly a parting moment, it seemed as if it were already a farewell.

He said, "Master, do you still remember that day when we returned from adventures at the Ancient Plain Pavilion outside Yunjiang City?"

Wu Zhengze sighed, "Of course, it's unforgettable for life, I probably won't have such an opportunity again.

Stepping into the Ghost Market, witnessing the myriad facets of human nature and the strange stories of ghosts, and even seeing you compose three Cyan Smoke Poems consecutively.

How magnificent and splendid, boundless in magnificence."

Chen Xu said, "When Master returns in the future, you must still pass by that Ancient Plain Pavilion, and I will bid farewell to you on the verdant ancient plain."

"Good, good, good! It should be so, this journey to Yunjiang, starting from the ancient plain, and parting from the ancient plain again.

Xu, when you return gloriously from Jade Capital Celestial City, you will still travel this road.

I will come to Ancient Plain to welcome you back."

Chen Xu gave a light sigh, "It should be so indeed!"

He immediately set to write: "Farewell to Ancient Grass"

The ink-words on the white paper began to flow like clouds, the first line seeming to bring a bursting literary qi.

Wu Zhengze and Feng Yuanbai unconsciously held their breath, watching the lines of poetry rise as if from a halo of grass color.

So mesmerizing that one almost forgot their own voice, there's no need to even mention reciting.

At dusk, the fiery clouds in the sky gradually dimmed.

Again, it was Cui Yunqi, who, after leaving Gaosheng Inn earlier, went back to search the storeroom, finding a pile of items enhancing qi and blood, even including two or three spiritual materials.

Such items, even with his status, could not be drawn indefinitely.

However, once he mentioned it was to be gifted to Chen Xu, the Patriarch, Cui Heng, immediately allocated a share to him.

After organizing the gifts, Cui Yunqi, along with Cui Fu and Cui Jingxian, headed once again to the Gaosheng Inn.

Although Master Wu from Jichuan County School already expressed that Chen Xu needed healing and rest, doesn't recuperation need visitation?

To visit doesn't mean to disturb Chen Xu's rest, he could completely just send the gifts without seeing him.

Cui Yunqi always held high hopes for Chen Xu, which sometimes Cui Jingxian found hard to comprehend and couldn't help questioning.

Even if Chen Xu indeed had talent, when compared with the prodigies of the Seven Prefectures of the South, he might not be the most outstanding.

Given Cui Yunqi's family background, even if he wanted to associate with him, there was absolutely no need to lower himself this much.

"You've underestimated the breadth of vision," said Cui Yunqi, elegantly dressed in a jade crown and golden belt, smiling at his clan brother.

What he sees couldn't possibly be limited to just the Seven Prefectures of the South.

The carriage stopped in front of the Gaosheng Inn, Cui Yunqi got off, while Cui Fu directed the guards to carry the gifts.

Then, Cui Yunqi saw it with his own eyes, a familiar yet unfamiliar cyan smoke suddenly rising from the inn's rooftop!

The cyan smoke ascended with the setting sun, resembling a heavenly ladder under the twilight sky.

Cui Yunqi slightly opened his mouth, his mind went blank for a moment, and he suddenly blurted out, "I, I, I'm amazed!"

He dashed away, reacting quicker than anyone else.

In the inn's hall, there were some students eating dinner, but none understood what happened better than Cui Yunqi.

They were just wide-eyed, watching Cui Yunqi rush into the inn and up to the second floor like a breeze.

Standing outside the familiar room, this time Cui Yunqi heard the reciting voice completely from inside.

It was Wu Zhengze's emotion-filled voice:

"The grass on the ancient plain is lush, with each year it withers and flourishes anew.

Wildfires cannot destroy it, the spring breeze breathes life again.

Distant blossoms invade the ancient road, green crowds the azure city.

Sending the master off again, lush with parting emotions."

Upon finishing reciting, Wu Zhengze's emotions surged, like a rolling torrent ready to burst any moment.

He laughed, "Feng Mingfu, this poem is Xu's parting gift to me, take a look, how is it?"

Feng Yuanbai couldn't hold back and spoke, with a tinge of acidity, "After all, it's about to part, writing a farewell poem must dive deep into the mood.

Master Wu, in the future, this scroll of yours might become a family treasure, perhaps?"

Wu Zhengze couldn't hold back, laughing, "Xu said he can't make every poem a Cyan Smoke Poem. But that trip to the Ancient Plain left a deep impression.

After all, Xu and I, our master-disciple bond is deep. Naturally, I will cherish this poem for generations."

Upon finishing, he couldn't help but laugh heartily again.

He further recited and appreciated, "What a line, 'each year it withers and flourishes anew', what a line, 'the spring breeze breathes life again'! Xu, I know your heart.

Though there's the pain of parting in this world, the winds reach across thousands of miles.

Each year withering and flourishing is a cycle; come spring, we shall surely meet again.

The waves of the world, the rush of life, how like the verdant space on the plain, once clear and green."

His words fell, others hadn't spoken yet, but he exuberantly felt his mundane life, till now, at last, found comfort.

Cui Yunqi stood stunned outside, shaken by the line "each year it withers and flourishes anew."

He thought of the frustrations suffered in the Star Array and the struggles to regain his Dao Heart these days.

Sudden to realize, this line "the spring breeze breathes life again," wasn't meant for Master Wu?

Clearly, it was a gift to him, Cui Yunqi!

Cui Yunqi couldn't help but smile, past sufferings dissipated like smoke.

Only a grand ambition brimmed in his chest, surging from deep within.

With a tumultuous heart, he gently and politely knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock—

The door opened, the three inside stood by the table, Wu Zhengze held the scroll, his face brimming with excitement and joy.

Seeing Cui Yunqi, they all seemed taken aback.

Suppressing his excitement, Cui Yunqi spoke with slightly trembling lips after a while, finally cupping his hands, "Greetings to Prefect Feng, Master Wu, and Brother Chen.

I just listened to a wonderful poem from outside, truly delighted, I hope the three of you don't mind."

Wu Zhengze didn't mind at all, holding the scroll, he laughed again, "You say it's good, don't you? Excellent, excellent! Do you know this poem was a gift from Xu?"

Cui Yunqi found himself at a loss for words.

Wu Zhengze didn't mind and laughed heartily, "You said it's good, didn't you? Great! Do you know this poem is a gift from Xu to me?"

Cui Yunqi was a bit at a loss for words.

But Wu Zhengze didn't stop. He just laughed and said, "Xu said he can't make every poem turn into Cyan Smoke. But that day on the Ancient Plain, it was deeply memorable.

In the end, Xu and I, our bond is of deep master and disciple sentiment. This poem will naturally be well preserved by me for generations."

He couldn't help but laugh again.

He then recited with great enjoyment, "What a line, one year a lush and withering grassland, what a line, the spring breeze breathes life again! Xu, I understand your heart.

Every year life blooms and withers, as part of the cycle of time, the north spring carries the same fate as the past.

Yet here I rejoice in its delivery, as it is rightly addressed to me, here and beyond!"

And with that, not waiting for the others to speak, his joy unraveled itself, as he broke into a fit of laughter once more.

He then recited appreciatively: "The grass ripples endlessly on the ancient plains. A year withers and thrives.

Wildfires can't destroy it, Spring breezes revive it.

Far the fragrance wafts the old paths, over green connecting to the azure city.

Again I send the master away; lush is full of parting emotions."

Upon the end of the recital, emotions surged within Wu Zhengze, as if a torrent threatened to burst at any moment.

He laughed heartily, "Oh, Chief Feng, this poem is Xu's farewell gift to me, see, see how wonderful it is?"

Feng Yuanbai couldn't help but respond with a hint of jealousy in his tone, "After all, it's a parting, writing a farewell poem certainly involves pouring one's heart and soul into it.

Master Wu, won't this scroll someday become your family treasure?"

Wu Zhengze couldn't help it; he just laughed and said, "Xu said he couldn't make every poem turn into a Cyan Smoke Poem. But that day on the ancient plain is unforgettable.

In the end, I'm deeply bonded with Xu as master and disciple. Naturally, I will cherish this poem greatly, passing it down for generations."

With that, he couldn't help but let out another hearty laugh.

He then exultantly recited, "What a line, 'each year it withers and flourishes,' what a line, 'the spring breeze breathes life again'! Xu, I understand your heart.

Every year there are withering and blossomings, life is a cycle, in the coming year spring winds will come again.

At the far ends of the earth, we share the same wind."

When his voice dropped, before anyone else could speak, his joy was overwhelming, feeling as if the mediocrity of half his life was finally consoled.

Cui Yunqi stood dazed outside, yet was struck by that line "each year it withers and flourishes anew."

Thinking of that day when he was caught in the Star Array, suffering with his qi blood fluctuations.

He suddenly realized, this line "the spring breeze breathes life again," wasn't meant for Master Wu?

It was evidently a gift to him, promising a grand ambition surging from the depths of his heart.

Full of delight, Cui Yunqi laughed, and past pain vanished like smoke in the air.

With fresh determination swelling in his chest, he finally unleashed it from within.

Inside the Gaosheng Inn, some students were still seated for evening meals, but none understood more clearly than Cui Yunqi what had transpired.

They just gawked as Cui Yunqi rushed in like a gust of wind to the inn, sprinting up to the second floor.

He stood outside that familiar room door, fully hearing this time the resounding recitation inside.

It was Wu Zhengze's voice, charged with emotion:

"Boundless grass on the ancient plain, year after year it grows and wanes.

Even wildfires can't consume it, spring breezes revive it.

Spread afar, the fragrance invades the ancient path, clear and verdant linked to the azure city.

Again I send my teacher off, the lush grasses are full of parting sentiment."

After the poem was read, Wu Zhengze's heart surged with emotion, like a rolling torrent ready to burst its banks at any moment.

He laughed aloud, "Fellow Mingfu, this poem is Xu's farewell sentiment to me, look, just look, how is it?"

Feng Yuanbai couldn't hold it back, he opened his mouth, yet his tone was overwhelmingly sour.

"Since it is parting, if it's a farewell poem, naturally it must be full of emotion and atmosphere.

Master Wu, I'm afraid this scroll will be cherished by you as a family heirloom in the future, won't it?"

Wu Zhengze could not contain himself, and simply laughed heartily, "Xu said he couldn't make every poem turn into a Cyan Smoke. But that day on the Ancient Plain, it made a deep impression.

Xu and I, in the end, share a deep master-disciple bond. This poem, I will naturally keep it well, as a family inheritance for generations."

Saying this, he couldn't resist another burst of hearty laughter.

He then continued to recite with appreciation, "What lush lines, 'The grass withers and grows each year.' What a line, 'Spring breeze blows and it grows again'! Xu, I know your heart.

Each year there is the sorrow of parting, yet the same winds reach across the ends of the world.

Years wither and blossom; all is a cycle, but the spring breeze shall bring life anew,

But here, I rejoice in its delivery, as it is rightly filled with the sentiment of send-off."

As he finished speaking, before the others could respond, his own delight was irrepressible, akin to a lifetime of mediocrity finally finding solace.

Even as he completed his recital, the other guests in the room had not spoken, and he himself was overcome with pleasure, feeling that the drudgery of half his life was finally consoled.

Meanwhile, Cui Yunqi stood stunned outside, shaken by that line "each year it withers and flourishes anew."

He recalled the time he was trapped in the Star Array, enduring the torment of his wavering qi blood.

He suddenly realized, wasn't this line "the spring breeze breathes life again" meant as a gift to Master Wu alone?

Clearly, it was a gift delivered to him.

Overflowing with joy, Cui Yunqi let out a laugh, past pain disappeared like smoke.

A grand ambition filled his chest, rising from within.

Cui Yunqi quickly stepped aside.

He watched as Master Wu walked past him, his robes fluttering, accompanied by a long, vibrant laugh.

Meanwhile, Ding Qian in the Prefecture Government noticed the streak of cyan smoke rising from the inn's roof.

"Ay, aye," murmured Ding Qian, his eyes widening as he rubbed them.

He hurried into the courtyard and turned towards the distant horizon, catching a glimpse of the inn, the roof, and the thread of cyan smoke—all magnified before him.

That inn, that rooftop, the cyan smoke, nothing escaped his view.

He rushed into the courtyard and quickly blew a wisp of air, causing the distant scene in the sky to magnify right before his eyes.

"Having finished the examination, why doesn't he come to pay his respects to the examiner right away, what, what is he thinking of doing?"

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