Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

Chapter 314 - 184: Senior Sister on the Mountain, Junior Sister Below_2

"Miss Lu, let’s begin."

Miss Lu slightly raised her eyebrows, astonished by the calmness of this eighteen-year-old boy. To dare to take part in the study examination at such a young age, there were not many among the wild young literary prodigies in the world who were so brave. Not to mention that on her Book Immortal Peak, it was rare for any literary genius to pass the study exam at such an age. However, one reason was that the disciples of Book Immortal Peak didn’t need to teach anyone, and another was that there were other more suitable exams to prove one’s talent and learning.

"The study examination is a test for scholars to prove their eligibility to be teachers, divided into five areas: etiquette, poetry, prose, history, and general knowledge. Which area do you want to take?"

"Poetry." You Su replied with determination.

Miss Lu then turned her jade-like hand lightly, and suddenly a piece of white silk appeared on the table. With her hand’s gesture, words began to slowly appear on the white silk.

"These are topics set long ago, drawn at random. You cannot see, so I will read them to you. Remember, do not release your Divine Sense, as it will be seen as cheating and severely punished."

Seeing You Su nod, Miss Lu glanced at the topics on the scroll, her expression unknowingly growing more serious.

The topics here were not simple, causing her to doubt You Su’s confidence.

But perhaps this was a good thing. She didn’t believe these brutes who only knew how to wield swords could pass the study exam at such a young age. A young man known for his sword, able to teach poetry, she couldn’t believe such a person existed. This challenging exam paper was proof of the study exam’s high value.

"The exam lasts for one hour, consisting of three questions. If all three answers satisfy me, you pass. If two, the paper will be reviewed by other officers for a response. If only one or none, it is considered a failure. Understood?"

You Su nodded.

Miss Lu then struck the ancient bell beside her, signaling the start of the exam.

"Imagery, diction, meaning, form, and rhyme. Rank these five standards of evaluating poetry in order of importance as per your understanding, and explain the reasons."

"Shao Hua’s poetry, Eight Immortals’ painting, Left Confucian’s biography, Ming Fairy’s history, Qiong Tao’s letter, Flower Pavilion’s book, North Mang’s ode, ancient elegance and charm, place by my mountain window. Write the next line."

"Aspiration seeks no fame, a full shelf of books forms a small retreat; the body stays distant from the mundane, a courtyard of wind and moon accompanies a solitary chant. Understand the meaning of this couplet and compose a poem that aligns with its ethos."

Each question was more difficult than the last.

The first question examined the candidate’s understanding of poetry; the second tested the candidate’s familiarity with renowned Five Continents’ cultural figures and antithesis skills; the third examined the candidate’s ability to tackle a theme, refine meaning, and create poetry.

Even more challenging was the requirement to provide answers within an hour.

You Su silently pondered. Unable to see, he simply closed his eyes and sealed himself off, focusing entirely on contemplating his answers.

As time slipped away, Miss Lu watched the young man silently, shaking her head slightly.

In her view, after contemplating for most of the hour without answering a question, You Su was evidently not going to pass.

Her only thought now was to publicize the answer sheet when the time came, so others would not mistakenly think it was her Book Immortal Peak intentionally making things difficult for You Su.

But just then, You Su suddenly opened his eyes, and those bright, unfocused eyes seemed to regain spirit.

"Miss Lu, I am blind. May I verbally present my answers?"

Miss Lu was momentarily taken aback, casually picking up a brush from the pen basket and tossing it onto the table. The brush stood upright on the white silk as if ready to write as soon as You Su spoke.

"You may," Miss Lu replied.

"For the first question, my answer is they are equally important. Some value form over meaning, which is the corpse of poetry; some value meaning over form, which loses the structure of poetry..."

You Su elaborated eloquently, and Miss Lu’s eyebrows arched in surprise. You Su’s answer to the first question was not unexpectedly brilliant, but beautifully answered nonetheless. What truly surprised her was that You Su answered all three questions in succession.

"For the second question: Sea and sun, Western desert sunset, Kong Yuan snow, Heng Gao clouds, Jade Ring moon, Penglai mist, Nanyang rain, cosmic wonders, decorate my study wall."

Miss Lu instantly sat upright, surprised that You Su matched the grandeur of the Five Continents’ landscapes with the cultural treasures of its history. With elegance and fluency, his vast knowledge was evident. Especially the final sentence, showing You Su’s ambition to one day witness all the wonders of the Five Continents, even as a blind man.

"For the third question..."

"How is it?" Miss Lu saw You Su hesitate and asked curiously.

After a moment of hesitation, You Su serenely recited: "Don’t listen to the sound of wind beating leaves through the trees, why not sing and stroll calmly? A bamboo cane and grass shoes easily outperform a horse, who’s afraid? Let a straw raincloak endure life’s storms.

The biting spring wind sobers one up, slightly chill, yet the setting sun warmly greets over the mountain. Looking back at where I used to be desolate, returning home, it’s neither stormy nor clear."

As the word "clear" fell, Miss Lu was already stunned, speechless.

Although You Su used a verse as the answer, poetry and verse are inherently connected. You Su perfectly grasped the intellectuals’ desire to find solace in adversity, elevating this openness to such unprecedented heights that Miss Lu felt her own knowledge pale in comparison.

Subtly, Miss Lu felt she had grasped something profound, causing her own Lower Feather Transformation Realm to begin to loosen.

"Miss Lu, I must confess, this verse is not my own creation. It was written by a mortal scholar named Su Shi. To my shame, I have not composed a poem that fits the question’s theme." You Su admitted.