443: Chapter 443 Anecdotes of the Sword Immortal

The appearance of a Sword Immortal at the Xinghua Village service area, with many people witnessing the Sword Immortal flying on a sword, spread like wildfire.

It was like a prairie fire, unstoppable.

Along the road to Xinghua Village, the stories became even more miraculous, as if everyone had seen it with their own eyes.

"Have you heard? There's a Sword Immortal in Xinghua Village who, in the blink of an eye, flew over a thousand miles on a sword!"

"Nonsense, did you see it yourself? They clearly flew to Xinghua Village; that's the Immortal's abode!"

"Hey, I knew it! How else could the Northern Territory produce a Prince of Zhenbei? It turns out the Prince is a disciple of an Immortal!"

"Are you ignorant? Why was this place, Xinghua Village, unknown back then but famous throughout the world now? It's because an Immortal was in seclusion there for a thousand years, and it had been hidden by a formation all this time!"

"To tell you the truth, I passed by here years ago. The Sword Immortal wanted to take me as a disciple, but I was in a rush to return home to visit my sick mother and politely declined the Immortal..."

On a carriage bearing a family crest, several scholars were also listening to this idle chatter.

"Brother Lv, do you believe there is a Sword Immortal in Xinghua Village?"

The owner of the carriage was none other than Cui Yan, a disciple of Master Xu Huaian.

Sitting beside him was Lv Sheng, who had just been released this morning.

They were accompanied by two other disciples from noble families.

They had assumed that since Lv Sheng had offended the Prince of Zhenbei, he would likely be in trouble this time.

But unexpectedly, Lv Sheng had been released, and nothing had happened to him?

Because of this, everyone at the academy looked at Lv Sheng with newfound respect; he truly was a disciple of Great Scholar Meng and the number one talent in the world, as even the Prince of Zhenbei dared not act rashly against him.

However, Lv Sheng did not look well; he had changed into clean clothes, but he looked somewhat haggard.

He was distracted, constantly thinking about the confession he had signed in the prison cell; it felt like a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He did not know why the yamen had released him; he was supposed to be beheaded, but the blade was suspended over his head and just would not fall, which was chilling!

What was even more baffling was that Cui Yan and the other noble disciples had actually come to pick him up from prison?

Those who used to refuse to accept him and wanted to compete with him were now calling him "Brother Lv" at every turn, acting so intimate!

And now, they were inviting him to the wine party in Xinghua Village, clearly trying to curry favor with him.

Lv Sheng was already in a gloomy mood, and upon hearing these rumors, he sneered.

"If there really were Immortals, would they appear in public?" Lv Sheng shook his head. "I don't believe it."

"I agree. Those few lines of poetry by the Wine Sword Immortal sound carefree and heroic at first, but they are actually just doggerel."

Cui Yan laughed. "Brother Lv and I really think alike."

Lv Sheng forced a smile, feeling disdain in his heart; a guy like you who relies on family connections to climb up to Master Xu Huaian, do you really think you can compare to me?

Upon arriving at the Xinghua Village service area, Cui Yan, with his sharp eyes, hurriedly told the coachman to stop.

"Look, Brother Lv, that's Lady Yu, the Earl, ahead, and the daughter of the Hu family, the richest family in E Prefecture, Lady Hu."

Upon hearing this, Lv Sheng could not help but look out and indeed saw the stunningly beautiful Hu Xinyi, dressed in red, looking at the statue of the cowherd boy with Yu Yingying.

"I had the honor of meeting Lady Hu at the Langya Poetry Gathering; she is indeed overflowing with talent."

Cui Yan noticed that Lv Sheng's eyes were practically glued to her, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

There were rumors in the Imperial Academy and the academy that Lv Sheng had never forgotten Hu Xinyi, whom he had competed against at the poetry gathering.

It seemed that was really the case?

After all, Hu Xinyi was the daughter of a merchant; it was normal that Lv Sheng would not dare to express his feelings.

"Brother Lv, why don't we invite Lady Yu and Lady Hu to go to Xinghua Village with us?" Cui Yan suggested.

"This..." Lv Sheng was tempted, but he did not dare to agree.

"To be honest, I have long admired Lady Yu, but I lack talent. With Brother Lv, the number one talent, here, I have more confidence in inviting them."

Cui Yan was not lying; although he had not interacted with Yu Yingying, he knew that this woman was now the head of the nobility in Yu Prefecture, had inherited the title of Earl Yushan, and held the agency for the Northern Trade Alliance.

As a noble and a wealthy heiress, Yu Yingying had long become an excellent marriage prospect in the eyes of many noble disciples.

If he could use Lv Sheng's fame to get closer to Yu Yingying and develop feelings, this trip would be a huge gain.

Upon hearing this, Lv Sheng put on a reluctant air. "Then... Brother Cui, you can try."

Cui Yan became excited, and the group immediately got off the carriage to extend an invitation to Yu Yingying and Hu Xinyi.

Hu Xinyi was listless; her mind was filled only with that poem "Sheng Sheng Man" and the "heartless Lin," so the so-called number one talent in the world was no different from a passerby to her.

Yu Yingying hesitated for a moment but agreed to Cui Yan's request.

Firstly, the Cui family was powerful, so refusing directly would not be appropriate.

Secondly, her good friend Hu Xinyi had become obsessed with trying to climb up to the Prince.

Rather than letting her waste her youth like this, it would be better to let Hu Xinyi see other men.

Both sides reached an agreement; Cui Yan had the other two make room and invited the two women into the carriage.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Yu Yingying smiled and said, "Young Master Cui, what do you think of that poem 'The rain falls heavily during the Qingming Festival'?"

"Anyway, I could not write it. What do you think, Brother Lv?" Cui Yan laughed.

Lv Sheng nodded. "It is indeed written with delicacy and emotion."

"Speaking of which, it is drizzling today, and Qingming has just passed. Why don't you compose a poem, Brother Lv? With your talent, it might even be passed down to future generations?"

Cui Yan suggested this, actually intending to give Lv Sheng a chance to show off.

As expected, Hu Xinyi also looked up, watching Lv Sheng with a hint of interest.

Seeing Hu Xinyi looking over, Lv Sheng felt a flutter in his heart and said, "Brother Cui, you are making things difficult for me. With such a gem of a poem already existing, how could a poem about the Qingming rainy season be so easy to write?"

"No matter, writing poetry naturally requires the emotion to be in the right place to produce an eternal masterpiece. We will arrive at Xinghua Village soon; it will not be too late for Brother Lv to compose a poem after seeing the legendary Immortal's abode!"

Cui Yan laughed. "Lady Yu, Lady Hu, you are both talented women; you can critique it then."

"I am not a talented woman; my Xinyi is. She was bullied by Young Master Lv at the Langya Poetry Gathering," Yu Yingying teased.

Upon hearing this, Hu Xinyi hurriedly grabbed her friend. "Don't talk nonsense. That was a poetry competition; how could it be bullying? Young Master Lv, Yingying is joking, please do not take it seriously."

Seeing Hu Xinyi looking at him, Lv Sheng felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, even though her face remained expressionless.

She was indeed well-educated and courteous, and she still remembered the poetry exchange from that day.

"I greatly admire Lady Hu's talent. That day we were representing different sides in a competition, but today, why don't we make friends through poetry and chat about the scenery?"

Hu Xinyi did not think much of it and nodded. "Alright, I am also looking forward to seeing what kind of masterpiece Young Master Lv will compose in Xinghua Village."

Upon hearing this, the depression in Lv Sheng's heart vanished completely. He gathered all his energy, determined to go to Xinghua Village and let his poetic inspiration flow.

Surely after today, Hu Xinyi would be deeply attracted to him, just like those noble ladies in the capital.