Meng Haizhou and the others assumed Li Youran was deliberately making things difficult for Jun Moxie, and they began to heckle. Little did they know, Li Youran spoke with genuine sincerity.

“Young Master Youran, you must be joking,” Kong Lingyang’s expression darkened slightly, showing clear displeasure. “Young Master Jun might have, well, certain… achievements in other areas; but in the Way of Poetry, he is utterly unknown. This is rather…”

Someone let out a suppressed snicker. Although the words of Master Kong were veiled to the extreme, everyone understood perfectly: the 'achievements' of Jun Moxie in 'other areas' could only refer to ignoble pursuits like frequenting brothels, gambling on cockfights, or bullying the weak and exploiting the innocent. As for anything else, what achievements could that brat possibly have? Everyone silently praised the old master: Old Master Kong truly was an old master; even his insults were so refined.

“Master Kong need not concern himself, hehe. If your esteemed student cannot even win a debate against Jun Moxie, then why bother seeking a contest with Young Master Youran in the first place?” Meng Haizhou replied with a slight smile, effectively delivering a sharp counter-jab to Old Master Kong.

Kong Lingyang was so choked with anger he thought, If the disciple I’ve poured my heart into cultivating is still inferior to that dissolute fop, I might as well tie a rope around my neck and end it. He said no more, waved his hand, designated a disciple to fight, and sat down sullenly.

“Shi Busheng, Han Zhidong, requests guidance from Young Master Jun.”

A young man stood up with a smile, bowed deeply from a distance, and then raised his head, a flicker of disdain briefly crossing his eyes.

“Oh, no need for the formalities. When you have time, I can teach you a few street moves that will guarantee you can sweep across Lingwuhu Lake and display mighty dominance. How can such profound secrets be demonstrated in public? Even if you don’t mind, I certainly do.”

Jun Moxie, possessing keen insight, had naturally noticed the disdain in the young man’s eyes. He chuckled, winked, and with a casual laugh, directly slapped an undeserved label of shamelessness onto the challenger.

“I have always kept myself pure; I never frequent places like Lingwuhu Lake.” Han Zhidong’s voice turned cold, a wave of contempt rising within him: What a complete degenerate! I ask him for scholarly guidance, and he immediately steers the conversation toward a brothel! Does he have no sense of public decency? Truly a disgrace to refinement!

“You’ve never been to Lingwuhu Lake? Then where do you go?” Jun Moxie felt a surge of annoyance. Are these people never going to stop? He swung his legs casually and drawled on, “Oh, right, this young master was careless. Looking at Scholar Han’s threadbare attire, I presume you couldn’t afford such places anyway. It seems if the need ever arose, you’d be wielding a long spear, strategizing in your mind, dominating vast battlefields from a small study, projecting fierce might, and wiping out millions of enemy troops with a single thrust—only to be left gasping for breath afterward.”

What kind of talk was that! Han Zhidong’s pale, handsome face instantly flushed crimson, his neck thickening noticeably…

Young Master Jun’s phrasing was quite elegant, and the description carried a certain imposing air. Many in the crowd paused, pondering the meaning for a moment before bursting into stifled laughter. This brat truly knew how to be wickedly clever!

For a time, the entire hall was filled with that uniquely male, unspoken, suggestive laughter—the kind that is understood through shared experience, needing no explicit explanation…

Only Princess Lingmeng, Dugu Xiaoyi, Han Yanmeng, and the other famed talented women stared with wide, astonished eyes, looking from the speaker to the others in confusion. They vaguely sensed that this was probably not a good thing, yet they couldn't grasp exactly what was wrong. Listening to Jun Moxie’s words, it sounded like the description of a magnificent, awe-inspiring general, but why did it feel so strange?

The elderly masters exchanged knowing glances. They were the only ones laughing openly without restraint, slapping tables and thighs, laughing until their eyes nearly disappeared. Dugu Zongheng slapped the trembling Tang Wanli on the shoulder and chuckled quietly, “Old Tang, I’m suddenly reminded of when you and I first joined the army, the night before the decisive battle at Heavenly Wolf Mountain. Old Jun was the squad leader that night, and you, Old Tang, were truly magnificent—we all saw you sneak out early the next morning to wash your undergarments…”

Tang Wanli immediately jumped up, face red and neck thick, abandoning all previous caution regarding Dugu Zongheng. He viciously clamped his large hands around the old man’s thick neck and roared in a low voice, “You old bastard! You dare say another word…”

Dugu Zongheng coughed repeatedly but continued to laugh and beg for mercy as the other old men thrust their thumbs under Tang Wanli’s nose. It turned out everyone had overheard.

Old Master Tang, utterly crimson, stood up angrily, ready to storm out, but he was pinned down by the other elders, who placated him with forced smiles and apologies.

Dugu Xiaoyi saw her seven brothers tightly pursing their lips in amusement, their dark faces seemingly unable to contain their delight, their shoulders trembling rhythmically. She couldn’t help but ask, “What did he say? Is it really that funny?”

Uh-oh. The seven brothers exchanged embarrassed glances, momentarily stunned, before uniformly shaking their heads, “Not funny at all. Not even a little bit funny!”

Dugu Xiaoyi huffed and turned away, suddenly finding all these men—including her own brothers and Jun Moxie—intolerably annoying! Today, she couldn't get a single straight answer to any question, which infuriated her!

She secretly replayed Jun Moxie’s words in her mind, memorizing them firmly. She thought, If you won’t tell me, I’ll just ask Mother when I get home. I don’t believe she won’t know!

Han Zhidong took a deep breath, realizing that arguing further with such a pampered dandy would only put him at a disadvantage. “Today, by the Emperor’s grace, we are honored at this Golden Autumn Scholars’ Banquet. I am ashamed to be here, following my master merely to fill a spot. Earlier, when I arrived, I saw the golden chrysanthemums and cinnamon blooms in the Imperial Garden blooming defiantly against the cold. I happened upon an upper couplet and request Young Master Jun’s guidance!”

Having spoken, without waiting for Jun Moxie to accept or refuse, he recited directly: “In the Imperial Garden, ** fragrance, orchid fragrance, osmanthus fragrance, flower fragrance, flower fragrance, flower flower fragrance; heavenly fragrance drifts, drifting for a thousand miles, the foremost fragrance of a thousand miles.”

When this couplet was uttered, everyone fell into contemplation.

The couplet seemed simple, but it was not. Especially the final line, which embedded the words ‘Heavenly Fragrance’ (Tian Xiang), subtly implying a blessing upon the Tianxiang Empire. Yet, the praise was delivered with flawless technique; this man was truly a master. At once, everyone racked their brains, hoping to formulate a corresponding lower couplet before anyone else, so they could display their talent before His Majesty.

As for Jun Moxie, no one held out any hope. Asking him to match such a profound and difficult couplet was tantamount to a joke! They figured he wouldn't be able to answer it even in his next lifetime!

“Young Master Jun, I am shallow in talent, and can only offer such a crude upper couplet. I wonder if it might catch Young Master Jun’s discerning eye?” Han Zhidong smiled faintly, looking at Jun Moxie with extreme humility and sincerity. “Please, Young Master Jun, do not hesitate to enlighten me with one or two suggestions!”

If he had stopped there, and waited until Jun Moxie failed to respond and made a fool of himself without saying anything, everyone would surely have simultaneously scorned Jun Moxie while looking at Han Zhidong with a bit more respect. After all, producing such a difficult, context-specific upper couplet on the spot demonstrated no small measure of talent. But the moment he spoke those final words, every elder present sighed inwardly.

This ‘scholar’s’ greedy nature, refusing to yield even when he had the upper hand and becoming insolent upon a small victory, was already a mark against him. Furthermore, you, someone nurtured for years at Wenxing Academy, why take such pride in cornering a mere rake in the art of couplets?

This so-called scholar’s ultimate achievement would never be high!

Even if he had the opportunity to rise, the influential elders would never permit someone with such a disposition to ascend! Who could guarantee this fellow wouldn't turn against them once he gained power? Thus, Han Zhidong was utterly unaware that by uttering those extra few words, he had completely sealed the doom of his political future, yet he stood there, smugly pleased.

Jun Moxie frowned. If it were an impromptu poem, he might have managed to plagiarize something, but for an impromptu couplet, there was no place to steal from! Why did the first round have to be about some damn couplet? Couldn’t they compete on anything else? Damn his ancestors!

Old Master Kong Lingyang narrowed his eyes, looking quite pleased. “If Young Master Jun cannot answer, you might as well say so plainly, hehe. For Young Master, this is nothing shameful.”

A ripple of light laughter went through the crowd. This old man truly wouldn't let up, and he was sticking to his usual habit of insulting people without using foul language. It seemed he planned to keep at it.

Anger rushed up Jun Moxie’s throat. Suddenly hardening his resolve, he shouted, “What difficulty is there in this? Isn’t it just a damn upper couplet? Watch your brother answer it for you, and I’ll single-handedly crush Wenxing Academy!”

A wave of derision swept through the hall. Did this brat actually dare speak so boldly? With his meager abilities, how could he utter such madness without fearing his tongue would snap from the wind?

It seemed this boy was about to be severely thrashed by Wenxing Academy.

Only Li Youran and the aged Jun Zhantian narrowed their eyes. Li Youran believed he possessed the ability, and he had already tried to solve the couplet mentally, feeling it was structurally unsound. Seeing Jun Moxie utter such arrogant words, he couldn't help but think: Is he truly better than…

Old Master Jun, however, grew anxious. Didn’t we agree for you to hide your sharpness? Why are you exposing your edge now?

Kong Lingyang sneered, “Young Master Jun certainly has confidence. How about this: if Young Master Jun genuinely answers within the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, our Wenxing Academy willingly concedes defeat here and now. But if you fail to answer, then please intercede on behalf of Young Master Tang and return my poor disciple to me, how about that?”

The disciple he referred to was naturally Zhao Chengsong, the ‘underwear-washing scholar’ being abused by Tang Yuan. But that scholar, fearing future trouble, had already been beaten to death with clubs when Tang Yuan was expelled from his family. Where could he be found? Even if they summoned his soul back from the underworld, his bones would have long since decayed.

“No problem!” Jun Moxie puffed out his chest and readily agreed. If I can’t answer it, he thought, I’ll just return the bones of your disciple and leave. You only asked for the disciple, you never specified if he should be alive or dead. I won't mind that.

“But if I succeed in answering this, you must give me something in return! If you cannot answer, then henceforth, Wenxing Academy is forbidden from even mentioning the word ‘couplet’ in front of this young master. How about that?” Jun Moxie let out a strange laugh.