The guesthouse bustled with lively chatter as Chen Xu tactfully accepted the tokens of gratitude from each family.

In the end, only the gift from Wang Xian was completely refused by him.

Under the watchful eyes of the public and the major aristocratic families, Wang Xian ultimately could not force the gift upon him.

Yet, his trip was not in vain, at least his attitude was made clear.

Wang Xian sighed deeply and personally bowed to the crowd, saying, "The wicked one has been unruly, now detained by Prefect Feng, which he deserves.

However, the matters of the Ghost Market surely have schemers behind the scenes; our Wang Family will thoroughly investigate this to provide an explanation to everyone!

I also hope everyone remains calm and doesn't fall into the schemers' traps."

Among the major families, some responded with a smiling bow, some remained silent, and others did not conceal their disdain with a cold snort.

Finally, all the glamour dispersed.

Before leaving, each family left notes for Chen Xu, inviting him to stay at their mansion or to attend further poetry gatherings and literary meetings.

Chen Xu declined them all, using the excuse of needing to focus on studying for the upcoming examinations.

Once everything calmed down, only Wu Zhengze and Chen Xu remained in the room.

Wu Zhengze praised Chen Xu, saying, "I'm relieved to know you can resist the temptations of such a glamorous scene today."

In one's youthful fervor, few could withstand the allure of admiration from the masses and remain unaffected.

But if one were to be truly swayed by such temptations, abandoning pre-exam study to attend this literary meeting today and that poetry gathering tomorrow, the exam results would be questionable.

Chen Xu's mind is clear now; he certainly won't allow himself to make such a mistake.

In this world, all superficial excitement is illusory; only true strength is the foundation of everything.

After Wu Zhengze left, Chen Xu swept all the gifts from the aristocratic families into his Nine Nether Void's Divine Power space with a wave of his sleeve.

At this moment, the celestial light was perfect, the streets were crowded with pedestrians, and the noise was still loud.

Yet Chen Xu's mind was quite calm.

He gently caressed the desk's original manuscript of "Knight's Journey" for a moment before placing it into the Nine Nether Void space.

The manuscript of "Two Tales of Beast Creation" was taken away by Cui Yunqi, but he didn't directly take this original manuscript of "Knight's Journey" that seemed to create heavens of smoke on paper.

He copied a version himself, reluctantly returning the original to Chen Xu, saying, "This item is extremely valuable; if you, Brother Chen, become a Great Scholar in the future, this manuscript might generate a Poetry Spirit phenomenon.

I won't borrow it from you; I'm afraid I won't want to return it."

He said he was reluctant, but his expression seemed more like he was being forced to part with something precious, nearly breaking into tears on the spot.

Chen Xu also just realized Cui Yunqi could be amusing and witty.

Later, Chen Xu asked Wu Zhengze, "Master, what is a Poetry Spirit phenomenon?"

Wu Zhengze told him, "If a poem is widely sung and you have enough Literary Qi, it's possible to cultivate a Poetry Spirit.

It doesn't necessarily require a Great Scholar's level; as long as the Literary Qi is sufficient, even an Advanced Scholar could possibly achieve it.

And if you have the original manuscript, frequently reading and viewing it, the cultivation of a Poetry Spirit becomes much simpler and more direct.

If you can generate a Poetry Spirit from your piece, it would be as if a knight accompanies you.

'Ten steps kill one, travel a thousand miles without rest.'

Wu Zhengze sighed longingly, already mesmerized.

What a line, 'Ten steps kill one, travel a thousand miles without rest'!

As Chen Xu pondered in the guesthouse, Prefect Ding Qian at the Yunjiang Prefecture Government snapped shut the letter he was reading, somewhat disappointed.

That morning, as he feigned illness, it happened to be when a wisp of Cyan Smoke rose from the eastern direction of the city.

Had he not pretended to be ill, Prefect Ding might have enjoyed as well joining the excitement of this Cyan Smoke Poem.

"What a pity... no, forget it!" Ding Qian shook his head and tossed the letter onto a nearby table.

With the Prefecture Examination nearing, especially with him as the Prefect being the chief examiner for the exam.

How could he not avoid suspicion at this time?

Annoying, truly annoying!

Vexed for a moment, Ding Qian couldn't resist calling his attendant over, "Go, quietly have the kitchen prepare a serving of Crispy Hill for your master, make sure it's sweet, understand?"

The attendant was nervous: "But didn't you just claim to be sick? Madam also said you're not allowed to eat such sweet and chilled items these days..."

Ding Qian's face hardened immediately: "Are you my personal attendant or the madam's? Go, go, go!"

The attendant was ultimately hurried off.

Chen Xu, after finishing a light meal, returned to his room in the guesthouse to practice calligraphy, read, and continued waiting for the appearance of the Feng County Magistrate and his son.

He calculated that a half-day in the Mortal World seemed to be three to five days in the Netherworld.

The time difference between the Netherworld and Mortal World seemed to be roughly ten to one.

Now, with another entire night and morning about to pass, the Feng County Magistrate and his son must have been plowing for seven or eight days in the Netherworld.

Who knows what results will come from their plowing in the end?

Nearing noon, Chen Xu heard a sound, and upon turning his head, he saw two men appearing out of thin air on the floor to one side of the room.

One staggered forward, stumbling and staggering.

Looking around, he saw the bright daylight, an upright Mortal World, and immediately burst into tears, "The Mortal World, it's truly the Mortal World! I, I've returned..."

He was sobbing loudly, looking frail and emaciated—who else could it be but the battered Feng Xi?

The person following behind him was naturally Feng Yuanbai.

This Advanced Scholar also looked somewhat haggard, but his eyes were bright, and overall, he appeared much better than when he came to Chen Xu the previous night seeking rescue for Feng Xi.

Seeing Chen Xu, Feng Yuanbai was immediately overjoyed.

He hurriedly grabbed the sobbing Feng Xi, bringing him over to express their gratitude to Chen Xu.

Feng Xi quickly wiped away his tears, becoming exceedingly well-behaved.

He raised his clasped hands to his forehead, bowing deeply to Chen Xu in a grand salute.

"Thank you, Brother Chen…"

Feng Yuanbai knocked him: "Call him uncle!"

Feng Xi felt wronged but complied obediently, "Thank you, Uncle Chen…"

Chen Xu: ...

It was truly laughable.

He hurriedly stepped aside to avoid the grand bow; he dared not accept the title of uncle.

Feng Yuanbai, however, said, "Master Chen, letting him call you uncle is actually benefiting him."

This referred to the relationship between Chen Xu and Ji Weizi as sworn brothers.

What else could Chen Xu do? He could only say, "My lord, let's each address the other as we see fit."

Feng Yuanbai's eyes lit up: "Otherwise, may I be so bold as to call you Brother Chen? Or perhaps address you as Xu Zhi?"

Ultimately, Chen Xu was metaphorically stuck with having the big nephew Feng Xi.

After all, wasn't it because he and Feng Yuanbai also considered each other as brothers?

He suddenly found himself gaining a senior generation.

Feng Yuanbai took away the extinguished last wisp of oil from eight Bronze Lamps and told Chen Xu, "The Nine Generations of Inheritance Lamp has thus extinguished; should this nephew of yours cause more trouble in the Netherworld, I won't be able to save him again.

With these nine lamps extinguished, for the Feng Family to continue the inheritance of Literary Fortune, we must start anew to accumulate.

Whether this lad can establish himself is uncertain, but I've given my all, so this is all I can do.

His future, whether prosperous or not, depends on his own fate."

Such heartfelt words were hardly directed at Chen Xu.

They were evidently aimed at admonishing Feng Xi.

Feng Xi wiped his tears away; though silent, his expression gradually resolved.

After some idle chatter, the Feng father and son quickly took their leave.

Before leaving, Feng Yuanbai said to Chen Xu, "Xu Zhi, although Feng Xi is saved, I won't easily let Wang Ji off.

How this matter concludes ultimately depends on the Wang Family's negotiation with other families and what price the Wang Family is willing to pay.

Don't involve yourself in these disputes; simply focus on your studies.

I'll come to discuss books with you when it's quiet at night.

In five days, the prefectural lord will close himself in the Imperial Examination Hall. The Vice Examiner from above is already in place, and the Education Commissioner will soon arrive.

When I come to see you, I need to avoid some people."

This last statement was quite interesting.

If written in a collection of stories, it would be: Trials imminent, My lord teaches by night.

Indeed, some discretion is required.

Chen Xu smiled, and Feng Yuanbai also smiled.

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