The girl, excitedly describing the snow scene, tentatively asked:
"Third Elder, this should be considered beautiful, right?"
The Third Elder took a small sip of her drink, conjuring up an image in her mind — amidst the vast world of falling snow, a white-robed fairy, standing alone on the mountain peak, delicately catching each ’swirling’ snowflake with her fingertips...
"This is definitely beautiful."
The Third Elder affird the poetic scene imagined by Wangshu without hesitation, though she found the solitary and naive fairy in the snow even more endearing than the vast snowfall.
"With such a visual in mind, savoring these two lines of your poetry reveals a unique vitality from what seems mundane at first glance. It’s just a pity that it’s still missing two lines. Once little Wangshu cos up with the next two lines, perhaps the poem’s essence will reach new heights."
The Third Elder’s evaluation was quite fair, but the so-called implied aning was entirely her own bias after knowing the poetic context. If the two lines were evaluated by an outsider, they would certainly be underestimated.
Wangshu, sincerely encouraged, felt her confidence rise, as if she had truly composed the first half of a quatrain in the early stages of learning. Just as she filled with ambition and tried to recite the next couplet in one breath, she found her mind completely blank.
Disheartened montarily, she quickly thought of a way to ensure her ticulously crafted first couplet would not go to waste and said:
"Third Elder, Wangshu’s mind is dull and can’t co up with anything. You were so formidable in your youth, renowned far and wide. Why not help co up with this couplet? I’m very looking forward to it!"
The Third Elder was montarily taken aback but imdiately opened her delicate lips under Wangshu’s expectant gaze.
Her words were no exaggeration. In her youthful years, she had gained great fa with a series of poems that used taphors to criticize n subtly. It wasn’t until the influence grew too negative that she restrained herself. Now, occupying a high position, her ntality had matured, and she no longer actively engaged in gender opposition.
Yet, just as she was ready to showcase her talent, making little Wangshu completely admire her, she fell silent.
Little did she know, her love back then wasn’t truly in composing poetry but in inventively rebuking n. Her poetic skills weren’t necessarily vast, and having not written poetry for years, it was challenging for her to suddenly speak up. Adding on the difficulty of turning the tide on Wangshu’s two lines made it even harder.
Seeing her hesitation, Wangshu thought the Third Elder was pondering, and encouraged her with clenched fists:
"Third Elder, go for it!"
The Third Elder’s image had been set, and she didn’t dare think of how disappointed little Wangshu would be if she failed. Stuck in a tricky situation, she could only take swigs of grief-laden fine wine, pacing back and forth to potentially spark so inspiration.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have the talent to compose a poem in seven steps. After quite so ti, she still hadn’t co up with a single word. If it were an impromptu creation, it might be feasible, but the brick Wangshu threw was simply too hard, shattering the jade that should have followed.
"Ahem, Wangshu." The Third Elder coughed awkwardly twice.
"What is it, Third Elder? Have you thought of sothing?" Wangshu eagerly asked.
"Did I say I would think for you?" The Third Elder raised her beautiful face, feigning seriousness, "You’re just starting out in this field, and you’re already thinking about..."
"The junior brother is out!"
Wangshu’s blue eyes suddenly lit up as she excitedly looked towards the handso youth walking out of the fairy forest.
The Third Elder secretly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for You Su’s tily appearance, sparing her from having to refuse little Wangshu with a crude excuse like ’you have to compose your own poem.’
You Su also noticed the two won; the Third Elder waited in place, while the senior sister eagerly approached him. He quickened his pace to join the enthusiastic senior sister.
"Is everything alright with you, junior brother?" Wangshu asked with concern.
The Third Elder rolled her pretty eyes, inwardly thinking shouldn’t you first inquire about your Master? Also, look at that happy expression on his face, does he look like soone in trouble? He might be secretly delighted to have bathed with his Master.
"You Su."
The Third Elder softly called out to You Su, not allowing the two to engage in any more warm exchanges.
You Su shook his head to his senior sister, then walked together with her to the Third Elder’s side.
As You Su intended to salute, the Third Elder used Qi to support his upper body, frowning as she asked:
"Your Master, she..."
You Su responded with a reassuring and warm smile, cupping his hands:
"Luckily, I didn’t fail the mission."
The Third Elder heard this and finally felt a stone in her heart settle down, unable to resist a hint of joy even in her century-old state of mind:
"Very good! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!"
"Junior brother, you’re amazing!" Wangshu also cheered.
"This is You Su’s duty."
You Su responded with a laugh, filled with a sense of accomplishnt; protecting those he cherishes is his main purpose in cultivation.
"However, although the handover of the Lotus Heart succeeded, refining the life-bound artifact isn’t a one-day task. It’s uncertain when the Master will erge."
The Third Elder saw the young man was still concerned for the Master, which made her think even more highly of him, and lant why You Su wasn’t a girl.
"The hardest step is complete, leaving the rest to the Thirteen Elder. It’s rely retracing the road once traveled. Just wait calmly for her return. During this period, nobody should disturb her."
The Third Elder had full confidence in this astonishingly talented Female Sword Immortal.
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