I am a winner with Chinese poetry

Chapter 228 A friend from Xie Jinglun

This inkstone is famous for its unique texture. The ink ground from it is not only delicate and smooth like jade, but also exudes a natural and elegant fragrance, like a fragrant orchid in a deep valley, which is refreshing and pleasant.

Because of this, it is highly favored and sought after by numerous Confucian scholars. However, such a treasure naturally comes at a high price. According to Gu Yunzhou's understanding of the market, this small and exquisite inkstone alone would cost at least a thousand taels of silver, making it a standard accessory for the children of top aristocratic families to demonstrate their status.

At this time, Xie Jinglun smiled and said to the two of them, "Disciple Yunzhou, please come in with me. Geyang, please greet the guests for me. I have something to discuss with you, my junior brother, in private."

After saying this, he turned and walked towards the study. Gu Yunzhou and Li Geyang nodded slightly, then followed their new master and left together.

The three of them first walked through a spacious and bright hall, its carved beams and painted buildings, its splendor and brilliance amplifying an air of opulence. They then skirted a delightful garden, adorned with vibrant flowers and shady trees. The fragrance of the flowers filled the air, and as they walked further and further away, the clamor of voices behind them gradually faded. Soon, they finally arrived at Xie Jinglun's study.

To Gu Yunzhou's surprise, there were two old men sitting in the study, concentrating on playing chess. One was thin but had bright eyes, and the other had white hair and beard and looked unusually kind.

"Xie Lao Er, is this your new disciple? He looks very energetic!" Seeing the two of them walk in, the old man with white hair and beard stroked his beard and spoke first.

"What do you think, Brother Song? My little disciple looks good, but he is a little too young. He just turned 17 and cannot compare with your disciples who have all graduated. It will take a few more years of training before he can stand on his own. At the very least, we need to let him improve his cultivation from the 6th level to the 4th level before we can let him go out and explore the world!" Xie Jinglun responded with a smile, especially emphasizing the 17 years old and the 6th level.

"Tsk tsk, look at you with such a smug look on your face! If those students outside saw you, they'd probably all drop their teeth in shock. They'd never imagine that the headmaster, who always has a stern face and is so intimidating without even getting angry, could be so relaxed in private!"

After hearing this, the thin old man slowly put down the chess piece in his hand, shook his head and marveled at it.

"Go away, Hu Laowu, ah, Hu Laowu, you are everywhere! Can you please speak some human language? This is what we call an open-minded and free-spirited person. I am happy and sad according to my heart. Unlike some people, who are obviously envious in their hearts, but dare only hide and envy in secret!"

Xie Jinglun deliberately put on an extremely proud look, even holding his chin high. Then, he sat down beside the two of them without any hesitation. He reached out and grabbed a cup of freshly brewed fragrant tea, tilted his head back and gulped it down into his mouth. What a generous and refreshing feeling!

"Oh my, you are so good, Second Brother Xie! This is the best tea that I have brewed with great effort. How come you are so dexterous?" Seeing this, the old man with a long white beard stretched out his hand hurriedly to snatch it, but he was still a step too late. The cup of tea had already been drunk by Xie Jinglun.

Gu Yunzhou's eyes widened, his face filled with amazement as he watched the interaction between the people before him. He thought to himself, "How unexpected! I thought those awe-inspiring Semi-Saints were usually so serious and solemn, but I didn't expect them to be so easygoing and friendly in private." This contrast left Gu Yunzhou feeling both curious and bewildered.

However, it was precisely this easygoing nature that imbued these semi-saints with a touch of the everyday air only found in ordinary people, as if they had suddenly become closer to the crowd. Even the slight sense of restraint that Gu Yunzhou had felt had vanished unconsciously amidst the laughter and relaxed atmosphere.

At this moment, Xie Jinglun, having finished joking, suddenly dropped his smile and returned to his serious demeanor. He raised his hand, pointed at the white-haired old man, and said to Gu Yunzhou, "Alright, Yunzhou, come over here. Let me introduce you. These two are my close friends. This old man's surname is Song Wen, and you can respectfully address him as 'Master Song.' You should know that this old man has extraordinary attainments in chess, having reached a state of natural perfection. He is truly a leading figure among the human race today!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yunzhou couldn't help but gasp, completely stunned. He stared at Song Wen with an expression of disbelief on his face. At this moment, Gu Yunzhou's heart was like a raging storm: "How could someone cultivate chess to such a pinnacle? And it's a natural state... This is simply incredible! This person is definitely a superpower, no less powerful than my own master!"

Thinking of this, Gu Yunzhou did not dare to be negligent at all, and hurriedly bowed respectfully to Song Wenshen with a sincere and humble attitude.

"Junior Gu Yunzhou greets Master Song!" As far as he knew, it was already difficult to be able to do things as if they were one's own arm. To reach the highest level of perfection, one needs not only hard work, but also talent.

"Yunzhou, right? I'll call you Master as well, haha. I've heard of your reputation a long time ago! It's rare to find such a resolute mind at such a young age. Especially in poetry, you've shown amazing talent. You're truly a young talent to be feared! It's a pity that none of us old guys have studied this art specifically, so we can't offer you much useful guidance. But..."

Song Wen smiled as he spoke and pulled something out of his pocket. He was holding a brown chessboard with the delicate patterns and delicate aroma of wood.

The entire chessboard looks simple and elegant, and feels as soft and smooth as jade. When you touch it gently, you will feel as if you are touching soft and smooth jade.

Seeing this, Gu Yunzhou subconsciously turned his head to look at Xie Jinglun beside him. After seeing the other party nod slightly at him, he confidently stretched out his hands and carefully took the chessboard. He bowed to Song Wen again and expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Master Song, for your kindness. This is such a precious item. I will cherish it!"