Chapter 924: Battle Song and Killing Intent

Once these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in an uproar. Before, only a few people considered him arrogant, but after hearing that remark, everyone thought he had gone mad.

"Of all the talent in the world, you alone claim eighty percent? And everyone else, throughout history, shares the remaining twenty percent?"

"Who the hell are you? Not even an emperor would dare to be so arrogant!"

Even Gao Ying and Pei You glanced sideways, thinking this fellow was truly asking for a beating. They felt like hitting him themselves.

On the second floor, Bi Zi'ang narrowed his eyes. His years of showing off paled in comparison to this one instance. He wondered when Beijing had started allowing such an outrageous person to exist. He had to admit, that line was quite impactful. If he had said it, he was sure the effect would have been even better. He mused, "Hmph, I'll find a time to get him from my sister. He can just be responsible for writing all my show-off lines every day."

The Qin brothers exchanged glances. After a long moment, Qin Guangyuan exhaled, "Chu Yan is quite clever; how could she fall for a guy like this?"

Qin Yongde chuckled, "Chu Yan should really come here and see the kind of man she chose. She'd probably be so embarrassed she'd want to crawl into a hole."

On the other side, Yu Nan was not surprised but rather pleased. He knew that the previous series of events had utterly disgraced him, while ironically enhancing Zu An's reputation. But then this fellow, as if inviting misfortune, blurted out such arrogant words, instantly ruining his popularity. It just goes to show, a poor man suddenly gaining wealth or a petty person finding success will inevitably become arrogant. However, this turn of events gave him an opportunity to save face.

"What big talk!" Yu Nan sneered. "I'd like to see what earth-shattering poem you can produce..."

He was about to announce the topic when Zu An interrupted him: "Since today's banquet is hosted by Miss Nanxun, let her choose the topic."

"Oh, me?" Nanxun was both surprised and delighted. She hadn't expected him to entrust such a task to her. Regardless of the outcome, this event would greatly boost her reputation if word got out.

Zu An smiled as he looked around the room. "Does anyone object?"

"Of course not."

"Miss Nanxun is talented and beautiful; she'll surely come up with a good topic."

"It's most fitting for Miss Nanxun to choose the topic."

The others forced smiles. They had come today for Miss Nanxun, so how could they refuse to give her face at such a moment? At the same time, they inwardly cursed Zu An, finding his methods of charming women incredibly hard to guard against.

Zu An then deliberately looked at Yu Nan. "What's wrong, Young Master Yu? Are you silent because you're worried Miss Nanxun might help me cheat?"

Yu Nan's face twitched. This rascal even took the opportunity to provoke him now. He said, "You jest. Miss Nanxun is pure and honorable; how could she possibly help you cheat? Please, Miss Nanxun, give us the topic." He had investigated earlier: this courtesan had only become popular during Zu An's time in the secret realm, so it was unlikely they had any prior connection. Naturally, he wasn't concerned about them colluding.

"Then I shall humbly obey," Nanxun curtsied, a thoughtful expression on her face. She was clearly considering what topic would fit the current situation, one that wouldn't be too difficult for Zu An, yet still uphold her reputation as a talented woman.

Just then, the mysterious woman in the room above moved her lips slightly. Nanxun understood, and announced, "Recently, Duke Cheng led a large army to campaign against the northern demon race. So, let's make this campaign the theme."

Qin Guangyuan looked surprised and nodded secretly, "Indeed, I didn't expect a courtesan to possess such patriotic sentiment." The others lauded her choice, believing it was an excellent and timely topic that would make for a good story if it spread. Yu Nan also nodded inwardly. This topic wasn't too difficult, but to truly excel at it would be incredibly challenging. Throughout history, there had been similar poems and verses, but none had become timeless classics. He didn't believe Zu An could surpass the literary giants of previous dynasties. Anyway, no matter what poem the other party produced later, he would just belittle it completely.

"This kind of theme..." Zu An fell into contemplation.

"Is it a bit difficult?" Nanxun asked, seeing his expression and feeling somewhat concerned.

"Difficult? Not at all, it's actually too easy," Zu An smiled. In truth, he had been pondering which poem would be best to choose. Originally, after so many years, he might not have remembered many poems and verses from his previous life. However, having cultivated to the ninth-grade peak, even without fully condensing his spirit, his mental strength was far greater than before, allowing him to recall many almost forgotten things with clarity.

"Boastful!" Yu Nan sneered, saying nothing more, simply waiting to see him fail and make a fool of himself.

Zu An looked at Gao Ying and Pei You. "Which of you two has better handwriting?" Of course, if he could write it himself, sprawling the characters freely, the effect would be best. However, he was quite aware of the quality of his own calligraphy.

The two exchanged glances, and Gao Ying said, "I'll do it." Clearly, he had guessed Zu An's intention. Although he felt that stepping forward now might lead to public humiliation alongside Zu An, compared to the debt of saving his life, what did that matter?

Nanxun gave a signal, and a maid quickly brought brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. The entire hall fell silent, everyone looking at Zu An. Some were expectant, others waited to see him make a fool of himself.

"First, write the title," Zu An mused for a moment, "It's called 'Po Zhen Zi: A Valiant Ode to Duke Cheng.'"

Upstairs, the Qin brothers were stunned, subconsciously standing up. It was actually dedicated to their grandfather! Originally, they had intended to watch a spectacle, but upon hearing the title, their mood abruptly shifted. Their expressions became solemn and dignified, and they actually began to hope that Zu An would produce a world-shaking masterpiece.

Gao Ying had been prepared for public humiliation, but hearing the title, he was invigorated. The title itself sounded extraordinary, suggesting the work wouldn't be poor. Similar thoughts arose in the minds of others present. Bi Zi'ang, who had been leaning casually in his chair, unconsciously straightened his posture and even leaned slightly forward, eager to hear the upcoming work immediately. Yu Nan also swallowed with difficulty, as he suddenly realized he might once again suffer a humiliating defeat.

At this moment, Zu An's melodious and rhythmic voice resonated throughout the hall:

"Drunk, I trim the lamp to examine my sword;In dreams, I return to bugle calls from camp to camp.Eight hundred *li*, we share roasted meat beneath our banners,Fifty strings play tunes from beyond the frontier.On the battlefield, in autumn, the troops are reviewed!

My steed, a Dilu, flies swift as lightning,My bow, like thunder, the string vibrates with a start.To accomplish the Emperor's grand affairs,And win fame both in life and after death!Alas, my hair has turned white."

At first, there was still some quiet chatter and interaction in the hall, but soon it became utterly silent. Everyone turned their heads to stare at the person in the center. Unconsciously, a chilling aura permeated the venue. One by one, people's mouths hung open, as if they had a thousand words to say, yet their throats seemed to be clutched by a large hand, rendering them speechless for a time. Those who practiced cultivation felt their *qi* surge throughout their bodies, while those who did not also felt their blood boil. Each person thought, "No one stop me, I want to go to battle and slay the enemy!"

Zu An was not surprised by their reactions. Xin Qiji was one of the greatest *ci* poets in Chinese history, and this particular 'Po Zhen Zi' was known as one of the most powerful and 'killing-intent-filled' *ci* in history, even earning the reputation of being a 'single piece that overshadowed the Southern Song Dynasty.' In this current world, martial arts flourished, but the literary arts were lamentable; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a cultural desert. Xin Qiji's piece was nothing short of a 'dimensionality reduction strike.'

"Ah Zu, have you been to battle?" Qin Guangyuan asked excitedly, gripping the railing tightly. After hearing the *ci*, his way of addressing Zu An had become much more cordial.

Zu An shook his head. "No."

"No?" Qin Guangyuan exclaimed, his expression still agitated. "Then how could you describe military life so vividly, as if transporting me back to the days when I fought alongside my grandfather and father on the battlefield!"

Zu An thought to himself: The original author, Xin Qiji, had indeed been to war, but unfortunately, he couldn't pretend to have that experience, as others could easily verify his background.

Qin Yongde said in astonishment, "That's pure natural talent! Ah Zu, you are a genius bestowed by heaven!" It was no wonder the two were so agitated. Upon hearing the *ci*, the sound of bugles seemed to echo in their ears, recalling scenes of drawing swords and rushing out of camp to slay enemies in their youth. It was as if they were standing on a parade ground, accompanying their grandfather and father in reviewing the majestic army, a truly magnificent sight. Or as if they were back on the fierce and tense battlefield, with the sounds of arrows whistling past and the brutal clang of swords striking flesh filling their ears.

"'To accomplish the Emperor's grand affairs, and win fame both in life and after death' was every soldier's dream. Yet, throughout history, how many have truly achieved this?" What moved them even more was the last line, "Alas, my hair has turned white." They thought of their grandfather, a renowned general, who for so many years had been confined to the capital, feared by the emperor due to the struggle for the crown prince position. One must understand that their grandfather's dream had always been to fight on the battlefield. Yet, he had unfortunately wasted most of his life in the capital. He could finally embark on a campaign recently, but his hair had long since turned white.

Even Miss Nanxun's normally indifferent eyes held a hint of inexplicable emotion. She gazed at Zu An in a daze, her chest rising and falling, causing a gentle tremor.

Yu Nan's mouth hung open. He had originally decided to casually pick flaws after hearing Zu An's work. Literary works, unlike other things, don't have standard answers, so as long as he sounded reasonable, he could completely trample a decent work into worthlessness. But this didn't apply to a world-shattering masterpiece! Anyone who wasn't illiterate would understand the value of the piece Zu An had just recited. Let alone contemporary scholars, even all the famous literati throughout history combined wouldn't be able to match it. If he were to force himself to criticize it now, everyone would simply see him as an idiot. Proud and arrogant as he was, he could not bring himself to do such a thing.

On the other side, Bi Zi'ang's face was ashen. Hearing the grand spirit displayed in Zu An's work, he knew Zu An was not someone content to be subservient. He might not be able to subdue this tiger. He would have to remind his sister not to 'raise a tiger to be a future menace.'

At this moment, Gao Ying was trembling with excitement. He had been prepared for public humiliation, but he never expected to personally participate in creating such a timeless masterpiece. Hundreds, even thousands of years from now, as long as this *ci* circulated, his name would be mentioned...

"Wait, it might mention that someone wrote it on his behalf, but his name might not be known!" Realizing this, he quickly lowered his head and began writing furiously.

Pei You, standing nearby, also felt a sense of shared glory. Seeing everyone's gaze, he instinctively puffed out his chest, wanting to exclaim, "Zu An is my elder brother!" But he couldn't find a suitable opportunity. As he fretted, he suddenly noticed Gao Ying's actions and felt puzzled. The *ci* had just been recited; why was Gao Ying writing again? He quietly leaned over to look and saw that Gao Ying was writing: "Written by proxy for Zu An by his friend Gao Ying, on [date] at the Red Sleeves Pavilion."

"Holy crap!" Pei You's mind exploded on the spot. "He can even leech onto this?" His intestines nearly turned green with regret. If he had known this, he should have volunteered to write when Zu An asked earlier. Even if his handwriting wasn't great, what did that matter for the sake of leaving his name in history? He never expected Gao Ying, who usually appeared honest with his thick eyebrows and large eyes, to be so cunning!

In the mysterious room upstairs, the maid was still somewhat unconvinced, muttering, "Miss, although this *ci* sounds rather good, it's not as exaggerated as they're making it out to be, is it?"

The mysterious woman shook her head. "You don't understand. The significance of this *ci* goes far beyond that... Alas, the human race produces so many talents. When will our race's revival end?"

The maid wanted to ask more, but soon someone answered her confusion. She heard Qin Guangyuan's gaze sweep across the hall: "Although I, Qin, do not understand poetry and *ci*, I believe I understand military life. Ah Zu's few lines made me feel as if I was there, my blood boiling. For that reason alone, this is an unrivaled masterpiece. Anyone who has an objection may speak up."

Seeing him speak like this, who in the hall would be so foolish as to disrespect the Qin family? They all began to compliment the *ci* in various ways, almost to the point of extolling Zu An as the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Zu An glanced at Qin Guangyuan with some surprise. This brother-in-law's attitude towards him had changed quite dramatically; it was almost unsettling.

At this point, Qin Guangyuan added, "Not only that, but if this impassioned *ci* is given to military professionals to be adapted into a battle song, it could maximize our soldiers' combat effectiveness. In earlier years, when we fought against the demon race, our biggest headache was their beastmen's battle songs, which could send demon warriors into a berserk state, greatly enhancing their cultivation, combat power, and recovery ability, causing us immense casualties. Later, the imperial court continuously researched the principles of battle songs. Although the National Academy had largely figured them out, they suffered from a lack of suitable poetic content. The battle songs they produced were far less effective than those of the demon race. But now, with Ah Zu's piece, our soldiers' battle songs will rival, or even surpass, those of the demon race. Think of how many fewer soldiers our army will sacrifice then!" By the end, he was teary-eyed. Coming from a military family, he had a natural sense of empathy for these matters.

Only then did the others in the hall realize the full implications. Originally, Zu An had merely written a timeless masterpiece, but in this world where the literary arts were not thriving and cultivation remained the mainstream, any fame would be superficial. However, if his *ci* could be transformed into a battle song, it would be entirely different. His importance to the imperial court would skyrocket, and he might even be designated as a strategic talent and protected accordingly.

Upstairs, the maid gasped, "Oh dear, so this fellow is truly hateful! Why don't we find an opportunity to kill him? Otherwise, our people will be in trouble when war breaks out!"

"His *ci* has already been released. Unless you kill everyone present, its transformation into a battle song is a foregone conclusion. Let's observe the situation for now." The mysterious woman's eyes glittered. To be honest, she was also somewhat tempted, for who knew if this fellow would continuously produce battle songs of such caliber?

Zu An was also somewhat surprised. Although he had heard that battle songs existed in the military and could serve a similar function to magic arrays, he didn't know how they were specifically implemented. He hadn't expected it to be so simple? With Three Hundred Tang Poems and so many Song *ci*, would he truly become a man who arrived with his own background music?

"This *ci* was originally dedicated to Duke Cheng, and if it can contribute to the imperial soldiers, that would be even better," Zu An said, seizing the opportunity. It was a benefit not to be passed up. If his prestige and importance in the military continued to grow, then both the Emperor and Prince Qi would hesitate greatly before acting against him.

Qin Guangyuan laughed heartily. "Then on behalf of my grandfather and all the soldiers, I thank you."

Seeing this, Gao Ying handed him the written *ci*.

Zu An, however, noticed Miss Nanxun's somewhat unnatural expression and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Nanxun, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, perhaps Young Master's *ci* carries too much killing intent; we womenfolk are a little unaccustomed to it," Miss Nanxun forced a smile.

Just then, a harsh voice cut in: "You clearly said you'd compose a poem earlier. How did it turn into a *ci* now?"

Everyone looked up and saw that it was Yi Zhibing who had spoken. Everyone instinctively looked towards Yu Nan, assuming he had prompted Yi Zhibing. Yu Nan's face was ashen, but he said nothing. This fellow might be a bit foolish, but this time, he seemed to have provided a good idea.

Qin Guangyuan was furious. "You, Yi, who gave you the audacity to bully a member of our Qin family?"

A group of people in the hall secretly scoffed. This guy is truly shameless. Earlier, he looked completely disdainful of Zu An, but now that Zu An has given him a great *ci*, he's suddenly a member of the Qin family?

Seeing Qin Guangyuan's predatory expression, Yi Zhibing glanced at Yu Nan, feeling somewhat apprehensive. Yu Nan inwardly cursed him as an idiot, but at this point, he could only steel himself and intervene. "When did Zu An become a member of your Qin family?" he said. "As far as I know, Miss Chu has already divorced him. And even if they hadn't divorced, Lady Chu had her father-daughter relationship with Duke Cheng severed years ago. So, by no means can Zu An be considered one of your Qin family members, can he?"

Qin Guangyuan frowned. "Yu Nan, although you have some annoying habits, you are usually an honorable person. A loss is a loss; it's a bit unsightly to twist words like this."

Yu Nan smiled faintly. "Indeed, in terms of composing poetry, I, Yu, readily admit defeat. Young Master Zu is truly extraordinary." Hearing him say this, the people in the hall nodded secretly, acknowledging that Yu Nan still had some grace. However, he quickly changed his tone. "But he just boasted that he possessed eighty percent of the world's talent, so naturally, everyone's expectations for him are different. He promised to compose a poem, but it turned out to be a *ci*. I'm afraid that might not convince everyone, would it?"

Those who usually associated with Yu Nan quickly echoed his words. The others, who enjoyed watching drama, also joined in, not wanting Zu An to hog all the glory and win the beautiful woman.

Qin Guangyuan frowned. The main reason was that Zu An's boast earlier had been too outrageous, and even he found it hard to defend. He couldn't help but look at Zu An with a troubled expression.

Zu An laughed heartily. "You clearly said just now that if I composed one piece, you wouldn't bother me again. Now there are all sorts of new tricks. If I compose another, will you find more faults? When will this end?"

Yu Nan declared, "I swear on my family name: if you can compose another poem of similar caliber that convinces everyone, I will not say another word. Otherwise, I will write my surname 'Yu' upside down!" Hearing him make such a solemn vow, everyone's expressions turned serious. Swearing on a family name was no joke; if he didn't uphold his word later, he would truly be scorned by the entire world. Zu An was initially taken aback, but he quickly realized that the character 'Yu' in this world was special; it looked the same when written upside down!

At this moment, Bi Zi'ang's laughter rang out. "Brother Yu, you're making things too difficult. A scholar is fortunate to produce one *ci* of that caliber in a lifetime. To ask for another poem of similar quality—aren't you intentionally trying to trip him up?" On the surface, he was speaking up for Zu An, but in reality, he was secretly employing a cunning trick. If Zu An were to refuse at this point, his earlier boast about possessing eighty percent of the world's talent would be exposed as sheer arrogance.

Zu An inwardly sighed, realizing that none of these brothers-in-law were easy to deal with. He mused, "Hmm, come to think of it, why do I have brothers-in-law everywhere?"

He smiled and declared loudly, "Originally, I didn't want to bother with some people, but that *ci* just now had too much killing intent and seemed to have startled Miss Nanxun. So, for Miss Nanxun, I will compose another."

Hearing him say this, the mysterious woman upstairs couldn't help but look grim. She picked up an object in her hand, and murderous intent suddenly flared in her eyes. If he were to compose another piece of similar caliber, her people would suffer. Today, even at the risk of exposing her identity, she would eliminate this great threat for her clan in advance.