Chapter 13 Dongting Lake
Zhou Gutong and Wu Boying had never seen anyone better at waving the banner than them!
The more crucial point is that the two knew that Jie Yuan was very awesome, but they didn't know to what extent Jie Yuan could be.

If they can really represent Confucianism, then theism will not be a problem at all.

Instead, the old centenarian ate arsenic because he thought his life was too long!

"Calm down, Mr. Jie Yuan," Zhou Gutong cupped his hands, "We have absolutely no such intention!"

"How about this! I won't embarrass you, lest you go out and say that my Hengshan sect is too powerful."

As Ou Zanghua spoke, he suddenly pulled out Xiang Danian's sword.

A green light flashed, and the long sword swayed towards the table, making a few ding-ding sounds. Each of the four wine glasses on the table had a half-inch high circle cut off. The four porcelain rings fell beside the wine glasses, but none of the wine glasses fell over.

"Returning Wind and Falling Wild Goose Sword Technique?!"

Zhou Gutong’s eyes suddenly widened, and he almost subconsciously pulled Wu Baiying to retreat.

Fortunately, Wu Baiying reacted quickly and held him down.

Qu Yang also looked at Ou Zanghua in shock. He had heard Liu Zhengfeng mention before that this eldest disciple had turned to studying literature because he had no talent for martial arts.

Is this what Brother Liu meant by 'no talent for martial arts'? !

He can use the sword to kill nine geese while sitting. I'm afraid he has already practiced the Huifeng Luoyan sword technique to the level of being able to use it at will!

But think about it, people who study literature can pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar.

In comparison, his talent in martial arts seems to be average.

Sure enough, the gap between people is even greater than that between people and dogs.
Compared to Qu Feiyan's admiration, Xiang Danian was obviously much calmer.

His senior brother is the Star of Literature, isn't it normal for him to be good at martial arts?

Zhou Gutong calmed down and took a deep breath, then bowed deeply to Ou Zanghua: "Thank you, Mr. Jie Yuan for showing mercy. These five hundred taels of silver are our apology. Please forgive me, Mr. Jie Yuan."

"Let's go! Don't bother me anymore." Ou Zanghua turned his hand casually and put the sword back into the scabbard with a calm expression.

"Thank you!" Zhou Gutong and Wu Baiying bowed again, then quickly left the inn.

Ou Zanghua looked at Qu Feiyan and asked with a smile, "Are you full?"

"Yeah, I'm very full." Qu Feiyan nodded and answered cutely.

"Where's Qu Bo?"

"We're done eating. Do you want any more dishes, sir?" Qu Yang looked at Ou Zanghua with a bit more awe in his eyes, and his tone unconsciously became a bit humble.

"No need."

Ou Zanghua smiled, then looked at his junior brother: "Da Nian, Operation Clean Plate."

"okay!"

Xiang Danian's eyes lit up, he poured all the unfinished food on the table into his own bowl, and then drove away.

Qu Yang and Qu Feiyan were stunned. It turned out that this was the reason why the young master asked them if they were full!
Ou Zanghua looked at the expressions of the grandfather and grandson and explained, "Da Nian is still growing, and coupled with his daily martial arts training, his appetite is a little bit larger."

"Don't worry, sir. We understand."

Qu Yang looked at Xiang Danian who was eating with big mouthfuls of food and couldn't help but feel a little envious of this boy.

At such a young age, you have such a powerful senior brother protecting you, and your life will just be in simple mode from now on. What fun is there in such a life?

On the other side, Zhou Gutong and Wu Baiying ran away from the inn for a distance, and only felt relieved when they were sure that Qu Yang and Ou Zanghua had not caught up with them. The two looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

Laugh at your own misunderstanding of your own abilities, and also laugh at surviving a disaster.

At this moment, a playful voice came from the reeds nearby:

"It's fine that you two didn't complete the order given by the Eastern Patriarch, but you are still smiling so happily, isn't that bad?"

Zhou Gutong and Wu Baiying immediately clenched their weapons and turned to look, only to see Lan Fenghuang sitting on a black-covered boat, looking at them with a smile.

"Hmph, this is a matter between the two of us. It has nothing to do with Master Lan!" Wu Baiying snorted coldly and retorted bluntly.

"Good sister, don't be so angry!" Lan Fenghuang continued to smile and said, "I cooked fish on the boat. The crucian carp in the Xiangjiang River is a must-try!"

"We are not lucky enough to enjoy the fish cooked by Master Lan." Zhou Gutong raised his head and said directly: "Master Lan, just ask whatever you want to know. There is no need to use these tricks."

"Brother Zhou is still straightforward!"

Lan Fenghuang was a little angry at first, but after hearing Zhou Gutong's second half of the sentence, she started laughing again: "I just want to ask, is this Jie Yuanlang really that difficult to deal with?"

Zhou Gutong thought for a moment before saying, "Master Lan, you trust me, so just listen to my advice and don't provoke that Wenquxing."

"Wenquxing?"

Wu Baiying sighed, but said with admiration: "He is a scholar who can pass the imperial examination. If he were in our martial arts world, he would be the best of the younger generation. He is a martial artist who can master the Feng Luoyan sword technique of the Hengshan School to perfection, and can cut four wine glasses with one sword. If this kind of person is not the incarnation of Wenquxing, what else can he be?"

"Is he really that powerful?!" Lan Fenghuang was shocked. This time she understood that the other party was not only talented in literature, but also strong in martial arts.

"Why would we lie to you?" Zhou Gutong shook his head and said in a disappointed tone, "Now I just hope that the champion can enter the capital smoothly. If something unexpected happens on the way and the blame is placed on the Divine Religion, it will be a big trouble."

On the other side, Ou Zanghua and his four companions arrived in Tanzhou after leaving Zhuting Town. They then took a boat in Tanzhou and sailed along the river to Yueyang.

Everyone planned to rest in Yueyang for a day and then take a boat across Dongting Lake into the Yangtze River.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ou Zanghua went to see the famous Yueyang Tower.

The Yueyang Tower at this time was rebuilt in the seventh year of Chenghua by Wu Jie, the governor of Yuezhou. However, no one expected that the tower would be struck by lightning just after it was completed, leaving only two floors.

So in the eighth year of Chenghua, Wu Jie made another minor repair.

Afterwards, Ou Zanghua spent a large sum of money to buy a sand ship and hired several veteran sailors and a helmsman.

At Qu Yang's reminder, Ou Zanghua and others purchased a large amount of supplies in Yueyang City. After making sure that there were enough supplies to feed the people on the ship for ten days or half a month, they set sail.

The south in December is like the poem: the creeks are too deep to bear the snow, and the mountains are frozen without clouds.

Ou Zanghua stood at the bow for a while, but couldn't stand the cold anymore, so he went into his room.

In the room, Qu Feiyan lit the stove and was making tea.

After the water boiled, it was bubbling. She picked up the kettle and made a cup of tea for Ou Zanghua. She smiled and said, "Sir, this is Yueyang Junshan Silver Needle. I heard from the old man selling tea that the first seed of Junshan tea was planted by Emperor Shun's concubines Ehuang and Nvying when he was on a tour to the south. Is this true?"

Ou Zanghua took out a book, flipped through it and said with a smile: "It is said that Junshan in Dongting is a place where immortals practice. The Pure Yang Immortal Lu Dongbin once left a poem. In the morning, I traveled to Beiyue and in the evening, Cangwu, with a green snake in my sleeve and a bold heart. I went to Yueyang three times but no one recognized me. I chanted aloud as I flew over Dongting Lake."

"So, if you think it was planted by Ehuang and Nvying, then it is!"

"Sir, would you like to write a poem for the 800-li Dongting Lake?" Qu Feiyan approached Ou Zanghua and looked at him with her watery eyes.

Ou Zanghua calmly refused, "Predecessors have already written about Dongting Lake to perfection. I can't write anything better, so I won't make a fool of myself."

(End of this chapter)