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The Dazzling New Star of the Heroes of the Martial World
Yi Junsheng was taken aback and said, "What? Is the final question really that difficult? After all these years, no one has managed to win this pen?"
Mengzi replied, "Whether it's difficult or not, you'll find out soon enough. Let's start with you; this is a riddle. There are three pairs of fathers and sons who went up the mountain to hunt wild boars, and they ended up catching four. How should these four wild boars be fairly distributed among the three pairs of fathers and sons?"
Yi Junsheng answered, "There are six people in three pairs of fathers and sons sharing four wild boars. Of course, we should slaughter the four wild boars, cook them, and divide them into six pots—one pot for each person. That would be a fair division."
Mengzi said, "Wrong. Each person should get one wild boar."
Yi Junsheng asked, "But there are six people! How can each person get one wild boar? Wouldn't that leave two people without any?"
Mengzi explained, "Because these three pairs of fathers and sons consist of four generations living together: great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and son—exactly four people. One wild boar per person is the fairest way."
Yi Junsheng replied, "Mengzi, why do you insist that these three pairs of fathers and sons are just four people? That's an unfair accusation against me. Besides, even if they are from four generations, that great-grandfather must be very old; how could he possibly go up the mountain to hunt wild boars?"
Mengzi countered, "If there were only four people in those three pairs of fathers and sons, then it wouldn't be a riddle at all. As for the great-grandfather's age, if we assume there is a fifteen-year gap between each generation, then this great-grandfather would only be in his sixties. Why couldn't he go up the mountain to hunt wild boars?"
Yi Junsheng was furious and said, "Old Meng from Confucian Academy, you really know how to argue!"
Mengzi responded, "You answered incorrectly; no points for you. The next question will be answered by Zhuge Kongming. This question is about couplets. The first line is 'Smoke locks the pond willows.' Please provide a matching second line."
Zhuge Kongming pondered for a moment and said, "The first line 'Smoke locks the pond willows' has five characters whose radicals correspond to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Therefore, my second line is 'Cannon guards the sea city tower.'"
Mengzi said, "Smoke locks the pond willows; cannon guards the sea city tower. Well matched! Zhuge Kongming earns one point. The next question will be answered by Fan Buzhao. This question is also about couplets. The first line is 'Qiantang River Bridge,' which lacks fire in the five elements. Please provide a matching second line."
Fan Buzhao: "This question is difficult, Qiantang River Bridge, all five elements are present except for fire. I have spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all four seasons complete."
Mengzi: "Qiantang River Bridge, the five elements lack fire. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all four seasons complete. The second line is similar in spirit but not in form, and its meaning is far from the first line, so it cannot score points. The next question will be answered by Yi Junsheng, this question is a guessing word puzzle, the topic is 'fart', please guess what character it is?"
Yi Junsheng: "Fart? Of course it is 'stinky'."
Mengzi: "Wrong, to others, a fart is stinky, but to the person who farted, it is certainly pleasant."
Yi Junsheng: Angrily said: "Mengzi, your words have caused my adrenaline to surge, making me feel like killing someone." He then approached Mengzi and said: "Mengzi, since you are always here, let me test you. Listen carefully, there are two dragons on the wall, suddenly one of them falls down, why does the other one also fall down? Answer!"
Mengzi: "Because the other one saw its companion fall down, it was very happy and then raised its front foot intending to clap in joy, but unexpectedly lost its balance and fell down as well."
Yi Junsheng: "You, you, consider yourself lucky. Next, the first line is 'two three four five', please respond with the second line."
Mengzi: "Two three four five, six seven **."
Yi Junsheng: "You, you, make me angry." He then became furious and roared at Mengzi.
Mengzi: Seeing this situation said: "Someone come! Drag this loudmouth Yi Junsheng who lacks skill in competition out and give him twenty strokes with a ruler." Several students then dragged Yi Junsheng outside and struck his hands twenty times with a ruler. Yi Junsheng cried out in pain while cursing. After executing the punishment, the students brought Yi Junsheng back inside to continue the competition. At this time, Yi Junsheng's hands were already red and swollen, causing him unbearable pain.
Mengzi: Seeing that Yi Junsheng had returned to his seat said: "The competition continues; the next question will be answered by Zhuge Kongming. This question is a couplet question; the first line is 'sighing and wailing with a choked throat', please respond with the second line."
Zhuge Kongming: "Sighing and wailing with a choked throat are all characters with the same radical; I respond with 'tears shed like rivers flowing into the sea.'"
Mengzi: "Sighing and wailing with a choked throat; tears shed like rivers flowing into the sea. Perfectly matched, Zhuge Kongming, you earn another point. The next question will be answered by Fan Buzhao. This question is a couplet question; the first line is 'hungry chickens steal rice while children hit buckets', please respond with the second line."
Fan Buzhao pondered for a moment and said, "The hungry chicken steals rice while the child hits the bucket; I am startled by the cool beams of the summer mouse."
Mengzi replied, "The hungry chicken steals rice while the child hits the bucket; the cool beams of the summer mouse startle me. That's correct, Fan Buzhao gets one point. The next question is for Yi Junsheng. This is a riddle: Ming's father has three sons. The eldest son is named Da Ming, the second son is named Er Ming. What is the name of the third son?"
Yi Junsheng said, "Hahaha, Meng Lao Confucian Academy, you finally gave me an easy question! Ming's father has two sons named Da Ming and Er Ming, so the remaining one must be Ming. Therefore, his father's third son is named Ming! Hahaha!"
Mengzi responded, "Yi Junsheng, you answered incorrectly three times. Ming's father's third son should be named San Ming."
Yi Junsheng was nearly spitting blood from anger and said, "Mengzi, you said Ming's father has three sons, right? They are Da Ming, Er Ming, and Ming. Where does San Ming come from?"
Mengzi replied, "There is only one explanation: Ming is a daughter."
Yi Junsheng said, "Meng Lao Confucian Academy, are you intentionally making things difficult for me? Why can't you just admit that she is female? I have been tricked by you again; it’s painful. Why do I always have to answer riddles while others get couplets?"
Mengzi said, "Alright then, I will give you another couplet question. The upper line is 'The bright moon shines on the gauze window,' and the famous Zhuge Kongming Zhuge Liang is mentioned. Please provide a matching lower line."
Yi Junsheng said, "The bright moon shines on the gauze window; famous Zhuge Kongming Zhuge Liang. This... this is too difficult; I can't match it. Why are your questions always so hard, Mengzi?"
Mengzi replied, "This is the final round of the literary competition. Do you think it's just a preliminary round with sounds of wind, rain, and reading filling the air? The finals must have a standard worthy of finals. If one does not possess exceptional talent to win the Golden Brush, wouldn't that be like a fleeting dream? Since Yi Junsheng has answered four questions without scoring any points, Yi Junsheng, you are directly eliminated. Come here and escort this person devoid of knowledge out of Confucius Academy."
Yi Junsheng, hearing this, was furious: "Meng Lao Confucian Academy, how dare you say I am devoid of knowledge? It seems you want to live in this world for too long; if you wish to die, let me help you." Before Yi Junsheng could finish his words, people from Confucius Academy carried him out and roughly threw him to the ground. Yi Junsheng first received twenty strikes with a ruler and then was heavily thrown down again; it was truly disgraceful and humiliating. Outside the academy, Yi Junsheng sighed: "It seems I am but a grain in the vast sea and a speck in the sky; how insignificant I am!" He then left this sorrowful place in a carriage.
The final round of the literary competition was ultimately won by Zhuge Kongming, who earned the first Golden Brush from Confucius Academy. Everyone praised this literary champion while Yi Junsheng, Fan Buzhao, and others could only look up to him.
Nightmare Demon and Murong Yaoxian arrived at Murong Manor. Once a place of prosperity, it now appeared desolate; Murong Manor had long since changed beyond recognition. Murong Yaoxian stood silently inside the manor, feeling an immense sadness as tears streamed down her face accompanied by soft sobs. At that moment, Nightmare Demon leaned his shoulder closer to her for support. He said, "If possible, I truly wish to live in seclusion with you here; unfortunately, I am only one-third of Yi Zhangzhi."
Murong Yaoxian said, "This is enough. Seeing you is like seeing Mr. Yi. Why are there so many conflicts in the martial world? Why can't everyone live in harmony? Why must there be war?"
Nightmare Demon replied, "Human desires are endless. Ambitious people are always striving, creating many self-deceptive reasons for their actions. War is a means for them to achieve their goals; through war, they can eliminate those who hinder their ambitions. Well, I have safely brought you here, and now I must leave."
Murong Yaoxian said, "Please take care, Demon."
Before leaving, Nightmare Demon uttered a meaningful phrase: "I will take care for your sake." Then he departed from Murong Manor.
Yi Zhangzhi left Martial Bamboo Divine Domain and arrived at Ming Kong Residence, where he met the Sword God, Huangfu Mingmo. Upon seeing the visitor, Huangfu Mingmo immediately recognized him as an extraordinary master and drew the Ming Sword Longquan Treasure Sword, unleashing several sword energies towards Yi Zhangzhi. Understanding that this was a test from Huangfu Mingmo, Yi Zhangzhi raised his Dust Whisk to dissipate the sword energies. Huangfu Mingmo continued to launch fierce attacks with rapid sword techniques aimed at Yi Zhangzhi, not giving him a moment to breathe. Yi Zhangzhi, having come with intentions, held back his full strength and fought with great difficulty. At this moment, Huangfu Mingmo retracted his sword moves, slowing down his attack speed to engage in close combat with Yi Zhangzhi. They exchanged a palm strike, both equally matched. At this point, Yi Zhangzhi stopped fighting and said, "Mr. Huangfu, your swordsmanship is indeed superb, and your Inner Strength is very pure. I admire it."
Huangfu Mingmo replied, "No need for flattery; let's discuss your purpose for coming."
In the wilderness, Heroic Blade Eighteen Vengeances encountered the Hate Blade Swordsman. The Hate Blade Swordsman immediately recognized the person before him as his long-sought enemy, Heroic Blade Eighteen Vengeances. Filled with hatred, he pointed his sword at Heroic Blade Eighteen Vengeances, determined to avenge past grievances. Seeing this, Heroic Blade Eighteen Vengeances sighed and drew his blade in response.
Tension filled the air. With a sigh of resignation, what will be the outcome of the duel between Heroic Blade Eighteen Vengeances and the Hate Blade Swordsman? What is the purpose of Yi Zhangzhi's visit to Ming Kong Residence?
To know more details, please continue reading Chapter 28 of The Dazzling New Star of the Heroes of the Martial World.
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