Chapter Twelve: A Warm Invitation

"Tell your master that I have one more poem about snow and plum blossoms to offer."

"Plum and snow compete in spring, neither willing to yield; the poet lays down his brush, struggling for a verdict. The plum must concede a degree of whiteness to the snow; yet the snow loses to the plum in fragrance."

The poem was finished, and the room was stunned into silence.

It was another masterpiece of imagery. Throughout the ages, many have written of snow and plum blossoms together, but few have done so with such wit and charm. These two are naturally matched, making them difficult to judge. This poem captured the distinct characteristics of both, a feat rarely seen in the works of other poets.

This time, no one dared to voice a challenge. Feng Yuzhi and Zuo Jincheng both lowered their heads in silence, afraid to utter a single word of mockery. To speak again would only be to humiliate themselves.

The maid in white, responsible for transcribing the work, hesitated, her brush poised in the air. She seemed lost in the imagery of the verses, unable to pull herself away. Having grown up in the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, she had been named Red Plum by the master, and she served alongside a sister named White Snow. This poem resonated with her deeply.

Seeing the lack of response from the crowd, Xu Feng frowned, thinking perhaps the poem was not up to par.

"I have a few other poems here; I apologize for the trouble, but please continue to record them."

What others considered rare and precious verse was, to Xu Feng, merely a casual exercise. In total, he composed five poems, each one worthy of being remembered by history.

No one dared to question his talent anymore. Feng Yuzhi, in particular, did not dare to claim he had copied them from elsewhere. One or two might be dismissed as plagiarism, but there was nowhere to copy so many masterpieces from. The maids were flustered, unsure how to handle the situation, and had no choice but to go behind the curtain to seek instructions from their mistress.

Xu Feng, still feeling a bit unsatisfied, smacked his lips and returned to his seat. This feeling of being honored in front of a crowd was truly pleasant.

"How was that? I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

Feng Yumian’s face flushed red. Unsure of how to respond, she reached out and playfully punched Xu Feng—a gesture that carried an air of flirtation.

"Master Xu, my mistress requests your presence."

"The Mistress of the Pavilion is currently traveling the world. The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is being managed by Miss Rong, who has full authority to handle all affairs. Please, Master Xu, follow me upstairs."

The crowd was not surprised by this. The owner of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was a legendary figure, often heard of but rarely seen. For many, meeting Miss Rong herself was an honor.

Legend had it that Miss Rong possessed a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall, a face that would make the moon hide and flowers blush. Alas, she rarely ventured into the martial arts world, and most never had the chance to behold her. Only a few words about her circulated in the world, adding to her mystery.

"Please."

"After you, Master Xu."

Guided by the maid in white, Xu Feng slowly ascended. His invitation behind the scenes marked the end of the competition. No one dared to dissent, nor did anyone dare to cause trouble in the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion—unless, of course, they were tired of living.

Zuo Jincheng stared at Xu Feng’s back, grinding his teeth in hatred, wishing he could tear him to pieces. He could tolerate anyone stepping on him, but he could not bear for that person to be Xu Feng. To be humiliated by a widely known useless son-in-law was worse than death. All his previous sense of superiority had been shattered; he even found Xu Feng more detestable than the masked man.

Feng Yuzhi’s expression was complex, tinged with anger. She felt that Xu Feng had deceived her. He was clearly capable of composing poetry and possessed secret family medicines, yet she had always been the last to know, which she interpreted as him not trusting her. She failed to realize, however, that it was her own lack of respect for Xu Feng that had led to this; she simply shifted the blame onto him. Feng Yuzhi was, in truth, an extremely selfish person. It was no wonder she and Zuo Jincheng had found common ground.

By comparison, the spoiled and willful Feng Yumian did not seem so difficult to accept after all.

Anyone qualified to ascend to the top floor of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was considered a guest of honor. Regardless of their previous status, from the moment they stepped onto that floor, they were destined to leave their mark on the world.

"Master Xu, I have long admired your name!"

"You are too kind. I assume you must be the Miss Rong whom everyone in the world praises."

Xu Feng had expected to be received in a reception hall, but the environment he now found himself in made his expression subtle; it looked entirely like Miss Rong’s private chamber. Four hand-painted scrolls of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum hung on the walls, and the calligraphy in the corners revealed them to be the work of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion’s owner. The mysterious mistress was clearly a person of refined taste.

The room was filled with a faint, lingering fragrance. Miss Rong wore a light blue dress that trailed on the floor; she was exquisitely beautiful, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and the hairpin in her hair was clearly of immense value.

Xu Feng did not dare to look around too freely. The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was famous throughout the world. Miss Rong was no fragile flower; she was a renowned top-tier expert in the martial arts world. Most importantly, Xu Feng could not perceive her level of cultivation. This meant her strength far exceeded his own. He knew better than to act rashly; offending her would turn a good situation into a disaster.

"Master Xu truly possesses great talent. The poems you composed are all worthy of being remembered by history. It is the honor of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion to host you."

"I am unworthy of such praise. The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is peerless; who in the world does not know of its prestige? These were merely a few clumsy verses. I am just glad they caught your eye, Miss Rong."

Miss Rong studied Xu Feng with interest. Having invited him up, she naturally knew his background. It seemed clear now that Xu Feng was far more than a useless son-in-law; he clearly possessed strength that he had hidden very well.

"These three reward tokens belong to you, Master Xu. Later, you may enter the Vault of Arms to choose a weapon that suits you. In addition, I have a question—I hope it is not inappropriate to ask?"

"Please, speak freely."

"Since you hold the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in such high regard, would you be willing to join us if I invited you?"

If any other martial artist were offered an olive branch by Miss Rong herself, they would have accepted without hesitation. Xu Feng, however, chose to decline after a moment of consideration.

"I am but a mere son-in-law; I fear I am not capable of taking on such a great responsibility."

"Master Xu is too modest. Although I cannot discern your exact level of cultivation, I know you are no mere scholar without the strength to truss a chicken."

Xu Feng was startled. This was the first time in a long while that someone had seen through his facade. Fortunately, he had no grievances with the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, so she was unlikely to expose his secret. He would have to be more careful in the future; one could never underestimate the heroes of the world. Even with the concealment of the Human Emperor’s Banner, there was no guarantee that others wouldn't see through him.

He could not join the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. No one knew better than he did where his strength came from. The existence of the Human Emperor’s Banner must not be exposed under any circumstances; it was his greatest reliance.

"Please forgive me for being unable to comply. Thank you for your high regard, Miss Rong."

If others knew that Xu Feng had rejected Miss Rong’s invitation not once, but twice, they would surely draw their swords against him.