Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Zuo Qiuchi listened to Chu Mingkong's story, nodding from time to time. Because the protagonist's name was her, and she had been busy healing Chu Mingkong for a long time, the story felt very relatable!

That was awesome!

Chu Mingkong, under the table, taking advantage of her attention being focused on the story, quietly took her delicate hand in his. Feeling utterly satisfied, he said in a melodious, rhythmic voice:

"...With this move, Zuo Qiuchi lost a large number of pieces, as if his kingdom had collapsed. The people around him sighed inwardly. It was another dead move. It seemed that no one could break this game today!"

But someone suddenly said, "No, this move is dead, but not completely dead. It's like a warrior cutting off his own arm; the game can still be played!" It's truly a case of "after the mountains and rivers seem to block the way, a new village appears amidst the willows and flowers."

Upon seeing this, the renowned physician's thirty-year wish was fulfilled. He never expected that the Zhenlong Chess Game, which had troubled so many famous and powerful figures in the cultivation world, would be solved by Zuo Qiuchi, who had only studied chess for half a day. At that moment, he passed on all his medical skills to Zuo Qiuchi.

Everyone was filled with envy, and those with a strong sense of jealousy gasped in disbelief, thinking, "This woman is terrifying!"

Chu Mingkong picked up a pastry and fed it to Zuo Qiuchi. Zuo Qiuchi was enjoying the story, but when he saw Chu Mingkong holding the pastry, he wanted to scold him, "What are you eating? Finish the story first!"

What? You're giving me something to eat? Then it's alright.

Chu Mingkong picked up the teacup she had used, took a sip of tea, and knew that it was time to lay the groundwork for exciting moments. He needed to make Zuo Qiuchi's character seem more indifferent to fame and fortune.

“A powerful figure tried to befriend her and invite her to be a guest of honor in the sect, but Zuo Qiuchi refused. She received the life-long skills of a famous doctor, but she felt no joy. All she could think about was saving her disciple as soon as possible. So she searched her mind for medical skills that could save her disciple Xiao Chu.”

A solemn expression suddenly appeared on her face. After an internal struggle, she left the place to return and heal her disciple.

Originally, it was time for Chu Mingkong to slip in his own secrets. Zuo Qiuchi discovered from the famous doctor's skill that the only way to save Xiao Chu was through the art of dual cultivation!

but,

I can't continue the story.

Because there were quite a few people around, if I were to reveal the details of the dual cultivation, my intentions would be too obvious.

Chu Mingkong thought to himself, "What a pity. If I had known, I wouldn't have used Zuo Qiuchi's name. It would have been so much better to change it to Zhang Qiuchi or Zuo Chiqiu."

While he was telling his story, the patrons around him, who were engrossed in their chess games and trying to win the favor of the courtesan Qingmei, were unknowingly drawn to the story Chu Mingkong was telling. They gathered around to listen to the story and forgot all about the courtesan.

A strange hand reached out to take the pastries on Chu Mingkong's table. The pastries looked very appetizing, but Chu Mingkong slapped it away.

"Who are you? If you touch it, my friend won't be interested in eating it."

“Friend, you’re being stingy. It’s just a snack.” The man said to the maid, “Bring me two more of these snacks as well.”

The maid said awkwardly, "No, these snacks were brought by these two guests themselves."

man:"......"

Someone else pressed on, "What happened next? Why does this Fairy Zuo look so solemn? Has her disciple been cured?"

If there weren't so many people, Chu Mingkong would have directly proposed dual cultivation to test Zuo Qiuchi's reaction.

Now...

"I haven't decided yet," Chu Mingkong said coldly.

Zuo Qiuchi urged, "Then hurry up and think of something!"

Chu Mingkong replied enthusiastically, "Of course I do! I'll tell you all about it when we get back!"

This change in attitude impressed everyone around him.

Everyone else comes to the courtesan's courtyard to curry favor with her, to win her smile, and to win her heart. Why is this guy bringing his own girl to try and please her?

The courtesan Qingmei's main focus is on poetry, attracting mostly scholars. These scholars couldn't help but recall the story Chu Mingkong had just told them—a story that was tense and gripping, prompting them to ponder the philosophical implications of "giving and receiving." The interspersed phrase, "...when you think there's no way out,...another village appears," also resonated deeply.

The exceptionally beautiful maid, after bringing Chu Mingkong the chessboard, pondered his endgame puzzle and listened to his story, feeling utterly astonished. She asked:

"I find this story and this chess game quite interesting, and I also wonder where that line of poetry in the middle comes from."

Chu Mingkong gave the old answer: "I heard it on Xiling Street."

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Who are you? (5/5)

This exceptionally beautiful maid is none other than Qingmei, the most beautiful courtesan in this small courtyard.

After Chu Mingkong entered the brothel, the madam worried that this unreasonable man would actually go to Qingmei's place and then inexplicably get angry and chop her up. So when Chu Mingkong went to find the Han sisters, the madam reminded Qingmei not to show herself and to pretend to be sick.

When Qingmei heard that the Prince of Xiling had arrived, she was quite curious about him. So she dressed up as a haggard housewife, changed her hairstyle, and disguised herself as a maidservant in the courtyard. That way, if Chu Mingkong came, she could see what kind of person he was up close without being targeted by him.

Therefore, today's tea-playing game was exceptionally difficult, consisting of impromptu endgame puzzles to test the players' skills, while their maids, dressed in elaborate makeup, played the zither behind a curtain.

As a result, Qingmei was greeted by a handsome and gentle young man telling a story to a beautiful woman dressed as a man, trying to make her happy. He completely ignored the courtesan and was only thinking about the girl.

People like this are usually called in by other courtesans to cause trouble, turning her romantic place into a teahouse or storytelling venue.

But he was a really good storyteller, full of ups and downs, with lines of poetry he had never heard before appearing in the story, and he even specially paired it with a rare chess game from the story!

Qingmei examined this exquisite chess game closely and found it to be just like the one described in the story, full of perilous situations, ever-changing phenomena, calamities within calamities, both coexistence and immortality, counterattacks and retreats, with five flowers gathering into six, making it extremely complex!

She liked that poem very much because her surname was Liu. This young man must have come to her "Ru Shi Xiao Yuan" (a small courtyard) specifically to tell this story and recite this poem.

Although the handsome young man and woman ruined her business in her courtyard, Qingmei felt it was worth it. It was the first time she had ever seen someone tell a story so well!

She returned to the courtyard and washed off the yellow powder from her face, leaving it untouched. She was afraid the young master outside would leave. In her haste, she simply fixed her hair and hurriedly returned to the tea house.

This time, her appearance was much more eye-catching. Although she was dressed simply as a maid and her face was unadorned, her bright and clean skin was already dazzling enough. Her eyebrows were as sharp as green blades, and her full lips were as red as blood, moist and bright.

Her beautiful eyes, as bright as stars, held no excessive allure, but were as fresh and pure as chrysanthemums and bamboo. Yet, a gentle smile could unleash a thousand charms, truly deserving of her reputation as the most beautiful courtesan.

Qingmei then formally introduced herself to Chu Mingkong and Zuo Qiuchi, apologizing for her earlier act of "concealing her identity." Although Chu Mingkong had completely deviated from the rules of the tea party, he had already won Qingmei's attention.

"Qingmei would like to invite you to her room to discuss the story that just happened. May I ask how you should address me?"

The scholars and literati in the vicinity were greatly annoyed at this sight, feeling that all their efforts had been in vain. They never expected that someone would find another way to win Qingmei's heart!

"I felt that the maid was unfamiliar, but she had an extraordinary temperament and a somewhat familiar face. However, my attention was completely focused on solving the chess game, so I didn't think about it in detail. I should have just invited Qingmei, who was disguised as a maid, over."

"Isn't this breaking the rules? He hasn't even solved the chess puzzle given to him by Qingmei yet, and he's already passing the test by telling a story?"

"You don't know anything! The chess game that Miss Qingmei gave us was just a corner of the game. She specially created the entire chessboard for this story. It's not difficult to solve this game, is it? That poem originally had nothing to do with playing chess, but it fits the story perfectly!"

"That's true. Although he said he heard it on the streets of Xiling, such a perfect story would have been famous throughout the country long ago if it had really come from the street. It's impossible for it to have remained unknown!"

Although these people were envious of Chu Mingkong winning the favor of the courtesan, they had no choice but to accept it. Besides, they were already having a headache solving the problem, and they had already given up hope that they would not have a chance today. Being able to listen to such a wonderful storytelling was a consolation. Sleeping with a maid was just as good as nothing.

They calmed their disappointment and listened intently to find out who this young master was. He was clearly a stranger who had never met Qingmei before in this "Thus Have I Heard" courtyard. What a rare person!

Seeing so many people staring at him, Chu Mingkong felt embarrassed and didn't want to introduce himself... It felt strange to be famous in a brothel.

Zuo Qiuchi whispered, "Hurry up and give me your name, I want to hug the courtesan, take me inside quickly and continue the story!"

As the saying goes, as long as others are embarrassed, then you won't be embarrassed. Chu Mingkong said calmly with a smile:

"Young Master Chu Mingkong of Xiling, is Miss Qingmei disguised as a maid to avoid me, afraid that I will come looking for her?"

Qingmei's expression was somewhat unnatural; she was genuinely embarrassed. Having been in this business for so long, this was the first time a customer had turned the tables and criticized her. Yet, she still felt a sliver of disbelief. Was this really Chu Mingkong? Was he such a gentle person?

She sincerely apologized:

"It's because Qingmei is blind. She's always heard of the young master's fearsome reputation and has been misled by the rumors. When she heard that the young master had arrived, she was afraid. This young lady... and this young master is?" Qingmei looked at the woman dressed as a man next to Chu Mingkong.

Zuo Qiuchi wanted to give a false name, but Chu Mingkong thought that he had already introduced himself at the Jiaofangsi, so how could he not have a companion?

He interrupted Zuo Qiuchi and said, "She is my master, Sword Immortal Zuo. He has always wanted to have a drink with Miss Qingmei. Today, I came here specifically to accompany her. Please invite Miss Qingmei to come into your boudoir together, is that alright?"

Zuo Qiuchi stepped on his foot under the table, but anticipating his intention to find a courtesan for her, she didn't stomp too hard.

Qingmei thought the story was just meant to attract her attention, but she didn't expect that she only saw the first part. Although it was indeed made for her, in the end, it was to invite her, a courtesan, to appear for the sake of her master.

He felt disappointed, yet also envious of his master.

If it was because of his master, Qingmei could accept that this was the real Chu Mingkong, since he had killed the crown prince in the street, seemingly because the prince had plotted against his master. And the story he had just told was another tale of a master saving his disciple.

It turns out that the infamous prince is actually so gentle, warm-hearted, filial, and considerate towards his master!

Just now, seeing Chu Mingkong touching his master's little hand and feeding him snacks, I thought it was his lover.

"Of course! How could I refuse? It is already a great favor that you thought of me in the story you were writing for Sword Immortal Zuo, and mentioned me in your witty poem!"

A big question mark popped into Chu Mingkong's head: Did I mention you?

The mountains and rivers seem to block the way, but then a village appears amidst the willows and flowers. Where is your name mentioned? Are you facing a dead end, or a new village appearing?

Chu Mingkong nodded, his expression unchanged, and said:

"Of course, since we've come to invite Lady Qingmei, how could we not mention you?"

--------

P.S.: I've finally finished paying back last month's orders. There will be another update later, but it will be quite late, so get some rest and don't wait up. I ate too much for a late-night snack, so I need to catch my breath.

Chapter 100 Liu Rushi

To be honest, although Chu Mingkong had been "wiping out" this world by relying on the few famous lines in his head, he didn't think he himself had any talent for writing poetry.

—No, right?

Ten years have passed, and we are separated by life and death. Happy Sheep, Big Bad Wolf. Shuke and Beta, nowhere to express our sorrow. Even if we met again, we wouldn't recognize each other. Three hundred years have passed, Jiuzhitang, one section is better than six. Refreshing to the core, my heart soars, I love the jelly!

Look, putting aside the content for now, at least the rhyming is on point. With a few minor tweaks to the content, it's no wonder it's a well-known and popular piece!

Upon entering Qingmei's boudoir, one sees a calligraphy scroll spread out on the desk, the ink in the inkstone still wet, presumably written by her herself, bearing the four characters "Thus have I heard".

This is the opening statement of a Buddhist classic.

The bookshelf is filled with Buddhist classics. Is this courtesan a Buddhist?

Zuo Qiuchi's observation direction was surprisingly consistent with Chu Mingkong's. She recalled the "female bodhisattva" she had seen in that Buddhist secret realm. When the illusion dissipated, there was only a big bald head inside, which really disgusted her.

Now, seeing this courtesan's boudoir with its ancient Buddha and green lamp, I think it's more accurate to call her a female bodhisattva.

"If only all Buddhist monks were as beautiful as this girl." Zuo Qiuchi had already embraced Qingmei without hesitation.

This is the advantage of being a woman. If someone else were invited to Qingmei's room, they would probably not dare to be so direct, and would have to worry about whether they would anger the beauty. But Zuo Qiuchi, being a woman, had no such concerns.

Listening to the distorted expression of filial piety sent to him by Zuo Qiuchi, Chu Mingkong could intuitively sense how satisfied she was now.

"Master, are you saying that people who are not good-looking are not worthy of worshipping Buddha?"

"Don't misunderstand me. Ever since I was disgusted by that evil Buddha last time, I think it's better for ugly people to worship Buddha. A beautiful girl like Yun Nongyu is more suitable to enter the Taoist path."

Master, actually... I think I am also a person with a heart for the Dao, and I also really like to enter the Dao!