He changed Tiwat

Han Fulai twitched the corner of his mouth. Jiang Xue had taught him a few words of Qiuqiu language at the bottom of the giant abyss, mainly swear words in Qiuqiu language.

"mi muhe ye" in Qiuqiu language means "I will defeat you"... and reciting this "Qiuqiu love poem" to a girl will only make her look bad, okay?

and many more.

Han Fulai suddenly realized something.

Yes, he has another way to break the deadlock—make Yura the "Badminton Festival Princess," and then make Yura "moved but refuse," wouldn't that work?

Chapter 234 Mond Poetry Competition

Han Fu arrived at the competition venue that afternoon before the competition.

The three major events of the "Badminton Festival" are held at three different locations inside and outside the city.

The "Flying Champion" competition is held in the Wind-Viewing Mountains outside the city. The open space, with its natural high slopes and wind fields, is the most suitable place to test flying skills.

The "Breakfast Contest" is held at the city's most famous tavern, "Gift of the Angels." The generous Lord Diluc has sponsored an unlimited supply of fine wines for this contest, and the winner will receive an additional "Gift of the Angels" voucher.

The venue for the "Poetry Recitation" was set up in the high square of Mondstadt, in front of the statue of Barbatos, the "God of Poetry".

The theater stage for the performance was already set up, the very same stage where Barbara, the "Mondstadt Idol," performed at the opening ceremony. The audience seats were now full, mostly with people who had come to watch the spectacle, while the contestants sat in the first two rows waiting for the judges to call their numbers.

Han Fulai saw many familiar faces in the contestant area, some he had met in the game and others he had interacted with in real life, such as the alchemist Timaus and Eileen, who was always practicing swordsmanship outside the Knights Order.

He even spotted a silver-haired, red-eyed boy with a hideous scar on his face in the audience—Leize. Leize was surprisingly well-behaved in the audience, sitting upright. If it weren't for his rugged vest jacket standing out from the elegantly dressed crowd around him, Han Fulai might not have even noticed him.

This boy's background is extraordinary. He is an abandoned child adopted by Andrius, the "Wolf of the North Wind." He can communicate with the wolf pack, understand the emotions of the wind, and smell distant scents. He has keen senses, is agile, can move at high speed through the forest, and often appears with the wolf pack, never approaching humans on his own initiative.

Some say he is a wolf spirit who has transformed into a boy. As this legend spread in Mondstadt, hunters near Wolfrun Territory respectfully called him "Wolf Boy."

Despite the nickname "Wolf Boy" sounding somewhat like a savage, according to Han Fulai, Lei Ze's backing is incredibly powerful.

Not only was he adopted by the "Wolves of the North Wind," but his name "Raizer" was also given to him by Falgar, the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and his martial arts skills were personally taught by the Grand Master. The person currently caring for him and teaching him cultural knowledge and methods of elemental energy manipulation is the librarian, the "Rose Witch" Lisa.

If this were placed in a Western fantasy novel, Razor would be part of Mondstadt's most prestigious lineage: a demon god, a witch, and the leader of a knightly order... a perfect protagonist setup—the female lead would probably be his close friend Klee...? In a few years, after Razor has mastered his studies and joined the knightly order, he would likely be a candidate for the next leader.

Just as Han Fulai was pondering whether he should try to get closer to Lei Ze, a hand patted his shoulder.

"It really is Mr. Han! I'm so happy to run into an acquaintance here!"

Han Fulai turned his head and saw Bennett smiling broadly.

The Adventurers' Guild's "Snow Mountain Summer Camp" was still in preparation, and Bennett, having nothing to do, returned to Mondstadt with his "dads".

The "Badminton Festival" is a celebration that no one in Mondstadt wants to miss, and Bennett, of course, is going to participate as well.

However, because his reputation as an unlucky guy spread so widely, naturally no one wanted to team up with him, and the older guys were too old to accompany him in the competitions of these young people, so Bennett had to compete alone.

Bennett isn't old enough to drink, so the "Drinking Contest" is clearly not for him; as for the "Flying Champion" competition, although the organizers have taken safety into consideration and installed many safety devices to prevent falls from heights—if Bennett were to participate, probably none of the safety devices could prevent his misfortune…

Therefore, the only competition he could participate in was "poetry recitation".

Although Bennett didn't really understand poetry, the point of this kind of competition is to participate.

Han Fulai already had a premonition: "...Bennett, which game are you in?"

Bennett gave a thumbs-up and flashed a bright, sunny smile: "I won the first game!"

Han Fulai stared blankly at the competition stage, which was still draped with its curtains drawn. No one could predict what strange misfortunes might happen if he competed against Bennett—the stage might just collapse in a moment…

Shortly afterward, the curtain rose, and the preliminary rounds of the "Poetry Recitation" competition officially began.

The event host, appearing in the center of the stage, flicked his fingers across the strings of the seven-stringed zither, producing beautiful, tinkling notes that immediately captivated the audience.

“Songs of joy in the winds are streaming,

Beneath the flowers old hymns abide.

Though you should seek the festivity's meaning,

Forget not that which your hearts do hide.

(A joyous song is carried on the wind,)

Ancient poems are hidden among the flowers.

You might go out of your way to explore the meaning of that festival.

But you must also remember to explore your own hidden feelings.

The bard's clear voice resonated throughout the entire venue.

He used no amplification equipment, yet his voice was naturally carried by the wind to the ears of every listener. The poem's four short stanzas have a very simple rhyme scheme, allowing even tourists unfamiliar with Mondstadt poetry to easily appreciate its beautiful rhythm. However, a closer analysis of the poem's content reveals a rich and profound meaning hidden within.

Han Fulai had taken a course on appreciating foreign literature when he was in school, so his understanding of this poem was deeper than that of the average person.

For example, this short poem uses a "cross rhyme" pattern, with "ABAB" rhyming. "Streaming" and "meaning" rhyme in one rhyme, while "abide" and "hide" rhyme in another. This cross rhyming pattern is a very standard template for a sonnet, with its rhythmic rise and fall, belonging to the "metrical poetry" category of English poetry.

In fact, in Chinese poetry, such as Li Bai's "Bodhisattva's Charm: The Plain Forest is Vast and the Smoke is Like Weaving," there is also this kind of alternating rhyme scheme, changing every two lines. Its advantage is that the rhythmic fluctuations are greater, making it less likely for the listener to experience aesthetic fatigue. Moreover, it liberates many of the restrictions on words, allowing poets to express themselves more freely when writing lyrics.

It's not easy to find a host who can sing and play music so fluently. In Mondstadt today, there's only that good-for-nothing drunken poet—Vendy.

Chapter 235 A Moment to Poetry

After finishing her opening remarks, Wendy smiled and bowed to the audience: "Thank you to all the guests and contestants for attending this 'Poetry Recitation' competition. I am Wendy, the host specially invited by the organizers."

"The 'Badminton Festival' has a history of thousands of years in Mondstadt, and I believe most of our viewers have participated in our Mondstadt 'Badminton Festival' before. The best way to experience the joy of the festival is for you to experience it for yourselves. So, let's skip the opening remarks and get straight to today's topic—"

He plucked the strings a few times, and the curtain behind him opened again as he played, revealing the judges' panel behind the curtain and the three judges sitting on it.

As soon as the judges appeared, a commotion erupted from the audience.

"Oh! That's great!"

"It's Miss Barbara!"

Is it true that signing up for the competition will allow you to talk to Miss Barbara?

Sitting to the left of the judges' panel was none other than Miss Barbara, the "Mondstadt Idol".

Today she had changed back into her usual white prayer robes and was somewhat embarrassed, covering her face with the holy book in her hand—the gazes and cheers from the audience were just too enthusiastic, and Miss Barbara, who wasn't in performance mode, was actually quite shy.

In the very center of the judges' panel sat a middle-aged woman wearing a pointed witch's hat, lazily reclining on the stage with her chin resting on her hand.

"Hmm, Master, it seems like he's about to fall asleep," Lei Ze muttered softly from the audience.

Razer, who knows nothing about poetry, was sitting in the audience, clearly because he was dragged there by his mentor Lisa, who wanted him to receive a Mondstadt cultural education on the spot.

On the far right of the judges' panel sat a dignified nun. She had straight, coffee-colored hair, wore a black nun's robe, and had a serious and solemn expression, exuding an air of asceticism.

“Ah, it’s Sister Victoria.” Bennett, sitting next to Han Fulai, called out the nun’s name.

Because he often encountered strange injuries during his adventures, Bennett frequently went to the Cathedral of the West. Sister Victoria had once helped him heal his injuries, which is how Bennett came to know her.

Wendy turned to the side and introduced the judges and guests one by one: "When it comes to poetry, we can't forget the star of the choir, the idol of the people of Mondstadt, the special guest judge of this poetry festival, and the most popular singer in Mondstadt, Miss Barbara!"

Barbara shyly waved her little hand to greet the audience.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers, and even the contestants' section chanted in unison, "Nothing is sweeter than Barbara!" It seems Barbara's fan club has also joined the competition. From the perspective of boosting the competition's atmosphere and popularity, inviting Barbara to be a judge was a very wise decision.

"A perfect blend of beauty and intellect, a knowledgeable librarian, a genius scholar who can recite thousands of poems, and the representative of the Knights of Favonius, the organizer of this competition, Miss Lisa!"

Lisa waved lazily. If she hadn't been forced to be a judge at the event as an organizer, she would have been taking a nap right now.

A few scattered cheers rang out from the audience. Although not many, there are indeed people in Mondstadt who "actually hate reading, but go to the library specifically because they want to get to know the librarian."

Incidentally, these people were basically electrocuted by Lisa because they forgot to return the book—or perhaps they deliberately didn't return the book because they enjoyed that tingling sensation.

Lisa's gaze swept across the contestants' area below the stage, seemingly looking for any contestants that interested her, before her eyes quickly locked onto Han Fulai's face.

Han Fulai smiled awkwardly at Lisa, and Lisa smiled back.

Well, Lisa's smile, like Mona Lisa's, always seems enigmatic...

"If Miss Barbara's songs can soothe people's hearts, then Miss Victoria's confessions can guide their souls! Sister Victoria, the most loving nun in the West Wind Church, who has listened to the voices of countless people, and who embraces all sins with light and warmth!"

If Rosalia were in the audience, she would probably scoff and call it a "fraud," after all, Sister Victoria received ordinary believers' confessions in the church during the day, but at night she transformed into a bloodstained hammer of judgment. One of her favorite sayings was, "Love, piety, and holiness—all good things are built on the blood and tears of sinners. When sin comes knocking, judgment will naturally follow."

After Simon Qing went on the expedition, the veteran fighting nun Victoria was put in charge of leading the few "Crown of Thorns" members who remained in the city.

Of course, inviting her to be a judge is, to some extent, a perfect fit, as Sister Victoria is indeed able to discern hidden truths in others' words. Poetry is, after all, a transmission of the heart, and a work that can move Sister Victoria, who has witnessed all kinds of sin and darkness, must surely be a masterpiece.

After introducing the three special guest judges, Wendy immediately began explaining the competition format: "This preliminary round of 'Poetry Recitation' will now begin and will last for three days. Each round will feature five contestants competing on stage, with the three judges providing topics on the spot. Contestants are required to submit their work and recite it on the spot within fifteen minutes, and the contestant with the highest score will advance to the final round."

In terms of competition format, this "poetry recitation" competition is quite similar to a modern variety show. The organizers set the topics on the spot, the contestants answered them on the spot, and then the judges commented and scored them. The contestant with the highest score advanced to the next round.

This format combines competition and entertainment, allowing participants to compose and recite poems on the spot within a mere fifteen minutes. It offers the tension of "composing a poem in seven steps," the entertainment value of live performances, and the scoring and commentary from three distinctive judges—a segment that is equally anticipated. If Teyvat had a television station, this program would likely have extremely high viewership.

"Now, please welcome the contestants of the first match to the stage!"

The host, Wendy, professionally controlled the pace of the event.

Upon hearing this, the contestants in the first round all stood up from their seats and walked to the stage. Wendy, on the other hand, had clearly done his homework beforehand, and didn't need the contestants to introduce themselves at all; he had already prepared his introduction for each person who went on stage.

"The first to appear is a strong contender for the title of 'Mondstadt's Best Bard,' an old friend of the tavern regulars, and the top seed for this year's competition, Mr. 'Six-Fingered Joseph'! I wonder if it's a bit unfair to the other contestants to have a professional participating?"

Six-Fingered Joseph, carrying his lyre, stepped onto the stage and played a short piece. His gaze toward Wendy was full of fighting spirit—he had originally intended to compete with Wendy, a fellow musician, but unexpectedly, that guy had become a host...

"The second person to appear is the alchemist Timaus, who is very familiar to the residents of Mondstadt! Who would have thought that an alchemist who pursues rationality could also have such a romantic side?"

Timaus stood somewhat awkwardly on the stage, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet. He had actually come to the competition to hone his so-called "unfettered imagination," a piece of advice Abedo had given him before. But facing so many eyes on stage, Timaus was now so nervous that he couldn't even speak; his mind was completely blank.

And the third one to appear...

"Ah, Mr. Albert, please wait! The stage for the competition is over here... Don't go to the judges' table! Staff, staff, please help hold Mr. Albert back!"

Albert, the president of the fan club who was eager to get close to his idol, was dragged down by two Knights of Favonius.

"Next up is Bennett, the leader of the 'Benny Adventurers'... Please watch your step, sir..."

Bennett, who inexplicably tripped and fell flat on his face, got up, scratched the back of his head, and gave the audience an awkward smile.

"The last contestant to take the stage is quite distinguished. He hails from Moonsea Pavilion in Liyue and recently helped the Knights of Favonius solve a major and heinous kidnapping case, safeguarding the peace of Mondstadt. In recognition of this, the Knights have bestowed upon him the honorary title of 'Honorary Knight'—welcome our new Honorary Knight, Sir Humphrey!"

Han Fulai bowed politely to the audience, his knight medals gleaming on his shoulders.

Wendy then took a piece of cardboard from the judges' panel and showed it to the audience and the contestants.

"The theme of this competition is—love poems! Participants are requested to write the most touching love poem within the allotted time!"

He snapped his fingers, and a huge hourglass standing beside the stage flipped.

"Alright, fifteen minutes, start the timer!"

Chapter 236 Tears Behind Bars [4k]

"So he's the newly appointed Knight of Honor?"

"I heard from my friends in the guerrilla squad that Captain Yura was with him..."

Several Knights of Favonius on leave began to whisper among themselves.

Many Mondstadt locals, however, reacted to the title "Sir Humphrey".

On the opening day of the "Badminton Festival," the impromptu magic trick "Love" performed by the great magician Linni became a sensation in Mondstadt, and even the "Sir Humphrey" and "Miss Lawrence" who participated in the performance became very famous.

The gatekeeper, Lawrence, had no relation to the old aristocratic Lawrence family. Just having the same name caused so much trouble; being associated with a real descendant of the Lawrence family would only cause more problems.

Many eyes in the audience were fixed on Han Fulai's face, not for any other reason than to see who this brave man was who dared to get engaged to the sinful descendant of the Lawrence family in Mondstadt.

This wasn't the first time Han Fulai had stood in such a public setting; he was used to being the center of attention.

He was currently deep in thought about the poetic theme Wendy had just presented to them: "love poetry."

—This topic is exactly the same as the one that Kaia told him in the hotel restaurant that morning.

The competition format involves judges setting the questions on the spot. Theoretically, contestants cannot know the questions set by the judges until they take the stage.

This is certainly one of the difficulties of this "poetry recitation" competition.

If the contestants are given the topic a few days in advance to prepare, most people should be able to submit a decent answer, or at the very least, they can cobble together a passable short poem from various classical texts.

The on-the-spot assignment required contestants to compose a poem that fit the given topic within fifteen minutes, testing not only their accumulated poetic knowledge but also their inspiration and quick wit.

Thinking back to the smile on Lisa's face just now... Han Fulai probably understood.

"The judges leaked the questions to you beforehand, so you're not going to still lose to the others, are you?"

That's what I mean.

Honestly, Han Fulai was confident he could win the championship without resorting to these underhanded tactics. This time, his "cheating" was entirely due to Kaiya leaking the questions to him...

Of course, he could understand Kaeya's thoughts—after all, he was a Liyue native, and his familiarity with Mondstadt poetry was unlikely to surpass that of the locals, while his opponent had a professional like "Six-Fingered Joseph" who made a living from poetry.

To make up for this gap, Kaiya thoughtfully leaked the questions to him. Having an extra morning to prepare should be much better than someone composing a poem on the spot in a quarter of an hour, right?

In reality, Han Fulai never fights unprepared battles. Since he dared to participate in this competition, he naturally had his reasons for being confident.