Young and reckless-what youth doesn't long to show his worth and steal the spotlight? Who doesn't want to shine before the girl he admires and win her favor?

So those who knew their cultivation talent fell short poured their energy into letters instead, hoping to make a name in that arena.

Literary skill was prized just as highly by the great families. A strong showing brought a clan greater renown. In short, even in this world where the martial path reigned, no small number still buried themselves in poetry and books.

Yun City's most celebrated talents still came from its great families-Wu Jin of the Wu Family, Qin An of the Qin Family, Liu Zhi and Liu Hailian of the Liu Family.

About the time it took an incense stick to burn, every contestant had stepped onto the literary stage.

Then someone below called out, "There's no one from the Tang Family." Heads turned toward the stage, and after a long search, sure enough, not a single Tang stood among them.

A shout that loud naturally reached Old Master Tang's ears.

He felt a flush of shame. The Tang Family's younger generation was thin, and Mo Yanjun, lost in the martial path, had little taste for letters. In years past, only Old Master Tang himself had played with brush and ink-yet the rules barred anyone over thirty-five from competing. The will was there; the means were not.

Then he remembered the love poem Tang Yan had written for Lin Dongxue, the strokes bold and full of force. Perhaps he should send the boy up to try?

But one look at Tang Yan slouched in his seat, utterly indifferent, and Old Master Tang swallowed the thought.

His guess was right. Tang Yan simply had no interest in the competition. The great families were circling the Tang Family like tigers eyeing prey; so long as he displayed respectable strength, the clan's name would hold, and his purpose would be served.

As for the Literary Competition-truth be told, it was a flower added to the brocade at best, of little real use to the Tang Family.

"Young Master Tang, that love poem you wrote for Dongxue was overflowing with brilliance. Why turn timid now?" Beside him, Wu Xuan-never one to let a peaceful moment stand-couldn't resist.

"Tang Yan wrote a love poem for someone else?" Zi Yun's heart gave an inexplicable twinge. She didn't understand the feeling herself, only that it sat sour and uneasy.

"That he did. Poured his heart out to the City Lord's daughter, every line tender enough to move stone. 'Speechless, I climb the western tower alone; the moon hangs like a hook...'" Wu Xuan recited the verse from memory as she spoke.

Zi Yun's eyes went hazy. A poem so moving-truly the work of this lout?

She shot Tang Yan a complicated look. His lazy sprawl stoked an unaccountable fire in her chest, and she lifted a leg and kicked him clean off his chair.

"Oh? Young Master Tang stepping forward-could it be you mean to fight on the Tang Family's behalf?" Watching Tang Yan suddenly "lunge" out, Liu Zhi jeered from the stage.

"Hahaha..." The crowd burst out laughing as one. Everyone in Yun City knew what sort Young Master Tang was. It was only lately that some stroke of dumb luck had somehow vaulted him to Origin Rank Eighth Grade.

But up on the judging platform, the City Lord and Qin Changdao did not join the laughter. Their eyes brightened.

Qin Changdao most of all. He had watched with his own eyes as Tang Yan brushed out "Xiangjian Huan," and that elegant, unburdened figure had lingered in his mind ever since.

That verse had struck him like nothing else. This time-might Tang Yan have another surprise in store?

At the City Lord's Manor's seats, Lin Dongxue perked up at once, her gaze fixing on Tang Yan.

"Why such a stir all of a sudden? Don't tell me you've taken a liking to him?" Tang Yan had gifted her Pills twice now, and Madam Lin's view of him had shifted greatly. Lately, too, the name on her husband's lips was no longer Liu Zhi of the Liu Family, nor the fine sons of the Wu or Qin Families, but this Young Master Tang-which had stirred her own curiosity.

"Mother, what are you saying? As if I'd ever take a liking to him!" Lin Dongxue's cheeks flushed like rosy clouds.

Seeing her daughter so flustered, Madam Lin teased, "His looks aren't bad, either. If he shows well today, perhaps he's worth considering."

"I'm done talking to you, Mother-you're awful!" Lin Dongxue turned her head away, drawing a soft laugh from Madam Lin.

Tang Yan sat fuming. What in the world went on inside a woman's head these days? One moment he was chatting easily with Wu Xuan, the next he'd been booted up onto the stage.

Still, now that he was on his feet, there was no sense crawling back. He met Liu Zhi's gaze coldly and answered with a faint smile, "Since my Tang Family joined the Mid-Autumn Conference, of course we compete. Otherwise some petty wretch might seize on our absence to slander us-and where's the good in that?"

With that, under every watching eye, Tang Yan strolled up onto the stage. His easy, graceful bearing even drew the notice of a few young girls.

"Anyone else wish to compete?" Zhou Ying called.

When no one else came up, Zhou Ying counted the contestants-exactly one hundred thirty.

"Good. Then we'll split the stage into ten groups, thirteen to a group. The first round is verse-linking, beginning with five-character lines. With each round the lines grow by one character. Anyone who can't continue is out, and the last two in each group advance." Zhou Ying laid out the rules.

Tang Yan paid it little mind and simply dropped into a seat at one of the tables. Seeing him settle there, the others promptly crowded toward the front.

That Yun City's foremost dandy was an unlettered illiterate was no secret in the city. Sitting at his table meant one fewer rival to worry about.

Those who failed to claim a seat could only sigh and seek out other tables.

Thirteen cups of fine wine stood on the table. Tang Yan lifted one, took a sip, and let his gaze drift over his tablemates.

It soon settled on one man-Liu Hailian of the Liu Family.

The bad blood between the Tang and Liu Families was no secret in Yun City, and today's Four Seas Gang affair had sharpened it further still.

Catching Tang Yan's stare, Liu Hailian smiled with contempt. "These days any cat or dog dares come out for a stroll. What a colossal joke under heaven."

The men at the table understood well enough whom he meant; their eyes turned together to Tang Yan.

"Colossal your mother's ass." Tang Yan muttered it almost to himself, and the whole table nearly choked on their wine.

In all the long years of the Mid-Autumn Conference, words so coarse had never been heard-yet Tang Yan had tossed them out without a care.

Liu Hailian's hand trembled. He throttled the urge to slap Tang Yan, and only after several deep breaths did he steady himself. For all his renowned literary gifts, in the martial path he had never set foot in Yellow Rank.

"Begin!" The exchange at Tang Yan's table had been quiet enough that outsiders missed it. The moment Zhou Ying gave the word, every table sprang into the contest.

"The bright moon rides upon the wind."

"Autumn's heart outshines summer's pride."

"Fallen leaves drift into the clouds."

"..."

"Cold dew dampens the osmanthus blooms." Tang Yan tossed off his line as though it cost him nothing.

To hear Tang Yan answer with a line of such quiet beauty left them stunned. This man without a drop of ink in him-had he gone mad?