Volume One, Chapter 8: Xin Qiji vs. Su Shi

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Xin Qiji!

Bai Chou was startled and thought to himself: This guy is undoubtedly an extraordinary figure. In literature, he is brilliantly talented, renowned in the Song Dynasty alongside Su Shi; in military affairs, Xin Qiji repeatedly suppressed rebellions. Once, he led dozens of warriors to infiltrate the Jin army’s camp alone, captured a traitor, and escorted him to Lin’an. This feat shocked the court and the nation, making him famous far and wide.

Xin Qiji’s life was nothing short of legendary. Devoted to his country and people, gifted in both literature and martial arts, yet his ambitions were ultimately unfulfilled due to political disagreements with those in power.

For such a national hero, whether or not he could win the hundred gold coins, Bai Chou wanted to make his acquaintance. Even if he lost, he could proudly say he had competed with Xin Qiji!

Then he reconsidered: If it were a martial arts contest, though he was a special forces soldier himself, challenging such a historical giant would be like hitting a rock with an egg—he would be out in one round like other challengers and gain no attention.

Right, why not compete in literature instead?

Bai Chou finally realized his advantage wasn’t his combat skills but the countless famous classical lines he memorized in middle and high school, the many historical allusions he learned, and the unique worldview modern people have toward the ancients.

With this in mind, Bai Chou said to Zhao Yun, “I’ll give it a try!”

Without hesitation, he braced himself on the table and leapt onto the stage.

His entrance was much less impressive compared to previous challengers. Even the first man, who carried a ghost-headed blade and was the weakest of them all, had lightly jumped onto the stage from a distance of two steps.

The crowd below began to jeer. Everyone could guess that this kid wouldn’t last a round against Young Master Xin.

Xin Qiji sized up Bai Chou. His gaze neither showed disdain nor respect. As before, he first cupped his hands and asked, “Young brother, may I ask what weapon you use? If you fight bare-handed, I shall match you with fists and feet.”

Bai Chou returned the gesture and replied, “Brother Xin, you’ve misunderstood. I want to compete with you in literature.”

“Haha, this kid is interesting! He actually wants to compete in literature with Young Master Xin!”

“Yes, doesn’t he know that Young Master Xin is the premier talent of our Qizhou city?”

“Xin Qiji’s literary achievements even far surpass his martial skills. This kid can’t be a fool, can he?”

Amid the laughter, the crowd mocked him again.

Even Zhao Yun, standing beside Bai Chou, blushed from the ridicule and thought: Has Brother Chou really lost his mind? From Xin Qiji’s martial prowess just now, he’s undoubtedly a rare powerhouse of our time. If, as they say, his literary skills far exceed his martial ones, then Brother Chou’s defeat is inevitable.

Compete in literature?

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Xin Qiji was also taken aback; it seemed no one had challenged this category in nearly two months. He nodded and asked, “Do you know the rules?”

“Yes, I do. You must respond with the matching couplet within seven steps. If it’s a tie, then the audience will select the topic, and each side composes a poem,” Bai Chou replied.

“Good. Then young brother, please present the first line,” Xin Qiji gestured politely.

Bai Chou did not hesitate. Knowing there was no need to yield to one of China’s greatest literary masters, he thought: Since Xin Qiji is renowned alongside Su Shi, I’ll try Su Shi’s most famous piece, “Prelude to Water Melody,” to see whether these two “bold and unrestrained” poets write about the same subject similarly.

“People experience joy and sorrow, parting and reunion!” Bai Chou declared loudly.

Xin Qiji turned away, hands behind his back.

“One,”

“Two,”

“Three,”

The crowd, flushed with excitement, shouted in unison as Xin Qiji took his steps.

“Four,”

“Five,”

When Xin Qiji reached the sixth step, he stopped and answered, “The moon waxes and wanes, full and crescent. Young brother, are you satisfied with my couplet?”

Bai Chou’s mouth dropped open in shock. At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and Yuan dramas—Song Dynasty was famed for its lyrics, and the two most outstanding poets of the bold and unrestrained style, though one was from the Northern Song and the other from the Southern Song, at this moment they seemed to stand together. When masters engage, there is only mutual respect, a tacit understanding, and genuine appreciation.

Seeing Bai Chou silent, Xin Qiji asked, “Does this couplet not satisfy you?”

“No, no,” Bai Chou recovered quickly and waved his hand. “Brother Xin, your response is truly brilliant. I was merely savoring it.”

Xin Qiji smiled, “Then I’ll present the next topic. Since you chose ‘people,’ I’ll answer with ‘moon.’ May I use ‘moon’ as the theme?”

Bai Chou’s heart raced as he searched his mind for verses about the moon. After composing a few lines, he replied, “Please present the topic, Brother Xin.”

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“The moon in the well is like the moon in the sky!”

Hearing Xin Qiji’s first line, Bai Chou finally relaxed. He recalled that in middle school, his mother was obsessed with the TV drama “Love in a Fallen City,” which he had watched several times. Though not exactly the same as Xin Qiji’s line, the matching couplet was acceptable.

“Come on, what are you waiting for?”

“Standing still doesn’t count as a step—this guy’s shameless!”

The crowd jeered and mocked.

Bai Chou looked at Xin Qiji and responded, “The one in the eye is the person before us. Brother Xin, are you satisfied with this couplet?”

“The one in the eye is the person before us, the one in the eye is the person before us,” Xin Qiji repeated thoughtfully twice, then laughed heartily. “Just now, I matched ‘person’ with ‘moon,’ and young brother matched ‘moon’ with ‘person.’ Truly rare, truly rare!”

Although Xin Qiji did not think Bai Chou’s couplet was perfect, the fact that Bai Chou did not take a single step and instead reversed ‘moon’ and ‘person’ made Xin Qiji’s eyes brighten, prompting him to take this young man seriously.

Xin Qiji cupped his hands again and solemnly said, “I was remiss in not asking your honorable name.”

Bai Chou returned the gesture, “Bai Chou.”

The previously restless crowd fell silent. It was known that Xin Qiji had held these contests for over half a year, but this was the first time he had asked a challenger’s name so earnestly.

“Brother Bai, let us now begin the third contest. Could someone from the audience kindly present a topic for us?” Xin Qiji asked.

Bai Chou nodded, “I follow Brother Xin’s arrangement.”

Xin Qiji scanned the audience, but his expression suddenly changed. After a moment, he said to Bai Chou, “Brother Bai, I have an unusual request. I saw an old acquaintance among the crowd. Asking her to present a topic might seem like cheating, but today, as we are evenly matched, I cannot bear to let just anyone decide and spoil this occasion. But rest assured, she and I have never colluded privately. I can—”

Before Xin Qiji finished, Bai Chou waved his hand, “I fully trust Brother Xin’s character. Please, ask her to present the topic.”

Xin Qiji looked toward a distant corner of the crowd and called out loudly, “Lady Li, would you kindly present a topic for us?”

Following Xin Qiji’s gaze, Bai Chou noticed a woman standing at the edge of the crowd. She wore simple coarse cloth clothes, but her natural grace and noble bearing could not be concealed. Her naturally beautiful face seemed to hold a trace of wisdom.

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