C9 The Ninth Chapter!

Upon hearing Lin Han's description, coupled with the vivid image of the woman from earlier, the little fatty burst into uncontrollable laughter. Once he caught his breath, he seemed to savor Lin Han's words, as if they were surprisingly poetic.

The scholarly-looking fellow appeared to have some substance to him. The little fatty thought that having such a companion for the Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Meet would be excellent, especially in case of an emergency. With this in mind, his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"You... travel together with me? That seems a bit much..."

Lin Han observed the little fatty's antics, clearly seeing through his scheming. The idea of traveling together did carry some risks. What if the guy was gay? Would his virtue be at stake? But this was a golden opportunity he couldn't afford to miss. Lin Han weighed his options internally.

"Yes, indeed. The Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Meet is being held on the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, a boat in the center of the lake. To get there, one needs a boat. My family... well, I'm not particularly skilled, but our boat is quite sizable. Traveling together would certainly be more convenient..."

The little fatty seemed to be a novice at deception, his gaze shifting nervously and his hands unsure of where to rest. His nostrils flared as if he was on the verge of revealing his true intentions.

Lin Han had been unaware that the Poetry Meet was taking place on a boat. Now presented with such an opportunity, he couldn't possibly pass it up. Observing the little fatty's performance, Lin Han quickly formulated a plan.

"Traveling together isn't out of the question. Since you've extended such a heartfelt invitation, I'll graciously accept... Where is your boat docked? Let's head there now..."

With an air of a sage, Lin Han addressed the little fatty nonchalantly, then confidently moved to stand before him, exuding the aura of a leader who recognized the little fatty's discernment.

The little fatty, caught off guard, stood frozen, his fingers quivering as he pointed at Lin Han. He seemed to struggle to find the right words, ultimately failing to articulate his thoughts.

"You... You... How can you be so utterly shameless..."

After much effort, the little chubby boy finally found the words to express his indignation. Indeed, it's in moments like these that one regrets not having read more books. He thought he was shameless enough, but to his surprise, on his first outing, he encountered someone even more brazen.

"My apologies, my apologies. I am Lin Han. May I inquire about your name...?"

Far from being embarrassed, Lin Han unabashedly accepted the comment, even feigning a modest demeanor as if he hadn't earned such 'praise.' This left the little chubby boy and the two obvious guards behind him speechless. How could there be such an odd character in this world?

"Can't you tell I'm not complimenting you?"

The little chubby boy was on the verge of tears as he spoke to Lin Han with irritation.

"No worries, I'll just take it as a compliment. Anyway, what should I call you?"

Lin Han gestured dismissively, as if he wasn't bothered in the slightest. However, he was secretly breaking out in a cold sweat. The little chubby boy's sexual orientation seemed ambiguous, and if Lin Han were to act too normally, it could spell trouble if he caught the boy's eye. Money is valuable, but honor is priceless. For the sake of one's dignity, both can be forsaken. Lin Han was definitely straight!

"My last name is Moo, and my first name is Lingfei..."

Moo Lingfei began to stutter as he said his name, glancing nervously at Lin Han as if he feared being recognized. The two guards behind him mirrored his anxious demeanor, fixating on Lin Han as if trying to discern something from his expression.

"Uh, it's just a name. Why the stutter? Do you think everyone in this area should know who you are? That's a problem... it needs treatment... Look at me. Even though I'm not active in the martial world, my legend lives on there. One must be humble in their actions..."

Lin Han gave Moo Lingfei a look of exasperation and sighed deeply, speaking in a tone that seemed to school a junior.

Unbeknownst to Moo Lingfei, Lin Han's demeanor struck his two guards as utterly bizarre. In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, the Moo surname was far from ordinary. Was this young man feigning ignorance, or was he genuinely clueless?

"Yes... Yes... You're absolutely right..."

Moo Lingfei let out a palpable sigh of relief, instinctively echoing the sentiment, though a sense of loss lingered within him. He realized he was truly insignificant; even a scholar didn't recognize him. It dawned on him that without making a name for himself, he would never grasp his own insignificance. Little did Moo Lingfei know, Lin Han's ignorance stemmed from the fact that he wasn't even from this world.

Approaching the larger sampan Moo Lingfei had mentioned, Lin Han was taken aback by its size. The "slightly larger" boat Moo Lingfei referred to was as tall as a three-story building and stretched over ten meters long. Comparing it to the other small boats around, Lin Han cast a meaningful glance at Moo Lingfei, realizing this young man was a master at subtle boasting.

The air was filled with snippets of conversation from the nearby boats, focusing on a poem about the moon, reportedly penned by Young Master Bai.

The moon hangs cold in the sky, seen by all across the seas. Far away, I know, there are lovers lost in reverie.

"What a splendid poem... truly splendid... Young Master Bai truly deserves his reputation as a distinguished poet. Had this poem not already been widely circulated, he would undoubtedly have taken the crown at this year's Mid-Autumn Poetry Competition..."

Even Moo Lingfei, who accompanied Lin Han, couldn't help but nod in appreciation upon hearing the poem. The sight of the chubby man swaying as he critiqued was somewhat comical, yet Lin Han's keen eyes caught the underlying disappointment and envy. Clearly, Moo Lingfei placed great importance on his standing in the Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Competition.

Observing Moo Lingfei, Lin Han surmised that the man must be quite wealthy. As he watched the little fatty sway and recite the poem, Lin Han's eyes gleamed with calculation. He then sank into contemplation within the library. When he finally opened his eyes, no one around him noticed the fleeting spark of insight that had crossed his gaze.

"What... You call that a poem?"

Lin Han feigned shock as he gazed at Moo Lingfei, his eyes brimming with pity and sympathy. Though there was no hint of contempt, Moo Lingfei couldn't shake the feeling that he was being scorned.

"Do you have any insights, Mr. Lin?"

It wasn't Moo Lingfei who spoke, but rather a guard standing behind him, who seemed quite irritated by Lin Han's behavior. Clearly, Lin Han's antics had dampened the mood.

This was precisely the reaction Lin Han was hoping for. Without someone to engage with, he wasn't sure how to proceed. He looked at the guard with eyes full of appreciation; it was rare to find such a kind soul.

"I wouldn't say it's an insight. I just noticed that this poem is nothing more than whining. How can it be considered good?"

Lin Han glanced at the guard with disdain before turning to Moo Lingfei with a warm demeanor. He thought it best to be gentle with this potential patron. After all, this man might just be his next client.

"Whining?"

Moo Lingfei couldn't contain himself any longer, his curiosity piqued. In truth, he was as uneducated in the arts as any nobleman could be, a complete novice in the realm of poetry. His earlier display was nothing more than a pretense.

He had no clue about these matters...