Dreams Begin in Your Land Chapter Three: At the Literary Gathering, Three Men Clash Beneath the Bell Tower

Finally, the day of the literary gathering arrived. The two rose especially early and, even on the way, began imagining how they would display their talents before the crowd. The ruffian in particular chuckled quietly as they walked. After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at Ruzhou’s largest tavern—The Bell Tower. This was Zhu Shengzhiyin’s establishment and the venue for today’s gathering.

“There’s no bell here at all. I don’t get why it’s called that. Zhu Shengzhiyin must be out of his mind,” the ruffian remarked. “Watch your words; don’t offend him before we’ve even met,” Ji replied. They found a table inside the tavern and settled down, casually observing their surroundings. Suddenly, the ruffian let out a loud shout, startling nearby patrons. “Sorry, sorry!” Ji apologized repeatedly.

“What’s the big deal?” Ji asked, somewhat annoyed.

“Look at what’s written on the wall!” The ruffian’s expression grew complicated as he glanced at Ji.

“The wall… what could possibly be on the wall?” Ji turned his head to look and suddenly exclaimed, startling everyone again and prompting more apologies from Ji. On the wall was a quote from Confucius: “The wise are free from doubts; the benevolent are free from worries; the brave are free from fear.” Such a phrase seemed entirely out of place here!

“Do you think Zhu Shengzhiyin might be a time traveler? He looks oddly familiar,” the ruffian said nervously to Ji.

“Whether he is or not, we’ll find out soon enough. But we must be careful—he’s a master at the Yuan level. If things go wrong, we can’t just run away,” Ji adjusted his nonexistent glasses. “I trust him. He’s a good man,” the ruffian declared confidently. (Remember that.)

Captain Zhu arrived with a shout, drawing everyone’s attention to the second floor. There sat a bald man of about fifty on a throne. To their surprise, he was surrounded not by maidens but by three handsome men. The ruffian exchanged a thoughtful glance with Ji but said nothing.

“Today’s topic is: Compose a poem or lyric on the theme of ambition,” Zhu Shengzhiyin announced without hesitation. “You have half an hour. Begin!”

At his command, the crowd hurriedly began to compose. Only Ji and the ruffian remained relaxed; the ruffian was even daydreaming about lunch. Soon, the half hour passed, and participants began reciting their works. One by one, the poems were read until only three remained. Ji and the ruffian looked toward the final competitor—Ruzhou’s top talent, Fan Wei Ji. Wearing a confident smile, he recited his poem:

Soaring ambition, spirit like a rainbow,
Riding winds and waves, mighty through ten thousand miles.
Iron bones uphold righteousness,
A loyal heart lights the vast sky.
Not seeking fame and fortune together,
Only wishing for a land of splendor.
Resolute and unwavering on the path of dreams,
Singing boldly, proud beneath the heavens.

“The theme is—Song of Lofty Ambition.”

“Well done! Young Master Fan will surely be today’s champion!” the crowd praised.

“Alright, the other two need not present; they can’t surpass Master Fan. That’s all for today. Please continue to enjoy the food and drink!” Zhu Shengzhiyin stood to leave.

“Wait! My poem can definitely outshine this little Master Fan!” the ruffian interjected urgently.

“Oh? Then recite it,” Zhu Shengzhiyin sat back down.

“Listen carefully. My poem is called ‘Little Pine.’” The title made the crowd laugh. “You think this will beat Master Fan? Dream on!”

But the ruffian proceeded:

A stubborn sprout deep in the grass,
Now slowly emerging from the weeds.
The world fails to recognize the soaring tree,
Only when it reaches the clouds do they call it tall.

The crowd was stunned into silence, and even Zhu Shengzhiyin, who had been about to leave, froze. Ji then said, “I’m no poet, but here’s one from me: ‘After Failing, I Compose a Chrysanthemum.’” Before anyone could react, he recited:

When autumn comes on the eighth of September,
My flower blooms and kills all others.
A fragrant storm sweeps through Ruzhou,
The whole city bathed in golden armor.

The audience was utterly speechless. “Excellent, excellent, excellent!” Zhu Shengzhiyin exclaimed thrice. “Though I’m a simple man, I can tell who writes well. These two poems lack ornate language but use metaphor to express ambition beautifully. What are your names?”

At that moment, the two realized Zhu Shengzhiyin was no time traveler—otherwise, how could he not recognize such famous poems? As for the Confucius quote, it must have been a coincidence.

“My name is Ji,” said one.

“And I am the Ruffian,” said the other.

“Ruffian? That name sounds familiar.” Zhu Shengzhiyin pondered, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, you’re the adopted son of the Southern King, Young Master Chi! I’ve heard much about you! Please, come join me for a drink,” he said to his subordinates.

The two exchanged a glance and slowly ascended the stairs.

“Hahaha, Young Master Chi, I’ve long admired you. What brings you to Ruzhou?”

“Oh, my brother Ji is a native of Ruzhou. As for me, I’ve come to discuss great matters with you.”

Then the ruffian began explaining their plan, with Ji adding details. Zhu Shengzhiyin’s strategist, Fan Wei Ji, analyzed the pros and cons alongside them. Soon, the three reached an agreement. Zhu Shengzhiyin proposed a friendly contest with the ruffian, using only the power of the Hao realm. For the sake of cooperation, the ruffian agreed. Ji also requested to join the fight, clarifying he was only at the Hu realm and wouldn’t affect the battle’s outcome.

“Damn, you’ve reached the Hu realm? Truly a genius!” the ruffian whispered to Ji.

“If my brother wants to join, then so be it. Captain Zhu, I trust you don’t mind?” Ji said.

“Hahaha, no problem. Let’s see what you young ones can do!” Zhu Shengzhiyin declared.

He sent his servants to prepare the ground on the first floor, and the fight soon attracted a large crowd eager to watch. When everything was ready,

Zhu Shengzhiyin stood with his hands behind his back, his aura restrained and unassuming. The ruffian and Ji exchanged a knowing glance and, in a flash, attacked simultaneously from left and right. The ruffian’s punches roared like dragons, while Ji’s movements were elusive and fluid, like a ghost.

At first, Zhu Shengzhiyin handled their attacks with ease, using only Hao-level power. But as their assaults grew fiercer, he had to unleash more strength. His aura exploded, kicking up dust as the three figures intertwined in a fierce battle. The ruffian and Ji coordinated seamlessly, offense and defense in harmony, gradually forcing Zhu Shengzhiyin to retreat. Suddenly, Ji took a risky move, aiming a precise strike from a difficult angle. A slight misstep, and he would have been counterattacked.

Yet, as Ji predicted, Zhu Shengzhiyin had to break his suppression just to block the move.

“Sigh, I’ve lost! I thought you just wanted to gain experience, but you’re clearly a genius rivaling Young Master Chi. The young are truly formidable!” Zhu Shengzhiyin said, looking at Ji with a spark in his eyes that made Ji uneasy.

Afterwards, Zhu Shengzhiyin treated them to a banquet. The ruffian returned to the Dragon Soaring Inn, while Ji went back home.

“Home is still the best,” Ji mused, reviewing the day’s achievements and planning for the future, before drifting off to sleep...