Pagoda Immortality

"The independent stone bridge, the shadows of people do not follow the flowing water."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, there were whispers in the audience.

Some people frowned, some people's eyes lit up, some people put on a flattering smile and asked questions to others but often received blank looks. Some people sighed, thinking that this question was too difficult and did not have high hopes.

In fact, most of the thousands of people present were just here to join in the fun, and not many expected to stand out among the thousands of flowers.

Lu Li, who was standing aside, couldn't help but frown slightly as he thought.

This first couplet is not simple. It not only contains some sad thoughts, but also contains some philosophy. It is not difficult to make the wording neat, but it is not so easy to fit the artistic conception.

If running water is compared to time, and people and shadows are seen separately as virtuality and reality, there may even be some great truth in it.

Lu Li seemed to have some realization, but he felt extremely hazy. He couldn't help but feel a little crazy for a moment, as if something was about to break out of its shell, but it encountered some kind of obstacle.

While everyone was racking their brains and thinking hard, two rows of City Lord's Mansion guards suddenly walked up from below the square, passing through the middle of the crowd, dividing the crowd participating in the competition into two, forming two square formations in the east and west.

The number of people in the two phalanxes is roughly the same, with more than 500 people in each.

Lu Li is located in the western square formation.

Everyone didn't know why, but seeing that these guards didn't do anything after they stood still, they continued to think hard.

The old man with white beard sat on the big chair in front of the hall and waited quietly.

When the red incense around him was almost gone, he slowly stood up and walked along the empty path between the two rows of guards to the entrance of the square. Then he turned around and looked at the phalanx to the west and said loudly:

"In the first round of selection, the west side will answer, and the east side will take a break."

Hearing this, everyone in the east suddenly felt relieved, especially those who had been thinking hard and couldn't get the result, and secretly said good luck.

Everyone in the square formation on Lu Li's side had grim faces, and most of them looked unlucky.

The old man ignored everyone's expressions, put one hand behind his back, and looked at the people in front of him: "Come forward one by one to answer. I will leave those who nod and leave the house if you shake your head. Don't stay, otherwise you will be served in jail!"

After the words fell, the crowd in the west lineup suddenly became commotion, but no one was willing to take the lead.

The old man frowned, called two guards, and asked them to start counting people from front to back, and then everyone had to step forward to answer.

The first person to be called forward was a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old. When he came to the old man, he hesitated and said, "Reply to Sir, my second line is 'deep alley, the beauty at the intersection is waiting for the money'."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned, and then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you can't tell, this little guy is not very old, but he has quite a lot of experience!"

"Vulgar, degrading to politeness, simply degrading to politeness!"

"Wonderful! So wonderful!"

"..."

Everyone was talking about it, and everyone had their own opinions, but most of them shook their heads, thinking that this sentence had no chance of passing the test.

However, the final decision still lies with the old man in white.

After everyone laughed for a short time, they looked at the old man in white, wanting to see how the other person would judge, so as to have some idea of ​​the next response.

This old man in white is named Qiao Feimu. He is one of the two remaining guests of the city lord's palace. He has always been calm and usually does not show his emotions easily.

But after hearing the young man's words, he frowned and pointed at the door behind him: "You are ignorant! Get out!"

Hearing this, the young man's face suddenly turned green and red, but he did not dare to contradict Qiao Feimu. After he handed over his hands and confessed, he walked out of the gate of the city lord's mansion without looking back.

The people on the west side had already formed two long lines under the guidance of two guards.

As soon as the young man left, a middle-aged man in plain clothes walked up to the front of the team. He bowed slightly and said, "My second line is 'Sleeping in the barren mountains at night, the sound of tigers, leopards and wolves comes to my ears.'"

As soon as these words came out, many people immediately nodded slightly. It can't be said to be excellent, but at least it is much more reliable than the young man just now.

Qiao Feimu pondered for a moment, nodded, and said nothing.

The middle-aged man looked happy, clasped his fists in thanks, and stood on the other side.

Next, without the two guards opening their mouths, the people behind them stepped forward one after another, and all kinds of words were blurted out one after another. Qiao Feimu mostly shook his head, rarely nodded, but never spoke again.

Until someone said, "Sing high in the valley, and the good news will echo out of the wall."

Qiao Feimu clapped his hands in a rare gesture, "Okay!"

He said, pointing to the seats in front of the hall, "You can go and sit down and wait."

After hearing this, everyone else sighed that this person had made such a good match, and at the same time they couldn't help but be a little envious that this person had been directly promoted.

You know, the two people who passed through before were just waiting on the side and did not get the chance to sit down.

Seeing this, Lu Li in the team couldn't help but secretly praise this person for his abilities. It seems that it is not that simple to stand out in this literary competition.

At this time, there were less than a hundred people left in front of Lu Li.

As the team continued to move forward, everyone's answers were quite satisfactory.

Except for an unreliable fat man shouting, "I'm in bed, waiting for my wife to wash her feet." ’ Qiao Feimu yelled to get out of here, but he basically nodded and shook his head the rest of the time.

Of course, there were also some people who had no clue and were afraid of offending Qiao Feimu, so they simply chose to abstain and walked out of the house.

The team is crawling, and the screening has come to an end.

At this time, it was Lu Li's turn who was relatively behind.

Lu Li had made many people angry because he had hit people before and said that he did not show favor to everyone. Now they were all waiting to see his joke. Therefore, before he even started to answer, he had already caused a burst of gossip among the people in the east.

Qiao Feimu frowned and drank softly before the noise stopped.

Lu Li looked calm, clasped his fists and said, "My second line is 'Looking at the moon alone, homesickness chases the bright moon again'."

"The independent stone bridge, the shadows of people do not follow the flowing water."

"Looking at the moon alone, homesickness chases the bright moon again."

"Hahaha! Okay! Great...!"

As soon as Lu Li finished speaking, Qiao Feimu couldn't help stroking his beard and burst into laughter. He admired Lu Li extremely much. Regardless of the ugly looks on some people's faces, he praised again:

"This couplet was personally tested by the City Lord. I have thought hard for a long time but never thought of a suitable second couplet. I never expected that such a difficult problem could be solved easily by you, little friend!"

Lu Li smiled and said humbly: "Sir, that's a ridiculous compliment. There are still some flaws in it. However, I have limited talent and knowledge. I really can't think of anything more suitable."

"Haha! My little friend is too modest. The figures and nostalgia are all illusory. The water flows back and forth endlessly, and the bright moon comes and goes in an endless cycle. If I have to choose one, then only the first four words are slightly wrong.

But such a second line, in my opinion, is already absolute. I might be able to change the first sentence by forcing it, but I might lose the charm of the second half! "

Seeing that the other party gave such a high evaluation, Lu Li also gave him enough respect. He bowed again and said with a smile: "The old gentleman is knowledgeable and hits the nail on the head. I admire him!"

What a piece of shit luck!

Seeing the two chatting and laughing, some people couldn't help but feel sour in their hearts.

Qiao Feimu was very satisfied with Lu Li's performance and said with a smile: "My dear friend, he is polite and easy-going. He is going to accomplish great things. Please take a seat in front of me. I will come and discuss with you after I finish testing others."