Chapter 130: The Mountain Echo Cup Begins, Wang Mo’s First Poem!

To promote the "Shanyin Cup," Douyin had been running advertisements on its platform for several days. However, the initial ads were precision-targeted, reaching only users interested in literature and poetry. It wasn't until two or three days before the event that Douyin launched a massive, full-network promotional campaign.

Instantly, the buzz surrounding the "Shanyin Cup" surged. Many users flocked to the event page, discussing it with great enthusiasm. Students from university literature departments and other literary enthusiasts were particularly excited to see that Feng Qi and Zhu Han were participating.

"Holy cow, Feng and Zhu?"
"These two are true titans of the poetry world. Many of the poetry collections I've read include their work."
"They were staples in our extracurricular reading back in high school."

Some users began to explain for those out of the loop. A user named "Butterfly" posted: "Teacher Feng Qi is known as the 'Fast Spear' because he writes poetry with incredible speed, all while maintaining top-tier quality. Teacher Zhu Han is known as the 'Silver Spear'; every poem he writes is unique and as brilliant as shimmering silver. The two have frequently clashed in extracurricular books, magazines, and literary societies, each with their own victories. You could say that wherever both appear, a battle is sure to follow. Their rivalry is known as the 'Clash of the Twin Spears.' It looks like we’re in for another spectacular duel now that they’re both joining the 'Shanyin Cup'."

Soon after, others began posting the two masters' works in the video comments. The response was a chorus of astonishment.

"My god, 'Screen Window' was actually written by Feng Qi?"
"That poem 'The Secret of the Pebble' was a nightmare in my childhood reading assignments. I only just realized today it was written by Zhu Han."
"They really are legends."
"It's not just them; the other dozen members of the Shanshui Society are all incredibly gifted too."

It was clear that the discussion was almost entirely focused on the "Clash of the Twin Spears" and the other Shanshui Society members. As for the influencers? Ninety-nine percent of users ignored them entirely. Only a few left comments.

"Aren't there a few talented people among the influencers?"
"Yeah, like Tan Mo Xiaoyu or Shou Wo Feng Yun. I've watched them write poetry in their live streams, and I think they have a great sense of artistic atmosphere."
"The truly talented one is 'Xilou,' right?"
"Exactly, Xilou is a genuine talent. That piece, 'Facing the Sea, with Spring Blossoms,' really warmed my heart."

However, even the die-hard fans of "Xilou" did not believe he had the capability to go toe-to-toe with the titans of the Shanshui Society. In their eyes, Xilou was at best on par with the "fledgling" members of the society. But this time, the Shanshui Society members attending were at least at the "emerging talent" level. There was simply no comparison.

...

At Douyin, the team in charge of the "Shanyin Cup" was working around the clock preparing for the symposium. The director, Jiang Liang, looked through his computer and asked his subordinate, "Has the final list for the live stream been confirmed?"

The subordinate nodded. "All confirmed. The Shanshui Society will have 18 participants, no changes. There are 27 influencers from Douyin, with Xilou and 'Sleeping with Eyes Closed' being the final two to confirm today."

"Excellent," Jiang Liang said. "Although the Shanshui Society is the core of this 'Shanyin Cup,' the participation of the influencers is equally important for live-streaming and promotion. By the way, have the opening poems from the society members and the influencers arrived?"

"Five are still missing."
"Send a reminder."
"Understood."

After the subordinate left to make calls, Jiang Liang picked up the schedule for the "Shanyin Cup" symposium to check for any oversights. The event was to span three days:

Day One: All participants must prepare an opening poem. The requirement: Write a poem or lyric based on your pen name or screen name, using it to explain the origin of your name. This poem serves as an admission ticket; the quality will immediately distinguish the skilled from the mediocre.

Day Two: A free-form session. Participants can write whatever they wish—ancient or modern, new or previously unpublished works. This is a day for everyone to showcase their absolute best.

Day Three: The true test. Douyin and the Shanshui Society will present a prompt, and users can participate in setting the topic. Participants must compose poetry on the spot. This day is the ultimate test of their quick thinking and mastery of the craft.

As of now, Jiang Liang had already received most of the opening poems. As a graduate of the Qingbei University literature department, his own poetic skills were not at the level of Feng Qi or Zhu Han, but if he were in the Shanshui Society, he would at least be considered an "emerging talent." As he scrolled through the dozens of opening poems on his computer, he was deeply moved.

"The Shanshui Society members are as good as their reputation. Every poem is exquisite—some stirring, some mournful, some bold, some understated."

He was particularly impressed by the contributions of Feng Qi and Zhu Han. Feng Qi, writing under the pen name "Banana Guest," used a five-character quatrain to convey the grandeur of a banana tree and his own ethereal, classical persona. Zhu Han, using his own name "Hanyang" (which means 'cultivation' or 'composure'), wrote a lyric that explored the deeper, nuanced meaning behind the concept of "composure."

Looking at the two pieces, Jiang Liang sighed in admiration: "The Twin Spears are truly legendary. Either of these could easily be included in this year's anthology of excellent poetry."

However, when his eyes turned to the works of the influencers, he sighed again. The disparity was glaring. Most of the twenty-odd influencers had simply piled up flowery language. To a layman, they might seem decent, but anyone with a basic understanding of poetry could see that they lacked substance and atmosphere, and many even failed to follow basic tonal patterns or rhyme schemes. Only two or three were barely passable.

Jiang Liang understood, of course—they were just influencers. Could he really expect them to compete with the masters of the Shanshui Society? Still, deep down, he hoped for at least one influencer who could hold their own against the lowest-ranked member of the Shanshui Society. After all, if the influencers performed too poorly, it would be embarrassing for the Douyin brand.

It seemed he had expected too much. Rubbing his tired eyes, he asked his subordinate, "Have the remaining five arrived?"

"Four have sent theirs in. Only Xilou said to wait a moment longer."

The subordinate forwarded the four poems. Jiang Liang browsed through them quickly, his face darkening with disappointment; none were up to standard. He was just about to shut down his computer to rest when he remembered the name. "Xilou? The one who wrote 'Facing the Sea, with Spring Blossoms'?"

"Yes," the subordinate confirmed.

Jiang Liang’s eyes lit up. He had taken note of Xilou before, as it was rare for an influencer to gain millions of followers based purely on talent. Since that famous poem had spread so widely online, he knew this creator possessed genuine skill, unlike those who relied on empty fame.

A final flicker of hope ignited in his heart. "I hope Xilou can step up and save some face for the Douyin influencers. He doesn't need to be earth-shatteringly brilliant, just on par with an 'emerging talent' from the Shanshui Society."

"Remind Xilou again," Jiang Liang instructed. "As soon as his poem arrives, bring it to me immediately."

...

When Wang Mo received the reminder from the Douyin staff, he realized that participating in the "Shanyin Cup" required an opening poem.

"Write a poem based on my pen name?" he mused.

This wasn't difficult for him. Even without the system's help, his knowledge from his past life provided him with several classic poems containing the word "Xilou" (Western Pavilion).

*Who sends a letter from the clouds? When the wild geese return, the moon fills the Western Pavilion.*
*Ink-black clouds drag rain past the Western Pavilion. The water flows east, the evening mist recedes.*
*From now on, I have no heart for a beautiful night; let the bright moon descend the Western Pavilion.*

To him, any of these classics would suffice. But which one was the most fitting? He struggled for a long time before blinking. "Why am I hesitating? The system wants me to take first place, so I have to give it my all."

"If that's the case, my friends from the Shanshui Society... I'm sorry."

Wang Mo whispered to himself, opened his email, and began to type.

*Xiang Jian Huan: Silently, I Climb the Western Pavilion Alone*
*Silently, I climb the Western Pavilion alone, the moon is like a hook. The lonely parasol tree locks the clear autumn in the deep courtyard.*
*It cannot be severed, it is messy to sort out; it is the sorrow of parting, a peculiar taste in the heart.*

Done.

He clicked send.

...

Back at Douyin, just as Jiang Liang was about to close his eyes, he heard his subordinate shout with surprise, "Boss Jiang! Xilou's poem is here!"

"Oh?" Jiang Liang’s sleepiness vanished instantly. "Quick, send it over!"

As he waited, his heart hammered with nervous anticipation. "Please," he prayed silently, "show some skill. Don't let it be too bad..."