Soul Bound to All Lands, Love Shared with No One

Qin, chess, calligraphy... In these three contests, apart from the chess match with Wendy Summers, Serena Feng hadn’t done a single thing the normal way. Master Marcus Wynn genuinely wanted to crack open Serena’s head and see what on earth she was thinking.

“Master Marcus Wynn is absolutely right. I do intend to write my calligraphy on grains of rice,” Serena replied calmly.

“How is that even possible? You can write on rice grains?” Not only did Master Marcus Wynn find it unbelievable, but everyone else was equally stunned—except for Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan, whose expression remained unchanged. He finally understood why Serena had never worried about competing with Wendy Summers: she’d had a plan all along...

Serena’s strategy, just like her approach to chess, was bizarre and unpredictable—she thought of things no one else would dare imagine.

“What’s impossible about it? Master Marcus Wynn, don’t underestimate the power of rice grains. They may be small, but their uses are anything but,” Serena said, picking up a single grain and holding it between her fingers. “Master Marcus, do you really doubt I can write on rice?”

So... should he believe her or not?

Master Marcus Wynn hesitated. It wasn’t an easy question to answer. Of course he didn’t believe it, but looking at Serena’s confident face, he felt she was almost certain to succeed. If he said no and Serena actually managed to write on rice, how would he save face?

But if he said yes, it would seem as if he was taking Serena’s side—and he was a judge. A judge had to be impartial.

Serena didn’t wait for Master Marcus Wynn’s answer. She continued on her own, “Miss Wendy Summers can write on silk, so of course I can write on rice. The rules of the calligraphy contest never said you must use a brush on paper.”

Serena was exploiting a loophole. Every rule has its gaps; not just these ad hoc contests—even the laws of the land have loopholes to be found.

"There really isn't such a rule," Old Master Yan nodded, effectively granting Serena permission to write on rice.

Wendy Summers frowned. In the past, she’d have dismissed Serena’s antics as mere attention-seeking, but after the stringless zither and yesterday’s chess duel, Wendy knew Serena was cunning—yet she couldn’t openly refute her.

"Miss Feng, are you really going to write on rice grains? You have hundreds of grains there—surely you won’t just write one character per grain?" Wendy said with apparent concern, but her real intent was to set a trap for Serena.

No one present was a fool; they all understood. Before Serena could reply, Master Marcus Wynn interjected, "Miss Wendy Summers, that’s not for you to worry about. The seven of us judges will decide the outcome; you just focus on your own calligraphy."

As soon as Marcus finished speaking, he felt a chill sweep over him. Glancing sideways, he met the gaze of Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan Arden, who silently warned him not to meddle in Serena’s affairs.

Marcus raised his chin, ready to toss a provocative look back, but Nolan’s warning instantly turned murderous. Marcus tensed, then feigned indifference and looked away, as if above such petty squabbles.

Hmph... Ninth Royal Uncle snorted coldly, not even bothering to spare Marcus another glance.

What a brat, acting all high and mighty.

Marcus kept a straight face, but inwardly cursed Nolan from start to finish. In the end, he attributed Nolan’s ability to dominate him at such a young age to his bloodline—the Lan clan’s heirs were born royals.

Two men, more than ten years apart in age, yet quarreling over a woman. What’s more, neither bothered to hide it—they openly competed for her attention in front of everyone. Truly... a loss of dignity.