“The road to Penglai is not far, the tadpoles diligently explore. Gua, beautiful, beautiful! This suits my state of mind perfectly. Lord Liang is a great talent, Liang Qu is a great talent!”
The Old Toad grew more delighted the more he read, more joyful the more he recited, waving his webbed claws.
“Quick, quick, quick! Another one! Another one!”
“Lord Toad, composing verses is not easy at all.”
Liang Qu massaged his temples, looking as if he had overtaxed his mind and was unbearably fatigued. The Old Toad feigned confusion.
“Then why not see me again in a couple of days? Lord Liang, rest more, create more!”
“I can’t rest, I can’t create. Without eating Treasure Fish, I can’t think of good poems!”
Liang Qu cut straight to the point, laying his cards on the table.
“What does composing poetry have to do with Treasure Fish? Lord Liang, you are a pillar of the Frog Clan. Your behavior is too worldly. How are you contributing to the Frog Clan? Besides, I risked my life, labored hard to accompany you to this freezing land, so dry and cold that my frog skin is all wrinkled, and you won’t even part with a few poems?”
The Old Toad folded his arms, greatly displeased.
“I had thought to worry a few more years and then pass the position of Frog Clan elder to you. Seeing this now, absolutely not, you still need tempering!”
“I gave some!”