After finishing editing “Early Plum Blossoms,” Fang Yun continued to practice calligraphy and study.

Zhou Zhubu had asked him to delay writing “Fox Rhyme,” but Fang Yun occasionally wrote a section while practicing calligraphy. Today, after finishing the last section, Fang Yun covered it with a blank page and solemnly wrote “Fox Rhyme.”

Nu Nu happily pounced on it, rolling around and not caring about getting ink on her. All the ink would naturally fall off when it touched her.

At the same time, Fang Yun felt a disturbance in his literary palace and immediately entered it.

Fang Yun was amazed to find that his own talent had grown to ten inches due to the completion of “Fox Rhyme” and the accumulation of the past few days. Once he broke through, he would become an accomplished scholar.

Fang Yun immediately looked up at the literary palace starry sky, and the vortex of the Courage to Write was still there. A new star, comparable to “Inscription of an Old Cottage,” had appeared in the sky.

“Although ‘Fox Rhyme’ is not bad, it cannot compare to ‘Inscription of an Old Cottage.’ However, this new star is so bright that it is probably because ‘Fox Rhyme’ has a powerful enlightenment effect and is of great significance to the Holy Origin continent. Even if the literary talent is insufficient, the literary ability is extremely strong. Although not a great talent, there is great merit! No wonder Zhou Zhubu used the people of the punishment hall to seal it.”

Fang Yun also saw that the two stars representing “Dream Record of the Pillow” and “Three Character Classic” were growing the fastest, especially “Three Character Classic,” which was only circulated in various literary institutes, academies, or private schools in Dayuan Prefecture. It had become so bright, indicating that its educational effect was great.

“It seems that choosing to write children’s reading materials was the right decision. Although I have no great talent, I have great merit, which greatly helps my literary talent.”

“Should I stay home and practice until I become an accomplished scholar instead of participating in demon hunting?”

Fang Yun was thinking about it when the vortex of the Courage to Write suddenly slowed down.

“Not good! If I don’t have the Courage to Write, it’s okay to retreat when encountering demons. But I have already written the three and a half characters of ‘Song of Righteousness’ to form the vortex of the Courage to Write. In the future, I must rely on ‘Song of Righteousness’ to condense the Courage to Write. If I have no courage now, what face will I have to talk about the Path of the Saints in the future! Since I have chosen the path of righteousness, to perfect my righteousness and integrity, I cannot fear Demon Barbarians! I will sacrifice myself for righteousness! Besides, an accomplished scholar talks about battles on paper and laughs at battles on the battlefield. If I want to become an accomplished scholar before becoming a saint, it is impossible without experiencing demon hunting!”

The vortex of the Courage to Write suddenly accelerated.

“Moreover, the faster I take one step, the faster I take every step. Others can only receive a talent from heaven once when they become a Child Scholar, but I have received it twice. If I become an accomplished scholar before becoming a saint and take the exam again, it will be four times!”

Fang Yun looked at the vortex of the Courage to Write again and thought of the God of Literature’s movements.

“I wonder when I will be able to trigger the God of Literature’s movement.”

Fang Yun left the literary palace and continued to study, consolidating his talent and striving to break through as soon as possible.

On the other side of Dayuan City, Liu Zicheng visited Zhuang Wei, who was resting in bed.

Liu Zicheng handed him a bottle of top-grade skin-regenerating ointment, which contained the skin of a Demon Elephant and the glue of a Demon Turtle. “This will ensure that you will scab over in two days and be as good as new in five days.”

“Zi Cheng, my brother-in-law couldn’t help you. Instead, he helped that cunning Fang Yun and was forced to swear an oath. I’m sorry for you guys.” Zhuang Wei took the medicine bottle with guilt.

Liu Zicheng said, “Family members don’t need to mince words. If I were in your shoes, I might not do better than you. Who would have thought that Fang Yun was so cunning and deliberately set a trap for you with Li Wenying’s poem.”

Zhuang Wei knew that Fang Yun didn’t even know that he was going to destroy the poem, and it was his own fault that he brought it upon himself. But hearing Liu Zicheng say that made him feel happy.”You swear on your Courage to Write that you will not ‘actively’ support our Liu family in the future, but our Liu family will not shake your Courage to Write. You did not say that you cannot become an official within five years. Brother-in-law, what do you think?”

Zhuang Weihen said, “I cannot take the exam for five years, and my Courage to Write will inevitably be worn down. It’s better to enter officialdom early!”

“The Academy is not an option for you, but it’s better to go to the army in the north under the guise of redemption. The military has four large armies in the north. One was destroyed by the Wolf Savage last year, one is barely holding on, another is impenetrable, and the last is under the control of Uncle Gong. Do you want to go to the military or take the civil service route?”

Zhuang Weihen hesitated and asked, “Is it safe in the military?”

“Those Talented Scholars can still die in battle. I’ll give you a position as a book manager and a military officer. You won’t go to the battlefield, just recite some ‘poems of expedition’ and ‘poems of encouragement’ before the battle, and ‘poems of calming the hearts of soldiers’ after the battle. What are you afraid of?”

“Okay! I want to go to the north as soon as possible. I don’t want to stay in Jiangzhou.”

Liu Zicheng nodded and asked, “What do you think of Fang Yun?”

Zhuang Weihen was not an extremely despicable person like Liu Zicheng. He showed a look of shame on his face and said, “If he were not so young and his literary position so low, I’m afraid I would have been convinced by him. Actually, you also know in your heart that he can recite the Analects fluently at such a young age and turn the words and deeds of Confucius into his own. Given time, he will become a Half-Sage!”

Liu Zicheng understood what Zhuang Weihen meant and said, “I heard that the Accomplished Scholars’ class will go to kill demons soon. Some people want to create some obstacles for him instead of directly attacking him. Should I stop them?”

Zhuang Weihen was a Presented Scholar, and being confused for a while did not mean that he was always confused. He hurriedly said, “You must stop them! If Fang Yun returns safely, there will be no problem. But if Fang Yun is really killed by the Demon Barbarian for some trivial matter, the Punishment Court will definitely take action. At least the Great Scholar will lead people to investigate. It doesn’t matter if Fang Yun’s literary reputation is harmed on ordinary days. It is just a test for him. But if Fang Yun dies, the highest person in Jing Kingdom may get angry and even spend decades of accumulation in the Holy Temple to investigate.”

Liu Zicheng nodded. The highest person in Jing Kingdom was naturally Chen Guanhai, whose power as a Half-Sage was infinite. If someone pointed out Chen Guanhai and harmed others, he would inevitably have a “heavenly response” and involuntarily do things that were beneficial to Fang Yun, thereby snuffing out the danger in its infancy.

“Alas, I hope he becomes an Accomplished Scholar before becoming a Sage. Then the Demon Clan and rebellious literary people will definitely assassinate him.”

Zhuang Weihen fell silent.

Liu Zicheng sighed lightly and said, “It’s a pity. I received news before I came that there was a ‘Great Scholar’s Corrupted Writing’ appearing in the Qushui River, which led to the appearance of a Snake Clan Demon General, equivalent to an Imperial Scholar. Ten people from the Accomplished Scholars’ class and a Presented Scholar were caught by the Snake Demon General. These people were originally no match for the Demon General, but the Presented Scholar had a Treasures of Literature from the Academy that temporarily held the Snake Demon General back. Then they went to the nearest county to seek help, and the county magistrate, an Imperial Scholar, immediately led all the Presented Scholars in the county to go out.”

“Did they kill the Snake Demon?”

“How is that possible? That Snake Demon was not only cunning but also had the Great Scholar’s Corrupted Writing. Do you know what’s on the Corrupted Writing?”

“Isn’t it usually the heart’s blood of a big demon that’s suppressed?”

“No, there’s a drop of Demon Saint’s blood on it!”

“Does that mean that the Great Scholar’s Corrupted Writing is a masterpiece from a Half-Sage before being enshrined?”

“Of course. Fortunately, it was only a fragment. The Snake Demon General was still defeated, but he escaped with heavy injuries into the Yangtze River. The Prefecture Army has already taken action and will eliminate all demons within a radius of 300 li to prevent any escaped demons and to prevent the Snake Demon General from making a comeback.””Has the Great Scholar’s stained article been obtained? If it is sent to the Holy Academy to wash away the blood of the Demon Saint, that piece of writing will surely protect a city in peace. The Demon Barbarians would have to send out five Great Demons or a Great Barbarian King to break the protection of this Great Scholar’s masterpiece.”

“It’s a pity that we didn’t get it. It is said that Li Wenying will bring the complete holy text of Chen Saint placed in Yuhai City tonight and search for it again. I originally wanted you to volunteer to go today. Even if you can’t get the Great Scholar’s stained article, it would be good to kill some demon soldiers and make achievements. Unfortunately, this happened, and Fang Yun really hurt people a lot!” Liu Zicheng said.

“Alas…” Zhuang Wei sighed lightly, full of regret.

The next morning, the weather was exceptionally clear, with no clouds in sight.

Fang Yun went to the Wen Academy as usual, but as soon as he left the courtyard, he found that Master He Yunong of the Fang Family Clan School was outside the door.

“Brother He, what is this…”

He Yunong smiled embarrassedly: “I also like painting, but I have never been able to practice to the first realm ‘Poetic Sentiment and Painting’. I heard that you also know painting and even helped the famous painter Xiao Yi to make a breakthrough. I wanted to ask for your guidance on the way to the Wen Academy. I won’t delay your time. I’ll leave as soon as I get to the Wen Academy.”

Fang Yun laughed: “I can’t teach anything else, but I can teach you about Yin and Yang, light and dark.”

“That’s enough, more than enough.” He Yunong was overjoyed.

“Let’s go, get in the car.”

On the way, Fang Yun reiterated the concept of “Yin and Yang” in traditional Chinese painting that he had discussed yesterday. The “Yin and Yang” in traditional Chinese painting is light and dark, while sketching has an additional gray, forming three major aspects. The names of Yin and Yang and the three major aspects are different, but they are actually the same concept, only that the sketching method is more detailed.

In the “Gongbi Painting Teaching Case” written by Yao Mingkui, a famous Gongbi painter, it is mentioned that it is best to learn the three major aspects of sketching and integrate them with the concept of Yin and Yang when learning Gongbi painting in traditional Chinese painting.

Fang Yun naturally wanted to implement the teaching philosophy of later generations of famous traditional Chinese painters, otherwise, it would be misleading.

When they arrived at the entrance of the Wen Academy, He Yunong left, and Fang Yun walked towards the academy with his book box on his back.

At the entrance of the Wen Academy, there were more than twenty people, including students from the academy, white-haired old men, refined middle-aged men, and even some wearing seventh-grade official uniforms.

“That’s Fang Yun!” A Presented Scholar from the State Wen Academy pointed at Fang Yun and shouted.

Fang Yun was startled. If it weren’t for the fact that the man had a look of joy on his face and everyone seemed to be carrying scroll bags, he would have turned and run.

More than twenty people rushed over together, and Fang Yun couldn’t leave or stay. He could only helplessly walk slowly forward, while Tan Yu and Nie Shili immediately blocked in front of Fang Yun.

“Don’t misunderstand, don’t misunderstand! We all love painting. This is Hu Moyuan, the painting saint of Jiangzhou. Although he is an Accomplished Scholar, he has already reached the realm of lifelike painting in his early years. Yesterday, we heard about your method of Yin and Yang, light and dark, and the three aspects, which was enlightening. Since Xiao Yi has closed his door and won’t come out, we had to come to ask you for advice. You just need to talk about it again, and we will each give you our finest works in return.”

“So, you are all masters of painting, I apologize for my rudeness!” Fang Yun laughed. These people could easily sell their paintings for more than a dozen silver taels. For example, Hu Moyuan only sold five paintings a year, and each painting could sell for at least a thousand taels of silver.

So Fang Yun explained the method of Yin and Yang, light and darkness once again. Everyone gained some enlightenment and was extremely grateful to Fang Yun, presenting their own paintings.

In the end, the painting saint Hu Moyuan not only gave Fang Yun a battle painting but also presented him with a piece of Tianhuang stone for him to make a private seal in the future.