Fang Yun said, “I’ve heard that the Treasures of Literature in the Military Marquis’s carriage are full of mechanisms, the most common of which are poison arrows, driven by talent and energy, powerful enough to rival a Grand Academician. If the Swallowed Lake Pearl or even the larger Drinking Pearl of the River were placed inside, wouldn’t the poison arrows be endless?”

Li Fanming replied, “Indeed, the Tyrant’s Military Marquis’s carriage does contain the Drinking Pearl of the River, and even a page of the Empty Sage’s personal scripture! As long as the scripture is present, no one below the Great Scholar can shake him, and the Great Scholar can only drive him away without harming him. The key is that the Military Marquis’s carriage is extremely fast, and as long as there is enough talent and energy, even the Great Scholar’s ‘Stepping on the Clouds’ cannot catch up.”

Upon hearing about the scripture, Fang Yun fell silent. This was the foundation of the Semi-Saint Prominent Families. Even if those powerful families or the Empty Sage’s powerful families were strong for a while, without the scripture, they would be powerless in front of the Semi-Saint Prominent Families.

“Can a single Military Marquis’s carriage really make him stand out that much?” Fang Yun asked.

Li Fanming sighed lightly, “The Nation of Wu has always been at odds with our Nation of Qi. In order to increase his status in the Nation of Wu, he deliberately provoked our Hanlin Scholars of Qi, challenging them to three literary duels a day. On the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth days, he won nine consecutive victories, even defeating a newly promoted Grand Academician. No one in Qi dares to challenge him in a literary duel anymore. The Tyrant emerged out of nowhere, avoiding Shi Jun by half a generation, and suppressed the disciples of the same generation in Qi. Alas…”

Only then did Fang Yun realize that it was a conflict between nations.

The Nation of Qi and the Nation of Wu were both among the strongest nations, and they happened to border each other, with a feud spanning nearly two hundred years, always at odds.

Fang Yun realized the wisdom of the Tyrant and the Meng family. As long as they did not make enemies of the royal family and the prominent families of the Nation of Wu, and fully attacked the enemies of the Nation of Wu to boost its prestige, even if their actions were somewhat excessive, the various prominent families of the Nation of Wu would turn a blind eye, and even protect him, allowing him to be a sharp sword for the Nation of Wu.

As long as the Tyrant did not wipe out a powerful family, and only suppressed or “borrowed” some Treasures of Literature and military books, the other Semi-Saint Prominent Families would not need to take action, at most they would issue a warning.

It was precisely because of the warning from the Military Strategists of the Sun family that the Tyrant did not want to completely offend the Military Strategists. He wanted to give up Han Xin’s Military Pointing Platform in exchange for the Blood-Dripping Beast Skin, to take a step back and give the Military Strategists of the Sun family some face. But Fang Yun refused.

“Bang, bang, bang…”

“Is Fang Yun there!”

The violent knocking and arrogant shouting almost revealed the Meng family’s intentions.

Mr. and Mrs. Wei went to open the door. As the door opened, a group of Savage Cows charged in aggressively, lining up in two rows between the main hall and the front door.

An old man with his hands behind his back slowly walked over. He had silver hair, wore a white embroidered Imperial Scholar’s robe, stood straight, held his head high, and had an arrogant look on his face.

Behind him followed the Savage Cow General and the rest of the Savage Cow soldiers, slowly walking in.

The people in the main hall all stood up. Three disciples from the Semi-Saint Prominent Families even bowed and greeted him.

“Uncle Meng.”

“Second Uncle Meng.”

“Mr. Meng.”

Only then did Fang Yun realize that this was Meng Li, the younger brother of the current head of the Meng family, the Tyrant’s second uncle. Li Fanming had mentioned that Meng Li was very arrogant and always took pride in being a descendant of the Semi-Saint.

“Hmm.” Meng Li casually nodded his head. In his eyes, these side branches of the Semi-Saint Prominent Families had no status at all. They were not those famous geniuses, so he didn’t care at all.

Meng Li saw Fang Yun and Li Fanming together. His face darkened, and he snorted coldly, “So you’re Fang Yun, the one who stole my Meng family’s property? My nephew offered to exchange Han Xin’s Military Pointing Platform with you, but you refused and even spread rumors to slander him?”

Fang Yun stood straight, with countless thoughts flashing through his mind. He quickly replied without any courtesy, “Uncle Meng, you must be joking. If the item in my hand really belonged to the Meng family, according to your Meng family’s usual style, you would definitely come to rob it and then ruin my literary palace. This item was bought by me, with Uncle Ji as a witness.”

Li Fanming immediately said, “I can bring my uncle to testify for him.”

Upon hearing Fang Yun’s sarcasm towards the Meng family, Meng Li didn’t get angry, but instead sneered. “No need, we’ve already found the peddler who stole from my Meng family. He has admitted to stealing from my Meng family and then selling the Blood-Dripping Beast Skin to that antique dealer. He has signed and sealed it in my Nation of Wu. I have the document here.”

With that, Meng Li casually threw a piece of paper towards Fang Yun.

Fang Yun didn’t even look at it, letting the paper hit his chest and then fall. Even a fool would know that the Meng family must have used their power to find that person and then forced him to write this document.The last time, the Tyrant’s cousin tried to sow discord between him, the Ji family, and the Han family. This time, they even had the audacity to accuse him of buying stolen goods to his face. Fang Yun had had enough!

Anger surged in Fang Yun’s eyes as he said, “Since the Meng family insists on this, and considering the reputation of the Semi-Saint Meng family is at stake, and we are under the Holy Academy, watched over by All the Saints, let’s simply ask for a divine judgement. If the divine judgement says that the item belongs to your Meng family, I will admit that I bought stolen goods, apologize, and go to the Meng family to worship and apologize to the Semi-Saint Meng. If it is not your Meng family’s item, all I need is for the Tyrant to write ‘I was wrong’ three times for me. How about that?”

Meng Li was taken aback, thinking to himself, how could this kid be more arrogant than me, more tyrannical than the Tyrant, and ask for a divine judgement right off the bat? Is he treating the Semi-Saints like county officials? Who in the world would dare to ask for a divine judgement so casually? Why isn’t he speaking in a more conventional manner?

Li Fanming and the others were also secretly shocked. Fang Yun was really ruthless. Not only did he dare to ask for a divine judgement, but he also dared to make the Tyrant write “I was wrong”. Indeed, he was a genius who had made the front page of “The Path of the Saints”. He knew that he couldn’t back down at this time. Once he retreated, he would surely lose everything against the Semi-Saint Meng family.

Meng Li cursed Fang Yun for his cunning in his heart. The arrogance on his face diminished significantly as he said, “Do you think All the Saints are just waiting to make a divine judgement for you? How arrogant! However, our Meng family is always willing to reason. Even if you bought stolen goods, we are still willing to exchange a Great Scholar’s Treasures of Literature for your blood-dripping beast skin. Tell me what you want to exchange for. As long as our Meng family has it, you can ask for it.”

“Oh?” Fang Yun looked at Meng Li and said, “Since the Meng family is so eager to do good, then I will reluctantly agree. Let’s exchange it for a Military Marquis’s chariot. I don’t want the sacred texts in the Military Marquis’s chariot, but you have to leave the Drinking Pearl of the River for me. After exchanging for the Military Marquis’s chariot, I will immediately ride back to Ji County and not go to the Holy Land.”

Li Fanming and a few others almost laughed out loud. This Fang Yun was really good at choosing. The Military Marquis’s chariot was baptized by the Semi-Saint’s talent, and its value alone exceeded that of Han Xin’s recruitment platform. The Drinking Pearl of the River was equivalent to a decent Great Scholar’s Treasures of Literature. These days, the Tyrant had been showing off the strength of his nation with the Military Marquis’s chariot. If it was really exchanged by Fang Yun, many people would be ridiculed.

Meng Li didn’t know what to say for a moment. He thought to himself, since Meng Lin Tang is the Tyrant, isn’t this Fang Yun the Mad Tyrant? He’s too mad!

“Except for the Military Marquis’s chariot, you can exchange anything else.” Meng Li stared at Fang Yun fiercely, full of threat.

Fang Yun nodded and said, “Alright, let me think… How about this, ‘The Three Articles of Han Xin’ is equivalent to a Great Scholar’s Treasures of Literature. As long as the Tyrant returns ‘The Three Articles of Han Xin’ to the Han family, I will offer the blood-dripping beast skin with both hands. We are all of the human race, and it’s better to do less of such shameless things as stealing heirlooms from others.”

Li Fanming looked at Fang Yun in surprise. He didn’t expect Fang Yun to be so clever. Without ‘The Three Articles of Han Xin’, the Tyrant couldn’t enter the Holy Land, and even if he had the blood-dripping beast skin, it would be useless. Therefore, the Tyrant couldn’t possibly exchange it. But by saying this, not only would the Han family be grateful to him afterwards, but all the enemies of the Meng family would also have a good impression of him. At the same time, he had defused Meng Li’s offensive.

Meng Li’s face was a bit embarrassed, and there was not much arrogance left. He said with a black face, “You can’t choose ‘The Three Articles of Han Xin’ either.”

Fang Yun immediately shouted angrily, “Your Meng family is too bullying! First, you slandered me for buying stolen goods, but you dare not ask for a divine judgement; then I took a step back and was willing to exchange, but what about you? You won’t exchange this or that, you are clearly bullying me, a poor scholar! If you push me too hard, I will ask for a divine judgement now. I don’t believe there is no place in the world where reason is spoken!”

Meng Li knew that he had completely failed this time. Unless he forcibly took it or paid a truly important Treasures of Literature, it was impossible to get the blood-dripping beast skin. But this was the City of Confucius. His private army could be a bit arrogant, and even bully those prominent families. But if he robbed Fang Yun’s things in the City of Confucius, the Kong family and the Eastern Saint would never let the Meng family off.

Fang Yun’s literary reputation was too great. If the Kong family watched Fang Yun being robbed in the City of Confucius, they could forget about the title of the first prominent family.

The arrogance in Meng Li’s eyes completely disappeared, replaced by coldness, anger, and a hint of murderous intent.

“Fang Yun, you have a bit of literary reputation, so the Meng family let Lin Yu persuade you kindly first, and now I personally came to your door. But you are so aggressive. If you don’t admit your mistake, don’t blame the Meng family for turning our faces!”

Meng Li said, suddenly full of confidence, raising his head again, and a bit of arrogance returned to his face.

“I’ve already set the price by offering the Military Marquis’s chariot or ‘The Three Articles of Han Xin’. You can go back and ask the Tyrant. There’s no point in saying more. Please leave.” Fang Yun said calmly. The people around him secretly praised him, Fang Yun already had the demeanor of a famous scholar.

Mr. and Mrs. Wei only symbolically stepped forward, not daring to actually send the guests away.

Meng Li slowly said, “You should know that I’m not just representing myself, I’m representing Meng Lin Tang, the Tyrant!”

“So what?” Fang Yun retorted.

“Because, no one has ever been able to refuse the Tyrant twice! Even if you aspire to be a mad tyrant, you can’t be one in front of the Tyrant!”

Fang Yun felt puzzled and asked, “Mad tyrant? Who said I want to be a mad tyrant? As for refusing the Tyrant, if there’s a first time, there will be a second time. It’s just a matter of getting used to it.”

Fang Yun’s tone was casual, almost making Meng Li explode with anger.

Some Presented Scholars on the side secretly gave Fang Yun a thumbs up. There were indeed very few people in the world who dared to speak to the Tyrant like this.

“You’re seeking your own death, don’t blame me!” Meng Li glared at Fang Yun fiercely and turned to leave.

After Meng Li had taken only a few steps, his communication conch shell produced a voice that Fang Yun had heard before.

“Indeed, if there’s a first time, there will be a second time. You have the right to say that, so I’m giving you a third chance. At tomorrow’s Mid-Autumn Literary Gathering, present me with the blood-dripped beast skin with both hands and kneel to apologize. If you do this, we can write off our grievances. If not, you may enter the Holy Land, but you won’t be able to leave! As for the title of the mad tyrant, don’t even think about it!”

.(To be continued.)