Chapter 90 – Words become bones


Fang Yun and many others present did not expect things to go so smoothly, but upon careful consideration, they understood. The Demon Clan and the rebellious intellectuals underestimated the strength of the Prefecture Army, thinking that they could easily kill Fang Yun without any effort. Little did they know that there were so many powerful intellectuals hidden in the carriage.

 

The Demon Commander was originally one level lower than the Hanlin Scholars, and Wen Zhenghuan was an old Hanlin Scholar who had been famous for many years. Even if he fought alone against these rebellious intellectuals and the Demon Clan, he could still win steadily, not to mention that he was ambushing with eight Imperial Scholars.

 

"Change the carriage, let's continue back to Dayuan Prefecture." The old Hanlin Scholar calmly and composedly said, not at all like someone who had just killed over a hundred people.

 

With the threat gone, Chen Xibi and the Prefecture Army stayed behind to clean up the mess. The other officials and students of the Academy continued to ride the ox-cart back to Dayuan Prefecture. Fang Yun returned to the ox-cart of the Academy and sat with his classmates.

 

Lu Yu said, "That was so satisfying! We killed them so easily!"

 

"The rebellious intellectuals are still a minority. Now that three rebellious Imperial Scholars and many rebellious Presented Scholars have died, our entire Jing Kingdom will be much safer," Ning Zhiyuan laughed.

 

"I was worried before that after Fang Yun became a Presented Scholar, the rebellious intellectuals would send an Imperial Scholar to kill him. Who would have thought that Fang Yun has good luck on his side? They brought about their own destruction!"

 

"Speaking of which, we really have to thank that Demon Tortoise. If it weren't for that Demon Tortoise, Wen Hanlin and those Imperial Scholars would not have come, and they would not have encountered the rebellious intellectuals. This way, Fang Yun can safely study abroad, and at least for a year, the rebellious intellectuals will not have the power to kill him."

 

"That's not necessarily true. If they force Feng Chengju to take action, it would be a big mistake."

 

Li Yuncong said, "It's highly possible! Feng Chengju's strength surpasses even the Left Chancellor. If he takes action personally, no one in Jiangzhou can match him. However, although he takes pride in being a rebellious person, he still has his pride. Unless he considers Fang Yun a threat to the Demon Clan, he won't take action. But now that they already know that Fang Yun is a Saint Before Talented Scholar and so many people have died, even if he doesn't take action, other rebellious intellectuals and the Demon Clan will not give up easily. Zhiyuan, you are only half right. After this battle, our Jing Kingdom is much safer, but Fang Yun is in danger a hundredfold!"

 

"That's right." Everyone looked at Fang Yun with worry.

 

Fang Yun calmly said, "Jiangzhou is so big, if I want to hide, they can't do anything to me. There's no need for you to worry."

 

Mr. Wang pondered for a moment and said, "Yuncong's words make sense. I will immediately report to Lord Yuan of the Court of Rites and ask him to transfer your student status to Yuhai City. It is where the State Army is stationed, and except for the North Deputy City, other places are heavily guarded. The power of the Holy Academy is immense, and rebellious intellectuals have never been able to infiltrate there. It is also the frontline of our clan and the Dragon Clan's battle. Although the Dragon Clan belongs to the Demon Clan, they have significant differences with the Demon Clan. Many true dragons love our human clan's poetry and literature. If a scholar is captured, as long as they write good poetry and literature, the Dragon Clan will release them. The Dragon Clan also looks down on rebellious intellectuals and will never cooperate with them. So, to prevent Feng Chengju from taking action personally, it is better for Fang Yun to go to Yuhai City."

 

"Mr. Wang has considered it thoroughly. Fang Yun is indeed not suitable to stay in Dayuan Prefecture. I heard before that Dayuan Prefecture has been infiltrated by rebellious intellectuals, full of loopholes."

 

Fang Yun asked, "Why don't I take part in the Prefectural Examination before going to Yuhai City?"

 

"It's not possible! Now that so many rebellious intellectuals have been killed, they will temporarily be in chaos and won't pay attention to you. If you stay here and leave after the Prefectural Examination in June, they will definitely be fully prepared. Even if Lord Jianmei personally escorts you, if Feng Chengju takes action, you will have no chance of survival."

 

"But if I stay in the Prefecture City and don't go out, they can't do anything to me."

 

"Ah, you underestimate the power of the Demon Clan and rebellious intellectuals. Let me ask you, if the family of a Child Scholar or Talented Scholar with weak willpower or even the entire family is captured by rebellious intellectuals to threaten him and make him kill you, can you escape? Do you know how many geniuses were killed in the city before? There are too many ways to kill you, such as poisoned arrows, poisonous insects, blood explosions, and so on. Without becoming an Imperial Scholar, without the War of Words, there will always be a great hidden danger."

 

Fang Yun nodded involuntarily. Mr. Wang was right. The Demon Clan's methods of killing were too numerous, and it was no safer to stay inside Dayuan City than outside.

 

"As your teacher at the Academy, I will decide on this matter for you. Your life and death are now related to the future of Jing Kingdom and even have countless connections with the destiny of the human clan. I cannot let you be threatened in the slightest!"

 

"Thank you, Mr. Wang." Fang Yun was moved. Mr. Wang not only had great knowledge, but also used up ten years of lifespan in the battle with the Demon Tortoise last night, truly a righteous person.

 

"No need to thank me. As long as you can strengthen our human clan, our sacrifices will not be in vain, and I will be satisfied." Mr. Wang smiled, but his complexion was not as good as before. There seemed to be layers of frost in his originally black hair.

 

Fang Yun said, "If I succeed in my studies in the future, I will definitely search for rare treasures that can prolong your life in the Demon Clan and present them to you."

 

Mr. Wang smiled, "It's good that you have this intention."

 

When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Academy, everyone got off the carriage. Before leaving, Mr. Wang pulled Fang Yun aside and said in a low voice, "If someone troubles you, don't hesitate to make a decision! Don't care about their background!"

 

Watching Mr. Wang turn and leave, Fang Yun thought to himself: Could he be referring to the people of the Liu family? I am already a Saint Before Talented Scholar, so Liu Zicheng is no longer a threat, and Liu Zhi would not give up his future to target me. Only the attitude of the Left Chancellor is the key.

 

After returning home, Yang Yuhuan was all smiles, constantly caring for Fang Yun, as if it were a festival. She was happy all day long.

 

Early the next morning, Fang Yun checked his literary palace talent and happily discovered that his talent had reached 1.3 inches, growing much faster than an ordinary Talented Scholar.

 

Just after dawn, Zhou Zhubu came to visit quietly. He brought Li Wenying's order and asked Fang Yun to prepare properly today. People from Yuhai City had already come to pick them up, and they would wait at home in the late night with important items and trustworthy people. They would be escorted away at that time.

 

When Zhou Zhubu spoke, his tone was full of envy. Fang Yun felt strange but didn't know how to ask, so he didn't say anything.

 

Although the people at home were trustworthy, Zhou Zhubu repeatedly warned them not to leak the information. Yang Yuhuan could only dismiss some servants, leaving only Fang Daniu and Jiang Pozi. Tan Yu and Nie Shi's family business was in Dayuan Prefecture, so it was not appropriate to bring them to Yuhai City.

 

Fang Yun had a busy day, writing many letters to his friends and acquaintances, keeping them for later delivery when they arrived in Yuhai City.

 

Near midnight, Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, Nunu, Fang Daniu, and Jiang Pozi sat in the hall of the courtyard.

 

Except for Nunu, who was sleeping soundly in Fang Yun's arms, the others were a bit reluctant.

 

Fang Yun himself didn't want to leave, but the rebellious intellectuals suffered heavy losses this time. Once they recovered, they would undoubtedly launch a fierce counterattack. At that time, not only himself, but even Yang Yuhuan and these servants would be in danger.

 

As soon as midnight arrived, there was a knock on the door.

 

"It's me!" Zhou Zhubu's voice came.

 

Fang Yun and Fang Daniu went to open the door, only to see Zhou Zhubu standing outside with some people dressed in civilian clothes.

 

Among them were Sun Prefect, General Chen, and several Imperial Scholars whom Fang Yun had seen before, as well as four people Fang Yun didn't recognize. Those four had bright eyes and extraordinary temperament. They were either Imperial Scholars or Presented Scholars.

 

Zhou Zhubu said, "Enough with the small talk, get on the carriage, and leave the city."

 

Several soldiers came in and helped carry four large bundles, and then Fang Yun and the others got on the ox-cart.

 

In the quiet night, the five ox-carts headed towards the east gate of Dayuan Prefecture.

 

The atmosphere in the carriage was oppressive, and no one spoke.

 

After a while, the carriages arrived at the city gate and turned into a vacant space in the woods.

 

"Get off the carriage."

 

Fang Yun carried a bundle and got off the carriage. He saw that this place was surrounded by bamboo forests, with only wooden houses and open ground, nothing else.

 

Fang Yun looked at everyone in confusion.

 

Zhou Zhubu and the officials laughed together. Zhou Zhubu pointed to a middle-aged man in his forties and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Feng Zimo, the Dean of the Prefectural Academy in Yuhai City."

 

Fang Yun didn't expect that the head of a prefectural academy would personally come to escort him. He immediately bowed and said, "I am grateful for your care, but I am not worthy of such attention. I will remember this in my heart."

 

Feng Zimo half-jokingly said, "Actually, I didn't want to come, but Lord Jianmei ordered it, so I had to accompany him. This is General Yuxingshu."

 

Fang Yun was even more surprised. General Yuxingshu not only had a higher rank than the Dean of the Prefectural Academy, but also held significant power, responsible for the daily affairs of the sea tribe around Yuhai City. Usually, this position was held by a senior Imperial Scholar close to the Hanlin Academy. But now he had come in person, indicating that even the military attached great importance to this escort.

 

"Thank you, General Yuxingshu!" Fang Yun expressed his gratitude again.

 

Yuxingshu had a military style and nodded, saying, "Fang Dayan praised you to the sky. When you arrive in Yuhai City, don't lose to the Qing Kingdom people in the Dragon Boat Literary Society."

 

"I… I am preparing for the examination and don't plan to participate in the Dragon Boat Literary Society." Fang Yun said.

 

Chen Xibi said, "Old Yu, we discussed it before. We didn't let Fang Yun participate in the Dragon Boat Literary Society because we were afraid that he would expose his identity as a Saint Before Talented Scholar. But now that it has been exposed, he can participate without any problem. However, I hope he will focus on studying and not compete for that empty fame."

 

"That's good, being practical is better." Yuxingshu nodded.

 

Zhou Zhubu said, "It is midnight now, the best time to set off. I wish you all a smooth journey."

 

"Smooth journey!" Everyone congratulated each other.

 

Fang Yun still had doubts in his heart. There was nothing here, so why were they bidding farewell here?

 

Just as Fang Yun was thinking, he saw Yuxingshu take out a rolled-up page from his sleeve. It was an extremely rare Saint Page.

 

This piece of paper was very strange. It was clearly rolled up, but when it reached Yuxingshu's hand, a force seemed to be released from inside, and the page stood up as if it was supported by the words on the paper.

 

"Words become bones!"

 

"It should be the handwriting of the Literary Minister." Several Presented Scholars whispered, looking at the word on the Saint Page with joy.

 

Boat.

 

This word contained a powerful and majestic force, as if a piece of refined steel was embedded in the Saint Page.

 

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