Fang Yun vaguely understood what Fang Shouye wanted to say.
Fang Shouye said, “He is well-informed in Yuhai City. When he learned that your student status was going to be transferred to Yuhai Prefecture today, he immediately went to find his grandfather’s good friend, General Gan Luo Xing, to criticize your despicable behavior. He said that you were afraid of not being able to rank in the top ten in the Xiucai examination in Dayuan Prefecture, so you came to Yuhai Prefecture to compete for a top ten position.”
“This…”
“Tong Li is not afraid of you taking the Xiucai examination, but he is afraid that you will steal his title as the most talented scholar. However, it’s not just him causing trouble, many talented scholars with backgrounds are also accusing you. You should know that only the top ten in a prefecture can enter the Book Mountain. If you take up a spot, then the person who originally had the chance to enter the top ten will lose out greatly. So, today, people everywhere are saying that you are afraid of not being able to enter the Book Mountain in Dayuan Prefecture and can only come to Yuhai City to compete for a top ten position.”
Fang Yun knew the importance of being the most talented scholar and entering the Book Mountain. Even if he was just a genius from a humble background, even the children of prominent families would do their best to obtain a spot in the Book Mountain.
Fang Yun sighed helplessly and said, “I didn’t want to come either, but there was no other choice. Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhou consulted with Mr. Li Wenying, and in the end, it was decided by Mr. Li. I originally wanted to take the prefectural examination first before coming.”
“You are not at fault in this matter. It can only be blamed on the literati and the demon race! Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no one dares to harm you like Liu Zicheng did. But you can’t lose face either. If he challenges you in a literary competition, you can’t lose,” Fang Shouye said.
“Alas, we are all scholars. He wouldn’t deliberately suppress me because of this, right?” Fang Yun said helplessly.
Fang Shouye coldly smiled and said, “You are thinking too highly of him. I suspect that they will join forces to force you to give up participating in the prefectural examination.”
Fang Yun became anxious and said, “Why? I was forced here because I killed demons. Not to mention for the sake of the human race, at least I did a just deed. Why can’t I participate in the prefectural examination? If they can use this as an excuse to target me, who would dare to kill demons in the future?”
Fang Shouye showed a strange expression and said, “According to the intelligence analysis of our military, your identity as a saintly talented scholar was not originally exposed. The people from Jingcheng Peak wanted to kill you, but there is more to it.”
“How could this be? Since the literati of the opposing faction didn’t know about my identity as a saintly talented scholar, why did they send so many people to kill me? That’s equivalent to five imperial scholars and dozens of presented scholars. The prefectural army of a prefecture is not their match. How did I provoke them?” Fang Yun asked.
Fang Shouye helplessly said, “Actually, you were framed by the saintly person.”
“What? A saintly person wants to harm me?” Fang Yun became even more confused.
“No. Do you remember that your ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ was published in yesterday’s ‘Path of the Saints’?”
“I remember,” Fang Yun said, puzzled.
“Recently, there has been frequent activity from the demon race, and there have been varying degrees of demon disasters in the ten countries. The literati of the opposing faction played a significant role. The saintly person wanted to strike a blow to the demon race and the literati of the opposing faction to prevent them from acting recklessly. Your ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ happened to be a courage-inspiring text, suitable for attaching the power to attack the literati’s courage-inspiring texts in the Demon Palace. So, the saintly person drew talent from the holy temples in various places and infused it into the ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ in the ‘Path of the Saints.’ Ordinary literati who read that ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ would greatly benefit from it, but the literati of the opposing faction who read the altered ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ by the saintly person would inevitably trigger the hidden power.”
Fang Shouye took a sip of water and continued, “You can guess what happened next. The literati of the opposing faction suffered a great loss. Since they couldn’t kill the saintly person, they came to kill you instead. Unfortunately, we didn’t know at the time. We thought that your identity as a saintly talented scholar had been exposed, and after killing them, we didn’t cover up your identity as a saintly talented scholar. As a result, it’s too late now, and the demon race wants to kill you even more.”
“So, I’m carrying a huge scapegoat?” Fang Yun asked in a deep voice.
“It’s likely. However, your ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ has made great contributions to the human race. Even if something happens this time, the saintly person will see it and help you,” Fang Shouye said.
“What if I am really unable to participate in the prefectural examination because of their plot?”
Fang Shouye immediately said, “If they use despicable means to harm you, I guarantee that they will never be able to participate in the imperial examinations in their lifetime! Even if Tong Li’s grandfather is the Minister of War, or even the Minister of War himself, our Fang family is not afraid! However, if they use legitimate means to obstruct you, then I can’t do anything. Since you are already a saintly talented scholar, your chances of entering the top ten next year are even greater. Why do you have to participate in the prefectural examination this year?”
“One step at a time. The Left Chancellor’s faction and the Liu family are watching me. Those literati of the opposing faction will also watch me. If I can’t become a talented scholar this year, climb the Book Mountain, and increase my strength as much as possible, I will undoubtedly die if I encounter unexpected situations. Uncle, tell me the truth, is it absolutely safe in Yuhai City?”
Fang Shouye was stunned and remained silent for a moment before saying, “If the demon realm and the literati of the opposing faction are willing to kill you at all costs, and if the Demon Saint takes action, no one can stop them. However, rest assured, you won’t let them pay such a high price to kill you. If the Demon Saint takes action to kill you, the ten saints of our ten countries will move the Holy Academy into the demon realm and make the demon realm restless! So, you are absolutely safe in Yuhai City.”
Fang Yun felt restless and said, “Those literati of the opposing faction are truly disgusting. Even without my ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room,’ the saintly person has other ways to deal with them. Tong Li and the others are equally despicable. They know that I am being forced by the demon race, yet they do things that please the demon race. To put it bluntly, since my ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ has harmed so many literati of the opposing faction, it has made great contributions. Even if I come to Yuhai City to take the examination, I can bear it even if the saintly person personally appoints me as the most talented scholar!”
“Alas… Some things are just helpless. We are not afraid of Tong Li, but if they spread rumors that you came to snatch the position of the most talented scholar in Yuhai Prefecture, the students of Yuhai Prefecture will definitely reject and isolate you.”
Fang Yun pondered for a long time without speaking.
“Alas, let’s take it step by step. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the Prefectural Academy. I don’t believe they will dare to obstruct you in front of me!” Fang Shouye said.
Fang Yun said, “Uncle, there’s no need to trouble you. If they are willing to sit down and talk with me, everything can be negotiated. Even if I don’t take the examination this year, it’s not a problem. But if they want to force me, then they have chosen the wrong person! I, Fang Yun, am not a soft persimmon that they can knead!”
“Do I really not need to go?” Fang Shouye asked.
“Really not! If I can’t even resolve this matter, how can I kill demons and barbarians in the future?” Fang Yun said.
“Alright! If they are in the wrong, make a big fuss about it. When the time comes, implicate Mr. Li Wenying and see how they handle it! They dare to obstruct even the hero who kills demons. What else wouldn’t they dare to do!” Fang Shouye said.
Fang Yun helplessly said, “I was planning to go and see the Dragon Boat Literary Festival, but now I don’t want to go anymore. By the way, where is the Dragon Boat Literary Festival held?”
“There is a Yudai River between the North Subcity and the Main City. The dragon boat race is held in the Yudai River every year. If you don’t want to participate, you can stand by the river and watch,” Fang Shouye said, in a bad mood as well.
“Okay.”
The two continued chatting, and Fang Shouye gradually introduced the local customs, the relationships between various factions and figures, and the situation of the dragon race and water demons in Yuhai City. It was past ten o’clock at night when Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan finally left.
Back home, Fang Yun was in a very bad mood. He calmed himself down by practicing calligraphy, writing for a full hour before calming down and continuing to study the classics of the ten saints. Then, as usual, he wrote an essay on Confucianism before going to sleep.
The next morning, as soon as it was eight o’clock, a talented scholar from Li Wenying’s office came to take Fang Yun to finalize his student status and sign up for next month’s prefectural examination.
Fang Yun followed the talented scholar onto the carriage and headed to the Prefectural Academy.
After getting off the carriage at the entrance of the Yuhai Prefectural Academy, the two entered the academy and went to the registry office responsible for handling student status. Before long, Fang Yun saw a large gate with the words “Registry Office” written on it, but there were more than ten people standing in front of the gate, including three talented scholars.
The talented scholar leading the way frowned but bravely walked towards the gate.
“Hold on! This bookkeeper, what is the name of the person behind you?”
The bookkeeper lowered his head and remained silent.
Fang Yun had already guessed the identities of these people. He clasped his hands towards them, smiled, and said, “Are you people from the Ministry of Justice or the Criminal Court of the Holy Academy? If you want to check my identity, please show your waist badges, and I will truthfully answer.”
“Accent from Dayuan Prefecture! Are you Fang Yun?” A child scholar stepped forward, glaring at Fang Yun.
“I am Fang Yun from Jixian County,” Fang Yun said calmly.
The child scholar said, “Despicable! I thought you were a dignified scholar, but who would have thought that you are so despicable and shameless! You used your private power to transfer your student status. From now on, I will never believe anyone’s words. You are just a bully who seizes power!”
“We were blind before!”
“Go back to your Dayuan Prefecture. We don’t welcome you in Yuhai Prefecture!”
“Go back to Dayuan Prefecture!”
Everyone shouted together, attracting the attention of people nearby.
Fang Yun suppressed his anger and suddenly said loudly, “I have some things that I don’t understand. I hope you can enlighten me! I came to Yuhai City not of my own accord, but because Mr. Li Wenying ordered me to come. If you doubt this order, why don’t you go find Mr. Li Wenying?”
“Who knows if you used despicable means!” someone said.
Fang Yun said, “Oh, so you don’t know if I used any means, and you don’t even know why Mr. Li Wenying ordered me to come to Yuhai City. In that case, you are baselessly accusing me, a saintly talented scholar, and defaming Mr. Li Wenying under the guise of justice! You are the ones who are truly despicable!”
For a moment, no one could say anything, especially a few timid individuals who felt fear when they heard the mention of defaming Li Wenying.
Fang Yun took a step forward, looked directly at the child scholar who had cursed him first, and said, “Since you think I seized power, does that mean you believe that the position of the most talented scholar belongs to you? But this position does not belong to you, it is based on individual abilities. Where does the idea of seizing power come from?”
“Why did you suddenly transfer your student status?”
Fang Yun said loudly, “Why? Because of the ‘Inscription on a Shabby Room’ that caused hundreds of literati of the opposing faction to die or be injured! Because I acted as bait and killed two demon generals, three imperial scholars, and a large number of others! Because I made great contributions to the human race! If any of you have greater contributions than me, I will apologize immediately and leave Yuhai Prefecture! A group of people who can’t kill demons but like to fight among themselves want to force me to leave? Dream on! I, Fang Yun, have already secured the position of the top talented scholar in Yuhai City!”