Chapter 46

Sun Zhifu bowed to Li Wenyi and said, "Someone once said that if the path of sainthood were unobstructed, one’s intention would suffice. However, the path of sainthood is fraught with thorns, and only those with the courage to face them can proceed. Therefore, we scholars must cultivate a literary spirit, so that we can stabilize the Literary Palace, grasp the Literary Heart, and tread the path of sainthood. Jingguo has few talents like Fang Yun, and with the fearless literary spirit of Sword-Eyebrow Gong, what is there to fear that we cannot achieve? 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is fitting for no one else but you."

Li Wenyi replied, "Since 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' can cultivate a literary spirit, I cannot monopolize it. I will exchange a Jinshi literary treasure and a dragon blood ink slab for the right to read it for half a year. After six months, you can find Fang Yun yourselves."

Li Wenyi then walked towards Fang Yun’s house.

Sun Zhifu and the others were sincerely convinced and bowed slightly before leaving one by one.

After the officials left, the scholars on the scene burst into a heated discussion.

Those who had previously felt sorry for Guan Yaoyuan and Yan Yue now distanced themselves from the two. With Li Wenyi, the Grand Academician, personally visiting Fang Yun, Fang Yun was bound to rise to prominence. Even with the immense power of the Left Chancellor, he would not dare to offend Li Wenyi.

He Yutang looked at Yan Yue and Guan Yaoyuan, shook his head, and said, "Intrigues and schemes, a twisted poem, blinded by fame and fortune; the Empress Dowager’s edict, a text that stabilizes the nation, shattering the literary spirit and revealing the evil intentions. It’s a pity, it’s hateful, it’s regrettable."

As the crowd dispersed, Fang Yun welcomed Li Wenyi in the courtyard.

Li Wenyi was tall and thin, and if one ignored his unique sword-like eyebrows and official attire, he looked like a stern schoolmaster.

Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, Wan Xuezheng, and Tang Dazhang greeted Li Wenyi in the courtyard.

"Welcome, Grand Academician," Fang Yun and the others bowed, while Yang Yuhuan hurriedly followed suit.

Yang Yuhuan had not expected to receive the Empress Dowager’s edict and so many valuable items, only to be greeted by the famous Grand Academician Li Wenyi. In the eyes of the common people of Jiangzhou, Li Wenyi was more famous and respected than the Left Chancellor, second only to the emperor and the Literary Chancellor.

Yang Yuhuan had never seen such a prominent figure before and quietly served tea and water, standing aside to observe.

At first, Yang Yuhuan secretly observed the renowned Grand Academician Li Wenyi, but after a while, she realized that Li Wenyi’s visit was due to Fang Yun’s 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode,' and he was even willing to exchange a Jinshi literary treasure for it!

Yang Yuhuan couldn’t help but look at Fang Yun with surprise, realizing that the real Fang Yun was a hundred times more impressive than the one in her mind.

"Xiao Yun has become even more remarkable. At this moment, he truly exudes a manly aura, just like the ideal husband in my heart..." Yang Yuhuan blushed and quickly left, afraid of being discovered.

Fang Yun said, "Since Sword-Eyebrow Gong is only borrowing it for half a year, you can take it without any exchange. You have guarded Jiangzhou for many years and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. You are a role model for all scholars, and I cannot accept your gifts."

Li Wenyi nodded with a smile and said, "It’s good that you have this heart. The Jinshi literary treasure and the dragon blood ink slab are more of a token of appreciation than an exchange. This 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' has the potential to surpass the national stabilizing texts and become famous throughout the land. The difference between your original manuscript and your own insights is vast. Previously, I had only a thirty percent chance of becoming a great Confucian, but now, I have a forty percent chance. These minor literary treasures and ink slabs are insignificant."

Fang Yun, seeing Li Wenyi’s determination, said, "I thank you, Grand Academician."

Li Wenyi handed the dragon blood ink slab to Fang Yun and revealed a sad expression, saying, "The Demon-Slaying Brush is in my residence. I will have it delivered to you tonight. The Demon-Slaying Brush was infused with the talent of a Jinshi vice-commander on his deathbed. It carries not a poem or a verse, but the last words of the Jinshi, 'Hold this brush and slay the demons for me,' along with his fighting spirit and determination. Normally, the battle poems written with this brush can only increase their power by about ten percent, but when used against demons, it increases by a full fifty percent."

Fang Yun, Wan Xuezheng, and Tang Dazhang were all moved. A brush that could increase the power of battle poems by fifty percent was extremely rare. Generally, only literary treasures made from the bones and hair of great demons could achieve this, and for even greater effects, the bones and hair of demon saints were required.

Tang Dazhang tentatively asked, "Was that the former third-place winner of Yuhai City, one of the candidates for the next leader of the Mo School?"

"Indeed. Who else would, on their deathbed, adhere to the Mo School’s principle of 'non-aggression,' refusing to create offensive literary treasures and ensuring that this brush only targets demons? After I became a Grand Academician, that brush was no longer suitable for me, and I have always wanted to find a suitable owner. Fang Yun, you have talent, fame, and the ability to write 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.' You are the best candidate to use the Demon-Slaying Brush."

"Thank you, Grand Academician, for your trust," Fang Yun said.

"Unfortunately, your 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is too short. If it were longer, after you become a Juren, you could use it to cultivate your literary spirit. Our talents fall short of yours, and the texts we use to cultivate our literary spirits are mostly the works of the sages. If you can write a text to cultivate your literary spirit, you must do so at all costs. Before you become a sage, you must not let anyone know the content of that text. Do you understand?"

"I will remember your advice," Fang Yun said, noting it in his mind. No one had ever told him this before, as no one had believed he could rival the sages.

Fang Yun then handed 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' to Li Wenyi.

Li Wenyi took it and said, "I will have the Demon-Slaying Brush sent to you as soon as I get home." He then turned and left.

Fang Yun and the others saw Li Wenyi off and returned to the house.

Nunu, who had been hiding in the house, quietly came out, sniffed the air, scanned the surroundings cautiously, and then returned to normal, jumping onto Fang Yun’s lap and lying down quietly.

Tang Dazhang laughed, "If someone had told me that a Grand Academician would personally visit a child scholar, I would never have believed it. But now that it has happened, I have to believe it."

Wan Xuezheng said solemnly, "Fang Yun, after the county examination, I have been in correspondence with County Magistrate Cai and have been closely following your affairs. I have never doubted your talent, but I have always feared that you might become arrogant and complacent. In the letters from County Magistrate Cai, he mentioned that after Fang Zhongyong passed the child scholar examination, his father took him around to show off, forcing him to write poems and verses, and insisting on comparing him with you. His father rarely had him study the classics of the sages and did not care about his understanding of the classics. County Magistrate Cai once wrote, 'The two child scholars of the Fang family, when they meet, will be as different as heaven and earth.' Do you understand?"

Fang Yun naturally understood. Heaven was the sky, and the abyss was the depth, and the difference between them was greater than the gap between heaven and earth.

"Thank you, Grand Secretary Wan, for your guidance. I will remember the teachings of you and County Magistrate Cai and will never become like Fang Zhongyong. I will diligently study the classics of the sages and write an essay on the classics every three days from now on."

"Good, with this resolve, I am at ease. May I see the dragon blood ink slab?" Wan Xuezheng, not wanting the atmosphere to be too serious, smiled and changed the topic.

Thus, the three of them chatted about the dragon blood ink slab, discussing some rare books that were not found in the world of the Strange Books. Fang Yun remembered these and planned to buy some related books in the future to make up for his shortcomings in this area.

After a while, Tang Dazhang said, "Fang Yun, Sword-Eyebrow Gong has high hopes for you. He clearly wanted to give you the Demon-Slaying Brush and the dragon blood ink slab but said it was an exchange for half a year of 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode.' This has deep meaning. Do you understand?"

Fang Yun thought for a moment and said, "First, to protect me, 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is very important for those eager to advance in their literary rank. They will surely come one after another, and some might use despicable means. Now that 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is in Grand Secretary Li’s house, I will have fewer troubles. Second, 'The Inscription of a Humble Abode' is invaluable to many, but since it is being lent out, it must have a price. Grand Secretary Li set the price for half a year at a Jinshi literary treasure and a dragon blood ink slab, which is like drawing a line for others."

"Indeed, Fang Shuangjia, you see through it so clearly! What do you think about our cooperation?" Tang Dazhang asked.

Before Fang Yun could answer, Wan Xuezheng got up to leave, subtly indicating that he was not suitable to participate in this discussion.

After seeing Wan Xuezheng off, they returned to the house, and Tang Dazhang said, "Fang Yun, are you willing to cooperate with our Xuanting Bookstore?"

"Of course, I am willing to cooperate, but the method of cooperation needs careful discussion," Fang Yun smiled.

Tang Dazhang said, "Regarding the promotional methods for selling books, are you willing to sell for five thousand taels?"

"Even if I don’t sell, you will learn it soon. Five thousand taels is a fair price. However, the exclusive sales rights for 'The West Chamber' for five thousand taels is too little. Your goal is to make people buy only from your bookstore, but my goal is to spread my literary fame, and making money is secondary. In other words, our interests are in conflict."

Tang Dazhang was silent for a moment, then said, "Your mysterious teacher is indeed remarkable. I thought you couldn’t see the underlying issues, but you have hit the nail on the head. This is good; it’s better to speak frankly with a smart person. What are your requirements?"

Fang Yun said, "As long as your Xuanting Bookstore can ensure that my books are sold in every country, every state, every prefecture, and every county of the Ten Kingdoms, and allow all bookshops, except your competitors, to purchase and sell them, then we have a basis for discussion."

Tang Dazhang thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "The Holy Yuan Continent has over eight thousand counties, and about five hundred are not within our sales network. However, if you are willing to entrust all your future poetry, prose, and novels to Xuanting, I guarantee that within three months, those five hundred counties will have our cooperative bookshops. If we fail, we will open our own bookshops."

"No, I only plan to entrust my popular novels to your bookstore. As for other books, I am not sure yet," Fang Yun said.

"This... If so, your value is far less than I imagined," Tang Dazhang said.

Fang Yun smiled and said, "If I write at least one novel each year with sales comparable to 'The West Chamber,' or even one that becomes more widely known, what would be my value then?"

...

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