Chapter 62

Mr. Wang shook his head and said, "The Sacred Sound of Thunder only has the effect of consolidation, not the power to increase intelligence. If you hadn't read the Book of Documents thoroughly, how could you understand its meaning? How could you solve the problem? The Sacred Sound of Thunder is good, and your talent is astonishing, but it's like having a literary treasure in your hands. If you can't control it, how can you use it? Your ability to solve the problem with brilliant words, even if it's a stroke of luck, is because you have the ability to use the literary treasure. If you continue to be modest, it would be hypocrisy."

Fang Yun could only remain silent, accepting it calmly in his heart.

Mr. Wang immediately seized the opportunity and said to the five people, "You have seen such a talented person with your own eyes. Will you still be proud of being among the top five scholars?"

"We dare not," the five people answered in unison.

Mr. Wang sighed and said, "The path of the Sacred Way is extremely difficult and dangerous, like a boat rowing against the current. A slight mistake can lead to the destruction of the boat and the death of the people. Among the thousands, only a few can succeed. Our Jing country has countless students, but in the past two hundred years, only Chen Guanhai, the Holy Chen, has become the first person. What about the others? They have all turned into yellow earth, and very few have left their names. If you don't believe me, I'll ask you one question. When Holy Chen stunned everyone in the capital examination and became the top scholar, everyone knows this, but who remembers the name of the second-place winner, the runner-up?"

The five scholars shook their heads. They couldn't even remember the names of the top scholars from a hundred years ago, let alone the runner-ups.

However, Fang Yun said softly, "Wu Huan Yi."

The classroom was silent.

"What did you say?" Mr. Wang asked with a gentle smile.

"Please forgive my abruptness, but the runner-up in the same year as Holy Chen was named Wu Huan Yi."

Mr. Wang's face turned slightly red and he said, "Even if you know the runner-up, what about the third-place winner?"

"Zhao Lin Jia," Fang Yun answered helplessly.

Mr. Wang's face turned even redder.

The five scholars tried hard to suppress their laughter and lowered their heads.

Mr. Wang couldn't hold back and said with a helpless smile, "If you want to laugh, go ahead."

The youngest, Lu Yu and Ning Zhiyuan, covered their mouths and laughed, while the other three older ones also smiled. They didn't expect the lecture to turn into this.

Mr. Wang wasn't angry and asked gently, "Why do you remember?"

Fang Yun said, "I bought a book a few days ago that recorded the list of Jinshi scholars in Jing country over the years. I happened to flip to the page about Holy Chen and remembered these two people. It wasn't intended to target you, sir."

Mr. Wang waved his hand and said magnanimously, "It's fine. I was just trying to motivate you. If you can remember this, you are naturally a great talent and will naturally embark on the path of the great sage without needing my encouragement."

"I won't say anything more," Fang Yun closed his mouth.

Mr. Wang smiled and nodded, then continued to carefully evaluate Fang Yun's solution, speaking very brilliantly. The other five scholars nodded in agreement. Fang Yun's solution was a stroke of luck, but after Mr. Wang's analysis, his understanding deepened.

The class soon ended, and Mr. Wang left.

Fang Yun was packing his book box when Lu Yu said, "It's your first day here, and you're not familiar with the academy. Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch, and after the meal, I'll show you around the academy to get familiar with the place."

"That's fine, but I need to go out and tell my attendants first."

"Let's go with you."

The six of them came to the gate of the academy. Fang Yun told Tan Yu and the other three to go back and eat, and he would stay for lunch and have them come back at five in the afternoon.

Fang Yun and his five classmates walked to the cafeteria, chatting and laughing.

The cafeteria of the provincial academy was divided into two large halls for officials and students, but the food was the same.

Fang Yun walked in and felt a sense of familiarity. He joined the others in the queue to get plates, bowls, and chopsticks.

After the six of them got their food, they found an empty table and sat together, eating and chatting.

Before they finished, five people came over. The oldest of the five bowed to Fang Yun and asked, "Are you Fang Yun, the double-jia?"

His voice wasn't loud, but Fang Yun was already a well-known figure in Dayuan Prefecture. Today, a semi-sage had announced to the entire Dayuan Prefecture that he had great talent, so many people were looking in their direction.

Fang Yun thought, "This meal won't be peaceful." He swallowed the food in his mouth, smiled, and stood up, bowing in return. "Yes, it's me."

"Do you want to join our second-year class?"

"Chang Wanxu, what do you mean by this!" Lu Yu was angry, stood up, and glared at Chang Wanxu.

Chang Wanxu smiled and said, "Nothing much. I just think that Fang Yun is such a great talent, and we all admire him, hoping he will join our class."

"Today is Fang Yun's first day at the provincial academy, and he should naturally join our first-year class," Lu Yu said.

"Fang Yun is an extraordinary talent. The first-year curriculum is too simple for him, and the third-year curriculum is too difficult. Joining our second-year class is the most suitable. What do you think, Fang Yun?" Chang Wanxu smiled, and the people behind him also smiled at Fang Yun.

Fang Yun glanced at the others. Except for the young Lu Yu and Ning Zhiyuan, who were angry, the other three were not angry, and Tang Shan Yue even smiled as usual.

Fang Yun vaguely understood that there was competition between the classes in the provincial academy, but it wasn't a matter of life and death, probably just literary contests and poetry duels.

"Thank you for your kindness, Chang brother, but I just became a scholar. Coming to the provincial academy is already a great step forward. I shouldn't aim too high. I'll stay in the first-year class."

The people in the first-year class were very happy, while those in the second-year class were all very disappointed, clearly wanting to be classmates with Fang Yun.

Chang Wanxu said regretfully, "Alright, we can't force you, but I hope the literary contests between the classes won't affect the harmony among the students. With you here, we wouldn't dare to compete with the first-year class in poetry."

"Of course, harmony is the most important. We are all citizens of Jing country and shouldn't waste our energy on trivial matters."

"Exactly. Tonight, I want to invite all the classmates in our scholar class to a banquet. I wonder if you would honor us with your presence."

Fang Yun knew there was no ill intent, clearly a way to build relationships, so he looked at the other five in the first-year class. Except for Lu Yu and Ning Zhiyuan, who were not very happy, Li Yunchong and the other three nodded, indicating it was fine.

Fang Yun said, "If so, our first-year class will attend the banquet together."

"Great, it's a deal. After school, we'll meet at the main gate and go to the Xiyue Tower together."

"It's a deal."

They bowed to each other and parted.

Unconsciously, all the people in the cafeteria, numbering over a hundred, were looking at Fang Yun, and many were whispering. The name "Fang Yun" was mentioned frequently.

Fang Yun felt a bit uncomfortable but still ate normally. After a bite, he asked, "Is there any problem between our first-year class and the second-year class?"

Li Yunchong smiled and said, "No problem, it's just an old rule in the academy. To prevent students from becoming arrogant, the three classes are deliberately made to take exams, fight monsters, or do other things together. The second-year class, having become scholars first and having a juren teacher for a year, naturally leads in everything. But the third-year class is the same in front of the second-year class. We're not angry, but it's not pleasant to be always behind. However, the second-year class knows the limits and won't really hurt the harmony. After graduation, we will still help each other, as we are classmates and fellow countrymen."

"That's good. Maybe when we talk about these years after graduation, we'll find it interesting."

Li Yunchong and the other three nodded.

Lu Yu, however, said unwillingly, "That's true, but every time I see Chang Wanxu's smug look, I get upset."

Fang Yun smiled and said, "If he makes you happy, the teachers won't be happy."

"That's true," Lu Yu muttered.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Are you Fang Yun, the double-jia?"

Fang Yun turned around and saw six people walking over. He didn't recognize them, but one of them was wearing a juren robe, so he guessed they were juren.

The entire cafeteria suddenly fell silent, and both teachers and students looked over. Some even seemed to be waiting for a show.

Fang Yun stood up and said, "Yes, it's me."

Li Yunchong suddenly whispered, "Be careful, the person speaking is Zhuang Wei, the brother-in-law of Liu Zicheng and an important figure in the Ying Society."

Fang Yun looked carefully and saw that the person had no anger, but was very calm, so he didn't think it was to avenge Liu Zicheng.

Zhuang Wei didn't act like a juren, bowed, and smiled, "I've heard a lot about Fang Shuangjia. Today, I see a fine young man. Your reputation is well-deserved."

"Zhuang brother is too kind. You are a man of talent," Fang Yun said.

Zhuang Wei suddenly bowed deeply, ninety degrees.

Fang Yun quickly stepped aside and said, "What are you doing, Zhuang brother?"

After standing up, Zhuang Wei said helplessly, "I'm apologizing to you on behalf of my brother-in-law, Liu Zicheng. I know he is fond of chasing women, and I always advise him. I know he had evil intentions towards your foster wife, and he can't deny it. I apologize to you. But saying he wanted to kill you is absolutely impossible. We've known each other for ten years, and while he has some bad habits, he would never do something as serious as murder."

Fang Yun's face turned cold and he said, "Before you defend Liu Zicheng, why don't you go to Jixian County and ask Captain Lu? He saw with his own eyes that after I said I was a scholar before the sage, Liu Zicheng still tried to kill me with paper warfare. I said today in the prefectural academy that I forgave Liu Zicheng, but if you defame me, I will have to retract that forgiveness."

Zhuang Wei was no longer as polite as before and said, "He just used paper warfare to scare you. How can you say he tried to kill you?"

"According to the Jing Law, attempted murder is a crime. Do you want to overturn the Jing Law?"

"Would he be stupid enough to try to kill you in public?"

"Even the head of the academy wanted to force me to death in public with the help of a semi-sage. Why would it matter if Liu Zicheng was stupid once?" Fang Yun retorted without hesitation.

The people in the cafeteria only knew that Fang Yun had passed the sage selection, but most didn't know what had happened, as they were in class. So when Fang Yun said this, everyone found it hard to believe.

"You're