Chapter 90

Fang Yun and many others present did not expect things to go so smoothly, but upon careful thought, they felt relieved. The demon race and the traitorous literati thought they were so powerful that they treated these government troops as if they were in their pocket, believing they could kill Fang Yun effortlessly. They let their guard down, never expecting that a single carriage could hide so many powerful literati.

The demon general was originally one rank lower than a Hanlin scholar, and Wen Zhenghuan was a veteran Hanlin scholar with many years of fame. Even if he fought these traitorous literati and demons alone, he could still win steadily, let alone when he ambushed them with eight jinshi scholars.

"Change the carriage, let's continue back to Dayuan Prefecture." The old Hanlin scholar was calm and composed, not at all like someone who had just killed over a hundred people.

The threat had disappeared, and Chen Xi Bi and the government troops stayed behind to handle the aftermath. The other officials and the academy students continued to ride in the armored ox carts back to Dayuan Prefecture. Fang Yun returned to the armored ox cart of the academy and sat with his classmates.

Lu Yu said, "That was too smooth! It was so satisfying!"

"Traitorous literati are always a minority. Now that three traitorous jinshi and so many traitorous ju ren have died, our entire Jing Kingdom will be much safer." Ning Zhiyuan smiled.

"I was worried that after Fang Yun became a ju ren, the traitorous literati would send jinshi to kill him. Who knew that Fang Yun would have such good fortune, and they would end up destroying themselves!"

"Speaking of which, we should really thank that demon turtle. If it weren't for that demon turtle, Old Hanlin Wen and those jinshi wouldn't have come, and they wouldn't have encountered the traitorous literati. This way, Fang Yun can travel and study with peace of mind, and the traitorous literati won't have the strength to kill him for at least a year."

"That's not certain. If it forces Feng Chengjue to act personally, that would be a big mistake."

Li Yuncong said, "It's very likely! Feng Chengjue is even more powerful than Sword-Eyebrow Gong. If he acts personally, no one in Jiangzhou can match him. However, though he takes pride in being a traitor, he still has a sense of pride deep down. Unless he believes Fang Yun can threaten the demon race, he won't act personally. However, now that they know Fang Yun is a shengyuan before the Sage, and so many people have died, even if he doesn't act, other traitorous literati and demons won't let it go. Zhiyuan, you're only half right. After this battle, our Jing Kingdom is much safer, but Fang Yun is a hundred times more dangerous!"

"Yes." Everyone looked at Fang Yun with concern.

Fang Yun said calmly, "Jiangzhou is so vast. If I want to hide, they can't do anything to me. You don't need to worry too much."

Mr. Wang thought for a moment and said, "Yuncong is right. I will immediately submit a petition to the Academy Chancellor to transfer your enrollment to Yuhai City. That place is where the provincial army is stationed. Except for the northern sub-city, the rest of the area is heavily guarded, and the Holy Academy's power is immense. The traitorous literati have never been able to infiltrate. It is also the front line of the war between our race and the dragon race. Although the dragon race also belongs to the demon race, they have significant differences with the demon world. Many true dragons love our human poetry and literature. If a literatus is captured, they often only need to write good poetry and literature, and the dragon race will release them. The dragon race also looks down on the traitorous literati and will never cooperate with them. Therefore, to prevent Feng Chengjue from acting personally, it's best for Fang Yun to go to Yuhai City."

"Mr. Wang, your consideration is thorough. Fang Yun indeed doesn't belong in Dayuan Prefecture anymore. I heard that Dayuan Prefecture has been infiltrated by the traitorous literati like a sieve, full of loopholes."

Fang Yun asked, "What if I finish the prefectural examination first and then go to Yuhai City?"

"No! Now that so many traitorous literati have been killed, they will be in temporary chaos and won't be able to focus on you. If you stay here and leave after the June prefectural examination, they will certainly be well-prepared. Even if Sword-Eyebrow Gong personally escorts you, if Feng Chengjue acts, you will surely die."

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

"Ah, you still underestimate the power of the demon world and the traitorous literati. I ask you, if the families or even the entire clans of willpower-weak tongsheng or shengyuan are captured by the traitorous literati and used to threaten them to kill you, can you avoid it? Do you know how many geniuses have been killed in the city before? Poison arrows, venomous insects, blood explosions, and many other methods can kill you. Until you become a jinshi, you will always be at great risk."

Fang Yun nodded, Mr. Wang was right. The demon race has too many ways to kill, and staying in Dayuan City is no safer than being outside.

"As your academy teacher, I will decide this for you. Your survival is now related to the future of Jing Kingdom, and even to the fate of the human race. I cannot let you be threatened in any way!"

"Thank you, Mr. Wang." Fang Yun was moved. Mr. Wang not only had great learning but also used up ten years of his life to use the碧血丹心 (Bixue Dixin) in the battle with the demon turtle last night, a true man of righteousness.

"You don't need to thank me. As long as you can strengthen our human race, all our sacrifices will not be in vain, and I will be satisfied." Mr. Wang smiled, but his complexion was far worse than before, and his originally black hair seemed to have more layers of frost.

Fang Yun said, "If I achieve something in the future, I will definitely go to the demon world to search for longevity elixirs to extend your life."

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

When the carriage arrived at the academy gate, everyone got off. Before leaving, Mr. Wang pulled Fang Yun aside and whispered, "If someone makes things difficult for you, don't be soft-hearted. When you need to act, act decisively! Don't care about their background!"

Watching Mr. Wang turn and leave, Fang Yun thought: Could he be talking about the Liu family? I am already a shengyuan before the Sage, and Liu Zicheng is no longer a threat. Liu Zhi is even less likely to give up his future to target me. The only key is the attitude of the Left Chancellor.

After returning home, Yang Yuhuan smiled brightly, constantly asking after his well-being and bustling about, as if it were a holiday. She was happy all day long.

The next morning, Fang Yun checked the talent in the Literary Palace and was delighted to find that it had already reached one inch and three, growing much faster than ordinary shengyuan.

In the early morning, Zhou Zhubu visited quietly, bringing an order from Li Wenying, instructing Fang Yun to prepare for the trip. People from Yuhai City had already been sent to assist, and he was to wait at home with important items and trusted people at midnight.

Zhou Zhubu's tone was full of envy, and 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 not to leak any information. Yang Yuhuan had to dismiss some servants, leaving only Fang Daniu and Jiang Pozi. Tan Yu and Nie Shi's families were in Dayuan Prefecture, so it wasn't convenient to take them to Yuhai City.

Fang Yun didn't idle that day, writing many letters to friends and acquaintances, keeping them to send later when he arrived in Yuhai City.

As midnight approached, Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, Nunu, Fang Daniu, and Jiang Pozi sat in the main hall of the residence.

Except for Nunu, who was sleeping soundly in Fang Yun's arms, the other four were somewhat reluctant to leave.

Fang Yun himself didn't want to leave, but the traitorous literati had suffered a heavy loss this time. Once they recovered, they would launch a fierce counterattack. At that point, not only would he be in danger, but Yang Yuhuan and the servants would also be at risk.

At midnight, a knock came at the door.

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

Fang Yun and Fang Daniu went to open the door, and they saw Zhou Zhubu with some people in plain clothes outside.

Among them were Prefect Sun, General Chen, and several jinshi scholars whom Fang Yun recognized, as well as four people he didn't know. The four had sharp eyes and extraordinary demeanor, likely jinshi or ju ren.

Zhou Zhubu said, "Let's not waste time. Get in the carriage and leave the city."

Several soldiers came in to help carry four large bundles, and then Fang Yun and the others got into the armored ox cart.

Under the quiet night sky, five armored ox carts headed for the east gate of Dayuan Prefecture.

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

Soon, the carriages arrived at the city gate and turned into a clearing in the forest.

"Get out of the carriage."

Fang Yun got out with a bundle, seeing that the place was surrounded by bamboo groves, with only a wooden house and a flat area.

Fang Yun looked at everyone in confusion.

Zhou Zhubu and the officials laughed, and Zhou Zhubu pointed to a middle-aged man in his forties and said, "Now I will introduce you. This is the Chancellor of the Prefecture Academy of Yuhai City, Feng Zimo."

Fang Yun was truly surprised that the head of a prefectural academy would personally escort him. He immediately bowed and said, "What virtue do I have to deserve such care from Your Excellency? I will remember this for life."

Feng Zimo half-joked, "Actually, I didn't want to come, but Sword-Eyebrow Gong ordered me, so I had to comply. This is General Dinghai Yu Xingshu."

Fang Yun was even more surprised. General Dinghai was not only of a higher rank than the Chancellor of the Prefecture Academy but also had significant power, responsible for daily affairs with the sea race around Yuhai City. He was usually held by senior jinshi scholars close to Hanlin, yet he had come personally, indicating that even the military was extremely concerned about this escort.

"Thank you, General Yu!" Fang Yun thanked him again.

General Yu Xingshu, with a military demeanor, nodded without smiling and said, "Fang Dayan has praised you to the skies. When you arrive in Yuhai City, don't lose to the people from Qing Kingdom at the Dragon Boat Literary Assembly."

"This... I am preparing for the examination and didn't plan to participate in the Dragon Boat Literary Assembly," Fang Yun said.

Chen Xibi, standing nearby, said, "Old Yu, we discussed before not to let Fang Yun participate in the Dragon Boat Literary Assembly, fearing he would expose his identity as a shengyuan before the Sage. Unfortunately, it's already exposed, so it's fine for him to participate, but I hope he focuses on the examination and doesn't chase after empty fame."

"That's good, practicality is best." Yu Xingshu nodded.

Zhou Zhubu said, "It's midnight now, suitable for departure. I wish you all a safe journey."

"Safe journey!" Everyone wished them well.

Fang Yun was still puzzled. There was nothing here, so why were they seeing him off here?

As Fang Yun was thinking, he saw Yu Xingshu take out a rolled-up piece of paper from his sleeve, a very rare Holy Page.

The paper was very strange. It was rolled up, but when it reached Yu Xingshu's hands, a force seemed to release from inside, and the page eventually stood up, as if supported by the words on it.

"Words form bones!"

"It must be the work of a Chancellor," a few ju ren whispered, looking happily at the word on the Holy Page.

Boat.

This word contained a powerful and vast force, as if a piece of steel was embedded in the Holy Page.