Chapter 93

Fang Yun vaguely understood what Fang Shouye was about to say.

Fang Shouye said, "He is well-informed in Yuhai City. Today, he learned that your school registration would be transferred to Yuhai Prefecture, and immediately went to General Gan Luoxing, a good friend of his grandfather, to criticize you as despicable and shameless, saying that you are afraid of not ranking in the top ten in Dàyuan Prefecture, so you came to Yuhai Prefecture to compete for the top ten positions."

"This..."

"He is not afraid of you becoming a scholar, but rather afraid that you will take his name as a talented scholar. However, it's not just him causing trouble; many influential students are also criticizing you. You must understand that only the top ten in a prefecture can enter the Book Mountain. If you take one of the spots, the one who would have been in the top ten will not be able to go to the Book Mountain, which is a significant loss. Therefore, people are saying everywhere that you are afraid of not being able to enter the Book Mountain in Dàyuan Prefecture, so you came to Yuhai City to compete for the top ten positions."

Fang Yun knew the importance of being a talented scholar and the Book Mountain. Even if he was just a genius from a humble background, the people would still fight with all their might for the spots in the Book Mountain, let alone the children of noble families.

Fang Yun sighed helplessly and said, "I didn't want to come either, but there was no choice. Mr. Wang and Zhou Zhubu jointly consulted with Lord Li Wenyi, and it was ultimately decided by Lord Li. I originally planned to take the prefecture exam first and then come."

"You are not at fault in this matter; you can only blame the renegade scholars and the demon race! Rest assured, as long as I am here, no one will dare to harm you like Liu Zicheng. However, you must not disgrace yourself. If he challenges you openly, you must not lose," Fang Shouye said.

"Ah, we are all scholars, he wouldn't deliberately suppress me because of this, right?" Fang Yun said helplessly.

Fang Shouye laughed coldly and said, "You are thinking too highly of them. I suspect they will join forces to force you to give up on taking the prefecture exam."

Fang Yun became anxious and said, "Why? I was assassinated by renegade scholars for killing demons. Even if it wasn't for the sake of the human race, at least I did something just. Why can't I take the prefecture exam? If they can find excuses to target me, who will dare to kill demons in the future?"

Fang Shouye showed a somewhat strange expression and said, "According to our military intelligence, your identity as a pre-saint scholar was not originally exposed. The people from Jingcheng Peak had other reasons to kill you."

"How could this be? If the renegade scholars didn't know my identity as a pre-saint scholar, why did they send so many people to kill me? That's equivalent to five jinshis and dozens of juren. Even the military of a prefecture couldn't match them. What did I do to provoke them?"

Fang Shouye said helplessly, "Actually, you were betrayed by the sage."

"Ah? Is there a sage who wants to harm me?" Fang Yun was even more puzzled.

"No. Do you remember that your 'Ode to a Humble Abode' was published in yesterday's 'Sage Path'?"

"Yes, I remember." Fang Yun was confused.

"Recently, the demon race has been very active, with varying degrees of demon disasters in the ten countries. The renegade scholars have been working hard. The sage wanted to warn the demon race and the renegade scholars not to act rashly. Your 'Ode to a Humble Abode' is a text that strengthens the spirit, suitable for attacking the spirit palaces of renegade scholars. Therefore, the sage diverted the talent from various sage temples to the 'Ode to a Humble Abode' in the 'Sage Path.' Ordinary scholars benefit greatly from reading it, but renegade scholars reading the altered 'Ode to a Humble Abode' will trigger hidden forces."

Fang Shouye took a sip of water and continued, "You can guess what happened next. The renegade scholars suffered greatly. They couldn't kill the sage, so they came to kill you. Unfortunately, we didn't know at the time, thinking your identity as a pre-saint scholar had been exposed. After killing them, we didn't cover up your identity, and now it's too late. The demon race wants to kill you even more."

"Am I carrying a huge black pot?" Fang Yun asked solemnly.

"Probably. However, your 'Ode to a Humble Abode' has done a great service to the human race. Even if something happens this time, the sage will help you," Fang Shouye said.

"What if I am really prevented from taking the prefecture exam?"

Fang Shouye immediately said, "If they use despicable means to harm you, I guarantee they will never be able to take the imperial exams! Even if Tong Li's grandfather is a vice minister of the Ministry of War, even if he is the minister, we Fang family are not afraid! However, if they use legitimate means to obstruct you, I can't take action. Since you are already a pre-saint scholar, the possibility of ranking in the top ten next year is greater. Why must you participate in the prefecture exam this year?"

"One step behind, and all steps are behind. The Left Chancellor's faction and the Liu family are watching me, and the renegade scholars are also watching me. If I can't become a scholar this year and climb the Book Mountain, and if I don't increase my talent and strength as much as possible, I will surely die if I encounter an emergency. Uncle, tell me the truth, is Yuhai City absolutely safe?"

Fang Shouye was stunned, and after a moment of silence, he said, "If the demon realm and the renegade scholars are willing to pay any price to kill you, and if a demon sage acts, no one can stop them. However, you don't need to make them pay such a high price to kill you. If a demon sage acts to kill you, the ten countries' sages will dare to move the Sage Academy into the demon realm, making the demon realm restless! So, you are absolutely safe in Yuhai City."

Fang Yun was frustrated and said, "Those renegade scholars are truly detestable. Even without my 'Ode to a Humble Abode,' the sage has other ways to harm them. Tong Li and others are equally despicable, knowing that the demon race is forcing me, yet they do things that make the demon race cheer. To put it bluntly, since the 'Ode to a Humble Abode' has harmed so many renegade scholars, it has done a great service. Even if I come to Yuhai City to take the exam, or even if the sage personally grants me the title of a talented scholar, I can accept it with a clear conscience!"

"Ah... Some things are just helpless. We are not afraid of Tong Li, but if they spread that you are here to take the scholar positions in Yuhai Prefecture, the students in Yuhai Prefecture will certainly isolate and exclude you."

Fang Yun thought for a long time without speaking.

"Ah, let's take it one step at a time. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the Prefecture Academy. I don't believe they dare to obstruct you in front of me!" Fang Shouye said.

Fang Yun said, "No need to trouble Uncle. If they are willing to sit down and talk, everything can be negotiated. Even if I don't take the scholar exam this year, it's not a problem. But if they try to force me, they have chosen the wrong person! I, Fang Yun, am not a soft target that can be easily manipulated!"

"Really don't need me to go?" Fang Shouye asked.

"Really don't need! If I can't solve this matter, how can I kill demons and exterminate the barbarians in the future?" Fang Yun said.

"Alright! If they are in the wrong, make a big fuss. Involve Lord Li, and see how they will deal with it! If they dare to obstruct a hero who has killed demons, what won't they dare to do!" Fang Shouye said.

Fang Yun said helplessly, "I originally wanted to go to the Dragon Boat Literary Gathering, but now I really don't want to go. By the way, where is the Dragon Boat Literary Gathering held?"

"There is a Jade Belt River between the northern auxiliary city and the main city. Every year, dragon boat races are held on the Jade Belt River. If you don't want to participate, you can stand by the river and watch." Fang Shouye was also in a bad mood.

"Okay."

The two continued chatting. Fang Shouye slowly introduced the people's sentiments, the relationships between various factions, and the situation of the dragon water demons in Yuhai City. It was past ten o'clock at night before Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan left.

Back home, Fang Yun was in a very bad mood. He continuously practiced calligraphy to calm himself down, writing for an hour before he could settle his mind. He then continued to read the classics of the sages and, as usual, wrote an essay on the classics before going to bed.

The next morning, just after eight o'clock, a scholar clerk under Li Wenyi came to take Fang Yun to confirm his school registration and sign up for the prefecture exam next month.

Fang Yun followed the scholar clerk into a carriage and headed to the academy.

At the entrance of the Prefecture Academy in Yuhai, they got off the carriage and entered the academy, heading to the registry office responsible for school registration. Soon, Fang Yun saw a large door with a plaque reading "Registry Office." However, there were more than ten people standing in front of the door, including three scholars.

The scholar clerk saw this and looked worried but still walked in.

"Wait! Scholar clerk, who is the person behind you?"

The clerk lowered his head and did not speak.

Fang Yun had already guessed the identities of these people. He bowed to them and smiled, saying, "Are you from the Ministry of Justice or the Sage Academy's Justice Hall? If you want to investigate my identity, please show your credentials, and I will answer truthfully."

"The Dàyuan Prefecture accent! Are you Fang Yun?" A student stepped forward, glaring at Fang Yun.

"Yes, I am Fang Yun from Jixian County," Fang Yun said calmly.

The student said, "Despicable! I thought you were a noble scholar, but who knew you would be so despicable and shameless! To enter the Book Mountain, you even used private influence to transfer your school registration. I will never believe anyone else again; you are a bully who takes what is not yours!"

"We were really blind before!"

"Go back to Dàyuan Prefecture; we don't welcome you in Yuhai Prefecture!"

"Go back to Dàyuan Prefecture!"

Everyone shouted together, drawing the attention of people nearby.

Fang Yun suppressed his anger and suddenly said loudly, "I have some things I don't understand, and I hope you can enlighten me! I came to Yuhai City not of my own accord, but by the order of Lord Li Wenyi. If you doubt this order, why don't you go to Lord Li Wenyi?"

"Who knows if you used despicable means!" someone said.

Fang Yun said, "Oh, so you don't know if I used any means, or even why Lord Li Wenyi transferred me to Yuhai City. In that case, you are clearly making accusations without evidence, defaming me, a pre-saint scholar, and defaming Lord Li Wenyi! You are the truly despicable ones!"

For a moment, no one could speak, especially the timid ones who felt afraid when they heard the defamation of Li Wenyi.

Fang Yun took a step forward and looked directly