When everyone saw Fang Yun appear, they stopped talking and gathered around him.
Most of the male scholars were somewhat reserved, afraid that something they said or did might offend Fang Yun. By contrast, the women on horseback were outgoing and more at ease. In an age that valued men above women, only women with such personalities could break through the many restraints and join the renowned Heroine Society.
Fang Yun swept his gaze over the thousand-odd people, quickly fixing every face in his mind, and immediately recognized most of them.
Although those women had no literary rank, they were members of the Jing Kingdom branch of the Heroine Society, the human race's foremost literary society.
Women had no literary rank, so those with literary gifts were especially united. They had established the Heroine Society in Kong City, with branches in every kingdom.
The term "heroine" came from a kind of accessory that, by the Han dynasty, had become a headscarf and hair ornament exclusively for women, and thus came to represent women themselves.
Every woman in the Heroine Society possessed enough learning to fill five cartloads of books. Many were accomplished in everything from classic interpretations and essays to poetry, songs, the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
All scholars acknowledged that, if the women of the Heroine Society became men, every one of them would be at least the equal of a Provincial Graduate. Even if they eventually became Great Scholars, it would be no surprise.
Unfortunately, with insufficient literary qi, the women of the Heroine Society had bellies full of poetry and books but still struggled to achieve anything of real consequence.
Recently, Wenqu Descent had greatly increased the human race's literary qi, and the Heroine Society had grown more active. Some members had even carried banners while