"You're too kind, gentlemen!" Fang Yun raised his cup as well.
Everyone drained the wine in their cups together.
Fang Yun set down his cup and said, "If we have another opportunity, let us share a drink again."
"Very well. We shall take our leave." After speaking, Yun Dan gave the others a meaningful look and left with the other four men, all of whom wore unhappy expressions.
Once Yun Dan closed the door, the smile vanished from Fang Yun's face.
As a newcomer, he should have befriended any scholars he met and learned about his surroundings through them. Unfortunately, they had spoken so loudly that he had overheard some of their conversation even without wanting to.
From beginning to end, those five men had done nothing but complain about and attack other scholars and their works. They accused one Hanlin Academician of improper conduct, dismissed a Metropolitan Graduate's works as utterly worthless, and even looked down on a Grand Academician who had been famous for years.
Their attacks had not stopped since Fang Yun entered.
Had these men held no literary rank, Fang Yun would not have cared what they said. But they clearly possessed literary ranks, yet despite having no conflicts of interest, they belittled, slandered, and attacked those of higher rank without the slightest desire to learn from them.
Unless these men changed their thinking, they would harm not only themselves but others as well. Befriending them would bring harm without benefit.
Most importantly, when they had discussed Fang Yun before coming over, they had shown no genuine respect. They had not even intended merely to greet him, but to sound him out about his purpose in coming here, and their words had been decidedly discourteous.
Thus, Fang Yun could not be bothered to play along with