Lip Spear and Tongue Sword

Just as the Black Mist Assassin was about to strike, a thunderous shout rang out.

"Stop! The Ji County constable is here! How dare a rat like you run wild!" Constable Lu shouted from afar and hurled his Literary Treasure Waist Pendant.

A voice appeared out of thin air in midair, reciting "Canglang Journey," a war poem by Chen Guanhai, the Half-Sage of the Jing Kingdom. With the recitation came the tremendous roar of waves crashing against the shore. The Literary Treasure Waist Pendant transformed into a blue tidal wave three zhang high, blocking the space between Fang Yun and Liu Zicheng, blotting out the sky and ready to crash down at any moment.

Liu Zicheng instinctively stopped writing and retreated three steps, gripping his brush tightly. The brush began to glow faintly—it was actually a Literary Treasure as well.

Liu Zicheng turned his head and said, "Constable Lu, I am Liu Zicheng of the Dayuan Liu Family. My elder brother is Jiangzhou's Jieyuan, and my granduncle is the current Left Prime Minister. Leave at once, and I will pretend none of this happened today."

Constable Lu stood upright with righteous energy. "You attempted to murder a Sage-front Licentiate in broad daylight. As the Ji County constable, how can I stand by with my hands in my sleeves? The Literary Treasure Waist Pendant has been activated, and the county magistrate's Official Seal will surely respond. Put down your Literary Treasure and await the county magistrate's judgment!"

Within the Literary Academy, County Magistrate Cai had changed into plain clothes and was preparing to attend a banquet at the Auspicious Restaurant. An exceptionally burly man followed behind him.

Below the neck, the burly man was no different from an ordinary person, but his head was not human—it was an ox head. He was a Niu Barbarian.

A Provincial Graduate could keep two armored private soldiers.

A Metropolitan Graduate could keep four private soldiers, with no restrictions on Demon Barbarians.

The Niu Barbarian carried a small yellow silk bundle in his hand. Inside was the Official Seal, which a county magistrate was required to carry whenever he went out.

The yellow silk bundle suddenly stirred.

County Magistrate Cai's expression shifted. Literary Qi surged around him as he reached out and took the Official Seal.

Light flickered in his eyes, as though he stood high in the heavens overlooking the entire county. Then, through the Official Seal and Constable Lu's waist pendant, he saw what was happening outside Fang Yun's home. He saw the half-completed "Song of Jing Ke Assassinating Qin," and he saw Fang Yun trapped.

County Magistrate Cai's beard trembled with rage. Ji County had finally produced a Sage-front Licentiate who might shake the world with his name, yet someone from the Liu Household had actually dared to kill him.

"Brazen madman!"

County Magistrate Cai let out a furious shout. A streak of white light flew from his mouth and condensed before him into a white ancient sword.

The Talent Qi Ancient Sword radiated an inexplicable killing intent. The Niu Barbarian had never feared even blood-soaked battlefields, but the instant the Talent Qi Ancient Sword appeared, he could not help narrowing his eyes and hunching his neck, terrified of being slain.

County Magistrate Cai was too far from Fang Yun. Even a Metropolitan Graduate's Lip Spear and Tongue Sword could not reach that far, but the entire county lay beneath the Literary Academy's power. He clenched the Official Seal tightly and used the power accumulated by the Literary Academy over several centuries to drive the Talent Qi Ancient Sword.

With a whoosh, the Talent Qi Ancient Sword tore through the sky with a piercing shriek, arriving above Fang Yun's home in the span of two breaths.

The Talent Qi Ancient Sword exuded immense pressure, and Liu Zicheng's hand holding the brush began to tremble.

Liu Zicheng's face drained of all color. He knew too well how terrifying a Metropolitan Graduate was, and he understood even more clearly that the other side intended to protect Fang Yun to the death. If he dared make another move, he would surely die.

Liu Zicheng immediately cried out, "I beg County Magistrate Cai to investigate clearly! I am Liu Zicheng, an Academy Student of Dayuan Prefecture, ranked ninth in the Prefectural Examination three years ago. I did not know Fang Yun was a Sage-front Licentiate before. Now that I know, I will never make another move!"

County Magistrate Cai's voice came from the Talent Qi Ancient Sword. "Surrounding and attacking a Licentiate in broad daylight is a crime of the utmost evil!"

The Talent Qi Ancient Sword suddenly vanished, streaking past a servant's neck at a speed the naked eye could not catch before returning to the air.

"Urgh..." The servant suddenly clutched his neck with both hands. Blood gushed violently from between his fingers and out of his mouth before he slowly collapsed to the ground.

The pungent stench of blood spread through the air, and the sand and soil on the ground were gradually dyed red.

The other three servants were terrified. They hurriedly dropped to their knees, kowtowing and crying, "Mercy, my lord! Mercy, my lord!"

"Constable Lu, escort these three to prison and interrogate them on another day. As for Liu Zicheng, until this case is resolved, he may not leave Dayuan Prefecture. Otherwise, it will be treated as fleeing in fear of punishment."

Liu Zicheng hurriedly bowed. "This student knows his error." After speaking, he rushed into his carriage and fled in a sorry state.

"Xiaoyun." Yang Yuhuan threw herself into Fang Yun's arms in tears. Fang Yun gently patted her back to comfort her.

Fang Yun was immensely grateful to County Magistrate Cai and wanted to thank him, but he found that simply saying thank you was too vulgar and carried too little weight. After all, he was merely the Case First among Licentiates, while the other was a county magistrate and Metropolitan Graduate.

After pondering for a moment, Fang Yun recited loudly, "Beside the Cai family's ink-washing pond stood trees, each blossom opening with pale ink traces; they sought no praise for lovely colors, leaving only pure fragrance to fill heaven and earth! This student, Fang Yun, dedicated this poem, 'Thanks to Cai He.'"

Constable Lu was stunned. As expected of the Double-A Honor Case First. This poem is at least County-Exceeding in quality. Not one word speaks of how fine County Magistrate Cai is; it only describes the flowers of the Cai household, yet it has praised County Magistrate Cai to the skies. Scholars seek literary fame, but they must also mind their influence. This sort of silent, traceless flattery is truly brilliant—and he even remembered to name the poem "Thanks to Cai He."

Constable Lu became even more determined to attach himself to Fang Yun. Having Literary Qi was nothing remarkable, but knowing how to conduct oneself at such a young age was far too rare. His future achievements would surely be beyond measure.

"Fine poem! Fine poem! What a line—pure fragrance filling heaven and earth! Only Lord Cai deserves such words!" Constable Lu praised loudly.

As soon as the poem emerged, the Talent Qi Ancient Sword stirred, then slowly dissipated. County Magistrate Cai said nothing.

Constable Lu reverently glanced at the place where the Talent Qi Ancient Sword had vanished, put away his constable's waist pendant, and handed Fang Yun an invitation with both hands. "This is the invitation the county magistrate asked me to deliver. He invites you to attend the literary assembly at the Auspicious Restaurant."

Fang Yun received it with both hands as well. "Thank you, Constable Lu."

Constable Lu smiled. "You're welcome. Since Young Master Fang has won the Case First, I had intended to go inside and beg for a cup of tea, but I still have a case to handle, so I will not enter. This is my congratulatory gift. Congratulations, Young Master Fang. You know those of us in the public service have little money, so please accept these five taels of silver. If anything happens in the future, come directly to me. I will brave boiling water and tread through fire without hesitation." As he spoke, Constable Lu took out a five-tael silver ingot.

Yang Yuhuan had not expected Constable Lu's gift to be so generous. For an ordinary family's happy occasion, gifts rarely exceeded a hundred copper coins. These five taels of silver equaled five thousand coins. She had never expected anyone to call Fang Yun "Young Master Fang," either.

Fang Yun declined. "Constable Lu, you are too courteous. I have not even thanked you for coming to my rescue. How can I accept your congratulatory gift?"

"One matter is one matter; the two cannot be mixed together. Take it. I will have them leave at once."

As he spoke, Constable Lu stuffed the silver into Fang Yun's hand and ordered the three servants to carry away the corpse.

As Fang Yun watched Constable Lu's departing figure, his thoughts turned to that Literary Treasure Waist Pendant.

A Literary Treasure was a treasure formed when a scholar of Provincial Graduate rank or above, before death, used poetry, lyrics, or prose as a medium to pour the Literary Qi accumulated over an entire lifetime into an object. Its effects varied according to the poetry, lyrics, or prose infused within it.

The sages were different. Each sage formed a world of Literary Qi of their own. So long as an item was commonly used by the sages and capable of bearing Literary Qi, it would usually become a Literary Treasure naturally.

At minimum, one had to be an Academy Student to use the most basic Provincial Graduate Literary Treasure. Thus, when some scholars of Provincial Graduate rank or above found their descendants hopelessly incapable, they would choose to craft a Literary Treasure according to the court's requirements in exchange for wealth and honor for their descendants.

Constable Lu's waist pendant was a Provincial Graduate Literary Treasure. Before dying, a Provincial Graduate had used Chen Guanhai's famed "Canglang Journey," the Half-Sage of the Jing Kingdom, as a medium to infuse Literary Qi into the waist pendant and offer it to the Jing Kingdom. In exchange, one of his sons had been elevated from Licentiate to "Official Xiucai," while his grandson had been granted the title of County Marquis for one generation.

An "Official Xiucai" referred to someone who received all the same treatment as an Academy Student within the Jing Kingdom, but was not recognized by the Literary Academy and had to be registered with it.

The higher the Literary Rank, the more powerful the Literary Treasure offered, and the higher the status granted to one's descendants.

If a Grand Academician or even a Half-Sage offered a Literary Treasure before death, it would count as a great contribution equal to military merit, and their descendants could inherit a very high noble title.

Every kingdom had people who gained titles through their ancestors' military achievements or their offerings of Literary Treasures. These people were collectively known as Meritorious Nobility. Their status was not high in other countries, but within their own kingdom, they held lofty positions and received many privileges.

Fang Yun caught sight of the bloodstains from the corner of his eye. He had no time to envy those who possessed Literary Treasures and went to find something to clean the blood away, but Yang Yuhuan said she would do it.

"You aren't afraid of human blood?" Fang Yun asked.

"I've killed chickens and pigs before. What is a little bloodstain? I only fear that not enough were killed!" Yang Yuhuan hated those who had hurt Fang Yun to the bone.

Fang Yun said, "If they were all killed, wouldn't that help Liu Zicheng destroy the evidence and erase the traces? Killing one proves his determination. Leaving three shows that they may be pursued later."

Yang Yuhuan suddenly understood, then asked, "Why not arrest that bastard Liu Zicheng too?"

"He is an Academy Student, the son of a prestigious family, and the Left Prime Minister's relative. Even if he were taken to the yamen, without irrefutable evidence, they could only release him. It might even help clear him of suspicion. If anything went slightly wrong, or if Liu Zicheng put on some Self-Injury Stratagem, the other officials would certainly impeach County Magistrate Cai, which would not benefit us either. Now that County Magistrate Cai is holding those three servants, Liu Zicheng must bear suspicion of murder. Not only will the Liu Household not seek help from Left Prime Minister Liu Shan, they will instead try to cover things up. With those three servants, County Magistrate Cai can attack when advancing and defend when retreating."

Yang Yuhuan gazed at Fang Yun, strange light flashing in her eyes as she softly said, "Xiaoyun, you've truly become formidable. You even understand such things. No wonder you earned Double-A Honor as a Licentiate."

Fang Yun said, "Actually, when one reads enough books, one's mind opens, and one understands."

"Mhm. In any case, our Xiaoyun is amazing! Even a constable like Lu gave five taels of silver. Who knows how much the other people coming to congratulate you will give? You've truly made us proud!" Yang Yuhuan raised her head, feeling more and more that Fang Yun had grown up.

"No matter what I do, half the credit belongs to Sister Yuhuan." Fang Yun smiled, his gaze filled with warmth.

"I'll get back to work." Yang Yuhuan suddenly realized she did not dare meet Fang Yun's eyes. She lightly lifted her skirt and hurried away.

Fang Yun looked in the direction Liu Zicheng had disappeared, and his gaze gradually turned cold.

Those three servants will not confess. If they do, their entire families will suffer. Even if they confess, they will likely only say Liu Zicheng ordered them to teach me a lesson, not kill me. They will leave no handle behind. The key is that I was not yet a Licentiate then, while he was an Academy Student. He will not be severely punished; there have been similar precedents before. County Magistrate Cai has already reached his limit by directly killing one servant. Liu Zicheng dared to kill me even knowing I was a Sage-front Licentiate. He definitely will not let me go afterward, and I cannot sit and wait for death. The day I become an Academy Student will be the day Liu Zicheng dies!

At that moment, Ge Xiaomao's panting voice came from the other side. "Fang Yun! Fang Yun! You passed the Licentiate examination—you're even the Case First! Why didn't you go to the Literary Academy to see the posted results?"