At last, Fang Yun sighed softly. The Western Sage's final remark had been meant to prevent any misunderstanding: they were not stealing his credit. The merit would still be attributed to him.
"Does the Western Sage think I've suffered too much bullying, or that I've been too overbearing?"
Fang Yun smiled helplessly.
Fang Yun sat in a grand armchair, closing his eyes to rest his mind. Several breaths later, he slowly opened them.
"Now that the road has been paved, anyone who obstructs it again can be sacrificed for the greater good!"
Fang Yun's eyes were like lightning cleaving the night sky.
After resting briefly, Fang Yun left the Sacred Academy and entered Kong City, where he met with the head of the Lü Clan. He read the chapter of The Lüshi Chunqiu containing the original Heavenly Constancy Soul-Splitting Technique and learned the complete technique.
Afterward, Fang Yun entered the Heroine Society and spoke with its women. Before leaving, he offered a meaningful remark, one he had also spoken at the Western Sage Pavilion.
"For now, this is merely the darkness before dawn."
Fang Yun lingered with Sage Kong and at the Sacred Academy for another three days. Once he had done everything he needed to do, he departed quietly and went to Peng Zouzhao's grave, offering wine in tribute and reciting poetry in mourning.
Having taken care of all this, Fang Yun returned to the Governor-General's Office in Xiang Prefecture and sent messages to everyone, announcing that he would host a banquet for Xiang Prefecture's officials the next day.
Fang Yun had stepped down as governor-general of the two prefectures long ago. Yet after his departure, people had continued maintaining the Governor-General's Office, and it remained one of the administrative centers of all Xiang Prefecture.
Some at court had