"When did you become a Before-the-Sages Academy Student?" Li Yuncong asked.
"I was inspired by the Five-Movement Grand Academician. For the past two days, I'd only slept two hours a night and spent every night reciting the Classics of the Sages from memory. That was why I broke through this morning," Fang Yun said.
Everyone understood. Too many scholars had been stirred to rise up after receiving inspiration; it was nothing unusual.
"What was the matter with that Mingqi Bird demon?" Teacher Wang asked.
Everyone looked at Fang Yun, their eyes filled with gratitude.
Fang Yun said solemnly, "You all know I can recite The Analects backward without a hitch, and I recited it from memory once again yesterday. Today, when I saw Mingqi harming people and realized we were all going to die here, sorrow welled up in my heart. I couldn't help thinking of the heroic bearing of the Great Scholars and Half-Sages throughout the ages, so I blurted out a famous line from The Analects, using 'The Master did not speak of strange powers, disorder, spirits, or gods' to intimidate it. I don't know what happened, but that Mingqi no longer dared to cry out."
Teacher Wang said with relief, "You possess righteous courage and keep upright qi in your heart. You are a true scholar. I once heard that an old Licentiate who had studied Classic Interpretation was walking at night to escort students home when he encountered the Demon Race. To protect the students, he urgently recited Sage Kong's Spring and Autumn Annals aloud. Faintly, the sound of thousands upon thousands of soldiers charging could be heard, frightening the Demon Race away. I never expected you could do the same. This is sacrificing one's life for righteousness. Even if your achievements cannot compare to those