He Ludong immediately stepped forward to stop them. "The person Ancient Minister selected is highly inappropriate. The previous two were not much older than Void Sage Fang; exchanging gifts between them was perfectly ordinary. But Zong Wuyuan is rather advanced in age, and he is a Hanlin Academician. He cannot be considered one of Qing Kingdom's young people."
Zong Wuyuan stepped forward with a smile. "Compared with Void Sage Fang, our accomplishments are insignificant; all of us can be called young people. It is merely a matter of title, so General He need not split hairs. Besides, the three men increase in age one after another. Other than me, there seems to be no more suitable candidate. Otherwise, someone from our Qing Kingdom would surely have stood forth in objection. General He, why don't you ask them?"
He Ludong looked toward the Qing Kingdom scholars, rendered speechless.
Most Qing Kingdom people found this perfectly normal. Zong Wuyuan was indeed qualified to say such things. As a direct descendant of a Half-Sage Family and a Hanlin Academician at thirty, if even he was unqualified to step forward, then no one present was qualified.
Yet Fang Yun noticed that several officials wore cold expressions, clearly repulsed by Zong Wuyuan's words.
Fang Yun nodded. "Indeed. Brother Wuyuan's reputation is illustrious. Back then, he became a Hanlin Academician before reaching thirty, and may be called the literary leader of Qing Kingdom's younger generation."
Those who had initially disliked Zong Wuyuan found the disgust in their eyes deepen upon hearing this.
A glint flashed through Zong Wuyuan's eyes. He immediately untied the sword at his waist and said, "A treasured sword is given to a hero; poetry is sent to a renowned scholar. Void Sage Fang is both hero and renowned scholar, so naturally, sword