Chapter 95: Battle in the Capital (Part 2)
Where did the malice toward the National Academy—or more precisely, toward the young man within it—come from in all of Kyoto? Naturally, it stemmed from the marriage contract he carried.
In Kyoto, Xu Yourong was a name that could not be defiled. Setting aside her status as the heir to the Southern Holy Maiden, her bloodline talent as the reincarnation of the Heavenly Phoenix, and the favor of the Holy Empress, the most crucial point was that she was also incredibly beautiful... So, at least in the eyes of the Zhou people, she was perfect. Naturally, she had countless admirers among the young men, and even young women.
But precisely because she was too perfect, admiration often turned into reverence or worship. People only dared to fantasize about her in the solitude of the night, never daring to show any hint of their feelings in public, for that would only invite ridicule. It was a kind of blasphemy.
This situation only changed drastically after the events of the Green Vine Banquet night spread throughout Kyoto. Among the men who adored Xu Yourong, the older ones could still maintain their composure, but the younger ones could no longer suppress their emotions. They decided to go to the National Academy to express their anger.
In previous years, no one would have dared to cause trouble at the southern envoy’s residence in Kyoto, let alone hurl insults at Autumn Mountain Lord. Why? Because Autumn Mountain Lord was also perfect, radiant, and his relationship with Xu Yourong had been tacitly approved by the court and accepted by the people.
This mentality was somewhat complex and hard to explain. Perhaps it was because the existence of Chen Changsheng and the marriage contract made Xu Yourong no longer so perfect, and Autumn Mountain Lord no longer as unshakable as before. Thus, the young men began to use their anger to assert their own existence.
The main reason, however, was that the young man holding the marriage contract was named Chen Changsheng—unknown to anyone. After some inquiries, they learned he was just a new student at the National Academy, very ordinary. Further investigation revealed he couldn’t even cultivate—a waste.
How could they tolerate this? We can’t compare ourselves to Autumn Mountain Lord, but what kind of thing is this Chen Changsheng?
Put simply, it came down to that saying: “If a Daoist can touch it, why can’t I?”
A young Daoist from Xining Town wants to marry the eldest daughter of the Xu family?
Just like the most common insult shouted outside the National Academy right now: “A toad lusting after swan meat?”
Pah!
The shouts and vulgarities grew louder, carrying from the courtyard gate into the library, still clear.
Chen Changsheng held a scroll of the Lotus Sutra and read quietly, as if he couldn’t hear the noise outside or know what was happening.
Tang Thirty-Six couldn’t match his calm. The Wenshui Sword had long been unsheathed, held in his hand, reflecting the autumn sky’s blue, exuding an indescribable chill.
Xuan Yuan Po had also already walked to the bottom of the stone steps, ready to pick up the courtyard gate planks again.
Seeing Chen Changsheng’s lack of reaction, Tang Thirty-Six said angrily, “Can you still endure this? If you don’t do something, after today, you’ll become the most famous toad in history! What will the National Academy be then? A pond for raising toads?”
Xuan Yuan Po said bluntly, “Yeah, does that mean we’re all toads too?”
Chen Changsheng looked at Tang Thirty-Six and said, “Just because they call me something, does that make me that thing? If I called you a beast, would you sprout wings and whoosh straight into the palace?”
“That joke isn’t funny. And if I’m going to be cursed, I’d rather be called a beast than a toad. At least a beast does beastly things. What about you? You haven’t even met Xu Yourong, you’re holding the marriage contract, and you still have to take this abuse?”
After saying this, Tang Thirty-Six couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. He picked up the Wenshui Sword and walked toward the courtyard gate.
Seeing this, Xuan Yuan Po quickly lifted the two-meter-tall courtyard gate planks and, huffing and puffing, followed behind.
Chen Changsheng was stunned for a moment, then put down his book and got up to go see what was happening at the gate. After all, this was his own affair.
“Hand over that Chen guy!”
“Kick him out of Kyoto!”
“How dare he forge a marriage contract? His nerve is too big!”
“Why doesn’t he look in a mirror and see what he is? Spreading such a huge lie—aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?”
“The Eastern Imperial Divine General’s Mansion won’t stoop to dealing with a petty man like you. But we, driven by justice, will argue with you until black and white are clear!”
The crowd gathered around the National Academy’s gate grew larger. By afternoon, it had exceeded a thousand people, a dense, dark mass, their shouts and curses unceasing. The atmosphere grew increasingly heated.
In the early morning, the Tianhai family had sent people to break down the gate, leaving the steps in ruins, unable to block anyone. And since the National Academy let them shout without any response, some young men could no longer control their emotions. Flushed with fervor, they yelled, “Let’s go in and drag that petty man out!”
The so-called surge of righteous indignation and impassioned cries could stir the heart. Young people are most susceptible to inexplicable fervor and the impulse to destroy. With that shout, the dark mass surged forward with a roar, charging into the National Academy.
Then came a thunderous boom!
Countless bursts of energy shot out from the National Academy’s gate!
The rainwater still on the ground, drawn by the energy, lifted off like countless arrows released from a bow, riddling the leaves of the trees beside the alley with holes.
The young men charging forward cried out in pain and fell to the ground, their hands scraping bloody wounds on the pavement. The fastest ones, who had already rushed inside the gate, were blasted more than ten zhang away, unconscious, covered in blood, their lives unknown.
The shouting and cursing that had lasted for most of an hour outside the National Academy abruptly stopped.
Silence fell over the scene, broken only by the groans of the injured young scholars.
Jin Yulu, dressed in a wealthy merchant’s silk robe, slowly walked out from a small room beside the National Academy’s gate.
In his left hand, he held a precious Yijun clay teapot; in his right, he rolled two jade spheres. His expression was indescribably relaxed and casual.
He stood on the stone steps, looked up at the sky, and praised it.
The autumn rain had long stopped, the sky clear as if washed—truly beautiful.
Then he lowered his gaze to the dark crowd before the gate, his expression turning cold. “Want to die?”
He didn’t use any true essence when he said this, so the crowd didn’t feel the sudden burst of a spring thunderclap. Yet, before the silent gate, it still felt as if a spring thunder had exploded, because the carnage on the ground served as his words’ annotation.
At least dozens had bloody heads and faces, and several lay unconscious, covered in blood—a scene of utter tragedy.
“You... who are you?”
A slightly braver young man in the crowd asked, his voice trembling. “How dare you commit violence... kill people?”
With someone leading, it was relatively easy for others to find courage. More voices rose, looking at their companions’ tragic state, their shouts growing louder, their anger mounting. The silence was broken, and the atmosphere grew intense again.
“Murderer!”
“Go report this to the authorities!”
Baihua Alley had been packed with people all day. Hearing the commotion up front, a dozen or so people at the back of the crowd really did leave, presumably to report to the Kyoto Prefecture. Then, kind-hearted citizens helped the wounded, and those with some medical knowledge began treating the unconscious few.
If one ignored the reason these people had besieged the National Academy, the scene might even seem touching—when had Kyoto ever been so united?
Unity is strength. Someone had already gone to report it, and soon the court would surely send someone to punish this thuggish murderer dressed like a country bumpkin. This certainty was also a kind of strength. People were no longer as afraid as before and, emboldened, surged toward the gate again.
Jin Yulu somehow brought out a bamboo chair, sat down with a wide stance, took a sip from his teapot, and then glanced at the crowd.
Some had already come within a few zhang of the stone steps. At his casual glance, they were so frightened they scrambled backward, stepping on the feet of those behind them, not caring about anything else. The dark crowd rippled like a tide.
Such was the power of a single glance.
Jin Yulu naturally wouldn’t be proud of such a trivial matter. He looked at the crowd expressionlessly and said, “I am the gatekeeper of the National Academy. This academy is a place for teaching and nurturing talent. No entry without invitation. Anyone who dares to set foot on the threshold—those people are your example.”
Only then did people remember that this middle-aged man, who looked like a wealthy merchant, had indeed walked out of the small room beside the gate.
But... which academy had such a formidable gatekeeper? Even the Heavenly Dao Academy couldn’t have one!
From yesterday to this morning, the autumn rain had fallen continuously, the temperature dropping sharply, the chill growing heavier.
Looking at their groaning companions, especially the few unconscious ones, and then at the middle-aged man on the stone steps who called himself the gatekeeper, the crowd felt the chill deepen. Only those hidden deep in the crowd dared to shout a few curses; who would dare to step forward?
Just then, a warm breeze suddenly swept through the scene, followed by a distinct, oppressive heat.
The leaves of the autumn tree that stretched over the courtyard wall, already yellow, instantly withered.
A red cloud descended from the sky.
The Red Cloud Qilin landed silently, its four hooves on the bluestone slabs. The accumulated water within a zhang of its surroundings instantly evaporated into green smoke.
On the Qilin’s back sat a middle-aged man, clad in blood-red armor, his expression stern and imposing.
Seeing this man, Jin Yulu stood up, placing his teapot on the bamboo chair’s armrest as a sign of respect.
The crowd, recognizing the man and guessing his identity, prostrated themselves in reverence.
Xue Xingchuan, the Imperial Divine General of the Great Zhou, rode the Red Cloud Qilin and wielded the Blood Light Divine Blade.
He was ranked second among the thirty-eight divine generals of the continent.
This man was deeply trusted by the Holy Empress and had commanded the Great Zhou Imperial Guard for many years. He had the authority to handle anything that happened in Kyoto, and of course, the ability to do so. Seeing Xue Xingchuan arrive, some found it unexpected. Even if someone had reported to the Kyoto Prefecture, they couldn’t have arrived so quickly, and the Kyoto Prefecture had no standing to summon such a great figure.
But thinking of Xue Xingchuan’s reputation for uprightness and strictness, the crowd felt a surge of hope and began shouting:
“The National Academy committed murder in public!”
“Please, Divine General, uphold justice!”
Soon, a squad of Imperial Guards entered Baihua Alley, parted the crowd, and arrived before the National Academy’s gate.
Under the gaze of over a thousand eyes, Xue Xingchuan slowly walked up the stone steps to stand before Jin Yulu.
Just then, Chen Changsheng and the other two also arrived.
(I heard there’s an event in the group where girls post photos for red packets. I thank those classmates and simultaneously express my indignation—I haven’t seen a single one of those photos.)