CH 163

Fang Yun glanced at the distant night sky. Within the range of the Holy Temple's power, there were numerous stars, but beyond the huge arc edge, the sky was still covered with dark clouds, with lightning flashing.

"The three forces arrived so coincidentally, it's hard not to suspect. Liu Zizhi, a Presented Scholar from one state and a student of the Left Chancellor, wouldn't be foolish enough to bring his brother's corpse to me, would he? If I'm not mistaken, the Liu family is likely to take a step back, mourning for their loss and begging me to spare them. They might even put on a tragic play in front of everyone, causing some people to crash into walls or pillars. Regardless of whether I act against the Liu family or not, it will cause a stir." Fang Yun said.

"The general also said the same. He is preparing to send people to stop them. Although it will damage your reputation, the biggest disgrace will be borne by the Dinghai Army."

Fang Yun asked, "With the continuous rain and the complaints in Jiangzhou, does the general have any intention of handing me over?"

The soldier raised his head proudly and said, "Even if the general has to die, he will not betray you! As long as you are in the Dinghai Army, even if a Semi-Saint wants to harm you, they will have to kill us first!"

Fang Yun smiled slightly. This was the spirit and morale of the Dinghai Army. Even a Semi-Saint could not stop them as long as they had righteousness on their side.

Fang Yun asked, "How did the Flood Dragon King manage to cause this continuous heavy rain?"

The soldier lowered his voice and said, "The Flood Dragon King used the dragon horn shed by the Flood Dragon Saint during his ascension. Not only did he manipulate the water of the Yangtze River, but he also borrowed the water from the Four Seas, which is why he could sustain it for so long."

"According to the agreement between the Dragon Clan and the Human Clan, the Four Seas Dragon Palace will surely punish him. Isn't he afraid of punishment?" Fang Yun asked.

"His father is the Flood Dragon Saint. When the time comes, the Flood Dragon Saint will call for severe punishment, but who in the Four Seas Dragon Palace would really punish him if he keeps the Flood Dragon King in the Flood Dragon Palace? The Flood Dragon King is confident that he won't be severely punished this time, so he took action against Jiangzhou. It is said that his deceased turtle son was extraordinary, with the potential to transform into a dragon. His future achievements would surpass many flood dragons, so he wants revenge."

Fang Yun knew better than anyone how formidable that turtle demon general was. Despite being equivalent to a Presented Scholar, he was able to disable an experienced Imperial Scholar in just a few moments. First, he drove the snake demon general to a dead end, then nearly wiped out the entire elite force of the prefecture. If it weren't for the Arrow Saint Li Guang's divine consciousness condensed by the "Arrow in Stone", it would have been impossible to kill that turtle demon general.

Fang Yun now had the confidence to fight three ordinary demon generals alone. But he didn't have much confidence when facing the turtle demon general with pseudo-dragon bloodline. That turtle demon general was too talented, and his death would definitely provoke retaliation from the Demon Clan.

"Does Jiangzhou have any power that can deal with the Flood Dragon Saint's horn?"

"Jiangzhou doesn't. Jing Kingdom does, but the cost of mobilization is too high. It's only used in times of national crisis. It's not worth it to use it just for the flood in Jiangzhou. So we all suspect that there is someone behind the Flood Dragon, either a rebellious scholar or the cunning Turtle Chancellor from the Flood Dragon Palace."

"Can't the flood control poems really resolve this flood?" Fang Yun asked.

The soldier said, "Flood control poems are divided into two types. One is to stop the rain, and the other is to sing about the sun, using the power of the sun to tear apart the dark clouds and solve the heavy rain at its root. But the problem now is, who has the courage to use their flood control poem to cover the entire Jiangzhou under continuous rain and clouds? Oh, right, the Emperor's Poem can. If one can compose an Emperor's Poem to mobilize the national fortune, not to mention 3,000 miles of dark clouds, even 30,000 miles of dark clouds would be nothing. But since the Wei and Jin dynasties, there hasn't been a unified dynasty, so who can compose an Emperor's Poem!"

Fang Yun said, "That's true. Besides the Qixi Literary Meeting tomorrow, is there a flood control literary meeting?"

"Yes. Qixi is originally the day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet. If Jiangzhou is covered with continuous clouds, and people outside the city can't see the Cowherd Star and the Weaver Girl Star, then what's the point of Qixi? So Prefect Dong decided to combine the Qixi Literary Meeting and the Flood Control Literary Meeting. Tomorrow afternoon, the scholars of Yuhai Prefecture will gather at the city wall of the southern auxiliary city, watching the Yangtze River while holding the Flood Control Literary Meeting, and then hold the Qixi Poetry Meeting. Alas, some people from Qing Nation have already started mocking, saying things like 'But when the Milky Way is cast into Jiangzhou, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl stars are nowhere to be seen', satirizing that there is no one in Jing Kingdom who can control the flood."

Fang Yun sighed lightly and said, "Well, I will be there on time tomorrow afternoon."

"I'll take my leave now."

"Thank you."

After sending off the soldier, Fang Yun continued to read in the library. He returned to his camp late at night and continued reading in the world of strange books.

At one o'clock in the morning, Fang Yun suddenly felt a movement beside him. He withdrew his mind from the world of strange books, sat up and saw a chubby little white fox lying next to him.

Tears were swirling in the little fox's eyes. It stretched out its small paw and placed it on Fang Yun's hand, looking up at him with a wronged look, as if asking: Why haven't you come home to see me for so long, have you forgotten about me?

Fang Yun held the little fox in his arms with a heartache, rubbing its little head and whispering, "I can't get away right now, I'll go home tomorrow."

The little fox looked at Fang Yun with a puzzled look, as if saying you better not lie!

Fang Yun smiled, rubbed the little fox hard, and the little fox, feeling the strength in Fang Yun's hand, broke into a smile and burrowed into Fang Yun's arms.

Fang Yun quietly left the room and came outside, holding the little fox under the starlight.

"How did you find me?" Fang Yun asked.

"Ying Ying!" The little fox called out righteously, as if saying I missed you!

"What if you're caught as a spy? This is a military camp." Fang Yun said.

The little fox showed a frightened expression, then straightened its neck and called out twice, as if asking why they would catch it!

Fang Yun looked around and knew that there must be military forces in the eastern auxiliary city. They probably knew the identity of the little fox, so they didn't stop it.

"I'll go home tomorrow, you go back first." Fang Yun said.

The little fox hesitated for a moment, then shook its head.

"If those soldiers wake up, they will definitely catch you!" Fang Yun threatened.

The little fox blinked, stretching out a paw.

Fang Yun looked at the little fox for a while before asking, "Are you saying you'll stay for a while? Or an hour?"

The little fox nodded vigorously, squinting its eyes, showing its tiny white teeth, and laughing happily.

"Alright." Fang Yun said.

The little fox immediately called out excitedly and rolled around in Fang Yun's arms.

Fang Yun rubbed the little fox's head, went into the room, then lay down on his side, placing it in front of him.The little fox stared at Fang Yun with its bright, black eyes, filled with joy.

Fang Yun could feel the little fox's happiness. He nudged its head with his forehead, then reached out to scratch its neck. As he was about to withdraw his hand, the little fox immediately extended its two small paws to hold Fang Yun's wrist, pleading with its eyes as if to say, scratch me a few more times, just a few more!

Fang Yun chuckled and continued to scratch the little fox's chin.

The little fox immediately squinted its eyes in delight.

Before long, Fang Yun withdrew his hand and immersed his mind in the world of the peculiar book to continue reading.

The little fox stared at Fang Yun with wide eyes, as if afraid that Fang Yun would disappear from its sight.

At three-thirty in the morning, Fang Yun prepared to sleep and found that the little fox had fallen asleep beside him. He couldn't drive it away, so he held it in his arms, trying his best to keep it hidden from others.

At five-thirty in the morning, the morning bell rang on time.

Fang Yun opened his eyes to find that the little fox had already left, but its unique scent still lingered in his arms.

After breakfast, Fang Yun left the military camp and went to Ya Mountain Residence with his clean clothes. He thanked the mysterious old man for removing his disguise. After changing his clothes, he said goodbye to the Ink Woman hidden in the ink pool and left.

It was only after Fang Yun had left Ya Mountain Residence that the Ink Woman quietly emerged from the ink, watching Fang Yun with curiosity.

Before long, the old man slowly said, "There are quite a few people who come to Ya Mountain Residence, but you are only interested in Fang Yun. There must be something about him that attracts you. Although I've only found you less than three years ago, I regard you as my granddaughter. I'm getting old and don't have many days left. I must entrust you to someone trustworthy."

The Ink Woman looked at the old man with a somewhat understanding look.

Fang Yun didn't take a carriage but slowly walked home, enjoying the summer scenery, the coming and going of pedestrians, the shouting of vendors, and the various scenes of the market. Staying in the military camp for too long was ultimately dull.

Because the power of the Holy Temple in the city dispelled the dark clouds, everything in the city was orderly. Only occasionally would people complain about the heavy rain, but no one complained about provoking the Dragon King, probably because the news hadn't spread yet.

Fang Yun leisurely walked to his front door. The door was open, and the inside and outside were cleaned thoroughly, with traces of water sprinkling. It was clear that they had made full preparations.

Fang Yun stepped through the gate and glanced at the flower bed, which was devoid of any flowers.

"Young Master is back!" Fang Da Niu exclaimed in surprise, then quickly walked over.

Yang Yuhuan quickly ran out of the house. The moment she saw Fang Yun, she immediately regained her usual composure and walked over slowly. However, the fervor in her eyes couldn't be concealed.

"Ying Ying!" The little fox also jumped out, running around Fang Yun and constantly calling out in welcome.

Fang Yun, fearing that Yang Yuhuan would be too excited, took the initiative to say, "Sister Yuhuan, you've become even more beautiful!"

Yang Yuhuan's face turned red immediately, and she hurriedly said, "I'll go check on the chicken soup I've been simmering for you." After saying this, she rushed to the kitchen, but quickly returned.

After seeing Fang Yun, everyone in the house went about their own business. Fang Yun held the little fox and chatted with Yang Yuhuan.

After chatting for a while, Fang Yun asked, "How's your zither playing coming along?"

"It's okay," Yang Yuhuan modestly replied.

However, the little fox immediately extended a small paw and tried hard to gesture something. After struggling for a while, it couldn't separate its paw and gave up with a sigh.

Fang Yun realized that it was trying to give a thumbs-up. He comforted the little fox by patting its head, then said to Yang Yuhuan, "Play a piece you like. If you play it well, I'll write down the score from my memory. From then on, it will be your unique piece."

"Okay!" Yang Yuhuan stood up, led Fang Yun to her room, and then played the zither for him.

Yang Yuhuan played a very common piece on the Holy Origin Mainland called "Autumn Wind Tune," which was a must-learn for beginners.

Fang Yun watched quietly as her hands, usually used for hard work, danced elegantly on the strings like graceful cranes. Her fingering was incredibly skilled, and the melody was flawless. Even within a few short breaths, the tune of "Autumn Wind" was filled with the melancholy of autumn wind. The little fox beside them couldn't help but show a sad expression.

A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.

Fang Yun was greatly surprised, thinking that although Yang Yuhuan was talented, talent couldn't be this terrifying. It was simply miraculous that she could play a piece so movingly in just a few days. Even an accomplished scholar would need at least half a year of dedicated study to reach this level with the help of talent.

(To be continued.)