Observing Wanfa from the martial arts school servants

Chapter 79 Wen Haoran

The dark golden light above the arena completely dissipated, and twilight once again enveloped the training ground.

However, this tranquility lasted only a few breaths.

Those original marks of the Candle Dragon, which should have been burned to ashes by the righteous energy, actually rose up again after landing, turning into a thick black smoke.

The black smoke, like a silent giant python, snaked upwards, eventually coiling up over Heyuan County, forming a blurry yet enormous beast face that looked down upon the city below.

A deep voice came from the clouds, resounding directly in everyone's minds: "It seems the imperial court attaches great importance to this, sending a scholar who has passed the imperial examination to lead the vanguard."

"This eternal night will not be lonely."

On the training ground, everyone's expression changed.

However, the scholar showed no fear whatsoever.

He sighed softly and unfolded the half-worn bamboo scroll in his hand once more.

He softly recited: "I examine myself thrice daily, and a single word can determine the fate of the world."

The world seemed to shrink suddenly.

All the light on the drill ground, by the city wall, and in Heyuan County—the flickering of lanterns, the candlelight shining through the windows, and the last rays of twilight on the horizon—darkened at the same instant.

The world seemed to fall into endless nothingness, leaving only the scholar and the beast-faced figure in the air.

The beast-faced creature roared silently, yet it could not break through this absolute darkness.

The next moment, pure white light burst forth from the bamboo slip in Wen Haoran's hand, transforming into a straight pillar of light that shot into the sky.

The beam of light pierced through the black smoke like a sharp sword, and when the absorbed light shone again, the sky had returned to its clear state.

The beast-faced decorations above the city gate were completely shattered, and the black smoke turned into countless tiny fragments that vanished completely as they fell, leaving not a trace behind.

On the arena, Lin Mu supported his body with his spear, keeping his eyes fixed on Wen Haoran.

His wounds were still bleeding, but he didn't dare to blink, trying to observe the scholar's immense power.

However, the martial arts manual in his mind remained dormant.

As the black mist dissipated, Duanmu Hong's voice rang out again, announcing the list of the four martial arts scholars who would be selected for this year's martial arts examination.

Then, he turned to Wen Haoran with an unusually solemn expression and invited him to a small gathering at the Palace Guard.

Wen Haoran politely cupped his hands in greeting, his tone gentle yet distant.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Duanmu, but I haven't finished my studies yet and dare not delay."

Duanmu Hong did not insist that they stay. He turned to Lin Mu and Quan Feng, telling them to go back and rest early, and to meet at Heyuan Restaurant the next day. Then he turned and left.

Just then, a clear voice broke in: "Young master, the candied hawthorns are back!"

A maid with her hair in two buns trotted over, carrying two strings of bright red candied hawthorns, completely oblivious to the somber atmosphere around her.

Seeing his young master's gaze linger briefly on Lin Mu, he asked curiously, "Who is he?"

Wen Haoran smiled slightly: "The martial arts scholar from Heyuan County."

"He's just a martial artist. Would you like to take him on as a bodyguard, young master?" The girl's words were innocent and carefree, as if she were used to having a martial artist as a bodyguard.

......

The news of Lin Mu's victory spread throughout Heyuan County even faster than he did.

In the stands of Changfeng Martial Arts School, everyone clenched their fists. "Lin Mu won."

Outside Liuye Village, peddler Lin Wu, carrying an empty carrying pole, raced along the ridges between the fields.

He lost one of his straw sandals while running around the ring, and his bare feet were painfully poked by the gravel on the dirt road, but he didn't care at all.

He walked through the old locust tree at the village entrance, shouting in his hoarse voice from house to house, "Master Wu, Lin Mu has passed the imperial examination!"

Village chief Lin Youde stood at the gate of his house, and heard the hoarse cries of a peddler coming from the village entrance. He was glad that he hadn't gone too far back then.

......

Lin Mu returned to the courtyard, took the Rejuvenation Pill, and the medicinal power slowly dissolved in his dantian.

He closed his eyes, and Wen Haoran held the half-worn bamboo slip suspended in mid-air. The pages fluttered in the twilight, and pure white light, like the Milky Way hanging upside down from the heavens, flashed continuously, showing the scene of the dark golden remnant of the Candle Dragon being burned away inch by inch.

Is that the power of literature and the Way?

There was no trace of smoke or fire, no wind from punches, no power, not even a hint of killing intent.

It was as if he had simply recited a poem and defeated Zhulong's lingering resentment.

He opened his eyes and heard Lin Youfu's footsteps coming out of the kitchen, followed by the sound of the door latch being pulled open, and then Zhao Rong's familiar, unhurried steps.

"Lin Mu has gone to bed?" Zhao Rong's voice came from the courtyard.

"No rest, no rest, please come in quickly," Lin Youfu hurriedly greeted them.

Lin Mu straightened up a bit by propping himself up on the bed and pulled the thin blanket draped over him to the side.

When Zhao Rong pushed the door open, he was carrying a food box in one hand and two packets of medicine from the pharmacy in the other.

"He can still sit up, so the injury doesn't seem too serious." Zhao Rong placed the food box on the table and the paper package next to it.

"Qi and Blood Pills, Rejuvenation Pills, my brother asked me to bring these. He told you to take good care of your injuries, there will be a big battle in a few days."

"Thank you, Lord Zhao," Lin Mu said.

Zhao Rong sat down on the wooden chair by the bed, opened the food box, and found a bowl of steaming chicken soup inside.

Lin Mu took the chicken soup and drank a sip.

"Lord Zhao," Lin Mu put down his bowl, "who was that scholar on the drill ground today?"

"His name is Wen Haoran," he said, "the strongest martial arts champion."

"Our family has been a scholarly family for generations, with several great Confucian scholars among our ancestors. We have always been dedicated to the pursuit of literature and the Way."

"The way of literature and the way of martial arts are different."

"Martial arts cultivate qi and blood, muscles and bones, and internal strength, turning the physical body into a weapon."

"The Way of Literature cultivates the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, tempering the mind and spirit into a sharp sword."

"The noble spirit is one of the three arts of literature and the Way—the art of self-examination is to examine one's heart, the noble spirit nourishes righteousness, and the essence of mountains and rivers connects with heaven and earth."

"What Wen Haoran released was a breath of righteousness that he had cultivated through more than ten years of self-reflection and enlightenment."

"It has a powerful effect on demons and evil spirits."

What is the "Three Reflections Technique"?

Zhao Rong put down his teacup. "I reflect on myself three times a day, sharpening my mind into a sword that can penetrate the minds of others."

He paused, then added, "However, literature also has its shortcomings."

"Those who cultivate the Way of Literature tend to have weaker physical bodies and are susceptible to filth, especially the essence and blood of demonic beasts, which can pollute their righteous energy."

"Therefore, scholars never fight alone; they always team up with warriors."

"Martial artists engage in direct confrontation, while scholars unleash the ultimate truths of heaven and earth."

"Is it the literary path that's more powerful, or the martial path?"

"The martial arts rose to prominence with the Martial Saint Zeng Wu, whose martial intent was boundless, whose fists could shatter mountains and rivers, making him invincible under heaven."

"Later, Zeng Wu disappeared, and the literary path flourished. It also had a strong suppressive effect on demonic beasts. In addition, it is said that the literary path can lead to immortality. It is definitely stronger than the martial path now."

"I wonder what kind of power Martial Intent is," Zhao Rong described, a picture of power that filled Lin Mu with longing.

Since arriving in the world of martial arts, he has had no say in anything. Now that he has obtained the title of Martial Arts Scholar, he should be able to gradually gain some control.

Unfortunately, the myriad methods of martial arts could not comprehend Wen Haoran's power.