When everyone looked out from the carriage, they saw more than a dozen people standing outside the gate of Kongcheng, all of them were juren in black clothes or jinshi in white robes and sword suits.
"What should we do?" Everyone in the car looked at Fang Yun.
"Get out of the car." Fang Yun said as he got out of the car, straightened his clothes, and walked forward calmly.
"It's the Kong family's carriage." Someone in the crowd in front said this, and those people quickly came over to stop it.
"The man wearing the dark blue scholar's uniform is Fang Yun. I've seen him at the literary gathering!" another person said.
"We can't let him get away!"
"murderer!"
Several young scholars were filled with righteous indignation and glared at Fang Yun.
But the older scholars said nothing, and walked steadily forward while looking at Fang Yun carefully.
Fang Yun also glanced at the crowd and found that he didn't recognize most of them. The only person he had seen before was a person sitting at the Xun family's seat at the Mid-Autumn Literary Party, and he didn't even know this person's name.
Li Fanming whispered, "You have to be careful of those Jinshi scholars. If we are both Juren scholars, we are naturally not afraid of them because we are more talented than them. But they have been Jinshi scholars for many years. Even if they are not as talented as us, they are better than us in other aspects. Some of them are also influential figures in the Saint Academy, especially Xun Long. Exploring Xun Sheng's 'difference between heaven and man' can already trigger some strange phenomena, which is much better than Xun Ye. You must not be careless."
Fang Yun asked: "What kind of vision can he cause?"
"Once the verbal sparring begins, wind and rain will follow. Although it is extremely weak, it is not easy. If I were his age, I might not be able to trigger the strange phenomenon." Li Fanming said.
"Is he the 'Demon-Repelling Scholar' who frightened away all the demons by reciting Xunzi?"
"That's him."
Fang Yun nodded.
The two sides soon met, and judging by the attitudes of those scholars, they were incompatible and would immediately start verbal attacks.
When the two sides were two meters apart, Xun Long, the leader on the opposite side, smiled and said, "You all entered the Holy Ruins to slay the demons and barbarians, and walked on the Comet Corridor to compete with the Holy Son of the Demon Clan for glory. You are role models for our generation, and you will protect the peace of our human race in the future. Now you have returned triumphantly. Please accept my greeting."
As Xun Long spoke, he bowed and saluted. The Jinshi behind him followed suit and bowed. The Juren were stunned for a moment and then hurriedly followed suit to express their gratitude.
There was no way Fang Yun and the others would stand to accept such a great gift, so they immediately bowed in return. The tense atmosphere was immediately resolved by the greetings from both sides. Although the atmosphere was a bit weird, Fang Yun's side was much less guarded.
Fang Yun felt as if a herd of alpacas were trampling wildly in his heart. This Xun family member was much more difficult to deal with than Xun Ye. Although Xun Ye was talented, he was too young. However, this Xun Long was over 30 years old and would never be as reckless as Xun Ye.
After the two sides exchanged greetings, Xun Long glanced at the people behind Fang Yun and said, "I was ordered by the head of the family to investigate the matter of Xun Ye's literary courage being shattered. I had no choice but to do so. I hope my friends will forgive me for not being able to reminisce today. I will definitely hold a banquet to apologize another day."
Fang Yun heard this and thought that Xun Long was indeed an old hand. He once again retreated to advance, saying that he had no choice and apologized. In fact, he asked others not to interfere, otherwise he would not only face Xun Long, but also the head of the Xun family and the entire sub-sage Xun family.
Everyone behind Fang Yun could hear the hidden meaning of Xun Long's words. Although they were dissatisfied, Xun Long was polite and did not show any arrogance. Treating others like a gentleman, everyone should not act like a villain, so they could only keep silent and watch the situation develop.
Xun Long looked at Fang Yun and smiled, "You are as handsome as jade and a young man. Seeing is believing. Xun Long greets you."
Fang Yun also smiled back and said, "He is a strong man of the human race, a former demon and a successful scholar. I have admired him for a long time."
Xun Long smiled indifferently, then stopped smiling and said straight to the point: "Xun Ye is my cousin. His literary courage is broken, so I naturally have to find out the truth. Xun Zu once said: Benevolence is love, so it is close. The closest people are blood relatives. And Xun Zu also said that there is a difference between close and distant relatives. If I have missed something, it is because I am eager to seek benevolence. I hope Fang Zhenguo will understand."
"Following benevolence is the duty of scholars like us. Brother Xun, you may as well speak out if you have anything to say." Fang Yun felt that Xun Long was more and more difficult to deal with. He mentioned "benevolence" right from the start and tried to find the highest holy basis for his words and deeds. Unless he overthrew Xunzi, there was no way to deal with him.
"I have read the letter from Kong Jiade Lun. He said that when you wrote the motto, you were not targeting anyone, but just expressing your true feelings to vent the depression in the Holy Ruins. I have also verified that Xun Ye's words in the Holy Ruins, but the saints have said that nothing in the ancient land of the Holy Ruins will be investigated. Why can't you let it go?" Xun Long said.
"I had already let it go when I wrote my motto," Fang Yun said.
"Then why was Xun Ye injured?"
"Of course he hasn't let it go. Otherwise he wouldn't have slandered me and harmed Weng Ming, nor would he have publicly announced what I had gained in the Holy Ruins."
"Oh? Could it be that what you got from the Holy Ruins is not worthy of being shown to others?"
Fang Yun immediately said: "You, Xun Long, are upright and honest, why do you need to wear clothes to meet people? Why don't you go out naked on the street and walk without covering yourself!"
"It is against etiquette to go out naked on the street." Xun Long said frankly.
"Whose etiquette is it to frame someone?" Fang Yun asked back.
Xun Long showed a look of surprise, then patiently explained: "It seems that you have misunderstood. I have checked, Xun Ye said that after he and Weng Ming jumped onto the ice, Weng Ming said that you killed him, and then Xun Ye escaped alone. Before Weng Ming died, he blurted out that it was Xun Ye who killed him. Xun Ye once said that he suspected that Weng Ming made a mistake before he died, and he really wanted to call someone else. When the Weng family asked, Xun Ye just told the truth and did not slander you."
"May I ask Brother Xun, since Weng Ming has no evidence and only guessed that I harmed him, and Xun Ye relayed it, causing the Weng family to misunderstand, please answer truthfully, is Xun Ye's behavior in accordance with etiquette and law?"
"There are some inappropriate things, but it's not a big mistake, let alone a crime." Xun Long said sincerely.
"Confucius said: Do not speak against propriety. As a scholar, why can't I say anything when such a disrespect is committed?"
"There are some inappropriate aspects, but to say it's impolite is too biased." Xun Long said seriously.
"Oh, so it's not right for Xun Ye to publicize it even though he knew someone would covet my treasure?"
"Xun Ye is young after all, and cannot think deeply. I'm afraid he hasn't thought of this. He just admires you and wants to prove your talent with the Holy Ruins. He didn't expect that it would arouse the covetousness of others. He may not have the intention to harm you. Of course, his words and actions are also inappropriate."
Fang Yun looked at Xun Long and finally understood why he came. The purpose of his coming here was not to investigate, but to bring charges and minimize Xun Ye's big mistake, because breaking one's courage would be severely punished, while inappropriate words and deeds were minor offenses. Severe punishment for minor offenses would ultimately mean Fang Yun would be at fault.
If the fault lies with Xun Ye, it will be a big blow to the reputation of the Xun family.
"Mr. Xun really has a silver tongue. Unfortunately, it wasn't me who crushed Xun Ye's literary courage, but he did not study "Xunzi" and caused this disaster!" Fang Yun showed a look of regret.
Before Xun Long could speak, the Xun family members behind him became furious and said that the people of the Xun family did not study "Xunzi", which was too serious an accusation.
"You are so bold, do you think there is no one in my Xun family?"
"How can this be! It's fine if you harmed Xun Ye, but why did you also speak nonsense about Xunzi?"
"Those who use the holy name in vain are worthy of death!"
Xun Long said, "Fang Yun, don't speak nonsense."
Fang Yun said slowly: "Let me ask you, after entering the Holy Ruins, many of my human race's candidates were surrounded and killed by monsters. Xun Ye could obviously help, and even had the Xun family's secret treasure to save people, but he never took action, abandoned his old friends, and hid alone. Can this be called unjust? You can quibble about Xun Ye's targeting of me, but you can say that you can't be held accountable for the Holy Ruins. But if you dare to say that Xun Ye's actions were not unjust, be careful of your courage!"
Fang Yun's voice swept across the front like a sharp blade, and everyone in the Xun family felt a chill on their necks. Only then did they remember that Fang Yun had reached the second level of literary courage, and his words had great power at the critical moment.
Xun Long took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, then stared at Fang Yun with his eyes slightly narrowed, but he never dared to speak.
Because Xun Long knew that Xun Ye was indeed unjust!
Attacking Fang Yun was a minor offense, but being cowardly in front of the monster and abandoning his friends, even if it happened in the Holy Ruins, injustice was injustice, and it was a matter of right and wrong. Even if he had a thousand guts, he would not dare to deny Fang Yun.
Xun Long knew very well that if Fang Yun counterattacked, his literary courage would not be shattered, but it would inevitably crack. The Xun family had already used the power of the ancient land to save Xun Ye. If another Jinshi Wendan was cracked, it would definitely make the Xun family a laughing stock of the Ten Kingdoms.
Fang Yun said slowly and firmly: "The second chapter of Xunzi once said, 'To protect one's own interests and abandon righteousness is the greatest evil!', and also said, 'Even if one wishes to avoid destruction, can one do so?' This is to say, is it possible for such a person not to want to destroy? The nineteenth chapter of Xunzi also said, 'Therefore, if a person only cares about survival, he will surely die; if he only cares about profit, he will surely be harmed.' Xunzi is saying that if a person forgets propriety and righteousness and only cares about his own life, he will surely die; if he only cares about personal gain, he will surely encounter disaster. Xun Ye, as a descendant of Xunzi, did not follow the teachings of Xunzi, and forgot righteousness for the sake of profit, and ultimately harmed others and himself!"
The people of the Xun family cursed Fang Yun madly in their hearts, but they didn't dare to refute him at all.
Xun Long stared at Fang Yun and said with a dry throat: "Fang Yun, for thousands of years, great Confucian scholars and semi-saints have attacked our Xun family endlessly, but it is unprecedented for a mere scholar to convict someone in our Xun family based on the words of Xun Zu! Your words and actions today will definitely bring you disaster in the future!"
Fang Yun was calm and said, "If I had kept silent today and let your Xun family deal with me, I would have been in trouble now! Xun Ye sacrificed his friends to protect himself, and you didn't care, but you couldn't bear it when I tried to protect myself without losing a single person? Is the only thing you have more than a juren, you Jinshi, more cunning? Where is your heart!"
There was a faint sound of thunder in the sky.
Xun Long's eyes flashed with shame, but he was a member of a sub-sage family after all, and he could not let the Xun family lose face, so he said: "I am only here to investigate this matter, and I cannot make a conclusion. Since Mr. Fang believes that he is not wrong, I will report the truth to the head of the family. Goodbye!"
Xun Ye turned and left, and more than a dozen members of the Xun family looked at Fang Yun. No one could refute, and they left angrily one after another.
The scholars behind Fang Yun immediately rushed forward.
"Fang Yun, what you said is absolutely correct! Xun Ye's crime is known to everyone in the Holy Ruins. If the Xun family cannot make Xun Ye confess his guilt, it really does not have the bearing of a sub-holy family!"
"It's wrong, why don't you admit it? Sigh, they said that it was sent by the old Patriarch Xun, I think it should be sent by Xun Ye's parents. The old Patriarch Xun is a great man, he would never be so confused!" (To be continued...)