Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 82 Jiangzhou Prince, One Sword to Subdue the Sea! (Seeking monthly votes!)
Zhao Mansion.

Inner hall.

"Father! Save your child!!"

Zhao Zilu trembled all over and knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold blue bricks.

He has caused a huge mess this time—not only did he fail to use those old scholars to label Jiang Xingzhou's "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet" as lewd and disqualify him from the prefectural examination, but he also failed to do so.

Instead, Jiang Xingzhou gained another article from the "Dafu" government, which was personally praised by Prefect Xue as "elegant yet not vulgar" in front of everyone in the government office.

Nowadays, who would dare to criticize this poem?
The dirty water was all poured back on him!

What terrified him even more was that his scheme had failed, but it had exposed his plot and completely offended the Xue family and Jiang Xingzhou. Given the methods of the Xue family and Jiang Xingzhou, how could they let him off easily?
Zhao Zilu gripped his sleeve tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He was born to a concubine. Would the Zhao family, the Grand Canal Commissioner, do everything in their power to protect him?

In the main hall of the Zhao family mansion, the head of the Zhao family stood with his hands behind his back, his pale face shrouded in shadow, expressionless.

It was eerily quiet.

"I heard that you caused the Zhao family to lose face at the government office?"

Zhao Bingzhu's voice was as cold as ice, and his knuckles tapped lightly on the sandalwood table.

The news his subordinates had just sent him made him laugh in anger—this illegitimate son dared to provoke Xue Chonghu's nephews?
Even more ridiculous is...
Not only did he fail in his plan, but he also exposed himself to the enemy. He was a complete idiot!

This disappointed him.

"Father, I know I was wrong, please save me!"

Zhao Zilu was pale, trembling all over, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground, and cold sweat soaked his back.

He is only now realizing the truth and feeling afraid.

"You are a smart child."

Zhao Bingzhu suddenly leaned down and gently stroked the top of his head, but his tone was chilling and piercing.

"In every imperial examination, one must climb over the bones of countless opponents to reach the pinnacle of literature and wield immense power!"
Your intention to defeat Jiang Xingzhou
I understand, and I don't blame you for causing trouble.

Jiang Xingzhou killed one of my father's ink-boring insects, which he had raised for ten years, in Jiangyin Prefecture, thus ruining my carefully planned scheme.

He is not only your enemy, but also your father's enemy.

As a father, I wish I could grind his bones to dust.

Unfortunately, he managed to escape alive into Jiangzhou Prefecture and hide in the Xue State Duke's mansion.

There's no suitable opportunity to kill him here in Jiangzhou Prefecture!
This year, no matter what means you use, I want you to be the top scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

Only then can you wash away all the humiliation that the Zhao family has suffered today.

People only look at the results, not the process.

Only the victor has the right to wash away all shame.

Zhao Zilu was bewildered.

When did Jiang Xingzhou become an enemy of my father, a scholar who passed the imperial examination?

"As for now, let me teach you a way to save your life."

Zhao Bingzhu slowly straightened up, looking down at him condescendingly: "Carry this thorny branch on your back, kneel outside the Xue residence for three days, and kowtow to beg for mercy. First, save your own life so you can participate in the prefectural examination."

Zhao Zilu suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking in shock.

"otherwise."

Zhao Bingzhu narrowed his eyes, "Our ruthless Prefect Xue Chonghu has a hundred ways to make sure you don't live to see the day of the prefectural examination!"

Even if he doesn't kill you, crippling your literary skills will prevent you from taking the prefectural examination!

"Yes, Father!"

Zhao Zilu kowtowed, his teeth trembling.

He is very smart.

He knew this was his only chance to survive.

He immediately stripped off his outer garment, tied thorns to his back, and ordered his servants to whip him until he was covered in blood, a truly gruesome sight.

Then, he went to the courtyard outside the Duke of Xue's mansion and knelt down with a thud.

Outside the Xue residence.

Brother Jiang.

Zilu carried thorns on his back to apologize!

Zilu's intention was to promote Brother Jiang's writing, but he inadvertently tarnished Brother Jiang's literary reputation—a grave offense!

Zhao Zilu screamed hoarsely, his shrill cries piercing the long street.

His upper body was bare, his back was bound with thorns, and bloodstains crisscrossed his body.

He kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the bluestone slab with a loud "thump! thump!"

Despite being kicked, beaten, and driven away by the servants of the Xue family, he remained kneeling on the spot.

His forehead was covered with layers of scabs, and his vision was blurred, yet he continued to kowtow mechanically, kneeling for three whole days.

The Duke of Xue's Mansion.

Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming and others came to visit Jiang Xingzhou and the Xue brothers, only to be surprised to see Zhao Zilu kneeling outside the mansion with thorns on his back.

"Brother Jiang! Zhao Zilu actually knelt outside the mansion, carrying thorns to beg for forgiveness, his blood soaking the bluestone steps!"

Han Yugui stepped into the backyard, his expression revealing his astonishment.

"This Zhao Zilu is really decisive. Seeing that the situation was not good, he immediately knelt down and became obedient, afraid of being dealt with by the Duke of Xue's mansion! He is indeed a dog who knows when to yield."

Lu Ming couldn't help but sigh.

"Make him kneel!"

We'll deal with him sooner or later!

The brothers Xue Fu and Xue Gui were extremely annoyed with Zhao Zilu.

They had trusted the Zhao family, thinking that Zhao Zilu's poetry banquet was just a casual exchange among young scholars to praise his own writing. They never expected that he would dare to take the opportunity to smear Jiang Xingzhou.

This is a provocation against the Xue family!

A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, causing the peach blossoms to fall in a flurry.

Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard. Gazing at the fallen peach petals scattered on the ground, he listened to the words of the young scholars. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, but his expression remained indifferent and expressionless.

This guy dares to tarnish his literary reputation; he's asking for it.

However, this young man from the Zhao family is truly cunning.

His wicked scheme failed, and he immediately knelt and kowtowed outside the Xue State Duke's mansion, begging for mercy—it was unclear which old fox from the Zhao family had taught him this life-saving method.
His methods were too sophisticated, unlike the quick decisions that a naive young man could make.

The people of Jiangzhou Prefecture would probably see this and feel pity.

Such decisiveness, ironically, makes things more difficult.

If he were to launch a relentless attack at this moment, killing Zhao Zilu or fiercely criticizing Zhao Zilu's literary reputation, he would appear petty and vindictive.

But if we let it go so easily, how could it be so easy?

"No problem!
Make him kneel!

Amidst the swirling petals, Jiang Xingzhou's voice was as clear as an ice blade drawn from its sheath, "The prefectural examination two months from now will be the real test. Isn't he trying every possible means to compete with me for the top scholar position in Jiangzhou Prefecture?!"

Cutting flesh with a dull knife hurts the most.

Han Yugui, Cao An, and the others suddenly realized with a start that Jiang Xingzhou was even more shrewd than he had been at the poetry banquet that day.

It seems that the usually gentle young man is truly enraged this time.

"Never mind, let's leave this villain aside for now!"
Zhou Yuanjun will emerge from seclusion today and will hold a literary gathering on Grain Rain Day in three days.

Prefect Xue and Zhou Yuanjun jointly presided over this grand Grain Rain literary gathering.

The successful candidates in the imperial examinations and those who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations in Jiangzhou Prefecture and its counties, as well as renowned scholars and officials from the Hanlin Academy, would all attend the banquet.

Master Pei Jingyi, a literary giant of Jiangzhou, will likely also attend the banquet!

The three chief and deputy examiners of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination will give some hints about the exam questions at the Grain Rain Poetry Gathering!

We've come to invite you and Brother Xue to the literary gathering together!

Han Yugui straightened his sleeves, his eyes concealing a hidden sharpness, and said.

"Now that Master Pei is here, we should naturally attend the Grain Rain Literary Gathering!"

Jiang Xingzhou gazed at the vibrant peach blossoms in the courtyard and smiled faintly. "By the way, since the Dean has emerged from seclusion today, shall we go to the Imperial Academy to witness the ceremony?"

Cao An suddenly clapped his hands and suggested, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes, "I heard that the academy master has been in seclusion for half a year. This time, he must have made another amazing breakthrough—either he is about to break through to the rank of Jinshi, or a new article will be published."

"Excellent!"

Upon hearing this, all the students' eyes lit up, and they all echoed in agreement.

The voice has not fallen,

The group couldn't wait to set off.

To avoid Zhao Zilu kneeling outside the main gate and being harassed by him, they tacitly chose to climb over the green tile wall in the backyard.

With their robes fluttering, the group of young people hurried toward the Jiangzhou government compound.

Inside the Jiangzhou Academy, the place was already bustling with activity.

As soon as Jiang Xingzhou, Han Yugui, and the Xue brothers arrived, they saw that the courtyard was already filled with many people—instructors, tutors, lecturers, gatekeepers, and even many scholars studying at the prefectural academy.

"Brother Jiang, you've come to witness the ceremony too?!"

"Indeed, Brother Gu, it's been a long time!"

But then he saw that Gu Zhimian and others, students from the prefecture and five counties, were also there, and he couldn't help but greet them warmly.

Even several scholars who had passed the imperial examinations were eagerly waiting, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere.

Behind the academy, a secluded cave dwelling is nestled among ancient pines and cypresses.

This is the place where Abbot Zhou Shanzhang secluded himself for cultivation. It is built of bluestone, with the doors tightly closed, isolating him from the noise and bustle of the world.

For the past six months, he has been cultivating himself in this cave, oblivious to worldly affairs. Today, the time has finally come for him to emerge from seclusion.

"Boom - click!"

The stone gate of the cave suddenly swung open, and a clear, scholarly aura surged out.

in an instant,
Inside and outside the cave, and in the mountains behind the mansion, a cloud of mist swirled and rolled.
It seemed as if the clear cry of a crane echoed through the air.

A middle-aged scholar emerged amidst the rosy dawn, his long robe fluttering in the wind, the sword at his waist gleaming with a hidden cold light, his eyes like stars, exuding an extraordinary air.

He held a scroll of text in his hand, surrounded by a shimmering aura of literary elegance, like smoke or mist, with glimpses of exquisite words flowing within it.

"Congratulations on your completion of seclusion, Dr. Zhou!"

"Congratulations, Inner Master! Your work has been completed successfully, and you have reaped great rewards!"

All the scholars and students bowed in unison, their voices rising like a surging tide.

Countless eyes were fixed on the new work in his hand—this must be the masterpiece he had produced after half a year of seclusion!

But what kind of article is it?

Thank you all!

I have been in seclusion for half a year, ignoring all external affairs.

Has anything major happened lately?

Zhou Shanzhang smiled gently.
Just as he was about to speak, an instructor strode forward and whispered a few words in his ear, "Sir, half a month ago, the ship carrying the young scholar from Jiangyin was attacked by the Demon Court of the East Sea."

In an instant,
His brows furrowed sharply, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and his scholarly air surged like a raging torrent.

"How dare the Demon Court of the Eastern Sea invade our territory?!"

He roared, his voice echoing across the land, “You actually sent demon generals and demon soldiers to infiltrate Neijiang and attack three hundred students in my Jiangyin County!”
"Could it be that my Jiangzhou Prefecture has no one to rely on?"

Before he finished speaking, the sword at his waist was already drawn.

Zhou Shanchang leaped onto his sword, his robes billowing as he burst through the air like a thunderclap, rushing out of the Jiangzhou city wall.

Transformed into a long rainbow piercing the sun,
It sped off towards the East China Sea, thousands of miles away!

Inside the Jiangzhou Prefecture Academy.

Jiang Xingzhou, Han Yugui, and the others were stunned by this sudden turn of events and stood frozen in place for a moment.

"I have long heard that although Lord Zhou is refined and gentle, and speaks like a spring breeze and rain, he is also fierce and fiery. When he is angry, he can draw his sword and travel thousands of miles to pursue and kill without end."

Han Yugui murmured, his eyes filled with shock: "He actually went to attack the Demon Court of the East Sea? Such courage truly shows the spirit of us scholars!"

Cao An's eyes gleamed with admiration, unable to conceal his respect: "Let's go! Quickly follow them and see!"

The voice has not fallen,

Suddenly, hundreds of streaks of light rose up within the academy.

Some rode on clouds, some walked on swords, and some used wind-based spells. All followed the streak of light that pierced the sky, and hundreds or even thousands of people sped off towards the East Sea.

The city walls of Jiangzhou Prefecture.

The garrison commander stood with his spear in hand, looking up at the brilliant rainbow streaking across the sky. He was first taken aback, then shook his head and chuckled.

"Even after half a year of seclusion, Zhou Yuanjun's temper hasn't changed at all!"
Having just emerged from seclusion, he's already gone off to cause trouble for those wretched creatures in the East Sea!

Zhou Shanchang rode his sword through the air, hovering above the East Sea.

"Wow~!"

His green robe fluttered in the wind.
The literary energy surged like a raging torrent, and a flying sword beneath his feet emitted a cold light, cleaving a hundred-foot-deep chasm in the sea below, which was then filled back into the seawater.

"Lord Jiangzhou Prefect!"

Headmaster Zhou is here!

The sound was like a thunderclap, shaking the sea and sky.

In an instant, wind and thunder rolled, and towering waves rose in layers, shaking the hundreds of miles of the East China Sea with his shout.

"Which shameless demon general from the East Sea Demon Court dares to attack my human race's 'Children's Ship'?"

"Get out and die!"

however,
The depths of the East China Sea are utterly silent.
Even the fish disappeared into the dark current, leaving no trace of the demon.

Indeed, a dignified demon general, instead of seeking out human scholars of the same rank to compete, ambushed a group of novice scholars who had not yet entered the Dao.

Such behavior is not only considered extremely despicable in the eyes of humans, but it would also be ridiculed by colleagues within the East Sea Demon Court.

At this moment, the demon generals and commanders who were not involved in the incident naturally disdained to take the blame for attacking the human children and tarnish their demonic reputation.

The fish demon general who actually made the move was hiding in the East Sea Demon Court's lair, not daring to show his face and go out to his death.

"Humph!"

Zhou Shan's long sleeves billowed up, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

In his anger, the seawater beneath his feet receded a hundred feet, revealing the pitch-black seabed.

"Since you're hiding in there and won't come out, I won't be polite—!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword.
The green mangoes surged for a mile, splashing ink across the clouds.

He wrote down a poem he had written when he was a student.

With each character written, thunder roared and the entire East China Sea trembled!
"Zhenyue!"
[Strange peaks rise abruptly from the ground, splitting the sky]
The rugged mountains of Zhenhai East are towering and majestic.

The thunder axe cleaved through the clouds and bones.
The Heavenly Hammer forged the majestic Jade Gate.

Its grandeur surpasses even the Five Sacred Mountains and the Three Mountains.
Its power overwhelms a thousand waves and a hundred rivers.

If you ask who the pillars of heaven and earth are, then...
The Kunlun Mountains stretch like a rainbow!

The instant when poetry and prose are perfected!

"boom!!"

A towering, upside-down mountain suddenly appeared out of thin air, its peak like a sword, its entire body entwined with bolts of lightning and hurricanes.

Sand and stones flew, swirling around the giant peak.
The sounds of dragons roaring and tigers howling echoed throughout the heavens and earth!
"fall!"

With a flick of his palm, the thousand-foot-tall mountain crashed into the East China Sea.

In an instant——

“Wow——!!!”

A towering wave surges into the sky, and the seabed rock layers crack open with jagged ravines.

Coral palaces collapsed one after another, and demonic blood stained dozens of miles of sea!
When the turbulent waves subside,

The corpses of demonic fish and shrimp floating on the sea surface formed a floating "land".

Some were still fleeing in terror, while others had their demon cores shattered by the shockwave and drifted with the seawater.
-
Requesting monthly votes! 7,000 words completed today!
(End of this chapter)