Chapter 32: Hero’s Blood, Beauty’s Tears
Chapter 32: Hero’s Blood, Beauty’s Tears
Then, Mi Daoyuan called out, “Tieyi, come in.”
Immediately, a coldly handsome young master walked in.
Wuque felt a sudden daze because this face triggered a memory from Shen Wuque’s past.
He looked so much like Fu Caiwei, vaguely like that green-tea’s younger brother.
“This is Fu Tieyi, your Uncle Fu Jianzhi’s son. You young people should get to know each other,” Mi Daoyuan said.
The name Fu Tieyi was like a thunderclap to the ears.
The top scholar of Tianshui Academy, the young master of Tianshui Province.
The pride of the Fu Clan.
He broke through to the Seventh Rank in Martial Arts at age twelve, one year earlier than Master Jiumogang.
At thirteen, he took all the exams of the Academy Grand Examination off-site. After several examiners graded his papers separately, he took first place in Tianshui Province, making that year’s top scholar title seem undeserved.
But the Fu Clan had a family rule: no one under eighteen could officially take the Academy Grand Examination.
So, despite his unparalleled talent, he could not enter the exam hall to astonish everyone.
He waited a full six years. Now he was nineteen.
This year, he could finally take the Academy Grand Examination.
Thus, this year’s Academy Grand Examination completely lost its suspense.
Everyone knew the top scholar would be this heaven-favored Fu Tieyi.
Six years ago, he could have taken first place.
How much more now?!
Upon seeing Wuque, Fu Tieyi showed no attempt to hide his arrogance, completely ignoring him.
Fu Tieyi knew Shen Wuque all too well.
His sister Fu Caiwei had countless admirers, but none were as lowly, as incompetent, as foolish, as laughable as Shen Wuque.
A man who failed as badly as Shen Wuque truly did not deserve to live in this world.
Shen Gong’ao was a hero for a lifetime, yet he produced such a son. It was truly a shame for the Shen Gong Clan.
Mi Daoyuan said slowly, “Since Master Jiumogang has arrived, let us begin the final duel of our Pact of Nine Duels.”
Wen Daozi smiled. “Brother Mi, if I remember correctly, this final duel is scheduled for the ninth day of the ninth month next year.”
Mi Daoyuan smiled. “I am well aware, but Sky Scholar City has sent an edict. I must follow it.”
As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his robe and unfurled it.
Immediately, Wen Daozi and the other seven all knelt down.
For people of the Scholarium, a golden decree from Sky Scholar City was like an official seeing an Imperial Decree from the Emperor.
“Wen Daozi, Mi Daoyuan, you are ordered to conclude your Pact of Nine Duels before the fifteenth day of the tenth month this autumn.”
Wen Daozi took the golden decree. The words were clear.
Moreover, Sky Scholar City’s reason was simple: the Scholarium Council was to change in November, so Mi Daoyuan and Wen Daozi’s Pact of Nine Duels needed to end before October fifteenth.
Looking at this decree, Wen Daozi trembled all over.
His father had just passed away, and already people in Sky Scholar City were so impatient.
“The golden decree of Sky Scholar City cannot be disobeyed,” Mi Daoyuan said slowly. “The Academy Grand Examination is coming up, and I will be very busy. So I take this opportunity to come to your Solitary Mountain to conduct the final duel of the Pact of Nine Duels.”
“Then, let us begin.”
Instantly, everyone looked toward Jiumogang.
By unspoken agreement, the last duel of the Pact of Nine Duels was Martial Arts!
But…
He had just gone through two great battles—one at the Solitary Mountain Villa, another on a deserted island.
Though he appeared steady, Wuque knew he was injured, and badly, not just physically but mentally as well.
Then, a figure slowly walked out and said to Jiumogang, “Today, we will determine victory and defeat, and also decide life and death!”
It was a woman, a beautiful middle-aged woman.
Seeing this woman, Jiumogang’s face changed dramatically. He could no longer hold on, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.
“A Luo, do you want to kill me so much?” Jiumogang trembled. “We were husband and wife. Do you really want to kill me so much?”
This woman was actually Jiumogang’s wife?!
Mi Daoyuan actually sent her to participate in the final duel. What a vicious heart.
The woman said coldly, “From the day our son died in the Roulan Massacre, there has been no marital affection between us.”
Jiumogang’s son also died in the Roulan Massacre? Died at the hands of the Scholarium Reformist Faction genius Shaluman?
No wonder his wife hated Jiumogang to the bone.
Not long ago, Jiumogang was forced to kill his own uncle and cousin.
Now, facing his wife, his already battered heart finally cracked.
“Pfft…” He spat out another mouthful of blood.
Jiumogang looked at his wife and slowly said, “A Luo, if you want to kill me, then do it now.”
Then, he slowly stood up and drew his greatsword.
The final duel of the Pact of Nine Duels between Mi Daoyuan and Wen Daozi’s sides was about to begin.
And Jiumogang was already seriously wounded. Facing his wife, he had already made up his mind to die.
At that moment, Wuque suddenly stepped forward.
“Wait!”
Then, he bowed to Mi Daoyuan. “Mountain Master Mi Daoyuan, how about changing the method for this final duel of the Pact of Nine Duels?”
Mi Daoyuan was stunned.
Wuque said, “Making Master Jiumogang and his wife fight each other is really too cruel. How about I represent Master Wen Daozi, and Fu Tieyi represents Mountain Master Mi Daoyuan? Let us fight this final duel.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Wuque continued, “There are still eight days until the Academy Grand Examination begins. Fu Tieyi will definitely take part. And very coincidentally, I will also take part in this Academy Grand Examination. So let this Grand Examination be our final duel.”
Suddenly, the whole place fell silent, all eyes on Wuque.
You… you’re crazy!
Do you know what level Fu Tieyi is?
Six years ago, at just thirteen, taking the exams off-site, he already took first place.
At just twelve, he broke through to the Seventh Rank in Martial Arts, more than a year earlier than Jiumogang.
You, Shen Wuque, competing with him? Isn’t that like an egg striking a rock?
After a long while, Mi Daoyuan suddenly said, “Nephew Wuque, do you know why I visited your home?”
Wuque said, “I do not know.”
Mi Daoyuan said, “Your mother invited me. She told me you were also taking the Academy Grand Examination. She begged just one thing of me: do not let you become last place. She wasn’t afraid of losing the Shen Gong Clan’s reputation, but she feared you would never be able to hold your head up again.”
“For this, your parents donated a full one thousand acres of school land to Tianshui Academy.”
Hearing this, Wuque trembled.
Mi Daoyuan spoke slowly. “Your mother said you were wild in your youth, but now you have grown up and become sensible. You took the Academy Grand Examination to prove yourself to your parents. But these years you wandered outside, with no time to study, and you never practiced martial arts. Your already poor grades have long been forgotten. If you place last again, you will never be able to stand tall before your wife.”
“Kind is the hearts of parents in this world. But in my eyes, you are still as wild as ever, maybe even more so.”
“The Pact of Nine Duels is sacred and serious. Do you treat it as a game?”
Mi Daoyuan suddenly became stern and said slowly, “Jiumogang, Lin Miaoluo, your duel continues!”
Today, blood would surely be shed.
Husband and wife, Jiumogang and Lin Miaoluo, were destined to have one die.
And it would mostly be Jiumogang.
Wuque said, “If I lose to Fu Tieyi, the Shen Gong Family will donate thirty large warships without compensation.”
These words shocked the entire hall.
You, Shen Wuque, truly are the number one prodigal son.
Thirty warships and a thousand mu of farmland are not even in the same league.
Large warships are the lifeblood of your Shen Gong Clan at sea, representing maritime power.
Your family militarizes heavily; what supports tens of thousands of private troops is entirely maritime trade.
How many large warships does your Shen Gong Clan have in total? It takes years to build one large warship. You want to give away thirty at once? Truly, the young one selling his grandfather’s land feels no heartache.
However, you, the Third Young Master, have no say in this.
Your status in the family, Shen Wuque, is likely insignificant.
Wuque took out paper and brush, writing a contract.
I, Shen Wuque, on behalf of Wen Daozi’s side, participate in the final battle of the Pact of Nine Duels.
Fu Tieyi fights on behalf of Mi Daoyuan.
The Academy Grand Examination is the battlefield; whoever ranks higher wins.
If Shen Wuque loses, the Shen Gong Clan shall provide thirty large warships without compensation, each ship no smaller than eight hundred “liao.”
After the contract was written, Wuque signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.
Mi Daoyuan fell into deep thought, looking at this contract from Wuque.
First, Wuque certainly had no say in Shen Gong Clan matters. But… this contract, written by Shen Wuque in impulsive ignorance, had high political value.
Based on this contract, could they obtain the thirty large warships?
Others certainly couldn’t, but if the Mi Clan acted, with pressure from the Scholarium, it truly might be possible.
Meanwhile, Fu Tieyi looked at Wuque as if he were a complete fool.
Eight years had passed, but Shen Wuque, that love-struck fool, hadn’t changed at all. Still so laughable, so stupid.
To do something so absurd, so ignorant.
If Shen Gong’ao heard, he would probably beat you to death.
However, eight years ago, he abandoned his studies for a few words from Fu Caiwei, learning astronomy and geography. For Fu Caiwei, he left his newlywed wife.
So it is no surprise he would do something this absurd now.
Your actions are nothing but selling your family’s huge interests straight to the Mi Clan.
Immediately, Mi Daoyuan turned to Wen Daozi. “What do you think?”
Wen Daozi looked at Jiumogang and sighed. “Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.”
Mi Daoyuan said, “For husband and wife to kill each other is indeed too cruel. Heaven is merciful to living beings. Since Brother Wen has no objections, let Fu Tieyi and Shen Wuque represent us in this final battle.”
Wen Daozi said hoarsely and bitterly, “If we lose, I will forever withdraw from the Scholarium Council, imprisoned for life on Solitary Mountain, not leaving even half a step.”
Mi Daoyuan said, “If we lose, Wen Daozi retains his seat on the Scholarium Council and has the right to open a new academy in the name of the Scholarium, to educate the world.”
This meant the revival of the Reformist Faction.
Wuque suddenly said, “This seems a bit unfair.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to him.
Wuque continued, “If we lose, Master Wen Daozi is expelled from the Scholarium Council. If your side loses, there is no punishment. Isn’t that unfair?”
Mi Daoyuan smiled. “Nephew Wuque, how do you think it would be fair?”
Wuque said, “If you lose, you resign from the position of Mountain Master of Tianshui Academy?”
…