The bailiffs exchanged uneasy glances before charging at Lin Yi.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Lin Yi's lips.

Fighting? That’s his specialty.

Especially now, after awakening his Heart of Literary Dao, his physical abilities had improved in every aspect. A few low-ranking officials? They were nothing to him.

Thud!

A swift kick sent one bailiff flying, and a sharp hook punch knocked another to the ground.

In mere moments, all the bailiffs lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

Lin Yi dusted off his hands and locked eyes with Scribe Zhang Shengcai, striding toward him.

“W-What are you doing? Don’t come any closer!” Zhang Shengcai stammered, his pale face retreating with every step Lin Yi took.

“What am I doing?” Lin Yi’s cold gaze bore into him as he clenched his fist. Without hesitation, he swung directly at Zhang Shengcai’s face. “Beating the hell out of you, of course!”

Bam!

“Ahhh!”

Another tooth went flying as Zhang Shengcai hit the ground, rolling twice before coming to a stop. Humiliated and enraged, he could only seethe, feeling as though he’d walked into a beating, he’d sought out himself.

But Lin Yi wasn’t done. He approached the scribe again, and Zhang Shengcai’s fear skyrocketed, his eyes brimming with terror.

This guy was ruthless!

Unlike other scholars who used words as weapons, Lin Yi was different. He used both words and fists!

“Don’t you dare touch me again! If you do, I—”

Crack!

“AAAHHH!”

Zhang Shengcai screamed like a pig being slaughtered. Lin Yi had stomped down on his shin, breaking the bone cleanly.

Towering over him, Lin Yi sneered. “If you hadn’t threatened me, I wouldn’t have bothered. Beating scum like you only dirties my hands.”

In the Great Yan Dynasty, scribes held no official rank. At most, they were semi-scholars. For someone scheming to kill him, Lin Yi didn’t feel the least bit guilty about administering justice himself.

He scoffed, “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you outright.”

“You…” Zhang Shengcai’s rage burned like fire. He wanted nothing more than to tear Lin Yi apart limb by limb.

“The academy won’t protect me?” Lin Yi shook his head, his expression calm. “That’s fine. But I’d wager the academy’s professors will choose to protect me.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Knowledge is power.

Lin Yi firmly believed that in this world, scholars would one day revere him. This wasn’t arrogance—it was simply the truth.

“Hahaha!” Zhang Shengcai laughed despite his injuries, his expression twisting with pain. “Protect you? Who do you think you are? Ow…”

Lin Yi leaned down; his voice sharp. “Remember this: don’t interfere with my investigation. Next time, it won’t just be your leg.”

With that, he stepped over Zhang Shengcai’s trembling body, climbed into an ox cart, and disappeared toward the city gate.

Zhang Shengcai flushed with anger, unable to retort. Instead, he turned and barked at the bailiffs writhing on the ground, “What are you waiting for? Call a physician! Useless, the lot of you!”

----------------------------------------

“Professor Chen thinks I used forbidden Dao techniques to awaken my Literary Dao Heart?” Lin Yi frowned as he mulled over the situation.

What had transpired at the city gate barely registered to him. As far as he was concerned, he’d done nothing wrong.

In broad daylight, Zhang Shengcai had dared to offend a scholar. By law, Lin Yi could have killed him, and it wouldn’t have been unreasonable. However, the scribe bore the Seal of Righteousness—a marker of moral virtue. Killing him would have tainted Lin Yi’s own Righteous Aura, making it harder to clear his name.

“One step at a time. With Fang Qingxue around, I don’t have much to worry about.”

Clearing his thoughts, Lin Yi arrived at the county magistrate’s office.

----------------------------------------

Inside the courthouse, Professor Chen Jinbei stood in the main hall, his hands clasped behind his back. His imposing figure radiated authority. Next to him stood Sun Wenyuan, sporting dark circles under his eyes.

Since Professor Chen’s arrival late last night, he had stood silently in the same spot, his face stormy.

“Cousin, what’s wrong? Why the sour expression?” Sun Wenyuan asked nervously. “Did you gain new insights? Feel inspired? That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

He babbled on, his throat dries from talking, but Chen Jinbei remained silent, his face like a chiseled stone.

Finally, Chen opened his eyes and cast a disdainful glance at Sun Wenyuan before closing them again.

Sun Wenyuan froze, startled by the professor’s sharp, sword-like gaze.

“What’s going on? Why is Professor Chen looking at me like that?” Sun Wenyuan was baffled, retreating awkwardly to the side.

“Lin Yi has arrived!” a bailiff announced.

Chen Jinbei’s eyes snapped open, a trace of excitement flashing across his face.

“Excellent.”

Sun Wenyuan, too, grew excited. Striking the gavel, he declared, “Bring in the accused, Lin Yi!”

“Majesty!”

“Majesty!”

The bailiffs pounded their batons on the ground in unison, filling the hall with a commanding aura.

Lin Yi entered the courtroom, his eyes immediately locking onto Professor Chen.

There was no need to guess; he already knew who this was.

“Hmm?” Sun Wenyuan’s brows furrowed. “Where’s the scribe? Why isn’t this man shackled?”

“Guards! Bring the torture instruments!”

Thwack!

Sun Wenyuan didn’t wait for an explanation. Confident with Professor Chen present, he flung his command token forward.

“Yes, sir!”

Several bailiffs stepped forward, preparing to carry out the punishment. The first step: a vicious beating to soften him up.

“Who dares?”

Lin Yi’s voice boomed, enhanced by his scholarly aura. The bailiffs froze in their tracks, their courage evaporating as they turned to Sun Wenyuan for guidance.

“Lord Sun, are you obstructing my investigation into the theft of Dao techniques? Are you unlawfully punishing a scholar?”

Lin Yi’s gaze bore into Sun Wenyuan, then shifted slightly to observe Professor Chen’s reaction.

“You’re no scholar,” Sun Wenyuan sneered. “You used Dao techniques to awaken your Literary Dao Heart! You’re nothing but a heretic!”

Turning to Chen Jinbei, he pressed on, “Professor Chen, this man is clearly an accomplice in the theft of Dao techniques! How should we handle him?”

Lin Yi remained calm, meeting Professor Chen’s gaze. Though apprehensive about the professor’s potential wrath, Chen’s lack of action thus far suggested he wasn’t one to act rashly.

Chen Jinbei ignored Sun Wenyuan and studied Lin Yi intently. After a moment, he waved his sleeve, and a writing set—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—flew out, landing neatly on the desk before Lin Yi.

“???”

Lin Yi blinked, confused. Wasn’t he supposed to be a heretic? What was this about?

“Professor Chen?” Sun Wenyuan stammered, his expression twisting in disbelief. This was far from the outcome he’d expected.

Chen Jinbei, his face expressionless, spoke at last. “If you wish to prove you’re not a heretic, there’s only one way: write.”