"Zhu Liren from the Academy of Gathered Scholars?"

"A genuine prodigy," Chen Jinbei murmured, recalling the infamous name. "Before Fang Qingxue ascended to become the champion of the Imperial Examinations, his fame was unrivaled. A master of painting and calligraphy... though his progress seems to have stalled in recent years."

The mention of Zhu Liren brought a vivid image to Chen Jinbei's mind. Years ago, during a visit to Pingzhou Academy, Zhu Liren had accompanied his teacher, openly challenging the local scholars.

Calling it a "visit" was a misnomer. It was a provocation.

Back then, Fang Qingxue had not yet risen to prominence, and Pingzhou Academy’s scholars suffered a humiliating defeat. One of the teachers was so enraged that his eyes crossed permanently—a reminder of Zhu Liren's visit.

"If Zhu Liren dares to show up today, it'll be his misfortune," Chen Jinbei chuckled. "If he thinks he can humiliate Lin Yi, he's bound to regret it."

Chen’s amusement was tinged with regret. "If only one of the Academy's senior scholars were here, I could have truly savored watching Zhu’s humiliation."

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

Not long after Lin Yi had Zhu Changyu pinned to the ground, a figure clads in pristine white robes descended lightly from the rooftop, landing gracefully. The man stood with his back to Lin Yi, his posture exuding elegance and power, his scholar's robes fluttering in the breeze, imbued with an unmistakable aura of cultivated superiority.

"Master Zhu is here!"

"Master Zhu, you've arrived!"

The onlookers bowed deeply to Zhu Liren, their attitudes obsequious to the extreme.

"Brother! Save me!"

Seeing the refined figure, Zhu Changyu’s despair turned to delight. He glared at Lin Yi, spitting venomously, "You bastard! Now that my brother's here, let’s see how long you last!"

Crunch.

Lin Yi answered by pressing his foot harder into Zhu Changyu’s chest.

"Aaagh!" Zhu Changyu screamed; his voice shrills with pain.

Zhu Liren finally turned to face Lin Yi, his gaze sharp and commanding. "Enough!"

But just as he spoke, an inky black aura swirled around Zhu Changyu’s upper body.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"What’s this?" Lin Yi frowned, sensing the peculiar energy radiating from the aura. It carried the distinct scent of ink and a refined energy, unmistakably tied to the discipline of literary cultivation.

Chen Jinbei’s eyes narrowed. "Ink Charm Protection..."

Ink Charms, artifacts imbued with scholarly energy, are created from poetry or calligraphy suffused with the cultivator's essence. They serve as shields, capable of warding off mortal danger. Only scholars at the Foundation of Life Realm—the eighth rank—could craft such artifacts.

Meanwhile, Zhu Liren flicked his sleeve, summoning a brush that hovered mid-air, brimming with concentrated energy. With a flick of his wrist, the brush shot toward Lin Yi like a dagger.

"So fast!" Lin Yi twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack.

"Oh?" Zhu Liren’s brows raised in mild surprise. With a motion of his hand, the brush reversed course, returning to his grasp.

Examining Lin Yi with an amused smile, Zhu Liren said, "You’re not entirely without skill. You might even be fit to serve as my book boy."

"Brother?" Zhu Changyu, still groaning on the ground, looked bewildered.

Ignoring him, Zhu Liren continued, "Serve me, polish my inkstone by day, and pour my chamber pot by night. I might just let you live."

The crowd erupted into murmurs.

"Master Zhu is so magnanimous!"

"Indeed. This scoundrel Lin Yi sought to kill Young Master Zhu, yet Master Zhu offers him a lifeline. Such generosity!"

"Lin Yi, on the other hand, is narrow-minded and vengeful. The contrast couldn't be clearer."

Hearing the sycophantic crowd, Su Huaizhi trembled with rage. "How shameless can you people be? You insult the very dignity of scholarship!"

The merchants sneered, their disdain for Su evident. Pandering to Zhu Liren had its benefits, and Su Huaizhi's protests were an inconvenience at best.

Lin Yi, however, laughed. Not a dry, perfunctory laugh but a genuine one that made everyone pause.

Then, with calculated insolence, he spat directly at Zhu Liren's face.

The spit landed squarely, a wet stain against Zhu Liren's composed façade.

The world seemed to stop.

Gasps filled the air as shock rippled through the crowd. Even Chen Jinbei, a seasoned scholar, rubbed his forehead with a helpless smile. "This kid... He really doesn’t behave like a scholar, does he?"

Zhu Changyu was frozen, his expression a mix of disbelief and horror.

Zhu Liren's face turned crimson, his entire body shaking with unbridled fury. His scholarly aura erupted like a geyser, sending tremors through the ground.

"How dare you!" he roared. "You vermin! Today, I will shred you and your father to pieces and feed you to the dogs!"

The air shimmered with the pressure of Zhu Liren’s literary might. With a flick of his brush, he painted a sigil mid-air. A tiger, formed of pure energy, leapt forth, its roar shaking the onlookers to their core.

The merchants collapsed in fear; the tiger’s sheer presence robbed them of their courage.

Even Lin Yi felt the weight of the attack pressing on him. He turned to Chen Jinbei, his tone calm but urgent. "Chen Master, haven’t you enjoyed the show long enough?"

Chen Jinbei chuckled. "Very well."

With a single step, he appeared in front of Lin Yi. Raising his hand, he drew an invisible circle in the air and gently flicked his finger.

The energy tiger, mid-pounce, froze as its head met Chen Jinbei’s finger. Cracks spiderwebbed across its body before it shattered into shards of dissipating light.

Boom!

The shockwave sent Zhu Liren staggering backward. He spat blood, clutching his chest.

"You…" Zhu Liren gasped, recognition dawning as he stared at Chen Jinbei. "Master Chen… Are you opposing the Academy of Gathered Scholars?"