Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Langye was indeed a glorious and outstanding place. Other places were chilly, but it was filled with a warm breeze and the flowers were already budding.

During early spring, the scenery was perfect. The spring wind blew against a person’s body and ignited a warm, lazy feeling.

The young ladies, whose love for beauty had become their nature, changed into their spring clothes early on; the vibrant colors made them more delicate than flowers. Their dark black hair was pulled back and tied up, combined with one or two blooming flowers. Even if they did not apply makeup, their vigorous, youthful energy could not be controlled.

Ladies loved charm. All the young Langjuns did not want to lose out either. They wore elegant robes, were remarkably poised, and their sleeves carried a mild, fragrant smell.

Ding, dang! Ding, dang! A few bells hit each other rhythmically, following the strong and vigorous steps of the horses. The sound came through beat by beat, and with the sound of the horse’s hooves, it was like a joyful song. Others could hear and feel the owner’s relaxed mood.

There was some commotion arising from the city gates and amidst the crowd. The sounds of discussions and joy were discreetly heard.

“Is that the tiger that was eating humans from Zhangjiang village? It looks horrifying.”

“Yes––look at its head! There are at least six stones! No wonder it was able to eat so many people and cause such harm… Even the officials couldn’t do anything.”

Both sides of the streets were filled with commoners watching the commotion. They spoke of the tiger that was being carried by four strong men.

Presently, there was another tiger, smaller in size, that was carried in. Those with any insight could recognize it was a female tiger.

“Be good. I initially thought it was just one tiger that harmed Zhangjiang village… Unbeknownst to me, it was actually a crime committed by both a husband and a wife!”

“What’s more, look at the stomach of the female! It is abnormally shrivelled. It’s like a mother horse that has just given birth…”

The people were discussing the matter in excited tones. The customers at the two tea houses on either side heard the commotion below and stretched out their heads to look. They were frightened by the two tigers, even though they were already dead. The awe they exuded still caused people to be afraid.

From the outside, both tigers looked intact. There was dried, dark black blood where their eyes were positioned. Even if one wasn’t an experienced hunter, the majority of people would have been able to tell how the two tigers had died.

They were shot by an arrow aimed at their eyes, which then pierced through their brain, causing them to die immediately. It was a very skilful shot, and it maximally guaranteed the integrity of both tigers’ skin. Many commoners had envious eyes.

A scholar said, “It is rare to find such a majestic tiger. I wonder who the archer was that killed them. He can be said to be brave beyond measure.”

“Ai? You didn’t know?” His friend was astonished. He leaned by the window on the second floor of the teahouse and looked outside, as if searching for someone.

“What? Is there some inside story that I don’t know?”

His friend laughed elegantly and said, “If these two tigers really harmed Zhangjiang village, the person who killed them must be that person.”

“What does this mean?” The scholar did not understand.

“You may not know… Didn’t the county chief organize a distinguished assembly, inviting many scholars to discuss the realms and their power?”

The scholar remained pensive and said, “I was mildly sick that day… I caught a cold and did not attend. What happened during the assembly?”

His friend smiled, speechless. He closed his fan and spoke softly, “That day at the distinguished assembly, a scholar spoke directly about how militants bring trouble to the country. He believed that Nansheng was almost defeated by the mighty four factions of Nanman mainly because the Lord of Nansheng had faith in the military generals, which led to the instability of the court. The internal conflict was unresolved and the four factions of Nanman took advantage of it, sending their troops to the city walls.”

Nansheng may have been Dongqing’s enemy, but at least they were blood brothers from the same father. They would not be comfortable if they were attacked by others.

Regardless of whether it was Nansheng or Dongqing, they refused to admit that if Nansheng’s territory kept getting cut apart, it was their weakness.

Previously, the Daxia dynasty had conquered the nine prefectures, which brought peace to the four seas. All of them boasted about being legitimate––a father who fathered five sons.

Who would be willing to admit that their defeat was due to their own weakness?

It must have been their own carelessness and internal conflicts… Thus, the outsiders had an advantage.

The trouble was pushed from one person to another. Ultimately it became the military general’s responsibility.

Dongqing valued literacy and restrained martial arts, while Nansheng was more receptive to people skilled in martial arts. Based on Dongqing’s harsh standards, Nansheng’s hospitality was comparatively more welcoming.

However, the Lord of Nansheng courted trouble. After he got into a political marriage with the four factions of Nanman, he directly caused the deaths of numerous truly loyal and devoted military generals. He gave the command of the army to distant relatives of his household and eunuchs who could be “trusted.” For their own benefit, those people secretly collaborated with the four factions of Nanman!

The army of Nansheng was at war. The army formation they planned was leaked behind their backs to the people from the four factions of Nanman by the “trustworthy” men of the Lord of Nansheng. Under such circumstances, they would only win if the people of the four factions of Nanman were all blind.

No matter what was said, the responsibility fell completely on the general’s shoulders. That indirectly made Donqing’s trend of restraining martial generals even more obvious.

After the scholar heard his friend’s explanation, he felt there was nothing wrong with his words. However, he still could not understand how the awkwardness during the distinguished assembly was related to the tiger…

His friend then said, “Just as the scholar finished talking, a glass cup was smashed on his head. Traces of blood were found on his forehead.

The scholar took in a mouthful of cold air. The county chief himself organized the distinguished assembly. Who had the audacity to fight publicly?

“Who dares to fight?”

His friend enlightened him, saying, “That person didn’t just fight––he even spoke fearlessly. He almost made the scholar angry to the point of hovering between life and death. Guess what that person said?”

The scholar was suddenly interested and asked expectantly, “What did he say?”

His friend thought through it. He then recounted the incident in a tone that mimicked the person, “‘I won’t just throw a cup at you, you weakling. Even if I slashed you twice, I dare you to come and get your revenge.’ He had a sharp tongue and was pleasing to look at, but he had no substance… He was like an embroidered pillow. If one had the energy to talk, why not head home to cultivate his character and enrich his sperm to prevent his wife from complaining that he is infertile?”

After the scholar heard his words, his teeth hurt. “These words are poison!”

His friend nodded in approval, as if he had a new lease of life after such a calamity.

How was it just poison? The situation then was uncontrollable. The scholar forsook righteousness. He rolled up his sleeves and was prepared to take another’s life.

Consequently, that scholar did not have any advantage.

“This is not the end. After that person hit someone, he spoke with conviction and said, ‘The learned follows the teachings of Confucius and studies the Six Arts of Rites. Based on what you people say, riding horses and archery are useless skills. Why learn them? The learned man uses literacy to govern the country; the military man uses strength to protect the country. Without the literates, the court would be corrupt; without the military, the borders would not be peaceful, and the country may be defeated. Who then is more important than the other? Unreasonable.’”