Chapter Forty-One: A True Man Does Not Wait for the Right Moment!

These deranged individuals had all consumed something outside, and upon returning home at dusk, began to feel unwell, then succumbed to madness.

Given this, they must have contracted the demon contagion outside, and it is likely they were infected at the same time.

But the demon contagion, infamous for its sluggish onset, how could it have spread throughout Shiyang County so swiftly?

And how many people have succumbed to madness because of it?

Song Mu sensed grave misfortune; a plot beyond anything he could have imagined was unfurling across the city.

“Song, why not bring your family here? We have the essays written by our scholar to ward off evil, no demon or fiend dares trespass here,” Shao Le suggested at his side. “And Senior Brother Lu is here; he can wield battle poetry to protect us.”

But Song Mu’s mind was wholly occupied by thoughts of the contagion. He recalled that place he and Li Mo’er had destroyed days ago—could those men there be the true culprits behind all this? But hadn’t Li Mo’er intervened then?

Seeing Song Mu unmoved and lost in thought, Shao Le was about to add something when suddenly a deafening shout thundered from within the city, shaking the heavens and resounding in every ear:

“Remnants of the Devil Sect dare cause chaos in my Shiyang County? Shi Bufeng, surrender your life!”

The voice was vigorous and brimming with righteousness—it was the county magistrate, Jin Changwu!

Song Mu and the others all looked up, and in that instant, a beam of light blazed across the city’s sky.

A colossal blood-red brush, tall as a pillar, appeared, its intricate patterns glowing as the tip pressed against the heavens, stirring wind and cloud.

Dark clouds pressed down upon the city, threatening its destruction; the golden scales of armor shone in the sunlight.

Horn calls filled the autumn air, and the night was suffused with deep purple hues.

Half-rolled red banners hung above the Yi River; the cold drums fell silent in the frost.

Embracing the intent upon the Golden Platform, wielding the jade dragon to die for the lord!

The elegant script appeared in the blink of an eye—it was Li He’s “The Governor of Yanmen Pass,” a masterpiece of battle poetry!

A true ballad-style war poem soared into the air, its immense scarlet characters reflected across Shiyang County’s sky, bringing an overwhelming pressure.

At the moment the words “die for the lord” were written, countless rays burst forth from the poem, shooting to every corner of the city!

Muffled horn blasts reverberated from the sky, and those beams pierced the bodies of each defender, while the mighty literary energy of the Wen Pavilion surged forth, activating the text engraved on the armor of every soldier, which now shone with dazzling gold, racing wildly across the metal.

The soldiers felt invigorated, their hearts filled with courage, shouting fiercely:

A true man should be thus—donning armor, wielding weapons, fighting for the king, for the people, for the stability of the Literary Dynasty!

Scholars fighting with all their might, their power shaking the heavens!

Jin Changwu, wielding the official seal and brush, had stabilized the situation in an instant.

---

Meanwhile, a different oppressive force spread through the city, another fierce shout ringing out, this time tinged with indignation and grief.

“Shi Bufeng, you dared to use me, to harm the people of Shiyang County!”

The roar echoed, the sky trembled anew, and the shrieks and clash of battle within and without the city grew even more intense.

Even as Song Mu and the others stood in the county academy, they could feel the earth quaking beneath their feet.

This was a strange, overwhelming presence, nearly eclipsing the previous two powers, leaving Song Mu breathless.

He stared intently outward, searching the sky illuminated by red verses for another figure.

Yet he saw no trace of Li Mo’er, only a vague, monstrous form rising into the air.

“Stop staring! Get inside—who knows what tonight will bring? I’ll write a few more poems to protect everyone!”

It was Scholar Lu, leaping down from the courtyard wall, ushering a dozen frightened townsfolk into the compound, his face etched with fear.

“The magistrate and the chief clerk have both gone to battle; we shouldn’t fear this crisis!”

He beckoned everyone into the dormitory, and Song Mu hurried after him, anxiously asking, “Senior Brother, what’s happening now? What’s the situation on the walls and in the city?”

Lu exhaled sharply, forcing himself calm as he replied:

“There are monsters outside the city, swarming along the river and hills, attacking the eastern and northern walls—seems a monster king leads them.”

“Inside the city, it’s likely the demon contagion’s doing; soldiers, officials, and scholars have all been deployed, but it can’t be suppressed quickly.”

“And what did the magistrate mean by ‘Devil Sect remnants’?” Song Mu pressed.

“It must be the assistant magistrate, Shi Bufeng! He’s resisting the officials’ pressure—perhaps his fallen scholar’s power has risen to the level of a scholar-official!” Lu’s expression was grave.

“It seems he’s the one causing chaos in the city.”

“The assistant magistrate is a Devil Sect member?!” Song Mu’s face grew stern, the situation terrifying him. Lu urged him to hide indoors, but Song Mu paused.

After a moment’s hesitation, Song Mu said, “Senior Brother, I must return home.”

“No, our teacher sent me to find you—you’re here now, stay. I’ll fetch your family after I’ve written a few protective poems!”

Usually frail, Scholar Lu now showed remarkable resolve, shaking his head at Song Mu’s request, instructing students to watch him, then grabbing brush and ink and climbing the wall to write outside.

Song Mu opened his mouth, but could only stand there, fists clenched.

Amidst the city’s turmoil, only scholars could fight; as a mere student, even if he wished to kill the traitor, he was powerless!

He gazed upward, hoping to catch sight of Li Mo’er.

The sky above Shiyang County was now chaos incarnate—two scholar-official auras and one muddy, tyrannical force clashed violently, while flames and noise erupted throughout the city.

Song Mu did not enter the dormitory but anxiously scanned his surroundings. Unable to discern the situation, he steeled himself, climbed the courtyard wall, and made for the rooftop.

The county academy stood atop a small hill in the north, so from its roof, nearly all of Shiyang County was visible.

“Song, what are you doing up there? Get down!” Shao Le and the others shouted from below, but Song Mu climbed to the highest point of the academy roof.

From this vantage, he finally saw the true state of Shiyang County.

---

The entire city was wrapped in firelight, flames flickering across every district, the walls glowing with contiguous blazes, and flashes of light outside the walls.

Roars of beasts and shouts of battle resounded from the ramparts, chaotic panic filled the city, and overhead, the thunderous clashes between combatants grew ever louder.

A gentle night wind stirred Song Mu’s robes and hair, carrying the scent of gunpowder, making his eyes water.

He straightened and took in the chaotic nightscape of Shiyang County.

Earlier that evening, the city was filled with music and dancing, and he had the leisure to drink wine and compose poems. In the blink of an eye, everything had been upended, the world plunged into turmoil, danger descending silently.

Yet facing all this, he was utterly helpless—trapped in such chaos, his abilities were pitifully insignificant!

A breath of frustration welled in Song Mu’s chest, and he longed to let it out.

The wild wind carried the scent of smoke and dust across his face; Song Mu clenched and unclenched his fists. Behind him, Shao Le and several students had climbed up, stunned by the city’s turmoil, but still called out to him:

“Song! Come down!”

Song Mu exhaled deeply, turned his head slightly, and said gravely,

“Shao, tell me—are students truly so powerless in the face of disaster?”

Shao Le was startled, uncertain, but replied, “Song! Once we pass the academy exam, we’ll be real scholars—then we’ll have our place in the world!”

Song Mu shook his head. “A true man must seize the day—time waits for no one!”

He turned and spoke again,

“Shao, help me with something.”

“What are you planning?” Shao Le asked, confused but cautious as he stepped forward.

Song Mu removed his white robe and handed it to him, then drew the demon-slaying brush gifted by Ouyang Hong from his pocket.

Seeing Song Mu’s actions, Shao Le was astonished, incredulous.

“Song, are you…?”

Song Mu gripped the demon-slaying brush, exhaled, and looked toward the distant sky, then said calmly,

“Shao, they say only scholars may wield power, but today, I refuse to be a useless student!”

“But…this…” Shao Le began,

“Whether the world thrives or falls, every person bears responsibility.”

With that, Song Mu’s inner garment billowed in the wind, his long hair swept back in waves, and a new resolve shone between his brows.

Shao Le gaped in astonishment.

…