Chapter 64 The Forcible Seizure of Chizuka
Shao Yanzhe gripped the jade hairpin pen tightly, and his literary energy, using the pen as a medium, spread outwards, dispersing the willow branches that enveloped him.
In an instant, countless fragments of willow branches were shot out, breaking many of the surrounding willow branches in the process.
This coincidence rescued several scholars who had been dragged over. They found that the willow branches binding them had come loose, so they pulled open a gap and crawled out. Then, they gathered together with the other scholars in a disheveled state.
"What just happened? Why do those willow branches look like they're dead?" a scholar who had escaped asked in a low voice.
A scholar who had witnessed the whole thing whispered the story to him. The scholar, who had survived by chance, looked toward the large black willow tree and saw a figure on it holding something that faintly emitted a color-changing light.
"If I manage to return alive this time, I will definitely repay my benefactor's life-saving grace by repaying their kindness with my own blood and sweat!"
The other scholars who survived also nodded firmly.
"What's this man's name? How did he save us?"
“His name is Shao Yanzhe. As for the method, it’s because he has already entered the realm of literature and possesses literary energy. Literary energy can subdue evil spirits, which is why he saved you,” Zhou Jiming said.
"What! He actually mastered the basics!"
"My benefactor is actually a genius!"
"Judging from the literary talent my benefactor possesses, he must be a once-in-a-millennium genius!"
The scholars couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. After embarking on the path of learning, starting from passing the imperial examination at the county level, they were instructed by their teachers to master the basics as early as possible, and then to write more articles to accumulate literary talent.
However, entering the field is not something they can simply do at will. From becoming a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination) to passing the provincial-level imperial examination, it takes some as little as one year, others four or five years, and even seven or eight years. To this day, many still haven't been able to enter the field.
If it weren't for the protection they received from the Dayong Dynasty, a power that made them untouchable by lesser demons and unworthy of attention by greater demons, they would probably have been devoured by the monsters here long ago and would have been reincarnated by now, perhaps even continuing their studies.
"Of course! Brother Shao is the top scholar this year! Even Mr. Liu praised his essay. He will definitely come out on top in the metropolitan examination!"
As Zhou Jiming listened to the praise from the crowd, it seemed as if they were praising him. He held his head high and was very proud, praising Shao Yanzhe to the skies.
Upon hearing his words, the scholar's eyes shone even brighter as he looked at Shao Yanzhe.
Just then, Shao Yanzhe finally broke through the willow branch. As he was about to leave, his gaze inadvertently swept over a certain place and he noticed something was wrong.
About a meter away from him, there was a cocoon with an extremely fresh and vibrant color.
When he saw the cocoon, his heart suddenly started pounding. He had a strange intuition that the cocoon was very important.
This made him change his mind about leaving. He looked around, found a spot, and started climbing.
Liu Fusi withdrew his hands, looked at his palms, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Now that he possesses the power of a great demon, he can be resurrected by sacrificing these scholars!
As he thought this, his gaze inadvertently drifted to the willow tree beside him, and then to the cocoon he had carefully hidden somewhere.
Then, the smug expression on his face froze.
"stop!"
He roared, his figure flashed and disappeared, and when he reappeared, he was on a willow tree.
He reached out to hug the cocoon, but Shao Yanzhe was faster and got the cocoon into his hand first.
"Give me the cocoon!" Liu Fusi stared at Shao Yanzhe with a sinister look, wishing he could tear him to pieces right now.
Shao Yanzhe held the cocoon tightly in his arms and resolutely refused: "No!"
After saying that, he decisively jumped down from the tree.
Liu Fusi immediately flashed forward, blocking Shao Yanzhe's path, and reached out to snatch it.
Shao Yanzhe had anticipated this. When the jade hairpin pen in his hand met Shao Yanzhe's palm, the literary energy and resentment collided and reacted violently.
Using the momentum, he created some distance between himself and Liu Fusi, and quickly ran towards Xiao Liu.
He didn't know what the cocoon was, but Xiaoliu probably knew something about it.
After being knocked back a distance, Liu Fusi's face grew increasingly gloomy.
He directly controlled the black willow tree behind him, and countless willow branches bared their fangs and claws, reaching out to grab Shao Yanzhe. At the same time, he also controlled the willow branches on the green willow tree, trying to snatch the cocoon.
Shao Yanzhe was completely entangled by the willow branches, as if he were sinking into a swamp and being pulled back by the branches.
After seeing the green willow branches entwined on the green cocoon, his gaze fell on the black willow branches wrapped around him, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
Why did Liu Fusi use a green willow branch to snatch the cocoon?
Could it be that...
His eyes flickered slightly, and he raised the cocoon in his hand and hurled it at the black willow branch on his right.
Sure enough, the black willow branches on the right receded like a tide.
Shao Yanzhe's eyes lit up immediately. He stopped struggling and started randomly smashing the cocoon in his hand.
Liu Fusi was so angry that he gasped for breath before realizing that he was already dead and didn't need to breathe at all.
His sinister gaze swept over the scholars, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "If you snatch the cocoons from me, I will let you go!"
After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the willow branches, which resembled a black ocean, receded, leaving only Shao Yanzhe standing there holding a green cocoon.
Upon hearing Liu Fusi's words, the scholars hesitated for a moment, indicating that they were tempted.
Shao Yanzhe said loudly, "How can you guarantee that if you give them the cocoon, you will let them leave? Words are not enough. After all, as the saying goes, lies are full of empty promises. What if they do what you say, but you don't keep your promise in the end? Wouldn't that be a waste of your efforts?"
“That’s right! That’s right!” Xiaoliu nodded, her expression very serious.
Liu Fusi's eyes flickered slightly, and he raised his head slightly, saying, "I keep my word! You're not saying this to stop them, are you?"
"Of course not, Xiaoliu. As a demon, you must know how to make an oath."
"Of course I know!"
"Very well, Mr. Liu, do you dare to make a vow?"
Liu Fusi stared at Shao Yanzhe with a gloomy expression, without saying a word.
Shao Yanzhe shook his head regretfully: "It seems that Mr. Liu does not intend to keep his promise!"
Upon hearing this, those scholars who had wavered in their resolve lowered their heads in shame, inwardly despising themselves for having such thoughts.
It was Shao Yanzhe who saved him, but it was Liu Fusi who wanted to hurt him.
Why would he listen to Liu Fusi and hurt Shao Yanzhe?
He really deserves to die!
Liu Fusi instantly realized their thoughts. He sighed, "It's a pity we didn't fool them."
He was filled with resentment, but he finally adjusted his mindset when facing Shao Yanzhe, no longer treating him as a nobody, but as an opponent.
"Shao Yanzhe, give me the cocoon!" Xiao Liu suddenly spoke up.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shao Yanzhe threw the cocoon at him.
The green cocoon flew towards Xiao Liu. Liu Fusi was startled, but quickly tried to control the green willow tree, wanting to snatch the cocoon back with the willow branches.
Suddenly, a willow branch flashed past and pierced straight through the green cocoon.
At that moment, the air fell into a deathly silence.
Tick-tock! Tick-tock! Tick-tock!
The sound of liquid dripping broke the deathly silence in the air, bringing everyone back to their senses from shock and confusion.
what happened?
Liu Fusi stared blankly at the green cocoon nailed in mid-air, her head buzzing, her expression blank for a moment.
Then, an overwhelming anger engulfed him, and he felt as if the sky was about to collapse.
He couldn't understand why the scholar had discovered the cocoon he had carefully concealed with his resentment.
Why did all the willow branches around the cocoon disappear?
Even, why did Koyanagi kill his cocoon?
Didn't he know that the body inside the cocoon was the one he was meant to be reborn?
A jumble of conflicting thoughts fueled his anger.
Damn it!
"You all deserve to die!"
Liu Fusi's eyes, filled with rage, glared at Shao Yanzhe, at Xiao Liu, and at everyone present, her resentment boiling over.
Influenced by his emotions, the black willow tree connected to him also began to beat wildly.
"Come here, everyone!" Shao Yanzhe ran towards the big willow tree next to Xiao Liu and waved to Zhou Jiming and the others.
Zhou Jiming and the others huddled together, completely at a loss as to what to do when faced with Liu Fusi, who was beginning to go mad.
Upon hearing Shao Yanzhe's shout, Zhou Jiming subconsciously did as he was told.
When they realized that he had actually told them to hide behind that huge green willow tree, their eyes were full of hesitation. That was the true form of the willow tree demon. What if Liu Fusi controlled it? Wouldn't they be handing themselves over to their deaths?
That's what they thought, but they were running fast, and based on their trust in Shao Yanzhe, they ran towards him with great determination.
Seeing Zhou Jiming and the others' actions, the remaining scholars instantly lost their composure. They looked at Liu Fusi, who was now attacking wildly and erratically, in a panic, knowing that if they hid here, he would kill them sooner or later.
Bang!
Just as the scholars hesitated, the wooden house was shattered into pieces by countless willow branches. Startled, they immediately followed Zhou Jiming and the others and ran away.
If they don't run now, they'll really end up like the people in the wooden house!
"Xiao Liu, is there a problem with that cocoon?" Shao Yanzhe asked, standing beside Xiao Liu.
Xiao Liu tilted her head and glanced at him, her face full of innocence that didn't match her youthful appearance: "Fu Si wants to use the things inside that cocoon to revive, but I won't allow it. He said he would stay with me forever. If he were revived, he would definitely leave me to take the imperial examination. He can't go."
He finished speaking and repeated, "He can't go."
Shao Yanzhe nodded in agreement: "You're right! We absolutely cannot let Liu Fusi take the imperial examination."
When Xiaoliu saw that her words were appreciated, she immediately smiled, her eyes crinkling with happiness, making her look like a child.
Zhou Jiming and the others hiding behind them exchanged glances, their eyes filled with sympathy for Liu Fusi, while their lips involuntarily curled into a smile.
That's right!
We absolutely must not let Liu Fusi take the imperial examination!
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