Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 264 The Academy Mobilizes, With a Clear Conscience

The Confucian Academy and the Observatory.

In the past, few people came here except for students who were responsible for observing celestial phenomena, but today, the top of this observatory was full of people.

The one leading them was Jing Zhaoning.

She was still dressed in a moon-white scholar's robe, her temperament as pure and aloof as a lotus flower atop a snow-capped mountain, untouched by worldly dust.

But at this moment, her usually calm eyes were filled with solemnity and worry.

"Junior sister, shall we leave now?"

A deep voice sounded from behind her, and then Master Yan slowly walked to her side, looking at the ominous celestial phenomenon with a heavy expression on his face.

“Senior Brother.” Jing Zhaoning turned around and nodded slightly to Master Yan. “It is the duty of us Confucian scholars to establish a moral compass for the world and to secure a destiny for the people. Now, the people of Nanhe County are suffering and demons are running rampant. If we sit idly by, how can we have peace of mind?”

Her tone was calm, but the determination within it was as firm as ice, unbreakable.

Master Yan sighed: "I know I can't stop you. After all, the Gongyang School of Confucianism emphasizes great revenge and doing what is impossible. So if you back down now, your path will come to an end."

"However..." Master Yan paused, his expression becoming extremely serious. "This trip to Nanhe County is exceptionally dangerous, far beyond our imagination. The omen of certain death is not only for Chen Ye, but for everyone who sets foot on that land. Therefore, you must be careful on your journey."

"Don't worry, senior brother, Zhao Ning understands."

After speaking, Jing Zhaoning fell silent, gazing quietly into the distance. A surge of righteous energy coursed through her body, and a sharp sword intent soared into the sky, as if to cleave through the ominous black and red pillar of energy.

Behind them stood dozens of Confucian scholars and masters from various schools of thought within the academy.

Among them were the Confucianists of the Ritual School, dressed in old-fashioned dark Confucian robes, with serious expressions, and seemingly surrounded by countless rules and regulations; there were also the School of Mind, with free and easy expressions, elegant temperament, who emphasized that the mind is the principle and pursued inner enlightenment; and there were also the School of Symbolic Numerology, who specialized in the Book of Changes and were good at deducing heavenly secrets and predicting good and bad fortune...

In the past, these Confucian scholars from different schools of thought would often argue heatedly in the academy for their respective beliefs about the Great Way, with none of them willing to concede to the other.

But today, they all put aside their disagreements and gathered here together.

Because they all clearly sensed the overwhelming resentment emanating from Nanhe County, a resentment powerful enough to shake the very foundations of the nation.

In the face of matters of principle, in the face of a crisis concerning the survival of humanity, all prejudices seem so insignificant.

"Everyone."

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in an ancient sacrificial robe, slowly walked out. He was Xunzi, the leader of the Confucian school of thought that emphasized ritual and law.

Master Xun's expression was solemn, and his voice was as loud as a bell: "Demons and monsters are causing havoc in Nanhe County, poisoning the lives of the people. This is a matter that shakes the foundation of our Great Chen Kingdom and disrupts the order of our human race! We, as members of the Confucian school, eat the emperor's food and are supported by the people. How can we sit idly by and do nothing!"

"Master Xun is absolutely right!" Master Wang, a representative of the School of Mind who looked no more than middle-aged but whose eyes were wise and insightful, echoed loudly, "Preserve the principles of Heaven and extinguish human desires! Such demons of human desires should be exterminated!"

"good!"

"Be punished!"

In an instant, the crowd on the Star Gazing Platform was filled with excitement, and a powerful surge of righteous energy rose into the sky, converging together and temporarily diluting the sky above Yunzhou City, which was stained red by the resentment of Nanhe County.

Soon, after discussions among several prominent Confucian scholars, the academy's response plan was quickly devised.

"Pass on my command!" Master Xun's voice boomed like a bell, echoing throughout the entire Jixia Academy.

"All disciples of the Ritual and Law lineage, heed my command! Begin patrolling the entire territory of Yunzhou immediately, and cooperate with the Xuanjing Division and the government offices to maintain order in the city! With the rise of demons, there will inevitably be villains taking the opportunity to cause trouble. We must suppress them with swift and decisive measures, and we must not allow Yunzhou to fall into chaos!"

"Here!"

At a command, thousands of students dressed in uniform Confucian robes surged out of the Jixia Academy like a tide.

They split into groups of three and teams of five, quickly dispersing to various corners of Yunzhou City.

Their serious expressions and firm steps, along with the righteous aura they exuded, terrified the thugs and gangsters who were originally itching to cause trouble, instantly suppressing all their inappropriate thoughts.

In an instant, the security situation in the entire city of Yunzhou became clearer than ever before.

"Disciples of the Xiangshu School, listen to my command!" another master skilled in divination said, "Immediately activate the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array to monitor the flow of Qi in the world, and be sure to locate the main force of the demons as soon as possible, and deduce their subsequent movements!"

"Here!"

Deep within the academy, a massive Bagua altar was activated, and countless starlight descended from the sky, converging into the altar to form a huge star map composed of light and shadow.

"Master Wang, most of your disciples in the School of Mind are skilled in speech and negotiation. Therefore, you shall lead a group of people to the capital to meet the Empress, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and at the same time, you must ensure the safety of the Empress and the officials in the court, in case the demons are cornered and attempt to assassinate her!"

"It's my duty!" Master Wang cupped his hands to the crowd, then led dozens of elites of the School of Mind, transforming into streaks of light and heading straight for the capital.

"As for the rest of the people..."

Master Yan glanced at Jing Zhaoning beside him and said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister Jing will personally lead the team and set off for Nanhe County immediately!"

“Okay!” Jing Zhaoning replied crisply.

"Gentlemen, this calamity is an unprecedented upheaval for our Confucian school in a century! Our rise or fall hinges on this!" Master Yan surveyed the crowd, his expression extremely solemn. "Whether we die on the battlefield or perish far from home, we only ask... to have a clear conscience!"

"We have a clear conscience!" all the Confucian scholars present said in unison.

At this moment, there are no distinctions of schools of thought or sectarianism; there is only a group of scholars who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs.

"set off!"

At his command, Jing Zhaoning transformed into a dazzling white sword light, soaring into the sky like a shooting star that streaked across the heavens, instantly disappearing into the southeastern horizon.

Behind her, dozens of streaks of light of various colors followed closely, forming a wedge formation, and flew majestically toward Nanhe County.

This earth-shattering scene naturally fell into the eyes of countless people in Yunzhou City.

They had never seen such a spectacle before.

A continuous stream of light could be seen above the academy, with great scholars entering and exiting, creating a magnificent atmosphere.

Thousands of students patrolled the streets in an orderly fashion, amidst a somber atmosphere.

Everyone realized that something big was about to happen.

The situation in Nanhe County was collapsing like an avalanche, at a speed beyond anyone's imagination.

At first, the court only received reports about drought and famine.

But soon, with the intervention of the academy and news brought back by some officials and merchants who had escaped death in Nanhe County, a series of chilling events gradually surfaced.

Yong'an City was turned into a dead zone. Thousands of people were beheaded as sacrifices, and their heads were piled up into a mound of skulls. Then the entire city was burned to ashes by a great fire.

Along the official road, ghostly mists filled the air, and strange creatures roamed freely. Ordinary merchants who stepped onto the road were doomed to die.

When these intelligence reports flooded into the capital and landed on the desks of the Empress and her court officials, the entire court was in an uproar.

On the dragon throne, the Empress of the Great Chen Dynasty had a stern face, her phoenix eyes burning with unprecedented rage.

The emperor was angry and laid down millions of corpses.

The overwhelming imperial aura enveloped the entire Golden Palace as if it were a tangible force.

Your Highness, all the civil and military officials were silent as if they were cicadas in winter, each of them bowing their heads low, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, in particular, turned ashen-faced, their court robes soaked with cold sweat.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

In the dead silence, Grand Protector Lin Hai walked out shakily and knelt on the ground. "The matter of Nanhe County is the fault of Li Mu alone in deceiving Your Majesty. Moreover, it is the evil spirits of the Lihun Sect who act in a mysterious and unpredictable manner. This old minister begs Your Majesty to immediately dispatch a large army to Nanhe County to wipe out the evil spirits and save the people!"

His words were spoken with righteous indignation, as if he were truly considering the interests of the country and its people.

However, some astute officials detected a different meaning in his words.

Sure enough, as soon as Lin Hai finished speaking, an imperial censor immediately stepped forward and echoed, "Your Majesty, what Grand Protector Lin said is absolutely right! Now the city of Nanhe has become a ghost town. Chen Ye and his few hundred elite soldiers from the capital garrison are probably not enough to hold it together. Their chances of survival are slim!"

These words immediately created a subtle atmosphere in the court.

Some officials belonging to the old faction immediately understood and stepped forward to second the motion.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Inspector Chen's journey... alas!"

"I've heard that the sect leader of the Wrathful Soul Sect is an old demon who has lived for hundreds of years and has extraordinary abilities. How could Chen Ye, a mere youth, possibly defeat him?"

"For now, we should prioritize stability, wait for the army to assemble, and then make our move."

They all sighed with regret, their faces filled with heartache, but every word they uttered implied that Chen Ye was finished.

After all, these people would love for Chen Ye to die in Nanhe County.

Because Chen Ye was promoted by the Empress herself, he is a representative figure of the new elite faction.

His rise has seriously threatened the interests of the old guard.

Now that he is in dire straits, these people are naturally gloating.

Looking at the ugly faces of this group of people, Grand Tutor Wu Daofu, standing on the other side, sneered inwardly, but said nothing, because he knew that Her Majesty the Empress was someone who could not tolerate any dissent, and how could she not hear the ulterior motives of these people?

As expected, behind the beaded curtain, the Empress's brows gradually furrowed. Already in a bad mood because of her concern for Chen Ye, she almost lost her temper on the spot, but she managed to calm herself down and said in a deep voice, "I have ordered the dispatch of 100,000 Shence troops to Nanhe County immediately. You don't need to worry about this."

Upon hearing this, Lin Hai and the others were shocked. They had not expected the Empress to be so generous, sending an army of 100,000 right off the bat.

But the more this was the case, the happier Lin Hai became, because it proved that the situation in Nanhe County had deteriorated to an irreversible point, and Chen Ye was clearly doomed.

Thinking of this, he secretly glanced at Zhou Xuanqing beside him. The two exchanged a look, then lowered their heads knowingly and remained silent.

As for the other officials, they could all see that the Empress was truly enraged, so they naturally dared not say anything more.

The court session ended, and Wu Daofu returned to his residence. He then dismissed all the servants and sat alone in his study, sighing deeply.

Although the Empress has ordered the mobilization of a large army, it is too late to help in the present situation. It will take at least ten days for the Shence Army to travel from the capital to Nanhe County.

However, the situation in Nanhe County was changing daily, and Chen Ye was probably already deep in the ghost town of the county seat alone.

So, could he really hold out until reinforcements arrived? Wu Daofu had no idea.

"What a pity... what a real pity..."

Wu Daofu shook his head regretfully.

He really thought highly of Chen Ye, this young man.

After all, this young man has the means, the courage, and the wisdom far beyond his peers. Given time, he will surely become a pillar of the nation.

But now it is about to perish at the hands of demons.

There is no greater tragedy than the heavens being jealous of a talented person.

Meanwhile, in the embroidered pavilion in the backyard of the Wu residence.

Wu Mengwei was sitting in front of her dressing table, her pretty face, streaked with tears, reflected in the bronze mirror.

She had been crying for a full half hour, and now her beautiful eyes were swollen like peaches.

Because she had heard all those rumors circulating outside.

What happened to Nanhe County turning into a ghost town? What happened to the imperial envoy, whose fate is likely to be grim?

Every word was like a knife, stabbing deeply into her heart.

"Chen Lang...you absolutely can't be hurt." Wu Mengwei clutched her chest, her heart aching so much she could hardly breathe.

At the same time, Wu Mengwei also hated herself, hated herself for not being one of those great scholars in the academy who could fly and escape into the world, and for not being able to go to Chen Ye's side and fight alongside him.

The Chen family was also shrouded in pain and despair.

Tinglanxuan.

Chen Fangshi hadn't eaten for a whole day. He just sat there blankly in the chair, staring blankly ahead, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

His only and most prized son is now missing, his fate unknown.

This blow was far too great for Chen Fangshi, an elderly man in his fifties.

However, Xie Weining, as Chen Ye's legal wife, could not afford to collapse at this moment.

She endured the excruciating pain in her heart; although her pretty face was pale, her eyes were unusually firm.

She was seen calmly directing the servants in the mansion, managing the entire Chen family in an orderly manner.

"Cheer up, everyone!"

"Our husband is going to rid the country of a scourge! As his family, we cannot bring shame upon him here!"

"Stop crying! Anyone who dares to whine and disturb others will be punished according to family rules!"

She took overall control of the situation with an unprecedentedly strong stance.

Because she knew better than anyone that if she collapsed at this moment, the family would truly be finished.

Only when she returned to her bedroom late at night could Xie Weining shed all pretense, collapse onto the bed, bury her face in the blankets, and sob uncontrollably.

"My husband, you promised to protect me... What will I do if you don't come back...?"

Her cries were suppressed and desperate, filled with fear of the future.

The young Taoist nun Qingchen, who was standing beside her, also hugged her arm and cried with her. Although she did not understand those important court affairs, she knew that the man who had brought her out of the Jade Mud Temple and given her a home was now in danger.

Just as the master and servant were weeping bitterly, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.

A familiar figure hurried in.

It was Chen Ye's older sister, Chen Wan'er, who served as a secretary in the palace.

At this moment, Chen Wan'er's eyes were also red, obviously she had cried secretly, but her face had the same kind of tenacity as Xie Weining.

"Wei Ning".

She walked to the bedside and gently patted Xie Weining's back.

Xie Weining suddenly looked up, saw it was her, and cried even harder.

"elder sister……."

"Don't cry." Chen Wan'er helped her up and wiped away her tears with her sleeve. Her voice was hoarse but unusually calm. "Xiao Ye will be alright."

"His Majesty has already dispatched a large army, and the great scholars of the academy have also set off. All available forces in the land are rushing to Nanhe County. Ono is so smart, he will surely be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

She comforted Xie Weining again and again, as if she were comforting herself.

Chen Wan'er then went to see Chen Fangshi, who was on the verge of collapse, and used the same words to persuade her father.

She appeared so strong and calm, as if she had complete confidence in Chen Ye.

But in reality, her heart was also filled with immense anxiety and fear.

Just now, in the imperial study, she witnessed firsthand how Her Majesty the Empress, the ever-high and mighty monarch, revealed an extremely vulnerable and helpless side after dismissing her attendants.

"Wan'er, do you think... Chen Ye... can really create a miracle?"

The Empress's question, trembling slightly, still echoed in her ears.

Even His Majesty lacks confidence; her so-called firm belief is nothing but self-deception.

But she cannot fall.

For the sake of her family and her younger brother who lives far away in Nanhe County, she must be strong.

Meanwhile, news of the incident in Nanhe County spread like wildfire throughout Yunzhou City, instantly causing a huge uproar.

Xie Family Trading Company.

As the largest fabric merchant in Yunzhou City, this place used to be bustling with activity and people.

However, the atmosphere inside the business was somewhat oppressive today.

Although the men were still busy, they all had a worried look on their faces and occasionally whispered among themselves, discussing the rumors that were spreading outside.

In the back room of the trading company, in an elegant accounting office.

Bai Jie sat at the table, holding an account book in her hand, but her gaze was fixed blankly on the window, and she didn't turn a single page for a long time.

At this moment, her face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and her beautiful face was filled with despair.

Since being rescued from the clutches of that perverted Sun Demao by Chen Ye and arranged to work as the manager of the Xie Family Business, her life seems to have been revitalized.

She no longer had to fawn over others or endure those disgusting habits.

She can live with dignity and value through her own abilities.

And all of this was given to me by that man.

Chen Ye.

The man who descended like a god when she was at her most desperate, pulling her out of the mire.

Although Bai Jie knew that Chen Ye only saw her as a useful tool, that was enough for her.

Even if it was just a tool, it was the only light in her life.

But now, this light seems to be going out.

"The Imperial Envoy... is likely in grave danger..."

"Nanhe County...a ghost town on earth..."

The hushed whispers of the guys reached her ears intermittently.

She couldn't believe it and didn't want to believe it.

How could something happen to the man who was all-powerful in her eyes, who could ruin the reputation of a high-ranking official like the Censor-in-Chief with a few words?
Impossible... Absolutely impossible...

She kept telling herself this in her mind, but her body's reaction didn't lie.

Bai Jie felt her vision blurring, her chest tightening, and a wave of immense fear engulfing her.

pat.

The ledger slipped from her hand and fell to the ground with a soft thud.

"Shopkeeper? What's wrong?"

Hearing the commotion, a maidservant peeked over with concern.

"I...I'm fine..." Bai Jie came to her senses and forced a smile that looked worse than crying. She bent down to pick up the ledger, but her body swayed suddenly and she almost fell to the ground.

"Manager!" The maid was startled and rushed in to support her.

When touched, she felt ice-cold all over, without a trace of warmth, and her body was trembling slightly.

"You look terrible. Come on, let me help you to rest."

Bai Jie was helped by her maid and lay down on the bed in a daze. Her mind was in chaos, with only one thought echoing repeatedly.

If he dies... I won't live either!

(End of this chapter)