Chapter 79
Chapter 79
"Unfortunately, unlike myself, the Viscount of Nanshan's Estate is in a different position, isn't it? Having given up your fiefdom and military authority, you have little left. As you prepare for paths in both the military and civil service, you must form marital alliances with other families, which means you must be even more careful about your reputation. Sure, even if Zhu Wenhua burned the King's Royal Edict of New Governance today, the local officials would just turn a blind eye without even opening the case."
"But what will you do if I refuse to give up? If I report this to the Governor-General's office and then to the King, whose side do you think His Majesty will take? Wouldn't he have to issue a punishment, even if only for show? And what kind of punishment would that be? Perhaps Zhu Wenhua would be barred from ever taking the civil service examinations."
Shen Lang continued to spew a torrent of sharp words that felt like cold daggers piercing their flesh. Viscount Zhu Nanzheng frowned and asked in a cold voice.
"Shen Lang, are you determined not to give up? Surely you know that doing so will create a blood feud between us?"
Shen Lang replied calmly.
"That's right! I intend to create a blood feud with you, my lord. What are you going to do about it? Will you strike me here? Or perhaps kill me?"
Shen Lang's expression turned serious as he continued.
"Lord Zhu Nanzheng, from the moment you betrayed the old noble faction, we were destined to be enemies. There's no need for insincere words or actions. Besides, Zhu Wenhua has already wronged me, so becoming his sworn enemy is hardly anything new, is it?"
Viscount Zhu Nanzheng's right hand trembled slightly. He was struck by an intense urge to draw his sword and kill Shen Lang on the spot. But he couldn't entertain the thought of actually doing it. If his sword were to pierce Shen Lang's heart, the price for taking Shen Lang's life would be not only his own but also a great sacrifice from the entire viscount's estate. The Count of Xuanwu's Estate was terrifyingly ruthless when it came to their family and their honor. So, was he supposed to just let this bastard continue to threaten them?
"It doesn't matter if you don't agree. I'll go back and start writing the manuscript right now. Jin Mucong is an incredibly fast scribe; he can finish two volumes in five days. In three weeks at most, the story of the three men of the Viscount of Nanshan's Estate—father and sons—will be the talk of Tiannan Province, and eventually, your infamy will spread throughout the entire State of Yue. What kind of nickname do you think people will give you then, my lord? The viscount who slept with his daughter-in-law? Or should we call it the Estate of Debauchery instead of the Viscount of Nanshan's Estate?"
Shen Lang walked over to the guards and spoke to them.
"Let's go. I need to get back to writing! While I'm at it, I'll draft a formal complaint and go to the capital of Yue to report the Viscount of Nanshan's Estate."
As Shen Lang truly made to leave, Viscount Zhu Nanzheng's face turned as cold as ice.
*Shen Lang, you beast. Just you wait. No, you had better never give me an opening. Otherwise, I will flay you, pull out your tendons, and grind your bones to dust.*
"Wait. I agree."
Shen Lang turned his head and said.
"If you agree, then get on with it!"
"Father?"
Zhu Nanzheng shot his son a look filled with fury.
*I don't mind you using the family's power, but did you have to provoke a viper like him? If it weren't for you, would our Zhu Clan have suffered such humiliation today?*
Viscount Zhu Nanzheng raised his hand and slapped his son Zhu Wenhua's handsome face with all his might.
*Slap, slap, slap, slap.*
He slapped him again and again, alternating cheeks.
*My, my! Viscount Zhu Nanzheng is quite a thorough man. I asked for two slaps, but he's already past ten and shows no sign of stopping.*
Viscount Zhu Nanzheng slapped Zhu Wenhua until his handsome face was swollen like a pig's head and covered in blood.
It was brutal, utterly brutal!
Shen Lang closed his eyes, savoring the moment.
*How satisfying, how utterly satisfying! This is the sound of pride being shattered. And the best part is, I don't even have to lift a finger; my enemy is doing the work for me!*
Though he had only agreed to two slaps, Viscount Zhu Nanzheng delivered fifteen before he stopped. The viscount had imagined Zhu Wenhua was Shen Lang, and with each strike, the force behind his hand grew stronger. In the end, blood trickled from his son's mouth and nose, and his face was so swollen he resembled a pig's head. The City Lord of Yifang, who was standing nearby, watched the whole scene with his mouth agape. It looked painful just to watch.
Zhu Wenhua had never suffered such humiliation in his life. Being hit by his father wasn't humiliating in itself, but being struck while a crowd watched with wide eyes was. Moreover, Zhu Wenhua had always been an outstanding talent since childhood, fiercely competitive and possessed of immense pride. Thus, he was so enraged by the current situation that he felt his head might explode.
*The heavens are cruel!*
Viscount Zhu Nanzheng said calmly.
"Young Master Shen, are you satisfied now?"
"There is a second condition. Find all remaining copies of *Mandarin Duck Dream, Part Two*, and have Zhu Wenhua burn them himself."
*You wanted to burn all my books just now, didn't you, Zhu Wenhua? Now you get to burn your own. It must have felt great to burn someone else's book. I wonder how it feels to burn your own with your own hands?*
Zhu Wenhua cried out in a hoarse voice.
"No..."
He had written the book to gain fame and attract Zhang Chunhua's attention, but it was still a work born of his blood, sweat, and tears.
However, it was Zhu Wenhua's blood and sweat, not Zhu Nanzheng's. The viscount gave a calm command.
"Bring the books here."
"Yes, my lord!"
***
About two hours later, all the remaining copies of Zhu Wenhua's *Mandarin Duck Dream, Part Two*, over four thousand volumes in total, were brought over. Zhu Wenhua had consulted with Zheng Changnian and printed a total of six thousand copies. Since sales of the first part had been very high, they had prepared more copies of the second part in advance to surpass the first part's sales. Furthermore, they had intentionally sold only about five hundred copies today, leaving over five thousand remaining. Several thousand books were unloaded from the carts and piled up in the center of the open space like a small mountain.
"Zhu Wenhua, burn them yourself. Surely you don't expect me to light the fire for you?"
Zhu Wenhua wanted to draw his sword, rush at Shen Lang, and cleave his head open with all his might. Doing so would quell the fury burning in his heart, and the whole world would become quiet, more beautiful than ever before. But he couldn't. A nearby attendant lit a torch and handed it to Zhu Nanzheng, who then placed it in Zhu Wenhua's hand and said calmly.
"Your marriage to Lady Zhang Chunhua is all but decided, so there is no longer any need to write such trash."
*This isn't trash,* Zhu Wenhua screamed internally.
Zhu Nanzheng urged him on in an angry voice.
"Are you going to burn it, or shall I?"
Zhu Wenhua gritted his teeth so hard in anger that blood trickled from between his lips. No, his mouth was already bleeding from his father's slaps, even without him gritting his teeth. He stood before the pile of his own books, holding the torch. Just then, Shen Lang gestured.
"Deng Shan, help him out with some oil."
Deng Shan, the owner of Spring Vigor Bookstore, hesitated for a moment. He believed a man should know his limits.
But before Shen Lang could urge him again, he immediately brought a cask of oil and poured it over the five thousand-plus copies of Zhu Wenhua's book. For some reason, Deng Shan felt a sense of dread that if he defied Shen Lang's command, he might end up in a worse state than Zhu Wenhua.
"My apologies, Young Master Zhu."
Deng Shan apologized after pouring the oil. Zhu Wenhua's entire body trembled. The pain in his heart was so immense that he could no longer feel the pain on his face.
"Ah... Aaargh..."
He suddenly let out a loud scream and threw the torch onto the pile of books.
*Fwoosh!*
The oil-soaked books caught fire, and the flames instantly roared to life, soaring high into the sky. Watching this, Zheng Changnian, the owner of Jade Pavilion, was weeping tears of blood in his heart.
*That's all money! I regret it. Why did I listen to Zhu Wenhua back then? If I hadn't, our bookstore would have published *Boundless Wind and Moon* and made a fortune. I heard there will be five volumes in total. I've just made that lowly Deng Shan rich. I regret this so much!*
Zhu Wenhua shouted loudly.
"Is this what you wanted?!"
His face was contorted in agony as he stared at the raging flames before him, his body trembling uncontrollably. He knew what he had lost. He had lost countless readers, he had lost his followers, and he had lost his position as the young leader of Nanshan City. Moreover, he had lost his dignity. Everyone would remember how he had been mercilessly crushed like a pitiful insect by Shen Lang today.
They say that in moments of extreme pain, one feels nothing at all. With a heart full of unparalleled grief, Zhu Wenhua became numb. He swore an oath internally, screaming like a madman.
*From this day forward, as long as you live, Shen Lang, my hatred will never fade. If even the smallest opportunity arises, I will make you die a painful death, then tear your corpse to shreds to avenge this day.*
Shen Lang sighed.
"Without sound, even the best play is hard to watch. Young Master Zhu, would you care to shout once more?"
Finally, Zhu Wenhua, overcome with rage, screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Shen Lang, you and I cannot live under the same sky! This grudge will only end when one of us is dead!"
*That's more like it. Don't hold back, just scream. But why does that sound so familiar? Someone else shouted something similar not long ago. Who was it? Ah, where are they now?*
Shen Lang tapped his head but couldn't recall who it was. His memory was truly something else. To kill a man just a short while ago and completely erase him from memory. Tapping his head, Shen Lang started for home.
"Time to go home."
Just then, Viscount Zhu Nanzheng suddenly said to him.
"Young Master Shen, the sun is setting and the road is dark. Be careful on your way."
In response, Shen Lang announced to everyone.
"Did you all hear that? If anything happens to me on my way home, it was Viscount Zhu Nanzheng's doing."
Shen Lang was able to return to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate in peace. His wife, Jin Mulan, had personally come to escort him with a troop of cavalry. And for some unknown reason, Zhu Nanzheng also sent a dozen soldiers to protect him until he safely reached Xuanwu City.
*What a nice person.*
***
The next day in Nanshan City, sales of *Boundless Wind and Moon* continued to be explosive. This was because they had started limiting sales. Shen Lang's fame instantly spread throughout Nanshan City.
Furthermore, as word of the major incident between Zhu Wenhua and Shen Lang from the previous night spread, the women who had purchased Zhu Wenhua's *Mandarin Duck Dream* couldn't contain their anger and, one by one, sent their servants and maids to buy Shen Lang's *Boundless Wind and Moon*.
*Hmph! How dare he persecute our idol to such an extent? Let's see how well you write, Shen Lang. After I finish reading this, I'll curse you until you're black and blue.*
They began reading Shen Lang's book, fuming, which was akin to boarding a carriage that would transport them to a whole new world.
***
Two days later. Several dozen of Deng Shan's clerks, carrying over three thousand copies of *Boundless Wind and Moon*, arrived in Shen Lang's home base, Xuanwu City. The literary bombshell that was Shen Lang's book was now set to explode in Xuanwu City. The time had come to shatter the reputations of Xu Guangyun and Xu Qianqian. The great fire would gradually grow too large to contain, and in the end, it would incinerate Xu Qianqian.
For the past two days, rumors about the book had been circulating endlessly in Xuanwu City, causing public opinion to boil over. All sorts of rumors spread throughout the city.
"Did you hear? They say that Zhu Wenhua, known as a great talent, read the book and felt so ashamed of his own writing that he burned all copies of *Mandarin Duck Dream*..."
"I heard that too! There were quite a few men in Nanshan City who... couldn't perform, but after reading the book, they suddenly became full of vigor and stood right up. I heard the three brothels in Nanshan City are so packed every day with customers lining up for the high-class courtesans that they're overflowing!"
"I heard that some of the most popular courtesans haven't been able to wear pants for days. And some young lady from a noble family was caught doing *that* with a servant in her house."
"They say the City Lord of Yifang in Nanshan City couldn't get it up anymore, but after reading that book, he was with three women in a row and didn't feel tired at all. They say it's all because of *Boundless Wind and Moon*, written by Shen Lang and Jin Mucong!"
These were exaggerated rumors spread by people Shen Lang had hired, but they became even more sensational when people who came from Nanshan City actually confirmed that such things had happened.
Shen Lang was already famous in Xuanwu City, but because all of Nanshan City was abuzz with his book, many people in Xuanwu City were eagerly awaiting its release. So, the moment Deng Shan set up a dozen stalls and arranged the books, a spectacle unfolded as people madly snatched them up.