Chapter 256: Returning to the Capital

When leaving Wenyuan Academy, Lu Fang immediately found He Zixuan and handed him the first two parts of the Elegant Literature Journey to the West.

“Only the first two parts?”

He Zixuan glanced casually at the manuscript in his hand, surprised—Lu Fang had written Elegant Literature at an astonishing pace before; this Journey to the West seemed different.

After so long, he’d only produced the first two parts.

Lu Fang smiled bitterly and shook his head. “Can’t be helped—thought and inspiration run out sometimes. I’ll write the Elegant Literature Journey to the West very, very slowly, but rest assured, the quality will be guaranteed.”

He Zixuan waved his hand quickly. “How could I ever doubt the Literary Crown Marquis’s Elegant Literature? It’s just that the previous omens of Journey to the West were enormous—the entire Zhou Dynasty waited. Now, after such a long wait, many are criticizing.”

“Saying the Literary Crown Marquis probably can’t finish it, or that the omens were too great for you to contain, that you’ve exhausted your talent and will ruin this Elegant Literature Journey to the West.”

Lu Fang, hearing this, was taken aback. “Journey to the West is just a title. If omens descended from heaven, how could anyone still worry I can’t contain it—or that I’ll ruin it with exhausted talent?”

He Zixuan lowered his voice. “Now that the Zhou Literary News is distributed across nineteen provinces, its influence is too vast. Someone may be deliberately spreading these rumors, and that’s why things have turned this way.”

“But the Literary Crown Marquis need not worry. Those who don’t believe in you are extremely few. Most still have full faith in you.”

“Once the first two parts of the Elegant Literature Journey to the West are published in the Zhou Literary News, it will immediately silence every critic and schemer.”

Lu Fang didn’t care much about being doubted—just as He Zixuan said, any criticism crumbles before true ability.

But there was one thing he cared deeply about.

“The schemer you mentioned—is it the Xiao family?”

Lu Fang cut straight to the point.

He Zixuan fell silent, offering no reply for a long while. Even without speaking, Lu Fang could guess—the schemer was surely the Xiao family. Aside from the demon and barbarian clans who wished him dead, the Xiao family was likely his greatest enemy.

Even now, as Literary Crown Marquis, his reputation in the Zhou Dynasty was at its peak.

But before the Martial Duke, the man merely slipped behind the scenes, and Lu Fang had no way to counter him.

Even if he had the strength now to obliterate the Martial Duke’s Xiao family,

the Son of Heaven would never allow such a thing. So Lu Fang could only remember it—for now, he’d settle accounts with the Xiao family later.

“Brother He, hurry and publish the first two parts of the Elegant Literature. Also, this book is vastly different from the previous type. If the Zhou Literary News receives any feedback across the nineteen provinces, send me a voice talisman immediately.”

Lu Fang said solemnly.

“I’ve noted it,” He Zixuan replied.

As Lu Fang turned to walk away, he suddenly stopped. “By the way, have the actors for the performance of Dream of the Red Chamber been chosen?”

He Zixuan smiled. “Almost all of them. Since word spread, many have vied for the chance. I’ve already selected several key roles—now I just need the Literary Crown Marquis to approve them.”

“They’re all at the mansion next to your Literary Crown Marquis residence. If you wish, you can go see them.”

“I’ll find a chance to visit,” Lu Fang hesitated, stammering for a long while before asking, “Has Li Yu returned to the capital?”

He Zixuan sighed softly. “No. Earlier, Lu Ling also asked me. I sent people to investigate—Li Yu’s cousin seems to have traveled alone toward the northern reaches of the Zhou Dynasty.”

“No one knows when she’ll end her travels or return to the capital, but it seems she won’t be back anytime soon.”

“I’m puzzled too—I can’t imagine what happened.”

“By all rights, if Li Yu’s cousin hadn’t been troubled by something, she wouldn’t have acted so impulsively—just said a few words and left to wander.”

“The northern reaches of the Zhou Dynasty?” Lu Fang murmured as he walked away.

He Zixuan stared, baffled. He had a feeling Li Yu’s cousin’s departure was tied to Lu Fang—but he couldn’t figure out why.

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t find an answer.

Could Li Yu’s cousin be jealous of the Literary Crown Marquis’s talent?

He pondered for a while, then gave up, shaking his head and turning his attention back to the first two parts of the Elegant Literature Journey to the West in his hands.

To be honest, he was deeply curious.

What kind of masterpiece could this Elegant Literature be—its mere title had summoned such celestial omens?

Especially since Lu Fang had just said this Journey to the West was unlike anything before.

After quickly reading through the two parts, He Zixuan became entranced, muttering to himself, then suddenly snapped back and cried out: “Brilliant!”

The next day, when the Zhou Literary News was released, all of the Zhou Dynasty erupted in a buying frenzy and heated discussion upon learning the Elegant Literature Journey to the West had begun serialization with its first two parts.

Topics like the Jade Emperor, the Thousand-Mile Eye, the Wind-Listening Ear, and the Naturally Spirit-Endowed Monkey sparked nationwide excitement.

In this fantasy Zhou Dynasty, such a genre was unprecedented—there had never been a Heaven Court or Underworld bureaucracy before.

The human race had always worshipped Heaven and Earth, and the great sages of history.

One could imagine how many were stunned by the setting of the Elegant Literature Journey to the West’s first two parts upon publication.

Moreover, the impact of the Elegant Literature Journey to the West far exceeded Lu Fang’s expectations—but he didn’t know it yet. After returning to his Literary Crown Marquis residence, he didn’t begin writing the next part.

Instead, he rested for two days and casually visited the nearby mansion to select actors for the Dream of the Red Chamber performance.

Compared to before, the pool of candidates was now much larger.

After all, this was the first time in the Zhou Dynasty that a classic literary work was being performed through Elegant Literature. Once the news spread, not only dancers from entertainment houses wanted to portray these iconic roles,

but also children of wealthy families and officials clamored to try.

Choosing the cast was easy—Lu Fang merely glanced once and settled on the core roles of Dream of the Red Chamber.

He also set the date: performances would begin during the New Year festivities.

“Brother, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

Lu Ling’s voice suddenly rang out in the study, pulling Lu Fang back from his reverie—he had been reading, but his thoughts had drifted to memories of Li Yu, leaving him momentarily frozen.

“Nothing. When did you arrive?” Lu Fang asked with a smile.