Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 827 - 74: Thoughts Cannot Be Burned

The story of Fusang people attempting to steal books but resorting to malicious arson instead has spread rapidly through the streets of Tianmen City.

However, those willing to believe this tale are mostly low-ranking peddlers and common folk.

To those with insight, the whole event is essentially as ridiculous as the Emperor wielding a golden hoe.

What treasures does Li Mingshen possess that would make the Fusang people so obsessed?

What level are they on? And what level are you on?

Not worth mentioning—just a laughable matter.

But with the intervention of the new army, this joke suddenly became far less amusing.

In this era, the concepts of Heaven, Earth, Monarch, Parent, and Teacher carry profound significance for the people.

Leaving aside feudal traditions, the underlying values are also the foundation for mutual trust.

How can you and I, strangers, quickly build trust? To put it plainly, it’s these five things—nation, homeland, leadership, kinship, and teacher-student relationships.

Li Mingshen is no ordinary teacher.

Currently, Governor Yuan holds immense power, the Northern Army is flourishing, and graduates from the Northern Officer Academy are found both among civilians and within the military ranks. These students are his connections and foundation.

Even if Professor Li wished to rebel and raise a flag, there would be people stepping forward to plead on his behalf. Besides, in this case, he’s the one being bullied—if his students don’t step up to resolve the trouble for their teacher, they might as well not bother trying to stand tall in the Jianghu World in the future.

Overnight, Li Mingshen’s home was reduced to ashes. By the next day, the Northern New Army marched into the city, heavily armed and imposing. Countless disciples arrived, carrying silver notes to visit him, surrounding the hotel where the old teacher was temporarily staying. Some even prepared a quiet courtyard home, respectfully inviting Professor Li to relocate.

Liu Maocai was dragged out of his bed and thrown into the prison at the Yamen, where military officers claiming to be senior brothers took turns whipping him with horsewhips. Ignoring everything else, they immediately convicted him of the crime of rebellion.

Young people often go through such a phase—a rebellious adolescence where hormones impact their thinking, leading them to believe they’re invincible after learning a few skills, assuming they’ve grown wings strong enough to fly on their own.

A rare few geniuses indeed manage to break free from these constraints and make a name for themselves.

But the majority are far from being geniuses—often failing to even approach that threshold.

Similarly, retaliation extended to Hashimoto Trading Company. The soldiers didn’t care about international reputations and found plenty of ways to target them. Within a few days, Hashimoto’s boss was at his wit’s end, publicly issuing a statement claiming their activities were legitimate business, currently struggling to gather funds, and adamantly denying any involvement in arson or book theft.

Still, the events have already occurred—who would believe it wasn’t them?

Li the professor was at home quietly studying, and out of nowhere, they barged in against all opposition, forcing their way into the back residence and spouting nonsense. If it wasn’t them causing trouble, could it have been Professor Li himself who set the fire?

The situation grew increasingly out of control, eventually forcing even the Fusang consulate to step in, inviting local officials for a meeting to clarify the misunderstanding.

As for Lord Lu of the Imperial Court procurement delegation, he had long since fled back to the Capital.

Even in the teahouses lining the streets, idle folks had taken to discussing the topic with great enthusiasm, sparking immense curiosity about Professor Li’s collection of books.

Some claimed Professor Li had fallen off a cliff and stumbled upon rare Martial Arts Secrets. Others said Professor Li had stolen Fusang’s most advanced battleship blueprints. Yet some believed Professor Li had encountered an Immortal, obtaining a Wordless Heavenly Scripture that listed the names of 108 heroes—if these 108 figures gathered, they could drive out foreign invaders and restore the land.

By comparison, rumors like "Professor Li traveling to the future and robbing a bookstore" garnered little attention. The populace, limited in their understanding, found it easier to believe narratives they could comprehend—namely the tales perpetuated by storytellers grinding away their tongues daily.

Everyone understands the 108 generals; who can grasp what traveling to the future means?

Whatever the case, the tale of Professor Li owning a Heavenly Scripture had spread far and wide.

One night, Professor Li’s student Zhou Rong received a visit from an unfamiliar guest.

Though the introducer was his senior, claiming to be there for academic discussion, Zhou Rong already had some suspicions about the visitor’s identity.

"Are you a remnant of Kang-Liang faction or a member of the Southern Rebel Party?"

"Haha, Mr. Zhou, you jest. I am merely a humble seeker of knowledge."

The Shopkeeper Nong, expertly disguised, maintained a calm facade and spoke sincerely: "I’ve heard that Professor Li’s manuscripts contain discussions of a future new world, and I have come seeking instruction."

"You’re too late—the books were burned by the Fusang people."

"What was burned were merely the words; thought cannot be destroyed."

Zhou Rong laughed heartily: "An excellent remark! With such understanding, you are indeed qualified to explore the new knowledge of the future. Please, follow me!"

At the doorstep, the equally disguised Huo Dali exchanged a silent glance with a young officer from the new army standing nearby.

The officer smiled and said, "Your disguise actually makes you less inconspicuous. It indicates that you have a legitimate identity here, hence the need for concealment. For someone of your robust physique, a thorough investigation will surely uncover the truth sooner or later."

Huo Dali remained silent.

The officer extended his hand and smiled: "My name is Meng Qing, currently serving as the captain of the artillery regiment in the new army."

Huo Dali shook hands with him but said nothing.

The Imperial Court maintains strict vigilance against revolutionaries—if caught, the punishment could range from beheading to extermination of entire families. So even though he could trust the man before him, Huo Dali remained unwilling to reveal his true identity readily.

However, in that brief handshake, Meng Qing already harbored some suspicions.

For truly astute individuals, even if you say nothing, they can discern a great deal about you.

"Judging by your build, you must be a martial artist who has trained extensively. If you are patriotic at heart, why not consider joining the military?"

"The Imperial Court has been corrupt at its core for ages—no matter how good Governor Yuan’s new army is, what’s the point?"

"And people like you, skulking in shadows, either wasting your prime years on idle chatter or tossing a few bombs to stir chaos—is that truly a path to saving the nation?"

The two stared at each other in silence as the tension gradually mounted.

Just then, Huo Dali’s ears twitched, and he suddenly turned, shouting loudly, "Who’s there?!"

Meng Qing immediately drew his pistol and followed the sound. A faint rustling echoed, as if someone was fleeing swiftly.

Huo Dali leapt forward nearly two meters, charging straight toward the source of the noise.

Meng Qing instinctively wanted to pursue but reconsidered, fearing it might be a diversion. He stood guard by the door, heightening his vigilance as he scouted his surroundings.

Silently, he cursed the absurdity of the times—a simple private discussion on academics now resembled a scheme to steal the birthday tribute, complete with shadowy figures lurking in the dark...