The so-called Tongwen Library was actually the foreign language academy of today.
In the first year of Tongzhi, 1862, the leader of the Qing court's Westernization Faction, Prince Gong Yixin, was deceived by the fact that there were no talents proficient in foreign languages when signing treaties and handling foreign affairs. In August of 1862, the first foreign language school in China was opened in Beijing — the Jingshi Tongwen Library.
Soon after, another leader of the Westernization Faction, Li Hongzhang, submitted a request to do the same in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Under such circumstances, the Guangzhou Tongwen Library was opened on the 30th of May in the third year of Tongzhi (1864). It had been open for more than thirty years.
However, today, this school that had been open for more than thirty years suffered a great calamity.
When Ye Xuan and the others arrived, they saw that the signboard of the Tongwen Library had been smashed to the ground and broken into several pieces. There were also countless footprints on it. The two doors had been kicked to the side and hung askew. The walls were densely covered with talismans that said "Supporting the Pure and Destroying the Seas". The smell of blood and gunpowder permeated the air.
Thirteenth Aunt was worried about the students. In a moment of desperation, she didn't care if there was any danger inside and quickly rushed in.
"Thirteenth Aunt, be careful!" Huang Fei-hung also rushed in when he saw Thirteenth Aunt rushing in anxiously.
As for Ye Xuan, he had already used his mental power to scan the situation inside. He knew that the people from the White Lotus Society had retreated, so he wasn't in a hurry and walked in unhurriedly with Liang Kuan.
As soon as they entered the Tongwen Library, a thick smell of blood assaulted their nostrils. The entire Tongwen Library had become a mess. Countless arrows were stuck in every inch of the Tongwen Library. Some teachers who didn't manage to escape in time were even shot into hedgehogs with arrows sticking out of their bodies.
Suddenly, Huang Fei-hung, who was observing the Tongwen Library, saw something on the beam. His expression changed. He quickly reached out to cover Thirteenth Aunt, who was also observing the Tongwen Library.
"What is it?" The Thirteenth Aunt was shocked by Huang Fei-hung's action, but she also knew that Huang Fei-hung must have seen something, so she asked.
"Human skin!" Liang Kuan's expression changed when he saw the bloody human skin hanging on the beam.
"Ah!" Hearing Liang Kuan's words, the Thirteenth Aunt cried out in shock, and her face instantly turned ghastly pale.
Ye Xuan looked at the human skin that was still dripping with blood on the beam in front of him. His expression turned extremely grim. These people from the White Lotus Society were simply too inhumane. It was not that Ye Xuan had never seen bad people before, but they were so evil. It was simply a heinous crime, and the heavens could not tolerate it.
After making a decision in his heart, Ye Xuan walked to the side. There was a high pile of tables and chairs. A few foreigners were lying on them with arrows all over their bodies. Fresh blood that had yet to dry was still dripping down. It was an extremely gruesome sight.
Ye Xuan waved his right sleeve, and an invisible force gushed out. The tall pile of tables and chairs fell down with a few clatters. The tables and chairs all fell down, revealing a dozen or so students hidden underneath.
These students were only around seven or eight years old. From the looks of it, they must have been hidden by the foreigners who had been pierced into the Tongwen Library when the people from the White Lotus Society rushed in. It was unknown what the foreigners had told them. These children did not cry, but their faces were pale from fear.
Looking at the innocent eyes of the dozen or so children squatting on the ground, then looking at the ground full of foreigners' corpses and the bloody human skin hanging on the beam, Ye Xuan could not help but feel that it was ironic. To think that the children of their country were actually these foreigners who were known as demons. Yet, the ones who were slaughtered were those who claimed to be immortals who would lead them to kill all the foreigners and live a peaceful life.
"It's those students. Luckily, they're hiding! " Hearing the commotion, the Thirteenth Aunt walked over. When she saw that the students hiding under the tables and chairs were all fine, she immediately heaved a sigh of relief and quickly walked over to comfort them.
Looking at the ground full of corpses and the dozen or so frightened students, Huang Fei-hung said angrily, "These people from the White Lotus Society are committing all sorts of atrocities. They have no regard for human life. Their crimes are simply heinous!"
Looking at the ground full of corpses and the dozen or so frightened students, Liang Kuan couldn't help but suggest, "Master, let's take the children and leave this place first. Who knows if the people from the White Lotus Society will return?"
Hearing Liang Kuan's words, Ye Xuan nodded in agreement. "That's right, Master. Let's leave this place first. There are so many dead people here. I'm afraid that the children will be frightened if they stay here."
"Alright, let's take them back to the Natural Residence first."
Huang Fei-hung nodded. He also felt that this place was not very safe. If the people from the White Lotus Society returned, they would not be able to protect so many children with just the few of them.
The few of them brought the dozen or so children back to the Natural Residence. Seeing that Ye Xuan and the rest had brought so many children from the Tong Wen Guan to the Natural Residence, the entire place immediately became lively. The citizens all gathered around to watch the show.
At this moment, Boss Mag of the Natural Residence, who had gone to the back to settle the accounts, received a message from the waiter. He quickly came out, and when he saw so many students from the Tong Wen Guan suddenly appearing in his shop, he immediately ran to Huang Fei-hung in a panic, and said, "Master Huang, Master Huang, why haven't you left yet? Why did you bring so many children back again? "
"Boss Mag, they are students from the Tong Wen Guan. They want to borrow your shop to hide for a while," Huang Fei-hung said apologetically when he saw the panicked Boss Mag.
"Master Huang, I can't take them in. If the White Lotus Society comes here to cast a spell, then I will be in trouble. " Boss Mag's face turned as pale as a sheet when he heard that Huang Fei-hung actually wanted to place these children here. "I don't know these children, and they even study English. Why don't you go to the government office to find a place to hide?"
"Just treat it as a favor, Boss Mag!" Huang Fei-hung said again.
Hearing that Huang Fei-hung still wanted to stay, Boss Mag was so scared that his heart almost stopped. His legs turned to jelly, and he directly knelt down in front of Huang Fei-hung. With a bitter face, he said, "Master Huang, my martial arts are not as good as yours. Please let me go. My whole family relies on this Natural Residence. If the White Lotus Society burns it, I …"
"Boss Mag!" Just when Boss Mag was getting more and more agitated, Ye Xuan suddenly interrupted him. Then, he took out a silver ingot worth 50 taels and slammed it on the table. "I'll borrow your shop to hide for a few days. If the people from the White Lotus Society come, I will help you get rid of them."
"Wow!" Seeing that silver ingot that was the size of a baby's fist, the onlookers were in an uproar. Some of them were breathing rapidly, and their eyes were shining with greed.
Boss Mag also had a greedy look in his eyes when he saw the silver ingot on the table. However, after hesitating for a while, he still shook his head, and said, "Sir, it's not about money …"
Bam! Another loud thud sounded. Before Boss Mag could finish his sentence, Ye Xuan took out another silver ingot that was the size of an adult's fist and slammed it on the table. This made Boss Mag swallow what he was about to say.
It was not about money. The problem was that he had no money!
— —
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