On the sect’s central plaza, a group of disciples surrounded the announcement board, discussing animatedly.
Since it cost one spirit stone to read the sect’s daily news, and although carrying a newspaper was more convenient, disciples on the path of cultivation often lacked spare spirit stones. While the plaza’s bulletin board was always crowded, the daily news was posted there for free. As a result, every day saw a large gathering of disciples who loved gossip but were too stingy to spend spirit stones on a newspaper.
When Xu Linxiu first arrived in this world, he too was reluctant to waste his spirit stones. But once he realized his father was the Grand Elder, he gradually became a bit freer with his spending. Still, he only dared to splurge on newspapers and some tea leaves.
“That Qin Feng… isn’t he the one who beat the senior sister yesterday?”
“Tsk tsk tsk… you really never know a person.”
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the freshly posted article at the top of the board.
[Last night, Qin Feng stopped a female disciple of the sect on the road, but thankfully was interrupted by Senior Brother Xu in time.
According to the Disciplinary Hall’s investigation, Qin Feng attempted to speak with the female disciple but received no response…
As a result, he followed and intercepted her, causing serious consequences.
The Disciplinary Hall has decided he is to reflect on his actions at the Disciplinary Cliff for one day. Let this serve as a warning to all!
Note: Since her entry into the sect, the female disciple has never spoken to anyone other than her master.]
“What kind of person does that? She ignores you so you follow her? Qin Feng’s a creep, isn’t he?” one disciple crossed his arms and sneered.
“That girl must have some kind of social anxiety. Seriously… she’s already withdrawn, and now she encounters someone like Qin Feng? How’s she supposed to ever open up to others?” a female disciple said angrily, clearly speaking up for Song Wanci.
Standing in the back of the crowd, Xu Linxiu listened to the crowd’s insults toward Qin Feng with satisfaction.
He’d arrived at the plaza early. As more and more people read the bulletin, he kept gaining fate points. As for Qin Feng? His reputation was plummeting, and his fate points were steadily declining.
However, Xu Linxiu’s own fortune was also dropping alongside it.
He sipped the tea in his hand, his gaze unreadable. But it was no big deal. Just a few fortune points, right?
[Then why are you crying, Host?]
“Who’s crying?” Xu Linxiu buried his face in his sleeve, his hand holding the teacup trembling slightly.
“Hey! Senior Brother Xu?” one of the disciples suddenly noticed him and called out in surprise.
“Ahem.” Xu Linxiu quickly straightened his posture and put on a gentle smile.
In an instant, the group of disciples swarmed around him excitedly.
“Senior Brother, what exactly happened with that creep Qin Feng last night?” a male disciple wearing earrings asked curiously.
“Isn’t it obvious? Senior Brother must’ve caught Qin Feng in the act and took him down effortlessly before dragging him to the Disciplinary Hall!” another added confidently.
Xu Linxiu smiled as he listened to them argue. Just as he cleared his throat to speak, an angry voice suddenly sounded from behind the crowd.
“You don’t know anything!”
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
A young girl in blue robes stood there, clearly furious at everyone slandering her Big Brother Qin Feng!
She was angry. Really angry. She was sure her Brother Qin wasn’t that kind of person.
“An Youxi? What are you even talking about all of a sudden?” a female disciple who seemed to know her asked.
“Are you saying we misunderstood Qin Feng?” someone else said mockingly.
“Yes!” An Youxi lifted her head firmly, her tone resolute.
Xu Linxiu watched with mild disinterest. Even without knowing the plot, he could guess what An Youxi and Qin Feng’s relationship was.
An Youxi… according to what he remembered, she was the definition of a pure and naïve girl.
Her life motto was simple: Brother Qin is everything. Whatever he does must be right. Anyone who opposes him must be wrong.
Heh… Xu Linxiu chuckled helplessly. It wasn’t like people like that didn’t exist in real life.
An Youxi and Qin Feng had entered the sect together. They’d grown up as childhood sweethearts. Her appearance today to defend Qin Feng was a deviation from the original plot.
After all, in the original novel, no one caught Qin Feng intercepting Song Wanci late at night.
“So? Then tell us what part we got wrong?”
“You guys…” An Youxi opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything. She didn’t know the details, but she believed her Brother Qin was being wronged!
“Can’t say, huh? Then can I assume you’re just covering for your hometown friend?” another female disciple who seemed aware of their relationship spoke bluntly.
“I’m not…” An Youxi lowered her head, flustered, hands fidgeting in front of her.
“Enough, there’s no point arguing with someone like her.” After a few more jabs, everyone turned away and ignored her.
Xu Linxiu didn’t bother interfering. After all, she was someone close to the child of destiny. It wouldn’t be long before Qin Feng made a move.
He was curious though—how would Qin Feng and the will of the Heavenly Dao turn this rotten reputation around?
Xu Linxiu smirked and strolled leisurely back toward his cave residence with his hands behind his back.
“If you’ve got a problem, come at me. What’s the point of bullying a little girl?” Qin Feng had suddenly appeared at An Youxi’s side, glaring angrily at the others.
Xu Linxiu stopped walking and turned back with interest.
“Yo, the main character’s finally here.”
“Hey, hey, let’s stop talking about that-what’s-his-name Feng. Look at him glaring like he wants to kill us… Sheesh, people might think we were the ones intercepting female disciples at night!”
Xu Linxiu couldn’t help but chuckle aloud at that.
These guys and their sharp tongues… they really warmed his heart.
[Ding! Detected damage to the child of destiny’s reputation. Fate points -130. Qin Feng’s remaining fate points: 9,840.]
Xu Linxiu nodded in satisfaction, then widened his eyes.
Wait, didn’t that mean he was about to lose another 130 fortune points?
Forget it, whatever…
He didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he looked up and continued watching.
“I’ll admit it if I did something. But what happened last night was a misunderstanding,” Qin Feng declared.
“Oh~ a misunderstanding, huh? What kind of misunderstanding makes the sect’s number one disciple intercept a girl late at night and not let her return to her cave residence?” a disciple said mockingly, covering his mouth with exaggerated sarcasm.