Chapter 571: "A Killer Youth (3)"
"Such weaklings! Just too weak!" The youth stepped a foot on the low railing on one side of his private room said as he shook his head, looking down at the bodies lying around the steps. The scene of all those bodies with their heads all split open made for a truly grisly sight. The auctioneer who had been standing tall and straight on the stage had suddenly lost all the strength in his legs and crashed sitting onto the ground, his whole body trembling as he stared at the unusually vicious and cruel youth above.
The youth was extremely good looking, but he was no different from a devil!
He saw the crowd disperse and the place grew quiet. The attractive looking youth sneered with contempt and suddenly, his eyes fell onto the private room opposite his and his gaze caught onto Jun Wu Xie's.
Blood was still streaked on the youth's attractive face. When his eyes met those of Jun Wu Xie's, he froze a moment.
In the clear and cold eyes, he did not see a trace of fear, nor was there any panic, but just a calm and placid chill.
The lips on the attractive youth curled up slightly, and mouthed his words silently saying:
'Stare at me more and I will kill you.'
Jun Wu Xie raised an eyebrow.
The attractive youth seemed to find it interesting and he leaned his body forward, seemingly as though he was about to leap over to them.
Qiao Chu and the others immediately moved to stand before Jun Wu Xie. The murderous aura the attractive youth gave out made all the companions raise their guard.
The interest in the attractive youth's eyes suddenly grew more intense, and he was just about to lunge when the other three men who had been sitting silently in their private room without saying a single word, suddenly stood up. One of the men reached his hand out and held back the attractive youth by his shoulder, which was almost trembling with eagerness.
"Gu Ying, enough." The man said coldly.
The smile on the attractive youth's face turned into an expression of impatience and he was silent a moment before he took a step back. But his eyes did not leave Jun Wu Xie a moment and he mouthed out words silently once more to say:
'You have beautiful eyes. I wish to dig them out.'
Qiao Chu and his companions who were standing between them could read the attractive youth's lips and their faces contorted with murderous rage.
Nevertheless, the youth was completely not interested in Qiao Chu and the others. He turned at looked at the helplessly terrified auctioneer still sitting on the stage and said: "Hey! Send the items over. Now."
Upon finishing his sentence, he flicked his hand and threw out a bunch of banknotes. The notes scattered down from the second floor and fluttered to the ground, getting stained red by the fresh red blood pooled across the floor.
The terrified auctioneer did not dare to hesitate another moment and hurriedly instructed the servants to send the Hibernation Elixirs up to the youth.
After receiving the Hibernation Elixirs, the youth strode slowly with the other three men as they proceeded to leave the auction house. Before he stepped out, he turned and gave Jun Wu Xie another malicious gaze, his mouth twisted in an evil smile.
"Damn him! Just who was that kid!?" Qiao Chu asked furiously after the youth had left.
If Jun Wu Xie had not secretly signalled for all of them to refrain from making any rash moves, all of the others would have charged over and destroyed that insufferable and condescending scumbag earlier.
"He's from the Middle Realm." Fan Zhuo said with a frown.
"What!?" Qiao Chu exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes wide.
Fan Zhuo's eyes were narrowed, as he delved deep in thought.
"Didn't you guys notice it earlier? When that youth was about to lunge earlier, he had emanated slight traces of purple spiritual power. I do not remember that there is anyone in the Lower Realm who was able to breakthrough to the purple spirit level in their teens."
Fan Zhuo's reminder suddenly made all of them realise the small detail that they all had overlooked earlier.
"People from the Middle Realm..... Why did they appear here?" Hua Yao's brow was deeply furrowed.
"People in the Middle Realm, are all purple spirits?" Jun Wu Xie asked suddenly.
She had noticed something queer about the youth earlier and what she had felt for him was a feeling similar to what Qiao Chu and the others gave her.
Chapter 572: "A Killer Youth (4)"
But Jun Wu Xie had the slight feeling that that youth was stronger than Qiao Chu and the others and that the other three men behind the youth were not weaker than the youth.
The sudden appearance of four powerful characters had forced her to practice a little more caution and to be careful in dealing with them.
Why had these people from the Middle Realm appeared here in the tiny Chan Lin Town for no good reason?
"You can't really call them purple spirits." Hua Yao explained, his face in a frown: "It's just that people from the Middle Realm possess a unique method that allows them to amplify their powers to a state where they are at a purple spirit level. But that method does not allow us to maintain in that state for long periods. As our spiritual powers increase and develop, that period allowed to us will also be extended, and gradually attain a true purple spirit."
The reason that the Middle Realm was mightier than the Lower Realm was because once their ring spirits awoke, they would already be able to employ the powers of a purple spirit.
The fact that four men from the Middle Realm had suddenly and mysteriously appeared forced Hua Yao and the other companions to be doubly cautious. In the Cloudy Peaks the previous time, they had encountered only two of them and that had nearly cost them their lives if not for Ye Sha's selfless sacrifice.
This time, there were four of them. Although they could not ascertain whether they were from any of the Twelve Palaces, they knew they could not afford to make a single wrong move.
He Chang Le had never in his dreams expected that the auction which had been at a new peak of fervor never seen before to suddenly end in such a way.
The auction could not continue and was stopped in the middle. He Chang Le's face was pale as he quickly got people to properly clean up the place and remove the bodies.
When Jun Wu Xie and her companions were leaving, He Chang Le had escorted them as he forcibly put up a false front of bravado, but it was not difficult to sense the despair he was in his heart that he was trying futilely to hide.
After such a bloody incident, he was not able to determine whether the auction by the Chan Lin Auction House this time was a success or a flop.
But after this auction, the youth and the other three men with him had suddenly seemed to have disappeared into thin air and they never appeared again ever since.
That night, Hua Yao disguised himself once again and made his way to the Chan Lin Auction House. He only received the sum of money for the successful auction of the elixirs and due to the interruption caused by the youth, which suddenly brought the auction to come to a sudden end in the middle. Although all the elixirs were auctioned off, a batch of spirit stones were left and they agreed to leave them there for the next auction.
When Hua Yao saw He Chang Le at the auction house, his face was still very pale. But he still did not forget to discuss about furthering their cooperation. He Chang Le fully waived off the commission for the items auctioned off this time and handed the full sum received for the elixirs to Hua Yao. He only asked for Hua Yao's continued support with his elixirs to forge a long term partnership and he promised to get Hua Yao a satisfactory price for all of them.
Hua Yao replied that he needed to go back and discuss it a little and will come back with a reply. He Chang Le did not push it further. The mess in today's auction had been a big headache for him and if he had initially intended to convince Hua Yao to continue to supply the Chan Lin Auction House with their elixirs to boost the fame and reputation of their auction house, he suddenly found himself reduced to being more anxious to salvage their reputation instead.....
Such a horrifying murder to have occurred in the midst of an auction, and more than ten men were killed. It was a big blow to the Chan Lin Auction House and he did not know if they would survive it.
If immediate measures were not taken to try to remedy the situation, the auction house might not be able to continue.
He Chang Le had to place his hope on the man who had brought them the unprecedented crowd with his elixirs.
Hua Yao relayed He Chang Le's interest in a cooperation to Jun Wu Xie and Jun Wu Xie immediately agreed without a moment's hesitation.
He Chang Le's thoughts coincidentally matched with hers.
She needed money, and He Chang Le needed to repair and reinstate the Chan Lin Auction House's reputation. They were just working together, to satisfy their own individual needs.
Chapter 573: "Murder of a Fellow Disciple (1)"
The Zephyr Academy's holiday went by in a flash. Jun Wu Xie and her companions were moving out to make their return trip to the academy.
The bustle in Chan Lin Town quietened down tremendously after the disciples of the Zephyr Academy all left, and the streets suddenly became bare and tranquil. But at the same time next month, all the hustle and bustle would return once again.
Qiao Chu and the others had reached the branch division first and Jun Wu Xie was just stepping into the Zephyr Academy's main branch with Fan Zhuo.
And when Jun Wu Xie took her first step into the Zephyr Academy, she was met with many stares filled with disdain and hatred directed at her.
Quite a number of disciples had remained back at the Academy over the holidays and they were seemingly giving out different vibes as compared to those who had gone to Chan Lin Town. Upon seeing Jun Wu Xie, these people had moved on from ignoring and disregarding her previously to staring at her with utter contempt and undisguised hatred now.
The unfriendly stares were so obvious that even the always calm and cool Jun Wu Xie felt the change in their eyes.
The air in the academy changed to become a little stifling with the return of Jun Wu Xie. Jun Wu Xie walked along with Fan Zhuo and all the other disciples they passed shot them with endless glares filled with thick enmity and disdain.
What had happened?
Jun Wu Xie felt that something must have happened in the few days that she had been away, or why had the glares from all the disciples directed at her become so filled with venom?
Fan Zhuo could feel the strange atmosphere within the academy as well. He pulled Jun Wu Xie along as he sped up, hurriedly wanting to return back to the sanctity of the little bamboo grove.
The two of them had just put their first foot into the little yard when Fan Jin, who had quickly received the news of their return, rushed over in a hurry.
"Big brother, did something happen in the academy?" Fan Zhuo's face was looking puzzled and confused. He could not help but have noticed all those stares directed at Jun Wu Xie.
Fan Jin was actually more anxious than Fan Zhuo was as he looked at the calm Jun Wu Xie, his forehead covered in a thin sheen of perspiration.
"In the few days that you guys were not here, somebody leaked out the news that Li Zi Mu's death was connected to you." Fan Jin's explanation had been extremely simple but in reality, the rumours being spread was a lot more malicious than that.
Somehow, somebody found out that halfway through the Spirit Hunt, Li Zi Mu had switched teams and transferred himself to Jun Wu Xie's team. And after that, Li Zi Mu's name had suddenly appeared in the namelist that recorded the names of the disciples who had lost their lives in the Spirit Hunt.
Having deaths occur during the various Spirit Hunts was actually seen to be normal and no one would really pay much attention to who had lost their lives.
But Li Zi Mu's identity was different from others. He was the only disciple who was accepted into the Spirit Healer faculty this year and had garnered a lot of attention from the other disciples. His death was hence known to many of the disciples and some jeered while others sympathised.
In the end, just as the tragedy that happened in the Spirit Hunt was about to become a faded memory, a startling piece of news suddenly spread throughout the academy!
Jun Wu Xie was directly linked to Li Zi Mu's death. Li Zi Mu had originally started the Spirit Hunt with another team when they entered the Battle Spirits Forest. They had encountered Jun Wu Xie and Fan Jin's team midway and it was said that Jun Wu Xie had suddenly extended an invitation to Li Zi Mu, to have Li Zi Mu join Fan Jin's team.
Li Zi Mu had found it hard to decline such generosity on Jun Wu Xie's part and had forced himself to accept it. And not long after he transferred into Jun Wu Xie's team, he had suddenly died under dubious circumstances in the Battle Spirits Forest.
The rumour, had contained largely the truth of the matter, except for one point.
And that was Jun Wu Xie had not invited Li Zi Mu, but it had been Li Zi Mu who had made the request to join her team.
But it was that very little twist, that made most of the other disciples come to such a wrongful conclusion.
Everything between Jun Wu Xie and Li Zi Mu had spread far and wide within the academy from before and all the disciples knew of the great enmity they held for each other.
Chapter 574: "Murder of a Fellow Disciple (2)"
During the Spirit Hunt, the complications that came with the believe that Jun Xie had invited Li Zi Mu to join his team made people think that Jun Xie's intentions were not as simple as it seemed.
And not long after Li Zi Mu had joined them, he had died in the Battle Spirits Forest. And among all the members in Jun Xie's team, only Li Zi Mu, who had joined the team halfway had died when even all the disciples from the branch division had come out unscathed. The unusual situation had made all the other disciples deeply suspicious.
Li Zi Mu must surely have been killed by Jun Xie!
Jun Xie had obviously intended to kill him right from the start!
Fan Jin looked anxiously at Jun Wu Xie. Those rumours had spread like wildfire across the plains throughout the academy and Jun Wu Xie had coincidentally not been in the academy. Fan Jin had tried his best to suppress those malicious rumours but he had failed miserably. The rumours had spread faster and more fiercely instead and everyone strongly believed that Jun Xie had killed Li Zi Mu due to jealousy and hatred.
The damage and repercussions from being rumoured to have killed a fellow disciple had huge implications just like when Lu Wei Jie had left, he had only accused Ning Xin of having plotted to kill a fellow disciple. Although she had not succeeded, but Ning Xin's reputation had been completely torn to pieces. And now that Jun Xie had been truly branded as a murderer who had undeniably killed his fellow disciple, coupled with the fact that Li Zi Mu had indeed died, the repercussions were a whole lot worse!
If a disciple had been perceived as despicable and lacked in morals, he would most definitely suffer certain setbacks. But if someone was discovered to harbour intentions to kill a fellow disciple, and the disciple had truly died, the gravity of the matter was on a completely different matter!
In recent days, there had been much talk going around that Jun Xie must be driven out of the Zephyr Academy and the whispers had already reached all the way up to Fan Qi's ears.
Jun Wu Xie listened in silence, and there wasn't a single trace of anxiety on her face.
"Little Xie, what should we do about this?" Fan Jin knew Jun Wu Xie would have her own ideas and he prayed that she would be able to turn things around.
Instead, Jun Wu Xie looked slowly at Fan Jin and replied in an unhurried tone: "What they are saying is right. I did kill him."
Although the rumour had been twisted and exaggerated, but in truth, it wasn't that fa from what really happened.
But the truth that had been successfully covered up had been manipulated by hidden hands and it had stirred up the whole academy by adding a little spice to the story to portray her as a despicable scoundrel who had harboured hatred when she had failed in the attempt to steal the position.
Although Jun Wu Xie had indeed killed Li Zi Mu, the real reason behind it was not as shameful as what was being said in those rumours.
Fan Jin found himself unable to find any words to say to Jun Wu Xie's reply.
Yes, Li Zi Mu was killed by Jun Wu Xie, but the real reason was not because she harboured hatred for him!
"But the truth is not like what everyone's saying, don't you want to explain yourself to them? The implications are too grave this time. Although my father had been able to suppress what is being said a little, but if this goes on....." Fan Jin scratched his head furiously in frustration. He could not understand how Jun Wu Xie could still be so calm.
Doesn't she care about her reputation at all?
All the disciples of the Zephyr Academy had esteemed backgrounds and were from significantly established families. If this rumour was leaked out and spread further, it would most definitely cause irrecoverable harm to her future prospects.
Fan Jin was feeling terribly anxious and worried but the victim herself in this whole episode was instead portraying absolute calm.
"If they want to blow it up further, let them. I had dared to do it, and I would naturally know how to handle it. But the time is still not ripe. I would like to see, who the hidden hands behind this rumours belong to." Jun Wu Xie's eyebrow raised slightly at the corner. She had never allowed herself to be affected by rumours.
After she had was reborn, while she was in the Imperial City of the Qi Kingdom, she had had her fair share of vicious rumours spread about her then.
Chapter 575: "Murder of a Fellow Disciple (3)"
But as of today, in the whole Kingdom of Qi, who would still say a single disparaging word about her?
The Young Miss that everyone once spat at for being overbearingly arrogant, was now the most revered and respected lady Confucius throughout the whole Qi Kingdom.
Retaliation, it did not matter how long it took, but to see if one could take down the enemy in one single shot.
Fan Jin opened his mouth, but could not utter a single word.
Fan Zhuo instead poured Fan Jin and Jun Wu Xie some tea while laughing and said gently with a smile on his lips: "Hasn't my elder brother learnt to believe in Little Xie's capabilities by now? He is not making a move now as he wants the matter to blow up further. And we will wait till the real culprit behind the scenes is revealed, before we deal the killing blow. Wouldn't that be more satisfying?"
Fan Jin smiled bitterly, and shook his head.
"It might be more satisfying. But when the rumours are being spread so widely, more and more of them will believe it them, and those disciples will....."
Fan Zhuo smiled gently and reassured his brother: "Don't worry. When Little Xie makes his move, the whole situation will be completely overturned."
Fan Jin sighed, feeling very helpless. With Jun Wu Xie and Fan Zhuo being so calm about it, his anxiety and worries were somehow placated.
"Did we receive any news from the Rui Lin Army?" Jun Wu Xie asked suddenly.
Fan Jin was surprised and took a moment before he replied.
"I heard, that they will arrive in another five days." Fan Jin said rubbing his temples as he was not sure if Long Qi would be satisfied with the way Zephyr Academy had handled the matter.
The corners of Jun Wu Xie's lips curled up slightly, and Fan Zhuo was surprised when he saw that slight smile on Jun Xie's face.
No doubt that face possessed rather delicate features and it belonged to a young youth. So why had that slightest of smiles suddenly made him feel as if it was getting hard to breathe?
"Five days. That will be enough." Jun Wu Xie lowered her eyes and looked at her own reflection in her teacup, and her eyes suddenly flashed with determination to succeed.
Fan Jin stayed a while longer before he left. And when he left, his face had still been deeply etched with worry.
Fan Zhuo stared after the departing figure of his anxious and worried brother and he could not help but smile.
"This brother of mine, has a rather innocent mentality. I believe Little Xie already has some idea who is the real culprit behind all this subterfuge." As he spoke, he rested his head on an upturned palm, his softly handsome face smiling gently as he stared knowingly at Jun Xie's tiny face.
Jun Wu Xie raised an eyebrow.
"Besides the idiot who is asking for death, who else could it be?"
To be able to stir up so many disciples within such a short period of time in the Zephyr Academy, and to be able to spread those malicious rumours so quickly, no one else was able to achieve those feats besides who she had in mind.
"She had initially picked on me before to use me against Fan Jin, but I can see now, that she has switched the target of her attacks to me instead." Jun Wu Xie said with a cold laugh as she swirled the white jade teacup in her hand. The tea rippled within the cup and a slight fragrance emanated from the cup.
Having failed at trying to win her favour and got rudely snubbed but she had still refused to give up. Should she be commended on her bravery or was she just unbelievably dense? She had been forced into a corner and had come up with such a clumsy retaliation.
"Haha, I think she is feeling cornered or she would never do something like this. She must be waiting for you to get overwhelmed when you get surrounded by enemies on all sides with no one to go to for help before she can appear before you to extend her hand to help pull you out of the quandary?" Fan Zhuo's smile grew wider on his face, as if amused by his on ponderings and laughed out loud.
Ning Xin's clumsy methods would only be able to pull wool over his naive elder brother's eyes. When employed before Jun Wu Xie, it was mere child's play and did not qualify to be deemed as a plot at all. Giving it the slightest thought and everything became clear as day to her.
"I would really like to see, how she would come asking to be humiliated." Jun Wu Xie replied, her eyes suddenly flashed with a chilling glint.
Chapter 576: "Murder of a Fellow Disciple (4)"
If Ning Xin did not overestimate her own abilities, that meant that Ning Xin had clearly underrated Jun Wu Xie.
Scheming against her? Ning Xin did not possess the brains for it.
"Five days later, I will make her realise what it really means to be unable to fend for yourself." Jun Wu Xie said as she put the white jade cup down upon the table gently.
If people come to her to seek death, she saw no reason to not oblige.
In the three days since Jun Wu Xie had returned to the Zephyr Academy, the rumours about her within the academy had not ceased. Some of the disciples had even come up to the doors at the little bamboo grove and threw stones within. The stones had all been aimed in the direction towards the room where Jun Wu Xie was staying at.
A few times, when Fan Jin had come to the little bamboo grove, he had caught those disciples who were up to mischief and given them a good telling off before chasing them away.
Even several of the teachers had joined in with barely veiled criticism. From that vein, the critics had all been teachers from the Beast Spirit faculty and it had stemmed from the teacher who had seen Jun Xie only once in class, Qian Yuan He.
It was said that a disciple had gone up to Qian Yuan He and asked his opinion of Jun Xie's character during this period.
Qian Yuan He had replied by criticising Jun Xie endlessly from head to toe without any mercy, and had even said that it was his biggest disgrace to have ever taught a disciple like that.
Qian Yuan He's reply had made those disciples who were already displeased with Jun Xie firmly believe the malicious rumours around to be the truth and the hatred and rage had exploded unrestrained.
And this time, when Fan Jin came to the little bamboo grove, he saw another group of disciples blocking the doors, and they were cursing and berating Jun Xie with unspeakable words and accusations, which incessantly pricked at his ears.
"Jun Xie, don't think that by hiding here, you will be able to escape your punishment! You murdered a fellow disciple because of your pettiness! Your incorrigible actions will surely get yourself killed one day! You will not come to a good end!"
"Useless trash like you should just get out of the Zephyr Academy! Having you within its walls is the greatest disgrace!"
"You shameless wretch! Why don't you just die....."
Fan Jin was just nearing the bamboo grove when he heard the curses clearly, and his face darkened immediately.
"All of you shut your mouths! Who gave you the right to come here and cause such a disturbance! ? Doesn't any of you know the academy's rules? Anyone that tresspasses into the bamboo grove would be immediately expelled! Don't you want to remain in the academy anymore! ?" Fan Jin's expression was immensely dark as he shouted angrily at the group of disciples.
After being yelled at by Fan Jin, the disciples quaked. Their legs had intended to escape but without exactly knowing why, they were struck with a sudden urge and those feet had taken a step forward instead and they stood up to Fan Jin in defiance.
"Senior Fan! We all respect you as you have always been impartial! So why are you still protecting Jun Xie! ? I'm sure you know about the incident the time when he had tried to steal from Li Zi Mu, but you have repeatedly shielded Jun Xie. This time, he had shown no restraint and had even laid his dirty hands on our fellow disciple and killed Li Zi Mu! How could you still continue to protect him! ? Are you really the same Senior Fan that we had held in such great esteem all this while? That scumbag is ruthless, disgraceful and despicable in his thoughts and deeds, and it is all because you have been shielding him all this time that he had gone from bad to worse! Senior Fan, for how long are you going to be further muddled? If you persist to be unable to distinguish between right and wrong, don't blame us if we start to lose our faith in you!" The lead youth told Fan Jin, his expression indignantly righteous.
If this was before, no one would ever doubt Fan Jin's upright and righteous character. But now, after the few rounds of rumours being spread, Fan Jin's position in the hearts of the other disciples had greatly diminished and his words no longer carried as much weight as before.
This was the first time that any of the disciples had rebuked Fan Jin in his face. Fan Jin's eyes widened, and his chest heaved as sudden rage filled him, leaving him greatly vexed.
Chapter 577: "Murder of a Fellow Disciple (5)"
Fan Jin felt that his mind was in a whirl, he really felt like telling these ignorant youths that they had been wrong right from the start. Right from the beginning of all this, Jun Wu Xie had been the real victim all this time!
The fact that Li Zi Mu had gained entry into the Spirit Healer faculty was because of Jun Wu Xie, and when he had attracted Gu Li Sheng's attention, it had been due to Jun Wu Xie as well.
If not for Jun Wu Xie, nobody in the Zephyr Academy would have paid Li Zi Mu any attention!
In reality, Li Zi Mu was the one who had usurped Jun Wu Xie's position and he had still blatantly gone around and used Jun Wu Xie's name to further elevate his own standing, completely shameless, without showing the slightest remorse. But the Zephyr Academy's disciples had still chosen to believe what they heard which infuriated Fan Jin endlessly.
"Leave! Get out of here now!" Fan Jin shouted in rage, his face flushed red. At that moment, even the usually patient Fan Jin was itching to murder.
The youths sulked and stared at Fan Jin with displeasure. They had wanted to continue to argue but when they saw Fan Jin visibly trembling with rage, they were taken aback and they silently gulped before they beat a hasty retreat.
After those youths had departed, another figure appeared out from the side, stepping out from behind the tall bamboo trees. The figure's shoulders were slumped and his face desolate.
"Elder Young Master....." Ah Jing stuttered timidly as he looked at Fan Jin, who was trembling with rage.
"Ah Jing?" Fan Jin said, his face in a deep frown. Ever since Fan Zhuo had driven Ah Jing away from here, he had not seen Ah Jing once.
Ah Jing was looking rather haggard and the eyes that were looking at Fan Jin were filled with grief.
"Elder Young Master..... Why do you make yourself suffer like this?"
"Ah Jing, what are you trying to say?" Fan Jin could feel a headache coming on.
Ah Jing took a deep breath and raised his head to look at Fan Jin.
"Elder Young Master, everyone can see that Jun Xie harbours evil intentions. Why are you still protecting him? He has already murdered Li Zi Mu! A despicable cad like that must be executed instead! You must not allow him to remain at the bamboo grove any longer. If he harms the Little Young Master, what are we then to do....."
"That's enough!" Fan Jin shouted loudly, interrupting Ah Jing before he could finish his sentence.
"Ah Jing, I will take it that you are just being loyal to Little Zhuo this time and not pursue the matter further. But if I hear anything like this from you again, I will not let you off so easily!" Fan Jin had really lost his temper this time. [What was wrong with everyone in the Zephyr Academy? Why would they pass a death sentence upon Jun Wu Xie based purely on unverified rumours?]
Among all of them, how many had actually interacted with Jun Wu Xie?
Less than a handful of them had even spoken with Jun Wu Xie personally but they had all been ready to brand her a vicious scourge and could not wait to rid themselves of him!
"Elder Young Master, please do not persist in being blinded....." Ah Jing persisted.
Fan Jin ran out of patience to continue listening to Ah Jing's nonsense. He grabbed Ah Jing by the back of his collar and threw him out of the bamboo grove.
Ah Jing landed hard on the ground and he stared blankly as he sat there. Disciples from all directions cast curious glances at Ah Jing as they passed.
As he stared at Fan Jin's disappearing back as he walked into the bamboo grove, Ah Jing's teary voice rang out loudly all of a sudden:
"Elder Young Master! The Little Young Master really reveres you as his elder brother! Why are you trying to harm him! ? Why did you bring Jun Xie, who is completely devoid of morals, to be so close to the Little Young Master! ? Elder Young Master! Is this how you are repaying the trust the Little Young Master places in you! ? And repaying the esteemed Headmaster for bringing you up till now! ?"
Ah Jing lost his mind. He sat upon the hard ground crying and wailing, and the words that came out from his mouth made all the passing disciples' eyes widen in shock.
That was Ah Jing! The trusted aide that had served Fan Zhuo closely ever since he was a little boy!
And the words that were coming out from Ah Jing's mouth today had been a shocking revelation, that had struck like a lightning bolt onto everyone within the Zephyr Academy.
Chapter 578: "Prep for Slap (1)"
The admonishment delivered in a voice filled with such anguish drove an undeniable thought into the minds of the masses that churned in an endless spiral.
Everyone knew that only Fan Zhuo was Fan Qi's biological son, while Fan Jin, although possessing great skills and had an upright character, was after all still just adopted, and was not of the same blood!
That difference in their relations made a malicious thought begin to worm into the minds of quite a number of the other disciples.
Jun Xie name had been despised and spat upon endlessly but Fan Jin had still persisted in defending him and had even brought him to stay within the bamboo grove that had been reserved for Fan Zhuo's recuperation. Could there be..... an unspeakable truth behind the reason for Fan Jin's actions?
In moments, that line of thought blossomed within the minds of the disciples of the Zephyr Academy and Fan Jin's stellar reputation took a beating like never before.
All of it, was unknown to Fan Jin. He had strode into the bamboo grove angrily but stopped in his tracks in the yard. He was worried that his furious expression might alarm Jun Wu Xie and Fan Zhuo and he stood there a long while before he decided to go in.
In the room, he found Fan Zhuo alone.
"Big Brother, you're here." Fan Zhuo greeted his brother jovially.
Fan Jin nodded and after making sure his emotions were composed, he asked: "Where is Little Xie?"
"Out." Fan Zhuo was carrying Lord Meh Meh in his arms and was smiling contentedly as he replied, his fingers running gently over Lord Meh Meh's soft little belly.
Lord Meh Meh sighed softly, as if reluctantly accepting Fan Zhuo's caress.
Fan Jin paused a moment.
"Out? When did she go out?" At a time like this, if she were to meet the disciples of the Zephyr Academy, things might turn out badly.
"From quite a while ago. Big Brother, don't worry. Sit down and have some tea to rest first." Fan Zhuo said, pushing a cup of tea before Fan Jin.
Fan Jin gritted his teeth. Since he did not know where Jun Wu Xie had gone to, he could only sit down to wait.
As Fan Jin was still feeling endlessly antsy at the bamboo grove, Jun Wu Xie was already grandly seated in Gu Li Sheng's office.
Jun Wu Xie carried the little black cat in her arms, her expression calm and composed as she looked at the smiling Gu Li Sheng.
"Jun Xie, what would be the reason for your visit today?" Gu Li Sheng was smiling widely as he looked at Jun Xie. Ever since Jun Wu Xie had shown her full grasp of the concepts involved in Spirit Healing, Gu Li Sheng found that he could never portray his dignified air of a teacher before the petite sized youth anymore.
Jun Wu Xie replied in an unhurried tone: "The improvements needed for the Spirit Healing Technique have been completed."
Gu Li Sheng's eyes widened, staring in pure disbelief at Jun Xie.
[How long has it only been? And Jun Xie had already gotten it all done.....]
Gu Li Sheng had thought that the process would have needed a long time and had never expected that Jun Xie would be able to complete it so quickly. In such a short time, and Jun Xie had finished it! ?
[Was this little lad even human?]
"Completed? Really?" Gu Li Sheng gulped loudly.
Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly.
Gu Li Sheng was so excited that his hand on the table started shaking.
"I'm now ready to return to the Spirit Healing Faculty." Jun Wu Xie added.
"Yes! Immediately! Whenever you want to!" Gu Li Sheng agreed without a moment's hesitation. When he had initially released Jun Xie from the Spirit Healer faculty, it was because he had been worried that people with ulterior motives would impede the little lad, and make attempts to disrupt the progress on the further development of the Spirit Healing Technique. But now that the Spirit Healer Technique is fully accomplished, Gu Li Sheng no longer had any misgivings.
He would have loved nothing more than to pin the Spirit Healer faculty's badge on Jun Xie right at that moment. Immediately. In that instant.
"Not like this." Jun Wu Xie raised her head slowly.
This time was nearing. Time to commence on her retaliation.
"What do you mean?" Gu Li Sheng suppressed the absolute joy in his heart and asked, not understanding what Jun Xie meant.
Chapter 579: "Prep for Slap (2)"
Jun Wu Xie replied: "After I left the Spirit Healer faculty, I was made to suffer countless curses and was widely discriminated against as I was misunderstood. So, if I am to return, I must be fully cleared of all that to have me come back properly and legitimately."
Gu Li Sheng paused, and the smile on his face faded. An expression of guilt and shame came over his face.
He was aware of what Jun Xie had been put through in the Zephyr Academy all this time. He had thought of asking Jun Xie to come back earlier, but as long as the Spirit Healing Technique was not completed, exposing Jun Xie's identity prematurely would only bring her more unnecessary trouble.
After all, the Spirit Healing Technique itself was greatly revered in the minds of the disciples and held in the highest of esteem. If he had suddenly announced that Jun Xie would be able to improve and further develop the Spirit Healing Technique, no matter whether he said it himself or not, it would not be so easily believed. It might not have reduced the curses and suspicions thrown at Jun Xie but even attract the unwanted attention of people who held interest in possessing the technique. These people would flock to Jun Xie in an endless line, attempting to win him over.
Worse, if anyone who held malicious intentions got to her, the results would be something he did not even want to think about.
The lure of the Spirit Healing Technique was really too great to the people and they could not afford to be careless.
With all the misgivings, and the fact that Jun Xie had not shown any signs that he intended to return to the Spirit Healer faculty, Gu Li Sheng had not taken any action.
But swirling within the academy, the accusations and criticisms against Jun Xie greatly pricked at him.
"Rest assured." Gu Li Sheng drew in a deep breath and stood up. "I will make sure you return back to the Spirit Healer faculty in grandeur. I will make sure that all the slander and defamations made against you will be completely erased. Just leave it to me. I will make sure that you will be satisfied."
Jun Wu Xie nodded to agree. Gu Li Sheng's words was exactly what she wanted to hear.
When Jun Wu Xie retaliates, she wasn't just seeking to salvage and rectify her name and reputation.
What she seeked, was to give the meddling fools big slaps, right before the eyes of all the disciples of the Zephyr Academy!
That would be more satisfying!
"Tomorrow. I will arranged it all tomorrow. Just rest assured and wait for it." Gu Li Sheng promised sternly.
Jun Wu Xie lowered her head in thought.
[Tomorrow?]
According to what Fan Jin said, the Rui Lin Army would arrive at the Zephyr Academy the day after. Tomorrow would be a good time, for her to string up all her plans.
A good show calls for consecutive stages for it to be varied and brilliantly presented, didn't it?
"Alright." Jun Wu Xie nodded again. Before she got up to leave, she put a scroll that she had prepared beforehand on Gu Li Sheng's table and left without turning her head back a single time.
Gu Li Sheng picked up the scroll and with just one look, his eyes widened and he suddenly could not breathe.
Every single beautiful and gracefully written character burned into his mind and his heartbeat quickened.
It was a method that would transform the Spirit Healing Technique and it was written in such a way that allowed him to fully comprehend its profound philosophy immediately!
"Jun Xie, you surprise me endlessly. Damn..... This little lad, is just..... absolutely amazing!" He perused the entire scroll in one sitting and Gu Li Sheng found himself sweating profusely. He laid back in his chair and tilted his head back, his mouth curled up in a wide smile filled with joy and gratitude.
[He has stumbled across a priceless one!]
After Jun Wu Xie left Gu Li Sheng's office, she walked straight out of the Spirit Healer faculty building. The few Spirit Healer faculty disciples saw Jun Xie appear and their eyes shot daggers at him, wishing so much that their stares would bore a few holes through his body.
Li Zi Mu had not been popular in the Spirit Healer faculty and it was due to Gu Li Sheng's obvious and blatant favouritism shown to him which had earned Li Zi Mu the jealousy and hatred from the other disciples in the Spirit Healer faculty. But that hatred and jealousy was still not enough to cause them to be completely unmoved by Li Zi Mu's death when faced with an external enemy who dared to cut down one of their own, and they would never easily forgiven.
Chapter 580: "Prep for Slap (3)"
Jun Wu Xie's expression was cold as she walked out from under the many gazes so filled with hatred and had not expected to bump in a "old familiar face" just as her front foot just stepped out of the Spirit Healer faculty.
"Little Xie! What a coincidence! I didn't think I'll see you here." Ning Xin had been patiently waiting before the gates into the Spirit Healer faculty for a long while. When she spotted Jun Xie, she put on her best smile and approached the lad. The smile was as sweet as the spring breeze and so gentle that no one would ever feel threatened by such a amicable display of friendship. Compared to the cold stares filled with hidden daggers behind them that she had been getting from everyone else these days, Ning Xin's demeanor inadvertently stood out, one of its own kind.
Jun Wu Xie's steps stopped as she looked at Ning Xin, whose smile almost reached her ears.
Ning Xin's face might be locked in a wide friendly smile, but her heart was chill, filled with disdain.
The moment that Jun Xie had stepped into the Spirit Healer faculty, Yin Yan had immediately run to Ning Xin to bring her the news, and Ning Xin had immediately hurried over and waited beside the gates.
After having been in the Zephyr Academy for so long, with the exception of the first day after he was admitted, Jun Xie had never shown his face at the Spirit Healer faculty anymore. But when she found out that Jun Xie had suddenly gone to the Spirit Healer faculty today, it had made Ning Xin secretly gladdened.
[The crime of murdering a fellow disciple was in no way petty and the Headmaster had been pressured from many sides to drive Jun Xie out of the Zephyr Academy. The little lad who had pretended to be calm about it all this while must be starting to panic.]
Having stirred up such a huge uproar, even the Fan Brothers would not be able to shield Jun Xie completely.
When she became aware that Jun Xie had gone to the Spirit Healer faculty bright and early in the morning, Ning Xin was mightily pleased.
Seeing the cold expression on Jun Xie's face, Ning Xin was nevertheless unaffected and continued to say smiling: "Little Xie, I've heard about all that is being said in the academy..... The matter..... has grown to become a little too big. I saw Big Brother Fan Jin going to Uncle Headmaster's office several times to plead for you, but....."
Ning Xin put on an expression of helplessness and sighed heavily.
"I don't think coming to Uncle Gu will help. Uncle Gu does not bother himself with such matters. To make matters worse, Li Zu Mu was a favoured disciple of Uncle Gu's, and Li Zi Mu's sudden death had greatly angered Uncle Gu. Uncle Gu has gotten people to investigate the matter thoroughly and it has caused these rumours to surface. And I think Uncle Gu must still be very angry about it."
Although Ning Xin only knew that Jun Xie had gone to see Gu Li Sheng, but she thought that was all she needed to know.
She knew that Gu Li Sheng had a gentle personality but was always fiercely protective of the disciples of the Spirit Healer faculty. Yin Yan had previously often told her of how much Gu Li Sheng had always shown Li Zi Mu extraordinary care and concern. And now that Li Zi Mu had died, and the matter was inexorably linked to Jun Xie, so it would be inconceivable that Gu Li Sheng would still be civil and extend his courtesy to Jun Xie, that would be unbelievable.
Confident that Jun Xie would not have received a single kind word from his meeting with Gu Li Sheng, Ning Xin's heart was suddenly feeling a lot lighter.
However, the expression on Jun Wu Xie's face remained stone cold, and her eyes expressionless with calm, as she looked at the pretentious Ning Xin.
Lying upon Jun Wu Xie's shoulders, the little black cat snorted in contempt.
[Is this little girl going by the name of Ning Xin, a complete idiot? She's so hopelessly dumb that she doesn't know how horrible a fate she will soon meet the day after.]
[Still prattling on the nonsense between Gu Li Sheng and his especially favoured disciple, Li Zi Mu, and the non existent investigation he ordered because of his rage.]
[All pure nonsense!]
[It had been with its Mistress all this while and it had witnessed every single thing.]
[Gu Li Sheng had not shown a single sliver of grief or sadness. From the beginning to the end, he had not even mentioned Li Zi Mu's name a single time!]
[All these upheaval, must have been the work of this dumb little girl!]
[With that complete lack of a brain, she is pitting herself against its Mistress?]
[What a "meownificant" joke!]
"Meow~"
[Mistress, let's not waste our breath on such dumb dumbs, or her low intelligence might become contagious.]