Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Chapter 280 Conspiracy

Not long after I returned to the courtyard, a visitor arrived.

It was Hua Yingting and Xu San'er.

The two arrived and immediately began to speak:

"Ah Yao, you've only been back at Zhaixing Tower for a few days, and rumors are already flying everywhere. Could it be that this was all premeditated?"

Meeting Hua Yingting's concerned gaze, Zhu Wuyao felt a warmth in his heart.

The reason she didn't ask the two for help was because of her bad reputation. If she got close to them, she was afraid she would be implicated and her character would be questioned.

Hua Yingting and Xu San'er, unlike the direct disciples, had a shallower foundation.

Having been away for many years, his return now is precisely the time to rebuild his past network of relationships.

Zhu Wuyao looked at Xu San'er and noticed that he was slightly uncomfortable.

Perhaps he originally intended to protect himself, but Hua Yingting came to him directly, and he felt embarrassed to refuse?

"sit down."

"Sister Zhu, what exactly happened to you? Could it be that Shen Xun, the one rumored to be, is secretly slandering you?"

Hua Ying sat down at the table, propping her chin up, and said after hearing Xu San'er's question:

"It's like they've been waiting for you to return, all along!"

Zhu Wuyao asked:

"What's being said outside right now?"

Inside the Star-Picking Tower, divine sense is somewhat suppressed, preventing one from being too unrestrained. As things stand, Zhu Wuyao has no control over the extent of the rumors circulating outside.

At Hua Yingting's signal, Xu San'er coughed twice.

He struck a pose and began to imitate—

"If it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be! What's the point of being envious of other people's things?"

"I knew Shen Xun was an exceptional person a long time ago. I wondered why he hadn't risen to prominence. Turns out, someone stole his luck!"

"She's definitely a petty thief. I wonder if the title 'Autumn Leaves Invite the Fallen' will still be applicable to her if Shen Xun's fortune is removed."

"Hey, wasn't it called 'Slaying the Mule to Advance'? Looks like that story was pretty credible back then, this is clearly 'Stealing Luck to Advance'..."

"Why can't we learn from Ming Chi in 'Outer Gate Servant'? Even without such luck in his destiny, he can still reach the mountain peak alone. That Zhu Wuyao really has no ambition whatsoever!"

"Crack——"

The cup in Zhu Wuyao's hand cracked with spiderweb-like veins.

"Hey, hey, Sister Zhu, don't be angry! I'm just imitating, just imitating!"

Besides Zhou Zhi, the rebellious son, Ming Chi, the second rebellious daughter, has appeared.

Zhu Wuyao felt like he had been hit by a boomerang.

Most of the rumors are true.

Although she was unaware of the intricacies behind the wooden plaque when she accepted it, as a beneficiary, she was indeed implicated.

but!

Shen Xun is really infuriating.

If it were a real, bloody battle, that would be one thing...

Hua Yingting sighed and said:

"They know they can't beat you, so they won't use their weaknesses to attack your strengths; therefore, they're using morality to pressure you."

Oh right, he probably can't beat me.

Taking this approach is the proper course of action.

Shen Xun wasn't stupid. If he couldn't win, he would naturally have to find another way. Since he was the beneficiary and had lost the moral high ground, and his weakness had been exploited, how could he possibly choose a more distant and less likely method?

Zhu Wuyao stared at the cracked cup in his hand.

If she moves even slightly, the already cracked porcelain cup will shatter completely.

Xu San'er felt a chill run down his spine as he looked into her eyes, as if she could burn a hole in the cup.

Zhu Wuyao is not a reckless or impulsive person.

In fact, the rumors didn't affect her much.

But if she doesn't fight back, wouldn't she seem too soft and easily bullied? Wouldn't she become like Shen Anzhi? Too many lice can bite a person to death.

When she is the stone slab paving in front of the Star-Picking Tower, everyone wants to step on her.

I hope you will let go of my hand.

The porcelain cup, riddled with cracks in his hand, shattered instantly.

She didn't look down, but asked:

"Who is there?"

"what?"

"Who are those people who are in charge? I'll go ask them about this tomorrow."

Xu San'er hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Sister Zhu...we just arrived today..."

Isn't this blatantly telling everyone at Zhaixinglou who snitched on them?

Hua Yingting's gaze shifted from the lamp to the shards of the porcelain cup, then back to Zhu Wuyao's eyes. She smiled and said:

"Ah Yao, isn't this a bit too impulsive? I'm afraid it might escalate the conflict."

This will certainly exacerbate the conflict.

Therefore, we need to first assess the capabilities of those individuals.

Besides Shen Xun, we need to pick another powerful person to deal with. Isn't it for the sake of the competition for direct disciples? Then we should make someone lose the right to compete.

As long as you manage to deal with the most formidable individuals off the field, even if rumors spread and cause the remaining people to turn their anger towards you, you can still win them over.

What's there to fear?

Rumors are not the problem; strength is.

"Don't worry, I'll go see Song Kezi tomorrow and make him take the blame."

Song Kezi is a bad person.

There's no moral burden in making him take the blame.

Xu San'er hesitated for a long time before saying:

"it is good!

"One of them is named Gong Changming, a cultivator at the early stage of the Golden Core realm—"

"Wait a minute," Zhu Wuyao asked.

"Early stage of golden elixir?"

Xu San'er nodded.

"Ahem... Hua Yingting is right. I was too impulsive. This will only exacerbate the conflict. Let's find another way!"

What else is there to do?

wrong.

"He's already at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, why doesn't he just compete directly? Why is he mixing in with them?"

Xu San'er said somewhat awkwardly:

"He's a fairly righteous person... he just doesn't like you."

……

……

For a moment, the three of them fell silent.

Hua Yingting broke the awkward atmosphere first, saying:

"How about we poison Shen Xun?"

Xu San'er continued, "Why don't we spread rumors about him too?"

What kind of villainous statement is this...?

"Don't you have any ambitions regarding the position of direct disciple?"

Hua Yingting smiled and shook her head, saying:

"I have too deep a connection with Moon Shadow Pavilion, and I will have to go back sooner or later."

Understood, messengers from Moon Shadow Pavilion, here for further study and research.

Xu San'er said, "We can't beat them."

Zhu Wuyao nodded in understanding; she figured she probably couldn't beat the one with the bow either.

How can one compete for the position of direct disciple then?

The image of Song Kezi reappeared in her mind's eye.

The confidence I had just lost has been rebuilt; perhaps this position requires more than just cultivation level.

Zhu Wuyao turned to look at Hua Yingting and asked:

"I guess I really took advantage of his luck. You've read all the books in the world, is there any way to return this thing?"

Hua Yingting gently shook her head and sighed:

"Stealing fortune is no easy task. Not only do you need to know someone's birth date and time, but you also need to go to great lengths. Even someone like Master Fang would have to put in some effort."

"But Shen Xun was a beggar before, and he himself didn't even know when he was born."

"If it wasn't stolen, why talk about returning it?"

"Therefore, this rumor is simply too absurd."

It's just an opportunity to attack.

We'll take down as many as we can.

Zhu Wuyao nodded thoughtfully.