Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Looking at the upright and exceptionally beautiful Jian Yiqiu, then at her own disfigured, rotting face, the girl most severely afflicted was emotionally charged, itching to scratch and mar Jian Yiqiu's face.

Several adults struggled to restrain the weak-looking girl.

Jian Yiqiu watched her actions with a cold, satisfied expression.

A teacher familiar with Jian Yiqiu was in disbelief, "Jian Yiqiu, in the eyes of the teachers, you have always been a good student with excellent grades. How could you do something like this!"

"You only know about my good grades?" Jian Yiqiu suddenly looked up, her eyes rimmed red, "Haven't you heard anything else?"

The teachers were stunned.

In C City University, who didn't know Jian Yiqiu, and who hadn't heard a bit of gossip about her... Even among the teachers, legends about her circulated.

Seeing Jian Yiqiu diligently studying and taking notes in class, one couldn't help but think: she doesn't seem like the person rumored to be.

But after that thought, another follows: Appearances can be deceiving; who knows what she's like behind closed doors?

"I've explained countless times. I said I've never had a boyfriend, never accepted gifts from anyone." Jian Yiqiu's voice choked up, "I live in the university I longed for, but it feels like a deserted island. And those rumors about a sugar daddy are utterly baseless."

"Does anyone believe me?"

Just because of her excessively beautiful face, no matter how much she explained, no one believed she hadn't dated. Her explanations only made people more convinced she was a liar.

Pretending to be innocent, a deceitful woman, full of lies, arrogant, selfish... In this artificial isolation, no one listened to her. They judged her based on unfounded speculations.

If she weren't so resolute, she might have broken down long ago, not making it this far.

Maybe then, she would have become the person rumored to be, only to be dismissively labeled as 'just as expected.'

Hearing Jian Yiqiu's sobbing plea, the person in charge opened his mouth but said weakly, "You could have sought help from the teachers, there was no need for such extreme actions."

Seek help from the teachers? Jian Yiqiu laughed as if she heard a joke, wiping her tears, "Recently, I was confirmed for postgraduate recommendation."

Everyone was a bit lost, not understanding why she brought this up suddenly.

"Someone anonymously reported me, alleging my personal life was in disarray, morally corrupt, and I shouldn't be recommended. They even claimed I had an improper relationship with a teacher to secure my recommendation." This was the last straw for her. Now, speaking of it, Jian Yiqiu was surprised to find herself calm, without a ripple of emotion, "My recommendation was revoked."

The teachers fell silent.

"You're nothing but a flirtatious woman, pretending to be wronged. Who would believe your act of innocence!" A hoarse voice broke the silence.

Jian Yiqiu looked at the girl with a rotting mouth, and suddenly laughed, "Go on, keep cursing. The more you do, the happier I am."

This remark stunned the girls who disliked her: "Are you crazy? You must be insane."

"In this school, is there really anyone who has never talked about me? Even if they haven't discussed me, they would gossip about others." Jian Yiqiu withdrew her gaze, "I just made them pay for their actions."

The girl glared at Jian Yiqiu viciously, "What exactly did you do to us!"

Jian Yiqiu smiled radiantly, remaining silent.

"It's a Karma of Speech talisman," Gu Dongting explained slowly, "Malicious words and slander, evil speech, that's the karma of speech."

Jian Yiqiu's pupils shrank as she looked at Gu Dongting.

He continued, "The talisman amplifies the karma of evil speech, causing the retribution to return to the speaker manifold."

If the usual retribution for evil speech is like being bitten by an ant, the Karma of Speech talisman turns that ant into a giant one, biting its master ferociously.

"You people," Huang Mao sighed, shaking his head, "They say kind words keep one warm for three winters, while harsh words chill the heart in June. You recklessly slander others, thinking there are no consequences. In the end, you reap what you sow."

His words made most of the people present blush with shame and embarrassment.

"Then, Master, is there a way to resolve this?" The person in charge asked cautiously, carefully choosing his words.

"It's quite simple. Don't malign others, don't slander or curse, avoid swearing or using foul language. In a few days, things will naturally improve," Huang Mao stated plainly.

"That simple?" The person in charge was somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, that simple," Huang Mao nodded emphatically, "This thing isn't serious, just a small trick to teach people a lesson."

But then... everyone's gaze shifted to the several girls, their feelings complicated.

They had seen other victims of the talisman, with most cases not so severe, some even self-resolving. They had wondered why the same affliction varied so much in severity.

And with these girls, their severe condition was evident...

"Don't believe his nonsense!" One of the girls, either disbelieving or unwilling to believe, shouted hysterically, "This is the modern era, you're university teachers, how can you believe such deceiving tricks!"

Even at this point, she remained unrepentant, beyond help, Huang Mao shook his head.

The other girls afflicted by the Karma of Speech talisman watched their companion cursing, her lips visibly rotting as she spoke, feeling both disgusted and frightened.

Suddenly, one of the girls burst into tears, apologizing to Jian Yiqiu between sobs, "I'm sorry, Jian Yiqiu. I shouldn't have spoken ill of you behind your back, speculated that you're a bad person. I'm sorry..."

Before this, she had never considered how her casual words could harm others, nor did she imagine the severe price she would ultimately pay.

She wasn't close to Jian Yiqiu, but after hearing numerous rumors, she too became a part of the gossip, even embellishing it with her own baseless assumptions. Without any evidence, just speculation, she eagerly shared these tales with others.

"Look how pretty she is, how could she possibly not have a boyfriend..."

"So many boys chase her, and she hasn't accepted any of them. Maybe she thinks she's too good for them, only interested in rich and handsome guys..."

"Two guys fought over her, and she didn't even bother to look. So heartless..."

Words spoken out, passed through countless mouths, became completely distorted.

And she prided herself on just 'gossiping with friends,' never considering the harm her casual gossip could cause others.

Hearing the apology, Jian Yiqiu felt an unexpected surge of emotion, tears uncontrollably falling. She turned her head away, not letting others see her cry.

The other two girls, also with tears in their eyes, stepped forward to apologize to Jian Yiqiu.

"I'm sorry, Jian Yiqiu. I promise I'll never speak thoughtlessly again..."

"Sorry, Jian Yiqiu..."

Now, they truly regretted their actions and silently vowed never to judge others carelessly again, to stop spreading gossip under the guise of casual chat, never to harm others again.

Listening to their apologies, Jian Yiqiu's eyes brimmed with tears, and she firmly said, "I don't forgive you, never!"

She couldn't just forgive the immense harm they caused with a simple apology. Jian Yiqiu didn't see herself as a saint without principles or boundaries; she would never forgive those who hurt her.

The girls stood there, steeped in regret, crying with snot and tears, facing their victim, they finally understood remorse.

Only the most severely affected girl, neck stiffened, began, "Don't be scared by her, who knows..."

She hadn't finished her sentence when Gu Dongting interrupted her calmly, "Although it's just a small punitive measure, in severe cases, it can leave scars."

The girl, who initially wanted to retort, suddenly fell silent under Gu Dongting's cold gaze.

"Who gave you this talisman?" Gu Dongting asked Jian Yiqiu, turning to her after quieting the girl. Unveiling the mystical practitioner behind the scenes was his real goal.

Jian Yiqiu, however, had become tight-lipped, a stark contrast to her previous verbosity.

Huang Mao, trying to persuade her gently, said, "Girl, don't just see that person as a helper. Who knows what his intentions are? What if he means harm? Don't cover for him."

Jian Yiqiu, lips pursed, managed only, "He's a good person, he won't harm anyone."

"Good and bad aren't written on the face, don't be too subjective," Huang Mao continued to advise.

Seeing this, the person in charge also chimed in, "Jian Yiqiu, we understand your situation now. Rest assured, the school will definitely help you with this matter. But the mistake you made is not minor. If you tell us everything, we can consider it in our decision."

Jian Yiqiu remained silent.

The person in charge, growing stern, said, "Do you realize the magnitude of what you've caused? The school has been shut down. Not just the school, but the Education Bureau, the Center for Disease Control, and even the online public opinion... All these consequences, all because of you. Expulsion is the least of your worries; you could even face charges, which might mean years in prison!"

Jian Yiqiu's face paled, but she bit her teeth, "I did it all myself, it has nothing to do with others. If someone must be arrested, take only me."

Huang Mao couldn't help but laugh, "You're quite the loyal one, young lady."

Gu Dongting watched her quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Is it Shen Wang?"

Catching the fleeting change in Jian Yiqiu's expression, Gu Dongting came to a conclusion in his heart.

"Shen Wang?" Huang Mao stroked his chin, thinking, "I'm quite the social butterfly in C City's mystical circles, how come I've never heard of this person? Is he from the capital?"

Huang Mao couldn't believe that someone whose name Gu Dongting, a visitor from afar, could recall would be an ordinary person.

"A brief encounter," Gu Dongting stated.

Noticing that Gu Dongting knew Shen Wang, Jian Yiqiu's expression turned wary, "Are you going to catch him?"

·

Shen Wang opened his eyes to find himself covered in a thick layer of black muck, looking as if he had rolled in a mud pond, dirty and unkempt.

Li Pingping and others were squatting in front of him with shining eyes, and as soon as they saw him open his eyes, they bombarded him with questions.

"Bro Shen, what's that on you? How did all this stuff suddenly appear?"

"It doesn't smell or anything, just looks a bit unsightly."

"Is it some new kind of talisman or something? Like the Black Jade Ointment?"

Shen Wang sniffed himself and remarked, "You all have this stuff too."

The group looked puzzled, "Huh?"

Shen Wang smiled, "Rub a bit harder when you bathe, and you'll scrape off something similar from your skin. Can't use it as Black Jade Ointment, but maybe it could make a 'Staring Dead Fish Pill'."

The people who had been looking at him eagerly all stepped back in unison, covering their noses, "Bro Shen, aren't you a bit too unkempt? Why so much mud on you?"

"What do you know, this is marrow cleansing," Shen Wang stretched and yawned as he headed to the bathroom.

He had just internally examined himself, from his meridians to his dantian, from his purple mansion to his spiritual platform, all were spotlessly clean, free from any impurities and turbidity, emitting a soft and lustrous white light.

Even the turbidity in his bones and flesh had diminished to negligible levels.

Having spent a hefty sum, he finally completed his marrow cleansing and was ready to begin body cultivation. Shen Wang was in high spirits, his smile never fading.

Fresh out of the bath, Shen Wang felt refreshed and light on his feet.

Li Pingping, who had been reading, looked up at Shen Wang and was startled, "Bro Shen, have you been secretly using some skincare products without telling us?"

The former Shen Wang was also handsome, but today, he appeared even more radiant, full of vitality, his eyes clear and distinct, his skin a whole shade lighter and flawless, taut and elastic.

His facial features hadn't changed, but overall, he looked significantly more handsome.

Especially with an added mysterious aura about him that was hard to look away from.

"Skincare products you bought for me?" Shen Wang rolled his eyes, the mysterious aura instantly vanishing, "Can't you just admit with a clear conscience that I've matured into even more of a handsome man?"

Li Pingping: "...No need to be so narcissistic."

While he indeed looked more handsome, hearing it from his own mouth somehow diminished his charm.

"Greasy," Xu Cheng commented.

Wang Kai looked at Shen Wang awkwardly and finally, touching his own heart, said, "Although I've never seen a man more handsome than you, the moment you open your mouth, I forget you're good-looking."

Shen Wang: "..."

Is there really no one in the world who can see past my handsome exterior to the even more beautiful soul within?

Shen Wang gave up discussing looks with these straightforward guys and instead asked, "Has anything happened recently?"

Immersed in continuous cultivation day and night, Shen Wang hadn't even had time to follow up on his clients' after-sales service, a true lapse in his duties.

At the mention of this, Li Pingping put down his book, "I don't know what's going on, but there seems to be an outbreak of some oral disease in the school recently. Many people have been infected, and the school is now sealed off. We can't leave, and no one from outside can come in."

Wang Kai excitedly asked, "Bro Shen, could this be the work of a legendary plague ghost? You know, the kind that spread plagues in ancient times, causing epidemics wherever it went. Maybe it's entered our school now."

"Stop reading such bizarre books. How could there be such a thing as a plague ghost?" Shen Wang glanced at him, exasperated.

After selling a Karma of Speech talisman to Jian Yiqiu, she probably tried it out and came back the next day to buy several more. Shen Wang never expected her to go so far, involving the entire school.

Fortunately, the Karma of Speech talisman only lasted ten days. Shen Wang rubbed his temples, forgetting that in this non-cultivation world, even such a harmless little trick could cause panic.

"It's strange though, some people get the disease severely, while others are barely affected," Wang Kai pondered, touching his chin. He had a mouth ulcer a few days ago and thought it would worsen, but it healed the next day.

Nothing serious.

But a classmate got infected, and within two days, his mouth started to rot. He didn't even have time to ask for sick leave before being isolated in the building next door.

Li Pingping also sighed, feeling sorry, "That guy is actually nice, cheerful and sunny, and usually quite upright."

"You never know what's inside a person's heart, Li Pingping. Stay away from him," Shen Wang, who knew the reason for their sickness, knocked on his naive brother's head.

Rubbing his head, Li Pingping looked both wronged and curious, "Why? What are you mumbling about? Did you predict something again?"

"I predict..." Shen Wang's words trailed off with a cold laugh, ready to teach him a lesson.

Suddenly, the dormitory door was knocked on.

The person who walked in was Gu Dongting, someone Shen Wang didn't expect to see again so soon.

Following Gu Dongting, besides a few strangers, was Jian Yiqiu.

Seeing this scene, Shen Wang immediately knew trouble had surfaced and the mystical community had come to hold him accountable. He approached with a smile, "Mr. Gu, long time no see."

As he spoke, he reached out to shake Gu Dongting's hand.

Gu Dongting frowned slightly and avoided Shen Wang's overly enthusiastic gesture, "Not long, we just met a few days ago."

"Is that so." Unfazed by the rejection, Shen Wang kept his innocent demeanor, "Then Mr. Gu, what brings you here?"

"The Karma of Speech talisman you created has caused significant trouble recently," Gu Dongting said, unswayed by Shen Wang's facade, "I've come to investigate."

Shen Wang tried to brush it off with a laugh but, meeting Gu Dongting's clear and penetrating eyes, he couldn't continue his lie. He sighed in defeat and confessed.

"Yes, it was me. Can I get a lighter sentence if I confess?"

Gu Dongting had thought Shen Wang would try to bluff his way through but was surprised by the straightforward admission. After a pause, he said, "That depends on the circumstances."

Jian Yiqiu, already feeling guilty for inadvertently revealing Shen Wang's involvement, perked up and quickly interjected, "It was all to help me. I begged him for the talisman. He was just being kind..."

She then briefly recounted how she came to know Shen Wang, emphasizing that if it weren't for Shen Wang saving her from jumping off the building, she might have been dead.

Hearing about Shen Wang's unhesitating act of rescue, Gu Dongting's gaze shifted slightly, turning towards Shen Wang.

Feeling the stare, Shen Wang, puzzled, turned back and gave Gu Dongting a confident smile.

Gu Dongting remained expressionless and shifted his gaze away.

After Jian Yiqiu finished explaining, everyone present fell silent.

Everyone says that rumors can kill, but no one had experienced it firsthand. Now, witnessing Jian Yiqiu's story, they truly understood the meaning of that phrase.

As everyone reflected in silence, Shen Wang also fell into deep thought.

Through Jian Yiqiu's lens, he appeared upright, kind, and friendly, especially at the moment he jumped off the rooftop, almost like an angel radiating with holy light.

Shen Wang, pinching his chin, mused, "After such high praise, should I give her a discount when she buys from me next time?"

After Jian Yiqiu finished speaking, her eyes began to redden again. She gazed at the lost-in-thought Shen Wang and called out softly, "Brother Shen?"

"At most a 1% discount! No more!" Shen Wang blurted out.

Jian Yiqiu: "???"

Everyone else: "???"

Li Pingping immediately understood Shen Wang's thought process, covered his face, and felt too embarrassed to look.

"Ahem," Shen Wang straightened his sleeves, serious, "What I mean is, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. It was my duty, no need for thanks."

Li Pingping and others, who knew Shen Wang's true nature, exchanged glances, turned their backs pretending to be moved to tears, but secretly made goofy faces.

"Not bad," Gu Dongting nodded, his gaze on Shen Wang now contained a barely noticeable appreciation, "In rescuing others, hesitation is not an option."

Shen Wang smiled enigmatically, giving the impression of a profound sage at first glance.

"We will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly!" The person in charge, only aware of the rumors around Jian Yiqiu, had no idea she was the same girl who nearly jumped off a building a few days ago.

The thought that a promising student was almost driven to death by rumors in a university meant for learning infuriated him.

He had thought these young students, impulsive and hot-blooded, might commit minor faults, but never something as malicious as verbal bullying.

Shen Wang took a longer look at the responsible person, noticing his radiant aura, full forehead, and clear eyes despite his weary appearance – a man of integrity. He was sure to provide Jian Yiqiu with an answer.

Although it couldn't undo the harm, it might offer some solace.

Shen Wang glanced at Gu Dongting, catching a hint of approval in his eyes. Both momentarily startled, they politely averted their gaze.

Just then, a few more people walked in through the door.

The cramped dormitory became overly crowded. Shen Wang, irked by the influx, stepped back and accidentally bumped into someone, catching a whiff of a very faint, intriguing fragrance.

Sweet yet not sweet, alluring and captivating, it strangely felt familiar to him, yet he couldn't recall where he had encountered it before.

Lifting his head, Shen Wang found himself looking directly into Gu Dongting's eyes. He quickly squeezed to the side and apologized softly, "Sorry."

"Tang Jiu, what are you doing here?" the person in charge asked, also puzzled.

Tang Jiu smiled slightly, greeted the teachers courteously, and then announced, "I am here on behalf of the C City Mystical Association to apprehend Shen Wang, who has violated the rules of the mystical community."

His face was smiling, but when his gaze fixed on Shen Wang, his eyes revealed an excitement and greed, as if his wishes were about to be fulfilled.