Chapter 18: Rumors

December 21st, 2022

The goateed man’s expression was appalled and in despair, and he was hardly able to breathe as he looked at Fang Li. This person, this person, this person……

Someone who could make Yuyi-jun follow quietly beside him, who could say the words he’d said earlier—this person’s identity was on the tip of his tongue.

But the goateed man didn’t dare to say those two words, as if as soon as he spoke them aloud, there would be no turning back. His teeth were clenched so hard they made grinding sounds, his whole body shuddering.

The two fellow sect members behind him were dazed from looking at Xie Huai, only thinking that that person was truly too good-looking. Even the rumored Yuyi-jun probably wouldn’t look as good as him, right……? But how come Elder Sect Brother had suddenly stopped talking, and his face was ghastly pale, and he was even sweating?  What was wrong with Elder Sect Brother?

“Elder Sect Brother, Elder Sect Brother, are you okay?”

“These people are way too condescending. We definitely have to teach them a lesson!”

The goateed man was startled back to consciousness by those words and abruptly spoke in a shrill voice, “Shut up!”

His two fellow sect members halted, startled. They stood there at a loss.

Fang Li turned his head toward Wu Yimei and said, “Earlier, what did I say we would do with these kinds of people if we were at Hollow Ridge?”

Wu Yimei repeated serenely, “Cut off their tongues and throw them into the Fallen Star Sea to feed the fish.”

Fang Li seemed a little vexed. “This place is too far from Fallen Star Sea.”

Wu Yimei said respectfully, “That isn’t a problem. This subordinate can call someone right now to send them over.”

The goateed man finally collapsed, falling to his knees with a plop and desperately slapping himself. “Your Excellency the demon lord, spare me, spare me, Your Excellency, it’s all my fault for speaking nonsense, I deserve to die, I deserve death……”

The d-d-d-d-d-demon lord?

The goateed man’s two fellow sect members looked at Fang Li blankly, looking disoriented as if they were in a dream.

Fang Li took a step forward.

The goateed man’s eyes rolled back, and he was immediately terrified into fainting, the reek of urine coming from his lower body.

The fellow sect members behind him finally realized that something was wrong and turned to flee, but Wu Yimei struck out, and both of them immediately flopped to the ground, unconscious.

The alleyway resumed its peace.

Tsk, how boring.

Fang Li frowned disdainfully and was just about to cover his nose, but as soon as he lifted his hand, his wrist was caught by someone. Fang Li quickly turned his head and ended up meeting Xie Huai’s inky black eyes.

Xie Huai’s thin lips pursed faintly, and his expression was a bit complicated.

Actually, ever since he’d decided to enter Hollow Ridge alone, he’d known that the situation today would be inevitable. But as a cultivator pursuing the Dao, one should stay true to one’s heart. What need was there to mind these rumors and slander? So even if he heard those things, they were merely within his expectations and passed by his ears without leaving a trace. It was something that even he didn’t pay any mind to, but Fang Li…… actually paid it more mind than himself.

Had he purposefully baited these people just to let him vent some anger?

He really was a childish fellow……

Gossip was a formidable thing. How could it be a problem that could be solved through slaughter? Besides, he didn’t want Fang Li to kill for his sake.

Xie Huai’s apathetic gaze flitted over the three people on the ground without loathing or pity or even any emotion at all, as if looking at a lifeless object.

His entire life, he had eliminated demons to defend the Dao, cutting down injustice with his sword, but that didn’t mean that he wanted to go save every single person before his eyes, nor was every person worth his saving.

This person spoke indiscriminately and was petty and small-minded. He schemed unrighteously and bullied the weak and feared the strong. All of this was no more than a disaster he’d brought upon his own head, and even if the one he’d met today hadn’t been Fang Li, sooner or later he’d invite trouble upon himself.

Heaven had its laws, and humans had their fates. They could not be overturned by force.

But what about you? Do you really want to dirty your hands for no reason, just for people like this?

If these words were said aloud, probably anyone would find them absurd. A devil who had countless lives on his hands and saw the common folk as insects—killing should be as normal as breathing to him…… But Xie Huai only believed the things he’d seen with his own eyes. The person he’d seen at Hollow Ridge was reckless and arrogant, but he didn’t actually enjoy killing.

So there’s no need to do something you don’t want to do for my sake.

There’s no need…… It’s not worth it.

Xie Huai’s thin lips parted slightly, his voice low as he slowly spoke. “Enough.”

Fang Li startled a bit, then revealed an expression of epiphany. Xie Huai was afraid he was randomly going to off someone! Xie Huai was even willing to protect this kind of guy who insulted him behind his back…… One would expect no less from the protagonist shou whose heart was full of justice, who repaid evil with good, whose chest was filled with mercy, who rescued the dying and helped the injured, the pride of the righteous path!

But you’ve misunderstood, I wouldn’t go so far as to off someone for these trivial matters. Besides, are rumors and slander something that slaughter can resolve? If I had to off someone just for this, I’d probably have to off everyone in the world!

This person was just unlucky enough to stumble upon him, that was all. But today’s lesson was enough; these fellows for sure wouldn’t dare to speak nonsense again.

Actually, I just thought it smelled bad and wanted to cover my nose……

To prevent Xie Huai from misunderstanding, Fang Li complied with Xie Huai and lowered his hand, looking at him with an innocent face, as if saying, calm down, don’t worry, I’m not planning to off anyone!

That pair of smiling eyes sparkled like stars, gentle and sincere, making one’s heart suddenly skip a beat……

So it turned out he’d misunderstood. Xie Huai’s throat bobbed. He knew he shouldn’t have, but every single time he faced this person, he’d always lose his sense of proportion.

Xie Huai let go a little bit pitifully……

Just at that moment, he saw Fang Li turn his head and say to Wu Yumei, “Take off their clothes.”

Xie Huai, “……”

……………………………………

Half a shichen later, three men wearing gray and white robes stood in the alleyway.

Fang Li touched his face. Wu Yimei was really multitalented, and even his skills in transformation were first-rate. He really was essential for both the home and outdoors!

Wi Yimei had disguised himself as the goateed man, whereas he and Xie Huai had each transformed into the goateed man’s two fellow sect members. Right now, even if they were to return to that restaurant, no one would be able to tell that they were no longer the originals.

As for those three…… They’d long been stripped bare and thrown into a corner. Wu Yimei’s strike was enough for them to have a nice, long sleep for several days.

Fang Li looked at the wooden token hanging off his waist. The three words “Heavy Snow Sect” were carved into the small seal. He had never heard it before; there were hundreds and thousands of little sects like this that Yan Sui wouldn’t even give a second glance to before.

Wu Yimei tidied up his clothes and fished out a white invitation card with silver trim. The invitation was made of exquisite, satin-like paper, and the bottom right corner was printed with the half-moon symbol of Night Sky Palace. He respectfully passed the invitation to Fang Li.

Fang Li opened it to take a look. The invitation said that Night Sky Palace had an important issue to discuss and was inviting Mt. Luan’s Heavy Snow Sect to attend the forum. The time was set for precisely tonight.

The goateed man was named Qiu Tian, and he was Heavy Snow Sect’s deputy sect master. In response to the invitation, he had brought two disciples to attend the conference.

Moreover, looking at Xining county’s streets full of cultivators, Night Sky Palace evidently had invited more than just the Heavy Snow Sect.

Fang Li pinched the corner of the invitation, the corner of his mouth faintly rising. “Looks like we’ll have somewhere to rest our feet tonight, somewhere that doesn’t cost money.”

Starting from earlier, Xie Huai had resumed his silence and hadn’t said a word.

Just when Xie Huai had thought that Fang Li had set up those people for the sake of letting him vent his anger, Fang had ordered Wu Yimei to strip those three, then had disguised himself as a Heavy Snow Sect disciple and prepared to go to Night Sky Palace to scam their purses.

Fang Li obviously didn’t need this little bit of money, so could it be…… that Night Sky Palace was his goal?

But that also didn’t make any sense.

A mere Night Sky Palace could be trampled flat without a second thought. How was it worth having the mighty demon lord change his appearance to disguise himself to scout things out? Recalling back then, he’d brought his vast army to crush Cloudbank Keep. With how arrogant and egotistical he was, if he really wanted to do something, there was absolutely no need to go to this much trouble.

So, just what are you thinking……

When the three of them arrived at Night Sky Palace, it was already nighttime. Before the Night Sky Palace’s front gates, people collected in streams. The area was brightly lit, and Night Sky Palace disciples in white robes with silver trim stood in attendance at the gate doors, guiding the cultivators from the other sects inside.

Fang Li and Xie Huai trailed two steps back, letting Wu Yimei take the lead.

Wu Yimei took out the invitation. The Night Sky Palace disciple didn’t actually take it, but merely glanced at it before ordering someone to bring them inside.

The main hall of the Night Sky Palace was spacious and vast, enough to hold hundreds of people, and gold-plated pillars held up the palace roof. It looked like a very extravagant sect, but Fang Li had first experienced Cloudbank Keep’s ethereal otherworldliness, then the demonic palace at Hollow Ridge’s imposing solemnity. Seeing the Night Sky Palace after that, it only looked commonplace and ordinary, unendurably plain.

Around these parts, the Heavy Snow Sect was no more than a little cultivation sect. Their arrival hadn’t actually aroused anyone’s attention, and Fang Li and the others easily blended into the crowd.

“Hey, isn’t this my old pal Qiu from the Heavy Snow Sect? You left in such a hurry earlier at the restaurant, did you catch up to those three fellows?” A brash, carefree middle-aged cultivator in plain robes with hair bound with a wooden stick patted Wu Yimei on the shoulder. He was precisely the Crimson Sunrise School cultivator from the restaurant, and his name was Ding Qian.

When Wu Yimei did anything, it was airtight, and he had even preserved the wound near the goateed man’s mouth, his every gesture and movement fitting in both form and spirit. He shook his head as if struck with bad luck, saying, “Those three slipped away faster than a couple of mice, so we couldn’t catch up. Looks like we can only swallow this indignation.”

Ding Qian chuckled and comforted, “Don’t be angry. Next time, if I come across them, I’ll definitely tell them off for you. If there’s something to say, let’s properly talk it over, no need to get physical.”

Wu Yimei said gratefully, “Much thanks, Brother Ding. Then I’ll be troubling you.”

Ding Qian waved his hand. “We’re all fellow Xining county folk, that’s even better than being fellow sect members. It’s natural to lend each other a hand.”

Wu Yimei laughed.

Ding Qian chatted with Wu Yimei for a short while, then turned and started conversing with other cultivators. No matter who he saw, he was jovial and familiar, as if there was nobody here who he didn’t recognize. Truly a social butterfly…… Fang Li looked on with endless admiration, this was a real master of society!

He listened to the chatter for a while, then turned to look at Xie Huai.

There were so many people here. Were there any that Xie Huai recognized?

But Xie Huai only stood there indifferently, that aura of detachment more or less the same as it was on Hollow Ridge.

Fang Li pondered earnestly for a moment, concluding that with Xie Huai’s acumen, if he wasn’t willing, then Fang Li wouldn’t be able to observe anything…… Anyways, as long as the love parasite was there, he wouldn’t be able to leave him, so Fang Li simply stopped looking after him.

After not too long, the large hall was full of people. Following a clear, resounding announcement from the front, a celestial-looking elder with a flowing white beard walked out.

This was precisely the Night Sky Palace’s sect master, Shan Qingyang. Shan Qingyang was renowned in Xining county as a person of virtue and prestige. Although he was only of the lowest tier of Soul Formation, as different from a prodigy like Xie Huai as night and day, he was the only Soul Formation level cultivator within a hundred li. It was only because of his existence that Night Sky Palace was granted the place of leader of all the nearby sects.

A handsome youth also stood beside Shan Qingyang. The youth wore the standard white robes of Night Sky Palace, but the trim on his sleeves were gold, and his posture was straight and elegant like jade. He was the Night Sky Palace’s head disciple, Xue Qingyuan.

Fang Li looked at him a few more times. He was entirely just a very, very, very, poor quality edition of Xie Huai, but in this place, it was enough to make him stand out from the crowd.

Everyone here had been called over by the Night Sky Palace, but their invitation had been secretive and mysterious, only saying that there was an important matter to discuss, but not mentioning what it was. Everyone was extremely curious.

The elder stroked his beard and smiled, his voice resounding clearly through the large hall. “We’ve gathered everyone here this time because a ferocious beast has appeared in Xining county. A while ago, it harmed quite a few villagers, and Night Sky Palace sent people to capture it, but that ferocious beast was extremely cunning and hid in Mt. Wanxun, refusing to come out. This useless old man had no choice but to invite everyone here to head for Mt. Wanxun to hunt down the ferocious beast together and eliminate this danger for the people.”

As he spoke, he indicated to the Xue Qingyuan beside him to proceed.

The handsome youth took a step forward, holding some records, and said in a clear voice. “The third day of the twelfth month, Xining county, Wangyue Town. The casualties were twelve villagers. Some people witnessed that the demonic beast committing the violence was entirely white with deer antlers and hooves like clouds, swallowing and spitting out billowing clouds and gales.

“The twentieth day of the twelfth month, outside of Xining City, the Wu family village. Seven casualties. The demonic beast committing the violence was the same as the one in Wangyue Town. Night Sky Palace sent disciples to track down and capture it, but were too late and allowed the ferocious beast to escape into Mt. Wanxun.

“The twelfth day of the first month, the village at the foot of Mt. Wanxun met with an attack. The casualties were twenty-seven villagers. Each body had been torn to pieces by the ferocious beast and died without a whole corpse.

“The thirtieth day of the first month, the ferocious beast descended from the mountain to commit violence, engaging in battle with the Night Sky Palace disciples who had been left behind to stand guard. Seven Night Sky Palace disciples were injured, and the ferocious beast escaped into Mt. Wanxun and has yet to reappear.”

Everyone listened calmly and quietly, each of their hearts fluctuating. No one spoke.

Eliminating danger for the people was the right and proper course, and for better or for worse, they were all still righteous sects. If they couldn’t protect the residents of an area and allowed a ferocious beast to run wild, then what difference was there between them and those demonic cultivators? But this matter……  if there weren’t any benefits, and they were just supposed to provide manpower and labor, then it wasn’t very appropriate, right?

After all, they weren’t members of the Night Sky Palace. Although they were willing to give the Night Sky Palace some face and make the trip, they didn’t have the obligation to follow their dispatches.

Entrapping a ferocious beast was a troublesome matter, and the problem had happened in Night Sky Palace’s territory. If someone was going to eliminate danger for the people, then it should be Night Sky Palace.

Shan Qingyang could see everyone’s hesitation and slowly spoke in a low voice. “This demonic beast is savage yet cunning, and its power is formidable. It’s harmed many of my Night Sky Palace’s disciples, but we still haven’t been able to capture it. This useless old man consulted with the classic texts and discovered that this demonic beast’s appearance greatly resembles something in the Spirit Beast Records written by the Great Sage—the description of the Cloud-Swallowing Beast. This useless old man suspects that this demonic beast is very likely to be a Cloud-Swallowing Beast……”

After this sentence came out, everyone’s expression finally changed.

A Cloud-Swallowing Beast!

The Spirit Beast Records was written by the Great Sage of Origin, and the Great Sage of Origin was the only Unified Dao true immortal in ten thousand years. It was said that four thousand years ago, the natural calamities that occurred were caused by the Great Sage of Origin’s fall. But that wasn’t the point……

Back then, the Spirit Beast Records compiled by the Great Sage had recorded many rare and precious spirit beasts and was circulated widely throughout the world. Most everyone had read it before, but it was a pity that the spirit beasts recorded in the Spirit Beast Records would never be seen by most in their entire lifetime. Many of them had already become legend, yet it was suspected that a Cloud Swallowing Beast had actually appeared now. This was no small matter!

It was said that the Cloud Swallowing Beast had deer antlers and was entirely white, with hooves like clouds…… Its entire body was precious; the beast’s antlers, pelt, and bones were all valuable, and the most precious was the Cloud Swallowing Beast’s spiritual core. It was extremely difficult to get, and it could let a cultivator directly skip a stage. If a Nascent Soul cultivator obtained it, achieving Soul Formation would be a piece of cake, and a Soul Formation cultivator had hope of breaking through to Void Refining……

If an average person obtained it, even if they felt it a waste to use it  on themselves, they could still sell it for a sky-high price. Most likely, those Nascent Soul and Soul Formation elders would all be very interested……

If a Cloud Swallowing Beast had really appeared, even if the Night Sky Palace hadn’t said anything, they still wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity!

Although many people had been swayed, there were still some who harbored doubts. A young woman in neat and tidy tight-fitting robes and hair tied up in a ponytail with golden bells said doubtfully, “Sect Master Shan, I remember that the Spirit Beast Records say that the Cloud Swallowing Beast is an auspicious beast and shouldn’t harm anyone. Could you have been mistaken?”

The one who had spoken was a cultivator from Flying Blossoms Valley, Ji Fangfang. She had asked a question that had been on many people’s minds.

Shan Qingyang nodded and said, “Although that ferocious beast is exactly the same as the Cloud Swallowing Beast described in the Spirit Beast Records, it is extremely aggressive and has harmed countless people. This point is somewhat different from the description in the Spirit Beast Records. Thus, we’ve been unable to determine whether it really is a Cloud Swallowing Beast.”

So that was how it was.

If not for the fact that Night Sky Palace couldn’t determine if it was a Cloud Swallowing Beast, and because Mt. Wanxun was truly too vast and difficult to search, they probably wouldn’t have invited them over…… Moreover, the legends said that the Cloud Swallowing Beast’s cultivation level was comparable to a Soul Formation level cultivator’s, and it had previously injured many Night Sky Palace disciples. Most likely, the Night Sky Palace did indeed lack the strength to capture it, or else they wouldn’t have let word of this escape at all.

No wonder that invitation had been unwilling to give any details, all secretive and mysterious. So they were afraid that the news would be leaked ahead of time.

Everyone began to discuss in low voices, whispering in each other’s ears. Some already couldn’t wait.

Although Ding Qiao was a little swayed, he frowned and pondered for a moment, then spoke a bit hesitantly. “As an auspicious beast, why would the Cloud Swallowing Beast harm people? It couldn’t be that it has something to do with Hollow Ridge?”

When the words “Hollow Ridge” came out without any warning, the great hall abruptly became quiet for a moment. Immediately after, understanding dawned on everyone one by one.

“I was just saying that something was off. So it was something to do with that devil on Hollow Ridge! Now it makes sense.”

“That’s right, that’s right. There’s no evil that that devil on Hollow Ridge won’t do. It must be that that devil used some evil trick to make an auspicious beast harm people, devastating the common folk! As expected of something that devil would do!”

Fang Li hadn’t expected that his popcorn-eating would suddenly be turned onto himself and immediately perked up, pricking his ears to listen, wanting to see what they could come up with to say about him.

“I heard that that devil has to be served by young men and women every day. Who knows how many innocent young men and women he’s plundered to refine into furnaces to suck their vitality.”

“That devil also takes all the prisoners he captures to refine into puppets or medicinal vessels. It’s really too cruel!”

“It’s far more than that! He pulls out the souls of those who don’t obey his orders and refines them for a whole forty-nine days, making them suffer a fate worse than death!”

“The bottom of the Fallen Star Sea is filled with the resentful spirits of those who died with grievances!”

In his mind, Fang Li thought, Yan Sui actually wasn’t bored enough for all that. As the villainous final boss of the original book and a tyrannical demon lord of some sophistication, where would he find enough free time to do all that……

He would kill those who opposed him or refused to follow him, but that was it. Moreover, his goals were clear-cut; it was only for the sake of uniting the demonic sects. The demonic cultivators who’d died at his hand were far more than the righteous ones, or else how would those demonic cultivators obediently listen to his orders? He’d never had the hobby of tormenting others, and even less would he go around plundering the people. Nor was he interested in indiscriminately killing the innocent, since he didn’t care about anything else at all, nor did he care about any rumors or slander……

Oh, but these were all things Yan Sui’s underlings did, and Yan Sui didn’t really restrict them. If he was going to shoulder the blame for it, then so be it.

But what followed started to become more and more nonsensical.

“I heard that the demonic cultivation that that devil practices is completely evil. Every day, he has to eat the hearts of ten virgin men and women! And he eats them live!”

“There’s rumors that that devil is extremely bloodthirsty. If he doesn’t kill someone every day, then he’ll feel uncomfortable, and if he doesn’t hear miserable screaming, then he can’t fall asleep, so he has people flayed inch by inch, all day and night. That way, at all times of the day, the wretched screaming on Hollow Ridge won’t stop for even a moment.”

“I heard that that devil is extremely ugly and can’t bear to see good-looking people, so the demonic cultivators under him are each uglier than the next. The uglier they are, the more favored a position they have.”

“All of you are just repeating rumors. I have reliable news, that devil is a monster who’s cultivated for a thousand years. He lives by sucking the vitality of others, and he has to have live people to cultivate his demonic practice. That’s why he goes around wantonly slaughtering and capturing cultivators!”

Fang Li, “……”

Alright, as long as you guys are happy.

Fang Li completely admired everyone’s imagination and listened on with gusto, to the point that he even wanted to personally participate and contribute his part to the rumors about him, when suddenly, someone changed the topic and started talking about Xie Huai again.

“I heard that ever since Yuyi-jun went to Hollow Ridge, he’s been cruelly tormented by that devil, to the point that he’s too tragic to bear seeing and covered in wounds and can’t even get out of bed……“

“How would Yuyi-jun be willing to surrender to that devil? That devil has so many ways to torment someone. He would definitely use them on him, probably making him suffer a fate worse than death……”

“Yuyi-jun is that good-looking and has the bearing of a celestial. That devil is so ugly, he must be jealous to death. That’s why he purposefully captured him so he could bring him back and humiliate him every day! To satisfy his twisted, vulgar interests.”

“It’s a pity Yuyi-jun had no choice but to give himself to that devil for the sake of his sect. What a pity, what a pity……”

At first, Fang Li had been a little nervous, but seeing that nobody was slandering Xie Huai, and they were all focused on cursing himself, he immediately relaxed.

It looked like people like that goateed man were the minority, and even if someone did harbor bad thoughts, they couldn’t say them aloud during this type of occasion. After all, the mice hiding in the gutters in the dark wouldn’t find it easy to see the light of day. If they met with Xie Huai’s fans, wouldn’t it turn into a fight on the spot? In a public setting, one still had to care about face.

He was the uncontested winner with the most anti-fans in the whole world, while Xie Huai was the uncontested winner with the most fans in the world.

The combined might of the two uncontested winners was explosive. Something as shocking as the demon lord kidnapping Xie Huai as a plaything—if this were on Earth, it would be enough to paralyze Weibo for three days and nights. It would be stranger if these people didn’t talk about them.

These days, when one spoke of Yan Sui, one had to mention Xie Huai. When one spoke of Xie Huai, one had to mention Yan Sui…… If one didn’t know, one would even think they were a pair.

Thinking of this, Fang Li couldn’t help but laugh.

He only thought it was extremely amusing and bent his ear, scooting forward a bit……

Suddenly, a clear and cool voice said, “Not so.”

Fang Li startled and turned his head back.

Xie Huai’s dark eyes were heavy, and his brow was furrowed. His lips were pursed in displeasure into a line…… It wasn’t that he was defending this devil’s crimes, he was only stating the facts when considering that matter on its own.

Besides, you aren’t willing to listen to people slander me, so am I supposed to be willing to listen to people slander you? No matter what kind of person you are, it’s not a reason for others to defame you.

Perhaps even Fang Li himself didn’t mind these things, but he didn’t want to keep listening.

Fang Li was distracted for a moment, then was deeply moved. It was normal for an evil demon to have these kinds of rumors about him, after all. If he didn’t have any anti-fans, then it meant that he wasn’t popular enough; he didn’t mind at all. But to think that Xie Huai, this tight-lipped block of stone, would actually open his mouth to clarify the facts for him……

How upright and honest was he?! Seeking the truth in all matters instead of following the herd, righteous to the point that he couldn’t tolerate a speck of dust in his eyes!

As expected, he really lived up to the name of the protagonist shou, pure and clean and free from vulgarities, unlike any of these other people!

Those people were just in the midst of heated conversation when someone raised a differing opinion out of nowhere. Although his voice wasn’t loud, it was powerful and resonating like an icy spring hitting rock, making it impossible to ignore. It drew everyone’s gaze one by one as they looked over to see just who was so unable to read the room.

Yet Xie Huai only fixed his gaze on Fang Li. Although Fang Li only had an ordinary face on right now, that pair of eyes rippled with clear and gleaming light, as if filled with countless words, looking at Xie Huai with gratefulness and deep emotion…… After a moment, Xie Huai turned his eyes away a little awkwardly.

Don’t misunderstand, I……

Suddenly, an unhappy voice rang out. It was precisely a middle-aged cultivator who had been participating in the discussion earlier, and he pelted Xie Huai with admonishments. “What do you know? You’re a junior who doesn’t know his place. If you say it’s not so, then it isn’t so? What, it couldn’t be that you’ve met that devil?!”

………………………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Fang Li: I don’t love him, I just can’t watch as people slander him.

Xie Huai: I don’t love him either, I just can’t watch as people slander him.

Author: Doting on each other ✓