The Power of Public Opinion Was Infinite

Qin Jishi returned to the room. Zhang Shiqing was still deep in sleep. He gently tucked the red blanket around her, returned to the bed, and soon drifted off into dreams himself.

He slept until the sun was high in the sky before finally waking.

"Ah~"

After stretching lazily, he found Zhang Shiqing nowhere in sight. He shook his head, then froze in surprise the moment he rose from the bed.

"Ginseng soup?"

Black lines appeared across Qin Jishi's forehead. "She... couldn't really have fallen for me, could she?"

Naturally, Qin Jishi knew who had made the ginseng soup. He picked it up and took a light sip.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk~"

Smacking his lips, Qin Jishi nodded fairly. "Not bad. Her cooking is quite good."

As he spoke, he drained the cup of ginseng soup in one gulp.

After tidying himself up, Qin Jishi opened the door and stepped outside.

"Q-Qin... Young Master Qin..." Zhang Cheng and the others had been waiting for quite some time. Their faces were ingratiating, their manner utterly fawning. "The Clan Leader is in the main hall. We'll take you there now."

Qin Jishi had ties to the Young Prefecture Lord of Black Eagle Prefecture. Not just them—even every force in Soaring Dragon City had to treat him with the utmost respect. They had dared to mock and sneer at him before, but now they were trembling with fear.

Not to mention anything else, if Qin Jishi said even one word against them now, the entire Zhang Family would likely refuse to tolerate them.

Back then, they had even dreamed of humiliating him properly. Looking back on it now, cold fear still lingered in their hearts.

"Hehe~" Qin Jishi chuckled. "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Zhang Cheng."

"Of course, of course!" Seeing how amiable Qin Jishi was, Zhang Cheng felt his face burn hot with shame.

For him to have formed ties with the Young Prefecture Lord of Black Eagle Prefecture, just look at his breadth of heart, look at his vision. Compared to him, they had used petty minds to measure a gentleman's heart.

"Young Master Qin, this way, please." Surrounded by Zhang Cheng and the others, Qin Jishi headed toward the main hall.

"Young Master Qin, we were blind last time and offended you. Please do not hold it against us."

"Let bygones be bygones. Don't mention it again."

"..."

Along the way, every Zhang Family disciple who saw Qin Jishi treated him with utmost deference.

The news had long since spread outside: the Zhang Family's useless son-in-law actually had a profound background and close ties with the Young Prefecture Lord of Black Eagle Prefecture. When the Liu Family brought in an elder from Black Eagle Prefecture, they had ultimately left in a sorry state, their faces utterly disgraced.

Beyond that, news of the Liu Family's extermination overnight had spread through nearly every street and alley of Soaring Dragon City.

Everyone was secretly speculating that this matter likely had some connection to Qin Jishi.

After all, the Liu Family had barely left the Zhang Family when they were exterminated. Was that not too much of a coincidence? Even if Qin Jishi had not done it himself, he had to be connected to it somehow.

The power of public opinion was infinite. Rumors spread from mouth to mouth, until some people even claimed that Qin Jishi had exterminated the Liu Family himself and that he was actually a peerless genius.

Of course, ordinary people might believe such things, but those powerful forces did not see it that way.

One had to know that Chief Liang of the Black and White Academy had already intervened in the matter between the Liu Family and the Zhang Family. Would Qin Jishi be foolish enough to make an enemy of the Black and White Academy?

What kind of existence was the Black and White Academy? Across the entire Azure Wave Continent, who had not heard of it? Who did not know of it? Offending them was no different from courting death.

No matter how the outside world speculated, one thing was certain: Qin Jishi's name had already resounded throughout Soaring Dragon City.

When Qin Jishi arrived at the main hall, he could hear the deep concern in everyone's conversation.

"Clan Leader Yang, the Liu Family has been exterminated. Who could have done it? Could the culprit be trying to frame us?"

"Patriarch Zhang, there is no need to worry. I believe Chief Liang of the Black and White Academy will distinguish right from wrong."

"..."

It would be a lie to say the Zhang Family was not worried. Everyone in Soaring Dragon City knew of the conflict between them and the Liu Family. Now that the Liu Family had been exterminated, how could the Black and White Academy not suspect them?

Just as the Zhang Family was worrying over how to handle the matter, Qin Jishi entered the main hall.

"Uncle Zhang, I think Clan Leader Yang is right. If the Black and White Academy truly intervenes in this matter, they will distinguish right from wrong."

At the sight of Qin Jishi, everyone rose to their feet. Zhang Shiqing, however, looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

"Jishi!"

"Little Friend Qin!"

"..."

Qin Jishi nodded in acknowledgment, then said softly, "Uncle Zhang, I heard about the Liu Family. In truth, there is no need for us to worry. The Liu Family has always acted arrogantly and tyrannically. Who knows what great figure they might have offended?"

"Besides!"

"Even if we joined forces to destroy the Liu Family, we could never have done so with such thunderous swiftness. If the Black and White Academy intervenes, do you think they would fail to consider that?"

Even with Qin Jishi saying this, the Zhang Family members could not help but remain worried.

They understood this reasoning, but would the Black and White Academy listen?

Unlike the Zhang Family, Yang Kun and Zhao Tai both wore relaxed expressions.

Others might not know what had happened, but how could they not?

What a joke!

If Qin Jishi had acted, who could possibly uncover the truth?

Besides, they had gone to the Liu Family last night and had not even left behind scraps. How was anyone supposed to investigate that?

If it had been someone else, they might not have escaped the Black and White Academy's pursuit. But Qin Jishi? The Black and White Academy should save themselves the trouble. Was the Young Pavilion Master of the World-Saving Pavilion merely a hollow reputation?

"But..." Zhang Jinhua was still somewhat worried.

"Uncle Zhang..." Before he could finish, Qin Jishi interrupted him. "Rest assured, nothing will happen."

Qin Jishi's confidence left Zhang Jinhua startled.

At the same time, Yang Kun and Zhao Tai both echoed him, saying there was no need to worry.

Helplessly, since they all said so, no matter how worried Zhang Jinhua was, he could only wait and see.

The matter had already happened. Worrying would do no good, for what was meant to come would always come...

At that moment, Zhang Shiqing walked over to Qin Jishi and tugged at his sleeve. "Come with me."

Qin Jishi: "..."

The two walked to one side. Zhang Shiqing folded her arms. "Tell me. What happened with the Liu Family?"

"What do you mean, what happened?" Qin Jishi put on a bewildered expression.

"You're still pretending?" Zhang Shiqing rolled her eyes at him.

She had originally thought Qin Jishi's words last night had merely been spoken in anger. Now, it seemed she had been wrong.

"Hehe!" Qin Jishi smiled. "It has nothing to do with me."

"You're not going to tell me?" Zhang Shiqing threatened. "Then I'll reveal your secret."

She could tell that Qin Jishi had deliberately been hiding himself from her from beginning to end.

"Do as you please." Qin Jishi remained unmoved. "Even if you say nothing, are there few rumors outside?"

"You~" Zhang Shiqing gritted her silver teeth, yet there was nothing she could do.

"Enough. I'm tired and need to rest."

"You still haven't answered my question. Stop right there."

"..."

Soaring Dragon Myriad Treasures Tower!

The Myriad Treasures Tower held deep-rooted status throughout the Azure Wave Imperial Capital, with branch towers spread everywhere.

The Soaring Dragon branch of the Myriad Treasures Tower was absolutely an iconic building in Soaring Dragon City. Its magnificent exterior and ancient, far-reaching aura revealed extravagance in every corner...

On the top floor of the tower, an old man and a young woman wore solemn expressions.

"Elder Ge, the academy just sent me a voice transmission. We are not to interfere in the matter of the Liu Family."

"Someone actually intervened in this matter?" The old man narrowed his eyes. "Chief Liang, which scholar of the Black and White Academy intervened?"

In the old man's view, there were no more than five people in the entire Black and White Academy capable of stopping Liang Simeng. Every one of those five was a renowned figure in their own right.

Whoever could interfere in this matter might very well be the mastermind behind it.

"It was... it was..." Liang Simeng lowered her voice. "It was the Academy Master."

"What?"

The old man's expression changed drastically.