Rules Horror: Ghost Hand Demon San

Chen Yumo returned to Nuoding Academy later than Tang San, so he had not witnessed Gangzi's journey from prison to release.

By the time he returned, Gangzi had already been released by the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City.

No one knew whether it was because of Tang San or Bibi Dong, but Gangzi had not suffered any abuse. He had even lived rather well in prison, without Scarface coming to give him a little "opening."

Ah, no, not opening—consecration.

That was truly regrettable.

Chen Yumo did not deliberately ask around about it. How could a sneaky schemer who messed with people behind the scenes voluntarily step into the spotlight?

What difference would that be from exposing himself?

Even watching a show had to be done quietly. He could not alert the enemy, much less reveal his identity as the hero behind the scenes.

In truth, he did not need to ask around at all. Everyone in Nuoding Academy already knew about it, and rumors were everywhere. Those unlucky old students who had stayed behind during the break had been holding it in all vacation. Now that their classmates had finally returned, their urge to share was practically exploding.

They wished the entire world knew exactly what earth-shattering events had taken place at Nuoding Academy during that holiday.

They even had that peculiar sense of superiority: "I saw it with my own eyes, but you didn't. It's such a huge spectacle, and it's a shame you missed it. Come on, let me brag about it slowly."

The more Chen Yumo listened, the stiffer his facial muscles became. His cheeks bulged from how tightly he clenched his teeth.

Hold it in. He absolutely had to hold it in.

(Red~)

Pfft—snap!

Hahahahaha...

Chen Yumo's meme face possessed him. His little face had turned bright red from suppressing his laughter, and he forcibly pressed down the corners of his slightly pursed lips so his grin would not be too obvious. In reality, he was nearly dying of laughter inside.

This was way too funny.

Originally, he had merely wanted to spread some baseless rumors to disgust Gangzi, preferably turning him into the infamous bottom everyone at Nuoding Academy knew about.

He had not expected the results to be this good. He had broken Gangzi's defenses outright.

Only, those two unlucky kids whom Gangzi had blasted to death with a fart were a little hard to process. Chen Yumo silently mourned for them for three seconds. What a sin, what a sin.

Just kidding. There was no sin at all.

They had chosen to chase amusement themselves, and Yu Xiaogang was the one who had farted them to death. That was called a mutual rush toward each other. Chen Yumo had merely put out a little entertainment. Could anyone seriously blame him for killing those two unlucky kids?

According to what they had discussed, nearly everyone in Nuoding Academy had been secretly gossiping about Gangzi selling hooks that day. Those two had simply been unlucky enough to run into Gangzi.

In any case, Chen Yumo felt no guilt whatsoever. If anything, he found the whole matter even more amusing.

Just how badly had his defenses been shattered for him to get so angry that even his farts could kill people?

He regretted missing Gangzi's broken expression, but he was also thankful that he had taken refuge in Holy Soul Village and successfully survived Gangzi's Poison Path Killing Move.

"He's already been released from prison? Why didn't they keep him locked up for a few more days..." Chen Yumo clicked his tongue regretfully after hearing the ending.

This was not enough.

Gangzi had humiliated him in front of everyone back then. He had not yet vented all that resentment. How could he let Gangzi get through this so easily?

He had sworn to send Gangzi into the resurrection bracket!

After that, Chen Yumo continued living his life as usual.

Yet the rumors about Yu Xiaogang at Nuoding Academy only grew more outrageous.

At first, people had merely been debunking the rumors. They said Yu Xiaogang was a Soul Grandmaster whose monthly subsidy of ten Gold Soul Coins was enough to support himself, so there was absolutely no need for him to sell hooks just to mooch food and drink.

That argument made a great deal of sense, and for a time, the rampant rumors died down.

Gangzi no longer encountered strange looks everywhere he went, as he had before. At last, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But what Gangzi did not know was that all of this had been part of Chen Yumo's plan.

It was all to set up the next step—

"Is there a possibility that Grandmaster only sells hooks to support himself as a side benefit? That he actually likes men, and uses supporting himself as an excuse to sell hooks without guilt?"

"Could it be...?"

"That's right. After strict certification from multiple big shots, Grandmaster has been identified as a scheming, shameless bottom!"

Well, damn.

The rumors that had only just subsided erupted again, with an intensity far exceeding the previous wave.

This time, even Nuoding Academy's rarely seen headmaster was dragged into it. After all, one was willing and the other was willing to endure, making them Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu in everyone's eyes—a pair of star-crossed lovers.

As for who those many big shots were that had verified the information's accuracy, nobody knew, and nobody cared. This was a carnival for amusement seekers. No one cared about Yu Xiaogang, that oddly superior man with little ability, a huge temper, who freeloaded at Nuoding Academy while looking down on everyone else.

Now Gangzi truly did not dare leave his room.

Even for meals or buying things, he had Tang San deliver them to his room. Every day, he raged impotently in that dark chamber, while people nearby often heard wailing, ghostly roars in the middle of the night.

Over time, the area around Grandmaster's room even became a forbidden zone that could not be approached within Nuoding Academy.

Rule One: If you hear twisted wailing in the middle of the night, remain calm. Do not panic. Leave as though nothing happened, and remember: never look back.

Rule Two: If you are fortunate enough to encounter 'Ghost Hand Demon San' opening the Forbidden Door, control your eyes and keep your mouth shut. Do not watch. Do not discuss it.

Rule Three: Within Nuoding Academy, do not mention those mysterious four words that violate the taboo, or you will face the deadly divine punishment of the Poison Path Killing Move!

As the instigator, Chen Yumo nearly rolled around on the ground laughing as he listened to the increasingly outrageous rumors spreading through Nuoding Academy.

It was too absurd.

Day turned to night, and spring gave way to autumn.

Before long, a year and a half passed amid peaceful days.

Ever since he had dealt a savage blow to Gangzi's Demon Pill with Hook Literature a year and a half ago, Chen Yumo had stopped there.

Though he felt that merely dealing with Gangzi this way was far from enough to vent his resentment, everything had to proceed step by step.

Nuoding Academy was ultimately too small. Even Nuoding City was not large enough for a grand performance. If he wanted Gangzi's reputation to collapse and turn him into the laughingstock of the entire continent, he would have to go to Suotuo City, Heaven Dou City, and even Spirit City, so Gangzi could become a rat crossing the street.

One day, a year and a half later.

After finishing a day of cultivation, Chen Yumo let out a long breath.

A bottleneck. A breakthrough.

Level ten.

As an independent cultivator with two and a half years of cultivation under his belt, he had finally reached his first bottleneck and arrived at the threshold for obtaining a Spirit Ring.

"Eight and a half years old, level ten. Not bad." Chen Yumo spread open his palm. Compared with two and a half years ago, the Ice Silkworm Martial Soul in his hand had undergone earth-shaking changes.