Chen Yumo returned to Nuoding Academy later than Tang San, so he did not witness Gangzi's journey from imprisonment to release.
By the time he returned, Gangzi had already been released by the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City.
Who knew whether it was because of Tang San or Bibi Dong, but Gangzi had not suffered any mistreatment. He had even lived fairly well in prison, with no Scarface coming to give him a little initiation.
Ah, no, that was supposed to be a little enlightenment.
That was truly regrettable.
Chen Yumo had not deliberately asked around about any of this. How could a sneaky schemer who sabotaged people from the shadows 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. The matter had become common knowledge throughout Nuoding Academy, with rumors spreading everywhere. Those old unlucky bastards 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 utterly explosive.
They practically wished the entire world knew exactly what thunderous events had taken place at Nuoding Academy during the break.
There was also 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, let me slowly brag all about it to you."
The more Chen Yumo listened, the stiffer his facial muscles became. His cheeks bulged high from how tightly he clenched his teeth.
Hold it in. He absolutely had to hold it in.
(Blush~)
Pfft, snap!
Hahahahaha...
The Dragon King meme possessed Chen Yumo. His little face turned bright red from suppressing his laughter, and he forcibly pressed down the corners of his slightly pursed lips so his smile would not be so obvious. In reality, he was already laughing himself to death inside.
This was too entertaining.
He had only wanted to make up some baseless rumors to disgust Gangzi, preferably turning him into a universally known bottom at Nuoding Academy.
Yet he had not expected the effect to be this good. Gangzi had been driven completely over the edge.
Only, those two unlucky children whom Gangzi had blown to death with a fart were a bit hard to process. Chen Yumo silently mourned them for three seconds. Sinful, sinful.
Just kidding. There was no sin at all.
They were the ones who loved making trouble, and Yu Xiaogang was the one who had farted people to death. That was called mutual fulfillment. Chen Yumo had merely released a little entertainment. Could anyone seriously blame him for killing those two unlucky children?
Judging from what they discussed, nearly everyone at Nuoding Academy had secretly been gossiping about Gangzi selling hooks that day. Those two had simply been especially unlucky and happened to run into Gangzi.
In any case, Chen Yumo felt no guilt whatsoever. He even thought the whole thing had become even more entertaining.
How badly did someone have to break down to get so angry that even his fart could kill people?
While regretting that he had missed Gangzi's breakdown, he was also grateful 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 lock him up for a few more days..." Chen Yumo clicked his tongue regretfully upon hearing the ending.
This was not enough.
Back then, Gangzi had humiliated him in public. He had not vented all that anger yet. How could he let Gangzi get through this trial so easily?
He had sworn to send Gangzi into the resurrection bracket!
In the days that followed, Chen Yumo continued living as he always had.
Yet the rumors about Yu Xiaogang at Nuoding Academy grew increasingly outrageous.
At first, people were only debunking the rumors, saying that Yu Xiaogang was a Soul Grandmaster whose monthly subsidy of ten Gold Soul Coins was enough to support himself. 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 subsided.
Gangzi no longer encountered strange looks everywhere he went, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But what Gangzi did not know was that all of this was part of Chen Yumo's plan.
It was all meant to lead into the next stage—
"Could it be that Grandmaster selling hooks to support himself was merely incidental? What if he actually liked men and used supporting himself as an excuse to sell hooks with a clear conscience?"
"Could it be...?"
"That's right. After rigorous verification by multiple experts, Grandmaster has been identified as a crafty, manipulative slutty bottom!"
Good heavens.
The rumors that had just calmed down erupted once more, with an intensity that far surpassed the previous wave.
This time, even Nuoding Academy's rarely seen headmaster was dragged into it. After all, one was willing to fight and the other willing to suffer. In everyone's eyes, they became Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, a pair of star-crossed lovers.
As for who those many experts verifying the information's accuracy were, nobody knew, and nobody cared. This was a carnival for those who lived for entertainment. No one cared about Yu Xiaogang, that absurdly self-important man with little ability, a huge temper, who freeloaded at Nuoding Academy while looking down on everyone.
This time, Gangzi completely dared not leave his room.
Even when he needed food or wanted to buy something, he had Tang San deliver it to his room. Every day, he raged impotently in that dark chamber, while those nearby occasionally heard wailing, ghostlike 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, and do not discuss it.
Rule Three: Within Nuoding Academy, do not mention those four mysterious words that violate the taboo. Otherwise, you will face the deadly divine punishment of the Poison Path Killing Move!
As the instigator, Chen Yumo nearly rolled all over the floor laughing as he listened to the increasingly absurd rumors within Nuoding Academy.
This was too surreal.
Days and nights passed, and spring gave way to autumn.
Before long, a year and a half passed in peaceful days.
Ever since he had ruthlessly struck Gangzi's Demon Pill with Hook Literature a year and a half ago, Chen Yumo had stopped there.
Although, in his eyes, dealing with Gangzi in such a way was far from enough to vent his resentment, everything had to proceed step by step.
Nuoding Academy was ultimately too small, and even Nuoding City was not large enough to stage anything grand. If he wanted to ruin Gangzi's reputation 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, until Gangzi became 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 before the gate to obtaining a Spirit Ring.
"Eight and a half years old, level ten—not bad." Chen Yumo spread open his palm. Compared to two and a half years ago, the Ice Silkworm Martial Soul in his hand had undergone earth-shaking changes.
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