They did not know what had caused Lu Wei Jie and the others to be expelled from the Zephyr Academy and when they heard what Lu Wei Jie had just said, they began to think that there was more than meets the eye in the matter!
Among the crowd of disciples, a tiny figure stood right at the back of everyone and a slight cold smile appeared on the delicate features on that face.
‘Lu Wei Jie, I spared you your life back then, today, you must really put up a good show for me in return.’
“Senior Lu!” The other youths who had been thrown out with him stared worriedly at Lu Wei Jie. They were been accomplices to the crime and had been similarly victimised in this matter hence they naturally knew what Lu Wei Jie was about to say next!
“All of our futures have been ruined and how much longer do you want to hide the truth for that person!? All of you might be willing to be stepping stones for that person but not me! She was the one behind all of this, so why should we bear all the consequences! ? She is still safe and sound within the academy, enjoying the love and respect from all the disciples who are ignorant of the truth!” Lu Wei Jie scolded the others through tightly clenched teeth.
He was not about to go down without a fight.
The group of youths lowered their head, the sense of injustice in their hearts were suddenly sparked by Lu Wei Jie’s fiery words!
“Ning Xin! If you still have any conscience left in you, come out here right this instant! You were overcome by your own greed and attempted to murder the disciples from the Cloud Treading Peak and the General of the Rui Lin Army! The attempt failed and you pushed all the blame onto us! In order for the Zephyr Academy to answer to the Cloud Treading Peak and the Rui Lin Army, they have dumped all responsibility for the matter on all of us here and thrown us out of the Zephyr Academy, making us bear all the blame! We have no other way out of this, while you are being absolved completely from the matter! Just because your father is the Vice Headmaster of the Zephyr Academy! Just because the Headmaster and your father are fellow disciples!” Lu Wei Jie was not going to hold back in the slightest. Since Ning Xin and Ning Rui were not giving them a way out of this, he didn’t see any need to hide anything!
Even if he would not be able to finish his academic studies, he was confident he would still succeed with his family’s strong connections!
Lu Wei Jie’s words stirred the crowd of disciples gathered before them!
What is this about the Cloud Treading Peak!? What is this about the Rui Lin Army….. The two names uttered endlessly thundered in the ears and stuck like lightning into the hearts of the disciples there!
Ning Xin plotted against those two powers!?
What really happened!!?
Fanned by Lu Wei Jie’s inflammatory words, the other youths who had been prepared to forgive and move on were suddenly acutely made aware of the discrepancy in the punishment meted out to Ning Xin and them. They grew angry and joined with Lu Wei Jie, spilling every single detail they knew about the incident that happened in the Battle Spirits Forest.
More than twenty youths chirped, one after another, as they explained in detail, all that had gone on in their own words.
The real truth when revealed, had all the disciples tongue tied and staring in disbelief, their faces in shock!
Lu Wei Jie and Ning Xin were both well known and leading figures among the disciples of the Zephyr Academy. Although Lu Wei Jie was not as worshipped and loved like Ning Xin was, but he possessed great power and was an individual who won everyone’s praise as a prodigious youth.
Both of them had enjoyed a rather good relationship with each other and all the disciples knew that they had been in the same team during the Spirit Hunt.
But now, everyone in that team had been thrown out together with Lu Wei Jie, but for the exception of Ning Xin and Yin Yan. The circumstances were already suspicious by itself and with Lu Wei Jie and the others’ statements, a fiery debate suddenly erupted heatedly among all the disciples!
Nobody could easily accept the picture of the usually gentle and graceful Senior Ning they had in their minds could possibly be the very same person as the image of a greedy murderer who lusted for personal enrichment and was a despicable girl, who would betray her own fellow disciples, as described by Lu Wei Wei Jie and the group of twenty over youths before them.
Lu Wei Jie and the other youths grew angrier as they spoke and they went on to blast at Ning Rui and Fan Qi for the unjust and unequal way the matter had been handled.
“You think that you can use us to appease the rage of the Cloud Treading Peak and the Rui Lin Army!? I think you are making a very big mistake here! As brilliant as General Long is, he will never believe your one sided response. You just wait till the Rui Lin Army comes knocking upon these very gates!”
Volume 6
Chapter 526: “Sudden Affability (1)”
Lu Wei Jie had told Long Qi every single detail of the truth of the matter and if Ning Rui intended to use the fact that they had expelled more than twenty disciples to brush the whole matter aside, they would have to see if Long Qi believed them at all!
“I will state today that I, and the brothers with me here today, hereby cut all ties with the Zephyr Academy! With an academy that practises such fraud and cronyism, I, Lu Wei Jie, refuses to dance according to their whims! Today, I declare that it is not the case that the Zephyr Academy has thrown me and my brothers in arms here out, but that we choose not to remain in this place of filth and contamination!” Lu Wei Jie said resolutely and after he finished, he turned to leave without looking back once, refusing to look at the place for another moment.
All the other youths who had been expelled from the Zephyr Academy followed suit and left behind them countless questions and conjectures to rise within the disciples of the Zephyr Academy.
At that moment, the simmering pot that was the Zephyr Academy suddenly exploded as everyone started throwing their own versions and opinions on the matter into the overflowing pot.
While the tiny figure at the back, slipped away unnoticed, carrying her little black cat in her arms.
It seemed that Lu Wei Jie wasn’t that dense after all. Instead of allowing the Zephyr Academy to fully pin the unequivocal blame of the matter onto him, he had chosen to reveal everything and left in an indignant rage of righteousness, cleansing off the accusations pinned on his back.
In that way, he might still have a sliver of a chance for his future with that gamble.
At least he understood what he stood to lose.
Jun Wu Xie faded away among the crowd as she left. She knew after today’s events, not matter what Heaven defying abilities Ning Xin possessed, she would not be able to erase all the doubts and malicious guesses from the hearts of the disciples in the Zephyr Academy as it was a fact that she still remained there, while Lu Wei Jie and the other youths had been forced to leave.
The show was just beginning. Would Ning Xin be able to withstand what was about to come?
Very soon, the speech that Lu Wei Jie had given just before he left reached the ears of Ning Xin. She almost exploded with rage but she realised that Lu Wei Jie’s actions was his last gamble, and a form of revenge against Ning Xin herself.
The rumours currently pervading the hallowed halls of the Zephyr Academy was that Ning Xin attempted to rob by murder and when it failed, she persecuted fellow disciples to escape.
Suddenly, Ning Xin’s reputation fell from the clouds and was quickly trampled in mud!
Ning Xin did not even dare to leave her room then. She had already been deeply worried that Long Qi would not let the matter rest so easily and now Lu Wei Jie had stabbed her so badly causing the voices in the academy to rise in dissent. Many of the youths who had previously adored and worshipped her have now been turned by those swirling rumours and despised her to be a beautiful and vicious witch.
Ning Rui had wanted to help salvage Ning Xin’s tattered reputation and got several disciples to spread rumours saying that Lu Wei Jie had failed in winning the h
eart of Ning Xin in his pursuit and had harboured hatred after being spurned. And when he was expelled for committing those heinous crimes, he had acted on that hatred and tried to smear Ning Xin as he left.
Those false rumours might have dampened the heat a little and led some easily manipulated disciples to believe them. But the majority of the disciples were still doubtful and suspicious, and even when they did not debate the issue openly, the discussions that went on in private, however did not abate in the slightest.
Ning Xin was not able to maintain her image as the perfect Senior among the disciples anymore this time.
The glories of her past faded into oblivion, and if she dared to appear before the disciples of the Zephyr Academy, she would no longer be greeted by the looks of adulation and worship, but faced with eyes filled with mistrust and suspicion.
Although she had not been confronted with accusing fingers, but being forced to face such treatment, was hell for someone who was so used to having her every whim catered for. She sought endlessly for a way to get herself out of the predicament but she could not think up any suitable plans. She could only forced herself to put on a facade of calm and bury all the accusatory voices deep in her heart. But in private, she had smashed countless scores of ceramics and porcelains and shredded embroideries and tapestries in vent.
Lu Wei Jie, you’ve got guts!
Ning Xin clenched her jaws. She was unable to stop all the rumours and she still had to carry out the next step in their plans.
Early that morning, Ning Xin had painstakingly dressed herself up and hurried over to come to the quiet and tranquil little bamboo grove. After meticulously checking over her looks outside the doors, she finally knocked upon the main doors leading into the little bamboo grove.
……….
Volume 6
Chapter 527: “Sudden Affability (2)”
When Fan Zhuo opened the main doors in front of the yard, he was surprised a moment as he looked at the beautiful girl standing outside. His eyes flashed briefly with an unidentifiable emotion but it quickly disappeared.
“Little Xin?” Fan Zhuo looked puzzled, as his eyes fell on Ning Xin, a person he had not seen for a long time.
Although the two of them were betrothed to each other in marriage, Fan Zhuo’s declining health by the day had soon stopped anyone from bringing the topic up. In order for him to have a proper place to recuperate, Fan Zhuo had moved into the little bamboo grove and Ning Xin was seldom seen to appear at this place.
He remembered the last time Ning Xin came here was more than a year ago.
“Big brother Zhuo.” Ning Xin’s face lit up in an innocent sweet smile, looking like the pure and naive little girl next door, that made people warm up to her easily.
“Big Brother Zhuo, Little Xin has not come to see you in a rather long while, are you angry with Little Xin?”
Fan Zhuo smiled gently and said: “Not at all.”
Ning Xin looked apologetically at Fan Zhuo, her eyes lowered, her face filled with anguish.
“I was actually missing Big Brother Zhuo quite a lot but Father reminded me repeatedly that Big Brother Zhuo needed to rest and did not allow me to come disturb your rest. Hence, Little Xin had been holding herself back for so long and not come visit Big Brother Zhuo. Big Brother Zhuo, would you please forgive Little Xin?”
Fan Zhuo gave out a light laugh and shook his head good naturedly.
The joyous smile quickly returned to Ning Xin’s face and as she looked at Fan Zhuo, she made herself say meekly: “Little Xin prepared some glutinous rice cake for Big Brother Zhuo to eat. I remember that Big Brother Zhuo loved to eat it when we were younger.” As she said those words, Ning Xin raised up her hand and shook the small intricate lunchbox she held in her hand.
Fan Zhuo’s eyes lowered slightly just a brief moment and he raised his head back up quickly to look at Ning Xin and say gently: “Little Xin is so thoughtful. The sun out here is too strong, come in and have a cup of tea and rest a little.”
Ning Xin nodded her head with a smile and followed Fan Zhuo into the little dwelling within the bamboo grove. The look of pure innocence and shy manners of a little girl had all disappeared completely the moment Fan Zhuo had turned his back as she stared at Fan Zhuo thin and skinny back, her eyes dangerously narrowed.
Fan Zhuo actually possessed outstanding looks and his character was just as exceptional, his failing was his ill health that did not allow him to achieve anything significant.
If Fan Zhuo was in good health, Ning Xin would be only too happy to be joined in conjugal union with such an outstanding young man. But Fan Zhuo’s weak constitution had dragged him down and he had seemed to be always on his last breaths and who knew how soon his last breath would come. And if Fan Zhuo was dead, the Zephyr Academy’s ownership would most probably fall into the hands of Fan Jin, and by that time, she had her father would not stand a chance anymore.
But…..
Ning Xin curled up the corners of her mouth. Fan Zhuo had his own usefulness as well, his pure heart that was free from worldly desires made him easy to manipulate.
In his heart, he must be still looking at her as the naive and innocent little girl from young.
Ning Xin recollected herself and composed her emotions, as she contemplated the situation at hand within the little bamboo grove. After Ah Jing was driven out, the little bamboo grove was left with only Fan Zhuo and Jun Xie in here, with Fan Jin making frequent appearances during meal times.
Fan Zhuo was here before her eyes, where was Jun Xie?
Ning Xin squinted her eyes to peer around, trying to locate her real target.
Just as she was deeply absorbed in her own thoughts, Fan Zhuo suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Ning Xin did not realise it and nearly walked into Fan Zhuo. She muttered something apologetically and raised her head. Suddenly, she saw a tiny figure standing on the steps right before the bamboo huts, looking directly at her with those piercingly cold eyes!
Ning Xin’s heart jumped. Ever since the day she had witnessed the glorious battle where Jun Xie had fought the Guardian grade Spirit Beast, she had developed a sudden wariness and fear for the tiny youth that was younger than she was.
Those eyes on the youth, made her tremble involuntarily whenever she saw them now!
Volume 6
Chapter 528: “Sudden Affability (3)”
“Big Brother Zhuo, this is…..?” Ning Xin tried to calm herself, trying to look puzzled as she looked at Jun Xie.
Fan Zhuo said simply: “This is Jun Xie.”
And just that, seemingly having no intentions to introduce Jun Xie to Ning Xin.
Nevertheless, Ning Xin had amicably stepped forward herself and pasted her most perfect smile on her face to say: “So you are Jun Xie. I had heard that someone was staying here with Big Brother Zhuo and was feeling rather curious. I had thought that whoever Big Brother Zhuo chose to be friends with must undoubtedly be a nice person. And seeing you today has just confirmed my thoughts.”
Ning Xin’s voice was gentle and moving, her smile warm and sincere.
Jun Wu Xie was however unmoved and retorted bluntly: “Senior Ning must then be blind.”
She had a nice personality?
Yelp.
The smile on Ning Xin’s face froze. She had not expected Jun Xie to be so blunt with his first words to her.
Fan Zhuo did not seem to have noticed Ning Xin’s awkward predicament and said smilingly: “Little Xie’s personality is a little cold and does not like to mix with people. I hope Little Xin will not hold it against her.”
The way he put it might have sounded like he was helping Ning Xin to lift her out from embarrassment but he had in reality taken the cue from Jun Xie and slapped Ning Xin across the face.
She was able to tell that Jun Xie was nice just with one look? Jun Xie might be right when he had said Ning Xin must be blind.
The corners of Ning Xin’s mouth froze but fortunately for her, she was used to putting up a false
front before others and she managed to hide her embarrassment rather well, as the smile on her face continued to shine.
“Nonsense, I still think Little Xie is a rather warm person.”
Jun Wu Xie raised an eyebrow slightly and said: “It seems that Senior Ning is not aware of my reputation among the people in the academy?”
The infamy of her name within the Zephyr Academy had spread to cover every corner and even Ah Jing who had previously resided within the detached little bamboo grove had heard about it, moreover for Ning Xin, who resides at the academy itself.
Clumsy acting, a fail!
Ning Xin had never spoken to Jun Xie before and she had thought that Jun Xie kept to himself because he was ostracised by all the others. And she had not expected that barely two sentences into their first conversation with each other, Ning Xin was suddenly feeling a stinging burn forming on her cheeks.
That little brat’s words were all filled with thorns, and it pricked at her to no end!
Ning Xin drew in a deep breath and quickly tried to recall if she had ever crossed paths with Jun Xie before, but after trying her hardest, she had no recollection of anything like that. She finally concluded that Jun Xie must have known of Yin Yan’s undeniable link to her and was hence so openly hostile to her now.
After she was able to ascertain the reason, Ning Xin was finally able to relax.
“Those unfounded rumours are not to be believed! Even now, hanging heavily over the Zephyr Academy are many vicious rumours about me. But the innocent knows they are innocent, and those rumours are spread only to vindicate the good. Big Brother Zhuo must have known what kind of person you really are before he agreed to let you stay here and he knows me, that I would never believe them. Why should we allow ourselves to get upset over nothing?” In an attempt to draw Jun Xie closer to her, Ning Xin had even exposed her own predicament to him, hoping to win some sympathy from being in the same boat, to diffuse the hostility that Jun Xie held against her.
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 6 Page 8
