Chapter 35: Negotiating Conditions

“Alright, what are your conditions?”

“First, remove the shackles from us.”

“Impossible.”

Before Captain Sun could respond, bailiff Qian decisively refused, "This is a requirement from above, all prisoners must wear shackles."

Ignoring him, Chen Xue looked at Captain Sun.

Captain Sun hesitated for a moment but didn't outright refuse, "I need to see if this business is worth cooperating with first. If it is, agreeing to this condition isn't out of the question."

For him, it was just a verbal agreement. If he wanted to back out later, he could claim he never said such a thing; they didn't have any evidence anyway.

More importantly, he wanted to extract from her what this so-called "business without capital" was all about.

Feeling the recording pen in her sleeve working, Chen Xue continued, "Second, we need some freedom. For example, when you go into town to buy supplies, we want to go too."

"Agreed!"

This condition wasn't unreasonable, and Captain Sun didn't mind, "Can we talk about it now?"

"And..."

"Don't push it."

Bailiff Qian interrupted Chen Xue, "Your demands are already plenty. If you want to cooperate, show some sincerity. Otherwise, we have ways to deal with you."

Chen Xue shrugged, "I just wanted to discuss how we split the profits."

Upon hearing this, Captain Sun became interested, "What do we need to contribute to this cooperation? Capital?"

"Not necessary!" Chen Xue shook her head, "You don't need to invest any capital. Just put in some effort."

"Oh?" Captain Sun furrowed his brows, but then quickly relaxed, "Then let's do a 60-40 split, with us taking the larger share."

"No way!" Chen Xue immediately rejected without hesitation, "It's going to be 64, we get six, you get four."

"Not happening!" bailiff Qian sneered, "Since you came to us, it shows you can't do this business without us. How about this, we get 70, you get 30."

Ignoring bailiff Qian, Chen Xue continued to look at Captain Sun, "What do you think? You don't need to invest capital, and you're taking the lion's share. Isn't that unfair?"

Captain Sun fell silent. In reality, he wasn't too concerned about the profit split; he just wanted to know how this business would operate. Once he knew that, he could bypass the Chen family and run it himself, keeping all the profits. 

"50-50!" Captain Sun finally spoke up, "I've agreed to your other conditions already. 50-50 is the best I can offer."

"Alright!"

Chen Xue wasn't too concerned about the profit split. After all, appearing reasonable wouldn't make them believe. 

"Can we talk about how this business will operate now?"

Looking around, Chen Xue saw Captain Sun's understanding gaze. He then instructed bailiff Qian to move the other prisoners and his men farther away, ensuring they couldn't eavesdrop.

"This business is very simple," Chen Xue began, "As we travel along the exile route, we'll pass through many forests and wilderness areas where we can find various herbs. We just need to pick them, transport them to the southern wilderness, and sell them. It's a lucrative venture..."

Captain Sun's eyes lit up at first, but then he furrowed his brows, "Is that it? I thought it was something more complicated."

"Let's not talk about the lack of time and manpower we have," Chen Xue explained, "Many herbs are unfamiliar to us, and not all of them fetch high prices in the south..."

"Those are not problems." Chen Xue smiled; she had considered all these situations long ago. What mattered was how many herbs they could harvest along the way. This way, she could store them in her space and exchange them for contribution points.

She knew her individual strength was limited, so she enlisted Captain Sun's help, leveraging his strength. 

"In addition, I have several doctors with me. They can identify the herbs, which ones are valuable, and which ones sell well."

"Oh?"

Captain Sun was surprised; he had never seen doctors among the exiled.

If that was the case, there was a real opportunity. After all, picking herbs didn't require capital from them.

"Furthermore, with so many people in the exiled group, as long as we tell them which herbs to pick, it won't take much time to collect them."

"Oh!"

Captain Sun's eyes brightened. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this before. As a bailiff captain, he had absolute power over the exiles.

So, instructing them to pick herbs wasn't a problem; the prisoners wouldn't dare to resist. They didn't need capital, and they would make money by just sitting around.

Most importantly, they needed to control the doctors.

So, he began to ask for more details, intending to sideline the Chen family.

Chen Xue also guessed Captain Sun's intentions but continued to explain in detail. However, at a crucial moment, she requested that they remove the shackles.

Captain Sun hesitated for a moment, fearing that if they removed the shackles, the Chen family might try to escape. But he realized that even if they did, they wouldn't get far, and trying to escape would only hasten their deaths.

So, he agreed but requested that it be done by Xu Tian. Although he was puzzled, Xu Tian happily agreed when he heard he would be helping remove the shackles from Master Chen.

However, when Xu Tian helped Chen Xue remove the shackles, he felt confused. The shackles on Chen Xue seemed as light as paper.

This was clearly abnormal!

PS: Thanks to the lovely little one for the reward, Happy New Year.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 72: Who Taught Her to Drive?**

Wudao Mountain was not a professional racetrack, but its winding terrain and sharp turns made it highly challenging. The nighttime setting added an extra layer of difficulty, making the race more thrilling.

The car Jiang Chenchen drove was arranged by Sun Bailong. She didn't care about the model, but it was, in fact, a well-configured, specially modified high-performance racing car.

Sun Bailong considered himself a dominant force on the racetrack, but the racer from Southern City, Jing Jiangning, was too arrogant. Sun Bailong was determined to crush his spirit and humiliate him by winning. Adding a stunning woman to the race, if she also defeated him, Jing Jiangning would become a laughingstock in the entire racing community.

That was Sun Bailong's goal.

So, he provided Jiang Chenchen with the best car setup.

The night wind howled as the racers gathered before the race. Sun Bailong, sizing up Jing Jiangning, displayed a disdainful expression. Sun Bailong was not tall, but his eyes carried the aura of someone who had dominated for years.

Looking at the person opposite, casually dressed with neatly combed hair, he seemed like a shy university student—an appearance that seemed weak.

"Are you the Jing Jiangning who won in Southern City against Daqian?"

"Yes, that's me. Want to test me?"

His response was calm, lacking the arrogance that rumors had suggested. Sun Bailong, although underestimating him based on appearances, found his competitive spirit ignited by the challenge.

"Alright, kid, don't cry for your daddy when you lose!"

He laughed mockingly, full of disdain.

Laughing, he pointed at Jiang Chenchen standing beside him. "If you can't even beat a girl who doesn't know how to drive well, it would be quite embarrassing, don't you think?"

Jing Jiangning looked at Jiang Chenchen and, despite the howling wind, her calm and indifferent demeanor remained unchanged. It seemed like her attention was elsewhere.

But she was indeed beautiful.

Jing Jiangning stared for a moment, then quickly averted his gaze, scratching his head.

"Let's start."

They returned to their cars, preparing for the race. Sun Bailong only then noticed that all the other racers were present, but Ye Xi was missing. Someone quickly informed, "Young Master Ye had some urgent matters and left earlier."

"I bet he was scared and ran away!" Sun Bailong chuckled in disdain, got into his car, and prepared for the race.

The starting point had gathered many spectators, mostly attracted by the fame of Southern City's racer, Jing Jiangning.

Having just emerged in Southern City, Jing Jiangning had already raced against many legendary predecessors. Invited to this event, he aimed to challenge more opponents, not lingering on past victories.

Jing Jiangning did not underestimate the female racer; he did not underestimate any opponent. The challenge for him was always about challenging himself.

As the race progressed, Jiang Chenchen, unfamiliar with the road conditions, relied solely on her focus to overtake competitors. Her quick reflexes and familiarity with the car's structure, acquired during her time abroad, contributed to her driving skills.

She used to accompany someone who loved night racing, rushing through deserted nights as if they cared little for life.

The person would chuckle softly, a laugh as mysterious and carefree as moonlight. "Death is nothing."

Jiang Chenchen never paid much attention to what that person said, but her memory was excellent—she remembered everything.

Her driving technique now resembled that person's.

Jing Jiangning, glancing at the rearview mirror, saw a serious expression on the seemingly shy and modest face. The opponent was formidable.

Approaching the final stages of the race, Jiang Chenchen continued to catch up. Unfamiliar with the terrain, she relied on her concentration. Her appearance resembled that person's, who used to take her out to race.

Jing Jiangning, focused on the road and his car, knew victory was within reach. He could see the figures and flags at the next bend. As the two cars side by side entered the turn, the collision sounded as their vehicles brushed against each other.

A piercing noise echoed!

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 154: Fainted on the Spot

"Randomly framing charges just to make us cut down chestnut trees, who gave you the right!"

"Wearing these uniforms, are you here to bully the ignorant common people?"

"Where is your conscience!"

"Has your conscience all been eaten by dogs!"

If not forced and driven to desperation, how could the common people pick up such simple and crude farming tools like iron shovels, hoes, and shoulder poles, just to defend their last source of livelihood.

But the common people don't know at all that the individuals in police uniforms before them are not real police comrades, they are all bodyguards impersonating as such by Li Chengbin.

The leader of the bodyguards at least knows how to read, but the others don't even recognize many big characters.

The questions asked by Bai Lu are completely incomprehensible to them, how can they answer?

The bodyguard comrades can only turn to Li Chengbin for help.

Li Chengbin, with a furrowed brow, has no time to deal with them, currently reprimanding Ding Wuliang in a low voice: "Have you been eating shit all your life! Making such basic mistakes!"

Ding Wuliang has difficulties expressing his grievances.

He is just a logistics department, not a directly affiliated department of the county government. His authority is limited, what else can he do? It's just that there are still many loopholes.

He hopes that the girl doesn't know too much, isn't too clever. Otherwise, their trip would be in vain.

Li Chengbin's father-in-law is currently at a critical point of promotion, and there can't be any problems with his political achievements. Even slightly influential connections cannot be utilized by Li Chengbin. If there is a minor incident, it would be disastrous if it reaches the city.

If not for this situation, Li Chengbin wouldn't let Ding Wuliang, a little unknown person, handle things for him.

He wouldn't let a group of intellectually underdeveloped fools, pretending to be people from the bureau, suppress the rebellious citizens.

Now, however, not one of them is performing well, and they are being scolded without being able to retort, making him furious!

"If you can't come up with a solution, you can stay here and farm. No need to go back to work in the city!"

Ding Wuliang's glasses trembled, cold sweat streaming down. However, at this point, the loopholes in the document about closing the mountain and returning the land for afforestation have been exposed and are irretrievable.

"The matter of closing the mountain is temporarily postponed. Think of other ways. For now, let's collect the sand."

"After collecting the sand, chestnuts cannot be stored. Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng's business will still be disrupted. We can close the chestnut mountain when it blossoms and bears fruit."

Closing the mountain and cutting down trees can give Xiao Cheng, Bai Lu, and this group of rebellious citizens a powerful blow.

Li Chengbin's face, full of anger, was suddenly replaced by a sinister smile, and a glaring malice flashed in his eyes.

After receiving the signal, Ding Wuliang stepped forward to adjust his glasses and loudly said to Bai Lu and the villagers behind her, "The document for closing the mountain was taken by mistake. The order to close the mountain is temporarily invalid. Please hand over the sand."

The villagers of the Xiao family didn't make a fuss this time.

Their expectant eyes looked towards the golden girl shining under the sunlight - Bai Lu.

Bai Lu still held the document in her hand, smiled coldly, and raised it: "Mr. Ding Wuliang, if I didn't see you wearing glasses with my own eyes, I would have thought you were nearsighted."

"The sand in the river channel is managed by the water administration department. Not to mention that the sand the villagers picked up was washed up by the river, and it doesn't belong to illegal excavation. Even if you want to forcibly retrieve the picked sand, please bring the correct, reasonable, and legal document for sand collection."

"Instead, you brought a document stamped with the seal of an unknown small department under the county government. Did you forget to wear your glasses, or did you bring the wrong document again?"

Ding Wuliang's face changed, and cold sweat dripped again.

The smile of the young girl was too dazzling, her clear voice was too just and stern, her momentum was even stronger than his immediate superior. It left his mind blank.

All his dark schemes were laid bare in the sunlight, being crushed by justice.

She spoke clearly, with black and white evidence, pointing out fatal mistakes. He had no words to refute.

Seeing Ding Wuliang in that desperate state, Li Chengbin knew that the situation was exposed, and there was no way to collect the sand.

Enraged, his eyes turned black, and he almost fainted on the spot.

Luckily, the alert bodyguard comrades quickly stepped forward to help. Li Chengbin looked at the more than two hundred rebellious villagers who stood their ground, then at his own sixteen bodyguards and ten sand-carrying strong men. The balance of power was completely uneven.

They couldn't forcefully enter the Xiao family village.

They could only turn their attention to Bai Lu and the document once again.

"Who said we must have the approval document from the water administration department? The county government's seal is the most important. The document stamped with the county government's seal takes effect immediately. You haven't even graduated from high school, what do you understand! If you continue to obstruct official business, the police comrades will take you back and detain you!"

The "police comrades" instantly turned threatening, and they took out handcuffs from behind with a snap.

Confuse the public with misleading statements and threaten with intimidation?

Bai Lu was not afraid at all, composed and calm. She spoke slowly, "Mr. Li, do you need me to educate you about the jurisdiction of various functional departments under the county government? Or let Mr. Ding Wuliang show his work permit and let everyone see what kind of miscellaneous tasks his small department can handle?"

Ding Wuliang instinctively covered his chest where his work permit was, and his guilty action was instantly revealed.

Li Chengbin wished he could kill Bai Lu on the spot.

She ruined every good plan every time. This woman who didn't even graduate from high school knows everything!

Grandpa and grandma exchanged glances with Xiao Guofu.

Xiao Guofu immediately waved his hand backward, signaling a large group of strong young men from the Xiao family to come forward, protecting Bai Lu and facing Li Chengbin and others with iron shovels and hoes.

"Why haven't you left yet? Do you want me to send you away?"

"Get lost!"

"Get lost! All of you get lost!"

"Randomly framing charges, bringing a fake order to close the mountain, trying to take away our food. You bandits with your consciences eaten by dogs, go back to your bandit's den!"

"Still not leaving? Want to fight?"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost!"

Li Chengbin was infuriated, his face distorted. He wanted to ignore everything and shoot these rebellious citizens.

The bodyguard comrades knew his impulsive temper and had already stepped back far. It's not that they didn't want to act, but they couldn't.

The false document about closing the mountain and collecting sand had been exposed. If they continued to maliciously harm the people, the matter would escalate. If it reached his father-in-law, affecting his official career, none of them would survive.

Li Chengbin left again with resentment being "assisted."

But as soon as he turned around, he heard Bai Lu say to the rebellious citizens, "Don't worry, no one will come to collect sand in the future. The sand you picked up from the riverbank in previous years was used for construction materials or stored as food, not for profit. The country will not take it back."

"The chestnut trees on the mountain are not toxic. The country will not require afforestation. Even if there are special circumstances requiring the felling of chestnut trees, the country will send people down to inspect on-site, understand the local people's living standards, the crops they rely on for survival, and consider it accordingly, providing corresponding agricultural subsidies to ensure everyone's livelihood stability before felling."

"The country loves its people like its children, and it will never use fake documents to deceive the common people, let alone forcibly collect sand to cut off the food supply."

"If something similar happens again, you can go to the city government or provincial government to verify the true situation, to avoid being deceived by people with ulterior motives."

Bai Lu's resounding voice echoed in the mountains, calming the unknown fears and worries in the hearts of the common people.

The backup plan was exposed and overturned. Li Chengbin's blood surged with anger, and his eyes turned black, fainting on the spot.

The panicking bodyguards quickly carried him away.

Next Chapter ▶▶

  Chapter 120: Are You Dare to Face the Senior?

No, she couldn't easily admit to the plagiarism!

Otherwise, her piano career would come to a complete end.

Because the glory brought by the second place would also disappear.

The spit of the crowd would drag her into the abyss.

In this lifetime, she would never be able to wash away the stain on her body.

Others would also treat her as a joke.

Once she admitted to this matter of plagiarism, her parents, Gao Yang, would definitely be disappointed in her, and her uncle and aunt would dislike her even more, refusing her entry into the Bai family. Others who supported her and liked her would also turn against her.

She couldn't be brought down by this!

She must grit her teeth, "All of this is your one-sided words. Included in the textbooks? Who has seen it?"

"You..." Qin Zhilan saw this girl not shedding tears without seeing the coffin, and was so angry, "Alright, I'll make you convinced!"

She had someone take pictures of the latest textbooks and projected the scores onto the big screen.

"This is Master Tingyin's piece 'Wish'!" Qin Zhilan looked at everyone, "People who can understand the score naturally see the similarities in it, not just one or two identical phrases, but the entire climax part is completely copied!"

"Yes, it really is..."

"The climax part is completely the same!"

"President Qin didn't slander the second place. She really plagiarized."

"The parts before and after Master Tingyin's piece are much better than Bai Muyao's!"

"For those who don't understand the score, be patient. I will have someone perform the climax part of Master Tingyin's piece, and you can listen carefully to see if they are the same!"

Qin Zhilan's gaze swept across the audience, finally falling on Liu Feifei, "You come."

A third place was enough to slap Bai Muyao's face.

Liu Feifei was suddenly named by Chairwoman Qin, a little confused, but quickly sat down at the piano and played the climax part of Master Tingyin's piece according to the score on the big screen.

The identical melody entered everyone's ears, even those who initially defended their daughter, White Zhenhai and Xu Aiqin, were stunned.

Although they couldn't understand the score, it was unlikely that this completely identical music was not plagiarized...

With each note Liu Feifei played, it felt like slapping Bai Muyao's face, and in the end, Bai Muyao was so powerless to resist, her face as white as a sheet.

Among the judges sitting in the front row of the audience were several teachers who judged this year's competition. They were very optimistic about Bai Muyao, especially Lingqin, who could be said to be particularly fond of Bai Muyao.

Bai Muyao was able to get second place, largely due to her strong support...

But now, with ironclad evidence, she was somewhat disappointed and angry. She thought she had a good seedling, but it was a pity.

After Liu Feifei finished playing the climax part, the host, holding the microphone, solemnly said, "Some people work hard to plant a tree, but others, without the consent of the owner, pick the fruit privately, damaging the owner's rights."

He looked at Bai Muyao and said with great seriousness, "As the host of the competition, it is regrettable to announce to everyone that the second-place winner of this competition, Bai Muyao, plagiarized Master Tingyin's work, and her qualification for the award is revoked. According to the competition rules, she cannot participate in similar competitions in the future."

Bai Muyao felt her whole body trembling...

"Now, let our cameras capture the photos of the first place, third place, and Chairwoman Qin..." The host wanted the reporters to get closer to take pictures and pass over this matter...

Unexpectedly, Bai Muyao suddenly insisted loudly, "I did not plagiarize!"

"She has been proven to have plagiarized, and she still argues?"

"Could she really be innocent? Look at the stubbornness in her eyes. Plagiarists should be guilty... unlike her..."

"But the climax parts of both of their pieces are the same. If she didn't plagiarize Master Tingyin's work, could it be that Master Tingyin plagiarized her?"

"This is clearly plagiarism!"

...

Qin Zhilan didn't expect that even after hitting a wall, she wouldn't turn back, angrily said, "People nowadays, for the sake of fame and fortune, their bottom line has slipped, their moral standards have deteriorated. Is it a distorted mindset or a lack of character? You plagiarized Master Tingyin's work, and the industry will banish you. You should just tuck your tail and roll out of here. Dare you shamelessly claim that you didn't plagiarize in front of Master Tingyin?!"

"What?!"

Master Tingyin??

Master Tingyin has always been elusive, and no one has ever seen her true face...

Chairwoman Qin not only knew her but also seemed to be inviting her out?! 

But, would such a master-level figure come out to resolve such a trivial matter?

Bai Muyao didn't expect Chairwoman Qin to bring out Master Tingyin to press her. Who doesn't know that Master Tingyin's whereabouts are a mystery? She guessed that Master Tingyin didn't want to stand in the spotlight, so she had hidden her identity for so long.

When Chairwoman Qin said to repeat it in front of Master Tingyin, was she going to call her? Or was there going to be a live video connection?

Regardless of which method it was, Bai Muyao felt uneasy. The beautiful nails she had just done today unknowingly fell into the palm of her hand.

"Master Tingyin happened to be here today, right in the audience, witnessing you plagiarizing her work and still refusing to admit it!"

When this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar, searching for the shadow of Master Tingyin.

Bai Muyao's face completely lost its color. Master Tingyin is here? No, it's impossible...

How could such a powerful figure appear at such a small competition award ceremony? 

Qin Zhilan looked at the outstanding girl in the audience and spoke respectfully and cautiously, "Senior, I apologize for disturbing you because of such a trivial matter. Originally, I wanted to resolve it as soon as possible..."

As she said this, she looked at Bai Muyao with fierce eyes, "I didn't expect this girl to directly copy your piece and shamelessly claim that she didn't plagiarize! Not only is it disrespectful to you, but it also disrespects the original creation environment."

Chairwoman Qin looked at Ou Yan in the audience, speaking word by word, with a clear standpoint, "Plagiarism must be punished to prevent plagiarists from having no way out in this circle. Others dare not take risks, otherwise, it will only encourage plagiarism, and there will be fewer and fewer people dedicated to creation in the future, and plagiarism will become more and more common!"

  Chapter 119: Copying Others' Works

How could Qin Zhilan not see through her intentions? With a cold smile, she declared, "Your piece, the climax part, is a direct copy of Master Tingyin's 'Wish!'"

As soon as these words came out, the whole venue fell silent. 

What? Bai Muyao's piece, the climax part, was actually copied from Master Tingyin's work?!

Master Tingyin was a legend in the piano world, having won numerous prestigious awards both domestically and internationally in recent years, standing alongside Master Long as one of the top-tier figures!

However, Master Tingyin was more mysterious compared to Master Long. No one had seen her face, and no one knew her exact age.

"Chairwoman Qin, how can you be so sure that Bai Muyao copied Master Tingyin's work?" the host attempted to mediate. "I'm also a fan of Master Tingyin, but I've never heard of a piece called 'Wish' by Master Tingyin... Do you have any evidence?"

Internally, Bai Muyao felt a glimmer of relief. Even the host hadn't heard of Master Tingyin's 'Wish.' Besides, the climax part of the piece was clearly taken from Ou Yan's room! She even recognized Ou Yan's handwriting!

Moreover, she had searched online multiple times and found no trace of this particular piece, which is why she felt confident using it in her own composition!

Ou Yan raised her lazy gaze, indifferent to the scene unfolding onstage. She could even hear Xu Aiqin's indignation from the back rows!

"What's wrong with this Chairwoman Qin? If she didn't want to award Muyao, fine, but accusing her of copying a master's work! She deliberately made Muyao unable to leave the stage. Muyao is so skilled at playing the piano, does she need to plagiarize others' works?"

Xu Aiqin wanted to confront Chairwoman Qin right then and there.

However, Bai Zhenhai grabbed her hand. "It might be that Chairwoman Qin has listened to too many piano pieces and thought she heard something similar, so she assumed Muyao copied it. Let's wait and see."

On the other hand, Gao Yang had an uneasy feeling. "Chairwoman Qin has always been fair and just. If she doesn't have enough evidence, she wouldn't say such things..."

"Ah Yang, why don't you believe in Muyao? Just now, you were praising her in front of her," Xu Aiqin was a bit upset.

"It's strange..." Mrs. Li couldn't help but comment. "Just now, Chairwoman Qin was still eager to mentor Muyao, but why did Muyao say that President Qin looked down on her and didn't want to mentor her? She even said she wasn't worthy of wearing the clothes and jewelry designed by Master Qingyan?"

Xu Aiqin's expression stiffened; she had forgotten about this!

Just now, she was showing off to Mrs. Li that President Qin wanted to mentor Yao Yao, but they thought President Qin's skill level was too low and only wanted to be Master Long's disciples...

It's like lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own foot...

Mrs. Li also saw through her lies, and her gaze carried some disdain and contempt as she looked at Xu Aiqin.

"Evidence? Of course, I have it!" Qin Zhilan's tone was firm, shocking everyone present.

Even Bai Muyao was pale with disbelief.

"Before I present the evidence, I want to ask you, what does the climax part of your piece 'Sorrow' express?"

Under Qin Zhilan's questioning, Bai Muyao gained some confidence. She had previously asked her tutor, who said that she heard intense sorrow in that part of the piece.

"Of course, it's sorrow! Everyone has different interpretations of music, but I believe good music can resonate with people. As for my piece, it's expressed just like its name suggests, an endless sorrow! A person, wrapped in sorrow, wanting to break free but unable to..."

"Hmph." Unexpectedly, Qin Zhilan laughed and looked at White Muyao with shallow eyes. "Then you misunderstood! If you don't believe me, ask the others in the audience what they associate with the climax part. Come on, who wants to speak?"

The host spoke first, "What I heard was indeed intense sorrow, enveloped in surging waves of sadness, tearing apart, and after who knows how long, a ray of sunlight poured in, and suddenly, a force pulled me, urging me to live on..."

The audience also stood up, and the host passed the microphone around.

"What I heard was the courage and strength to break free from sorrow..."

"I had images of the earthquake reported last year..."

"So did I, the earthquake in Chenguang last year caused countless deaths and injuries. When I heard the climax part, the scenes of the earthquake flashed in my mind..."

"I also associated it with natural disasters and human calamities!"

...

Qin Zhilan saw Bai Muyao's complexion gradually pale, and with a cold smile, she said, "That's right! The earthquake in Chenguang last year shattered countless families. The survivors were in immense pain, unable to extricate themselves from grief. Master Tingyin composed 'Wish' with the aim of using the power of music to give them hope and warmth, helping them emerge from the gloom!"

But Bai Muyao didn't understand music theory, and her hired tutor was only mediocre, so all she understood were shallow, surface-level interpretations.

They only knew there was sorrow in the climax part but didn't realize that under the devastation of sorrow, there was a force pulling the survivors, urging them to live on...

"Why am I so sure that Master Tingyinr created 'Wish'?! Just this March! Her piece, due to its positive and uplifting impact, was included in the music textbooks through my efforts. The new textbooks have already been printed. In September of this year, everyone can see Master Tingyin's work! It hadn't been made public until now!"

Everyone was stunned...

They hadn't expected this turn of events...

Even Bai Muyao couldn't believe it...

"Master Tingyin's original version is leagues better than yours!"

"If I'm not mistaken, you copied the climax part of Master Tingyin's piece, but afraid of being discovered, you wrote your own sections before and after. However, you can't reach that level, and your sections can't support such a majestic atmosphere. The combination with Master Tingyin's climax part is very odd!"

"I didn't realize at first, and even found it somewhat unpleasant until the climax part played, and I faintly felt it was familiar!"

"If it weren't for the climax part, those judges wouldn't have let you advance."

"Your sections are mediocre. Taken separately, they're downright poor! Forget about the second place; you wouldn't even make it to the top twenty!"

"You copied Master Tingyin's work, yet refuse to admit it. You don't deserve this award! You're not even worthy of being in this profession! On behalf of the Piano Association, I reject your membership for life!"

Chairwoman Qin's words resounded like thunder, and everyone's hearts couldn't be described as anything but shocked...

They hadn't expected Bai Muyao, at such a young age, to dare to plagiarize a master's work. Not only did she refuse to admit it, but she also tried to smear Chairwoman Qin, diverting attention from herself...

Bai Muyao's face was beyond ugly, unable even to stand properly, being publicly barred from this profession by the President of the Piano Association... It was even more unbearable than death!

 Chapter 184: Being Prepared

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 183: Changing Plans

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 639: Stealing Someone in Front of Me, Isn't That Unethical?

Seeing Lin Hao's condition, they couldn't continue forward.

Qin Ruan spoke to Wei Linchen, who was sitting in front of her, "Professor Wei, Lin Hao can't row the boat for now. The rest of the journey will rely on you."

"Sure."

As Wei Linchen had physical contact with Lin Hao, he could see the hundreds of lost souls on the Huangju tree.

As long as it was a low-cultivation ghost, he could see them.

The six eerie heads emerging from the lake had already fallen into his eyes.

However, it was just six of them.

He had seen hundreds of ferocious faces with sharp teeth earlier, which were scarier than these six brats, so he felt no burden.

Wei Linchen took the oar from Lin Hao's hand, replacing him, and continued to row towards the center of the lake.

Lin Hao sat opposite Qin Ruan, sitting upright like an elementary school student.

Qin Ruan called him, "Brother Hao?"

"Here!"

Lin Hao suddenly raised his head, his body tense.

Qin Ruan smiled, "Relax, don't be so nervous."

Lin Hao's tense body relaxed, he rubbed his face with a bitter smile, "I can't live like this. I see ghosts every day. I'm afraid I'll lose my life one day."

Hearing this, Qin Ruan blinked her eyes, her eyes showing a hint of surprise.

She asked tentatively, "You're not afraid of the ghosts themselves, but afraid of being harmed by them?"

Lin Hao grabbed his hair, a bitter smile on his resolute face, "There's not much difference between humans and ghosts. They all have a nose, two ears, two eyes, and a mouth.

When I first saw them, I was really scared and horrified, but over time, I'm not that afraid anymore. After all, they are the lost souls of people who died.

It's just that when I fight with people, I can use real bullets and real fighting, but with ghosts, they are my natural enemies. If I don't see them, I won't provoke them, but once I see them, I worry about losing my life all the time."

"Ha!" Qin Ruan burst out laughing.

She had never known about Lin Hao's inner struggles.

Thinking about it, it was understandable.

They grew up in Xicheng and were never afraid of real fights.

However, they were afraid of potential dangers, like time bombs that made their hearts race, never knowing when they would explode.

Now, Lin Hao seemed to have exploded.

It was hard for him to endure for so long.

Listening to the conversation between Qin Ruan and Lin Hao, Wei Linchen, who was rowing the boat, heard it all.

He turned his head and smiled at Lin Hao, "It's simple. Worship me as your teacher, join my Qingcheng Taoist temple, and I will teach you ghost-catching skills so that you can protect yourself. Then, you won't need to fear those evil spirits anymore."

Hearing this, Qin Ruan laughed in exasperation, "Professor Wei, isn't it unethical to steal someone in front of me?"

Wei Lincen was not the least bit guilty and met Qin Ruan's gaze with his dark, exquisite eyes, "This kid has the Yin Yang Eyes. Such a good constitution shouldn't go to waste in your hands.

As long as he joins my sect, I'll let him become the head of Qingcheng Taoist temple and pass on all my lifelong learnings to him."

He was truly considering taking Lin Hao under his wing.

The Yin Yang Eyes constitution was rare in the world.

Now that he encountered one, he couldn't help but want to fight for it.

Even if he knew it was hopeless, he couldn't resist the temptation.

Qin Ruan's playful expression subsided, her exquisite face showing contemplation.

She was actually considering whether to hand Lin Hao over to Wei Linchen.

The Taoist skills she learned from the Heavenly Master were only partially understood.

Her current abilities were all learned from the underworld and couldn't be taught to others.

"Qin Ruan, I advise you to stop considering such dangerous ideas."

Lin Hao's gloomy voice rang out.

Qin Ruan raised her head but remained silent, just staring at Lin Hao.

Frowning, Lin Hao looked at her disapprovingly, "My life doesn't belong to me now. It's only by your side that people can feel at ease."

This was indeed true, and Qin Ruan couldn't refute it.

Third Master kept Lin Hao here out of consideration for her face.

Lin Hao had even entered the Hou family's hidden guard department.

His situation wasn't something she could decide alone.

However, the issue of fear towards ghosts had to be resolved.

Without self-defense abilities, who wouldn't be afraid?

Qin Ruan thought to herself, if she didn't have the divine power from the underworld to ward off evil spirits, how would she have the courage to deal with them?

Lin Hao stared at Qin Ruan's contemplative face, thinking that she was still considering the idea of letting him join some Taoist sect.

He wasn't someone who could recite sutras and be a virtuous and kind person, unable to be a monk or a Taoist.

If he joined that Taoist temple, his life would become much less enjoyable.

To have a joyful life in the future, Lin Hao said, "Third Young Master said that once Hou Zhi wakes up, I won't be by your side all the time. It'll be Hou Zhi who will accompany you. After all, she's a woman, and it'll be more convenient for you in many ways."

"Is that so? Then let's talk about it later."

Qin Ruan wouldn't send Lin Hao to the Qingcheng Taoist temple.

She was thinking about how to make him have the ability to ward off evil spirits without getting close to them.

"Qin Ruan, something's wrong!"

Wei Linchen stopped rowing forward and solemnly reminded her.

His face was solemn as he stared at the center of the lake.

Qin Ruan's face didn't look good either, and her deep gaze stared at the water's surface.

She saw the six heads that were there before had disappeared.

They had entered the area of the artificial lake where the dark energy was dense.

Ripples appeared in the black water.

Qin Ruan saw Cheng Xuelan emerging from the water.

The young girl had blood-red eyes and wet hair, slowly floating to the surface.

Her blood-red eyes lacked any emotion, and there was a suffocating pressure in the whirlpool in her eyes.

"Why did you come back!"

Her cold question was filled with hatred.

Qin Ruan, holding Lin Hao's arm for support, stood steady, and she asked back, "Why are you afraid to see us?"

Cheng Xuelan seemed to be touching her bottom line.

The calm lake surface rippled, and waves surged like violent waves.

"Go away!"

Cheng Xuelan flew up and left the water.

Her black hair fluttered in the air, and her malevolent puppet body was filled with a strong death aura.

Qin Ruan didn't bother to waste words with her. Being in the water, there was a high chance of overturning the boat once they fought.

She couldn't risk hurting the child in her belly for the sake of dealing with a ghost.

With a raise of her wrist, the golden whip appeared in her palm.

She squinted her eyes and swung the Buddha's hand, releasing the golden whip.

Cheng Xuelan feared the golden whip and showed hatred in her eyes as she quickly submerged into the water.

This time, she had nowhere to escape.

The golden whip followed and pierced the water.

In just a few seconds, Cheng Xuelan was bound by the golden whip and pulled out of the water.

Qin Ruan reached towards the void.

The golden whip bound Cheng Xuelan and flew in front of Qin Ruan.

Cheng Xuelan's soaked clothes wrapped around her perfect figure, and the sinister and icy ghost body exuded a deathly aura.

Chapter 638: Do Not Advise Others to Do Good Without Experiencing Their Suffering

After Wei Linchen left, Qin Ruan walked over to the little girl and bent down, gently stroking her head.

Due to her pregnancy, she couldn't bend for too long, so she just lightly touched the girl's hair with her palm before straightening her body.

Looking down at the girl, Qin Ruan's voice softened, "You have been dead for decades; you are not a real child anymore. There are some things you can choose to let go of and not wander down the wrong path again."

Provoking more misfortune would lead to her soul's annihilation.

The girl sitting on the ground suddenly raised her head, her blood-red eyes coldly fixed on Qin Ruan.

"I can't let go, I can never let go!" she said stubbornly, her expression paranoid and filled with hatred, as if she wanted to destroy all living creatures around her.

Qin Ruan pursed her lips, not knowing what to say.

Before, when she found out that these lost souls were being manipulated by the Huangju tree to harm others, she hesitated whether to let them scatter or send them to the underworld.

But now, she only had one thought in mind: to send all these pitiful lost souls to the underworld.

In the cycle of reincarnation, they would be judged by the Ten Yama Kings and sent to the Three Good Paths or the Three Evil Paths, depending on their actions. It was their fate.

There was a saying that went, "Do not advise others to do good without experiencing their suffering."

She could sympathize with these lost souls and give them a chance, but she had no right to judge their actions.

Qin Ruan murmured softly, "You will eventually let go."

She turned around and looked at the hundreds of lost souls lying on the ground.

These ghosts had lost their malevolent energy, their power greatly diminished, and their killing ability weakened significantly.

Pitiful and sad.

Who would know what they had to go through every day?

The hazy sky blurred Qin Ruan's eyes.

Before she arrived, these lost souls were lost and confused.

Over time, they could not escape their fate of turning into piles of white bones.

She was not their savior, nor was she the executioner harvesting their souls.

Qin Ruan came too late.

The only thing she could do now was to send them to the underworld for judgment by the Ten Yama Kings.

Qin Ruan closed her heavy eyelids, her crimson lips slightly parted, and she recited, "The Ten Yama Kings teach me to kill demons and gods, to learn divine techniques, to drive away evil, and that no god can resist and no demon dares to defy. The Ten Yama Kings are swift in carrying out their orders, punishing evil!"

In an instant, dense black mist surged into the forest, and the heavy sound of chains resounded from the darkness.

"Miss Qin."

The voice was as cold as ice, with a touch of deference.

Qin Ruan opened her eyes, her deep gaze focused on the underworld envoy standing before her.

This time, it wasn't the black-and-white envoys, but more than a dozen regular envoys.

The number of envoys coming up was unusually large, as if they knew that this trip would be challenging.

Qin Ruan frowned slightly, speaking slowly, "Take these lost souls to the underworld."

"Yes!"

The envoy standing in front of her perceived that Qin Ruan was in a bad mood and didn't disturb her further.

All the envoys began their busy work.

The Soul-Locking Chains bound one lost soul after another.

Qin Ruan turned back and looked at the little girl sitting on the ground, her blood-red eyes vacant, her gaze falling on the busy underworld envoys around her.

She looked pale and at a loss.

It was as if someone had given her an exquisite and precious doll, but she was covered in dirt and couldn't bring herself to touch it.

Qin Ruan felt a sense of emptiness in her heart and some suppressed emotions.

She spoke softly, "Go with them. I will avenge you, but as for the crimes you committed, the underworld will judge you."

The little girl, like a puppet with its strings cut, looked blankly at Qin Ruan, her eyes filled with blood mist. "For forty-six years, eight months, and three days, why didn't you appear earlier?"

With a hint of resentment and childish stubbornness, she seemed to blame Qin Ruan for not coming to save them sooner.

Qin Ruan stared at her expressionlessly, not saying a word.

Tears started to flow from the little girl's blood-red eyes, dropping to the ground one after another.

She cried without making any sound, full of sadness, grief, and despair.

Her tears were like a bursting flood, falling from her eye sockets.

Throughout, she did not make any loud cries.

The little girl was not the first victim, but she was the one most closely connected to the original Huangju tree.

The pain she endured when she was turned into a puppet was much greater than that of the other lost souls.

Suddenly, Qin Ruan felt like her past life wasn't that miserable after all.

In this world, many people lived much worse lives.

There were always people who suffered in corners unknown to others, enduring pain and hardships.

They had no chance to struggle; they could only wait for death to come.

A lonely death...

Qin Ruan didn't want to think about it any further; being pregnant made her sensitive and emotional.

She dismissed all the thoughts in her mind, narrowed her eyes, and looked deeply at the little girl before turning away.

Her back was resolute and arrogant, emanating a powerful and oppressive aura that people would long for.

Qin Ruan pierced through the black mist and saw Lin Hao, Wei Lincen, and the guards of the Hou family standing outside.

Wei Lincen was on the phone, and when he saw Qin Ruan emerge from the black mist, he said to the other end of the line, "You go back to the dormitory first, and I'll be back soon."

After finishing the call, he walked quickly toward Qin Ruan. "Is everything resolved?"

Qin Ruan's delicate face turned blue, and she said, "Not yet."

The sins committed by the Huangju tree were not so easily resolved.

The main body had already escaped, but she would find them eventually.

After all, this matter was deeply connected to Ling Feng and Lan An.

Wei Linchen also knew that the main body of the Huangju tree had escaped and guessed that Qin Ruan wouldn't give up so easily.

"I found out some information through my assistant about the six deceased students at the school and the origin of the Huangju tree," Wei Lincen said.

Qin Ruan looked at him and proposed, "Let's go to the artificial lake."

She had just dealt with hundreds of lost souls imprisoned by the Huangju tree and didn't see Cheng Xuelan's puppet.

She suspected that the girl might be hiding under the artificial lake.

The black water in the lake contained malevolent energy, so there might be evil spirits lurking there.

Wei Lincen didn't refuse the suggestion.

A group of people left the small

forest and headed to the artificial lake.

No one looked back at the thick black mist behind them.

Inside, hundreds of wronged souls were released, leaving behind a scene of destruction and debris.

It was a cruel massacre that had been imprisoned for over a hundred years.

The fog would eventually disperse, and dawn lay ahead.

Artificial lake at the Audri School

Qin Ruan, Wei Linchen, and Lin Hao rowed a boat to the center of the lake.

The closer they got to the center of the artificial lake, the colder the surrounding atmosphere became.

It was a bone-piercing chill that quickly seeped into their bodies.

Even through their clothes, they couldn't resist the intrusion of the cold.

Wei Linchen had his sleeves dirtied earlier, but now he rolled them up, unable to bear the chilling air.

However, as the chilling air penetrated their marrow, he put his sleeves back down.

Frowning, he complained, "With such heavy Yin energy, are you sure there's only one lost soul in the artificial lake?"

Qin Ruan's gaze was fixed on the center of the lake, her voice low, "No, there's more."

She had already seen six heads appearing on the surface of the lake, all belonging to short-haired males.

Their faces were pale, their hair wet, and their dark eyes were fixed intently on them.

The lake was filled with the stench of decay.

Lin Hao, who was rowing the boat, suddenly stopped.

Qin Ruan looked at him.

Lin Hao's eyes were fixed on the center of the lake where the six heads were, and his Adam's apple kept moving due to nervousness and fear.

 Chapter 34: Profitable Business

"Reselling medicinal herbs?"

Captain Sun became interested. He knew that the medicinal herb business was extremely profitable, but without some background, it was impossible to get involved.

"Tell me more!"

Bailiff Qian repeated Chen Xue's words verbatim, not mentioning Chen Xue at all.

After speaking, Bailiff Qian was somewhat hopeful for Captain Sun's praise, but he saw Captain Sun furrow his brows, causing his heart to skip a beat.

"Captain, isn't this business profitable?"

"It's indeed very profitable, but..."

Captain Sun didn't finish his sentence, leaving Bailiff Qian curious and frustrated, feeling like a cat that had seen a mouse but couldn't catch it.

"Reselling medicinal herbs is a profitable business, not to mention it's already monopolized by the big merchant guilds. But let's talk about the initial capital first; it's not something we can afford."

Captain Sun sighed, explaining that they were only doing small businesses and reselling small items because they lacked sufficient capital.

While reselling medicinal herbs was indeed profitable, it required a considerable amount of capital and background connections. Without these, they would have to purchase the herbs at market prices, which were even higher in the capital than elsewhere.

Even the cheapest medicinal herbs, priced at five taels per plant, would cost fifty taels for ten plants and five hundred taels for a hundred plants.

Where could they find such a sum?

Even if they could afford it, not every herb was cheap. Even if they bought the cheapest ones, purchased a hundred plants, and managed to reach the Southern Barbarians in seven to eight months if fast, or a year if slow, the herbs would lose their freshness and value during the journey.

Moreover, as they traveled by foot, encountering bandits, wild animals, and other crises along the way, they might lose a significant portion of the herbs.

By the time they reached the Southern Barbarians, out of a hundred plants, they might only have eighty or ninety left, and even that was an optimistic estimate. Plus, with the loss of potency, they would struggle to sell them at a high price.

Furthermore, the Southern Barbarian territories were rich in forests and herbs, making their imported herbs less attractive compared to locally harvested ones.

In conclusion, while reselling medicinal herbs was profitable for the big merchant guilds, it was risky and less profitable for them.

"It turned out like this!" Bailiff Qian's face changed after hearing Captain Sun's analysis. He had thought it was a very profitable business.

"So, while this business seems good, we don't have enough capital or channels to obtain the herbs at a low price, so it's not suitable for our small-scale operations."

Feeling angry, Bailiff Qian exclaimed, "Damn it, we've been deceived by them!"

"Deceived?" Captain Sun frowned. "What do you mean?"

Bailiff Qian realized he had slipped up but felt that since Captain Sun didn't see the business as profitable, there was no need for him to take the blame.

So, he sold out Chen Xue. "They said they wanted to cooperate with you on this business..."

"They're a poor family, how could they afford the capital to purchase herbs? They must be playing us."

"Captain, let me go and teach them a lesson so they know not to mess with us..."

"No!" Captain Sun interrupted him, his eyes flashing. He didn't agree with Bailiff Qian's words.

Chen Yuan was still a former official, responsible for financial matters and national resources. He might have channels to obtain herbs at a lower price.

Furthermore, as a official of ministry of revenue, Chen Yuan was definitely not a fool. He could see that reselling medicinal herbs was not something ordinary people could do. Even in exile, he dared to venture into this business, indicating that he had confidence.

"Go, take me to them!"

"Huh?" Bailiff Qian hadn't reacted yet. "Captain, didn't you say this business wasn't good and we couldn't do it? Why are we going to them? Are we going to hold them accountable?"

"You little fool."

Captain Sun glared at him. "Read more books when you have time, don't act like an ignorant fool."

Bailiff Qian rolled his eyes speechlessly. "Captain, you don't have much education either. I haven't seen you read many books!"

"Get out!"

...

"Sir, Miss, Captain Sun is here!"

The servant's voice came from outside the carriage. Chen Xue quickly put away the snacks and the go board on the table, then got out of the carriage.

When Captain Sun arrived, he got straight to the point, "I heard you want to cooperate with me in business?"

Chen Xue and Chen Yuan exchanged glances, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes. They had tried various methods before but couldn't win over Captain Sun. Not only that, he had been avoiding them.

Now that he finally appeared, Chen Xue wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"Captain Sun should know what kind of business we want to do, right?"

"Naturally." Captain Sun nodded when he saw Chen Yuan didn't speak up but Chen Xue did. Although he was surprised, he still nodded, "However, you should know that the medicinal herb business is not something ordinary people can do."

"You probably don't have the capital, do you? You must have some channels!" Captain Sun guessed, "Your so-called cooperation is about me providing the capital while you provide the channels, right?"

"Of course not." Chen Xue smiled, "What we're doing is a zero-capital business."

"Oh?" Captain Sun's interest grew stronger. Everyone liked a zero-capital business, but was there really such a thing in this world?

"Tell me more. If it's really a zero-capital business, why do you want to cooperate with me?"

"Exactly, as you know, our movements are restricted now. Not to mention doing business, even purchasing goods is very difficult."

After hearing Chen Xue's words, Captain Sun nodded. It was indeed the case. The Chen family was now exiled, unable to leave the custody of the exile captain. If they did, it would be considered escape, and they could be killed on sight.

In that case, it was quite normal for the Chen family to want to cooperate with him.

"Tell me more about your so-called 'zero-capital' business."

However, Chen Xue shook her head, "Captain Sun, as the saying goes, cooperation is mutually beneficial. Let's discuss the terms first, then we can talk about the specific cooperation."

Captain Sun sneered at her words, "If you don't explain clearly, how can I determine if this business is worth cooperating in? Besides, do you have other choices besides cooperating with me?"

"That's right. Although we don't have other options for cooperation, we can choose not to do this business."

"You..."

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