Chapter 642: Anything Requires an Equal Price

Wei Linchen sat on the side, his slender fingers propping up his chin. "The spirits hanging on the tree earlier, judging from their clothing, they shouldn't all be from the school. Some of them were wearing mainstream clothes from different eras, and some were even dressed in blue cotton robes. They can't be from the same era, right?"

He didn't ask who the people Qin Ruan knew were.

Her hesitation earlier made it clear that she didn't want to talk about it.

A tree spirit would only recognize others of its kind or fellow practitioners.

Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, not all of them were from Audri School. Over the past century, many people who made wishes to the Huangju Tree died, and over time, the area under the tree piled up with countless bones."

Wei Linchen's lips tightened. "It's quite skillful to remain undiscovered for so many years."

Qin Ruan's gaze fell on the few ghosts controlled by Cheng Xuelan. "I'll investigate the Huangju Tree. Now that they have marks of the tree inside them, I'll help them extract the wood essence. Would you like to send them away, or should I do it?"

Wei Linchen shrugged. "You do it. I can't send them away. Every time I send these spirits away, I have to go find the old monk from Nanyin Temple."

It was better to let Qin Ruan handle it than to go ask Hui Cheng from Nanyin Temple.

Qin Ruan nodded. "It's getting late. After dealing with them, I'll head back."

She hadn't forgotten that she promised to have dinner with Third Young Master when leaving the Xiangxi Manor.

"Is the tree spirit really gone?" Hearing the conversation between Qin Ruan and Wei Linchen, Cheng Xuelan couldn't help but speak up.

Her crimson eye still appeared red, but the anger and vigilance on her face had diminished significantly.

Qin Ruan leaned against the sofa, gently caressing her slightly more active belly. She looked at Cheng Xuelan with indifference. "As I told you before, it's your own disbelief."

Cheng Xuelan was momentarily stunned and blurted out, "Then are the other people in the school saved?"

Qin Ruan sat up straight. "Other people?"

Her sharp eyebrows and eyes exuded a sense of indifference.

Cheng Xuelan bit her lip. "Teacher Lu and my roommate, as well as a classmate from my class, they were all targeted by the Huangju Tree."

Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes and asked, "How do you know?"

"After I died, I could feel that they had the same death aura as me. It's the sensing of the mark left by the Huangju Tree."

Qin Ruan pointed at the six male puppets squatting next to Cheng Xuelan. "Did they die because they were targeted by the Huangju Tree too?"

"Yes!" Cheng Xuelan nodded firmly.

Qin Ruan's dark eyes stared at Cheng Xuelan thoughtfully.

After a while, she asked, "Why did you possess Teacher Lu?"

Cheng Xuelan frowned. "I wanted to borrow Teacher Lu's body to tell Teacher Kang to stay away from the Huangju Tree."

"Then why couldn't you say it after possessing his body?"

"After I possessed Teacher Lu, I couldn't say anything related to the Huangju Tree. I don't know why it happened."

Speaking of this, Cheng Xuelan's face was full of resentment.

Qin Ruan gently rubbed her index finger and thumb together, and with an interested expression, she looked at Cheng Xuelan. "Write down the names of the people you know who were targeted by the Huangju Tree later."

Cheng Xuelan blinked, and the red light in her eyes faded, replaced by darkness. "Okay!"

She inexplicably believed Qin Ruan.

The six male ghosts around her, who were saved by her, told her that they had seen Principal Liu together with these people when she woke up.

Knowing their identities, she wouldn't have fully believed Qin Ruan with just a few words.

Qin Ruan suddenly asked, "Why did you return to school during summer vacation, and why did you die in the artificial lake?"

"Me?" Cheng Xuelan lowered her head slowly. "It was because of my greed."

Wei Linchen couldn't help but mockingly interject, "Ignorance is truly beyond belief. In this world, nothing is handed to you for free. If you want something, you must pay an equal price."

A layer of frost covered his face, showing disdain and a cold and merciless demeanor.

Cheng Xuelan's lips tightened, unable to refute his words.

She did pay a hefty price indeed.

If she hadn't been greedy and hadn't made a wish, she could have lived for several more years.

Cheng Xuelan took a deep breath and continued, "Not long after that, school was about to start, and my condition improved significantly. I went to the hospital for a check-up, and one of the high-risk values in my body decreased significantly. There was a chance for my illness to be cured. That was good news, and I thought the wishing tree was truly miraculous."

"But then, one day during the vacation, I went to my family's store and ran into Teacher Kang, Teacher Lu, and some other classmates. That day, I felt a little strange."

Qin Ruan listened quietly, not interrupting.

The six ghosts around Cheng Xuelan spoke softly.

"We didn't mean it that day. You seemed like a different person, and you were dressed differently... We thought you had gone astray."

Cheng Xuelan looked at the ghost who spoke, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. "I know. If it were the old me, I might have felt uncomfortable that day, but I didn't care about it then."

Another ghost said, "Actually, you're a nice person."

"Yes, you're good-looking, just not very social. Many boys in our class discuss you."

"Actually, actually... I quite like you."

Cheng Xuelan was comforted by their words, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

Despite the abnormal paleness on her face, her smile was still beautiful.

Qin Ruan propped her head with one hand, watching these young male and female ghosts conducting a tea party on the spot.

Interestingly enough, this atmosphere reminded her of her memories back in West City High School.

There were no good schools around West City, and more than half of the students were troublesome characters.

Even Qin Ruan herself was a headache for the teachers.

Wei Linchen had no mood to appreciate this scene. The dirt on his sleeves and the faint smell of decay made him quite uncomfortable psychologically.

At this moment, he only wanted to do one thing.

Take off these clothes immediately, take a good shower, and change into clean clothes.

Seeing that they were reminiscing about the past, Wei Linchen interrupted in a deep voice.

"If you want to reminisce or talk about love, there will be plenty of time for that in the Netherworld. Deal with the matter at hand now."

Playing the role of a villain who breaks up friendships, Wei Linchen spoke coldly, and all seven ghosts looked at him.

Wei Linchen didn't feel any psychological pressure. His refined appearance showed detachment.

He raised his chin at Liu Liu, who was standing beside him. "Go get paper and a pen."

  Chapter 36: Turning a Blind Eye

Captain Sun hesitated for a moment. There was a risk in unlocking the shackles; who knew if the Chens would try to escape. However, he reasoned that the Chens had nowhere to run and stood a better chance of survival by cooperating. Eventually, he agreed but only unlocked the shackles for Chen Xue, her parents, and, at Chen Xue's insistence, for Xiao Die and Yang Xiaohua as well.

Chen Xue insisted that only Xu Tian should unlock the shackles. Although Captain Sun was puzzled, he agreed considering the current need for their cooperation.

Xu Tian, although puzzled, was delighted to help Chen Xue's family. However, when he unlocked Chen's mother's shackles, he was surprised by their light weight.

As a longtime bailiff, Xu Tian was familiar with the weight of shackles, and these were unusually light, raising his suspicions.

Chen Xue, noticing Xu Tian's confusion, hurried him along, and although perplexed, he continued to help them.

Xu Tian noticed that while Yang Xiaohua's shackles were normal, Xiao Die's were not. As he unlocked Chen Xue's shackles, he became even more convinced that something was wrong.

One oddity could be dismissed, but several indicated a problem. However, when he looked into Chen Xue's eyes, he felt momentarily dazed, hearing her voice in his mind. After shaking his head to clear it, he no longer questioned the shackles' weight.

Chen Xue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that her investment in hypnosis techniques had paid off. Although costly, she had managed to gather enough contributions to obtain the technique.

However, hypnosis had its limitations; it required direct eye contact and could only affect one person at a time. Additionally, resistance to oneself made it easier to be hypnotized.

Thus, she chose Xu Tian to unlock the shackles, trusting his positive attitude and unlikelihood of causing a scene.

After the shackles were unlocked, Chen Xue felt liberated and eagerly stretched, relieved to be free of the restrictions.

Captain Sun urged them to identify nearby medicinal herbs promptly, eager to profit as much as possible.

Chen Xue wasted no time, hoping to gather more herbs for contribution points.

The announcement that medicinal herbs could be exchanged for food sparked excitement among the exiles. They were accustomed to meager rations and welcomed the opportunity to gather herbs, even if it required effort.

Captain Sun was pleased with the lack of opposition to the announcement.

Some doubts were raised about sharing profits with the Chens, but Captain Sun had no intention of doing so. He planned to sell the herbs in the Southern Barbarian region, where the Chens would be handed over to local authorities and unable to interfere.

He was well aware of Guo Qiang's ruthless nature and doubted the Chens would survive long enough to reach their destination.

As expected, many herbs were collected and brought to Captain Sun's group.

Chen Xue's involvement was not for monetary gain; she knew they wouldn't be able to profit from the herbs. Instead, she aimed to exchange them for contribution points discreetly.

However, when she approached the bailiff in charge, he refused her request, indicating a desire to renege on their agreement.

Chen Xue insisted on inspecting the herbs, but the bailiff remained adamant. It seemed he was prepared to turn his back on their arrangement.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 73: The New Racing Deity of Wudao Mountain**

Jing Jiangning's car brushed past the guardrail, generating sparks from the rapid friction at high speed. He swiftly adjusted the steering wheel and faced another turn.

A massive S-shaped turn!

On this kind of road, even a slight drift could result in a disastrous crash!

Expressionless, Jiang Chenchen firmly gripped the steering wheel, calculating the optimal moment to accelerate as she approached the last turn, unleashing the full power of the engine.

The car seemed to drift!

Jing Jiangning hadn't expected her to drift at this moment. Without the ability to control the car and absolute confidence, attempting such a maneuver would be unthinkable. The engine was probably close to exploding!

The spectators watching the race held their breath. The scene was too intense!

In the dark car, Sheng Mingsi's brows furrowed, and his eyes darkened. It was too reckless.

But Jiang Chenchen's hands remained steady. In this high-speed drift through the challenging turn, her car aggressively passed Jing Jiangning's, almost in an instant. She skillfully corrected the vehicle's position and overtook him!

Cheers echoed through the night sky as they welcomed Jiang Chenchen, the first to cross the finish line, in her dazzling red car.

The car came to a stop, and the crowd swarmed around.

This woman, who had never appeared on the racing scene before, had defeated other racers tonight, including the legendary Jing Jiangning from Southern City. Who was she?

Jing Jiangning, stopping behind, opened his car door and walked towards her.

Leaning against the car window, Jiang Chenchen gazed at the night, the wind blowing through her hair. The crowd cheered for her, but she seemed devoid of any joy.

Seeing this, Jing Jiangning felt that losing to her was indeed due to his inadequate skills. This calm and composed person was truly powerful.

He walked over, nodded at her, and with a smile that revealed dimples, he appeared shy and humble.

Extending his hand, he said, "Can I challenge you again in the future?"

He didn't even ask her name, just expressing his intention to compete when his skills were sufficient. As a racer, that was his goal, with no extraneous thoughts.

Looking at him, Jiang Chenchen shook his hand. "Let's talk about it later."

This was the first sentence she spoke tonight.

Jing Jiangning politely released her hand, scratched his head, and said, "Your engine must be at its limit. Almost done, right?"

"Exploded."

Jing Jiangning smiled. "As expected."

With precise calculations at the last moment, she used the ultimate power to surge to the finish line, scrapping the car in the process.

Reckless and indifferent to the car's well-being.

Was she really a racer?

But it didn't matter.

Jing Jiangning nodded at her. "See you later."

He returned to his car and disappeared into the night.

Others crowded around Jiang Chenchen, cheering loudly. "Congratulations! You've become the new racing deity of Wudao Mountain!"

She didn't care about being a racing deity; she only knew that the prize money was now hers.

Sun Bailong felt less embarrassed now, having someone to stand in the forefront and divert attention.

He hadn't expected this woman to be so skilled. That collision on the road that day seemed like she had shown mercy.

The race ended, and Sun Bailong insisted on taking her out for a meal.

For the sake of the money, Jiang Chenchen had to compromise.

Sun Bailong patted the hood of the red car and said boldly, "Let's use this war chariot to lead us to drink and sing, celebrating all night! I'll treat you!"

His entourage joined in the excitement.

Jiang Chenchen, however, said, "This car can't be driven."

But Sun Bailong pounded his chest. "So what if it's broken? It's just a car. Come, use my car."

"Oh, brother Sun, did you notice those two helicopters above us? They left not long ago."

Sun Bailong thought for a moment. "Could it be..."

A low-profile car drove up and blocked their view.

The window rolled down, revealing a gloomy and unpredictable face.

Sun Bailong muttered, "Young Master Sheng, you also came to watch the race!"

"Enough chatter. Transfer the money to her account, not a penny less." Sheng Mingsi's cold gaze swept over, "As for the rest, we'll talk after daybreak."

Sun Bailong, usually domineering, trembled under the cold wind of Sheng Mingsi's words. He quickly assumed a pleasing posture. "Sure, sure, if Young Master Sheng says so, I will definitely follow through."

However, Sheng Mingsi didn't look at him again, shifting his gaze away and focusing on Jiang Chenchen.

"Stop standing there. Get in the car."

So, Jiang Chenchen tightly gripped her phone and got into the car.

How did he know? Why did he come here?

They agreed that she wouldn't drive without a license. This time, she was caught in the act. He must be very angry again.

The car started.

In the dark night within the car, Sheng Mingsi stared ahead, not saying a word.

A moment of silence passed in the car.

Jiang Chenchen could feel the aura of anger emanating from him.

"I'm sorry..."

She apologized.

Although Sheng Mingsi felt a bit frustrated—the distrust she exhibited by not telling him about the incident and the dangerous situation where she risked her life—he didn't have any blaming words for her tonight.

"You should know that if you've thought through everything you do, you don't need to apologize to me. But..."

He paused,

 concealing his emotions, speaking in a calm tone, "If there's something you can't handle on your own, you might as well tell me. I am your family, and you should trust me."

Jiang Chenchen looked at him and nodded. "Of course, you are my family, my brother. Why wouldn't I trust you? It's just that this time, I thought I could handle it on my own. In the future, I'll have to rely on myself for anything. And you, too, can rely on me. I will be a reliable family member."

Her words were sincere and passionate.

Always so candid in front of him.

Yet, Sheng Mingsi, once again wounded by the term "brother," remained silent, lowering his gaze.

"Tired? Take a nap. I'll wake you up when we get home."

Jiang Chenchen shook her head. "I won't sleep. Let's talk."

The night grew darker, and the cold wind whistled outside.

Finally, Sheng Mingsi asked the question that had been on his mind. "How did you learn to drive?"

"In a foreign country. He taught me."

Sheng Mingsi frowned slightly. "Who is he?"

"He's called Zhan Chen."

In her mind, she recalled a face. He had adjusted the cocktail, dipped it on the table, and written his name. He said, "I'm Zhan Chen."

"What's your name?"

Jiang Chenchen didn't answer. She still didn't know her own name.

But he called her, "Xiao Mo."

...

Sheng Mingsi didn't continue questioning, but he warned, "As for that person, stay away from him."

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 155: Bailu is the Eldest Brother's wife

Lin Jinfan never imagined that when he returned from lighting incense, the little girl had grown up.

From a girl who could only run to the base of a tree when feeling wronged, secretly wiping away tears, she had grown into the female hero who stood proudly in the wind, spoke for the people, and faced the sun.

From being self-deprecating and timid, afraid to look people in the eye, to a graceful and smiling young lady.

Lin Jinfan had no idea what Bai Lu had experienced.

The only certainty was that the little girl had grown up.

In the eyes of the villagers in the Xiao family, Bai Lu had driven away the villains who extorted and disrupted the food supply. She had saved the limited remaining food for everyone, making her a great benefactor of the Xiao family village.

Sincere thanks surrounded Bai Lu's ears and spread through the mountains.

A clear voice then sounded in Bailu's direction, "You haven't eaten yet, go have your meal first."

Entering the circle surrounding her was Lin Jinfan, recognized by the villagers, who made way for him.

Only then did Granny know that Bai Lu hadn't eaten yet. She took Bai Lu's wrist and said, "It's so late, my daughter-in-law must be starving. Come with Granny, and I'll cook something delicious for you."

"Granny, you've already had your meal. Don't bother. Bai Lu can come to our house. I've already told my son to start cooking rice, and we can stir-fry some vegetables as soon as we get back." Li Hongying grabbed Bai Lu's other wrist.

Bai Lu took Xiao Wei to buy food on the street and then went to the Xiao family village. There was no doubt she hadn't eaten.

So, when they returned, Li Hongying asked her younger son to cook the rice, prepare the vegetables, and get everything ready.

Grandpa and Xiao Guofu were both men and didn't feel comfortable pulling the hand of a young girl, so they stood anxiously on the side.

The villagers also wanted Bai Lu

to eat at their homes, but on one side were the respected elders of the clan, and on the other side was the village chief of the Xiao family. No one dared to compete, and they couldn't compete.

But that didn't stop their enthusiastic invitations:

"Come to our house for a meal!"

"We still have a piece of cured meat at home. This morning, we went to the mountain and picked fresh bamboo shoots. Stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots is the best. Bai Lu, come to our house for a meal!"

"Come to our house. We have two sausages, and this morning we also picked broccoli. I remember during the Qingming Festival meal, Bai Lu ate the most broccoli. Come to our house for a meal."

"Bai Lu, come to our house. We have mountain chicken caught in a trap last night!"

"We have salted duck eggs, double-yolk eggs..."

Bai Lu was surrounded with both hands being pulled, and the enthusiastic villagers circled her three times inside and three times outside.

One after another, they eagerly introduced the menus of their homes. All the good meat and vegetables that they usually hesitated to eat were now offered to Bailu just to lure her into their homes.

Granny and Li Hongying naturally couldn't be outdone. They rattled off a long list of dish names.

Bai Lu was almost overwhelmed.

Fortunately, in the end, Lin Jinfan's words took her out of the encirclement, and her buzzing ears finally found peace.

The air was no longer crowded.

Lin Jinfan said, "I'll take her to have a feast."

Alright... a feast, no one could beat that.

Although it was a funeral feast, there were quite a few good dishes on the table. Some villagers had already gone to eat, and it was true that their own two bits of meat couldn't compare. It was right for Bai Lu to go and have a feast.

The old man was still lying in the mourning hall. The villains had caused trouble, but thanks to Bai Lu's intervention, the conflict was resolved.

The old man would surely bless Bai Lu with safety and health.

Everyone had no reason to stop them. They couldn't let Bai Lu go hungry; they had to sincerely entertain her.

Bai Lu had never eaten a funeral feast in the countryside, but she had read about it in books. She didn't quite understand the complicated process, but she knew the rituals of offering incense were necessary. She naturally followed the local customs.

After offering incense...

After the meal, the sun had already started to set.

It would take quite some time for the Xiao family village to return to the town, and they had to get back home before dark.

In this region's funeral customs, as long as the children were still able to guard the spirit, the grandchildren were not allowed to do so. It didn't matter how deep the emotional bond was; it was a rule passed down through generations.

Therefore, after completing the funeral rites, Lin Jinfan would accompany Bai Lu back to the new town. Lin Jinfan's mother would continue to guard the spirit.

After three days of guarding the spirit and the burial, they would return home.

The people who sent Bai Lu and Lin Jinfan back to town were Xiao Guofu and the owner of the small tricycle. Even if it got dark, the two men could take care of each other. They were not afraid of anything.

Back in town, it was just getting dark.

The sky was not completely dark yet, and from a distance, Bai Lu could see a small figure waiting eagerly at the door.

As soon as the little one saw her, the steps that were walking back and forth immediately stopped, and the feet were about to run over. Seeing the tricycle heading towards the door, the steps that had already taken off stopped.

As soon as Bai Lu got off the tricycle, Xiao Wei ran over and grabbed her sleeve, staring intently at Lin Jinfan, who was getting off the tricycle.

Apparently, he hadn't completely relaxed yet.

Bai Lu smiled gently and touched the little bald head.

The fellow villagers from the Xiao family village were still warm as ever, and they sent back many local specialties. Xiao Guofu and the tricycle owner only left after moving everything into the front yard.

Bai Lu watched the small tricycle go far away and turned to thank Lin Jinfan, "Thank you for taking me out to dinner today."

Lin Jinfan looked at the little guy next to Bai Lu's leg, then looked up at the brightly lit door behind her. It seemed that the little guy was hostile to him for some reason.

"Don't be so polite. We used to have dinner together often. As long as you're not hungry, it's fine."

"No, no." Bai Lu knew that Lin Jinfan was referring to the original owner, who had received a lot of care from him.

"The villagers sent a lot of things. Aren't you taking some back? I can get a bag for you to carry them."

"What are those things for?" Lin Jinfan hadn't answered yet, but Xiao Wei preemptively spoke up, driving him away.

"They're gifts from Uncle Fu to you!" Xiao Wei firmly disagreed with Lin Jinfan entering the house.

The small figure stood straight at the door, staring at Lin Jinfan with an attitude of not allowing him to enter.

Bai Lu lowered her head and only then did she realize that Xiao Wei's solemn and ancient little face had somehow turned into a high-alert cold face, ready to go into battle at any moment.

"What's wrong with you? Jinfan is not a bad person. When I was hungry, Jinfan brought me a lot of food. We are now returning the favor and giving him something. It's the right thing to do as a person to repay kindness."

Xiao Wei turned his head and didn't say anything.

He knew that Bai Lu was right, but not letting him in was not letting him in. Bailu belonged to the big brother!

No one could take her away!

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 186: Luchuan, Long Time No See

Next Chapter ▶▶

  Chapter 122: On-Site Competition

It's just that the musical prodigy seems too young, too good-looking...

They thought the musical prodigy would at least be someone of Chairwoman Qin's age...

Bai Muyao couldn't believe her ears. Was Ou Yan really the musical prodigy? How could it be!!

Even Bai Zhenhai, Xu Aiqin, and Gao Yang in the audience were stunned, unable to believe...

"You dare to question the piano skills of Master Tingyin? She can play the piano with her eyes closed, not to mention with her back to the piano, playing with her hands behind her, she plays better than you!"

The audience erupted in uproar again.

Bai Muyao's face couldn't be described as pale anymore, but she persisted, "Is that so? If her piano skills are so profound, then ask her to come on stage and play for everyone to hear!"

Huh! Such arrogance!

No one has ever dared to make such an unreasonable request!

Does this younger generation think too highly of herself?

"If the piece is hers, she can play it without looking at the score. If not, then she's not the musical prodigy, and the piece isn't hers! How about it, Master Tingyin, dare you come up? Prove yourself!" Bai Muyao was certain that Ou Yan couldn't play the piano!

Even if she could, she couldn't memorize this unreleased piece and play it flawlessly!

Qin Zhilan was just about to have security kick this unreasonable young person out, but unexpectedly, Ou Yan stood up and said lightly, "Sure."

Let her lose convincingly!!

Everyone watched as Ou Yan stepped onto the stage, her excessively beautiful features, fair skin, and the light in her eyes shining like a snow-covered plum blossom, exuding a cold and aloof aura from head to toe.

Not only did this girl have a strong presence, but she was also exceptionally attractive.

"Just now Chairwoman Qin said you could play the piano with your back to it? Why not let everyone broaden their horizons?" Bai Muyao was certain Ouyan would make a fool of herself!

At this moment, Li Yusha and Song Qiaoying hurried back and found several people on stage. Shasha already held the champion trophy, indicating the awards had been given out?

But why hadn't they come down after the awards? And why did the atmosphere feel off?

Most surprising of all, why was Yan Yan going up?

What on earth was going on?!

They saw Ou Yan sitting at the piano, back turned, hands behind her, gracefully playing the keys effortlessly.

The entire audience was shocked because Ou Yan didn't look at the score but played each note naturally.

The beautiful music flowed from her hands, incredibly captivating.

"I'm a die-hard fan of Master Tingyin. This piece, in terms of melody and momentum, resembles Master Tingyin's style!"

"Only Master Tingyin could produce such a beautiful piece!"

"This piece is definitely hers, otherwise, how could she play it without any preparation."

"She must be Master Tingyin, no doubt about it!"

Li Yusha and Song Qiaoying were stunned. Yan Yan was Master Tingyin?

Their precious daughter was actually a musical genius?!

They had no idea before...

To play the piano with her back turned, without looking at the score, and still play such an engaging melody, and the fingering was correct!

The entire piece was grand in scale, akin to Master Tingyin's usual style.

Master Tingyin's music had a strong infectious power, moving everyone present...

In comparison, everyone realized that the piece "Sorrow" Bai Muyao wrote before was simply garbage!

This piano-playing girl must be Master Tingyin, there's no mistake!

After Ou Yan finished playing, she took the microphone from the host and said lightly, "The piece I played was written for the survivors of last year's earthquake, so I can play it without looking at the score."

That was the best proof!

Bai Zhenhai and Xu Aiqin in the audience were as if struck by lightning, dumbfounded, unable to believe that the girl playing the piano so fluently was once their child...

She wasn't useless at all!

Not only was she not useless, but she also always had an icy demeanor!

How could she play the piano?

And with such a high level of difficulty...

It was said that someone had offered a sky-high price to invite Master Tingyin to compose but was rejected...

Unexpectedly, the one who refused was Ou Yan...

Li Yusha also didn't expect Ou Yan to be Master Tingyin Just now, watching her play, it was evident she was above everyone else!

And she had just been showing off in front of her...

Bai Muyao, shocked to the core, still refused to admit, "Impossible! Chairwoman Qin has said that this piece has already been included in textbooks. You must have found connections to look at the score and memorized it in advance to embarrass me!"

Otherwise, you couldn't have played it so fluently!

Raised as a wealthy heiress since childhood, she learned the piano with the Bai family's money; there's nothing to be proud of!

After listening to Ou Yan's performance, Liu Feifei understood what it meant to be exceptional. Just now, she played the climax of Master Tingyin's piece publicly. Would Master Tingyin think her playing was rubbish?

Qin Zhilan, seeing Bai Muyao persisting in denial even in the face of death, was filled with anger.

"Since you insist that 'Sorrow' is your independent creation, and since you can compose such a beautiful climax, why don't you and Master Tingyin have an on-the-spot competition?"

A competition??

How to compete??

"You and Master Tingyin each have ten minutes to improvise. If you really have that talent and if your improvisation can surpass Master Tingyin's, then we'll acknowledge your composition skills!" Qin Zhilan said coldly, looking at her, "Let's see if you dare!"

Ou Yan lazily spoke from the side, "No need for ten minutes."

She sat at the piano and casually played a temporary melody.

Without any preparation, without deep contemplation, her style was always "listening," sounding majestic and melodious.

After playing a short, cheerful melody, Ou Yan played a shocking tune, conveying anger. Then followed a sorrowful melody, engulfing the audience in emotions. Finally, a joyful tune lifted the mood of everyone in the venue.

She effortlessly interpreted what "joy," "anger," "sorrow," and "happiness" meant in music.

The audience erupted in thunderous applause.

In terms of fingering, improvisational ability, and style and level of composition...

It all proved that she was indeed Master Tingyin!!

If not for today's farce, they wouldn't have heard such beautiful music or seen Master Tingyin in person!!

The applause continued for a long time...

Even Li Yusha and Song Qiaoying were applauding vigorously.

They didn't expect their precious daughter to be so excellent at the piano!!

She played really well!!

And Bai Muyao's face, no longer shocked and ashamed...

Ou Yan's piano skills not only surpassed hers but far exceeded everyone else present!!

She really was Master Tingyin!!!

  Chapter 121: Dare to Slander Again

Now, only Ou Yan personally stepping forward could thoroughly slap Bai Muyao's face!

Ou Yan: ...

Originally, she wanted Bai Muyao to roll out of this industry without showing her face...

But some people are shameless; they clearly plagiarize and still refuse to admit it.

Everyone followed Qin Zhilan's gaze, looking surprised. Was that girl really Master Tingyin?

"She's Master Tingyin? That's impossible..."

"But President Qin's gaze clearly went there. Besides that girl, there's no one else nearby."

"Master Tingyin has won numerous piano awards both domestically and internationally. How could she be just a young girl..."

"Maybe the lighting is a bit dim, and President Qin mistook someone else? She looks like a high school student!"

Because the spotlight was on the stage, the audience area was relatively dark, but everyone still noticed that top-tier beautiful face radiating a chilly aura in the dimness.

"If Chairwoman Qin says she's Master Tingyin, I might believe it a bit, but that girl? How could she possibly be Master Tingyin?"

"I also find it impossible..."

It was only then that Bai Zhenhai and Xu Aiqin noticed Qin Zhilan's gaze falling on a girl in the audience.

Why did that girl's back look somewhat similar to Ou Yan's... No, not similar. Xu Aiqin recognized that outfit; it was the same one Ou Yan was wearing when she had a conflict with her at the restroom entrance!

Qin Zhilan claimed she was Master Tingyin? How could that be possible!

She had barely touched a piano since childhood?

She hadn't even properly read books!

Even if she knew a few piano keys, it couldn't prove she could compose; she was Master Tingyin?!

If Li Yusha were claimed to be Master Tingyin, they might find it possible because she was Li Yuanfu's daughter, the heiress of a wealthy family!

But if it were Ou Yan...

No! Absolutely impossible!!

At this moment, Gao Yang also followed Qin Zhilan's gaze and found the girl's back somewhat familiar. Upon hearing Xu Aiqin's words, he couldn't believe it. Ou Yan?

His expression was somewhat shocked. Ou Yan also came to the awards scene?

How did she get in?

Qin Zhilan claimed she was Master Tingyin? How could that be possible?

Li Yusha followed Qin Zhilan's gaze to the audience area, where besides Ou Yan, there was no one else!

Ou Yan is Master Tingyin?

What a joke!

Who is Master Tingyin, how could she be so young?

It must be a mistake made by Qin Zhilan.

Bai Muyao also froze, "Ou Yan? So, it's you causing trouble!"

She suddenly realized and her voice transmitted through the microphone to everyone's ears, "I understand! It must be you impersonating Master Tingyin, trying to expose me to Chairwoman Qin. President Qin is kind and believes your nonsense!"

After all, no one had seen Master Tingyin. If Ou Yan impersonated her, it wasn't impossible!

She smiled coldly as if she had caught the culprit, "If you impersonate someone else, it's fine, but Master Tingyin is the idol of how many people here. Did you get the consent of her fans? Do you think her fans are easy to bully?"

Everyone in the audience whispered.

"Yeah, how could she possibly be Master Tingyin? Master Tingyin is so talented..."

"I also think it's impossible for her..."

"If she really impersonated Master Tingyin, I won't let it go easily!"

"Me too!"

"It sounds like these two girls know each other, and there's some personal grudge..."

Everyone was gossiping.

Bai Muyao felt embarrassed. At this moment, she decided to let Ou Yan taste this embarrassing feeling!

"You've lived my life for eighteen years, enjoying glory and wealth. My parents found me suffering outside by chance, and you weren't happy, so you've been targeting me everywhere!"

The audience was shocked by these words...

They didn't expect there to be such a deep connection between these two people!

Could it be that the girl in the audience set up a trap to retaliate against Bai Muyao on stage?

Suddenly, everyone started speaking ill of Ou Yan from praising her beauty...

"You come from such a poor family, and to stay in the capital, you go out with different men every day! Which sugar daddy brought you here today? Dare to introduce him to everyone?"

"As your younger sister, I've advised you countless times not to go astray, you wouldn't listen. Not only did you hit me several times, but you also bullied my fiancé! Let people hit him!"

"I originally overlooked you for the sake of family, but I didn't expect that when you saw me win an award, you'd try to gain Chairwoman Qin's trust by blackening my name! It's only because Chairwoman Qin is kind that she believed your nonsense!"

People in the audience were astonished again...

It sounded like the girl in the audience had a chaotic personal life...

Looking so beautiful, she seemed like the kind of person who would use her looks to seduce others...

Listening to Bai Muyao's analysis, it was very likely that Ou Yan slandered Bai Muyao out of jealousy or resentment...

Li Yusha, on the side, looked at Bai Muyao with an inexplicable gaze.

Was she crazy?

If they said Ou Yan couldn't play the piano, there might be a possibility...

But to say that Ou Yan's biological family was so poor?? I'm sorry, if the wealthiest family in the country is considered poor, what does your Bai family count as?

And to say that Ou Yan goes out with different men every day just to stay in the capital? Her parents casually give her billions as pocket money; just her clothes and bags alone are enough for her to wear for three to five years...

Does she need to rely on men to get by?

Moreover, she has climbed onto Si Yechen's tree; does she still need to please other men?

Is this person stupid?

Who in the world can compare to Si Yechen's?

It's just nonsense, made up on the spot!

However, this was Ou Yan's business; she wouldn't interfere, just watch from the sidelines.

"Nonsense and gibberish!" Qin Zhilan was furious, "Someone of the caliber of Master Tingyin, needs to rely on pleasing men to get by? Her status surpasses your Bai family long ago!"

Just having the identity of a "Master Tingyin" already surpasses many wealthy families...

In the entertainment industry, someone once offered a price of one hundred thousand for a single note just to have Master Tingyin create a personalized song for him! But Master Tingyin refused! The reason was, she didn't lack money! She was too busy!

"Someone like Master Tingyin, how could you defile her like this? All of us in the entire piano association combined can't match even a finger of Master Tingyin! Do you think Master Tingyin, at such a young age, has no one supporting her? Let me tell you, the entire piano association is Master Tingyin's backing! Dare you slander her?!"

The whole place was in an uproar.

So, that girl in the audience really is a piano master, Master Tingyin? Seeing Chairwoman Qin's righteous indignation, it's ninety-nine percent certain that the girl wasn't wrong!!!

 Chapter 185: No, this is the wife's money

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 641: This Child Needs to Be Taught a Lesson, No Need to Pay Attention to Him

Wei Linchen looked down at Liu Liu from a high vantage point, never expecting the boy to take advantage of the situation and make such a big demand.

From the initial request of 8,800 yuan, he now raised it to 9,800 yuan.

This was nearly one-third of his monthly salary at Shengshi Academy, excluding performance bonuses and various allowances.

Liu Liu hesitated, testing the waters, "What about 9,600?"

Wei Linchen squinted his eyes, showing no sign of amusement, just staring at Liu Liu's arms, which were wrapped around his thighs.

His expression remained indifferent, and his voice was low, "Round down."

Liu Liu winced, "9,500!"

Wei Linchen lips curled, "9,000."

Liu Liu gritted his teeth, his expression indignant, "9,300, not a penny less!"

9,300 was his bottom line.

This time, Wei Linchen didn't argue back.

He reached out and touched Liu Liu's hair, curling his fingers around it.

Because the hair was too short, he couldn't curl it into a full circle.

But he kept doing it, not getting tired of curling it halfway.

Liu Liu's body trembled, feeling a chill running up his spine.

As Wei Lincen's five fingers were inserted into his short hair, Liu Liu's survival instinct immediately kicked in.

He let go of Wei Linchen's thigh and shouted, "Fine, 9,000 is fine! I want to eat the steak from the imperial palace Hotel!"

"Deal!" Wei Linchen squinted his eyes, his refined face showing a lazy smile.

Liu Liu quickly stood up, patting the dust off his legs.

He had cried so much, and he only got a raise of two hundred yuan.

No matter how he calculated it, he felt like he was at a loss.

Thinking about the exclusive secret recipe steak from the imperial palace Hotel, Liu Liu's mouth started watering.

The steak was harder to come by than his salary, and every time he had it, the boss would lose a lot of money.

In the eyes of Qin Ruan, Lin Hao, and the others, the spectacular performance between the boss and Liu Liu, besides the initial shock, quickly returned to normal.

Qin Ruan couldn't believe that the seemingly mature and stable Wei Linchen had such a lively person by his side.

Wei Linchen shot a teasing look at Qin Ruan, his expression open and smiling as he said, "This child needs to be taught a lesson, no need to pay attention to him."

Liu Liu walked to the table and picked up the information brought back from the Oti Academy's archive room.

Hearing the words of his boss, he looked back with a complaining gaze.

"Boss, this is the information about the six male victims from before."

Liu Liu walked over with the information in his arms and placed six files in front of Wei Lincen, still having two left in his hand.

Wei Lincen took them and sat down with Qin Ruan to examine the files.

Liu Liu casually placed the remaining two files on the table.

"These two are Cheng Xuelan's files and the records of Huangju Tree being dug up from Qishan in Yunchi City."

Qin Ruan, who was examining the victims' files, suddenly looked up.

"Qishan?"

Her eyes, filled with a cold and deep chill, stared intently at Liu Liu.

He felt a strong killing intent, which was unreservedly emanating from her.

Liu Liu's legs trembled a bit. The woman was pretty, but why did she have such a killing intent in her eyes?

He hadn't offended her either.

Wei Lincen pulled Liu Liu to his side and turned to look at Qin Ruan. "Is there a problem with Qishan?"

Qin Ruan's brows furrowed. "It's not Qishan, but Huangju Tree."

Lingfeng and Lan An's original bodies were in Qishan, and they had never moved from there for thousands of years.

When she probed the little girl's soul in the small forest, she learned that Huangju Tree had been using killings and the power of resentful souls to cultivate for hundreds of years.

He had a treasure, the withered wood of Lan An, the tree spirit.

Lan An had been alive in this world for thousands of years. Even a small branch contained thousands of years of cultivation.

Huangju Tree used the withered wood of Lan An to control the humans who came to pray to it.

Over the years, it had completely assimilated the withered wood of Lan An.

Every controlled soul in the past would have the withered wood of Lan An planted inside them.

Those with the wood planted in them became its marked prey.

When the prey died, Huangju Tree could absorb their final power and convert it into its own cultivation.

The bodies of the controlled souls who lost their use would be torn apart, their souls scattered.

The withered wood of Lan An that fell off the dead souls was still utilized by Huangju Tree as it sought its next prey.

This had been going on uninterrupted for hundreds of years.

The whole process was extremely cruel and brutal, shattering one's worldview.

The little girl's experience had left Qin Ruan in a suppressed mood.

She threw the information in her hand on the table.

Looking down, she saw the seven lost souls crouching on the ground.

Cheng Xuelan had already awakened, her blood-red eyes filled with resentment as she glared hatefully at Qin Ruan.

Qin Ruan coldly instructed the seven ghosts, "Take off your clothes."

The male ghosts immediately covered their collars, looking as if Qin Ruan had some evil intentions toward them.

Qin Ruan sneered, "Whoever has the withered wood planted inside, show me."

Cheng Xuelan's face turned ashen, "Why should we? Giving you the information will lead to our deaths!"

Qin Ruan didn't waste time arguing with her. She reached out and grabbed one of the male ghosts.

Seeing the ghost's trembling and terrified expression, Qin Ruan tore open his clothes.

On the man's chest, there was a protrusion near the heart, as if something was hidden there.

Qin Ruan furrowed her brows and reached for it.

She ripped open the man's pale skin, revealing a horrifying black and red wound.

Black blood flowed from the wound and dripped onto the floor.

The withered wood of Lan An at the man's heart was clearly reflected in Qin Ruan's eyes.

It was exactly the same as the withered wood left by Lan An in the room before Nan Gong Yunlong died.

Qin Ruan's brow slightly creased in confusion.

Why did Huangju Tree, after hundreds of years of assimilation, still leave behind a trace of Lingfeng and Lan An's aura on the withered wood?

In the midst of her confusion, Wei Linchen sat up straight, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from her.

"What happened?"

Qin Ruan gave him a glance. "Things have become a bit complicated. Huangju Tree is related to two people I know..."

She paused for a moment.

After hesitating, she decided not to reveal the identities of Lingfeng and Lan An.

Chapter 640: Ruan Ruan's Childishness, Indulged by Someone

Under the restraint of the golden whip, Cheng Xuelan was still struggling desperately. Her resistance annoyed Qin Ruan, and her eyes emitted a dangerous and fierce light.

In a cold tone, Qin Ruan said, "I don't have time to waste with you. If you cooperate, you'll suffer less."

Cheng Xuelan's blood-red eyes filled with cruelty, and a murderous intent surged around her.

With a cold face, she stared at Qin Ruan, and her two red eyes exuded a fierce light. "We have no grudges with you. Let me go, or you will all die!"

Qin Ruan didn't like others talking about her life as if it were trivial.

She reached out, pulling Cheng Xuelan's hair to bring them face to face.

The strong resentment emanating from Cheng Xuelan caused a slight fluctuation in Qin Ruan's heart. She sneered, "Haha... I'd like to see who dares to covet my life."

Her life was not something that could be taken lightly.

Seeing that Cheng Xuelan had nothing to say, Qin Ruan intended to take her away. However, six heads emerged from the lake's surface again.

"Don't!"

"Let Cheng Xuelan go!"

"She's innocent. You can't hurt her!"

The six faces in the lake were pale and twisted, giving off a sinister and eerie feeling.

Qin Ruan raised her eyebrows and looked down at the six lost souls in the water. "Oh? Then tell me, how is she innocent?"

"She protected us!"

"There's a tree demon at the school!"

"Our bodies have been implanted with wood essence, and if we leave the water, we'll be captured!"

"Cheng Xuelan didn't harm us!"

Qin Ruan stared thoughtfully at the six puppets and calmly asked, "Are you the six people who had accidents after the school started?"

One of the boys with a delicate face and an unusually pale complexion nodded.

Wei Linchen interjected, "Qin Ruan, bring them back for now. You don't look too well."

The weather was already gloomy, and the wind had started blowing again.

He was worried that Qin Ruan's body might not be able to handle it.

Qin Ruan agreed with a nod. However, Cheng Xuelan was uncooperative. She turned to the six lost souls floating on the water's surface and shouted, "Don't worry about me, just sink!"

After shouting, she struggled fiercely against the restraint of the golden whip.

However, the more she struggled, the tighter the golden whip bound her.

Faced with such resistance, Qin Ruan dragged Cheng Xuelan back to her side by pulling the handle of the golden whip.

"Huangju Tree has escaped, and countless resentful souls hanging on the tree have been sent to the Underworld. Now, I need to deal with you six ghosts. If you don't stop talking nonsense, I will make you obey me by force. Don't believe me? Give it a try!"

Cheng Xuelan stared wide-eyed in shock. "Huangju Tree escaped?"

"Escaped!" Qin Ruan replied without any mercy. She was unhappy with Huangju Tree's actions, especially regarding Lingfeng and Lan An.

"Impossible!"

Cheng Xuelan looked at Qin Ruan's exquisite face with suspicion and shook her head, denying it. Huangju Tree had been at the Audri Academy for so many years; it couldn't have just run away.

This person must be lying to her!

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

Qin Ruan released Cheng Xuelan, and a faint golden light appeared in her hand. The golden light shot towards Cheng Xuelan's face. Cheng Xuelan sensed the danger, but it was too late to dodge, and she fainted on the spot.

Qin Ruan threw Cheng Xuelan's ghostly body, which didn't weigh much, rudely onto the boat. Then, she turned to look at the six puppets floating on the water.

"Are you coming up by yourselves, or should I personally catch you?"

To avoid torture, the six new ghosts chose to cooperate.

Meanwhile, Principal Liu had been waiting by the lake. He had been anxiously waiting for Qin Ruan and the others since they entered the forest.

Finally, he saw them in the water.

The three people on the boat didn't know what to do, especially Qin Ruan, who seemed to be dancing in the air, waving her hands in the void, making others think she was actually dancing.

Principal Liu gritted his teeth, wondering if the people brought by Wei Linchen were reliable or not.

Soon, Qin Ruan, Wei Lincen, and Lin Hao returned to the shore by boat.

Principal Liu walked up and anxiously asked, "You're back. So, did you find Cheng Xuelan?"

Qin Ruan held the handle of the golden whip, leading the seven lost souls around Principal Liu.

As Principal Liu didn't have the Heavenly Eyes, he couldn't see the seven lost souls passing by him.

Wei Linchen walked up to Principal Liu, and the two of them had a low conversation while following behind Qin Ruan.

Soon, everyone returned to the dormitory.

However, by the time they returned, Principal Liu was not with them.

Qin Ruan threw the seven ghosts into the room and turned around to see Wei Linchen and a hidden guard of the Hou family, asking, "Didn't the monk come with us?"

The hidden guard seemed puzzled. "Monk?"

Qin Ruan sighed, "The one who recites scriptures. I met him earlier, and he kept talking about the scriptures and moral principles."

After meeting Principal Liu, she knew that he was a person who loved to preach and was full of moral teachings.

The hidden guard laughed lightly, "He went back. What's next? Can we handle the rest?"

The matter was not yet over. He could probably guess the reason behind the whole incident, but he didn't know if Qin Ruan would completely resolve it.

Qin Ruan nodded and turned to enter the room.

Kang Dong and Lu Xianglan were no longer in the room.

However, there was a handsome young man standing inside.

"Boss, you're finally back!"

Seeing Qin Ruan, Liu Liu's eyes revealed a hint of amazement. He had never seen such a beautiful woman before, so beautiful that it didn't make people feel sharp and uncomfortable.

Qin Ruan's beauty had a charm that made people's breath stop.

She had a graceful temperament, like a pure and gentle moonlight, emitting a soft and clean light, and her demeanor exuded an ethereal and calm presence.

Soon, Liu Liu's attention was drawn by Wei Linchen, who walked in behind Qin Ruan.

The scene in which Liu Liu had cried and rushed towards Wei Linchen earlier came back to his mind.

In front of everyone's gaze, Liu Liu knelt on the ground, crying.

"Boss, I almost died. You don't know how scared I was!"

"There's an old ghost in the school's archive room. It actually touched my butt..."

"Boss, I risked my life to bring back all the information for you. It was so close; I almost couldn't see you!"

"Sob... Boss, my weak soul needs your comfort!"

Liu Liu's crying voice stunned everyone present.

Except for the person who was being hugged, Wei Linchen.

He pinched his brow slightly and looked down at Liu Liu, who seemed both distressed and fearful.

Liu Liu cried miserably, but not a single tear fell from his eyes.

Wei Linchen sighed softly, mixed with a trace of helplessness. "Alright, how much more do you want to add to your salary this time?"

Liu Liu spoke at an extremely fast pace, "Nine thousand eight!"

Wei Lincen smiled wryly, "Are you robbing me?"