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The Wen Clan.

In a detached little courtyard at the back of the residence, Wen Mingxiu was seated beside the window with her brows tightly furrowed. Light rain was falling outside like a mist, seemingly reflecting the melancholy in her heart that refused to be scattered or blown away.

Suddenly meeting Lin Xun today was a huge surprise to Wen Mingxiu. As she recalled the warning he had given, she felt extremely conflicted, angry, and frustrated.

Was she going to let this go and let bygones be bygones?

Wen Mingxiu did not know. She only knew that the matter had started because of her. If she did not do anything, the others would view it as her admitting defeat which would undoubtedly hurt her reputation and influence among Haze City’s younger generation.

“What should I do?”

Wen Mingxiu blankly stared into space.

“Young Mistress, there’s news.”

A servant girl hurriedly entered the room with an excited face. “The Yuan Clan, Jadelight Pavilion, Qian Clan, Zhou Clan, Zheng Clan…”

After reciting the names of several factions in succession, the servant girl finally said, “They’ve all decided to dispatch forces to deal with Lin Xun!”

Wen Mingxiu’s heart shook. “Why have so many factions taken action?”

The servant girl displayed a pleased smile. “Young Mistress, Lin Xun is merely a commoner from some backwater place. Which noble faction would allow him to continue running wild? A despicable and lowly person like him should be immediately smote for his crimes. Otherwise, the other commoner disciples will also become bold like him, bringing chaos unto the world.”

Wen Mingxiu frowned and frostily said, “Who told you Lin Xun is from a poor background?”

The servant girl’s body trembled as she mumbled, “I…I heard it from others.”

Wen Mingxiu laughed in anger. “A bunch of fools!”

If Lin Xun was just some commoner, how could he enter Blood Kill Camp? Why would Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui’s grandson become friends with him? Why would Fortune God Shi’s third son regard Lin Xun so highly?

Most importantly, Lin Xun had enjoyed special treatment even in a place like Blood Kill Camp!

Even the most stupid person would understand that Lin Xun was no commoner disciple!

However, the city’s numerous factions were viewing Lin Xun as a lowly commoner and called him a country bumpkin to humiliate him. Weren’t they no different from fools?

The servant girl’s face turned pale with fear as she stammered, “Young Mistress, you…do you not plan on dealing with Lin Xun?”

Wen Mingxiu was stunned. She suddenly felt her interest waning and her anger began to dissipate. She waved her hand and said, “You are dismissed.”

The servant girl hurriedly withdrew from the room.

“Maybe doing nothing is the best course of action…”

After a long silence, Wen Mingxiu ultimately made her decision.

……

As the major city of the southwest province, Haze City was an extremely bustling place. The vast territory it covered was also home to dozens of factions and clans.

For ordinary people, today was no different from any other. However, the same could not be said for the numerous factions and cultivators in the city.

When night arrived, nearly all of the city’s great factions knew that misfortune would soon befall the youngster called Lin Xun!

Some of the more well-informed cultivators were also aware and could not help but sigh. Was a young expert who could defeat the likes of Yuan Shi and Qi Yunxiao going to die just like that?

The City Lord’s residence.

Governor Liu Wudiao could not help but frown a little as he read the report he had received. “These guys are being too anxious.”

Beside him, a middle-aged scholar with a beard separated into three long bundles hanging from his chin chuckled and said, “Lord, they’re planning to make an example out of him as a warning to all the commoner disciples in the city and to deter such things from happening again in the future.”

Liu Wudiao icily snorted. “But have they considered that Lin Xun has already registered for the provincial exam? A talent like him will be highly regarded by the empire in the future even if he comes from a poor background. They have gone overboard this time.”

The middle-aged scholar replied, “Indeed, the provincial exam is to select true talents for the empire. Given that Lin Xun had the strength to defeat Yuan Shi and Qi Yunxiao, he is definitely a young man with outstanding talent and has high hopes of passing the provincial exam. If he does, he will have the chance to take part in the national exam. Taking all this into consideration, it will be rather bad if he is killed.”

After a slight pause, he continued, “However, there are so many talented people in this world. The death of a single commoner youngster is insignificant to the empire. In your subordinate's view, the Lord does not need to worry about this matter. You only need to tell the noble factions to suppress everything that occurs as a result of his death. That will be sufficient.”

Liu Wudiao pondered for a while before he nodded. “I shall task you to handle this matter.”

The middle-aged scholar cupped his hands together. “Your subordinate shall do as you command.”

……

Haze City southwest district.

In the people’s eyes, the southwest district was where commoners gathered. All kinds of characters could be found there and people of status would feel it was beneath them to step into this area.

At a certain courtyard in the southwest district, Cai Yunxiu suddenly laughed and rejoiced, “It’s fortunate that Lin Xun rejected us. Otherwise, we’d likely be implicated by him.”

The few dozen youngsters around Cao Yunxiu could not help but laugh upon hearing this. They were also members of the Achievers Society.

Cao Yunxiu suddenly withdrew his smile and sighed. “However, the events that have befallen Lin Xun have also made me realize that it is truly difficult for us commoner disciples to rise up in society.”

The others were stunned and fell silent.

Indeed, merely defeating Yuan Shi and Qi Yunxiao had caused Lin Xun to incur the wrath of Haze City’s numerous noble factions. It was frightening to think that such a small matter would make them seek to eliminate him.

Someone sneered. “Hmph, those noble factions always act as if they are superior and view us, commoners, as lowly slaves to be stepped on, abused, and slaughtered as they please. They clearly intend to use Lin Xun as an example to intimidate us!”

“You’re right. The reason why I established Achievers Society is to help everyone break free from these shackles and no longer be bullied by the noble factions.”

Cao Yunxiu took a deep breath and said with determined eyes, “Regardless of what we’ve said, although Lin Xun has rejected to join our Achievers Society, he is still a fellow commoner disciple. The injustice he suffered today has gone too far. I’ve decided to do something for him!”

The others were taken aback. Cao Yunxiu had just been rejoicing about how they were lucky to not have been implicated by Lin Xun. Why did he suddenly have a change of heart?

Cao Yunxiu said, “I’m doing this for our future. We will use this affair to probe the noble factions’ bottom line. Only by doing this will we be able to avoid similar situations occurring in the future.”

The others jerked to attention. “What does Big Brother Cao plan on doing?”

Cao Yunxiu smiled faintly. “Spread the news and make sure the entire city knows about it. Tell everyone that Lin Xun is a commoner disciple who has qualified for the provincial exam but is now being targeted by the noble factions and might even lose his life as a result!”

Someone asked, “That’s all?”

Cao Yunxiu laughed. “Although it might appear simple, the more people know the harder it will be to resolve this matter. Who knows, it might even draw the attention of the real bigwigs in the Forbidden City. If that happens, we’ll be able to determine the true attitude of the empire toward us commoner disciples!”

Everyone soon understood and looked at Cao Yunxiu in admiration. It was indeed an ingenious plan.

Someone could not help but excitedly remark, “It will be best if Lin Xun is killed. That way, it will draw even more people’s attention.”

“I don’t think that’s something we should be saying, right?” Someone else spoke up in response. He believed that Lin Xun was a fellow commoner disciple and it was too much to curse him.

Cao Yunxiu waved his hand to stop any potential arguments. “There is no need for us to concern ourselves with such things. We only need to use this affair to achieve our goal.”

Despite saying this, he knew that Lin Xun’s death would indeed help to better spread the news and cause an even bigger commotion!

Cao Yunxiu took a deep breath and solemnly said, “Let’s wait. There should be an outcome tonight. When the time is right, all of us will have to move immediately and use all of our power to seek justice for Lin Xun!”

Several people laughed when they heard the words ‘seek justice for Lin Xun’, knowing that it was merely a cover. Who would care whether Lin Xun died?

……

In the evening.

Lin Xun was seated in the courtyard. The table in front of him was covered in various delicious dishes and a jar of Ghost Burn Wine.

Opposite him, Xue Jin was enjoying the alcohol as he gorged himself on the feast.

Light rain was falling from the sky but the two continued their meal.

Xue Jin chewed on a piece of meat as he asked, “The provincial exam only begins in the 9th month. Do you have other plans for the next six months?”

Lin Xun’s reply was simple, “Training and earning money.”

Xue Jin spat out the bone he was gnawing and glanced at Lin Xun. “Heh heh. That’s a good plan. However, I have a feeling that plenty of trouble will come knocking at your door soon.”

Lin Xun shrugged. “What’s done is done. Why would I be afraid of any trouble? What’s more, even if it does get too big for me to handle, I still have you, Old Jin, right?”

Xue Jin was stunned. He jabbed his finger at Lin Xun and said, “Blast it, you’ve become a bad kid.”

Lin Xun grinned. “What else can I do? There are too many bad people in this world and I have no choice but to become bad as well. Good people don’t live long lives after all.”

Xue Jin angrily retorted, “Stop trying to be cheeky. Let me ask you a serious question, are you prepared to face the coming storm?”

A little astonished, Lin Xun asked, “I only beat up two pampered young masters. Is the situation really that serious?”

Before Xue Jin could reply, the main door was pushed open as Chu Feng rushed in.

The usually neat and refined appearance of the Rune Master Association President had been replaced by a deeply anxious look. He cried out, “Brother Lin Xun, you’re still in the mood to eat and celebrate with such a huge disaster heading your way?”