Finn's Counterattack
Rumors, like an invisible plague, spread through the streets and alleys of Rockefeller College, eroding people's reason and trust. The deserted storefront of "Eastern Secret Medicine" had gone from an occasional day to an unsettling norm. Finn Liver, leaning on the counter, watched the fleeting glances of curious and fear cast by the few passersby outside the window, feeling like he was about to sprout mushrooms—the kind of poisonous mushrooms no one wanted.
"Miss Ling, are we just going to wait like this?" Finn wailed weakly. "It's been three days already! If we wait any longer, spiders will be making their home on our doorstep! And they'll be the cursed kind!"
Ling Yao was holding a small carving knife, intently carving several basic rune nodes on a piece of ordinary lapis lazuli, attempting to test the stone's energy conductivity. Upon hearing this, she didn't even look up, merely giving a faint "hmm," as if the storms of the outside world were less important than the stone in her hand.
Finn was utterly impressed by this composure, even in the face of a collapsing mountain, but he was also incredibly anxious. The big boss could sit back and relax, while he, a nobody, was about to be drowned in a sea of criticism!
"No! We can't let this go!" Finn sat bolt upright, slamming his fist on the counter, making several empty crystal bottles clatter. "Those guys are talking complete nonsense! Soul extraction? Have they even seen what a soul looks like? I think their brains have been soaked in cheap potions!"
He grew angrier as he spoke, pacing back and forth in the shop like a restless young animal trapped in a cage: "We have to do something! We have to let those people know that there's nothing wrong with our medicine! And that you, Miss Ling, are not some kind of witch!"
"Oh?" Ling Yao finally stopped carving, looked up at him, and seemed somewhat interested. "What do you want?"
Finn stopped in his tracks, his eyes suddenly lighting up as if he'd grasped a lifeline: "They're prone to spreading rumors, aren't they? Then we'll throw the facts in their faces! We'll get those who've used our medicine and received our kindness to speak up! Berg, the Mercenary Guild member you rescued from the jaws of a swamp crocodile! And his squad leader, Ron! Karl Ironshield from the Knight Academy, who slept for three days and is now full of energy! And those noble ladies whose skin improved after using 'Radiant Skin Dew'... Of course, they might not be able to come forward... but at least Berg, Ron, and Karl should be fine!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing wildly: "Let's hold a small testimonial meeting right at the store entrance! Let these people who have used the medicine and benefited from it personally tell everyone how good our medicine really is! Whether it's truly effective! And whether there's any of that bullshit soul-price thing!"
This idea was like a lightning bolt, cleaving through the fog in Finn's mind. Yes! People can talk, and rumors can't be stopped, but facts speak louder than words! As long as someone stands up and speaks the truth, those absurd rumors will crumble on their own!
Ling Yao looked at Finn's energetic demeanor and pondered for a moment. This method sounded a bit silly, a bit naive, like a child who'd been bullied running to an adult for justice. But… perhaps in this world, this straightforward approach would actually be effective?
"Okay." She nodded, approving the plan. She was just killing time anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to see what kind of trouble this kid could cause.
"Yes, sir!" Finn seemed to have been injected with boundless energy, instantly revived. "I'll contact them right away! Miss Ling, just you wait and see!"
For the next half day, Finn displayed astonishing efficiency and... an unyielding and persistent nature.
He first went to the Mercenary Guild and found Berg, who was drinking and bragging, and Ron, the squad leader, who looked worried as he calculated the month's performance.
"What? A testimony meeting?" Upon hearing this, Berg slammed his glass down, patted his chest with his large, fan-like hand, and boomed, "No problem! Leave it to me! Miss Ling saved my life, how dare those sons of bitches slander her? I'll beat their teeth out!"
Ron, however, seemed more cautious. He frowned and said, "Finn, it's not that I don't want to help. It's just that with the current situation... our Mercenary Guild can't very clearly take sides..."
"Captain Ron!" Finn immediately adopted a bitter and resentful expression. "Just think about it! If Miss Ling's shop really gets ruined by the rumors, where will our brothers find such good medicine when they get injured or out of strength? Are we going to go back to using those expensive, ineffective, and side-effect-prone things? That would increase the mission failure rate, raise compensation payments, and the guild would be the one to suffer losses!"
These words struck a nerve with Ron. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll go in my personal capacity! I'll only talk about the effects of 'Ling's Number One'! I won't get involved in anything else!"
Having dealt with the mercenaries, Finn rushed to the Knight Academy training grounds without stopping. He easily found Karl Ironshield, who was sweating profusely and undergoing intense weight training.
"Testimony? To clear Miss Ling's name?" Upon hearing the purpose of the visit, Karl immediately stopped training, pounding his chest and glaring intently. "It's my duty! Although Miss Ling's medicine has a...unique aftereffect, its effects are truly remarkable! I passed my endurance test! The Iron Shield family always repays kindness!"
He even offered to invite a few classmates who had also benefited from "Ling's No. 1" and passed the assessment to join in and boost the momentum.
Finally, Finn racked his brains and, through his cousin who worked as a maid in a noble family, managed to contact one or two of the personal maids of noble ladies who were bold, extremely dependent on the effects of "Radiant Skin Dew," and deeply dissatisfied with the rumors. He persuaded them that they might be able to provide some written testimonies "anonymously."
After a long day of work, Finn's voice was almost hoarse and his legs were thin from running, but the results were remarkable.
The next morning, under the bright sunshine, a few tables and chairs borrowed from the restaurant next door were set up in front of the "Oriental Secret Medicine" shop for the first time ever. They even brought in a simple little wooden sign with crooked words that read, "Facts Speak for Themselves: 'Secret Medicine' Truth Verification Meeting."
Berg, Ron, Karl Iron Shield, and two other burly knight cadets sat in a row behind the table like gatekeepers. The sheer size and presence of the mercenaries and knights gathered together instantly attracted the attention of many passersby—though most only dared to look from afar.
Finn took a deep breath, jumped onto a chair, and with the same energy he had when he was selling "wisdom pills" in the college square, began his first-ever public relations speech.
"Fellow neighbors! Fellow heroes and beauties passing by!" Finn's voice was a little high-pitched with tension, but loud enough. "You've all heard the rumors circulating about our 'Eastern Secret Medicine' lately! They're making it sound so outrageous! Soul extraction? Life-threatening consequences? It's utterly absurd!"
He pointed to Berg beside him: "This guy! Mercenary Berg! A few months ago, he was ripped open in the chest by a venomous crocodile in the swamp and was on the verge of death! It was Miss Ling who snatched him back from the jaws of death with a single pill! Berg, tell me yourself, did Miss Ling extract your soul? How are you feeling now?"
Berg jumped up, ripped open his shirt to reveal a scar that, though healed, still looked gruesome, and roared, "Bullshit! Miss Ling gave me this life! After taking this medicine for so long, I'm stronger, my wound is healed, and I have a great appetite! I feel wonderful! Anyone who dares to spout nonsense again will have to ask the axe in my hand if it's allowed!"
His fierce demeanor and the real scars caused a small commotion among the onlookers in the distance.
Finn then pointed to Ron: "This is Ron, the squad leader of the Iron Shield Mercenary Group! Their squad has been using 'Ling's No. 1' for a long time, which has greatly improved their mission completion rate and reduced their injury rate! Captain Ron, what's your opinion on our medicine?"
Ron, being more composed, stood up and cleared his throat: "I'd like to speak fairly in my personal capacity. The 'Ling Clan No. 1' stamina potion is indeed remarkably effective, far surpassing similar products on the market, and so far, no adverse side effects have been found. As for the rumors, they are completely unfounded." His words were concise and powerful, carrying the straightforwardness characteristic of mercenaries.
Finally, Finn turned his gaze to Carl Ironshield.
Before Finn could speak, Karl stood up. Tall and muscular, he exuded authority: "Knight Academy, Karl Iron Shield! I swear on my knightly honor! Miss Ling's medicine, although... uh... is quite potent, is absolutely safe and effective! I passed my endurance test entirely thanks to it! Those who say it's draining my life force are talking nonsense! I feel better than ever before!"
The other two knight cadets nodded in agreement: "That's right!" "The effect is fantastic!"
These solid user testimonies, especially Berg's horrific scars and Carl's incredibly convincing muscles, were more effective than Finn shouting himself hoarse. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, and some people's expressions shifted from skepticism to growing doubt.
However, just as the atmosphere was gradually improving, a sarcastic voice suddenly rang out from the periphery of the crowd:
"Hmph! Easier said than done! Everyone knows you're either paid or bewitched to say these things, right? That witch's methods are incredibly strange! Otherwise, how do you explain those effects that completely defy the laws of magic?"
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man with a pointed face and a monkey-like appearance, dressed in the uniform of a rival chamber of commerce, hiding in the crowd and stirring up trouble.
"Exactly! Maybe their souls have already been controlled!"
"That power isn't magic at all! It must be an evil, heretical power!"
"Who knows what's in these drugs?"
Several guys who were obviously shills joined in the commotion, trying to stir up trouble again in the atmosphere that had just been turned around.
Berg and Carl were furious, their faces turning red. They were about to step forward to argue, but Finn quickly stopped them—if they did, they would be playing right into the other party's hands!
The scene became somewhat tense and chaotic for a moment.
Just then, Ling Yao, who had been sitting quietly at the shop entrance as if she were detached from the situation, suddenly moved.
She slowly stood up, holding a seemingly ordinary earthenware pot she had been fiddling with, filled with water. Under everyone's gaze, she walked to the table where it had been placed.
Then, she did something that surprised everyone.
She extended her index finger and gently touched the jar of water with the tip.
There were no incantations, no magical fluctuations.
But the next moment, the water in the jar became crystal clear at a speed visible to the naked eye, even faintly emitting an extremely pure and refreshing aura! Above the water's surface, a very faint mist seemed to rise, refracting subtle rainbow light under the sunlight!
Ling Yao picked up the earthenware jar and slowly poured the water inside into several clean crystal glasses. Each glass of water was equally clear and sparkling, brimming with spiritual energy.
She gestured to Finn.
Finn was taken aback at first, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He immediately picked up a glass of water and said loudly, "Talk is cheap! Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth! This was just 'enlightened' by Miss Ling using the most ordinary water! Is it poisonous? Is it harmful? Has it extracted the soul? We'll drink it and show you!"
With that, he downed the water in his glass in one gulp. The cool, refreshing sensation instantly spread throughout his body, washing away the anxiety and fatigue of the past few days and invigorating him!
"Great water!" Finn couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes shining.
Berg, Ron, Carl, and the others didn't hesitate either, each grabbing a glass of water and gulping it down. After finishing, they all showed expressions of surprise and relief.
"This water... tastes even better than the elven spring water!" Karl exclaimed in surprise.
"I feel... completely relaxed!" Berg smacked his lips.
Ling Yao's gaze calmly swept over the crowd, finally settling on the few troublemakers. She didn't speak, but simply picked up the last glass of water and handed it to them.
That look seemed to say: Dare to drink it?
Those who had been stirring up trouble turned deathly pale the moment they saw the excessively clear water that was emitting a strange mist. They instinctively took a few steps back, as if it were not water but poison.
They dare to spout nonsense, but would they actually dare to try something so completely incomprehensible? They wouldn't dare even if they had a hundred lives!
This scene was clearly witnessed by all the onlookers.
It's obvious who has a guilty conscience.
An eerie silence fell over the scene. The doubts and fears that had been stirred up earlier seemed so ridiculous and pale in the face of facts and courage.
Finn watched the few guys slink away through the crowd, and then looked at the changes in the eyes of the people around him. For the first time, he stood up straight.
Ling Yao put down her cup, turned around and walked back into the shop, keeping her achievements and fame hidden.
Although she knew that this small counterattack might not completely extinguish the rumors, at least it was like a nail driven into a crack.
Once a crack forms, it has the potential to expand.
Next, let's see what the silent majority will choose.
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