Chapter 34
Qi Yue knew that his thoughts were irrational. If someone used a knife to kill someone, what did that have to do with the person who forged the knife or even created the knife?
But when he thought that it was because of his carelessness that this extreme technique fell into the hands of a villain and was used to harm innocent people, his human nature made it impossible for him to remain indifferent.
Ultimately, he was young and too trusting, mistaking the Celestial Masters Association for an official organization (at the time, official personnel couldn't even get close to the front lines, let alone contact Qi Yue). Furthermore, because the situation was critical and there was no time to learn more, he rushed to seal the Ghost Gate, leaving him with no choice but to entrust his affairs to the Celestial Masters Association. He hadn't expected the association to be entrusted to the wrong person.
The fact that his own calligraphy was used by the Tianshi Association to harm others was, after all, his own karma was to blame. He couldn't deny it.
Qi Yue was filled with anger because he had inexplicably and without knowing it, been burdened with debt.
If it weren't for the fact that those old guys in the Tianshi Association had gone to the Ghost Gate and couldn't come back for a while and were not in the association, he might not be able to help but rush to the Tianshi Association to settle the score with them.
Director Lin continued in a serious tone, "After a long and careful investigation, we've uncovered numerous clues. It wasn't until yesterday that we received intelligence confirming the location of the place the Tianshi Association uses to refine those evil spirits. However, there's a complex formation there, and our personnel aren't strong enough to break it. If we force our way in, we'll only alert them and they'll quickly destroy all evidence. Therefore, this variety show live broadcast is your best opportunity to sneak in and find evidence."
Qi Yue: "Wait, you mean this variety show live broadcast will be filmed there? Who arranged it? The Tianshi Association? Are they stupid?"
Director Lin's eyes lit up with smiles. "It's all your credit, actually. If it weren't for your return causing such a big fuss, attracting away the Tianshi Association's president and elders, who were all experts, and leaving behind a clueless, clueless idiot who was in charge of the association, and you causing their face, Xue Tinghe, to suffer such a huge loss, forcing them to be so eager to clear Xue Tinghe's name, our people wouldn't have had the chance to make any moves."
Although Xue Tinghe was neither fined nor detained, and his case appeared to be completely cleared online, the metaphysical community was not buying his rhetoric.
Many Heavenly Masters watched the live broadcast screen recording carefully again and again, and they were very sure that the so-called ghost domain was simply a combination of an illusion array and a trap array at the basic entry level.
And Xue Tinghe, the only heir of the Qi family, the disciple of the president of the Tianshi Association, and the number one of the younger generation of Tianshi, not only did not immediately discover the existence of the formation, he also swore that it was a ghost domain!
Heavenly Masters: What kind of idiot is this!
What's more, Xue Tinghe hired a little ghost to deal with an ordinary person, which seriously violated the regulations of the Tianshi Association that strictly prohibits Tianshi from using unnatural means to deal with ordinary people. Not to mention that he was also ambushed by the backlash of the little ghost, which is simply a shame for the Tianshi world.
Those seniors who once praised Xue Tinghe as a student who was better than their teacher and the future hope of the Tianshi world were all ashamed and ashamed to face people.
Moreover, Xue Tinghe still follows the route of pretentiousness and face-slapping upgrade of a certain male protagonist. Since he suddenly became the closed disciple of the association president and obtained the inheritance of the Qi family, becoming the only heir of the Qi family, he has been questioned by many heavenly masters.
His reputation was built by slapping those who questioned him, so he offended many people.
It's just that the Tianshi Association is usually the only one in power. He has the association's president as his backer, and the title of the Qi family's heir attracts many old seniors to protect and escort him. Even if those Tianshi feel dissatisfied and aggrieved, they can only swallow their anger and bear it.
Now that Xue Tinghe is in such a big problem, how could they miss this great opportunity and not kick him when he's down?
In the past few days, the Tianshi Forum has been filled with ridicule towards Xue Tinghe. Even if the Tianshi Association tries to ban his account and silence him, it is useless. Chinese is a vast and profound language. If they want to satirize someone in a sarcastic way, even if they don't mention the name, they can use all kinds of methods to make indirect accusations and innuendos, leaving the Tianshi Association with no reason to ban his account and silence him.
This wasn't the biggest problem. The bigger issue was that many Heavenly Masters were already very dissatisfied with the fact that the Heavenly Master Association's top brass had monopolized the Qi family's inheritance and chosen Xue Tinghe, a man of unorthodox origin, to inherit the Qi family's legacy and become the Qi family's sole heir.
They had long wanted a piece of the action. Now that they had such a strong handle on Xue Tinghe, and the president and elders of the Celestial Masters Association were no longer with the association, they naturally would not miss this opportunity. They united and strongly demanded that the Celestial Masters Association revoke Xue Tinghe's status as the heir of the Qi family and select several young Celestial Masters with better talent, character, and conduct to inherit the Qi family's techniques.
Therefore, if the Tianshi Association still wants to keep the Qi family inheritance firmly in its own hands, it can only do everything it can to preserve Xue Tinghe's identity as the heir of the Qi family.
If Xue Tinghe wants to maintain his identity as the heir of the Qi family, he must first prove his strength to everyone. What could be more useful than having a spectacular ghost-killing battle in front of a live camera?
However, they now want to prove Xue Tinghe's strength in front of a group of heavenly masters, so he can't act too fake. The opponent must be a real evil spirit that few people can deal with, and the danger he faces must be more real. When the time comes, Xue Tinghe can easily solve these very powerful evil spirits and escape from danger, which will further prove his strength.
If there were extremely powerful evil spirits, and their territory was under their control, what place could be more suitable than the place where they refine evil spirits? There were the most suitable evil spirits there, and they were all under their control.
Of course, this is also because the current interim manager of the Tianshi Association, Vice President Xu Jitong, is an outsider.
Xu Jitong is the president's younger brother. He doesn't know any occult arts and can't see ghosts. He just relies on his brother, the president, and the Xu family's support to become the vice president of the association, responsible for managing the association's daily affairs, including finances.
Xu Jitong is a mediocre, arrogant, and self-deprecating person. Because he cannot become a Heavenly Master, he has always been jealous of those Heavenly Masters with good talents. He has secretly made things difficult for those lone Heavenly Masters who have talent but no backing.
Also, because he has a brother who is the president and the Xu family's support, no one dares to mess with him. This guy often relies on his pitiful knowledge of metaphysics to give orders to the Taoist priests of the Taoist Association. Only the president and the elders can suppress him.
"Now that the president and elders of the Tianshi Association who could suppress him are gone, he's a half-witted person, completely unaware of the importance of a place for training and transforming evil spirits. With a few subtle instigations from our people, he thinks he's brilliantly used that important place as the live broadcast location for his childhood variety show."
As for Xue Tinghe, he certainly knew that place was important, but he knew that for him, clearing his name and preserving his identity as the heir of the Qi family was more important.
Moreover, it was Xu Jitong who had suggested this place, and he had also hypocritically advised him. Even if anything went wrong in the future, Xu Jitong would be the one to take the blame. So he accepted it with peace of mind.
Qi Yue was a bit surprised. It seemed the Special Management Bureau hadn't been idle all those years; at least they'd been wielding their hoes vigorously. He feared a large portion of the Tianshi Association's walls had been dug up, yet they hadn't even noticed.
***
After the live broadcast, Xue Tinghe brought the magical instrument containing the female ghost to the president's office of the Jiangcheng branch of the Tianshi Association. With a very grim expression, he threw the gourd-shaped magical instrument on the desk and said, "I've caught that female ghost for you."
A trace of disgust flashed across the face of the pot-bellied middle-aged man behind the desk, and he immediately ordered his secretary, "Take it away, take it away! Quickly take this dirty thing away."
The secretary quickly and carefully took the magic weapon out.
Xu Jitong finally breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, he saw Xue Tinghe standing there with a sullen face and a mocking expression on his face. He said disdainfully, "It's done. Who are you showing off to with such a sullen face, nephew?"
Xue Tinghe's chest rose and fell violently several times, and he slowly subsided the coldness in his body.
Xu Jitong smiled with satisfaction and said, "That's right! Think about it, no matter how miserable she was in her life, she is now a ghost that harms people. We, the Heavenly Masters, are not the police. Our job is to catch ghosts and exorcise evil spirits to protect the living. As for the injustice she suffered in the past, that is not our responsibility. Naturally, there are human laws to seek justice for her. If she can't get it, then she can only blame her bad luck. She committed many sins in her previous life, so she has to suffer in this life to pay for it. Everything is the law of reincarnation. We are outsiders and cannot interfere."
Xue Tinghe listened quietly on the surface, but he was sneering in his heart. He thought that all those messy and high-sounding excuses were just to drag him into the water.
The Tianshi Association has long been a den of corruption. Many people claim to be catching ghosts and exorcising evil spirits, but in fact they have secretly accepted a lot of money. They do not care whether there is any injustice or not, and they just drive away, liberate or suppress and seal ghosts according to the requirements of their employers.
Xue Tinghe actually despised these people's actions and didn't want to be associated with them. But now he was forced into a desperate situation. He couldn't afford to lose his status as the heir of the Qi family. His master, who would protect him, was away, and the other Heavenly Masters were united and pressing him. He was afraid that by the time his master returned, everything would have been settled.
As a last resort, he could only accept Xu Jitong's olive branch and deal with the female ghost in front of the live broadcast as a token of his loyalty in exchange for Xu Jitong's help.
The association was not unaware of the existence of this female ghost. Someone had already placed an order with the association, but the money that the family of three could come up with was too little, and not many powerful Taoist priests were willing to take the order.
The Taoist priests who accept orders don’t go there for the money, they really want to catch ghosts, exorcise evil spirits and protect the living.
After understanding the whole cause and effect, they felt that the family deserved it, and that the female ghost was only tormenting them. Her ability was not enough to kill people, so these heavenly masters tacitly let it go.
The female ghost became more and more violent. It was possible that there was some Taoist priest with a strong sense of justice secretly helping her.
If Xue Tinghe takes action, his reputation will only get worse among these Taoist priests who have a strong sense of justice.
But what does it matter? As Xu Jitong said, they are celestial masters, not police officers. They are only responsible for catching ghosts and exorcising evil spirits to protect the living. The creed of the Celestial Masters Association is to not let go of any ghost that harms people. Who can say that they are doing something wrong?
He changed the subject and asked Xu Jitong, "Are you ready for the variety show live broadcast? Will there be any problems broadcasting there?"
Xu Jitong said nonchalantly, "What could go wrong? You've been there before. It's filled with the Qi family's unique and profound spells. Those evil spirits won't be able to cause any trouble there. Besides, won't you, the heir of the Qi family, be here by then? You'll be able to unleash the power of your Qi family magic there, and let those ignorant flies see clearly that not everyone can become a heir of the Qi family."
Xue Tinghe was relieved.
Before leaving, Xu Jitong warned him again: "Don't forget what my brother told you, Jiang Mingshuang is your true love. His horoscope is a perfect match for you. It's extremely auspicious. If you win his heart, you will be able to ride the wind and clouds and soar into the sky like a dragon. No one else will be of any use to you. Once you reach a high enough level, Jiang Mingshuang will be unable to leave you. Is there anyone else you're looking for?"
Xue Tinghe frowned slightly, but nodded in agreement.
Although Jiang Mingshuang is also pretty, he actually prefers delicate and gentle women, such as Xie Yuhua.
The reason for being ambiguous with Sun Zhanyuan was to help his father get the Sun family behind him.
But now Sun Zhanyuan was tactless and had a falling out with him over a trivial matter, and that woman Sun Jiayuan was biting him like a hyena, so he would no longer have any sympathy for Sun Zhanyuan.
But Jiang Mingshuang was different. She really liked him and was very knowledgeable and interesting. Behind her was the Jiang family, which was no less powerful than the Sun family. Most importantly, the master and the elders of the association who were proficient in numerology had calculated that Jiang Mingshuang's horoscope would definitely bring him good luck. She and he were a destined match and the best match arranged for him by God.
Then he wouldn't mind dating Jiang Mingshuang and creating a CP relationship with her.
***
The Tianshi Association was eager to whitewash Xue Tinghe, so it spent a lot of money to invest in the childhood variety show, and also mobilized connections from all parties to pave the way for the childhood variety show.
The Special Management Bureau also helped to avoid any further complications and provided a lot of assistance in secret. So, two days later, the variety show "Children's Play" was re-broadcast.
As soon as the show started, netizens who had received the news a long time ago flocked in.
[Oh my god! I thought this variety show was going to be discontinued. I was so disappointed that I wouldn't be able to watch it anymore, but I didn't expect it to start airing again so soon!]
[Haha, it's still the same group? Why haven't these three corrupt people, Xue Shengun, Jiang Lucha, and Xie Yanghua, been banned yet?]
Our Master Xue is a true master, not a charlatan. Be careful if you speak without restraint, or ghosts will come to you in the middle of the night!
So what if our Jiang Jiang hid his identity? Who did he bother? Everyone says it's the director's fault. He deliberately wants to frame Jiang Jiang, so he's so audacious that he keeps assigning him villain roles. Our Jiang Jiang is also a victim. He's so pure and kind, he wouldn't even step on an ant to death. How could he really want to kill someone?
"Our Jie Yuhua isn't a fickle person. We're just Master Xue's fan. Who says you can't be a fan just because a celebrity has a boyfriend and isn't married? Daqiao doesn't even care. Look how loving they are. Why are you, the insignificant ones, making a fuss here?"
[Look at our Yuqiao being even more affectionate than before. They've been hugging each other since getting on the bus, and haven't separated. It's clear that their relationship isn't just unaffected, it's even stronger. If Jieyuhua really cheated, how could Daqiao continue to be so affectionate with Jieyuhua as if nothing had happened?]
Who knows? Maybe some people are just cuckolds with a penchant for cuckoldry.
…
[It was bustling as soon as I entered, just like a wet market.]
[Luckily, I came in to see the sweet Yueyun couple. From now on, I just need to enjoy the sweet moments and not make a fuss like a shrew.]
[…Wait, what the hell! We've only been apart for a few days. July, Shuangshuang, what's going on with you two? Why are you sitting so far away?]
At this time, on the bus, Qiyue and Gu Yunshuang were separated by a seat and an aisle. Qiyue deliberately sat in the window seat, while Gu Yunshuang sat in the aisle seat. It was obvious that Qiyue was deliberately avoiding Gu Yunshuang.
The CP fans who just rushed in to see the two of them being sweet and loving were instantly overwhelmed.
"Why? We haven't seen each other for just a few days, and you're breaking up already? July, aren't you the one who dotes on your wife the most? Stop looking out the window. Look back! Your wife is looking at you pitifully!"
[Hahaha, what's not to understand? Qiyue is just a fake childhood sweetheart. Either she can't continue the role or Gu Yunshuang didn't pay her enough.]
[It's hilarious. He's just a low-quality stand-in who gets paid to act, and you guys take him seriously.]
I used to take it seriously and really supported their relationship, but ever since I started looking at the character design for the Metaphysics Master in July, I've been so disappointed. With Master Xue being such a shining example, they're still trying to imitate him, copying others' ideas. It's so ugly.
Where did Qiyue ever say he was a master of metaphysics? It was just those trolls who said Qiyue was suffering from nightmares of having his tongue and hands cut off as retribution for his words, "Those who commit verbal sins will be condemned to tongue-pulling hell." These trolls also smeared Shuangshuang before, so who knows if they're smearing Qiyue this time too?
To be honest, I sent that message to those online trolls, and it really worked. That night, the trolls who were going crazy instantly went offline. If you continue to spread rumors, I'll send you another message to see if it works.
The barrage of comments actually stopped for several seconds, and then people really didn't dare to continue criticizing July and Gu Yunshuang.
Although it is not known whether July’s metaphysical character is true or false, it has to be said that the things done by those water armies are indeed quite scary and supernatural.
After the trolls turned themselves in, the story of the tongue-pulling hell spread like wildfire online, causing many people to be more careful with their words. The trolls weren't as reckless as before. The online atmosphere became much fresher and cleaner.
[I don't know if it's my imagination, but even though Qiyue and Shuangshuang are so far apart, the way they look at each other from time to time, silently gazing at each other, makes them look so much like the Cowherd and the Weaver Boy, separated by the Milky Way.]
[You're not mistaken. The sad atmosphere of them staring at each other silently makes me feel that this couple is even better than the couple who were so affectionate with each other before.]
This comment was agreed by many viewers, and in comparison, it seemed as if Qiyue and Gu Yunshuang were a real couple, while Qiao Yuanzhong and Xie Yuhua seemed fake and greasy.
***
The bus drove for more than an hour and stopped in a more remote suburb of Jiangcheng.
When they got off the car, they saw a classical and old house in front of them. The walls were high and the gate was old and mottled. They could still see the vines and trees growing out of the yard, giving people a very eerie feeling.
The new director introduced the place, saying, "This was the private residence of a general from the previous dynasty. It's said to have been abandoned due to being haunted. What's surprising is that no one has cared for it in years. While it's clearly overgrown with weeds, the buildings are perfectly intact, as if someone regularly cleans and maintains them. Someone once passed by and heard a bustle of voices, but when they peeked inside, there was no one there.
"Today we're going to livestream our adventure. You'll be paired up, each wearing a camera. These are specially customized cameras that can capture ghosts."
When he said the last word, he made it sound very light and airy, and even grabbed at the air with his hands, looking very frightening.
Jiang Mingshuang and Xie Yuhua were very cooperative and were frightened by him. One of them tried hard to hide behind Xue Tinghe, and the other one clearly shrank into Qiao Yuanzhong's arms, but her eyes were fixed on Xue Tinghe.
The others didn't seem frightened at all.
The director felt bored and continued, "Alright, now you guys start drawing lots! Those with the same numbers will be in a group."
These words successfully stunned the eight people and the audience in the live broadcast room.
"Draw lots?" Jiang Mingshuang's surprise didn't seem fake at all. "Director, isn't this an adventure with our childhood sweethearts? Aren't we supposed to be in a group with our childhood sweethearts?"
Director: "We're going on an adventure with our childhood sweethearts. But there are so many humans out there, and not only have you met in this vast sea of over six billion people, but you've also been able to grow up together. Your fate has already surpassed 99.9999999% of the world's human race. Don't you think you're extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely destined to be together?"
The guests were confused by his series of "nine" and "very" and nodded subconsciously.
The director smiled. "So this is also a time to test your fate. You must believe in your destiny. It's just a simple draw of lots, and you will definitely draw each other. Even if you don't, it doesn't matter. This house is so big, and you started from different directions. As long as you are destined, you will definitely meet halfway."
Guests: ...
Audience: ...
That really makes sense.
But isn't it essentially just for fun?
[It doesn't matter. Our Jiang Jiang is Master Xue's true love. Jiang Jiang and Master Xue will definitely be drawn together.]
[Heh, so this is completely no pretense, just openly cheating!]
[As for the above, fate, like birth, is also a form of one's own strength. It cannot be forced, so don't be envious or jealous.]
The drawing of lots was a segment prepared by the director to promote the relationship between Jiang Mingshuang and Xue Tinghe.
Didn't Xue Tinghe say that Jiang Mingshuang was his soulmate and that fate would always bring them together? Drawing lots would allow others to compare themselves to them, highlighting their extraordinary fate and making the audience even more excited.
Jiang Mingshuang pretended to be worried and said to Xue Tinghe, "Brother Xue, what should we do? I'm so nervous. If we don't get picked together later, I'll be really scared."
Xue Tinghe soothed him softly, "Don't be afraid. Believe in our fate. We will definitely be drawn together."
Qiao Yuanzhong held Xie Yuhua's hand and interlocked their fingers: "Baby, don't worry, you have to believe in our fate too."
Xie Yuhua glanced at the affectionate Xue Tinghe and Jiang Mingshuang, and the smile on her face was a little forced.
Sun Zhanyuan glanced at Qi Yue. He really wanted to be with Qi Yue, as this would make him feel safer. However, he knew that Qi Yue would definitely be with Gu Yunshuang.
So he can only...
He silently turned around and glanced at Hu Lijing. When their eyes met, they could see the disgust in each other's eyes.
Qi Yue comforted Gu Yunshuang: "Don't worry, the number we draw will definitely be the same." Even if it is not, he can change it to be.
Out of trust in Xue Tinghe, the director had no intention of tampering with the drawing of lots. In order to show that they did not tamper with anything, he asked the staff to tear off eight identical sticky notes without any marks in front of the live broadcast, write a number on them with a pen, then fold them into a square, pile them up randomly, and use a small bowl to bring it to the middle of the guests, indicating that they should draw by themselves.
None of them fought over it and took turns taking the paper sign.
Qi Yue knew what his number was without even opening it. He looked at Gu Yunshuang beside him, his face suddenly changed, and he pressed down on the paper slip that Gu Yunshuang was about to open halfway and then completely. Because he pressed too hard, Gu Yunshuang's palm turned a little red.
Gu Yunshuang was not angry at all. He looked at Qi Yue in surprise and asked, "Brother?"
Qi Yue actually took the initiative to touch him, does this mean...
Then he saw Qi Yue looking at the paper note in Xue Tinghe's hand with a very ugly expression.
His paper slip had been unfolded, and it contained the number 4.
The director started to cheer: "Their Master Xue drew the number 4. Let's see who has a connection with Master Xue and also drew 4."
Xie Yuhua, Qiao Yuanzhong and Sun Zhanyuan have also unfolded their paper signs, which are "2", "3" and "3" respectively.
The faces of these three people were not very good.
Moreover, Xie Yuhua couldn't help but look at Jiang Mingshuang with a somewhat jealous look.
Jiang Mingshuang couldn't help but smile sweetly. He was about to open his note at this highly anticipated moment to let everyone see his destined fate with Brother Xue.
Then I heard a teasing voice say, "What a coincidence, I got 4 too!"
Everyone looked over in astonishment, only to see Qi Yue shaking the piece of paper with the number "4" written on it, and said with a forced smile, "Ape shit, ape shit, this is truly marvelous, Master Xue, don't you think?"
Xue Tinghe's face darkened instantly and he looked over coldly.
Qi Yue looked back without showing any weakness, his eyes so cold that it seemed as if ice could come out.
Gu Yunshuang stared at Qi Yue blankly, then turned to look at the paper note in his hand.
Jiang Mingshuang couldn't believe it and hurried to open his paper note. Just when he was about to open it completely to the number on it, he was suddenly bumped and the paper note fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I bumped into you." Hu Lijing quickly picked up the paper money and returned it to him, smiling apologetically: "It's my fault. I was so eager to know what number Yun Shuang drew and whether she was in the same group with me that I didn't notice you were in front of me and bumped into you."
Jiang Mingshuang had no intention of paying attention to her. After taking back the paper sign, he opened it immediately and saw a "2" written on it.
He turned to look at Xie Yuhua, and both of their faces turned green.
Hu Lijing came up to Gu Yunshuang with a smile and said, "You are the only one left. You must be number 1 like me. This is fate."
Gu Yunshuang opened his paper note and saw that it was indeed 1. He looked up and glanced at Qi Yue again.
After the draw, only Hu Lijing could still smile, while the other guests' faces were greener than each other.
The director was very distressed. "Master Xue, how come this is different from what you said? Why don't you let us do some tricks in it?"
The audience watched with great interest.
A pair of love rivals, a pair of genuine and fake or the original owner and the substitute, the following live broadcast will be very exciting.
Monkey poop, monkey poop, it’s really amazing.
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