Chapter 172 – Talented Scholars and Beauties: Rumors Abound

The influx of people made Yuzhou City much noisier.

Some worked hard on cultivation, some gathered intelligence, and others were busy socializing.

What left Mu Lin speechless was that, although he focused entirely on cultivation, there were many rumors circulating about him outside.

First, people from Dragon Roam Crane Mountain were spreading rumors—to eliminate Mu Lin as a formidable competitor, they deliberately portrayed him as arrogant, claiming he looked down on the Disciples of Jade Lake Dao Academy.

“No matter who stands in my way, third place is mine, Mu Lin!”

“My team is named Proud Heaven. Hmph, not just third place—even first place isn’t beyond our reach!”

“Look down on others? Heh, you’re right. I think they’re all trash!”

“What do I think of Jade Lake Dao Academy? Yuanyang Dao Academy has already submitted. If they’re smart, they won’t stand in my way. Otherwise, I won’t mind sweeping them aside like weeds…”

Through such tactics, these words spread everywhere in Yuzhou City.

Although rumors stop with the wise, and many intelligent people knew such claims were false, Dragon Roam and Heshan Academy didn’t care at all.

They understood one thing clearly: the world is mostly filled with fools.

Moreover, they knew even better that Jade Lake Dao Academy was neither a detective agency nor a court of justice. Their actions were never based on truth but on whether something affected them.

Now, with Mu Lin’s rumors being so arrogant, whether true or false, Jade Lake Dao Academy had to respond—they had to maintain their reputation as invincible in the Southeast Region. Only then would the children of noble families and powerful clans continue to flock here for education, and the teachers and Headmasters of the Dao Palace could thereby gain abundant resources and connections.

Once they declined, all of this would be lost.

Therefore, they had to deliver the strongest blow to the provocative Mu Lin.

The best way to do this was to decisively defeat him in the examination.

Once they did so, the schemes of Dragon Roam and Heshan Academy would succeed. In a way, they were using an open stratagem.

Apart from the rumors of Mu Lin’s arrogance, there was another rumor closely tied to him: the matter between Chu Lingluo and Mu Lin.

This time, the rumor-spreader was highly capable and cunning. Instead of bluntly revealing Mu Lin’s situation, she crafted a love story between a wealthy young lady and a poor boy.

Forbidden love across social classes, whether in past lives or the present, ancient times or modern, always had a broad appeal.

This was evident from how stories like Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo in the East, and Romeo and Juliet in the West, had been celebrated for centuries.

And indeed, as soon as this matter surfaced, the popularity of the two skyrocketed.

In a short time, nearly everyone in Yuzhou City knew that Mu Lin had been fortunate enough to catch Chu Lingluo’s eye, and this noble young lady had even spent her family’s wealth to help him.

Such rumors filled other common-born Disciples with envy and jealousy.

“Damn, why can’t I meet such a naive and sweet noble lady…”

“So envious…”

“That Mu Lin’s ancestors must have blessed him with incredible luck…”

Ordinary Qi Refiners were envious, but the other party involved in the rumors, Chu Lingluo’s mother, was furious. She knew clearly that after such a reputation spread, her daughter would have little chance of marrying a Prodigy from a family of equal status.

After all, it is the common folk who enjoy tales of gifted scholars and beautiful ladies, while aristocratic families are different.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, Grandmother Jia once harshly criticized such stories.

She once said, “Even if one is full of literary talent, engaging in such affairs does not make one a true lady.”

Clearly, Chu Lingluo, who has taken a liking to a common-born youth, is seen by many noblewomen from aristocratic families as immature.

Such a person would naturally not be considered as a suitable daughter-in-law for their families.

Due to the heated rumors, this matter eventually reached the ears of Mu Lin and Chu Lingluo.

When Mu Lin first heard about it, he felt somewhat apologetic. While he held no fondness for Chu Lingluo’s mother, he knew that Chu Lingluo herself was innocent.

Thus, he considered whether he should step forward to dispel the rumors.

However, such thoughts quickly vanished.

It wasn’t because Chu Lingluo had done anything to anger him, but rather:

“Hehe, I’m not as good as the stories make me out to be. But if I were in charge, I’d definitely be willing to share my family’s resources with you, Brother Mu.”

Her foolishly cheerful expression made Mu Lin realize that, unlike her mother, she was delighted to hear such stories.

“…”

“As long as you’re happy.”

…

Since Chu Lingluo didn’t mind, Mu Lin simply stopped concerning himself with the matter.

Then, that very afternoon, another chapter was added to the love story of Mu Lin and Chu Lingluo—someone spent a large sum of spirit stones to hire people to spread rumors in the city, claiming that not only was Mu Lin in love with Chu Lingluo, but another noble young lady from an aristocratic family had also taken a liking to him, and the two were now engaged in a rivalry for his affection.

With this development, the rumors about Mu Lin spread even wider and grew more lively.

After all, while some may enjoy tales of pure love that transcend social classes, such stories lack twists and turns and are not particularly intense.

A rivalry between two women for one man, however, is something people delight in.

Especially when the current rumor involves two noble young ladies vying for a common-born youth. This not only provides entertainment for the majority but also fulfills the fantasies of the numerous common-born youths. As a result, the matter spread like a plague to other provinces.

Upon learning of this, the noblewomen who had orchestrated these rumors were quite surprised—even they hadn’t expected the matter to blow up to such an extent.

But soon, they guessed the reason.

“It seems someone had the same idea as us, intending to tarnish Yan Yunyu’s reputation.”

“Let it be tarnished. After all, our goal has already been achieved.”

“You’re right.”

“What a pity. I’ve met Yan Yunyu before—she’s quite a clever girl. But now, her life is practically ruined…”

The noblewomen who spread the rumors believed Yan Yunyu’s life was half-ruined. But what was Yan Yunyu, the object of their pity, doing at that moment?

In Jade Province, within a private room of the Four Seas Pavilion, Yan Yunyu was directing her maid, Xiao Xue, to gather a group of people and listen to their reports.

After a while, Xiao Xue entered and spoke respectfully, “Miss, most of the storytellers in Yuzhou City have been hired by us. They are all following your instructions, spreading rumors about you and Young Master Mu Lin. By tomorrow, all of Jade Province will know that you also like Young Master Mu and are in love with him.”

Hearing this, Yan Yunyu nodded, but soon, she shook her head and said:

“Jade Province alone is not enough. Go, hire the storytellers from Anping City as well, and have them spread rumors that I am in love with Mu Lin.”

The later chapters were clearly added by Yan Yunyu herself!

(End of Chapter)