Chapter 172
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Chapter 172: Talented Scholars and Beauties, Rumors Everywhere
The influx of people made Yuzhou City much noisier.
Some worked hard on cultivation, some gathered information, while others focused on socializing.
What frustrated Mu Lin was that despite dedicating himself entirely to cultivation, countless rumors about him spread.
First came the slander from Longyou and Heshan Academy – trying to eliminate this strong competitor, they deliberately portrayed Mu Lin as arrogant toward Yuhu Academy students.
"Third place belongs to Mu Lin no matter who stands before me!"
"My team’s called Proud Sky! Third place? We might even take first!"
"Look down on others? You’re right – I think they’re all trash!"
"Yuhu Academy? Since Yuan Yang Academy surrendered, they’d better stay out of my way unless they want to be swept aside like weeds…"
Through such tactics, these rumors spread all over Yuzhou City.
Though wise people see through lies, Longyou and Heshan Academy didn’t care. They knew most people are foolish.
More importantly, they understood Yuhu Academy wasn’t some detective agency. The academy only cared about protecting its reputation as Southeast Province’s strongest institution. This reputation attracted noble families’ offspring to study here, bringing resources and connections to Taoist Palace teachers and Mountain Elders. Lose that status, and they’d lose everything.
Thus Yuhu Academy had to crush Mu Lin’s challenge completely. The perfect solution? Defeat him decisively in the assessment. If successful, Longyou and Heshan’s open scheme would work.
The second rumor involved Chu Lingluo. This rumor-monger proved cleverer, weaving a cross-class love story between a noble lady and cold clan’s disciple.
Such forbidden romances always attract attention, proven by timeless tales like Liang Shanbo-Zhu Yingtai and Romeo-Juliet. True to form, this story exploded in popularity overnight.
Soon everyone in Yuzhou City knew how Chu Lingluo favored Mu Lin, even spending family wealth to support him. Other cold clan’s disciples burned with jealousy:
"Damn! Why don’t I meet such a naive noble girl?"
"So unfair…"
"Mu Lin’s ancestors must’ve blessed him ten lifetimes!"
While ordinary Qi Practitioners envied, Chu Lingluo’s mother raged. She knew this scandal ruined her daughter’s chances for marriages within one’s social class. Commoners love scholar-beauty tales, but noble families despise them – like Jia Mu’s criticism in "Dream of the Red Chamber".
And it was once said, "Even with great literary talent, such actions would disqualify one from being considered virtuous."
Clearly, Chu Lingluo’s interest in a cold clan’s disciple led many noblewomen from powerful clans to view her as immature.
They would naturally never consider her as a daughter-in-law.
As the rumors raged on, word eventually reached Mu Lin and Chu Lingluo.
When Mu Lin first heard of this, he felt a twinge of guilt. Though he disliked Chu Lingluo’s mother, he knew Chu Lingluo herself was blameless.
He even considered publicly refuting the gossip.
But that thought soon vanished—not because Chu Lingluo angered him, but because of her own reaction:
"Hehe, I’m not as perfect as the stories claim. But if I managed the household, I’d gladly share all our resources with you, Mu brother!"
Her delighted expression made Mu Lin realize she, unlike her mother, reveled in these tales.
"…"
"If it pleases you."
…
Since Chu Lingluo didn’t object, Mu Lin let the matter drop.
That very afternoon, their love story gained a new twist—someone lavished Spirit Stones to spread rumors that another noble lady now vied with Chu Lingluo for Mu Lin’s affection.
This development fueled wilder speculation.
While cross-class romance drew mild interest, a love triangle proved far more thrilling.
Two noble ladies competing for a cold clan’s disciple? This spectacle delighted commoners and stoked wishful thinking among countless low-status youths. The scandal spread like wildfire to neighboring regions.
The scheming noblewomen were startled by the rumor’s explosive reach.
Soon, they guessed the truth:
"Someone else aims to ruin Yan Yunyu’s reputation using our tactic."
"Let them. We’ve already succeeded."
"True enough."
"Pity. Yan Yunyu’s clever, but this will half-destroy her prospects…"
Meanwhile, the subject of their false sympathy sat in a Four Seas Pavilion private room in Yuzhou, directing her maid Xiaoxue:
After receiving reports, Xiaoxue bowed. "Miss, most Yuzhou City storytellers now spread tales of your affection for Young Master Mu. By tomorrow, the whole city will believe it."
Yan Yunyu nodded, then corrected: "Yuzhou’s insufficient. Hire Anping City’s storytellers too. Ensure they spread word of my love for Mu Lin."
The added chapter to the rumor mill? Yan Yunyu’s own masterpiece.
