As Xu Yi had anticipated, the Dean summoned both of them into the thatched hut. After hearing the entire story, he strongly condemned Yue Hantian and expressed sympathy for Zhu Zhu's tragic plight.
He also guaranteed that he would find a more suitable new body for Zhu Zhu.
“Where are Yue Hantian’s belongings?”
After comforting Zhu Zhu, the Dean’s lips curled upwards as he asked Xu Yi.
Xu Yi: !!!
“I killed Yue Hantian,” Xu Yi stated seriously, protecting her storage ring.
Therefore, all his possessions should belong to me.
The Dean glared at Xu Yi with annoyance. “Look at how stingy you are. I just want to find things related to Zhu Zhu. Do you think it’s that simple to just put a soul into any body? Ask her, does she often feel like she’s about to leave her body?”
Zhu Zhu was startled, then cautiously nodded.
She had thought it was a normal reaction due to her body and Yue Hantian’s not being a good match.
Xu Yi smiled sheepishly and obediently took out Yue Hantian’s storage bag.
The Dean snorted lightly, casually reaching in and pulling out a pink sachet.
“This is the sachet I embroidered!”
Zhu Zhu exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.
This sachet was originally given to Qi Xiaoyu, but it had ended up in Yue Hantian’s hands.
“This sachet contains your hair and bone fragments. With these, I can find the most suitable body for you.”
“Thank you, Dean.”
Zhu Zhu stood up and bowed deeply to the Dean.
The Dean tossed Yue Hantian’s storage bag back to Xu Yi. “Take your things. There are still fifteen days until the ranking list is finalized. You still have time to compete for a better spot.”
Xu Yi was stunned, then said goodbye to the Dean and Zhu Zhu, and dashed out like a gust of wind.
Fifteen days should be enough time.
Xu Yi rushed into the Endless Trials.
As Xu Yi was challenging the Endless Trials, a strange rumor began to spread throughout Kunlun Academy.
The rumor reached its peak when Yue Hantian’s name inexplicably vanished from the ranking list.
“Xu Yi used a honey trap to lure Yue Hantian, and then killed him to silence him? What is this nonsense?”
Yu Xiaoyu looked at Xiong Zhuangzhuang in astonishment, utterly bewildered.
“I bet you don’t even know, this rumor has spread all over Kunlun Academy. Many people are now saying Xu Yi has a viper’s heart and is cunningly scheming.”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was equally confused.
Xu Yi had informed them before leaving for the mission with Yue Hantian, so Xiong Zhuangzhuang had initially dismissed the rumor.
But later, he realized the rumor’s development seemed a bit off.
“They say Yue Hantian, though outwardly strong, actually had strange fetishes, which Xu Yi discovered. So Xu Yi threatened him. They also claim Xu Yi’s results for the past two months were fake, completed by Yue Hantian helping her.”
“How can they talk such nonsense? Do they have any proof?”
Yu Xiaoyu lost interest in her own missions.
Xu Yi was clearly being targeted.
It was too outrageous. The person secretly causing trouble must have seen Xu Yi’s strength and deliberately slandered her.
“Where is Yue Hantian? Let’s get him to testify!”
Yu Xiaoyu suddenly said, remembering something.
“The problem now is that Yue Hantian is missing. Everyone who messaged him received no response, and his name has also disappeared from the ranking list.”
Names are removed from the ranking list when someone voluntarily defects, like Wan Yanxue, or reaches the Integration stage.
Another way a name is passively removed is through death.
The people at Kunlun Academy suspected something had happened to Yue Hantian. Eyewitnesses reported that Yue Hantian’s last appearance was with Xu Yi, and the atmosphere between them was strange. Thus, they suspected Xu Yi was involved in Yue Hantian’s mishap.
And Xu Yi was currently in the Endless Trials, unable to know the outside situation or respond, allowing the rumors to spread wider and wider.
“Let’s go. We need to discuss this with Bei Xinghan and Lu Zaiye. This definitely has nothing to do with Xu Yi; it’s a fabricated lie. We can’t just stand by and watch Xu Yi be slandered.”
Yu Xiaoyu’s eyes were red with anger.
They knew Xu Yi’s character best.
Xu Yi would never do something like that.
A honey trap? Cunningly scheming?
It was all false.
“Alright, I’ll contact them now!”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang shared the same sentiment and immediately took out his communication disk to send messages to others.
Except for Bai Shan, everyone else quickly replied.
Courtyard Forty-Four.
“… That’s the situation. We must clarify this as quickly as possible before Xu Yi comes out. We can’t let Xu Yi be bullied.”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang’s booming voice echoed in Courtyard Forty-Four.
Bei Xinghan frowned slightly.
The rumors Xiong Zhuangzhuang mentioned seemed like complete nonsense to him.
But undeniably, such rumors could greatly affect one’s state of mind.
Especially since Xu Yi was a prominent figure in Kunlun Academy recently. Even baseless gossip could damage her reputation.
“Where did this rumor originate from?” Lu Zaiye asked seriously.
He had recently noticed the unique utility of the Kunlun Academy tower and hadn’t paid much attention to other news. Upon hearing this, his first reaction was disbelief, but then he detected a sinister intent behind it.
Regardless of the truth, this was equivalent to adding an indelible stain to Xu Yi’s name.
If ignorant teachers found out, they might develop an aversion towards Xu Yi, a truly malicious intent.
He had thought the disciples within Kunlun Academy were the cream of the crop selected from the Nine Continents Continent, but it seemed there were many who sought fame undeservedly.
“I don’t know.”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu shook their heads in unison.
It was difficult to find the source of such rumors.
That’s why they say it’s easy to spread a rumor and hard to debunk it.
Hong Jing, seeing everyone’s displeased expressions, gently twirled his prayer beads and said lightly, “This junior monk believes this matter is easily resolved.”
“Please speak, Buddha’s Son.” Xiong Zhuangzhuang’s eyes lit up.
“The teachers at Kunlun Academy must know the reason for Yue Hantian’s name being removed. We only need to ask them to step forward, and the problem will be solved effortlessly.”
Whether Yue Hantian met with misfortune or not, Kunlun Academy should know the inside story.
The teachers’ words would be far more effective than their hundred explanations.
“Right, how did I not think of that.”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang smacked his forehead and took out his communication disk, sending a message to Liu Yinxiao.
“Xiong Zhuangzhuang, are you looking for me?”
Liu Yinxiao’s voice reached everyone’s ears through the communication disk.
“Teacher Liu, there’s something I need to report to you…”
“I understand. Please remain calm. There will be news tomorrow.”
After listening to Xiong Zhuangzhuang, Liu Yinxiao said a sentence and ended the communication.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang looked at the others.
“Since Teacher Liu said so, then we will wait a day.”
“Okay, if I catch the person who fabricated this about Xu Yi, I will never let them off.”
“Me too.”
The five waited patiently for a night. As expected, the next morning, all Kunlun Academy disciples received news regarding Yue Hantian’s deregistration.
The truth was finally revealed.