Chapter 424: Continuing to Corrupt the Sister-in-law

"Chen Shu, you've really got some nerve! I've only been in the education industry for a few months, and I've only neglected to check on you for a month or two, and you already dare to run abroad to fight a war!

"Don't give me that 'national conscription' nonsense! Do you know why I didn't support you in advancing to High-Tier before? It's because I knew that once you advanced to High-Tier, the country would definitely come looking for you whenever they had a need. With your personality, you wouldn't be able to refuse.

"Usually, you don't even want me to care about you. If I ask you a couple of things or say a couple of words to you, you get impatient. Look at the consequences of me not caring about you or saying anything to you!

"You're only at the Seventh Stage and you already dare to go abroad to fight a war. If you reach the Ninth Stage, what will happen then?

"What surprises me even more is that you were actually able to convince Zhang Suannai to help you cover up your lies?

"Sigh, I really can't be bothered to talk to you..."

Chen Banxia sat on a stone bench, her waist held straight, holding her Mobile Phone in her hand, having just finished reading the news about her younger brother.

Chen Shu stood behind her, continuously kneading her shoulders, saying repeatedly: "Calm down, calm down. This doesn't count as fighting a war; I just went to catch someone. It's basically the same as assisting the police in catching a thief on the street. There's no danger."

"Calm down? How can I calm down?"

Chen Banxia's mouth didn't stop for a second, refusing to let this opportunity pass: "Our Lao Chen family is counting on you to carry on the family line. I'm not getting married, and I'll be waiting for you to provide for my old age and have children for me to play with. Qingqing and Xiaoxiao are also counting on you. You're not someone without a home or family... Ah, Suannai, I didn't mean you!"

Zhang Suannai stood to the side, her expression blank.

She had ten thousand regrets in her heart right now.

Originally, it was because she had accidentally stumbled upon the scene of Chen Shu being cared for by his family; she felt it was warm and could understand Wei Lvshi's worry. To prevent her little sisters from feeling the same worry once they found out, she had said that. As it turned out, before her little sisters could even start searching on their phones, the first item was news about them.

Now it was a mess—she was caught in the middle.

Regarding Chen Shu, it hadn't achieved the effect of helping him avoid his family's worry.

Regarding her little sisters, she now felt she wasn't on their side anymore, having stood on Chen Shu's side.

Regarding herself, she had missed the chance to stir the pot.

Is there really no way to turn back time in this world?

At this moment, Ning Qing walked out, still carrying a fruit basket containing fruits she had brought back from Jiangzhou, washed clean. She placed it on the stone table, then glanced indifferently at Chen Shu, who was busy trying to please his sister, and sat down beside Chen Banxia very naturally, reaching back to pound her own shoulder.

Chen Shu immediately understood and began to knead for her.

"??"

Chen Banxia turned her head to stare at them: "What is the meaning of this? As soon as the girlfriend arrives, you ignore your sister?"

"Go, go, go..."

"You person..."

Chen Banxia was speechless.

She had the heart to say a few more words to him to further consolidate the sisterly authority she had just established. However, her younger brother had already blocked her remaining room for maneuver on this matter through a series of fawning actions. After thinking it over, she could only say: "How is your graduation thesis coming along?"

"Go, go, go..."

"Hmm..."

As expected, this topic had no power.

Chen Banxia was so anxious she was scratching her head.

In the afternoon.

Chen Shu scrolled through the videos again.

There were still constant videos about Cao Ci popping up. The popularity was very high, and many people were discussing it spontaneously.

The types of videos were also varied. Categorized by the meaning expressed: there were objective, researched ones. There were those who felt that this person Cao Ci was actually not bad, and that if it were them, they would do the same—who isn't a patriot? There were also those who felt that Cao Ci was just a Great Demon King who, in reality, cared for nothing but the supreme Daoist path he pursued. Of course, many people's viewpoints were not very clear-cut; a certain amount of ambiguity is normal.

In any case, there was praise, there was criticism, and there was objective description.

These videos disparaging or smearing Cao Ci had nothing to do with the authorities, because whether it was praise or criticism, as long as people were discussing it, it was a help to Cao Ci.

What Cao Ci wanted was to become a god. He needed to obtain the recognition of the World Will, and to achieve this, he needed the recognition of the people—that is, faith. Having a certain reputation beforehand was a prerequisite. A good reputation is certainly good, but if that couldn't be achieved, a bad reputation wasn't impossible.

The World Will does not distinguish between good and evil; only people distinguish between good and evil, and human good and evil are actually not easy to define.

A good person has a good god in their heart, and an evil person also has an evil god in their heart.

That evil people cannot become gods is a limitation of other deities, not a limitation of the World Will.

Still the same saying, there are too many people in this world.

Not everyone is rational, not everyone knows right from wrong, and not everyone worships positive figures and spits on negative ones. For example, many captured juvenile delinquents often worship "big brothers" in society; the more bad things these big brothers do, the more they worship them.

"Black-red" is still red, after all.

Tall, short, fat, thin, good, evil, beautiful, ugly—there are people chasing after all of them.

The internet age has linked all these people together.

Did the believers who originally worshipped Cao Ci through the Mengyue Sect do so because of Cao Ci's positive deeds?

Obviously not.

Chen Shu checked the history records again for those first few bloggers he had seen; some of the videos could no longer be found.

The country acted quite quickly.

But this was also the limit of what the country could do.

Take these bloggers, for example: at most, only a small number of the initial ones had taken money, but none of them had fabricated rumors. Most people hadn't even taken money; they spontaneously followed the trend to discuss facts about Cao Ci, without a single lie. The former were fine, but as for the latter, could you really arrest them?

Impossible.

Suppressing the heat and using other topics to divert attention was already a relatively good method of handling it.

Moreover, it couldn't be suppressed too hard, otherwise it would trigger a rebellious psychology in some people; it was necessary to wait a few days for the heat to decrease before taking action.

As for the effect, Chen Shu was not optimistic.

The heat of this matter was truly too high. A supreme expert worthy of Yiguo deploying a Sky Carrier and an Aircraft Carrier Formation, a battle between the world's Top Ninth-tier—the heat of such news was no less than a major power declaring war on a small one. It was almost impossible to make people stop discussing this matter.

Furthermore, Cao Ci was already a solid, world-number-one expert; he carried his own heat.

In fact, for many years in the past, that Yiguo and other countries could erase a person like Cao Ci from the public eye so that everyone didn't know him, Chen Shu already felt that was a very incredible thing.

Now, this public opinion war itself was not equal.

If Yiguo wants to stop Cao Ci, it needs to make one billion people disapprove of him, while for Cao Ci to succeed, he only needs to gain the approval of a very small portion of people.

How could that possibly be done?

Even if Yiguo could do it, what about other countries? In so many countries where people value freedom over their own lives, how many would worship Cao Ci?

Should they round all these people up and re-educate them, just like they did when clearing out the Mengyue Sect?

"Sigh..."

Chen Shu let out a sigh.

It could be said that when Cao Ci appeared in Xixiao, it was destined that he would enter the eyes of everyone in the world; what followed was a process of filtering believers, directly discarding the vast majority of rational, kind people to harvest the approval of those rebels and those with evil in their hearts—these people might even be worse than Cao Ci himself.

However, Chen Shu did not know what the big shots were thinking, so it was hard to judge the outcome of this game.

Perhaps it was a piece intentionally sacrificed?

Perhaps it was a trap?

"Headache..."

Chen Shu long-pressed the video, uninterested.

At this moment, a message came in the group chat of idiots.

Haoran: Everyone, have you seen the video?

Qingcai Keke: What video?

Zhong Miao Zhimen: The one about Cao Ci? It's hard not to see it.

Haoran: I'm talking about the one about you guys.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Saw it too.

Qingdeng Gufu: Amitabha, this poor monk was cultivating in the temple when a senior brother specifically came to inform me.

Haoran: Congratulations to you all, you are now national anti-terrorism heroes.

Yes, that video, besides the group owner, Zhang Suannai, and Chen Shu, also mentioned Wu Eiwei, Master Xuanzhen, and Dharma Master Tongdeng. It was just that because of the unique nature of their Cultivation System, the latter two did not directly participate in the battle after advancing to the Seventh Stage, but instead entered the Command Center to coordinate intelligence gathering. Although they only went to slack off for a few days before the clearing operation ended, the video creator still counted them in.

This video was likely related to the authorities.

Chen Shu began typing indignantly.

Qingcai Keke: To divert public attention, they sold us out. My mom just called to scold me; she didn't know about this before.

Qingcai Keke: Pay up!

Qingcai Keke: /pointing finger

Haoran: It's not that simple.

"Hm?"

Chen Shu paused, his eyes widening.

He suddenly realized one point—

Cao Ci built momentum to become famous so that everyone would know his name and so that some would approve of him, thereby gaining the approval of the world's origin; but isn't the video released by the state about them doing the exact same thing?

At the very least, it could achieve the same effect.

Chen Shu could not help but fall into deep thought.

At this time, his Mobile Phone continued to vibrate.

Nainai Zongshuo: What does this mean?

Nainai Zongshuo: Damn it! Who wrote the script? What do you mean Chen Shu overpowered Zhang Suannai? It pisses me off!

Nainai Zongshuo: And another thing!

Nainai Zongshuo: The three of us aside, there's a Sixth Stage dead weight and two errand runners, and they only fought for a few days, so why are they included too?

Qingdeng Gufu: Amitabha.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Amitabha, Benefactor Nainai, don't think about that. Think about your senior brothers and sisters who went to battle, one of whom was even severely wounded, yet it wasn't even reported in the news. Doesn't that make you feel better immediately?

Nainai Zongshuo: /smirking

Haoran: You've already gone to show off once, haven't you?

Nainai Zongshuo: /smirking

Qingcai Keke: Zhang Suannai has truly been played by you guys.

Nainai Zongshuo: /Bodhisattva of Tribulation expression complex

Zhong Miao Zhimen: How is the Sword Master?

Qingcai Keke: Same question.

Nainai Zongshuo: Doing just fine.

Haoran: Tell the truth.

Nainai Zongshuo: Sustained some injuries.

Qingcai Keke: Aren't they old acquaintances?

Nainai Zongshuo: It was mainly that they got too carried away and couldn't hold back; neither side could hold back, but that guy surnamed Cao didn't come out unscathed either.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: I suddenly thought that a few hundred years from now, if we also drift apart for various reasons and have to face each other with blades, it would feel strange.

Qingcai Keke: Can't imagine that scene.

Haoran: +1

Qingdeng Gufu: +1

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinü: +1

Jiu Jiao Luo Huaian Suan Le: +1

Hulian Bikou Li: +1

Jiang Lai: +1

Grandma always says: I can imagine it.

Grandma always says: Because I was fucking hunted down by you all together, chased for several streets, and even framed by you into the detention center.

Grandma always says: / Society is dangerous, and people's hearts are complex.

"Heh..."

Chen Shu chuckled, then closed the group chat, thought for a moment, and began searching for the names of several foreign geniuses he knew.

They were all geniuses who had been through the Killing Forbidden Land.

Most of them had already become famous in their own countries.

A few days later.

The eleventh lunar month arrived.

The leaves of the persimmon tree had mostly fallen, and the remaining fiery red persimmons hung on it like little lanterns, making the colors in the courtyard much more vibrant.

Two sparrows stood on it, pecking at the persimmons while staring downward.

Three people and one cat sat around a stone table, playing Go.

Currently, it was Xiaoxiao and Qingqing playing, while Chen Shu and Taozi watched from the side—Qingqing had promised not to use her Secret Sect abilities, but Chen Shu still couldn't beat her, so he had to pull Xiaoxiao over to have a sisterly battle with her, and they were currently fighting fiercely.

"Ha~~"

Chen Shu yawned.

Taozi beside him glanced at him, then, as if infected, also yawned, and even mimicked humans by raising its little paw to rub its eyes.

Chen Shu found it cute and his heart melted, so he couldn't help but pull it over, hold it in his arms, and rub it.

It also served to relieve his boredom.

"I plan to attempt the Seventh Stage in a few days," Ning Qing said to him while placing a piece.

"In a few days?"

"The fifth day of the month, it's a good time."

"You even check the calendar for this?"

"I just picked it at random."

"Alright, I'll watch over you."

"As you wish."

"But why are you so fast?" Chen Shu asked while stroking the fur on Taozi's chest, "You haven't entered the Forbidden Land again."

"I won't tell you."

"Tch..."

Chen Shu sneered dismissively.

Qingqing ignored him, eyeing Xiaoxiao's move.

The outcome was about to be decided.

From somewhere in the distance, a few more sparrows flew over, perhaps knowing that this family took good care of their persimmons—they were large, sweet, and juicy—and that they were one of the rare households in the city that didn't pick them even when ripe, letting the birds eat them, so they came for a buffet. The two resident birds were very territorial and immediately stopped eating; the female bird tilted her neck and stared at them with vigilance, while the male bird flew directly into the sky to drive them away.

For a moment, the sky was full of chirping sounds.

Chen Shu couldn't help but look up, and Taozi in his arms also looked up; both the human and the cat felt that this sparrow battle was more interesting than the slaughter on the chessboard.

"Click-click-click-click..."

Chen Shu opened his mouth and made such a sound.

Taozi immediately twisted its head back, staring at him with a bewildered expression.

Chen Shu patiently explained to it: "I've seen other cats make this sound when they see sparrows."

"..."

Taozi fell into deep thought.

Qingqing placed another piece, glanced at them, and also turned her head to look at the sparrows chasing and fighting in the sky.

When she retracted her gaze, the pieces had already been moved.

"?"

Ning Qing looked up at them, her expression calm: "Which one of you moved my piece?"

The two of them looked at each other, both with blank expressions.

"Who moved your piece?"

Chen Shu said with a frown.

"Who moved your piece?"

The little girl said with a frown.

"... I may not be using my Secret Sect abilities, but my memory is not lacking," Ning Qing stared at them expressionlessly.

"It was placed like this from the start," Chen Shu said with a straight face.

"That's right, that's right," the little girl also said with a straight face.

"?"

"You probably remembered it wrong," Chen Shu said, "I've been watching the whole time, no one moved your piece, it has always been placed like this. If you don't believe me, we can vote; the one with the most votes is the truth."

"I agree to a vote!"

"Deceiving yourself."

"Who are you calling a self-deceiver?" Chen Shu was unhappy.

"Who are you calling a self-deceiver?" The little girl also became unhappy, acting as her brother-in-law's little repeater.

"You think you're in the right even after cheating?"

"Who cheated?"

"Who cheated?"

"Woof!"

Taozi stretched out a paw and pointed at Xiaoxiao.

Ning Qing silently glanced at the two of them.

"Hey, you little kitten, don't go around talking nonsense! Do you have evidence? Spreading rumors is against the law," Chen Shu said to Taozi, "I'll have you arrested when the time comes."

"Against the law!"

"Woof?"

Taozi turned her head to look at Ning Qing, afraid of going to jail.

Ning Qing pursed her lips and said nothing, merely reaching a hand out toward the second-floor window.

"Swish..."

A camera flew over.

A moment later.

The three people and one cat huddled around the stone table, putting their heads together to watch the surveillance footage on the Mobile Phone.

It could be seen that when Qingqing turned to look at the bird, in that instant, Chen Shu lowered his head and gave the little girl a wink; the little girl understood instantly, and in less than 0.1 seconds, she swapped several pieces on the chessboard, then pretended as if nothing had happened.

"Woof woof woof..."

Taozi barked repeatedly as she watched, nodding incessantly.

Faced with such ironclad evidence, Chen Shu pondered for a moment, then said: "This video has been edited, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, even Xiaoxiao was struck with Surprise.

She immediately realized what was happening, put on a serious face, and nodded repeatedly at the video, as if a detective solving a case: "That's right, it was indeed edited."

"..."

Ning Qing said nothing, merely clenching her fist.

The scene was too violent to be shown.

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