The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened

CHAPTER 24: Spreading Rumors

　　“Have you heard? Jiang Shuo really admires Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai and wants to become sworn brothers with him.”

　　“Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai even said Jiang Shuo is the most talented disciple the Xuanming Sect has had in hundreds of years. He wants to support him as the next Sect Leader.”

　　“Jiang Shuo said Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai is such a refined gentleman, he can’t help but admire him.”

　　“Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai said Jiang Shuo is truly an outstanding hero, without question.”

　　“……”

　　Lately, conversations like these had been circulating among the disciples of the Xuanming Sect. Every single one was filled with mutual praise between Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai.

　　As for where these rumors started, it had everything to do with the little junior sister Jiang Shuo had brought back this time.

　　Si Yao sat upright in the Wenxin Hall, the spot in the Xuanming Sect where gossip and rumors were most rampant. A group of disciples had gathered around her, chattering away with endless questions.

　　“Do Jiang Shuo and Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai really admire each other?”

　　Si Yao replied with a matter-of-fact air: “Of course they do.”

　　“Are they really planning to become sworn brothers?”

　　Si Yao’s answer was firm and unwavering: “It’s true.”

　　“I heard they’re both vying for the position of Sect Leader. Aren’t they at odds?”

　　Si Yao waved her hand casually, her expression calm and effortless: “That’s just a rumor. Both of them are extraordinary talents who couldn’t care less about the position of Sect Leader.”

　　Jiang Shuo was now an absolute celebrity in the Xuanming Sect. Since Si Yao had come to the sect alongside him, she claimed to know a lot of his secrets and naturally took up the role of storyteller.

　　She spun endless tales about Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai, always painting them as incredibly close, endlessly admiring one another.

　　With Shen Rong's help in spreading the word, Si Yao's stories really became popular all of a sudden, spreading like wildfire throughout the entire Xuanming Sect, and everyone was talking about it.

　　For a time, Si Yao became a minor celebrity herself, and her alias, Si Luo, became known throughout the sect.

　　“Are you really that close to Jiang Shuo?” someone asked skeptically.

　　“Of course!” Si Yao replied confidently. “Very close!”

　　“I heard someone in the sect saying Jiang Shuo liked that vicious woman from ten years ago. Do you know if that’s true?”

　　Ah?

　　That question caught Si Yao off guard. She had been working hard to spread rumors about Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai, thinking she had already covered up any talk of herself and Jiang Shuo.

　　“That woman was so malicious, constantly plotting against Jiang Shuo. How could he possibly like her! That must be a rumor. You’re close to Jiang Shuo, so you’d know.”

　　The speaker was a female disciple, her voice full of indignation. She clearly hated anyone who had harmed Jiang Shuo.

　　Si Yao paused for a moment before replying, “Jiang Shuo had no feelings for that woman. It’s all just a rumor.”

　　The girl looked satisfied, smiling as she turned to someone behind her. “Liu Shuang, did you hear that? I told you, you were talking nonsense!”

　　“You’re the one talking nonsense!”

　　A female voice rang out from behind her. Si Yao looked up and saw it was Liu Shuang, the girl she had run into at the Wenxin Hall a few days ago.

　　Liu Shuang stepped forward and slammed her hand on the table in front of Si Yao, her face full of indignation. “If you don’t know the truth, then don’t go spreading nonsense!”

　　Si Yao stared at her angrily, thinking, Excuse me, I’m the one involved here. How could I not know the truth?

　　“Back then, that Si Yao was cruel and ruthless. In all of Xuanming Sect’s centuries, we’ve never had a disciple this malicious. Jiang Shuo is a one-of-a-kind genius. He’d have to be blind to like her!”

　　“Only someone as foolish as you could be tricked by Shen Rong into thinking they know some big secret.”

　　The girl crossed her arms, her tone full of pride and ridicule, secretly thrilled at having exposed Liu Shuang’s rumor.

　　“Qing Luan, who’s the fool here? Try saying that again!” Liu Shuang had a fiery temper and couldn’t keep her cool after being provoked.

　　The girl, Qing Luan, had always been at odds with Shen Rong in the sect. Liu Shuang was close with Shen Rong, so Qing Luan took her dislike for Shen Rong out on Liu Shuang as well.

　　Qing Luan merely gave a dismissive smile at Liu Shuang’s anger. “Anyone who believes you is the fool.”

　　Jiang Shuo was incredibly handsome, like a celestial being, and had countless supporters in the sect. No one believed Liu Shuang’s rumor, thinking it impossible for Jiang Shuo to feel anything for someone who had harmed him.

　　“That’s right. We told you not to talk nonsense. Do you think Jiang Shuo is stupid?”

　　“You’d better keep your mouth shut. Listening to you spout nonsense every day is driving us crazy!”

　　Many around them agreed with Qing Luan, mocking Liu Shuang openly.

　　Seeing everyone ready to call Liu Shuang out, Si Yao quickly stepped in to calm the situation. After all, Liu Shuang was close to Shen Rong, so Si Yao couldn’t just ignore her.

　　“Everyone, calm down. Liu Shuang was just misled. There’s no need to get too angry.”    

　　Si Yao’s reputation had spread far and wide, and many assumed she was Jiang Shuo’s friend. That earned her a bit of leniency, so most didn’t join in on criticizing Liu Shuang.

　　Qing Luan, however, shifted the focus and redirected everyone’s anger elsewhere.

　　“I heard that back then, that Si Yao was cruel and ruthless. She even poisoned Jiang Shuo’s tea, almost killing him! She’s way too evil!” Qing Luan’s face was full of indignation, as if she wished she could travel ten years back to take revenge for Jiang Shuo herself.

　　“She really has a black heart. I don’t know how the sect could have admitted such a despicable disciple.”

　　“Such a disgrace to Xuanming Sect. Just being from the same sect as someone like her makes me feel ashamed!”

　　Somehow, the crowd’s anger shifted from criticizing Liu Shuang to openly cursing Si Yao. The disciples shouted one after another, nearly cursing Si Yao’s ancestors along with her.

　　“People like her deserve hell and should never be reborn! Living in this world just pollutes the air. Don’t you agree, Si Luo?” One disciple cursed Si Yao while looking back at her, as if expecting her to join in.

　　Si Yao felt a vein pop in her head. What kind of nonsense was this?

　　Insult her all they want, but trying to drag her into insulting herself too? Did they think she was stupid?

　　“Cough, cough,” Si Yao cleared her throat. Seeing the direction things were heading, she braced herself and spoke up. “Actually, Jiang Shuo mentioned this to me before. That Si Yao back then had her reasons. You can’t blame her entirely.”

　　“What reasons?”

　　Everyone looked at her, puzzled.

　　Si Yao hesitated, searching for an excuse. “Well… it’s because someone forced her.”

　　“Someone forced her to do it. She had no choice,” Si Yao said with an awkward smile, trying to justify herself.

　　“Who forced her?” the crowd asked in unison.    

　　“This…”

　　“Well…”

　　Si Yao stammered for a long while, unable to come up with an explanation. In the end, she could only manage, “She didn’t say.”

　　“Tch—”

　　The crowd let out disappointed scoffs.

　　Just then, a few loud calls came from the entrance of the Wenxin Hall.

　　“Si Luo, Si Luo.”

　　It was Shen Rong. Si Yao quickly stood up and called back, “Senior Sister Shen, I’m here.”

　　Shen Rong hurried over, panting. She pushed through the crowd around Si Yao and reached her side. “Didn’t you want me to keep an eye on Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai for you? I just saw him heading this way.”

　　As soon as Shen Rong said that, the eyes of those around Si Yao turned curious.

　　Everyone could tell exactly what Si Yao was up to, without her having to say a word. She was clearly trying to get information about Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai.

　　“No wonder she keeps talking about Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai every time she’s in the Wenxin Hall. Looks like her intentions aren’t pure.”

　　“Another moth to the flame. She doesn’t even dare to show her face. Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai probably wouldn’t even look at her.”

　　Mu Yuanbai was the unattainable beauty of the Xuanming Sect, with many admirers. Shen Rong's words drew a few sour remarks towards Si Yao, and many people secretly mocked her for overestimating herself.

　　Si Yao glared at Shen Rong, silently signaling her to lower her voice to avoid trouble.

　　Shen Rong didn’t care at all. She looked at the chattering girls and raised her fist, her tone sharp and commanding. “If I hear any more of your chatter, I’ll twist your heads off!”

　　Shen Rong had a straight-forward temper. Ever since that drunken night with Si Yao, she had decided that Si Yao was her friend. Anyone who dared to cause trouble for Si Yao would not escape her wrath.

　　Under Shen Rong’s presence, the girls quickly shut up, though secretly they were all waiting to see a show, waiting for Si Yao to be rejected by Mu Yuanbai.    

　　Actually, Si Yao’s plan was really simple.

　　She just needed to spread the word that Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai admired each other. Once one of them realized that the other actually appreciated them, maybe their opinion would change, and vice versa.

　　Then she would find a way to get the two of them into a tough situation where they had to work together. Once they cooperated under pressure, respect and camaraderie would naturally follow.

　　This was Si Yao's brilliant plan to cultivate a close friendship.

　　Thinking of this, a self-satisfied smile curved on her lips, as if her plan had already succeeded.

　　The more she thought about it, the happier she became. She craned her neck toward the entrance of the Wenxin Hall, eagerly waiting for Mu Yuanbai to arrive so she could put her plan into action.

　　Before long, a tall, imposing figure stepped into the hall. Under Si Yao’s hopeful gaze, he walked toward her step by step.

　　He wore dark robes, his expression cold and distant, and his every movement radiated sharp authority.

　　Si Yao’s smile froze. She turned to Shen Rong and whispered, “I thought Mu Yuanbai was coming. Why is Jiang Shuo here?”

　　Shen Rong shrugged in confusion. She had clearly seen Mu Yuanbai heading this way and had no idea what was going on.

　　When Jiang Shuo entered the hall, the previously noisy room fell into a sudden silence. His aura was commanding as he walked toward Si Yao, each step deliberate and powerful.

　　Si Yao had been surrounded by the crowd, three layers deep, but as Jiang Shuo approached, the disciples silently parted, making a path for him.    

　　Jiang Shuo walked up to Si Yao, arms proudly crossed over his chest. He looked at the frozen smile on her face and asked with a hint of annoyance, “What? You’re disappointed it’s me who showed up?”

　　Si Yao let out a couple of nervous chuckles, blinking to cover her embarrassment. “How could that be… I just didn’t know you…”

　　Under all those watchful eyes, saying his full name felt a little too forward, so she quickly corrected herself. “I mean… I didn’t know Senior Brother Jiang came looking for me for what purpose.”

　　Jiang Shuo watched her pretending to be clueless while clearly understanding, but he didn’t call her out. He took a deep breath and explained his reason for coming.

　　“Lately, there have been rumors spreading in the sect. Some are about me. Do you know, Junior Sister Sì Luò, where these rumors are coming from?”

　　Si Yao’s face lifted into a bright, cheerful smile as she replied loudly, “Senior Brother, you’ve misunderstood. These aren’t rumors at all. I heard them myself and only told others what I knew.”

　　“Senior Brother Mu Yuanbai truly admires you, thinks you are a rare and talented prodigy.”

　　Si Yao beamed as she praised Mu Yuanbai in front of Jiang Shuo, highlighting how much he admired him, hoping it would make Jiang Shuo rethink his view of Mu Yuanbai.

　　But Jiang Shuo’s expression grew cold. Frowning, he looked at Si Yao and asked, “You said all of that?”

　　Si Yao nodded quickly, like a little chick pecking at grains.

　　Jiang Shuo’s face remained stern, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he gritted his teeth. “So you told everyone that Mu Yuanbai is my half-brother? And that I’m really just a younger brother?”

 

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