TRYMBPIETM 57: Mirror, Night, Snow Peak (20)

Chi Qingzhou did not have an anti-hater group. Facing the powerful attack of the little golden crows, his fans couldn’t even organize a decent resistance; they could only find ways to contact his manager, Guan Xihua.

But what frustrated them was that Chi Qingzhou did not have a formal fan club. They didn’t even have Guan Xihua’s specific contact information!

If they wanted to communicate with Guan Xihua, they could only go through the official channels of Yade Media or send comments and private messages.

Fans who had never followed a celebrity like this felt a little dejected, sadly writing the private message content, urging Guan Xihua to handle the situation quickly.

Guan Xihua wasn’t always online on Weibo, so this method of communication was very inefficient.

The fans waited for a while, but before they could get any response from Guan Xihua, they first saw the situation on the internet turn completely one-sided.

They were desperate and had no choice but to inquire everywhere for Guan Xihua’s work phone number. Watching them scramble in confusion, the little golden crows couldn’t help but feel smug.

【For a newcomer like CQZ, as long as nothing happens, it’s fine, but once something does, it’s clear that his foundation is thin.】

【I really can’t stop laughing, his fans are like headless flies, and they call this a fan club?】

【CQZ doesn’t even have any die-hard fans, does he? It feels like it’s just a group of random people following him.】

【What kind of main character has that kind of fans.】

【Our little golden crows are still well-trained, pointing and striking. Seriously, I could laugh for a year at the suffocating operations of his fans.】

【I kind of feel sorry for CQZ now. His fans have no combat power, so anyone can step on him.】

【Isn’t this deserved? Someone who wants to step on Xue Ge’s resources deserves to have no die-hard fans. I wish him to fail to the center of the earth.】

The little golden crows weren’t too drunk on their smooth progress. After celebrating briefly in their fan group, once they entered the live broadcast rooms of Scenery Along the Way, they stopped mentioning what they had done.

They occasionally questioned why there were so many cameras on Chi Qingzhou, trying to irritate the fans of other guests.

The water army, haters, and unsuspecting passersby all clung to this point, filling the screen with filthy comments.

If this had happened in the previous season, variety show fans and regular viewers would have been furious by now.

Everyone was there to watch a lighthearted show, but who wanted to deal with all this drama every day?

It didn’t matter if you were the perpetrator or the victim, just block everyone!

But now, they were no longer the same as before.

Despite the occasional black screen and long periods of stagnation during the first episode of season two, most people still didn’t understand what had really happened, but that deeply ingrained strangeness and fear had already changed them.

When encountering anything related to Chi Qingzhou, they would no longer impulsively speak out but quietly feel that these people were strange.

A small portion of the more insightful audience even showed a sympathetic expression toward the water army and haters.

Chi Qingzhou’s character problem?

No, no, no, it’s not his character, it’s his species!

Everyone was really doubting whether he was even human, or if he had some special ability.

Chi Qingzhou was vain and restless?

No, no, no, he’s already quite grounded!

With his abilities, if he were really vain, he’d probably be aiming for the sky every minute!

Rather than picking on these nonexistent flaws to cause trouble, those fools might as well think about how to put together their shattered worldview.

Other guests’ fans were also speechless.

Especially the few guests who were saved by Chi Qingzhou last time, their fans looked at the water army jumping up and down like they were watching a group of fools.

Do you know why Chi Qingzhou’s reputation turned around dramatically last time?

The revelation of the fake young master was only one part of it. If it weren’t for his two brave rescues, even if his identity was clarified, he would have only earned everyone’s sympathy. A skyrocketing fan count would have been impossible to imagine!

No one paid attention to the water army and haters. Instead, the emotions pouring out of Chi Qingzhou’s live broadcast room became even purer.

Xing Shuangzhan pulled large amounts of emotions into the shadow, only doing a little processing. These emotions were clean enough for Chi Qingzhou to use.

He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “This is better quality than the emotions provided by Chi Qingning’s fans.”

Of course, the most important thing was that there was enough quantity and it was condensed enough.

When Xing Shuangzhan communicated with Chi Qingzhou, he would usually emit a bit of ghostly energy to create the effect of ghostly interference with the camera.

Chi Qingzhou glanced behind him, confirming that the camera couldn’t see anything, then nodded boldly.

“Brother’s fans aren’t enough, Teacher Xue’s fans are more intense.”

Intense?

Xing Shuangzhan chuckled.

It should be extreme. His little contractor really spoke so gently.

Without arguing with Chi Qingzhou, Xing Shuangzhan slowly pressed the most pure and concentrated malice against the other half of Chi Qingzhou’s soul, as he always did, evenly covering it over the torn wound.

The other half of Chi Qingzhou’s soul, which had usually been dormant, suddenly woke up unusually, and with no change in Chi Qingzhou’s emotions, it slowly grinned.

Xing Shuangzhan instantly stopped, gripping the malice tightly in his palm.

However, this did not have any effect.

The tendrils of malice rushed out from between his fingers, and the space formed by the shadow and the intersection of yin and yang began to sway. Time seemed to slow down, and all the scenes felt like they were paused.

Only the other half of Chi Qingzhou’s soul remained vivid.

On his torn wound, the death energy coming from the outside world slowly formed a spiderweb, and countless curses boiled like black water, bubbling and splashing.

The thick, slimy, poisonous atmosphere filled the space formed by the shadow, like a lurking venomous snake, causing all entities with open consciousness to feel a deep discomfort.

The death energy spread across the curse like a spider’s web, trapping the emerging curse in the center.

The purest malice spread from Xing Shuangzhan’s fingers to the death energy, like a spider’s new thread, wrapping the curse tightly.

The curse, forcibly driven out of the soul, seemed to have consciousness, madly drilling back, but under the block of the death energy and malice, it could never escape the seal, eventually fading into silence.

The shadow wavered again, and that mass of malice completely flowed out from Xing Shuangzhan’s hand, tightly combining with the curse, completely peeling this part of the curse away.

The world returned to normal.

Xing Shuangzhan quietly watched the thing made of death energy, malice, and curses for a few seconds, then reached out to squeeze it into his hand and held it tightly.

He slowly, mockingly revealed a smile.

So it’s like this.

The cultivator who wanted to plot against Chi Qingzhou probably still doesn’t know that he has already been set up, right?

Perhaps the other party is still proud of their ambushes and tactics, but they’ve never considered that what they thought was a successful plan was actually just a part of his little contractor’s scheme.

Perhaps influenced by Chi Qingzhou, some of Xing Shuangzhan’s memories were also a bit blurry.

But at this moment, he had a similar feeling to Chi Qingzhou.

This plan to strip away the curse probably also had his own hand in it.

Maybe the quarrel with Chi Qingzhou this morning was actually the result of both of them compromising for the sake of the plan.

He didn’t stop Chi Qingzhou from risking himself to collect the corpse qi, and Chi Qingzhou couldn’t stop him from forcefully refining large amounts of yin qi to help with meridian cleansing.

Xing Shuangzhan’s eyes deepened as he murmured, “What a little troublemaker.”

He stored away the mixed object and prepared to find a moment to study it.

The system watched his movements, all of its code trembling.

It felt a phantom pain that should only belong to intelligent lifeforms.

Even though it had never witnessed such a scene, nor heard of such a topic, the moment it saw the curse being stripped away, an unprecedented fear surged within it.

It felt scared, terrified, even too afraid to look or analyze such data.

Every line of its code instinctively screamed “danger,” as if this method of curse removal could pose a fatal threat to it.

Even in the recycling workshop, even when it was dismantled by the host, it had never been this afraid.

The system shuddered, the CPU calculating for a long time before finally understanding the difference between the two kinds of fear.

When dismantled, it merely feared the pain of its self-awareness being wiped, but now, seeing the method, what it feared was the “death” often spoken of by intelligent life.

It had a premonition that if it were subjected to this kind of method, it would cease to exist completely.

Not a single trace would remain, not even a sliver of backup would be able to escape.

It would be wiped out from all records, and apart from the main system, no existence would remember it had once existed in this world.

What terrified it most was that the corpse qi and malice just now were actually driven by the host’s shadow.

That net was so sturdy, so vast, so swift, and the technique so skillful that the system’s core CPU was nearly frozen.

It was nearly paralyzed, huddled in a corner of the shadow, trembling as it wondered—had the host really never done something like this before?

Why are his movements so smooth?

…

The moment the space created by the shadow began to shake, the ghostly energy that Xing Shuangzhan emitted was affected, and the ghostly cover-up effect instantly vanished.

Chi Qingzhou blinked in confusion, not yet understanding what had happened when a sharp pain surged from the depths of his soul, immediately sweeping over his limbs and body.

It felt like his soul had been torn open by a thin, long sheet of paper, and the continuous pain made him groan softly, subconsciously furrowing his brows.

The blood drained from his face in an instant, and his fair skin took on a nearly transparent quality.

A few of the guests walking nearby heard his muffled groan and instinctively looked over, seeing his complexion, and immediately panicked.

“Second Brother, are you okay?”

“Teacher Chi, what’s wrong?”

“Xiao Chi, what happened?”

Tang Qichen and Chi Qingning were closer to Chi Qingzhou and immediately reached out to support his arm.

Xue Jinshi was walking with Shen Wenxing on the other side, and at this point, he didn’t care about anything else, dropping his suitcase and running toward Chi Qingzhou.

The four of them, focused on Chi Qingzhou’s situation, didn’t notice the positions of the others, and by the time they realized something was wrong, it was too late to stop.

Shen Wenxing braced himself against Tang Qichen’s shoulder and used his waist and abdominal strength to stop their momentum, almost falling backward.

Xue Jinshi and Chi Qingning weren’t so lucky.

Xue Jinshi was running too urgently, and Chi Qingning’s body was frail, so when they collided, Chi Qingning fell directly to the ground with a painful hiss.

Xue Jinshi stabilized himself and, seeing that he had knocked into Chi Qingning, felt both awkward and apologetic. He quickly reached out to help Chi Qingning up.

Chi Qingning, remembering Xue Jinshi’s earlier “Teacher Chi,” gave him a strange look and, after grabbing his hand to stand up, immediately pushed him aside and began checking on Chi Qingzhou’s condition.

Xue Jinshi, pushed out of the crowd: “…”

Zhong Lingshu, Xu Xinxin, and Liang Jixin, who hadn’t made it over: “…”

The program staff: “Pfft!”

Although it’s expected to care for Teacher Chi, isn’t your reaction a bit too hasty?

The remaining three guests exchanged glances and quickly moved to Chi Qingzhou’s side, asking Xue Jinshi what had happened.

Xue Jinshi briefly explained the situation, and the others were momentarily stunned, then grew anxious.

Everyone gathered around Chi Qingzhou, speaking over each other, expressing concern for his condition. Chi Qingzhou didn’t feel much pain, but the constant chatter made him a bit dazed.

The three people closest to him—Tang Qichen and the others—saw his expression and became even more panicked. They turned to call the doctor accompanying the group, but Chi Qingzhou quickly stopped them before they could alert the entire production team.

Chi Qingzhou endured the pain in his soul and reassured them, finally convincing everyone that he was fine.

Including Shen Wenxing, everyone in the program group sighed in relief.

Chi Qingzhou was the anchor of the group, so much so that even Shen Wenxing, who also was a cultivator, was relying on him. They feared that if something happened to Chi Qingzhou, they too would be in danger, and their primary concern was his condition.

The water army, passersby, and some fans who were unaware of the situation saw this scene and felt like the world was too surreal.

Chi Qingzhou was just a small celebrity, wasn’t he?

Even though he had the support of the Chi family, and people said capital was backing him, wasn’t it a bit exaggerated for the entire production team to revolve around just him?

What was most striking was that everyone really seemed to care for Chi Qingzhou, even Xue Jinshi, who was supposedly at odds with him.

The little Golden Crows, who had been pleased with themselves, now began to feel uneasy.

This didn’t seem right. Wasn’t Chi Qingzhou stepping on Xue Jinshi to elevate himself?

Why would Xue Jinshi care so much about Chi Qingzhou?

The little Golden Crows knew Xue Jinshi’s personality too well—he never spared anyone he disliked. If his relationship with Chi Qingzhou was really bad, he wouldn’t care even if Chi Qingzhou’s leg was broken. He would only mock him for being mentally slow.

But if they weren’t really on bad terms…?

The little Golden Crows understood very well that in Xue Jinshi’s eyes, everyone except for Chi Qingning was insignificant.

Xue Jinshi was very selective even when choosing friends, and no one else could ride his coattails or take advantage of his popularity.

Any celebrity who had tried this had been crushed by Xue Jinshi, and he had made many enemies because of it.

The little Golden Crows had been through countless battles with the opposing fans and understood Xue Jinshi’s standards all too well.

But the more they understood, the more uneasy they became.

Several major fans felt anxious.

They worried about causing panic among other fans, so they didn’t dare to talk openly in the big group chat and instead started a smaller discussion group.

【Do you guys think the situation has taken a strange turn?】

【Don’t overthink it. It’s probably the company’s arrangement. We all know what Ding Sheng is like.】

【Xue Ge actually didn’t scold Chi Qingzhou, that’s really unusual.】

【“Scenery Along the Way” is a travel variety show, mainly focusing on warmth. Xue Ge is straightforward, but he’s not stupid enough to offend variety show fans, right?】

【Something doesn’t feel right. Chi Qingzhou is just a newcomer in the industry, even if his family is wealthy. Is it necessary for everyone to back him up like this?】

【The key is Zhong Lingshu. She’s very established in the industry. If it was an exchange of benefits, she wouldn’t be this sincere.】

【But wasn’t her studio lacking liquidity recently?】

【Who cares about Zhong Lingshu? The important person here is Xue Ge, isn’t it?】

【But are you saying Xue Ge’s position in the industry is more stable than Zhong Lingshu’s?】

The discussion group fell silent for a moment.

Several major fans stared at the screen, their unease growing stronger.

After a while, someone asked: 【Didn’t we send the complaint letter this morning?】

Replies began to appear in the discussion group.

【We arranged for someone to go at 7 a.m.】

【I was on video, making sure it was handed directly to the person in charge at Pearl Watches.】

【Have they responded yet?】

【It seems not.】

【I checked the official blog, and the latest post is still an advertisement.】

【The website hasn’t changed either.】

【No one has contacted me, so they probably haven’t made a decision yet.】

They hadn’t made a decision yet.

Some major fans couldn’t tell whether they were more relieved or more anxious.

Their feelings were so mixed that they couldn’t calm down.

Restless, they instinctively opened all the pages related to Pearl Watches, unsure if they wanted Pearl Watches to remain silent or publicly deny Chi Qingzhou’s endorsement.

During the live broadcast, Chi Qingzhou had regained his normal expression and was smiling as he thanked everyone.

Everyone waved their hands, saying there was no need for thanks. Xue Jinshi, standing outside the crowd with his suitcase, also relaxed and said to Chi Qingzhou, “It’s good to know you’re fine.”

Chi Qingzhou glanced at him, and he smiled back, trying to get past Tang Qichen and handing Chi Qingzhou a bottle of water.

Several major fans were left speechless and silent for a long time. The group leader, who had been leading the discussion, couldn’t hold back and typed a few words in the chat box.

【Should we still…】

Before she could finish, several fan groups suddenly erupted.

A group of younger fans, as if their sore spot had been hit, began to fiercely insult Pearl Watches and Chi Qingzhou.

The major fans were stunned and quickly refreshed their pages. The next moment, fresh content loaded—

【Pearl Watches Watches V: He is a blade sharpened through frost and snow, a spear gleaming under the moonlight. He is youthful and full of vigor, a future without limits.Pearl – Frostblade, cutting through the mist, thank you for being with us @Chi Qingzhou, bringing infinite possibilities to the future!】

At the same time, Pearl Watches’ official website had updated with a new promotional image.

Chi Qingzhou’s hard shot was placed at the top, and even the advertisement video, which had previously been uncertain, had been cut into a 10-second highlight and displayed as an animated GIF on the homepage.

The major fans were stunned.

They hadn’t expected them to do this.

Clearly, Pearl Watches had received their complaint but chose to respond in this way.

What did this mean?

Was it trust in Chi Qingzhou?

Or did they think their accusations were baseless?

This swift and firm response left the fans feeling confused, and the irrational little Golden Crows exploded in outrage.

They rushed to the official announcement’s social media to curse, making many bystanders frown.

Some passersby who had been swayed by the water army saw the official announcement, briefly remembered Chi Qingzhou’s previous trending topics—rescuing guests, subduing criminals, protecting the entire production team, the true identity of the young master, being falsely accused of being an illegitimate child…

They suddenly understood.

Oh, forget about vanity or counterfeiting, it turns out he’s going to endorse a watch and they were just throwing dirt at him?

For those who hadn’t seen the official announcement, they were still questioning Chi Qingzhou.

However, the official announcement wouldn’t go unnoticed, and within half an hour, the relevant topic would likely enter the trending list.

By then, the public opinion would surely change.

The little Golden Crows watched in despair as the situation crumbled and became enraged.

They weren’t willing to let Chi Qingzhou go just like this and wanted to do something else.

But before they could take action, fans from other groups suddenly jumped into the discussion, overwhelming them with insults.

【Laughing to death, you really think we can’t tell who you guys are fans of just because you put on a disguise? Little Golden Crows, come out and face us!】

【You’re all brave enough to screw with others but not brave enough to face the consequences? Come out!】