The competition was in two days.
However, as soon as she stepped onto the territory of the Great Sima Nation, Jiang Ke’er could already see news about the Shenzhou Cup everywhere.
Aside from that, the most popular topic of discussion was actually related to her, which took Jiang Ke’er quite by surprise.
[Breaking News! The Epidemic Poison was developed and spread by the Demon Race’s Qing Yi!]
[According to an insider’s scoop, the epidemic disaster was actually privately developed and released by Qing Yi, who specializes in Poison Techniques. The goal was to disrupt order, destroy the unity of our clan, and damage the territorial sovereignty and civilizational achievements of our clan over the past thousands of years.]
Jiang Ke’er was so angry she was amused.
What was even more interesting was that not only did some people believe this rhetoric, but the majority of the Human Clan were absolutely convinced of it.
After all, since it was difficult to prove the source of the virus outbreak with evidence, the theory that “Qing Yi planted the poison” not only fit the current situation but also aligned with their expectations of the Demon Race.
How could it be possible for the Demon Race to develop an antidote and save their lives?!
Why would the Demon Race—whose Medical Arts and Poison Techniques were both relatively backward—be the ones to research the antidote?
Furthermore, hadn’t they heard? While everyone was busy resisting the Epidemic Poison, the Demon Race had not only shamelessly seized Jing City, Jiangdu City, and a series of other cities that originally belonged to the Human Clan, but they had also sold fake medicine and emergency medical supplies on a large scale, making a black-hearted fortune!
As the saying goes, a rumor can be started with a single mouth, but one must run their legs off to debunk it. People always tended to believe what they wanted to believe.
Especially with Yu Wenhua Ji’s orders and the large-scale propagation of rumors throughout the entire country, the truth had long since become a joke.
If a lie is repeated 100 times, it becomes the truth—especially when that lie is what everyone hopes for, providing psychological comfort to the Human Clan.
“BEASTS ARE JUST BEASTS! For her own selfish gain, she didn’t hesitate to create such a terrible disaster to bring ruin to the living beings of Shenzhou!”
“Exactly! But then again, if that’s the case, why did she publish the recipe for the antidote? If it had circulated privately within the Demon Race, wouldn’t our Human Clan have been wiped out?”
“That’s obviously because we still have value to them!”
“Value?” a woman suddenly sneered. She strode over and sat down at the table of those two talking Human Cultivators. “May I ask, what value does the Human Clan have?”
The two Human Cultivators were momentarily stunned by the question.
Jiang Ke’er also hadn’t expected to meet someone here who would stand up for her.
For a moment, she felt touched, but she was also a bit worried—the atmosphere here was clearly off, and that woman might run into danger.
“Can you refine pills? Can you refine tools? Are you good for juicing, or are you better off in a cooking pot?” the woman continued to press.
“Or do you possess a sense of smell that surpasses a Dog Demon, vision that surpasses an Eagle Demon, or strength that surpasses a tiger, bull, bear, elephant, or Dragon? Hmm?”
“We have brains!” a Human Cultivator argued with a red face. “Those barbaric fellows aren’t good at cultivation at all; they don’t have an ounce of creativity!”
“Then why was it the Demon Race that researched the antidote or the pathogen for the Epidemic Poison, and not you creative geniuses?”
“…”
The two cultivators were left completely speechless.
In a fit of shame and rage, one of them slammed the table and roared, “Who exactly are you? Why are you trying so hard to defend the Demon Race? Are you trying to destroy the Human Clan’s prestige? I think you’re a spy sent by the Demon Race!”
“Don’t get all red-faced and agitated,” the woman said, sitting calmly without moving a muscle.
“Come, sit down, let’s continue to be reasonable. Tell me, if Qing Yi wanted to plant the poison, why didn’t she take this opportunity to wipe out the entire Human Clan? To be honest, I don’t see what value the Human Clan provides.”
“So your point is that Qing Yi didn’t plant the poison?” The cultivator looked at the woman as if she were a fool.
“Even Emperor Yuwen has acknowledged it, and the whole world knows. At this point, there’s actually an idiot who doesn’t believe it and insists on being different. What, does it make you feel like you have a brain?”
“I don’t have a brain. Since you all do, why don’t you answer my question? Could it be that one of you here saw Qing Yi planting the poison with your own eyes?”
“…”
Of course they hadn’t.
“Trampling on the merit of our whole clan’s savior and slandering her to death!” The woman gave two tragic laughs.
“If I were Qing Yi, I would immediately research a real Epidemic Poison and kill all you idiots! Pfft! She wasted her life saving you, and I feel it wasn’t worth it for her!”
“WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?” The anger of the Human Cultivators had reached an uncontrollable level.
Since they couldn’t win the argument, they gave up on thinking about the problem.
They believed that even if they couldn’t understand it now, they would surely find a reason in the future.
In short, the poison was definitely planted by that bastard Qing Yi! It was definitely done by the Demon Race!
No matter how many times they thought about it, the conclusion would never change.
“I’m her friend.”
“Then you are a Demon Race spy!” The Human Cultivator was overjoyed and clanged his Knife as he unsheathed it.
“Defending that criminal like this—I knew you were no good!”
“A spy? No, I don’t hide my name or where I come from. I’m here to cause trouble openly!” The woman gave a disdainful smile.
“I, Gan Ruanruan, have been invited to participate in the Shenzhou Cup Finals. What do you all want to do? Gang up on me?”
Gan Ruanruan? That contestant for the Shenzhou Cup?
The Human Cultivator’s face turned pale, and he immediately chickened out, taking a step back and cooling his anger.
He couldn’t touch this person.
It wasn’t just a matter of being unable to beat her; participants who made it past the Semi-Finals were protected by the event organizers.
If they were injured outside of the competition, the organizers would strictly punish the perpetrator!
Of course, given this year’s situation, the organizers might not necessarily punish him, but he didn’t dare take the risk.
Since physical combat was out, he could only continue to hurl verbal abuse.
His mind raced, and he suddenly seemed to discover something, sneering aloud, “Don’t make me laugh. If Qing Yi didn’t do anything wrong, why didn’t she come to the competition herself? We’re still far from the Imperial Capital, yet you’re sitting here all alone. That means you’re the only one who dared to come to the appointment, right?”
Gan Ruanruan was momentarily stumped. She grit her teeth and remained silent.
“Hahaha, I guessed right, didn’t I? If Qing Yi didn’t have a guilty conscience, why wouldn’t she dare to come and compete fairly to prove her innocence! She’s just guilty!” the Human Cultivator shouted triumphantly.
“Right!”
“Exactly! She has a guilty conscience! She’s afraid to see people!”
The commotion had already drawn quite a crowd of Human Cultivators.
Hearing these words, the surrounding people felt they made a lot of sense.
The uncomfortable doubts in their hearts vanished instantly, and they all cheered loudly.
“Sigh…”
Jiang Ke’er let out a soft sigh and walked over to Gan Ruanruan’s side.
Only then did Gan Ruanruan notice her, appearing a bit dazed for a moment.
Jiang Ke’er looked around at the crowd. “Everyone, it wouldn’t kill you to stop raising so many death flags.”
“And who are you?” the Human Cultivator asked, looking at Jiang Ke’er with annoyance.
Jiang Ke’er took off her hood and mask, looking at him as if he were an idiot.
“Do you just feel uncomfortable if you don’t offer your face up to be slapped? I am the Medical Cultivator you claimed was too guilty to show her face! Do you feel better now?”
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