Chapter 110: Now to Hold the Masterminds Accountable, Wang Li and Wang Tao, Unforgivable

Wang Tao and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

For a moment, they had actually been scared, thinking Gu Yuexi had some incredible trick up her sleeve.

’After all that fuss... this was it?’

’Like some naive kid who’s never been out in the real world, she actually thought she could solve this with the law?’

’Absolutely brainless!’

More than half of them were students from the top classes at Du Nan First Middle School. They were this year’s most outstanding batch of geniuses in Du Nan City—perhaps even the entire Sui Ming Province!

’Send them all to prison? What kind of joke was that?!’

Not to mention all the scions of powerful families from the elite classes!

’This Gu Yuexi... is a complete moron!’

...

On the main dais, Zhang Chengye and the other high-ranking officials from the Provincial Government were also completely baffled by Gu Yuexi’s words.

They exchanged glances, each seeing a look of utter absurdity and helplessness in the other’s eyes.

’Isn’t this girl... a bit too naive?’

’If they really sent these thousands of talented students, along with all those scions of powerful families, to prison, wouldn’t the entire Sui Ming Province be thrown into utter chaos?’

’Who could possibly bear the political fallout?’

They instinctively turned to Qi Chongshan beside them, hoping the Lord Governor would step in, smooth things over, and quash this whole absurd affair.

Qi Chongshan’s expression froze. He had never imagined Gu Yuexi’s methods would be so harsh. She was like a stubborn mule, completely uncompromising and leaving no room for negotiation!

He looked at Gu Yuexi’s cold, emotionless face and tried to open in a conciliatory tone, "Gu, this... isn’t this a little too severe?"

"You see, they’re all still students. How about... we find a different form of punishment? For instance..."

But Gu Yuexi cut him off mercilessly. "If the Lord Governor finds this difficult, then forget it."

"I will immediately apply to transfer to a school in Celestial Fire Province."

"..."

The corner of Qi Chongshan’s eye twitched violently.

Zhang Chengye and the other officials beside him were stunned, staring at Gu Yuexi in disbelief.

’What... What did she mean by that?’

’She’s blatantly threatening the Governor!’

’Transferring to a school in Celestial Fire Province?’

’Who couldn’t read between the lines? She was clearly saying that from now on, she, Gu Yuexi, would have absolutely nothing to do with them—with Sui Ming Province!’

’She was forcing Qi Chongshan to make a choice!’

’Either, for her sake alone, he could offend the thousands of talented students present, along with the vast, intricate network of powerful factions behind them!’

’Or, to avoid offending all those people, he could completely forfeit any chance of befriending a peerless prodigy like her!’

’Which was the lesser of two evils... and which held more weight?’

In the formation for Du Nan First Middle School, everyone from commoner students like Wang Tao to the scions of powerful families was utterly flabbergasted.

They had never imagined Gu Yuexi would dare to be so domineering! So self-assured!

’What gave her the right?’

’Does she really think that she alone carries more weight in the Governor’s mind than all thousand of them combined?’

’No matter how much of a genius she is, she can’t be *that* ridiculous, right?!’

’Impossible! Absolutely impossible!’

Wang Tao screamed inwardly, refusing to believe the Governor would make such a foolish decision!

The scions of powerful families found the situation even more laughable.

They were confident that as long as the Governor had half a brain, he would choose to placate them rather than offend every major power in Sui Ming Province for the sake of one Gu Yuexi!

However...

...Qi Chongshan fell into a long silence, his mind racing as he weighed the pros and cons.

’If this were only about Gu Yuexi.’

’Even with her Heaven-Defying Comprehension and her having achieved three Perfect Fulfillment Realms, Qi Chongshan would never have taken such a huge political risk for her sake alone.’

’But...’

’The image of that blood-red mosquito involuntarily surfaced in Qi Chongshan’s mind.’

’The mosquito that could purify a Soul Curse that even King-level Powerhouses were helpless against. The one that could evolve a Demon Beast with a High-Level Bloodline to the King-level. The one that had single-handedly resolved the insect plague that had troubled the entire Provincial Government for two long years...’

’That mosquito, with its host of unbelievable, even reality-defying, heaven-defying abilities!’

’This human-and-mosquito duo... how far could they go in the future?’

’Emperor Level?’

’No... perhaps even the legendary Emperor Realm!’

’Offending some so-called "geniuses" and "elites" in order to befriend a future Emperor Realm powerhouse?’

’Was that really a difficult choice?’

After a full thirty seconds of contemplation.

Finally, under the tense, expectant, and disbelieving gazes of the tens of thousands in the stadium...

...Qi Chongshan slowly raised his head.

His gaze had become unprecedentedly firm and resolute!

He picked up the microphone and announced to the entire stadium:

"In my capacity as the Governor of Sui Ming Province, I hereby announce!"

"Effective immediately, a special task force is to be formed! Everyone on the list is to be taken into custody!"

"Upon verification, anyone who participated in spreading rumors, slander, or personal attacks will be prosecuted for the crime of defamation!"

"The sentence is three years of fixed-term imprisonment!"

BOOM—!

It was as if a nuclear bomb had been dropped in the stadium, which was instantly drowned in an endless wave of shock and uproar!

Wang Tao froze in place, his mind completely blank. It was as if all the strength had been sucked out of him; his legs went soft, and he crumpled to the ground.

The students around him were all dumbfounded, their faces ashen. Their eyes filled with devastation, regret, and endless despair.

’How could this be happening?’

’The Governor... he actually chose that woman?!’

’Our lives... are they over just like that?!’

The scions of powerful families looked as if they’d been struck by lightning. The mocking expressions on their faces froze completely, replaced by a bone-deep fear and utter disbelief!

’Their families, the backgrounds they were so proud of... in this moment, had they... had they become utterly worthless?!’

And just as the entire stadium descended into a chaos of despairing wails...

...Gu Yuexi’s voice rang out once more through the microphone, cold as ice.

"Very good."

"Now then, I will hold the mastermind accountable."

The entire stadium fell silent once more.

Everyone stared at her, stunned.

’It’s not over?’

’Thousands of people have already been fucking sentenced! And she still wants to go after the mastermind?’

’Isn’t she pushing her luck a little too far?!’

Qi Chongshan was at his wits’ end. ’For crying out loud,’ he thought, ’what more could you possibly want?’

However, things had already come to this. He had no path of retreat and could only see this through to the bitter end.

He took a deep breath, his gaze as sharp as lightning, and locked onto a pale, trembling figure in the Hidden Dragon Class stands. He bellowed:

"Qin Zheng! Get out here!"

Qin Zheng trembled all over, his face ashen.

But he didn’t run or make excuses. He just staggered to his feet, ready to accept his judgment.

He knew he had done wrong and had to face the consequences.

However, Gu Yuexi shook her head. "The mastermind I’m referring to is not him."

Her gaze slowly shifted, finally landing on the figure who had collapsed to the ground like a dead dog.

"It’s Wang Li and Wang Tao."

As soon as she spoke, many eyes snapped in unison to Wang Tao.

Qi Chongshan paused, then shot an inquiring look at Principal Chen beside him.

Chen Xiaozhang hurried forward and explained in a low voice, "Lord Governor, this is what happened."

"We already finished our investigation the day before yesterday. All of the inflammatory posts on the school forums were published from an anonymous account by a teacher from the admissions office named Wang Li."

"Afterward, we reviewed the surveillance footage and discovered that her younger brother, Wang Tao, was the one who deceived and incited Qin Zheng, which triggered this whole series of protests..."

"It’s safe to say that the two of them, the sister and brother, are the real culprits behind this entire incident!"

After listening to the explanation, Qi Chongshan’s expression instantly darkened.

’So that’s what happened!’

’So be it! A teacher and a student, daring to play such insidious tricks behind the scenes!’

’If it weren’t for them, how could this situation have possibly escalated to this degree?’

Gu Yuexi looked at the ashen-faced Wang Tao and said in a voice as cold as ice, "Qin Zheng may be a fool, but his crime isn’t unpardonable. He was just being used as a pawn. Three years is enough for him."

"But as for that brother and sister..."

"They are unforgivable."