The events of that night passed so quickly that many couldn't keep up.
The news that Starlight Company announced cutting ties with Wen Long, one of the country's top celebrities, was the first thing everyone heard. Everyone was confused by the company's decision. Many fans disagreed and came out to protest through the online world.
Just a few minutes after that, though, abundant evidence of Wen Long's wrongdoings was revealed to the public.
People dug up everything from entering the company through connections and under-the-table money, to threatening and coercing young female fans, all the way to hiring people to create trends against Bai Fanxian.
You could say the total list of offenses was nearly ten pages long.
Wen Long had been in the industry since his teens. He was considered a senior in the industry with a working history second to none. So it wasn't strange that he had this much hidden away.
Being exposed like this left fans and followers unable to continue, though. They were still shocked and unwilling to believe that the celebrity they loved and worshipped could act like this. Part of it was from how on the surface, Wen Long seemed like such a fine gentleman. It was an image the young man had worked hard to build for many years.
"...But who managed to investigate all this stuff anyway?"
"I'd like to know too. The pictures and data are like ten years old. How'd they even dig this up? Are journalists these days that good or what?"
"I know—listen up. I work at News Station One. Tonight, materials came in—the evidence you saw on TV. I'm pretty sure every news station got the same thing. Weird part is, the sender didn't reveal their name."
And with this sudden social backlash, the hot topic of Wen Long and Bai Fanxian was reconsidered by people in society.
"So that woman was just being harassed by Wen Long?"
"Hmph! Looks like that Wen Long just wanted to ride our Empress's coattails to fame!"
"That's right, Fellow Fool. He dared to cause trouble for our Empress—he had to get what he deserved!"
The story of that night ended in such a manner.
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In the morning, at Bai Fanxian's vacation home, inside this Border was like another world completely different from outside. Nothing could come in to disturb here. Bai Fanxian was sitting peacefully on the balcony, letting the seaside atmosphere relax her mind.
Butler Huang stood beside her, never failing to serve his lady. He served hot tea well, while also being aware of the guest at the door.
The old man disappeared for less than a minute. He returned with a large package box with a good laptop logo stuck on it.
"My lady, the system's exactly the same as the last machine. This model's well-designed, though—it can withstand severe impacts. No matter how much force you apply, it won't break." Huang Zihuan smiled at the corner of his mouth as he took out the new computer and placed it on the table for Bai Fanxian to see.
The young woman who heard the butler's words turned her face away and wouldn't make eye contact. She lifted the tea to sip quietly and pretended not to know or point anything out. This drew a soft chuckle from Huang Zihuan quite well.
The reason was simple. After the last use last night, the elderly butler discovered the computer had a long crack appearing on the back of the machine. Moreover, some letter keys—he just lightly touched them with his finger and they crumbled at his fingertip. This made him have to quickly call to order a new computer to be delivered the next morning almost immediately.
It wasn't often that he got to see his lady display such an angry attitude.
Even though it was a bit frightening, the elderly butler felt that was exactly what should be. She was gradually changing. She was showing more emotional expression and feelings. As someone close to her, he naturally hoped she could be happy like ordinary young women every day.
On another side at the adjacent beach, appeared the figures of two adults and three children doing something busy there.
Tang Yeye and Hui'er were training in the morning. During this period, Mei Ying, whose body had become stronger, would come sit and watch in support. The girl, being older than both of them, often took on the role of older sister. She sat on the cloth they'd spread out, and beside her was Dragon Queen, or Little Red, yawning boredly with her small chin resting on the lap.
A good first aid kit was placed nearby in case of emergencies. Even though it had never been used seriously even once, for small wounds like scrapes, it would be her duty to tend to them.
The two weren't fighting each other. After returning from that world, Hui'er's cultivation power had soared to the very peak of Martial Artist stage. Moreover, the little one was gradually mastering the "Supreme Fist Arts" more each day. You could say that now Tang Yeye had to be the one accelerating and trying to catch up with her older sister instead.
The sparring partner for both of them was General Liu Yianfei who was staying at this house. Previously, the Tang and Xie families had renovated this house anew, so the number of rooms and its size had become much more spacious than before. Even if ten more people came to stay, they could still live comfortably.
The young General was thus spending his vacation time relaxedly. He didn't need to worry about his condition yet. Moreover, in his free time, he would regularly come help the children train like this both morning and evening.
"Hup!"
Tang Yeye on the left side kicked herself away to create distance. Both her hands had small blue cold mist appearing on both sides. She moved in close to Liu Yianfei's body and tried to attack. The young General just smiled comfortably, though. His right hand swept out to grab firmly at the little one's wrist, then flung her small body until she bounced out toward the beach.
At that very moment, though, to the right of the young man appeared the figure of another child. Her height didn't even reach his waist. Her movements were full of precision and sharpness, though. Hui'er sent force from the ground then twisted her body to attack into the middle of the General's abdomen. The young man could clearly feel the heat from both fist tips.
Liu Yianfei had been shocked by Hui'er's movements before on the first day they fought together. They were full of perfection. In terms of forms, they could really be called art.
What shocked him most was that after fighting for a while, Hui'er could enter a certain "state" that even he still couldn't reach that point.
Whoosh.
"...Here it comes." The General narrowed his eyes when looking at Hui'er. Her gaze would start to become smooth. Her movements would become sharp and unpredictable, like a different person. And when he wasn't careful, the little one's small leg could whip out to hit his ribs.
This was the state he was talking about. Bai Fanxian called it the first stage of Supreme Fist Art.
Liu Yianfei wasn't injured from the difference in cultivation power. His t-shirt had black marks appear from Hui'er's fierce Fire qi, though. He couldn't imagine at all how he would still be able to spar with her if this child reached Grandmaster level.
"Truly frightening..."
Even Sword Master Zheng Renyi turned to watch with interest. He was bare-chested, revealing the magnificent muscles of a martial man. In his hand he gripped a sword firmly. When he swung it out, just the air wave from the swing force was enough to split the sea in two.
Even he himself, when observing Hui'er, admitted that if this child had cultivation power equal to his, would he be able to handle her without using his specialized sword?
Hui'er couldn't maintain that state for long or use it at will, though. After just attacking once or twice more, the little one fell out of meditation. Her body lost energy incredibly massively.
Making it so that with just a light poke from Liu Yianfei, she bounced away to plop down beside Tang Yeye who'd been staring wide-eyed earlier.
"You two rest first."
The young General used both hands to lead the children to the shade where Mei Ying and Dragon Queen were resting. Mei Ying, seeing the state of both younger sisters, quickly fussed and opened the first aid kit, then took out alcohol to wash the various scrapes on their bodies.
"...Did your master teach you that movement?" Dragon Queen yawned while speaking. She was referring to Hui'er's Supreme technique revealed just moments ago.
"Yes. My lady taught me herself." Hui'er nodded proudly. It was Tang Yeye who pulled Dragon Queen's body to hug, though, ignoring her protests, then complained:
"But my lady won't teach Yeye. I want to learn like Sister Hui'er too!"
The little one's dissatisfied attitude looked so cute and lovable that even Liu Yianfei smiled. The young General could somewhat understand Bai Fanxian's thinking before. After starting cultivation, it turned out only Tang Yeye could use qi. To prevent Hui'er from being sad, she chose to teach "Supreme Fist Arts" instead.
Now Hui'er could use qi power like normal people, though. And she was progressing rapidly. It wasn't strange that Tang Yeye would start feeling jealous.
"It's not that I don't want to teach... you're just not suited for it."
Before anyone realized, Bai Fanxian had appeared behind them. She looked at the dirty, messy state of both with a faint smile.
"I also think this little one isn't suited for close-range combat."
Sword Master Zheng Renyi joined in. He sat beside his granddaughter while speaking his own opinion.
"I feel this child's more suited for long-range attacks... don't you think, young lady?" The old man had been observing Tang Yeye for many days. He found this child often rushed at opponents without much thought, getting knocked away frequently.
"...Wait until your cultivation power breaks through to Martial Master level first."
Bai Fanxian spoke to Tang Yeye. This child really was suited to fight at medium to long range. At Martial Artist level, though, qi power still wasn't strong enough to be freely released from the body. So no matter how much she wanted, she couldn't teach long-range attacks to this child yet.
Unless she taught her to use weapons like bows or throwing knives. For now she could only tell her to focus on training until reaching Martial Master level quickly.
"And my granddaughter—when will you want to train sword arts with Grandfather?"
Zheng Renyi took this opportunity to turn and ask Mei Ying. Her hands were still busy washing wounds on Hui'er's arm. Earlier, the Sword Master had never forced his granddaughter to train. Her body could barely get out of bed for long, let alone cultivate.
Now Mei Ying's body was getting stronger and stronger, though. Her cultivation power had increased all the way to fifth-stage Qi Gathering without barely having to train. This was the best time for him to pass on his Sword Art to his granddaughter.
He wanted to see his granddaughter become a "Young Sword Master" who swung the sword inherited from him everywhere under heaven.
"...I don't want to train."
Mei Ying refused her own grandfather, though, until the old man's body froze stiff. Since birth, he'd never seen this grandchild refuse anything like this before. His eyes were full of shock, and he didn't hear anything else anymore.
The girl didn't care, though. Mei Ying's eyes were full of determination. She turned to Bai Fanxian and hesitated for a moment. Finally she spoke:
"...My lady, I want to be an alchemist."
And unexpectedly, Hui'er and Tang Yeye raised their hands together eagerly. These two children had witnessed every moment that Bai Fanxian displayed the miracles of alchemy. Tang Yeye had even experienced its power herself. So it wasn't strange that they'd be fully influenced by Bai Fanxian.
"Me too!"
"Yeye wants to too!"
"We want to be great alchemists like my lady!"