"You lot spread your rumors, I grow my vegetables. We don't interfere with each other."
—Lin Zhou
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1 | Rumors Grow Wings Like Spirit Beasts
It had only been three days since the Red Frost Pavilion's mountain gate closed behind Xiao Li, and the entire Jianghu had exploded.
Day One's rumor:
> "The Red Frost Pavilion has taken in a Child of Destiny, talent defying the heavens, whose entrance test sent divine light piercing the ninth heaven."
Day Two's rumor:
> "That child is actually the reincarnation of an ancient god! When awakened, they could destroy a nation!"
By the third day, the version had been completely "remastered":
> "The one the Red Frost Pavilion is secretly cultivating is said to be Lin Zhou's sworn younger sister, a fated protector of the Way, nickname—Xiao Li!"
At this moment, Lin Zhou was in the Spirit Herb Workshop digging up radishes. From the tea house doorway, he overheard a Jianghu traveler loudly gossiping—
"Did you know? Lin Zhou is actually a hidden world master. Every child he casually adopts carries divine blood."
Lin Zhou's hoe paused mid-air. "Divine blood? Descendant? The one I picked up is just a kid who steals my grilled fish."
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2 | No Intent to Spread Rumors, But Rumors Spread Anyway
Soon the entrance of the Spirit Herb Workshop was packed with onlookers.
Man A: "Brother Lin Zhou! I heard your sworn sister is the Child of Destiny?"
Lin Zhou: "Not sworn sister—my disciple."
Man B: "Even better! Master and disciple together—surely a double-hero rivalry!"
Lin Zhou: "She just learned to tie her own shoes—no, wait, she doesn't even wear shoes."
The neighbor aunt chimed in, "I heard your disciple once got so angry that a golden dragon descended from the heavens, scaring the demonic path's army into retreating a thousand miles."
Lin Zhou calmly slapped a radish onto the table. "Look, she's so timid even radish worms avoid her."
Everyone wore the same "stop pretending" look, and Lin Zhou wearily realized—no one believed the truth.
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3 | The Misunderstanding Upgrades to "Protection Money"
By afternoon, a group of self-proclaimed "Protectors of the Way Alliance" came knocking, speaking earnestly:
"Brother Lin Zhou, the Jianghu is dangerous. With your disciple's identity being so high-profile, we can… guard her for you."
Lin Zhou: "How much?"
Alliance: "One hundred taels of gold per month."
Lin Zhou: "I'll give you three hundred, and you guard me by not coming back."
The next day, the rumor had already upgraded:
> "Lin Zhou spent a fortune hiring Jianghu experts to escort the Child of Destiny—passing demon kings now avoid the area entirely."
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4 | The Rumor Finally Reaches the Red Frost Pavilion
At the Red Frost Pavilion, Xiao Li was informed by an outer sect disciple—
"Senior Brother Lin Zhou spent his entire fortune for you!"
Xiao Li was dumbfounded on the spot. "My bro is the kind of person who haggles three times before buying a new pot… Spend his whole fortune? What a joke."
The next morning, she hurriedly sent a letter to Lin Zhou:
> [Bro, I heard you've gone bankrupt for me?]
Lin Zhou replied: [Believing rumors costs money.]
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5 | The "Child of Destiny's" First Challenge Letter
By evening, the Spirit Herb Workshop received its first challenge letter, the words written with great drama:
> "It is said your disciple is the Child of Destiny. I have come to exchange three moves."
Lin Zhou glanced at it, turned back inside, and came out with a sack of freshly dug radishes, handing it to the errand boy.
"Go tell your young master, if she can finish this sack of radishes in a quarter of an hour, I'll consider it a win."
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6 | Lin Zhou's Helpless Monologue
Late at night, the courtyard was quiet. Lin Zhou sat on the threshold, looking up at the sky with only one question in mind: When did I become a martial arts big shot?
He stared at the moon in a daze, and suddenly recalled an old saying—
Rumors stop with the wise.
Unfortunately, there aren't many wise people in the Jianghu.