Chapter 143: Chapter 143: True or False Champion_1
Zhuang Qin’s tone became heavier, as if he were replaying the scene of his doppelgänger wailing desperately against cosmic injustice on the day he fell ill and failed in his endeavor. All Zhuang Qin did was explain his failure as a result of poor health and his subsequent miserable mood. He did not expect that deep down, his soul had been twisted by envy and discontent.
Zhuang Qin took a deep breath and continued, "I knew he was in a bad mood, so I didn’t say much. I only tried to soothe his temperament. Little did I know that, likely from the moment we received our ranking results, he was already harboring murderous intent towards me."
"While waiting for our summons, he found a drug that would put people to sleep. He slipped it into our food, which we consumed without suspecting anything. Soon, we both lost our strength and fell into a deep sleep."
"Grandma Yang was old and frail, and couldn’t resist the effects of the drug. She quickly fell unconscious. He seized the opportunity to strike her on the head with a thick wooden stick, causing Grandma Yang to meet with an unjust death."
"At that time, I also felt weak and dizzy, unable to stop him. I was horrified to see Grandma Yang beyond any help. In my shock, I managed to escape through the door while he chased after me."
"Although I was under the influence of the drug, his illness hadn’t completely recovered and we couldn’t run very fast. But as the effects of the drug intensified, my body became weaker. I managed to run several miles, each more arduous than the last until he finally caught up with me."
"There was a small grove there at that time. After catching up with me, he hit me on the head with a rock, causing me to faint. He then threw me into a well that was full of water. I ended up dying from drowning in that well."
As Zhuang Qin recounted his own demise, his voice was filled with grief and suppressed rage. He couldn’t fathom how his treat-as-a-brother Zhuang Qin could be so ruthless towards him.
Qin Sisi looked at the grief-stricken Zhuang Qin, feeling a sense of disgust towards the savage and cruel Zhuang Qin. She couldn’t help but exclaim in a furious tone, "This is despicable! Just because he fell ill and failed, he made others suffer the consequences?!"
Zhuang Qin saw that Qin Sisi was taking his side and there was a glimmer of comfort in his eyes. But then he sighed deeply, as if centuries of slumber in the well had allowed him to deeply perceive the depths of human treachery.
Qin Sisi thought for a while and then asked thoughtfully, "But why did he want to kill you? Was it just out of jealousy?"
Zhuang Qin gave a wry smile and said, "At first, I thought he was blinded by jealousy, but later I found out he was implementing a grand conspiracy."
"A grand conspiracy?" Qin Sisi’s wide eyes filled with curiosity.
However, Ye You had already guessed the answer. Before Zhuang Qin could continue, Ye You told Qin Sisi what he had guessed: "To replace him."
Qin Sisi raised her eyebrows and stared at Zhuang Qin unblinkingly. Was that really the case?
Zhuang Qin naturally didn’t hear Ye You’s guess. His voice was filled with grief as he said, "As my physical body slowly died, my soul woke up. I heard people talking beside the well, saying that the new top scholar, Zhuang Qin, was good-looking and talented. The Prime Minister had taken a liking to him and betrothed his precious daughter to him, making him the Prime Minister’s son-in-law. From then on, he would lead a successful life and his future would be limitless."
As Zhuang Qin spoke, there was a bitter hatred in his voice.
Qin Sisi also felt a pressing resentment in her heart. The Zhuang Qin who had failed the examination assumed Zhuang Qin’s place, and became the successful top scholar, while the real top scholar was drowned in a well, his soul wandering in desolation.
Zhuang Qin regained his composure and continued, "I had to face the Messenger of Death, who wanted me to forget my past life, leave behind old grudges, and reincarnate into a new one. But I was adamant in refusing their offer. What pleasure can there be in living, and what suffering in dying? But it is intolerable if the evil-doer escapes punishment and the kind-hearted receive no reward. Even if I were to reincarnate, the world would not be worth staying for, as it is full of injustice."
Zhuang Qin’s face, although scholarly and gentle, radiated a sense of heroic ardor. Qin Sisi was reminded of a phrase: A scholar’s spirit, ready to challenge the world.
His somewhat naïve beliefs, his unyielding obsession, had kept him going for hundreds of years in that cold, dark well. The countless cries of "injustice" dripping with fresh blood represented his discontent over his fate and his resistance towards unjust events in the world.
Time flew by and the scenery changed. The well had dried up and the grove had become barren, but his innocent ghost endured the torment at the bottom of the well, waiting for his salvation to come.
Zhuang Qin’s face gradually regained its calm, he made another bow towards Qin Sisi, "Fairy, I have finished my story. I would like to request, would you be willing to help me avenge my injustice?"
Qin Sisi hesitated. It has been such a long time; the other Zhuang Qin’s body should have long since decomposed. How could one possibly seek revenge on him?
After a while, Qin Sisi finally said, "Zhuang Qin, I really want to help you, but like you said, it has been hundreds of years since everything happened. The Zhuang Qin who murdered you is no longer among the living. I really don’t know how I could possibly help you avenge your injustice."
Zhuang Qin didn’t hesitate and immediately said, "Fairy, I understand what you mean. But even though his physical body is gone, his soul is still present. Someone who covets wealth and glory as much as him is sure to reincarnate."
Qin Sisi replied with some surprise, "You are planning to seek revenge from the person he has since reincarnated into?"
He nodded, "Yes."
Qin Sisi frowned, shaking her head slightly, saying, "I disagree. The one who made mistakes was him in his previous life, not him in this life. If he is a good person in this life and hasn’t committed any heinous acts, wouldn’t it be wrong to punish an innocent person unjustly?"
Zhuang Qin also shook his head, saying, "Fairy, I disagree with your perspective. As the saying goes, ’the cause of the past life brings about the effect in this life.’ Even if he has done a lot of good in this life, it’s his way of trying to atone for his past crimes."
Though both of them spoke courteously, they were equally firm in their positions. With such diverging views, it seemed impossible to reach a consensus.
Ye You looked at Qin Sisi, then at Zhuang Qin, stood up and meandered over to Qin Sisi’s side. He nuzzled his furry head against her leg and meowed a few times, suggesting the best course of action is to find that person first.
After listening to Ye You, Qin Sisi’s furrowed eyebrows relaxed somewhat. Looking up at Zhuang Qin, she said, "How about this. I will first try to find the person, and then assess his conduct. We will make a decision then. What do you think?"
Zhuang Qin thought for a moment and finally nodded, "Alright."
Seeing Zhuang Qin agreeing, Qin Sisi heaved a sigh of relief. She was afraid that he would stubbornly hold onto his point of view. Scholars might appear weak, but when they become tenacious, they can be more stubborn than those who haven’t read any books.
