Chapter 43: Qin Wentian Cuts Video to Shift Blame, Server-Wide Outrage

Lin Ye didn't rush to the Gate of the Abyss. He returned to the Commoner Supermarket, opened his computer, and started editing a video.

Su Qinghan stood by, watching his skilled operation of the editing software, and couldn't help but ask: "What are you doing?"

"Teaching Qin Wentian one last lesson." A wicked smile curled on Lin Ye's lips. "Doesn't he like to stir up trouble? Then I'll let him know what the power of public opinion is."

The video footage was taken from the battle in the plaza just now. Lin Ye cut in the footage of Qin Wentian summoning the God of Light, the God of Light admitting defeat, and Qin Wentian suffering backlash and losing levels. But he cut out a crucial part—the words the God of Light said about the truth of the game when admitting defeat. He only left the footage of Qin Wentian summoning a god-level NPC, the god-level NPC being defeated, and Qin Wentian's level plummeting.

Finally, he added a line of large text at the end of the video—

"The Guild Leader of the server's top guild, Qin Wentian, went as far as summoning a god-level NPC to slaughter a city just to kill a lone player. As a result, he was backlashed by the NPC and his level dropped from 35 to 15. Is this the Guild Leader of the top guild on the server? Is this the big shot you all worship?"

Less than ten minutes after the video was posted, it was pushed to the top of the forum homepage. Players across the server exploded after watching the video—

[Forum Hot Post]

First floor: Holy crap! Has Qin Wentian gone crazy? Summoning a god-level NPC to kill a lone player? This is too shameless!

Second floor: The video clearly shows he brought it upon himself, the NPC backlashed, who can you blame?

Third floor: Level dropped from 35 to 15? Serves him right! Let him act tough!

Fourth floor: Didn't you guys notice? That god-level NPC was beaten into submission by Brother Ye. It wasn't a backlash, it was admitting defeat.

Fifth floor: Are you blind, upstairs? The video clearly shows the NPC backlashed himself, what does that have to do with Brother Ye?

Sixth floor: Stop arguing, you guys. Regardless, Qin Wentian summoning a god-level NPC to kill a lone player is something he can't wash away.

The post kept rising, breaking 500,000 replies in just one hour. The public opinion of the entire server was one-sided, all cursing Qin Wentian.

[world channel]

[Player "Wocao Wuqing": Qin Wentian is too shameless, right? Can't win so he summons a god-level NPC?]

[Player "Brick-Moving Expert": And he's the Guild Leader of the server's top guild, this is his character? Embarrassing!]

[Player "Invincible Sword God": Qin Wentian, didn't you say you wanted to duel Brother Ye? Why did you call an NPC for help?]

[Player "Yes Little Follower": Guild Leader Qin, why don't you come out and explain? Hiding in a corner and afraid to speak?]

Qin Wentian looked at the posts on the forum, his face livid. He wanted to explain, but he couldn't produce evidence. What could he say? Say that the god-level NPC wasn't summoned by him voluntarily? Say that the God of Light admitted defeat on his own? Who would believe that?

"Guild Leader, what do we do?" Pojun walked over and asked cautiously.

Qin Wentian was silent for a long time, then opened the world channel and sent a message—

[world channel] [Heavenly Temple Qin Wentian]: The video is taken out of context. I summoned the God of Light not to kill Lin Ye, but to test the effect of the oracle scroll. It was the God of Light who admitted defeat on his own, it has nothing to do with me.

Players across the server laughed even harder when they saw this message—

[world channel]

[Player "Wocao Wuqing": Testing the effect? Tested until your level dropped by 20? Hahaha!]

[Player "Brick-Moving Expert": Qin Wentian, do you think everyone is an idiot? You need to test the effect in front of the whole server?]

[Player "Invincible Sword God": The God of Light admitted defeat on his own? Make your stories more believable!]

[Player "Yes Little Follower": Guild Leader Qin, you'd better not explain. You're just making it worse.]

Qin Wentian looked at these taunts and threw his keyboard in anger. He closed the world channel, not daring to look anymore. But he knew, this time it was truly over. He didn't lose on strength, he lost on public opinion. Players across the server were cursing him, how could he continue to survive in this game in the future?

Pojun walked over and said in a low voice: "Guild Leader, how about we issue an apology statement? Just say it was a momentary impulse and we won't do it again."

Qin Wentian smiled bitterly: "Is an apology useful? They won't believe it."

"Then what should we do?"

Qin Wentian was silent for a long time, then sighed: "Forget it. No more explanations. The more you explain, the messier it gets."

Meanwhile, Lin Ye was sitting on the third floor of the Commoner Supermarket, watching the posts on the forum, a wicked smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"Brother, you're too ruthless." Fatty Wang leaned over and chuckled, "Qin Wentian won't be able to wash himself clean even if he jumps into the Yellow River this time."

Lin Ye laughed: "It's not ruthless, it's professional. When he bullied lone players before, why didn't he think there would be a day like today?"

Su Qinghan walked over and handed him a cup of water: "Aren't you afraid Qin Wentian will be driven to desperation?"

Lin Ye took the water and took a sip: "What's there to be afraid of? He's just a stray dog now. The guild is gone, the money is gone, the equipment is gone, and even his level has dropped to 15. What does he have to jump over a wall with?"

Su Qinghan thought that made sense and nodded.

Qin Wentian walked in from outside, his face pale and his eyes unfocused. He walked up to Lin Ye and said in a low voice: "Brother Ye, I want to talk to you."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow: "Talk about what?"

Qin Wentian was silent for a few seconds, then said: "I want to join the Commoner Guild."

Lin Ye was stunned. Fatty Wang was stunned. Su Qinghan was also stunned.

"Are you serious?" Lin Ye asked.

Qin Wentian nodded: "Serious. The Heavenly Temple is gone, and I have nowhere else to go. Besides—" He paused, "I want to learn something from you."

"Learn what?"

"Learn how to be a good person." Qin Wentian smiled bitterly, "I was too arrogant before, thinking that if I had money, I could do whatever I wanted. Now I know that money isn't omnipotent. There are some things that money really can't buy."

Lin Ye looked at him and was silent for a long time. He remembered how Qin Wentian looked when they first met—arrogant, overbearing, disdainful. The current Qin Wentian looked like a different person. It wasn't that his personality had changed, but his eyes had changed. Before, his eyes were full of arrogance and disdain, but now there was something else in his eyes—awe, and a little bit of regret.

"Fine." Lin Ye nodded, "You can join. But I have a condition."

"What condition?"

Lin Ye's lips curled into a wicked smile: "From now on, you are the Vice Guild Leader of the Commoner Guild. You are responsible for managing the daily affairs of the guild. But there is one rule—you are not allowed to bully lone players anymore. If I catch you bullying beginners, don't blame me for being impolite."

Qin Wentian was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "At my current level, who can I bully?"

Lin Ye laughed: "That's true. Let's go, I'll take you to level up."

"Level up?"

"Right. You're level 15 now, you can't even beat the monsters in the Novice Village. If you don't level up, how can you be the Vice Guild Leader?"

Qin Wentian hesitated for a moment: "Aren't you afraid I'll cause trouble?"

Lin Ye patted him on the shoulder: "What's to be afraid of? You still have my backdoor on you. If you cause trouble, I can scrap you at any time."

Qin Wentian smiled bitterly. He had forgotten about that.

That afternoon, Lin Ye took Qin Wentian to the Ash Plains to grind monsters. Fatty Wang and Su Qinghan went along too. The four of them formed a party, Lin Ye led the way, applying debuffs to wild monsters, killing them instantly. Fatty Wang picked up equipment in the back, Su Qinghan was responsible for casting shields, and Qin Wentian followed at the very back, watching Lin Ye's operations, his eyes becoming increasingly complex.

"Your Talent is too restraining for wild monsters." He couldn't help but say.

Lin Ye laughed: "It's not restraining, it's dimensional reduction. No matter what kind of monster it is, in front of me, they are all made of paper."

Qin Wentian was silent. He used to think he was strong enough, but now he realized that compared to Lin Ye, the difference was not just a little bit.

After grinding for an afternoon, Qin Wentian's level rose from 15 to 25. Although it was still not high, at least he could be seen in public. Fatty Wang picked up a pile of equipment, and his backpack was full again.

"Brother, we're rich!" Fatty Wang was dancing with excitement, "We made hundreds of thousands of gold coins again today!"

Lin Ye nodded: "Continue. Don't stop."

Su Qinghan walked over and handed him a report: "The Gate of the Abyss has expanded again. It's three times bigger than yesterday. At this rate, in a few days, the entire main city will be covered by abyssal energy."

Lin Ye took the report and glanced at it, frowning: "Someone is playing tricks. And it's not an ordinary player."

"Then who is it?"

Lin Ye thought for a moment: "Who else could it be? That person hiding in the back. The boss of the Black Hand."

Qin Wentian's expression changed: "You mean... people from the game company?"

Lin Ye nodded: "Right. They want to destroy this game."

"Why?"

Lin Ye shook his head: "I don't know. But I have a premonition—it's not for money, it's for something else."

"What thing?"

Lin Ye didn't answer, just looked at the sky in the distance. In the sky, the purple light was getting brighter and brighter, like a huge eye, watching the entire main city.

"Let's go." He turned and went downstairs, "It's time to go to the Gate of the Abyss."

"Are you really going?" Su Qinghan grabbed him, "It's very dangerous there now. The abyssal energy is too strong, ordinary players will be corrupted as soon as they enter."

Lin Ye laughed: "I'm not an ordinary player. My Talent specifically counters abyssal energy."

He walked out of the Commoner Supermarket and walked towards the North Gate. Su Qinghan, Fatty Wang, and Qin Wentian followed behind. The four of them walked through the streets of the main city, and the players along the way saw Lin Ye and cheered—

"Brother Ye! Brother Ye! Brother Ye!"

"Brother Ye, you are the light of lone players!"

"Brother Ye, take down the Gate of the Abyss!"

Lin Ye smiled and waved at them, like a triumphant general.

When he reached the North Gate, he stopped and looked back at the main city. The setting sun dyed the whole city gold, the queue at the entrance of the Commoner Supermarket stretched to the center of the square, Fatty Wang was sweating profusely behind the counter, Su Qinghan was maintaining order, and Qin Wentian was helping to move goods. Everything was so calm, so beautiful.

But Lin Ye knew that this calm would not last long. The Gate of the Abyss was expanding, the mastermind was acting, and a bigger storm was coming.

He turned and stepped out of the North Gate.

"Let's go. Time to get to work."

The four figures disappeared into the sunset, walking towards the Gate of the Abyss. Behind them, the lights of the main city turned on one by one, like a golden ocean.