"Long-mouthed donkey?!"
"Puchi! Puchi! Puchi..."
A series of laughter erupted from below the stage.
If someone had dared to mock Lu Zuichang like this alone, they would have certainly earned his resentment and likely faced a sneak attack.
But with so many people surrounding the stage today, Lu Zuichang couldn't possibly target them all individually.
This was precisely the principle of "the law doesn't punish the multitude."
Thus, the onlookers laughed without restraint.
Lu Zuichang's long face instantly darkened.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Bitch, you think you're so clever with your words now. Just wait until after the competition, and you'll be the one crying!"
"Who are you calling a bitch?"
"You're calling yourself a bitch!"
Zi Linling understood immediately, "So you're calling me a bitch! Fine, since you've called yourself a bitch, I'll generously let you off the hook!"
"Puchi! Puchi! Puchi..."
Another round of spraying laughter echoed from below the stage.
Zi Linling's mouth truly knew how to handle any situation, except losing.
She could insult someone without using vulgar words, and subtly belittle them. Her skill with words had reached an impeccable level.
Lu Zuichang trembled with rage, cursing, "Bitch, I hope when you're my defeated opponent, groaning beneath my crotch, your tongue is still this agile!"
His words immediately provoked the wrath of the crowd.
"Shameless!"
"Vulgar!"
"Beast!"
"Have no shame!"
"..."
The curses from below the stage rose higher and higher.
Zi Linling's eyes turned cold, and she vanished from her spot simultaneously.
"Slap! Slap!"
Two crisp slaps rang out.
Symmetrical, bright red handprints appeared on Lu Zuichang's left and right cheeks, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.
Zi Linling's speed was too great, and she struck without any warning.
Lu Zuichang was stunned by the slaps. By the time he reacted, Zi Linling had already returned to her original position.
"Idiot! If you dare to speak obscenely again, I'll make you mute!"
Zi Linling's voice was as cold as frost, causing the temperature on the stage to drop rapidly.
"Serves you right!"
Someone, it was unclear who, was the first to curse, igniting the emotions of the surrounding crowd.
"Well hit!"
"Well hit!"
"Well hit!"
"..."
Lu Zuichang finally snapped back to his senses amidst the curses.
He roared in fury, "Bitch, how dare you hit me!"
Zi Linling said coldly, "Hmph! Just for those words you uttered, it's a great honor to the Alchemist Guild that I didn't kill you!"
Nian Youyu angrily cursed, "Serves you right! Who told you to spout such filthy words in front of everyone? You've utterly disgraced the Alchemist Guild!"
Feng Mo also fumed, "How can our Alchemist Guild have a vulgar gutter-mouthed scoundrel like you? You're a disgrace to alchemists!"
Xuanyuan Zhe sarcastically added, "A failure among men! Scum among alchemists! With your character, you dare to be the young president of the Alchemist Guild? Is someone blind, or is there some shady dealing involved?"
With the three of them guiding the narrative, the audience below the stage erupted again.
"I'm truly opening my eyes today! I never imagined the young president of the Alchemist Guild would be such a scoundrel!" Su Dan Novel Network
"If someone as shameless as this becomes the president of the Alchemist Guild, who knows how many female cultivators will be harmed!"
"Exactly! To display such shamelessness, tsk tsk tsk..."
"Why don't we all sign a petition demanding the Alchemist Guild disqualify this shameless and vulgar wretch and re-elect the young president?"
"That's a good suggestion! Disqualify Lu Zuichang and re-elect the young president!"
"Disqualify Lu Zuichang and re-elect the young president!"
"Disqualify Lu Zuichang and re-elect the young president!"
"Disqualify Lu Zuichang and re-elect the young president!"
"..."
Lu Zuichang was dumbfounded.
He never expected that his momentary outburst of anger, speaking his mind, would ignite such widespread indignation.
At this moment, he could no longer bother with Zi Linling.
If this matter wasn't handled properly, not only would his position as young president be lost, but the entire Alchemist Guild would be despised by the public.
What should I do?
What should I do?
Lu Zuichang's back quickly became soaked with sweat, and large beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead.
Just as he was about to collapse under the pressure, an old man appeared on the referee's stand.
The old man had a sinister expression, his triangular eyes gleamed sharply, but they couldn't conceal the malice lurking in their depths.
Seeing the old man appear, Lu Zuichang felt as if he had grasped a life-saving straw, finally having a backbone.
He impatiently sent a telepathic message to the old man, "Grandfather, what should I do?"
That's right!
This old man was Lu Zuichang's grandfather, Lu Bingcheng, the current president of the Alchemist Guild.
Lu Bingcheng's face was extremely grim.
He glared fiercely at Lu Zuichang and sent a telepathic message, scolding, "Idiot, do you even have a brain? How could you say anything in front of so many people!"
Lu Zuichang's tears were about to fall as he telepathically pleaded, "Grandfather, I was blinded by anger and spoke without thinking. I know I was wrong, please help me!"
Lu Bingcheng gritted his teeth, wishing he could kill his foolish grandson with a single blow, regretting his lack of progress.
He cursed, "Idiot, what else can be done? For now, you must apologize to that little brat and appease her!"
Apologize?
Lu Zuichang felt utterly wronged.
He was the one being insulted and beaten, yet he had to apologize?
But the situation had come to this, and he had no choice but to apologize.
The crowd below was becoming more agitated, itching to rush onto the stage and tear him apart.
"Hurry up!" Lu Bingcheng barked.
Lu Zuichang gritted his teeth and, with a "thump," knelt in the direction of Zi Linling.
At his kneeling, the shouting from the crowd immediately ceased.
All eyes focused on him, awaiting his next move.
Lu Zuichang lowered his head and said, "Miss Zi, it was my impulsiveness that insulted you. I apologize now. Please be magnanimous and forgive me!"
Because he kept his head down, the onlookers below did not see the malice in his eyes.
Zi Linling sneered without speaking.
While others couldn't see the venom in Lu Zuichang's eyes, she took it all in without missing a beat.
Seeing Zi Linling's reaction, Lu Bingcheng knew that a simple apology wouldn't suffice.
He suppressed his murderous intent and telepathically instructed Lu Zuichang, "Slap yourself, and apologize while doing so!"
Lu Zuichang clearly hesitated for a moment, then glanced subtly at Lu Bingcheng.
Lu Bingcheng nodded and said, "As long as you survive, you'll have plenty of chances later! Do as I say, and all the humiliation you suffer today will be repaid sooner or later!"
Lu Zuichang gritted his teeth, raised his right hand, and fiercely slapped his own right cheek.