I am destroying the protagonist in the fantasy world!

Chapter 121 Rumors Rise, Trapped by Slander

The three of them traveled quickly and finally arrived at a small town at sunset. Lei Yi decided to rest there for the night and make plans the next day.

After finding a relatively clean-looking inn, the three of them quickly ate something and then went back to their rooms to rest. Lei Yi lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He felt like something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

The next morning, Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli left the inn, ready to continue their journey. However, as soon as they stepped outside, they sensed something strange about the atmosphere. Passersby gave them strange looks, whispered, and pointed.

"Look, isn't that Lei Yi? He's the guy who took the Horcrux!"

"I heard that he is cruel and ruthless. He would do anything to get the Horcrux, even killing his own brothers!"

"People's hearts have really changed! How can such a person be worthy of possessing a divine weapon?"

Lei Yi frowned, the uneasiness in his heart growing stronger. He had a vague feeling that something was quietly happening, and it all had something to do with him.

In order to find out the truth, Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli walked into a busy tavern. As soon as they entered, they heard a shrill voice shouting:

"Let me tell you, Lei Yi, although he looks handsome on the surface, is actually a bad guy! In order to get the Horcrux, he would not hesitate to..." The person who spoke was Sun Xiucai from the town, who was now telling the people around him the "truth" about how Lei Yi obtained the Horcrux.

"Mr. Sun, are you telling the truth? Is Lei Yi really that bad?" asked a burly man.

"How could it be false? I saw it with my own eyes!" Sun Xiucai said confidently, "At that time, in order to seize the Horcrux, Lei Yi actually..."

Sun Xiucai described Lei Yi vividly, portraying him as a treacherous, cunning villain who would do anything to achieve his goals. The people around him listened with great interest, and looked at Lei Yi with disgust and contempt.

Lei Yi couldn't bear it any longer. He stood up suddenly, strode to Sun Xiucai, and said angrily: "You are talking nonsense! I didn't..."

Lei Yi, enraged, took a step forward to seize Scholar Sun, but was stopped by several burly men. "What? You still want to silence us?" one of the men, a man with a flabby face, taunted. He felt aggrieved, but unable to defend himself, he could only glare, wishing he could see through these fools.

Seeing this, Dongfang Liuli quickly grabbed Lei Yi and gently advised, "Brother Lei, don't be impulsive. These people have obviously been instigated and are deliberately spreading rumors. The more you explain, the more they will believe those nonsense."

Lei Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He knew Dongfang Liuli was right. In this situation, any explanation seemed pale and powerless. He looked around and said coldly, "Rumors stop at the wise. I am upright and honest, and I am not afraid of your rumors!"

After saying that, he pulled Dongfang Liuli and turned to leave the tavern. However, just after they took a few steps, a burst of laughter came from behind them.

"Haha, it's ridiculous that you didn't dare admit it after doing something bad!"

"Look at him, he's clearly guilty!"

"People like this deserve to be despised!"

Dongfang Liuli listened to these harsh words, and anger ignited in her heart. She turned around and shouted at those people, "You people know nothing, what right do you have to talk nonsense here? Brother Lei is an upright person, how can you villains slander him at will?"

Dongfang Liuli's voice was clear and loud, but it was drowned out by the mocking voices around her. Instead of listening, those people intensified their insults, their words so vicious that they were outrageous.

"Oh, this young lady is quite protective of him. Could it be that she's having an affair with him?"

"I think it's probably true. Otherwise, why would she defend him so much?"

"We are not from the same family. We are not good people if we don't get along well!"

Dongfang Liuli was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she could do nothing. She knew that these people had been blinded by the rumors and would not listen to any explanation.

At the same time, on a mountain hundreds of miles away from the town, Sect Leader Liu was listening to his subordinates' reports with a frown on his face.

"Master, rumors about Lei Yi are spreading everywhere in the martial arts world. It is said that he would do anything to obtain the Horcrux, and even killed his own brothers." Butler Zhou said in a low voice.

"Hmph, this Lei Yi, I've long seen he's no good!" Sect Leader Liu snorted coldly, a cold glint in his eyes. "He vowed to cooperate with us before, but now it seems he's just trying to use us."

"Master, what should we do now?" asked Butler Zhou.

"What else can we do?" A fierce glint flashed in Sect Leader Liu's eyes. "Since he's already unkind, don't blame us for being unjust! Pass the order down. From today on, all contact with Lei Yi will be severed. No one is allowed to have any contact with him!"

"Yes, Master!" Steward Zhou took the order and left, but he sneered inwardly. He had long disliked Lei Yi, and now that he had finally found the opportunity to eliminate him, he was naturally happy to see it happen. And all this was just the beginning...

"Master, there's one more thing..." Butler Zhou paused, a sinister smile on his face, "I heard that Dongfang Liuli has always been by Lei Yi's side..."

Dongfang Liuli's eyes widened, her fury threatening to ignite everything before her. She opened her mouth to protest, but Lei Yi held her tightly. He shook his head, his deep eyes replaced by a cold frost. He knew any defense was futile. The rumors were like an impenetrable net, quietly enveloping him.

"Let's go!" Lei Yi pulled Dongfang Liuli and left this place of trouble without looking back.

Back at the inn, Lei Yi remained silent, locked in his room, his face gloomy and terrifying. Dongfang Liuli was worried, but knew nothing she said would quell his fury. She could only silently stay by his side and brew him a pot of hot tea.

"Who is behind these rumors? What's their motive?" Lei Yi gripped his teacup tightly, his knuckles turning white, his heart filled with confusion and anger. He asked himself: since he came into this world, he had never done anything harmful to others, so why had he suddenly become the target of public criticism?

Dongfang Liuli sighed softly and said in a soft voice, "Brother Lei, don't worry. The innocent will be innocent. I believe that one day the truth will be revealed to the world."

"The truth?" Lei Yi laughed bitterly. "But before that, how can I face these overwhelming rumors? Liuli, do you believe me?"

Dongfang Liuli nodded without hesitation: "Of course I believe you! I know you are not that kind of person!"

Lei Yi's heart warmed. He held her hand and said with a firm look in his eyes, "Thank you, Liuli. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and clear my name!"

Over the next few days, Lei Yi scoured the streets of the town, trying to find the source of the rumor, but he had no clue. He discovered that the rumor was like weeds, growing wildly in every corner and impossible to control.

"Brother Lei, don't lose heart. I believe in you!" After learning about this, Zhao Daxia also rushed to comfort Lei Yi. He was an upright person and never believed rumors. However, his voice seemed insignificant among the many rumors.

Lei Yi was distressed, but he could do nothing about it. He knew that if he wanted to calm the situation, he had to find the mastermind behind the incident and completely crush their conspiracy.

At this time, in a luxurious mansion hundreds of miles away from the town, Butler Zhou was whispering about the situation to a mysterious man in black.

"Things are going very smoothly. Now the whole world is spreading rumors about Lei Yi. His reputation has been completely ruined." Butler Zhou said with a hint of pride in his tone.

"Very good." The man in black let out a deep laugh. "Keep spreading rumors. I'll make Lei Yi a pariah, a man everyone will shout and beat!"

"Yes!" Butler Zhou took the order and left with a sinister smile on his face.

Lei Yi sat by the window of the inn, gazing at the rolling hills in the distance, a feeling of unease welled up in his heart. He felt as if invisible eyes were watching him from the shadows, and that this sudden rumor was no accident... He turned sharply, looked at Dongfang Liuli, and said firmly, "Liuli, I want..."

Lei Yi turned around abruptly and looked at Dongfang Liuli, saying firmly, "Liuli, I'm going to Qingyun Sect."

Dongfang Liuli frowned slightly and said worriedly, "But Brother Lei, rumors about you are spreading all over the martial arts world right now, and Qingyun Sect is the sect that values ​​its reputation the most. If you go there now..."

Lei Yi knew Dongfang Liuli's concerns, but he had already made up his mind. "I know, but that's precisely why I have to go. Rumors stop at the wise. I need to find a breakthrough, and Master Liu of Qingyun Sect may be able to give me the answer."

Dongfang Liuli saw that Lei Yi had made up his mind, so he said no more and just said, "I'll go with you."

Lei Yi shook his head, gently stroked Dongfang Liuli's black hair, and said softly, "You stay here and help me keep an eye on the movements in the martial arts world. I will go alone."

Although Dongfang Liuli was reluctant, she also understood Lei Yi's intention, so she nodded and warned, "Be careful."

Lei Yi left the inn and rode straight towards Qingyun Sect. He pondered his response the entire way. The widespread spread of these rumors was clearly unconventional; someone must be behind the scenes fanning the flames. And what was this person's motive in deliberately tarnishing his reputation?

A few days later, Lei Yi arrived at the foot of Qingyun Sect. Built against the mountainside, shrouded in clouds and mist, it was a majestic sight. Lei Yi straightened his clothes and walked towards the gate.

"Stop! Who are you coming?" Two green-clothed disciples blocked Lei Yi's way.

"I'm Lei Yi, and I'm here to visit Sect Master Liu. Please let him know." Lei Yi said with a bow.

The two disciples were stunned when they heard the name "Lei Yi," and looked at Lei Yi with eyes full of vigilance and hostility. One of them said coldly, "You can't just see our Sect Leader whenever you want! Leave immediately, or don't blame us for being rude!"

Lei Yi's heart sank. It seemed that the influence of this rumor was even greater than he had imagined. Even the disciples of Qingyun Sect were avoiding him as much as possible.

"Please listen to my explanation, everyone. Those rumors about me are all malicious slander. I..."

"Don't try to quibble!" another disciple interrupted him harshly. "Everyone in the martial arts world knows about the good things you've done. How dare you come to my Qingyun Sect and act wildly? Get out of here!"

Lei Yi wanted to explain further, but was forcibly driven down the mountain by two disciples. He stood at the foot of the mountain, looking at the peak shrouded in clouds and mist, feeling powerless.

Just then, a figure approached from a distance. It was none other than Sun Xiucai, the scholar who had spread rumors in the tavern that day. Upon seeing Lei Yi, a sly glint flashed in his eyes. He quickly approached him and said sarcastically, "Hey, isn't this Master Lei? Why were you driven down the mountain? Could it be that Master Liu refused to see you?"

Lei Yi looked at him coldly. He knew that this Mr. Sun must have been instructed by someone to appear in front of him on purpose in order to humiliate him.

"Who do you belong to?" Lei Yi asked word by word, with a hint of anger in his tone.

Sun Xiucai pretended to be surprised and asked, "What do you mean, Master Lei? I'm just a scholar. How dare I get close to anyone?"

Lei Yi knew that he couldn't get anything out of him, so he ignored him and turned to leave.

"Master Lei, don't be in such a hurry to leave," Sun Xiucai stopped him with a mocking smile on his face. "I advise you to give up on this idea. Sect Leader Liu has already ordered that no one is allowed to contact you. You..."

Before Sun Xiucai could finish his words, Lei Yi suddenly attacked, grabbed his neck, and pushed him against a tree. His eyes were as sharp as a knife: "Tell me! Who ordered you to spread rumors?"