I am destroying the protagonist in the fantasy world!

Chapter 122: Rumors are blocked and it is difficult to move forward

"Ahem... Mr. Lei, please spare my life... Ahem..." Sun Xiucai's face turned red from being pinched, and he uttered a few words with difficulty.

Lei Yi's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and his tone was cold: "I'll ask you one last time, who ordered you to spread rumors? If you don't tell the truth, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Sun Xiucai looked at Lei Yi in horror. He had no doubt that if he didn't tell the truth, Lei Yi would really kill him. His lips trembled, and he was about to speak when he heard a loud shout from afar: "Stop!"

Lei Yi turned around and saw a group of people approaching aggressively. Leading them was none other than Qingyun Sect's head, Liu Zhengyang. Behind him followed several disciples, all with stern expressions.

"Lei Yi, you're so bold! You actually dared to act so wildly in my Qingyun Sect!" Liu Zhengyang shouted angrily, "Let go of Mr. Sun!"

Lei Yi released his hand, and Sun Xiucai collapsed to the ground, clutching his neck and coughing violently. Lei Yi knew he wouldn't get anything out of him today. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and bowed to Liu Zhengyang, saying, "Master Liu, those rumors about me are all malicious slander. I..."

"Stop quibbling!" A disciple beside Liu Zhengyang 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 Liu Zhengyang interrupted him impatiently with a wave of his hand: "Someone, show him up!"

Two disciples stepped forward and "sent" Lei Yi down the mountain without saying anything.

Lei Yi stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the mist-shrouded peaks, feeling a sense of powerlessness. He knew the rumors had taken root, and it would be difficult to dispel them.

He decided to start with Liu Zhengyang. After all, he was a highly respected leader in the martial arts world. If he could gain his trust, the rumors would naturally be self-defeating.

So, Lei Yi came to Qingyun Sect again, but this time, he couldn't even get in. The disciple guarding the gate told him directly that Sect Master Liu didn't see guests and asked him to go back.

Lei Yi had no choice but to leave Qingyun Sect and go to other sects to explain the situation. However, along the way, he met many people from the underworld who believed the rumors, glared at him, and some even drew their swords against him.

"Lei Yi, you unforgivable devil, why don't you surrender!" Several people from the martial arts world surrounded Lei Yi, with their swords drawn, full of murderous intent.

Lei Yi smiled bitterly in his heart. It seemed that the rumors had made him the target of public criticism, and it would be extremely difficult to clarify them.

"Everyone, you believe in slander. I, Lei Yi, am upright and have nothing to fear!" Lei Yi said loudly, but what responded to him was an even more fierce attack.

At this moment, a graceful figure suddenly appeared beside Lei Yi. With a slight wave of her white hand, an invisible force forced those people from the martial arts world to retreat.

"Who?!" Those people exclaimed, and when they looked closely, they saw a woman in white standing next to Lei Yi. She had a beautiful face and a cold temperament, like the Queen Mother of the West who had descended to the mortal world.

"Miss Dongfang!" Lei Yi was delighted when he saw the newcomer. "Miss Dongfang!" Lei Yi was delighted when he saw the newcomer.

Dongfang Liuli ignored those people from the martial arts world and simply said to Lei Yi, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thank you Miss Dongfang for your help." Lei Yi said gratefully. He knew that if Dongfang Liuli had not arrived in time, he would probably be in great danger today.

"These people are just a mob, there's nothing to be afraid of." Dongfang Liuli said calmly, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

However, just as he finished speaking, there was another commotion in the distance, and a group of people rushed towards this side, holding weapons in their hands and full of murderous intent. It was obvious that they came with ill intentions.

"Lei Yi, you devil, today is the day you die!" An angry roar came from the crowd. Lei Yi's heart sank. He knew that today's matter might not end well.

"It seems that today's matter cannot be let go." Dongfang Liuli's face was solemn. She looked around and found that there were more and more enemies, who had surrounded them. Moreover, these people were all disciples of famous sects in the world, and their strength should not be underestimated.

"Miss Dongfang, please leave quickly. Today's incident has nothing to do with you. I don't want to implicate you." Lei Yi looked at Dongfang Liuli, his heart full of gratitude and worry. He knew that with Dongfang Liuli's strength, it would not be difficult for her to escape, but he could not watch her fall into danger for him.

"Do you think I will leave you alone and run away?" Dongfang Liuli gave Lei Yi a blank look, with a hint of anger in her tone, but more of determination.

Lei Yi wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Dongfang Liuli: "Now is not the time to talk about this. Let's solve the problem at hand first."

After saying that, Dongfang Liuli no longer hesitated. She flashed and rushed into the crowd. Her moves were fierce and deadly. Although those people in the martial arts world were numerous and powerful, they were no match for her at all. For a while, screams rang out one after another and the ground was dyed red with blood.

However, there were too many enemies. After killing one group, another group came, as if they were endless. Although Dongfang Liuli was a martial arts master, he gradually felt a little tired.

"Miss Dongfang, we can't go on like this. We must find a way to break out." Lei Yi said anxiously. He knew that if they continued like this, they would be exhausted to death here sooner or later.

"Break through? How easy is that!" Dongfang Liuli smiled bitterly. They were now surrounded and it would be extremely difficult to break through.

At this moment, a cold voice came from the crowd: "Lei Yi, you can't escape today, just surrender!"

Lei Yi looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man in a green robe standing behind the crowd. He had a thin face, a sinister look in his eyes, and a sneer on his lips. It was Liu Zhengyang, the head of Qingyun Sect.

"Liu Zhengyang, did you instigate all this?" Lei Yi said gritting his teeth. He knew that Liu Zhengyang was definitely responsible for his current situation.

"Yes, so what if it's me?" Liu Zhengyang sneered, "You spread rumors and ruined the reputation of Qingyun Sect. Today, I will seek justice for Qingyun Sect!"

"Spreading rumors? Ruining the reputation of Qingyun Sect?" Lei Yi laughed in anger. "Liu Zhengyang, you're confusing right and wrong. I, Lei Yi, am upright and honest. Have I ever done anything to let Qingyun Sect down? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning for slandering me like this?"

"You still dare to quibble after all this!" Liu Zhengyang shouted angrily, "Come here, arrest him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, those people from the martial arts world rushed forward and surrounded Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli. There were flashes of swords and sabers, and murderous intent was everywhere. A fierce battle was about to break out.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Sun Xiucai was sitting in a tavern, gloating over his actions. He exaggerated Lei Yi's "evil deeds" to the people around him, causing them to curse and their disgust for Lei Yi to intensify. He picked up his wine glass and drank it all, secretly gloating in his heart: "Lei Yi, you have come to this day. You are still a little naive to fight me!"

He didn't know that at this moment, a pair of eyes were staring at him coldly, with a dangerous light flashing in them. The owner of these eyes was Butler Zhou...

Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli were forced into a corner, facing a clashing of swords and sabers, the deafening roar of killing. The situation was precarious. Dongfang Liuli wielded his sword with ferocious moves, but two fists were no match for four, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"Lei Yi, do you have any last words to say?" Liu Zhengyang stood behind the crowd with a smug and cruel smile on his face, as if he had already seen the scene of Lei Yi kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.

"Liu Zhengyang, don't be so proud. Even if I, Lei Yi, die, I will never surrender to you!" Lei Yi's eyes were like torches, his tone was firm, and there was no fear at all.

He knew that what happened today was no accident. Someone must be secretly manipulating it, and this person was most likely Butler Zhou, the man who spread the rumors. He had to find the power behind Butler Zhou as soon as possible to clear his name. Otherwise, he would forever bear this infamy, and even implicate Dongfang Liuli.

"Miss Dongfang, can you help me keep an eye out for any suspicious people?" Lei Yi whispered to Dongfang Liuli while resisting the attack.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it." Dongfang Liuli nodded and scanned the crowd around him, trying to find the black hand hiding in the dark.

However, things were far more complicated than they had imagined. Lei Yi repeatedly tracked down Butler Zhou's whereabouts, but always returned empty-handed. Every time he was about to find a clue, it would suddenly stop, as if someone had deliberately destroyed it, leaving no trace.

"Damn it, who is behind this?" Lei Yi was extremely anxious, but he had no idea.

When Zhao Daxia learned of Lei Yi's situation, he was also filled with righteous indignation and ran around, trying to clear Lei Yi's name. However, he was weak and powerless, and apart from speaking for Lei Yi in a small circle, he was unable to shake the opinions of those powerful forces.

"Mr. Lei, don't worry. I believe you are wronged and I will continue to speak for you." Hero Zhao found Lei Yi and said in a firm tone.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao. I'm sorry for your trouble." Lei Yi looked at Hero Zhao with gratitude, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

However, he also knew that Zhao Daxia alone could not change anything. He had to find a breakthrough as soon as possible, otherwise he would be trapped in this quagmire forever, unable to escape.

As night fell, Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli hid in a dilapidated temple, the atmosphere heavy and depressing. They had been on the run for a whole day, but still could not escape the pursuit.

"Lei Yi, what should we do now?" Dongfang Liuli looked at Lei Yi with worry in her eyes.

Lei Yi was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said with a determined look, "I must find Butler Zhou, find out the truth, and clear my name!"

Dongfang Liuli held his hand and said firmly: "I believe you."

Lei Yi felt he was in a desperate situation. He didn't know how to break this situation, but Dongfang Liuli was always by his side, encouraging him. What should they do next? Lei Yi looked at Dongfang Liuli's determined eyes, and a glimmer of hope suddenly ignited in his heart...

In the dilapidated temple, the dim candlelight flickered, illuminating the two men's furrowed brows. Lei Yi felt like prey trapped in a spider's web. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank, unable to find his way.

"Liuli, who do you think we can trust now?" Lei Yi's voice was full of fatigue and powerlessness.

Dongfang Liuli gently stroked the back of his hand, her eyes firm and gentle: "I believe you, that's enough."

"But..." Lei Yi hesitated, knowing that relying solely on Dongfang Liuli's trust wouldn't change his current situation. He needed to find evidence, solid evidence, to clear his name.

Dongfang Liuli seemed to see through his thoughts and said softly, "Have you ever thought that all along, we have been focusing on Butler Zhou and ignoring other possibilities?"

"Other possibilities?" Lei Yi was slightly stunned and fell into deep thought.

Dongfang Liuli continued, "Butler Zhou is certainly suspicious, but he's just a butler after all. If there's no one behind the scenes, where does he get the courage and ability to spread these rumors?"

Lei Yi suddenly realized that he had always regarded Butler Zhou as the mastermind behind the incident, but had overlooked the deeper possibility. Indeed, Butler Zhou was just a small figure, and there must be a more powerful force behind him manipulating everything.

"You mean, we should turn our investigation to those powerful forces?"

"That's right." Dongfang Liuli nodded. "Only those powerful forces have the ability and motivation to put you to death."

Lei Yi took a deep breath, a gleam in his eyes: "You are right, we have always been too limited."

"So where do you plan to start?"

Lei Yi pondered for a moment, and a figure emerged in his mind: "Master Liu!"

Sect Leader Liu is a well-known righteous person in the martial arts world. He used to admire Lei Yi very much, but since the rumors spread, his attitude towards Lei Yi has become ambiguous, even a little deliberately distant.

"Master Liu?" Dongfang Liuli was puzzled. "Why is he involved in this?"

"I'm not sure either, but I always feel that his change of attitude is too strange." Lei Yi shook his head, "There's no time to lose, let's go find him now!"

The two packed their bags and left the ruined temple under the cover of night. They headed north towards the sect where Master Liu was from.

However, they didn't know that danger was approaching quietly.

"Stop! Who are you?"

When Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli were on their way, they were suddenly surrounded by a group of people. They claimed that Lei Yi had committed evil in a village and killed many villagers. Lei Yi looked at these ill-intentioned people and his heart was immediately alarmed...