The Frail Guide Who Devoured an Entire Pollution Zone

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: You Have No Face With Me

GASP!

The moment Lu Jingyu spoke, an uproar erupted outside the door.

He wasn’t leaving Elder Qi any face at all!

Everything he said, both explicitly and implicitly, was to protect Xu Qingsui!

In that instant, Lu Jingyu’s protective display made the eyes of the Sui Yu Faction members gleam.

They suddenly felt that it was worth the spectacle—they were getting their fill of sweet romance.

Qi Qin’s expression darkened. He completely realized he had absolutely no face in front of Lu Jingyu.

He knew this was related to the last incident and couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

In fact, that was the very reason today’s incident had erupted.

The root of all this was Shen Ling’an and Xu Ruming. Qi Qin couldn’t help but glare at Xu Ruming.

But Xu Ruming was still reeling from the shock of Lu Jingyu disrespecting Qi Qin. She stared at Lu Jingyu in disbelief, completely missing Qi Qin’s glare.

”Jing Yu, I was actually meaning to talk to you anyway. I just got sidetracked by this incident. It’s good that you’re here. I hope you’ll think of the Alliance. Don’t tarnish its reputation, and more importantly, consider which choice is most beneficial for its future.”

Even though he had been publicly rebuffed, Qi Qin was unwilling to have a falling out with Lu Jingyu.

He really had intended to talk with Lu Jingyu, and his focus was clear: the Alliance’s interests came first.

In his opinion, he much preferred for Lu Jingyu to be with Xie Qingling. However, judging from both the recent gossip and Lu Jingyu’s own behavior, it was obvious Lu Jingyu’s choice was running contrary to his wishes.

Therefore, he had to properly persuade Lu Jingyu and guide him toward making the ”correct” decision.

Lu Jingyu understood him, just as Qi Qin said.

So, upon meeting Qi Qin’s eyes, Lu Jingyu already guessed his intentions.

’If those others couldn’t sway me on this, what gives Qi Qin the right to use the Alliance’s future to pressure me?’

”Elder Qi, matters of the heart are private. They should be pure and unentangled from other concerns. So, you needn’t trouble yourself with my romantic life.”

Lu Jingyu’s rejection was clean and direct. Qi Qin, momentarily stunned, could only shake his head and sigh.

’I won’t give up on this so easily,’ he thought. ’It seems I’ll have to keep working on Lu Jingyu in the future.’

At that, Lu Jingyu turned to face the crowd outside the hall and raised his voice. ”Regarding the recent rumors, I was mistaken. I thought time would make them fade away, but instead, they’ve caused a series of unfortunate events. I will release a formal statement about these rumors later, so I ask you all to stop the baseless speculation. But before that...”

Lu Jingyu paused, his gaze falling on Xu Ruming once more.

”Rumors are one thing. Using rumors to stir up trouble is another. Xu Ruming, I’ve warned you before not to give me a reason to act against you. Now, you’ve indiscriminately incited conflict and seriously violated the Alliance’s discipline. Therefore, you are hereby expelled from the Alliance. Again.”

When Lu Jingyu’s gaze fell on her again, Xu Ruming’s heart began to pound wildly. A terrible premonition surfaced.

Upon hearing Lu Jingyu’s words, she froze in place like a wooden statue.

The other female team members present paled, instantly worried they would be expelled from the Alliance as well.

Lu Jingyu noted their fear and said coldly, ”As for the rest of you, considering you were incited by someone with malicious intent, I will not pursue the matter further this time. As Elder Qi suggested, you will be sent to solitary confinement to reflect. But if there is a next time, I will not be so lenient.”

Initially, the female team members had found the idea of solitary confinement unacceptable.

But now, with Xu Ruming’s fate as a comparison, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief, suddenly quite content with their own punishment.

The sounds of the others’ relief reached Xu Ruming’s ears, finally snapping her back to reality.

Her eyes flew open, and she glared defiantly at Lu Jingyu. ”No! You can’t expel me from the Alliance.”

”I gave you a chance. You were the one who didn’t cherish it. You brought this upon yourself.”

Lu Jingyu’s tone was final, leaving no room for argument.

Xu Ruming was dumbfounded. She suddenly remembered Qi Qin and hurriedly turned to look at him.

’Last time, Elder Qi helped smooth things over. Maybe he can do it again.’

Qi Qin had already put his reputation on the line for her last time. This time, Xu Ruming had gone too far. He definitely wasn’t going to get involved again.

Qi Qin turned his head, avoiding her gaze.

Xu Ruming’s heart sank. ’Is there really no hope this time?’

’No!’

’I was doing this for Xie Qingling!’

’That’s it! Xie Qingling!’

In her panic, Xu Ruming finally remembered her patron.

”Captain Lu, you can’t expel me! I was doing it for—”

”Such a lively party, and no one thought to invite me?” Just as Xu Ruming was about to play her trump card, Xie Qingling’s voice rang out.

The crowd parted once again, revealing Xie Qingling as she approached with graceful steps. A faint, infectious smile played on her lips, seemingly lifting the spirits of everyone around her.

Upon seeing Xie Qingling, Xu Ruming’s eyes lit up with hope.

’She must be here to save me.’

”Guide Xie, you’ve come at the perfect time! You’re one of the people involved in this, after all. Why don’t you clear up these recent rumors in front of everyone? Let them see who’s truly the one who’s a disgrace.”

”And then, please, grant me justice. I was only trying to do the right thing! I shouldn’t be expelled from the Alliance for this.”

Hearing Xu Ruming crying out for her to grant justice, Xie Qingling was filled with disgust.

She might have appeared to arrive late, but she had been watching everything unfold from the very beginning.

’To bring so many people here to stir up trouble, only to get schooled by Xu Qingsui instead... how utterly humiliating.’

’It would have been fine if she had actually accomplished something. But from the looks of it, she failed spectacularly, and now I have to come out and clean up her mess.’

Xie Qingling was beginning to regret using Xu Ruming. A woman like her was not only incompetent but would likely end up ruining her own plans.

But an arrow, once loosed, cannot be recalled. For now, all she could do was try to smooth things over.

”I didn’t realize I was involved in this, but I think I have a good idea of what’s going on.”

”These are all private matters; there’s no need to air them publicly. Jing Yu, just do it as a favor to me. Let’s drop the matter for today. As for everything else, we can discuss it in private.”

As she spoke, Xie Qingling walked up to Lu Jingyu and, with a practiced ease, reached out to straighten his collar.

But just as her hand was about to touch his collar, Lu Jingyu took a step back, avoiding the gesture.

Xie Qingling froze for a second. Just as she was thinking of how to salvage the awkward moment, Lu Jingyu’s icy voice rang out again.

”We’re not letting this go today. And your ’face’ means nothing to me.”

Like a stone stirring a thousand waves, Lu Jingyu’s words left everyone stunned.

Xie Qingling stared at him, her face a mask of astonishment, her eyes filled with utter disbelief.

She had never imagined Lu Jingyu would speak to her like that, especially not in a situation like this.

’Is he trying to sever all ties with me?’