Yun Luohe’s brows tightened a fraction.She’d just been ecstatic over Yuntun waking—then this dumped over her like a bucket of cold water.“What exactly happened?”Even so, Yun Luohe stayed calm, her tone level.Mu Zitang’s voice carried a banked fury. “Yun, I already sent Tianji Pavilion to investigate. You should look too. The forum heat on this is spiking, negative comments piling up. Feels like someone’s pulling strings.”Listening, Yun flicked open the light-screen, entered the forum, and quickly found the post. Newly posted, already trending.The title stabbed at the eyes:Premium ingredients from District “Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop” are actually irradiated meat in disguise; after eating, Sanity plummetsJust reading it left a bad taste. If someone ate something and felt unwell, they should, logically, contact her—or at least post to ask what happened.Not this—charging in swinging, starting a public denunciation.“The replies are already a brawl. Lots of doubt, sure, and some defending you—but anyone defending you gets labeled as Mutual Aid Association insiders. No idea how outside districts knew your ties to the Mutual Aid Association so fast. Now a bunch of randoms are seizing the chance to smear you and the Mutual Aid Association.” Mu Zitang’s words came fast.While Yun considered, the comment count kept climbing.Within moments it broke a thousand.The post matched its title—overblown diction, aggressively inflammatory.The comments were overrun:“I knew it! No way there’s that much premium stock! So it was irradiated meat in disguise! That’s vicious! What’s wrong with District folks?”“No way—yesterday I snatched a portion of golden bear meat! I even ate it! What now? Can I get a refund?! I’m contacting the system right now. @Unlimited Good Reads, all on Jinjiang Literature City”“@Yun Luohe get out here and explain! Selling irradiated meat—you trying to get people killed?”“District scammers get out of the Trade Hub!”“Heh. The Mad Chef Tournament hasn’t even started and someone’s already going dirty? What a low-rent move.”“I bought some too, ate it, no issues; tasted ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) great. Maybe it’s a cooking-method problem, or they added the wrong ingredients.”“I’m from District 3. Just bought some, tasted great, no discomfort at all. Maybe it’s a cooking-method problem? Other buyers, report in so we can see if there’s a real issue.”“Nice damage control upstairs? The evidence is in your face! Sanity drop is fake?”Yun finished reading and let out a cold laugh.The images proved nothing.Even if the Sanity drop was real, how does that prove it was from ingredients bought from her?Even in the real world, allergies need confirmed allergens; food poisoning is even harder to trace—people eat too many things.How did this person decide every other thing they ate was fine and only hers was the problem. @Unlimited Good Reads, all on Jinjiang Literature CityThey’d posted a single pot of stew—yes, it had venison—but there was no cooking process, no proof they ate only that and nothing else.Everything she processed had been purified via the Trash Bin; radiation value was absolutely zero—on that point she knew better than anyone.The only possibilities were a malicious swap or contamination after sale.The player might have other causes—ate something else, picked up a different debuff, or took damage from radiation fog—any of which would also tick Sanity down. @Unlimited Good Reads, all on Jinjiang Literature CityAnd there was the possibility it was purely malicious—a frame job.A stunt like this right after the district merge.Clearly, she’d stepped on someone’s cake—or cut into other districts’ interests.Fast movers. Not even a full day post-merge and they’d already made their play.So be it—Yun Luohe didn’t mind answering the move.In the apocalypse, cruelty wasn’t just the natural disasters. People were a trial, too.After a beat of silence—Mu Zitang still talking on—Yun had her counter ready.“I need you to help with a few things.”“Say the word!” Mu Zitang heard the steel in her tone and snapped taut.“First, have Tianji Pavilion identify whoever’s behind this as fast as possible. It should be an organization from another district. One player alone wouldn’t stir up this much against me, and the comments reek of deliberate smearing. The forum runs on real-ID. The primary district to screen is District 8—I’m seeing tons of District 8 accounts in there.”“Second, contact the poster. Use Tianji Pavilion’s name, keep it neutral. Present this as District business—we intend to investigate. Ask for cooking-process details, how much they ate, and whether they consumed anything else at the same time.”“Got it. Anything else?”Yun thought a moment. “That’s enough for now. I’ll handle the rest and might loop you in.”“Okay. Oh—what you asked me—I already dug it up. Want the report now?”“No. Tomorrow.”“Right!” Mu Zitang answered at once. “I’m on it now! Yun, don’t worry—anyone daring to mess with you, our Association has numbers. We’re not afraid—we’ll make sure they regret it!”Yun Luohe: “I’m not worried. This will—”After she cut the Conch Communicator, the Spider House fell quiet.Yuntun whispered, “He—he’s—!”Yuntun’s voice was girlish-soft yet bristling with anger.“It’s fine. Small matter.” Yun Luohe smiled.She set Yuntun down to rest. “Yuntun, I need to handle something. Stay here and keep an eye on the still-hatching spider eggs.”Yuntun nodded, sensible as ever. “Go, Yun. I’ll guard this place.”Yun strode out of the Spider House, then opened her backpack and Portable Preservation Ring.Her ingredient stockpile was massive; she still had more than half of the premium and golden cuts. With the Mad Chef Tournament imminent, these ingredients were a massive draw for players.Tianji Pavilion moved fast—by midnight they’d posted:Preliminary report on the ‘irradiated meat’ incident involving District Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop“Given this concerns the reputation of District players, Tianji Pavilion initiated an immediate investigation.Our preliminary check reveals multiple doubts: at least eight hundred players purchased from Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop. No other reports of irradiated meat have surfaced; most feedback is positive. Relevant information is under deeper investigation. Please refrain from spreading unverified claims.Tianji Pavilion will continue to follow up and will notify everyone promptly of any progress.”Plenty of players who’d been swept up by the tide calmed a bit after reading it.The statement didn’t fully dam the surge of doubt, but it persuaded the more rational to wait and see.Many already knew Yun Luohe’s ties to the Mutual Aid Association, and Tianji Pavilion was plainly run by Mu Zitang of the Mutual Aid Association.Now that Tianji Pavilion spoke up for her, some still questioned it—accusing them of covering for Yun.But every voice like that wasn’t from District players.Shared glory, shared shame.Yun Luohe was District’s number one—the District’s pride.If other districts spat on her, wouldn’t that stain the District’s name too?So right now, the entire District stood shoulder to shoulder. Whether they believed it or not, they spoke up for Yun.Of course, some would trumpet Tianji Pavilion’s “nepotism” with Yun.Which meant players from other districts, hearing of it now, would assume it had already been investigated.That made it easy to suspect intel outfits from other districts.Before bed, Yun finally finished editing her own post, sent it, and left it be as she went straight to sleep. Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop — Short-Term Presale“I, and everything sold by ‘Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop,’ guarantee safety and zero radiation. Quality can withstand any inspection.The innocent stay innocent; time will prove everything.On presale: With the Mad Chef Tournament near, market demand has surged, and my handling costs and risk for top-tier ingredients have risen—including the cost of countering malicious competition.So prices will be adjusted.Decision: On the morning of Autumn Day Ten, at 08:00 sharp, ‘Wealthy Lady’s Little Shop’ will open a short-term presale of premium ingredients.This presale includes: 300 portions of premium meats (venison, bear, rabbit, wild boar).150 portions of golden-grade meats (venison, bear, chicken).50 portions each of special-flavor meats (Maple-Infused Rabbit, Pinecone-Fragrant Bear, Kale-Tinted Wild Boar).200 sets of premium vegetable bundles.Premium meats: High-Grade Hardwood ×60 / Iron Ore ×15 / Copper Ore ×15 (original price 40/10/10)Golden meats: High-Grade Hardwood ×150 / Iron Ore ×45 / Copper Ore ×45 / or Ruby ×1 / Earth Crystal ×1 (original price 100/30/30)Special-flavor meats: auction mode (starting bid: High-Grade Hardwood ×200 or equivalent rare materials; highest bid wins)Premium vegetables: High-Grade Hardwood ×30 / Iron Ore ×5 / Copper Ore ×5 (original price 20/3/3)Special note: As thanks for new and returning customers’ trust—purchase any 5+ portions in this event to receive my custom [Energizing Mini Jerky] ×1.[Energizing Mini Jerky: made from air-dried pork; shelf life one month; seasoned with spicy oil; upon eating, +20 Stamina.]”On the irradiated-meat uproar, Yun didn’t bother over-explaining—just a light “the innocent stay innocent.”At the eye of the storm, she not only refused to duck the wind, she announced sales the day after tomorrow. Stock, apparently, still abundant.Let them keep calling it irradiated meat.Her goods—people fought to buy them.And she raised prices—by fifty percent or more.Boldest of all, she marked the original prices, telling everyone: earlier, it was cheap.The post landed like a depth charge,kicking up waves across districts in the dead of night. All district chats buzzed.Yun Luohe was now famous across the board.“Damn! Late-night and the woman herself replied! Dominant! Straight price hike! I love it!”“Insane! Hiking prices at the peak of controversy! Either she’s got the goods or she’s lost it… I’m betting the former!”“Special-flavor meat auction? Wonder how high it’ll go. I want it so bad—Maple-Infused Rabbit just makes me drool…”“This response is killer! Doesn’t waste breath on haters—uses action to slap faces!”“The bonus jerky! Yun’s food effects are always great. I’m in just for that. I’m District—can confirm.”“See you the day after tomorrow. I don’t buy the slander. I’m tough; I’m buying on purpose!”

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