Judge of Souls - Chapter 80

Teacher Wei’s home was originally in a well-maintained gated community that his parents had bought for him. However, after the incident, security guards couldn’t keep the numerous reporters away, which affected the normal lives of other residents. The scandal’s negative impact directly influenced the guards’ attitudes. After their not-so-subtle hints, Teacher Wei moved out.

At the height of the crisis, “concerned netizens” were virtually everywhere. He didn’t dare return to his hometown for fear of troubling his parents, and he was also afraid of them asking about his situation. He cut off all contact and rented a new apartment elsewhere.

Now that the peak of the incident had passed and the harassment had lessened with the news cycle moving on, Teacher Wei finally had a chance to breathe. However, having developed the habit and suffering psychological trauma, he hadn’t left his apartment for over a month. Even to take out the trash, he would only sneak down to the first floor late at night.

He couldn’t understand how things had become this way. This wasn’t the world he thought he knew. When malice became the norm, it somehow transformed into a kind of righteousness. How absurd was that?

Wei Zheng sat on the edge of his bed, looking at the mirror in his hand. The mirror was polished to a shine, reflecting his exhausted face.

He rotated the mirror obsessively, carefully examining his face.

His wrinkles, his stubble, and his dim eyes.

He had become like a failure, with himself being the only person he dared to look at directly.

Suddenly holding his breath, grief choked his throat.

He had a clear conscience, yet he had become the one afraid of the light.

Wei Zheng glanced at the time. A faint sandalwood scent permeated the air. He stood up, walked to the shoe cabinet, and quietly lit a stick of incense.

When the incident had escalated to its worst point, in a moment of despair, he had thought his life could end. He wrote a suicide note and placed it on the table, then feeling extremely tired, lay down to rest for a while.

When he awoke, he only remembered someone in his dream hugging him and crying bitterly, while his suicide note had mysteriously burned to ashes.

It wasn’t laughable or absurd. He had been pushed to the point of having nothing left. No one would listen to his side of the story. The only thing he could use to threaten others was his own life, even though in the eyes of the “righteous,” even his life had no value.

Just as he placed the incense in the burner, he heard several knocks on the door.

The string in Wei Zheng’s mind suddenly tensed, and he asked stiffly, “Who is it?”

“Hello, my name is Jiang Feng,” Jiang Feng said. “Your students are worried about you and asked me to check on you. There are no reporters here.”

Wei Zheng walked to the peephole, confirmed with a glance, but still asked, “How did you know I was here?”

Jiang Feng: “Your ancestor told me. We can see ghosts.”

With such a bizarre reason, Wei Zheng came and opened the door for them.

Chu Xuanliang nodded. “Hello, I’m a Taoist priest from Qianyuan Temple, Chu Xuanliang.”

After they introduced themselves to each other, they sat down in the cramped apartment.

Wei Zheng sat down and asked with difficulty, licking his lips, “Why are you looking for me?”

Jiang Feng said, “I’m handling this matter now. I came to see you because your ancestor was worried about you. And I wanted to tell you to hang in there.”

Chu Xuanliang opened his laptop, turned the screen toward him, and pushed it forward.

Seeing the screen, Wei Zheng’s first reaction was to look away.

Chu Xuanliang said, “Take a look at this first. Your student just sent it to me.”

Wei Zheng frowned. Was it Zhu Yan?

But it wasn’t. There were several familiar young faces on the screen, with multiple people squeezed together, jostling each other, trying to position themselves in the center.

“Teacher Wei, please hang in there. We’ll reveal the truth for you! I love you!”

“Teacher Wei, I’m sorry, but thank you!”

“We’ve reported it to the police too. Sorry for making you worry.”

“I want to become someone like you. I think you’re the most successful teacher in the world.”

“Will you turn your phone on? If you have a new number, could you let us know? But don’t post it in the class group because there are spies there!”

“I miss you so much. When will you come back, Teacher?”

Everyone spoke over each other, gradually starting to cry. The bottled-up grievances emerged one after another. Thinking about how their only protective teacher was right in front of them, they couldn’t help but pour out their sorrows to him.

Wei Zheng raised his hand to wipe his eyes and swallowed his emotions.

Chu Xuanliang opened Weibo again, brought up the page, and said, “Online public opinion always shifts day by day. Perhaps without your knowledge, the truth has already begun to emerge. There’s no need to take the attacks of those people to heart, because none of them will be responsible for what happens to you.”

On the screen was Kong Su’s Weibo.

Kong Su: To the netizens cursing me, don’t get excited. I was just chatting with some kids earlier. Now I’m out, aren’t I? I’m not in a good mood after witnessing a beast of an incident. I’ll answer your questions one by one.

Kong Su: @Aunt Qin Ru, I wonder if you and your husband still remember Teacher Wei from A Foreign Language School, the teacher you falsely accused of sexually harassing your daughter. In people’s eyes, being a teacher is a sacred profession. If there’s any blemish, his sins will be magnified countless times until anger blinds people from seeking the truth. But how many would go back to make amends for their mistakes? None. Not even a single apology.

Kong Su: Let me first talk about the appalling campus bullying at A Foreign Language School. [Photo] [Photo]

Following were the bullying evidences they had secretly kept. Examples included deliberately soaked quilts, clothes thrown on the bathroom floor and used as mops, photos of bruised arms, a diagnosis of depression, and medication prescribed by the hospital.

At the same time, there was a diary scribbled all over. The handwriting was casual and messy, and the language was jumbled. Without careful reading, it was difficult to understand what it was trying to say. This was provided by the student who had taken a leave of absence due to depression.

Kong Su indicated that there was actually more direct evidence, but it probably couldn’t be obtained now. These students had been very blatant, and the school had surveillance in some locations. Yet the school could remain so indifferent under the influence of capital, turning a deaf ear to it all, and even blaming the bullied student, believing it was due to her introverted personality and inability to integrate into the group that led to her being bullied. For such people to be respected as teachers was utterly ridiculous.

When these photos were posted, the online community exploded.

Netizens who were initially waiting for drama didn’t expect such a revelation and were caught off guard. At the same time, they felt a chill and couldn’t help but question its authenticity.

“This can’t be real?”

“You’re telling me A Foreign Language School, such a famous junior high, is this kind of filthy place? I don’t believe it!”

“My brother studies there. Don’t try to fool me.”

“Holy crap! What kind of news is this? Call the police already!”

“How can there be such teachers?!”

“Wait, so far it’s about campus bullying, but falsely accusing a teacher of sexual harassment… is it what I think it is?”

“The quilt is definitely the one issued by A Foreign Language School. The school uniform peeking out also matches. The dormitory building looks right too.”

“Damn! @All A Foreign Language School parents, you’ve been played! Quickly go home and ask your children!”

Kong Su ignored them and continued posting photos.

The next set of images were screenshots of students’ private chats.

Everyone solemnly swore that what they said was the truth.

They pointed out that Teacher Wei was the only teacher at A Foreign Language School who dared to stand up for justice and help students. He tried to intervene in the increasingly serious campus bullying incident, but because he angered the leader of the bullying group, Zhu, he was falsely accused through media manipulation and public opinion. This led to his current predicament of being doxxed by netizens, slandered by the school, and facing lawsuits. He had been out of contact for a long time, his fate unknown, which was truly disheartening. They hoped everyone would see clearly and not become tools for evil.

Kong Su: The kids have stated that if needed, they’re willing to report under their real names, but considering that both the reporting parties and victims are minors, their profile pictures have been blurred. Currently, all information has been submitted to the police, awaiting further investigation.

Kong Su: Teacher Wei, who once protected them, was preemptively slandered by his enemies for his act of justice and has borne the dirtiest stigma. This is probably the power of influence. But what influence cannot change is sincerity. I’m glad these children still maintain their conscience and haven’t become as numb as certain groups in society. They bravely stood up, wanting to protect their beliefs like heroes. While I’m moved, I’m also incredibly sad and angry.

The internet instantly exploded.

Sexual assault, rumors, campus bullying, school corruption—all were recent hot topics. As Kong Su said, her description of these scenes was truly shocking. And those experiencing all this weren’t battle-hardened adults like them, but junior high school students, only in their teens, who were still forming their worldviews.

At the same time, a good and just person being framed, a dedicated teacher being marginalized, truth being distorted under the operation of capital… all this information frantically stimulated people’s rationality.

These things, though cruel, were incredibly close to their lives and could possibly befall them one day. This was what frightened them the most.

People burst forth and flocked to the Weibo accounts of Qin Ru and Mr. Zhu’s company, demanding an explanation.

On the other end of the network, Gao Yuqing, wiping sweat from his forehead, sternly warned through the phone. “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare add any details or color to my text. Post it exactly as it is, word for word, understand?”

Kong Su: “I got it! Why are you so worked up?”

Gao Yuqing jumped in rage. “Why am I worked up? Why are YOU doing this?!”

Kong Su completed the task by copying and pasting.

Kong Su: I’m extremely disappointed in A Foreign Language School. It’s a school that, due to the intervention of capital, has ruined a truly excellent teacher. I want to tell every parent who went to make trouble: Teacher Wei, whom you drove to the edge, was actually the brave warrior resolutely protecting your children. And all this reversal of black and white is the lesson that the school and you parents are teaching your children.

Kong Su: The group of students who led the bullying team—Zhu, Jiang, Yan, Wang, Chen and his brother, six in total—but the true perpetrators aren’t limited to them. All the teachers and students who chose to turn a blind eye have a share in this. Today, the victim suffering from depression is the one in the video, but who knows if your child might be next. Even if your child is “fortunate” enough to be at the “top” of the food chain, what kind of person will they become? What kind of person will they become under the influence of such teachers? For primary and secondary school students, which is more important: the teachers’ academic level or their character?

Kong Su: Students are still so young, yet they live in school more cautiously than adults. Is this learning? This is a survival game! Parents, please wake up and be good to your children. That’s all I have to say.

Gao Yuqing was relieved.

Kong Su: Oh, I forgot to mention. I’m willing to pay all legal fees and encourage Teacher Wei to take legal action against Zhu, A Foreign Language School, and the media that spread rumors and slander at that time. I have the money. [Lights a cigarette]

Kong Su: Starting now, I’m open for work, highest bidder wins, taking blood money is also acceptable. Those interested in collaboration, please contact my agent @Gao Yuqing

Gao Yuqing, halfway through exhaling, saw the last two posts and felt as if he was having a heart attack, about to faint.

Terminate the contract, terminate it. For the sake of his own lifespan.

Isn’t living well enough?!

Kong Su put down her phone and, under the admiring gazes of the children opposite her, also made a cigarette-lighting gesture.

Gazing into the distance with a profound look, she said, “I think I was super cool today.”