Heroes Strike

Does a white lie really lead to a good outcome?

Yu Shuying said, "At least it's a risk-free outcome. A person can't die twice, so we don't know whether he will choose to strive for success or give up if we tell him the truth. If it's the latter, the family and doctors will have to bear the consequences. Compared to that, it's better to make a more prudent decision."

Si Ming, "Essentially, these are two different views on human nature. A white lie assumes that human nature is weak and cannot withstand setbacks, while telling the truth assumes that human nature is strong and can become stronger with each setback."

So, which one do you choose to believe?

When Si Ming came out of the room, he saw Liu Qingqing playing with Xie Xiaomei in her Blood Spirit Body. He didn't mention his conversation with Yu Shuying, but said, "Let's go out and play. There are so many more fun things to do in Su State than in the Barbarian Continent. We can go to amusement parks and zoos. Having fun is the most important thing."

However, Xie Xiaomei shook her head and whispered, "I don't want to go out. I hate crowded places."

Si Ming was quite troubled. How could he deal with this fear of strangers? He couldn't just drive away all the other guests in the amusement park and zoo. Although he could use Yan Jinghong's name to do it, what would be fun in a deserted and lonely amusement park without any lively atmosphere? It would probably reduce the enjoyment.

At that moment, Liu Qingqing, in the shape of a slime, jumped onto Si Ming's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Xiaomei likes to read comics."

Which type of manga, the shoujo romance genre?

"No, it's a story about a chivalrous young woman."

"Heroine Girl" is a genre similar to magical girl stories. Generally, it involves a girl who suddenly encounters a fortuitous event and gains unparalleled martial arts skills. She attends classes during the day and fights for justice at night. She usually possesses abilities such as disguise and instant clothing change. Specific details may vary, but the main storyline remains the same. The only difference is that magic is replaced by martial arts, and sometimes it's immortal cultivation techniques. In short, she is given Eastern-style extraordinary abilities, while other tropes are similar.

Of course, Sea Continent's comic industry is still in its infancy. The "Sword Girl" comics mainly focus on the healing genre, still following the early formula of female students by day and female heroes by night. The depressing genre that subverts the formula, like Gen Urobuchi's, has not yet appeared.

Si Ming was initially surprised that Xie Xiaomei would like this kind of subject matter. Although magical girl themes feature female protagonists, the target audience is actually male. For example, there are far more boys than girls who like Sailor Moon. Then he suddenly realized that although Xie Xiaomei is currently controlling Liu Qingqing's body, she is actually just an eight or nine-year-old girl.

Generally speaking, girls aged thirteen or fourteen tend to have a strong yearning for love, while children under ten are more likely to idolize heroes. Moreover, when people read fantasy works, they often crave things they cannot obtain in their daily lives, or they want to identify with the protagonist and hope that they can be as omnipotent as the protagonist and be popular with the opposite sex.

People who are usually timid and often bullied wish they could be as strong as heroes and knights, not only free from being bullied but also able to protect the weak and help those in need. Single people who are not good at socializing, stay at home all day, and have no friends of the opposite sex wish they could be pursued by the opposite sex like the protagonists of harem anime, surrounded by handsome men or beautiful women.

Given Xie Xiaomei's situation, it's understandable that she admires heroes.

Si Ming stroked his chin, pondering, "A chivalrous young woman, huh? On the surface, she's a student, but in reality, she's a savior, possessing two different identities. After saving the world, she goes back to school... Hmm, why does this feel so familiar?"

A thought flashed through his mind. Si Ming coughed first, then smiled warmly and said, "Xiaomei Mei, do you know, Qingqing and I are both college students."

Xie Xiaomei hesitated for a moment, probably thinking about what a college student was. After the Barbarian Continent didn't have a complete education system; at most, there would be a school or academy. But when she thought of the protagonist in the comic she had seen yesterday, who was a high school student, she quickly understood and her eyes lit up with interest.

Si Ming was satisfied with the other party's reaction, and continued, "My friends who were there at the time were mostly students as well."

Xie Xiaomei nodded and said, "I heard that you defeated the Beast King and saved the entire Eastern Martial World. You are a great hero."

There's no need to be modest at this point. Si Ming, "Not only that, I also eliminated the Purple-Pupiled Spirit King of the Southern Martial World. Everyone praises me as the leader of the righteous path and the leader of the martial arts alliance, but in reality, I'm just an ordinary student. I returned home from the Barbarian Continent because school was about to start, and I had to rush back to school."

Xie Xiaomei's interest intensified; this was an extremely rare phenomenon. Over the past few days, she had always seemed hesitant to ask questions, keeping them to herself and unwilling to trouble others.

"Then who gave you your abilities? Was it Taibai Jinxing?"

Why Taibai Jinxing? What comic did you read?

"Our strength wasn't given to us by others, but rather earned through our own arduous cultivation," Si Ming said quickly, seeing Xie Xiaomei's disappointment. "However, to prevent the world from being destroyed, to protect world peace, and to uphold love and truth... justice, we gathered many like-minded people and formed a heroic team called the Mutual Aid Society. We have been secretly fighting evil and protecting innocent people."

As he spoke, Si Ming took out a Qilin mask and put it on, saying, " In the Barbarian Continent, since no one knows us, we don't need to disguise our identities. But here, to avoid people discovering our true identities, we usually wear masks and change clothes when carrying out justice, disguising ourselves as someone else. This way, it won't affect our normal studies and life."

"Oh—" Xie Xiaomei exclaimed with longing.

Si Ming pressed his advantage, saying, "Would you like to join us, become a member of the team, and fight to maintain world peace and uphold justice and order?"

Xie Xiaomei was initially excited, but then said dejectedly, "But I don't know any martial arts at all. I can't help you, big brothers, I'll only be a burden..."

Si Ming interrupted, "You're wrong. If it were the old you, you wouldn't know martial arts, but don't forget you're now in Qingqing's body. She knows martial arts, which means that as long as you're determined, you can unleash the power of this body. How much you can unleash depends entirely on how strong your will is."

Xie Xiaomei was stunned for a moment, then an excited blush gradually appeared on her face. She realized that her situation was just like that of the heroine in the comic book, who had suddenly gained a powerful force.

Si Ming took out a stack of different kinds of masks and coaxed, "Do you want to become a hero? Do you want to save others? Do you want to prove yourself?"

Xie Xiaomei hesitated for a moment, then mustered the last bit of courage in her heart and nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Chapter 616 Heroes Strike

In a warehouse full of sports equipment, three strong figures surrounded a trembling, thin boy.

"I asked you to give me the answers during the exam, but you wouldn't! You're really asking for trouble!"

A short but very strong, sturdy boy shoved the thin boy hard. The latter lost his balance, tripped over a football ball, and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Our scores on the previous exams were off, and the proctor had already become suspicious. He was watching us the entire time, so I didn't have a chance to pass him any answers; if I made any movement, he would catch me."

You dare talk back!

The sturdy boy kicked the skinny boy, causing the latter to bend over like a shrimp in pain.

"I... I didn't talk back... I was just trying to reason with you," the thin boy said, sounding both pained and aggrieved.

"Reasoning?"

The burly boy smiled at his two companions, then turned and slapped the skinny boy across the face. "Let me tell you, might makes right. My fist is bigger than yours, so if I say what you're saying isn't reasonable, then it isn't reasonable! If I say you're talking back, then you're talking back! Tomorrow during PE class, you have to take off your clothes and loudly say 'Sorry, Brother Liang Xin' in front of all the classmates. Your voice has to be loud. If I can't hear you, keep saying it. Keep saying it until I can hear you!"

The skinny boy looked terrified. If he really did that, how could he face continuing to study in class? He was afraid even the female classmates would look down on him.

"Brother Liang Xin, I... I was wrong. Please forgive me this time. I promise I won't make the same mistake again. Even if the teacher catches me, I'll give you the test paper."

Snap!

Liang Xin slapped him again. "You little brat, trying to threaten me with the teacher? 'Even if the teacher catches me,' you want to take me down with you this way, don't you?"

"I... I didn't! I was just saying what you told me, Brother Liang Xin..."