Psychological Warfare

Although Zhou Yi had already lost face, that didn't stop her from stubbornly doubling down.

Everyone ignored the lunatic's words and charged straight at Xia Linyuan, intending to toss him into the air in celebration. Instead, he knocked most of the dozens of male students flat in just a couple of moves.

Watching the others sprawled on the ground, howling in pain even though he clearly hadn't hit them hard, Xia Linyuan said calmly, "Please behave yourselves," then left Shrek Plaza.

The others who hadn't been knocked down didn't come to their senses until Xia Linyuan's figure disappeared around the corner. They stared blankly in the direction he'd gone.

They hadn't been taking things very seriously, but some of them had tried to subdue him. One person had taken down dozens with his bare hands—and they were all boys. Wasn't that strength just a little too absurd?

From that moment on, the male students who had been eyeing Xia Linyuan's class monitor position gave up on the idea for good.

And it actually seemed pretty nice to follow Xia Linyuan's lead...

Back in the dorm, Xia Linyuan didn't plan to rush into the shower. Although she'd run for four hours, she hadn't even broken a sweat, and she'd be heading to the Outer Court's Soul Guidance Department to work the forge later anyway.

Feeling the scorching gaze fixed on her back ever since she'd walked through the door, Xia Linyuan sighed softly and turned to Tang Wulin. "Wulin, is there something dirty on me? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Uh..." Caught staring by the person in question, Tang Wulin awkwardly scratched her head.

Although she felt embarrassed, when she thought of Xia Linyuan's performance just now, she couldn't help getting a little excited. "Linyuan, you were so cool!"

Xia Linyuan had been composed from the start, showing neither arrogance nor servility. Then she'd displayed outstanding leadership skills. Tang Wulin couldn't help cheering her on.

Perhaps because, in her mind, her father was also composed and neither arrogant nor servile, seeing Xia Linyuan act much like him filled Tang Wulin with admiration.

And since most women were drawn to strength, Tang Wulin felt nothing but boundless goodwill toward Xia Linyuan, without a trace of ill will.

If Xia Linyuan knew what Tang Wulin was thinking, she would probably have laughed in disbelief.

She might have been devious, ill-behaved, fond of making snide remarks, and extremely selfish, but she had no desire to be lumped in with a hypocrite.

"Oh?" Xia Linyuan murmured in puzzlement, unconsciously interlacing her fingers beneath her chin. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Cool?"

Watching Xia Linyuan sit with the imposing air of an emperor who had long held power, her whole body exuding a special charm, Tang Wulin felt that one more glance might leave her completely ensnared.

Tang Wulin's heart began to race. "Yes, really cool!"

Xia Linyuan had no idea how imposing and captivating her posture looked. All she could think about was Tang Wulin calling her "really cool."

"What's wrong?" Tang Wulin asked, puzzled by Xia Linyuan's reaction.

"Nothing." Xia Linyuan's narrowed golden eyes returned to normal. She said calmly, "It's just that, aside from my parents, you're the first person to say that to me."

Tang Wulin froze.

Xia Linyuan thought back over how people had described her throughout her life so far and gave a soft laugh. "They used to call me things like 'demon,' 'You'll pay for what you've done someday,' and 'evil heretic.'"

Those were just the nicer things Xia Linyuan had chosen to mention. The people who had insulted her had been as vicious and vile as they could possibly be.

But Xia Linyuan didn't really mind. She could understand where they were coming from. She had been trying to destroy the world, not save it. Their condemnation was simply the consequence of her actions.

Besides, they were all dead now. She had killed them herself.

Tang Wulin stared at Xia Linyuan in a daze.

She had never imagined that someone as composed and unassuming as Xia Linyuan, with such outstanding leadership skills, could have been judged that way. An inexplicable fury suddenly welled up inside her, filling her chest as if it might burst out at any moment.

"That's not true!"

"No, it is." Xia Linyuan's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "The blame lies with me. I won't deny it."

"But Linyuan, you're clearly, clearly..." Clearly so gentle, and always thinking of others.

The words reached her lips, but she couldn't bring herself to say them.

Xia Linyuan stood and walked over to Tang Wulin, then patted her on the head. "Once you learn about the things I did before, you won't think that way anymore."

Hearing those words from Xia Linyuan herself, Tang Wulin suddenly felt as if something inside her had collapsed. She was overwhelmed with sadness.

Even someone like Linyuan had made mistakes. Then, then...

At that thought, Tang Wulin was suddenly overcome with panic.

She was like a drowning person desperately reaching for a lifeline, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp it. The more she struggled, the farther away it seemed.

Seeing Tang Wulin like this, Xia Linyuan knew her psychological ploy had paid off.

She hadn't said all that without reason. From Tang Wulin's subtle changes in expression, she'd guessed a few things. That was why she'd deliberately said it: to probe Tang Wulin's attitude toward certain matters. It would affect the next few steps of her plans.

"Hahaha!" Xia Linyuan gave Tang Wulin's shoulder a playful pat, looking amused. "I'm joking. Did you forget I'm only eleven? How could I possibly have done something like that?"

When Tang Wulin heard that Xia Linyuan had been lying to her, the tears that had nearly spilled from her eyes instantly went away.

"Xia Linyuan! Is it really okay to lie to people?" Tang Wulin burst out angrily.

"I was just joking."

Tang Wulin's voice already had a hint of tears in it. "I don't think it's funny at all!"

Now Xia Linyuan was finally flustered. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have lied to you."

╥﹏╥

"I hate you!"

"Wulin!" Just as Xia Linyuan was about to say something, Wang Dong's voice came from outside. From her tone, she didn't seem to be in a very good mood.

Tang Wulin wiped the corners of her eyes and took a moment to compose herself before opening the dormitory door. "What's wrong, sis?"

Wang Dong saw Tang Wulin's reddened eyes and Xia Linyuan's grim expression. She froze, then flew into a rage and demanded of Xia Linyuan, "Xia Linyuan, did you bully my Wulin?"

"Sort of. I made what I thought was a joke, and then..." Xia Linyuan shrugged.