Chapter 39 : Chapter 39
Chapter 39
The next match was between Liu Mu and Xie Chang’an. While Xie Chang’an didn’t know Liu Mu, the readers had already met the quiet and reserved teenager through the scene in the school infirmary.
Liu Mu’s ability couldn't be fully utilized in the individual competition, and the manga only gave him a single shot of him "touching an object to understand its rules of use."
After his defeat, he seemed to hesitate before saying, “Your combat instincts are quite good. It’s a real shame your ability is so terrible.”
The bullet comments instantly split into two factions:
【I feel like there's a hidden meaning in his words.】
【He was probably trying to mock Chang’an, but Chang’an didn’t get it. So his pent-up resentment turned into a complicated, speechless gaze?】
【He's one of Shao Huayu's people, after all.】
【That sounds reasonable, but something still feels off.】
【Forget all that, our Chang’an made it to the top 16! Amazing!】
【So easily.】
【Chang’an is so strong (thumbs up).】
Ji Qing couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
It seemed the readers were unaware of the true purpose of the individual competition at this point. It was indeed difficult for those who hadn't experienced it to notice the problem, but according to his communication records with Xie Chang’an, a kind-hearted person would later give him a heads-up.
In the manga, Xie Chang’an checked who his opponent would be in the next round.
Driven by curiosity about Class A and a sense of unease about the upcoming matches, Xie Chang’an decided to go watch. If others lost, it would be a blow to their pride at worst, but if he lost, Li Yuan might just stab him in the back.
But would he really be backstabbed? A hesitant look crossed Xie Chang’an’s face.
He agonized over this all the way to his destination before finally giving up on thinking, telling himself it was useless to worry about it now.
【Cute.】
【I feel like you could lure him away with a piece of candy (mixed feelings).】
【Mainly because too few people have been good to Chang’an…】
【Ahhh, if he really gets backstabbed, wouldn't that be a divorce scene?】
【It's over, I can't even imagine it anymore. Instead of hoping Li Yuan is a good person, I'd rather hope Chang’an can form more normal bonds in the future…】
【Do you know what a ‘white moonlight’ is?】
【...Damn.】
【Memories can be glorified. I can't imagine what would happen if Li Yuan suddenly disappeared.】
【Don't remind me of that—】
“This…” Ji Qing’s brow twitched instantly.
The readers’ speculation about the future development was perfectly in line with his own plans, but then Ji Qing had another thought: What did Li Yuan’s actions have to do with him, Ji Qing?
All Ji Qing needed to do was keep this a secret.
In the manga, the match between Lu Qingyin and Lan Nianxuan was about to begin.
Xie Chang’an secretly observed the spectator area. The scene was comparable to a Class A team-building event, yet not a single member of Class S was present.
From what he had seen and heard over the past few days, Xie Chang’an had inexplicably sensed the lofty status of Class S within the school. They were beings from a world he, who had grown up in the dregs of society, could never touch.
As he pondered, the referee announced the start of the match.
Now in the spectator area, Xie Chang’an finally had a direct view of a real ability confrontation. Sound waves and ice clashed violently, each vying for control of the battle. In an instant, ice flowers scattered everywhere.
It was a magnificent scene that only appeared in duels between high-tier ability users. Xie Chang’an found himself completely captivated.
【Ahhhh, so cool.】
【I’m sorry, they really have the skills to back it up ahhh— I’m switching sides—】
【Why, why, why, why, why is this an ability battle manga, but the protagonist has no ability? I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it.】
【So beautiful. I’m looking forward to Class S even more now.】
【Sob, sob, sob, neither of them managed to get promoted to Class S. Just how strong were the initial members of Class S?】
【They must be very, very strong.】
As it turned out, most readers were attracted to power.
Ji Qing briefly scanned the bullet comments and noticed that the previous negative remarks about Lu Qingyin and the others had vanished, replaced only by praise for their strength.
Yuexia Cao's exquisite art style made the scene even more thrilling to watch.
In the manga, Lu Qingyin’s advantage gradually became apparent. Her diligent research into music theory became the final weight that tipped the scales of victory in her favor. Though a string on her instrument snapped, the outcome was already decided.
“The winner is Lu Qingyin!”
As the referee’s voice fell, the factional struggle in Class A had its final victor.
Lu Qingyin stood on the stage, taking a deep breath. After a short rest, she straightened her slightly disheveled dress and, just as she did before every musical performance, faced the audience and curtsied with elegance and composure.
The spectator area instantly erupted in thunderous applause.
【Damn—】
【Elegant etiquette is never out of date. Seeing the two scenes together is so satisfying!】
【The Class A storyline is amazing!】
【Ahhhh, I love Lu Qingyin so much!!!】
【This is fantastic, I absolutely love ensemble casts.】
【To be able to tell the entire story of Class A in such a short plot, that old thief's storytelling skills are still top-notch.】
【Yuexia actually gave the supporting characters the spotlight. Holy crap— this feeling of ‘passing through someone else’s entire world’ is so damn satisfying!】
【The world-building of Ability Hunter is incredible.】
The bullet comments surged like overgrown weeds. The previous Class A storyline had become the victor’s crown at this moment.
Two curtsies, two different symbolisms.
If the former emphasized Lu Qingyin’s elegance and restraint, the latter depicted the winner’s composure. The story of Class A had turned a new page, as the factional strife was now a thing of the past.
The manga's main perspective returned to Xie Chang’an.
Late at night, Xie Chang’an lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
It would have been fine if he were just an observer, but the problem was that his next opponent was Lu Qingyin. In the midst of the cheering crowd, Xie Chang’an had clearly recognized his opponent's strength.
He couldn't help but open his terminal to check the match schedule.
Ling You’er and Feng Youyou still had one more match. Once their fight was over, the individual competition would officially begin its countdown to the semi-finals. All the remaining contestants were exceptionally skilled.
Xie Chang’an thought, If I lose to Lu Qingyin, I'll have to compete for third place.
It wasn’t a one-shot deal. He just had to do his best. But to be honest… Xie Chang’an looked troubled. He didn't think any of the other contestants were weak.
【True.】
【Although the early stages were easy, the current contestants are all formidable opponents.】
【Back in the school infirmary, Zhou Que even did a post-mortem of his own defeat. I thought it was funny back then, but I can’t laugh anymore…】
【Me too (facepalm).】
【At the start of the individual competition, I thought Chang’an could get first place. Now, I’m not so sure.】
【Chang’an should be able to make it to the top three, right?】
【If he doesn’t get into the top three, there’ll be trouble on Li Yuan’s end. Chang’an probably doesn’t want to have a conflict with Li Yuan.】
【Let's just see how tomorrow's match goes.】
He really should be worried.
Ji Qing suddenly smiled at this. He was surprised to find that from Xie Chang’an’s perspective, the individual competition was quite dramatic and full of ups and downs. Perhaps it was because Xie Chang’an was a participant, while the members of Class S were all excluded.
Oh, that wasn't right—Zhou Que was an exception.
But the result of Zhou Que participating in the individual competition was that he looked even more world-weary than he did at the beginning of the school year.
In the manga, Xie Chang’an returned to the spectator area once again.
The upcoming match was the duel between Ling You’er and Feng Youyou. Regardless of who the final winner was, it was possible that Xie Chang’an would have to face them.
Gu Lingxue had also come this time. Her mood was a little low due to her recent poor performance in combat training, but she still wanted to see the gap between herself and her opponents.
Her individual competition had ended far too quickly.
Both combatants had arrived. The referee was chatting idly with Feng Youyou, and then the two of them quickly concluded their conversation. The referee officially announced, "Both contestants are in position! The match is about to begin!"
The bullet comments were unusually excited:
【Looking forward to it, looking forward to it.】
【It seems like neither of them showed their true strength in the previous rounds. Now we get to see them go all out.】
【Ling You’er should win, right?】
【That's not certain~ I'm rooting for Feng Youyou~】
【When girls fight girls, I always feel like something extraordinary will happen.】
【Go for it!】
Feng Youyou swiftly completed her pre-match preparations.
Ling You’er was stunned by this but remained silent. Her social anxiety instinct had already surpassed her shock. Ji Qing astutely noticed that, up to this point, Ling You’er had not managed to speak a single complete sentence in the manga.
To be fair, it did a good job of establishing her character.
In this match, neither side launched an immediate attack, instead circling the edges of the ring. The manga heavily emphasized the tense atmosphere on the stage and explained their intentions through conversations in the spectator area.
【This really has the feel of a duel between experts.】
【I can barely breathe.】
【Both of them hid their true strength in the early rounds, so neither knows the other's trump cards.】
【No wonder they don't dare to attack recklessly.】
【I have a feeling they could become friends… They even used the same strategy in the early stages of the competition…】
"I agree," Ji Qing nodded in affirmation.
The scene where the two shook hands was quite touching at the time. He just wasn’t sure what kind of effect it would have when portrayed in the manga.
In a flash, Ling You’er made the first move.
Feng Youyou immediately somersaulted forward and blocked with a backhand. The two were instantly locked in fierce close-quarters combat. The transparency of "Ghost Possession" and the field control of "Breeze" became the brilliant finishing touches to the intense battle.
Yuexia Cao depicted every clash with extreme intensity.
The manga panels also had more dramatic tension than what was shown on the distant live broadcast.
【So cool, so cool—mind-blowingly cool—】
【They both know close combat.】
【Now I’m sure. Lingxue's defeat wasn’t due to carelessness. Even if Lingxue had dodged that slash, she would have lost to Ling You’er’s sneak attack.】
【Ling You’er’s ability is ghost transformation. She’s even harder to defend against than Chang’an.】
【Youyou is amazing too.】
【No wonder Feng Youyou was so confident she could get into Class S. With her skills, she definitely can.】
【Everyone is so strong.】
【This is the charm of an ensemble cast, sob, sob, sob… I love that old thief to death, sob, sob, sob… (super moved)】
Ji Qing smiled at the comments.
His gaze returned to the panel, and he thought that this scene would likely become another promotional image to attract new readers, second only to Li Yuan's debut.
The duel between Lu Qingyin and Lan Nianxuan was equally brilliant, but they weren't part of the main cast.
The platform would definitely want readers to stick around.
In the manga, a dagger was suddenly sent flying. Having learned from yesterday's lesson, the referee quickly announced the winner of this round. Ling You’er slumped to the ground, silently shedding tears.
Seeing this, Feng Youyou walked over to Ling You’er. She extended a hand to help her up and said with a smile, “You’re remarkably skilled. I look forward to fighting alongside you in the future.”
The manga's final panel froze on their intersecting hands.
The two, who had been fighting just moments before, both acknowledged each other's strength. This scene also symbolized the budding of a friendship.
The bullet comments exploded in an instant:
【AHHHHHHHHHH!】
【NO ONE draws shonen manga better than the old thief—NO ONE— (super loud)】
【I'm so fired up watching this.】
【I need to go run a few laps and let the cold wind snap me back to my senses, ahhh—】
【So moving, sob, sob, sob.】
【I absolutely love manga artists like Yuexia who write both male and female characters well… The old thief is the best…】
【I have no regrets in my life for getting into Ability Hunter.】
【I will become a loyal soldier of the Yuexia army. I won't allow anyone to defy the old thief Yuexia. The way he drew things in the beginning was all for the sake of foreshadowing… (incoherent rambling)】
Good grief, are they deifying Yuexia Cao?
Ji Qing felt a little helpless at this, but on second thought, he found it normal. In terms of the individual competition storyline alone, Yuexia Cao’s portrayal was outstanding.
In just a few chapters, he had fleshed out multiple characters.
Ji Qing’s own experience in the individual competition wasn’t particularly interesting, but watching it in the manga was thoroughly enjoyable. Ji Qing couldn't help but shake his head. "It seems I've underestimated him."
The manga's perspective shifted back to Xie Chang’an.
Xie Chang’an’s expression was even more grim than before. After watching this round, he realized that if he couldn't defeat Lu Qingyin, he would have to face two opponents who were equally adept at combining long-range and close-range combat, and who were both wary of him.
The probability of winning was incredibly small. He had to seize the opportunity in the next round.
While Xie Chang’an was deep in thought, Gu Lingxue’s heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
Gu Lingxue realized the gap between herself and the two on the stage. Her defeat was never about carelessness, but a difference in strength.
But after a brief moment of disappointment, Gu Lingxue quickly pulled herself together.
Chasing a clear target was much easier than chasing one without direction. Gu Lingxue comforted herself inwardly: Come on, you can do it.
The manga's comments section reacted fiercely to this:
【Sob, sob, sob, this small ring has trapped so many geniuses.】
【Don't use slogans from sports manga on me!】
【I feel so bad for Xuexue.】
【Teacher, our Xuexue is about to cry QAQ.】
【It’s heartbreaking, but surprisingly fitting.】
【Chang’an's situation isn't looking good either. The main problem is that the next three contestants can suppress him with their abilities.】
【I’m more worried about Chang’an than Xuexue. If he doesn’t get into the top three, Li Yuan might just break ties with him. For Chang’an to have a falling out in his current state… it's so painful…】
【Don't think the worst.】
“Li Yuan isn't that malicious, is he…?” Ji Qing hesitated.
He hadn't even realized he had been portrayed so cruelly. But when Ji Qing calmed down and thought about it, he realized the reason: the readers had no confidence in the old thief's future developments.
Perhaps the previous plot twists had exceeded the readers' imaginations.
As the manga’s Xie Chang’an was leaving the arena, he suddenly stopped. It was his D-class opponent from the first round of the individual competition. The student stammered, "Classmate Xie, there's something I want to tell you…"
Xie Chang’an was inwardly troubled but followed him with a mixture of belief and doubt.
【The chronicles of Chang'an being tricked.】
【No way— after such a spectacular match, you give us this?】
【The old thief's plot arrangements are both cliché and not cliché (exhausted).】
【? Is it not possible that he's a good person?】
【The old thief's plot arrangements don't seem like the kind where good people would appear!】
But the situation quickly took a turn. Once they reached a secluded path, the D-class student first apologized for his previous arrogant remarks, then tactfully suggested that it would be best for him not to win anymore.
The D-class student explained, "The school holds the individual competition to assess the students' mastery of their abilities. The rewards for the top three are meant for those students. If you win rashly…"
A perspective he had never considered before suddenly appeared before Xie Chang’an’s eyes.
Xie Chang’an immediately thought of Liu Mu, and the complex gazes of some of the students. He had previously mistaken it for the complicated emotions of defeat…
So it turned out to be the complicated emotion of watching him walk straight down a dead end.
The bullet comments spammed the screen:
【Ahhhhhhh, so he was a good person!】
【The fastest face-slap in a single episode.】
【My face hurts.】
【The old thief's plot development is truly unpredictable.】
【I can roughly guess the main plot, but the details are terrifying. After so many chapters, I haven't correctly guessed a single side-plot development.】
【Is this meant to mess with our minds?】
【This wasteland is too depressing… It completely stunned our Chang’an…】
After seeing the readers’ reactions, Ji Qing couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The manga readers' reactions were simply too amusing, although the manga itself was partly to blame.
Ji Qing felt as if the manga artist was fighting with the manga's world-building.
The wasteland world had already developed into a real world. Even the manga artist, its creator, would probably find it difficult to change the course of events.
Ji Qing shook his head. "It's difficult to apply standard manga tropes to this…"
In the manga, Xie Chang’an once again became heavy-hearted. He found himself wondering: Does Li Yuan know about this? But even if he does, he probably wouldn't see it as a problem…
Just as Xie Chang’an was overwhelmed with emotions, a message from Li Yuan appeared at the perfect moment:
Li Yuan: 【Hm? Darling, who’s making you waver again?】
After a brief explanation, Li Yuan helplessly clarified the situation: 【Don't worry. Just focus on getting into the top three. The school won't just go and expel you.】
The bullet comments popped up one after another:
【Instantly relieved.】
【So that’s the logic… I feel like Li Yuan's identity is a big deal…】
【A scheming parent and a silly kid.】
【I feel like Li Yuan knew from the start but didn't think it was necessary to tell Chang’an. After all, Chang’an didn't even think of the first layer…】
【But if they really follow this rule, it's pretty uncertain whether Chang'an can get promoted to Class S.】
【After all, the protagonist has no ability, so there’s no way to assess his ability. Feng Youyou's promotion, on the other hand, is guaranteed.】
【The more I see them interact, the more I ship them.】
【Just like with Xuexue, he'll have to work hard in the team competition.】
Yuexia had done a pretty impressive job this time.
Ji Qing’s fingertips tapped lightly on the desk as he thought with great interest: He resolved the depressing plot within a single chapter, even bypassing the process of it fermenting on the forums.
The next panel was still the conversation between Xie Chang’an and Li Yuan.
Although Li Yuan’s answer was still evasive, Xie Chang’an’s mood had improved significantly. He first thanked the D-class student for the warning, then picked up his saber and headed for the back mountain.
Gu Lingxue was waiting for him, and he needed to train hard as well.
This chapter of the manga ended with a shot of "Xie Chang’an running towards the back mountain." The story of the individual competition had reached its midpoint, and the semi-finals were still a long way off.
The pressure to "win a spot in the top three" was still there, but Xie Chang’an felt a sense of relief. The situation wasn’t as difficult as he had imagined, and Li Yuan wasn’t as malicious as he had thought.
The bullet comments instantly relaxed, with some even teasing Xie Chang’an:
【LMAO.】
【Chang’an, tricked again because he’s so silly.】
【It’ll be fun when the real backstabbing happens.】
【The old thief's plot is really nerve-wracking to read, but thankfully nothing bad has happened yet.】
【Damn, this is exciting.】
【Looking forward to the next chapter.】
【I hope the old thief doesn't have so many plot twists in the future.】
Ji Qing shook his head helplessly at this. This really wasn’t something Yuexia Cao could solve on his own. All he could say was that he had done his best.
Ji Qing then returned to the forum’s main page.
The Manga Forum was currently filled with discussions about the "individual competition" and the "hidden rules of the ability competition." Ji Qing casually glanced at the popularity value in the top-left corner.
As the manga gained mainstream attention, the popularity of both was rising rapidly. "Li Yuan," with the added bonus of the CP interaction, was actually rising faster than "Ji Qing."
Ji Qing brought his attention back to the forum discussion threads:
【I feel like the old thief has been developing the wasteland's world-building in these past few volumes. This world is surprisingly realistic. I thought the class stratification plot was over, but it turns out there’s more…】
【hot】【pinned】【In-depth analysis of the promotion rules. Currently, only Feng Youyou’s promotion has been confirmed by the old thief. Let’s speculate on the promotion routes for the others.】
【The individual competition is so exciting! The ensemble cast in Ability Hunter is amazing!】
【It seems like Yuexia really likes plot twists in this series. I feel like Li Yuan's character might get a twist because all I see him do right now is tease Chang’an…】
【hot】【Please support our You-You pairing! The duel between the two girls was awesome! It’s been so long since I've seen female characters get the spotlight in a shonen manga, sob, sob, sob.】
…
The readers' feedback on this plotline was positive. Ji Qing first scanned the thread titles and thought calmly: Then there should be nothing to worry about. I'll just take a quick look.
Ji Qing casually clicked on the pinned thread:
【Topic: A rational discussion on the promotion rules. Currently, only Feng Youyou’s promotion has been confirmed by the old thief. Let’s speculate on the promotion routes for the others.】
【1L Original Poster: I originally thought Chang’an had made it to the top four. His strength is not a problem, so I thought his promotion to Class S was a sure thing. Turns out his promotion is certain, but promotion to Class S is still pending.】
【2L: True.】
【3L: I didn't expect the ability competition to follow this kind of logic.】
【4L: I think this world-building is brilliant. Because only ability users have resistance to infection, ability competitions naturally focus on the abilities themselves. Chang’an is just an exception.】
【5L: Chang’an is indeed an exception.】
【6L: Reading Ability Hunter is an emotional rollercoaster. I can't predict the next development at all. I used to be able to guess using manga tropes, but not anymore.】
【7L Original Poster: I went back and reviewed the earlier plot points. The old thief actually did hint at it, because the entire academy values abilities above all else, so ability competitions naturally prioritize abilities.】
【8L: No wonder Liu Mu was hesitating to speak…】
【9L: Chang’an, so silly, he didn't understand at all.】
【10L: Hahaha.】
【11L: Chang’an's character has changed a lot too. From the tenacious and straightforward youth at the beginning, he's now a naive but highly skilled martial artist.】
【12L: He’s not exactly naive and sweet, is he? He's just inexperienced, and there's no one around to guide him.】
【13L: That’s where our Li Yuan comes in! He scored big time this chapter!】
【14L Original Poster: Li Yuan indeed. The fact that he noticed the hidden rules of the school competition already demonstrates his charm. Although he talks about using him, he actually did consider Chang’an's future.】
【15L: Sob, sob, sob, what a good person.】
【16L Original Poster: But Li Yuan's stance is that of an Infected. In the future, even if he doesn't backstab him, something bad will happen sooner or later. The Dawn Society is, after all, an evil organization wanted by the Federation.】
【17L: Heartbroken.】
【18L: Chang’an loses his guardian.】
【19L Original Poster: By the way, their conversation is actually great ship material. Although on the surface it's Li Yuan unilaterally explaining things to Chang'an, Li Yuan also mentioned team compatibility. He was probably giving Chang'an a heads-up.】
【20L: It's so shippable.】
【21L: It’s Chang’an’s fault for offending Zhou Que at the start of the school year. If Song Xiaoran also has a bad impression of Chang'an, he can just say goodbye to Class S…】
【22L: I don’t think it’s a big deal.】
【23L: It didn't blow up. Ji Qing's intervention was timed perfectly.】
【24L Original Poster: Right now, I can only see Liu Mu getting promoted through team compatibility. He knows a lot of people in Class S, and his own strength is at the level of Class A.】
【25L: Liu Mu, for sure.】
【26L: Judging from how Liu Mu tried to hint at things to Chang’an, he might be a pretty good person.】
【27L: In that case, things look pretty uncertain for both Chang’an and Lingxue.】
【28L Original Poster: Chang’an is a special case. It's uncertain whether the school will risk promoting him, with his F-rank ability, to Class S. Xue's strength hasn't reached the standard for Class S. Plus, both of them have had conflicts with Class S, so whether the people in Class S are willing to accept them is another problem.】
【29L: This promotion system feels quite humane.】
【30L: There's nowhere else good to go besides Class S. Chang’an has no ability, so regular class instruction isn't suitable for him. Xue, on the other hand, is a good fit for Class A. The factional struggle in Class A has temporarily ended, and Lu Qingyin and Xue are on good terms. She'll probably have a better opinion of Chang’an after he made it to the top 4. The trend looks good.】
【31L: Nooo!】
【32L: Lingxue won't grow in Class A. Didn't you pay attention to the Class A storyline?】
【33L: The environment in Class A isn't suitable for Xue.】
【34L: She has to get promoted to Class S. You don't want to see Xue get written out of the main story, do you?】
【35L Original Poster: Everyone, don't worry. Although Xue's problem is serious, the second route has already been revealed: teaming up with people from Class S in the team competition to increase her weightage.】
【36L: Huh?】
【37L: But… Xue doesn't know anyone from Class S…】
【38L: Chang’an and Xue will definitely be on the same team. But which Class S member can they team up with?】
…
Reading this, Ji Qing suddenly paused.
He hadn't considered this angle before, but if he worked backward from the result, it was indeed the most logical development. Ji Qing quickly scanned the subsequent comments and found that most readers thought it was impossible.
"It's still possible…" Ji Qing murmured to himself.
Although Gu Lingxue hadn't formed any bonds with the people in Class S, the people around her more or less knew them. But promotion was mainly based on strength.
He would just have to hope for Gu Lingxue to have a breakthrough first.
Ji Qing then clicked on the next thread:
【Topic: It seems like Yuexia really likes plot twists in this series. I feel like Li Yuan's character might get a twist because all I see him do right now is tease Chang’an…】
【1L Original Poster: Although Li Yuan’s debut was stunning and he likes to tease Chang’an, everything he's done so far has been beneficial to the protagonist. This gives me mixed feelings about him.】
【2L: It's over, you've been PUA'd.】
【3L: Have you… willingly let yourself be used?】
【4L: Li Yuan's personal arc should be post-school, but he really is a charming character. I don't accept the view that "Li Yuan didn't consider the protagonist's future." The fact that he could figure out the main cause of the protagonist's worries from his chaotic description proves he must have looked into it.】
【5L: If he hadn't looked into it beforehand, he wouldn't have been able to react that quickly.】
【6L Original Poster: That's why my feelings about him are even more complicated. It’s like a "he will backstab you, but at the same time, he won't" kind of feeling. It’s mainly because the old thief's plots often defy tropes, making it hard to guess the ending.】
…
He hadn't expected this line of interpretation. Ji Qing felt a subtle sense of amusement.
It seemed the forums could still come up with some interesting viewpoints. But none of this mattered, as Li Yuan’s persona had not been affected. Ji Qing had prepared for this from the very beginning.
For now, everything was under control.