Chapter 35: A Terrifying Clarity

Lin Qing held nothing back when dealing with Li Dong. This caused the wound on his palm, which had been close to healing, to tear open once more.

Blood surged from the wound, quickly staining the bandage crimson.

Yet, for Lin Qing, the pain was utterly imperceptible at this moment.

He was in a state of exhilaration, his body automatically disregarding any sensation of pain.

Dopamine in his brain surged into overdrive, persistently deceiving his body into maintaining the illusion of health.

“I was wrong, it’s all my fault. Let me go, I shouldn’t have laid a hand on you… Wuwu, please, let me go!”

Unlike the exhilarated Lin Qing, Li Dong felt as though his wrist had snapped.

The agonizing pain made him cry out incessantly, his heart filled with regret for ever provoking Lin Qing.

To cruelly break his hand without the slightest hesitation—Lin Qing was absolutely not a normal person!

Wang Fanran had seemed to advise him, but was it because he already knew how terrifying Lin Qing could be?

That must have been why he sent Li Dong alone.

At that moment, the fickle Li Dong belatedly realized the truth.

Though he had only guessed half of it correctly.

Even Wang Fanran was unaware of Lin Qing’s truly frightening side.

Alas, it was too late.

Even if Li Dong regretted it now, there was nothing he could do.

This made him stare at Lin Qing with even greater terror; he hadn’t been this afraid even when Li Weiqiang and his group had bullied him.

He could sense Lin Qing’s abnormality, as if he were truly capable of killing him.

Without hesitation.

As these thoughts consumed him, Li Dong’s legs trembled uncontrollably, and his face turned ashen white, like paper.

At this point, even if he were told to kneel, Li Dong would not hesitate.

Upon witnessing Li Dong’s cowardly demeanor, the chill in Lin Qing’s eyes swiftly dissipated. Reason returned to him, making it impossible to sustain his state of exhilaration.

Different.

Li Dong was unlike them.

Too weak to pose any threat.

Moreover, he had already escaped his cage; he was no longer bound.

Past memories needed to be sealed away, not allowed to control his rationality.

Or influence his real life.

It was at this precise moment that a sharp, undeniable pain shot through his palm, instantly dispelling Lin Qing’s last vestiges of confusion and pulling him back to reality.

It hurt like hell.

“Don’t blame all your mistakes on others.”

Lin Qing offered no further words to the cowardly and timid Li Dong.

The fable of the farmer and the snake had manifested in reality. Even though Lin Qing had been the one to speak up and help Li Dong, he received no thanks, only a sharp blade in return.

While Lin Qing hadn’t actively intended to help Li Dong, he had been driven by certain conditions that caused his rationality to spiral out of control, his body overtaken by emotion.

Yet, individuals like Li Dong were difficult to set straight.

Their fixed mindset had already taken root, and altering its course would demand a considerable price.

Lin Qing had no energy to meddle in other people’s lives.

He could barely manage himself; how could he possibly concern himself with others?

“Get out!”

Perhaps due to the bleeding from his palm wound, Lin Qing once again experienced the lightheaded, unsteady sensation he associated with hospitals.

This prompted Lin Qing to forgo further idle talk with Li Dong, instead simply and decisively ordering him to leave.

Though he had subdued Li Dong for now, if Li Dong were to see him in a weakened state later, his courage might return.

It was a risk he couldn’t afford to ignore.

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll scram right away. I absolutely won’t bother you again.”

Upon hearing Lin Qing’s words, Li Dong’s face lit up with a mixture of excitement and joy, as if he had received a grand pardon. He immediately stumbled to his feet and lurched toward the door.

Just as Li Dong’s hand reached the doorknob, Lin Qing’s voice drifted from behind him, low and eerie.

“Tell Wang Fanran to wait. I won’t let him off the hook this time.”

Hearing the name Wang Fanran, Li Dong’s body instinctively shivered. He then frantically twisted the doorknob and swiftly exited the changing room.

He never wanted to set foot in this school again!

****

Unaware that he had utterly terrified Li Dong with just a glance, Lin Qing leaned against the wardrobe, lowering his head once the changing room door clicked shut.

He gazed at his hand, which continued to bleed profusely, and grimly wondered if he should visit a temple to pray.

He’d been plagued by constant bloodshed lately; if this continued, he might just bleed to death.

‘Clang.’

Just as these thoughts crossed Lin Qing’s mind, the iron door of the wardrobe suddenly swung open from within.

This instantly reminded him of Su Yao’s presence, making him realize it was not yet time to lower his guard.

Who knew if Su Yao would become excited by the sight of blood and act erratically?

“How utterly unexpected. To think Li Dong would come after you with a knife!”

As Su Yao emerged from the wardrobe, her steps were light, and a hint of amusement played across her face. The scene that had just unfolded in the changing room seemed to have thoroughly pleased her.

This different Lin Qing was much more to her liking.

Perhaps the sight of blood everywhere had simply heightened her own excitement.

Her obsidian-like eyes seemed to gleam now.

Her gaze, fixed on Lin Qing, held a playful glint, yet her movements were swift as she quickly approached and stopped beside him.

Lin Qing’s wound was still bleeding profusely; if it wasn’t stopped, he would soon lose too much blood.

He needed to be bandaged now, to stop the ceaseless flow.

Su Yao quickly crouched before Lin Qing, then, meeting his wary gaze, she smiled and raised a hand, revealing a roll of white bandage to indicate she meant no harm.

If Lin Qing didn’t want to die, he had best be obedient now.

Otherwise, if she became displeased and decided to find a new toy, Lin Qing would surely perish here today.

However…

A unique and precious toy was always hard to let go of.

“You were truly dashing just now. I honestly thought you’d simply stand there foolishly and get stabbed.”

As Su Yao unraveled the old bandage from Lin Qing’s hand, preparing to replace it with a new, tightly wound one, she didn’t forget to chat with the pale-faced Lin Qing.

The wound on Lin Qing’s palm was exceptionally deep, and now, after tearing open again, the blood loss was significant.

After removing all the bandages, Su Yao gazed at the gaping wound in his palm, and her lips curled upward in an uncontrollable smile.

‘This was her unique mark!’

‘Just looking at it made her excited!’

‘She truly wanted to do something…’

Then, instead of immediately wrapping the new bandage, Su Yao took advantage of Lin Qing’s current weakness and swiftly leaned in close.

With no warning, she forcefully kissed his lips.

Her agile tongue explored erratically.

Her eyes, dark as ink, stared directly into Lin Qing’s, filled with a thrilling, excited gleam.

After a moment of stunned surprise, Lin Qing immediately raised his hand and forcefully pushed her away. As his furious gaze landed on Su Yao, it abruptly transformed into astonishment.

Su Yao’s red skull symbol, hovering above her head, had changed!