Respective Trigger Events

Flame City Private Academy

At the cafeteria entrance

"Then it's settled, we'll go shopping together this weekend~"

"Mm, bye~"

Xuan Ying waved at Li Guanqi before walking off arm-in-arm with Zhao Yan, leaving Li Guanqi standing alone, watching their retreating figures with a complex gleam in her eyes.

Today's events had been utterly bizarre—especially Xuan Ying's behavior, which defied her usual personality and mannerisms.

What in the world was going on?

She had thought their lunch together would involve discussing Su Cheng, yet the entire morning and noon passed without a single mention of him. Instead, they treated her like a close friend, chatting, eating, sharing amusing stories, and even roping her into weekend shopping plans.

It was far too abnormal. Suspicion gnawed at her—could these two have received some kind of guidance or help from a mastermind?

Was senior sister Liu pulling strings behind the scenes?

Otherwise, how could there be such a sudden shift?

But she quickly suppressed these thoughts, choosing to observe quietly.

Her version of "observing" meant following them.

Harnessing her unique abilities, she slipped into "Chess Mode," pushing her stealth skills to the limit.

She noticed Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan weren’t walking particularly fast. They laughed and chatted, seemingly carefree—though Zhao Yan appeared slightly distracted.

Soon, the pair turned a corner and entered the library.

At this, realization struck her.

Ye Ruiqin!

That librarian who’d lent her the web novel last time—she remembered her vividly.

If not for her, she wouldn’t have developed such intense curiosity about Su Cheng, encountered so many intriguing people and things, or stumbled into these strange situations.

Her face remained expressionless, but her eyes darkened with focus as she quietly trailed after them.

"Ding-a-ling..."

The library was hushed, save for the rustling of pages and the murmurs of a few conversing visitors.

Just as expected!

The voices belonged to Xuan Ying, Zhao Yan, and Sister Qin.

But soon, the trio moved into the staff lounge—and locked the door behind them.

Undeterred, she pressed her ear against the wall and listened.

Inside the lounge:

Xuan Ying’s voice, clear and melodious: "Sister Qin, I did exactly as you said. But I don’t see how this helps. After all..."

Sister Qin cut her off: "From what you described last time, it’s already too late. If you keep using your old methods, all your efforts will go up in smoke."

Her tone was calm yet stern, her delicate features lending weight to her words—as if she could already foresee the outcome.

Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan exchanged glances and fell silent.

Zhao Yan’s eyes flickered with unease before she finally frowned and asked, "So... we need an unorthodox approach?"

"Exactly."

Sister Qin took a sip from her thermos, set it down, and slowly looked up, enunciating each word:

"You came to me far too late. Based on your account, Su Cheng and this Li Guanqi are one step away from crossing the finish line. Yet... they’ve hesitated at the threshold. That’s why we must act now—before they do—and settle everything in advance."

At this, Zhao Yan’s face paled slightly.

Xuan Ying, however, looked outright horrified: "You mean... they’re just one confession away from being together?"

Sister Qin nodded firmly. "Yes. They eat lunch together daily—that level of intimacy suggests only one thin layer remains. A single poke, and it’s over."

"Why... how did this happen?" Xuan Ying’s brow furrowed, her expression twisting in dismay. Suddenly, she pressed further: "But what does today’s sudden friendliness—and avoiding any mention of Su Cheng—have to do with this?"

Sister Qin chuckled lightly. "Everything."

With that, she pulled out a copy of The Art of War from her drawer, flipped to the chapter on strategy, and pointed to a line:

"‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.’"

As the two girls digested this, she continued:

"From Li Guanqi’s blatant ‘show-off’ act on the rooftop last time, it’s clear she strategically underestimates you. She sees you as non-threats."

Zhao Yan’s face darkened further. "So... she understands us thoroughly, while we barely grasp the surface of her?"

Xuan Ying gritted her teeth, recalling how Li Guanqi had waved at them while pretending to sleep in Su Cheng’s arms. Fury flashed across her face. "That woman’s too cunning. We thought she was just some quiet, harmless girl—turns out she’s been looking down on us all along."

Sister Qin smiled faintly. "Getting close to her to learn her ways is just step one."

She raised a slender finger and wagged it. "But I’ve planned deeper layers."

"Sister Qin, stop teasing us—just tell us already!" Xuan Ying shook her arm pleadingly, her large eyes blinking adorably.

Zhao Yan, though less expressive, also leaned in with anticipation.

"Besides gathering intel, befriending her also limits her time with Su Cheng," Sister Qin said, her eyes narrowing coldly. "And even if they confess to each other the next second, we still have a backup plan."

Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan’s eyes lit up simultaneously.

They hadn’t expected this former driver—now librarian—to strategize so thoroughly. A backup plan even if they started dating?

Their interest skyrocketed.

Xuan Ying nearly vibrated with eagerness. "Then hurry up and explain! What’s the backup?"

Zhao Yan nodded vigorously, all ears.

Sister Qin smirked. "From what you’ve observed of Su Cheng lately... I suspect he’s secretly quite perverse—maybe even a little messed up in the head."

"Perverse...?"

"Messed up?"

The two girls echoed in unison, stunned.

"Scientific studies show that 80% of people like this are thrill-seekers. Moreover, such individuals often become emotionally driven after falling in love, losing their judgment, and may even act recklessly under primal urges!" Sister Qin continued, "Here’s an interesting survey: 87% of people admitted to having feelings for their girlfriend’s best friend; 33% confessed to engaging in intimate behavior with them; while 49% said the only reason they hadn’t was lack of opportunity."

By now, if Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan still didn’t catch her drift, they’d be fools.

Their expressions darkened. How could Sister Qin spout such vulgar nonsense?

Xuan Ying’s face flushed with anger. "So you’re suggesting I get close to Li Guanqi just to steal her man, cheat, and become the other woman?!"

Zhao Yan scoffed coldly, "What kind of person do you take Xuan Ying for?"

Unfazed by their anger, Sister Qin merely smiled faintly and flipped through the 'Art of War' in her hands. "Don’t misunderstand. I’m only presenting a possibility. If you find it distasteful, you’re free to decide otherwise."

"Then I have a question for you," Zhao Yan retorted sharply, her tone growing hostile. "If Li Guanqi is so smart and knows us so well, won’t our sudden change in behavior raise her suspicions?"

"Heh." Sister Qin chuckled lightly. "You can dismiss that concern. Remember how many female guests from other classes attended her birthday party—and who they were?"

She paused, watching as the two girls’ expressions grew tense before leisurely adding, "Ji Qingyi. The legendary figure of our school. Or so you told me."

Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan exchanged glances and nodded.

Sister Qin went on, "Ji Qingyi clearly recognized Su Cheng’s exceptional qualities. That’s why she treated him so warmly, even befriending him."

"What exactly are you implying?" The two girls glared at her, their displeasure mounting.

Closing the book, Sister Qin stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Gazing outside, she pointed at herself with a slender finger and murmured, "If your rival were her, how would you feel?"

"......"

Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan’s faces paled, a wave of helplessness washing over them.

"But there’s no way anything could happen between her and Su Cheng," Zhao Yan finally said after a long silence.

Xuan Ying quickly agreed, "I think so too. They’d never develop feelings for each other."

"Heh." Sister Qin let out a low laugh. "And that’s why you’ve already lost—badly."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yan frowned, her eyes flashing with irritation.

Sister Qin turned back from the window, her lips curling into a half-smile. "Because Li Guanqi doesn’t share your concerns. That’s why she underestimates you. She has a far more formidable opponent. If I were her, I wouldn’t see you as a threat either."

Xuan Ying’s heart sank, cold sweat forming on her brow. If this were true, she now had an even more terrifying rival than Li Guanqi!

"How can you be so sure?" Zhao Yan’s eyes bore into Sister Qin’s, searching for any hint of deception.

Sister Qin’s gaze remained steady. "My intuition is rarely wrong."

"Intuition...?"

"Intuition?!"

Hearing this, the two girls visibly relaxed. Sharing a glance, they turned and walked away without another word, unwilling to spend another second with this morally bankrupt schemer.

Their steps were resolute, clearly shaken by her outrageous suggestions.

This woman was clearly deranged.

After all, their social standings were worlds apart.

They knew Ji Qingyi and Su Cheng were impossible. What kind of cliché drama was this—a chaebol heiress falling for a poor boy?

And she actually encouraged them to cheat?!

For Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan, who held strict moral values, this was beyond absurd—it was madness.

"Hey!"

Watching them flee as if she were the plague, Sister Qin sighed in exasperation and called after them.

"Wait! Li Guanqi is sharp enough to have noticed Ji Qingyi’s interest. Yet she hasn’t confessed despite such a strong rival. So if you do the opposite, you don’t need to worry about that. Just follow my plan, and nothing will go wrong!"

As their hurried figures disappeared, her expression dimmed, a trace of bitterness flickering in her eyes.

"Ah, how heartbreaking."

She sighed softly, tidying the items on her desk while muttering, "After all the effort I put into setting this up for you... Yet you completely missed the point."

In her view, happiness required ruthless means—enduring what others couldn’t—or it would forever slip through one’s fingers.

"Xuan Ying! I have the perfect plan for you!"

Suddenly, unwilling to give up, she shouted after her.

Xuan Ying paused and turned, puzzled. "What plan?"

"Heh..."

Sister Qin smiled faintly, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and meticulously wiping her fingers as she spoke. "There are two fundamental relationships between people: cooperation and competition. Both define life. Since there’s only one Su Cheng, you must compete. But clearly, you can’t win—unless you abandon your principles and resort to unscrupulous methods."

Then she produced a strange vial.

Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying stared in stunned silence.

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yan frowned, bewildered.

"Chloroform and a handkerchief—you get the idea, right?"

The two girls’ eyes widened in shock.

"What?! You carry chloroform around?!"

They couldn’t believe a librarian would have such a thing.

Sister Qin grinned. "Once it’s a done deal, you’ll have every right to be together."

Blushing furiously, Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan turned and fled.

Watching them run, Sister Qin’s smile faded, and she shook her head with another sigh.

…………………………

Hidden nearby, Li Guanqi gaped at Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan as they rushed out the door.

Well, that was the shock of the year.

Listening to the conversation inside, Li Guanqi was filled with shock. She never expected that this outsider could grasp the enemy's form—Su Cheng's familiarity with her, the two girls, their personalities, and relationships—merely through descriptions. Not only that, but they also understood the enemy's (her and Ji Qingyi's) tactical movements, resorting to ruthless, reckless, and unscrupulous means.

In the end, she shook her head and quickly followed them.

After leaving the library, Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying immediately headed back to the classroom building. However, along the way, both of them fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Li Guanqi frowned tightly.

What were they struggling with?

Were they disgusted by Sister Qin’s methods?

Or were they considering the solution she had proposed?

No, no matter what, she would tell Su Cheng.

"Seems like asking her for help was a mistake," Xuan Ying suddenly spoke, her tone full of frustration, before continuing forward.

"Yeah, pretty unreliable," Zhao Yan nodded in agreement.

At least things weren’t that bad—they hadn’t been swayed. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"Yikui, why are you carrying a washbasin?"

As soon as she entered the classroom building, Li Guanqi overheard two seniors talking on the stairs. When she noticed one of them clutching a washbasin, she couldn’t help but give him a puzzled look.

Xuan Ying and Zhao Yan paid no attention to others and simply walked past them, heading straight upstairs.

"It’s nothing," Hoshino Yikui muttered dazedly, shaking his head, but he only hugged the basin tighter, as if it were some priceless treasure. His expression suddenly turned reverent and focused.

"It’s just a washbasin. What’s so special about it?"

The person beside him couldn’t help but scoff.

"You don’t understand a damn thing!" Yikui snapped back without hesitation. "This isn’t just any washbasin—it’s…"

He paused, his eyes shimmering with regret and sorrow, as if the object in his arms were the most precious thing in the world. Tears welled up in his eyes.

To Li Guanqi, it almost seemed like holding this basin had elevated his very soul.

Seeing him suddenly stop, the other person grew curious. "It’s what?"

"This basin… was given to me by someone," Hoshino Yikui said, his voice thick with grief and guilt. "A master personally bestowed it upon me. They say it’s a legendary 'gift from the heavens'—holding it purifies the soul."

The other person gasped in surprise. "Seriously? Let me hold it!"

"No."

"Tch. After all that talk, it still looks like a plain old foot-washing basin to me."

"Don’t you dare insult this basin!"

For the first time, Hoshino Yikui erupted in fury, as if the other person had trampled on the last shred of dignity in his soul.

"Alright, alright, my bad. Don’t be mad."

Seeing his rage, the other quickly backed down.

Li Guanqi watched the two seniors argue, her brows furrowed tightly.

For some reason, she had a feeling this so-called "master" was definitely connected to Su Cheng.

After all, this Yikui was Hoshino Mirai’s older brother.

Sure enough, whenever Su Cheng was left unsupervised, he’d trigger all sorts of bizarre scenarios.

Shaking her head, Li Guanqi suppressed the question for now and began searching for Su Cheng.

…………………………

Meanwhile.

On the campus lawn.

Su Cheng munched on dumplings while checking his system notifications.

[Heavenly Path of Asura]

[One-time Skill]

[Effect: Transformation, Metamorphosis]

[Duration: 20 minutes]

[System: You will incarnate as an Asura—capable of scaling the heavens and shrinking the earth. A single gesture can split mountains; a breath can send stones flying. In wrath, you shake heaven and earth. However, negative emotions—deceit, arrogance, cruelty, aggression, envy, and suspicion—will double in intensity.]

[System: Arrogance begets rebirth; hatred fuels existence.]

"Trading a soul for a basin… and it actually left him heartbroken and despondent!"

Seeing the reward he’d obtained, Su Cheng couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

What soul-collecting technique did he even have?

It was all just a lie—a trick to manipulate Hoshino Yikui into completing a system task and earning a reward.

Though the skill seemed powerful, after testing it, he realized he couldn’t withstand the erosion of negative emotions. At one point, he’d even felt the urge to kill.

After transforming into an Asura, he instantly felt like he could fly—even phase-shift, teleporting through obstacles.

It was utterly surreal.

But looking back on it now, a chill ran down his spine. He remembered clearly how close he’d come to smashing the siblings into paste.

And the moment he transformed, when he instinctively reached for a cigarette to calm himself, his intended command suddenly twisted into—

"Kill everyone in this school."

He froze on the spot.

And the worst part? That command had come from himself.

He remembered vividly how much he’d despised the people at school at that moment.

Why did he have to study relentlessly just to get in, while others could waltz in effortlessly with their privilege?

That resentment had festered inside him.

He hated their family backgrounds, their condescending attitudes, their superiority complexes.

Fortunately, he’d eventually reached a compromise with himself.

The condition? Obtaining the system’s reward.

Otherwise, disaster would have struck.

"Open character info."

[Host: Su Cheng]

[Intelligence: 8]

[Charm: 8]

[Stamina: 7]

[System: Great vessels bear heavy burdens; swift horses run far.]

[Status: Archery Champion]

[Club: Social Practice Department]

[Wealth: ¥258,100.20]

[Skills: Time Stop, Hungry Ghost, Path of Asura]

[Charm Talent: Abyssal Charisma]

[Intelligence Talent: Adaptive—Enhanced Perception]

[System Items: Miraculous Cigarettes (Hard) 8/pack, Miraculous Cigarettes (Soft) 15/Ring-Pommel Sword, Red Potion, Miraculous Glasses.]

As he scanned his stats, a familiar fragrance drifted into his nose. A moment later, a familiar face appeared before him.

"Finished eating?" Su Cheng asked, looking at Li Guanqi, who sat beside him, smoothing her skirt.

"Yeah. They also invited me to go shopping this weekend," she replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Want some?" He offered her the dumplings.

"Sure."

Li Guanqi picked up a pair of chopsticks, plucked a dumpling, and took a bite. Her eyes instantly crinkled in delight. "Mmm, delicious. So fresh."

Then, the two exchanged stories about their afternoon, each reacting with surprise and disbelief to the other’s tale.

First, Li Guanqi offered his perspective: "This ability is certainly impressive, but given your situation, it not only serves no purpose but will also drag you into endless trouble."

Su Cheng nodded in agreement.

That was indeed the case.

The negative emotions from the Path of Asura were far too overwhelming.

"However, you could try controlling yourself before using it—though that would consume way too many resources."

A single cigarette only lasted three minutes, so twenty minutes would waste seven of them.

Su Cheng nodded again, then brought up the matter involving Li Guanqi from earlier that afternoon: "That woman at the library—we need to find a way to make her resign. Otherwise, she’ll end up corrupting others at the school."

Su Cheng genuinely found the situation troublesome. The incident with the online novel had already given him a scare. If she stayed at the school, sooner or later, someone else might discover his peculiarities.

"Mm, your suggestion is sound. I agree," Li Guanqi replied with a nod. "But she knows my background. If we suddenly fire her, she’ll grow suspicious, and that could lead to an even bigger scandal. Even though Xuan Ying and the others didn’t support her proposal today, things didn’t escalate. It’s better to let her keep working for now."

Hearing this, Su Cheng also felt the situation was thorny.

"I’ll go talk to her later. Leave it to me."

Noticing Su Cheng’s concern, Li Guanqi reassured him.

"Mm, have a dumpling."

Seeing this, Su Cheng picked up a dumpling and fed it to Li Guanqi.

With the Third Power in play, troubles really did lessen.

Li Guanqi opened his mouth and accepted the ‘offering.’

…………………………

Afternoon

Equestrian Class

After suiting up in protective gear, the entire class headed to the riding grounds.

Not just their class—second-years were present as well.

Since the school couldn’t assign instructors for one-on-one guidance, these lessons followed a senior-junior mentorship system.

"Which second-year class is it today?"

Wang Guancong asked Gao Ye beside him, his tone tinged with excitement.

There was a good chance he might run into Junior Sister Gu.

Gao Ye quickly answered, "Class 2-1."

"Class 1…" Wang Guancong’s lips twisted in disappointment before he added, "Well, if Senior Sister Ji shows up, that’d still be lucky. But I doubt she’d bother attending."

"You’d be wrong about that."

Gao Ye pointed toward Ji Qingyi, who was leading a horse not far away.

Ji Qingyi stood beside the stable, looking sharp and composed, exuding an air of icy authority.

Like an empress preparing for a royal expedition.

"What?" Wang Guancong blinked in surprise before following Gao Ye’s finger—and his expression immediately froze in disbelief.

Because Ji Qingyi was leading a horse straight toward them.

And the horse she was leading was none other than Su Cheng’s ‘Flame City Emperor.’

The two instantly whipped their heads toward Su Cheng, eyes wide with shock.

"There’s a mounted archery competition coming up, so the club president has been teaching me riding and archery lately. My skills aren’t too bad," Su Cheng explained with a light chuckle.

As Ji Qingyi led the horse forward, students and instructors alike stepped aside to greet her, further amplifying her aura of aloof superiority.

But when she passed by Li Guanqi, her steps paused ever so slightly—before she abruptly seemed to change her mind. Turning, she glanced at Li Guanqi and announced to those nearby, "I’ll take charge of this junior."

"Wait, weren’t you supposed to teach archery?"

"Why are you instructing Li Guanqi instead?"

Listening to their questions, Su Cheng wished he could transform into an ostrich and bury his head in the sand out of sheer embarrassment.

"You don’t have a horse now."

"Yeah, whose are you gonna ride later?"

"Huh?"

Su Cheng only then realized Ji Qingyi had taken his horse. He quickly scanned the area, ready to grab another steed—but Li Guanqi, sensing his predicament, had already led her own horse over.

"Here."

Looking at the sleek black horse, Su Cheng took the reins and patted his chest reassuringly. "Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of ‘Rice Shower’!"

"Rice Shower?"

"Oh… I just named it that."

"Uh… it won’t start digging up manhole covers by the school gate, will it?"

"Why would it want manhole covers?"

"Never mind. Just overthinking it."