A Slap to the Soul

“So cruel, yet dressed so innocently?” Lin Mo raised his eyebrows and commented while whistling.

This teasing made Xuan’er blush instantly!

‘This person… their appearance is so stunning! How, how can they look so much like a hooligan?!’

‘Even more terrifying was that… her foot felt as if it were embedded in his hand! She couldn’t pull it out at all!’

‘What formidable strength!’

She made an immediate decision!

Spiritual energy surged through her entire body, and she shot directly into the air!

Spinning her whole body with incredible speed, the wind whistled around her, intending to use the rotation to forcefully break free from the iron-like grip of Lin Mo’s hand!

However, Lin Mo’s strength was not his only formidable attribute; even his reactions were exceptional!

Almost the instant Xuan’er’s body lifted from the ground!

Everyone heard only a dull thud! It sounded like a heavy object striking something.

“Thump!”

Her entire body transformed into a swift afterimage!

Accompanied by a short, sharp cry of pain as she was lifted, her back slammed brutally against the ornate ceiling above!

Then she fell heavily to the ground!

“Xuan’er!”

The moment Nangong Xuan shrieked, the rest of her companions immediately made their move!

They planned to catch him off guard!

Yet, they were still no match for Lin Mo!

After only a few exchanges, Lin Mo swiftly reversed their wrists and pressed their heads.

He then slammed them directly into the corridor wall.

Their faces then silently slid down the cold surface to the floor, where they collapsed into unconsciousness.

The corridor once again fell into absolute silence.

Only then did Lin Mo’s gaze slowly lift, as if piercing through the frozen air, landing coldly upon Nangong Xuan, who stood rigid with extreme fear.

He took a step, his face devoid of expression, moving with the unhurried grace of someone strolling through a garden.

He calmly stepped over the two unconscious women on the ground, each stride treading upon the very heartstrings of Nangong Xuan, who was on the verge of collapse.

“N-no… don’t come any closer!”

The arrogant maiden, who moments ago had been radiating hostility and uttering insolent remarks, now showed not a trace of her previous haughtiness.

All that remained was a bone-deep terror!

Her face was utterly bloodless, her lips trembling as she stumbled backward repeatedly, her entire body shaking violently like chaff in a sieve.

“W-w-w-what are you trying to do! I… I am the eldest daughter of the Nangong family! I-I-I am— wait… wait! You… you’re only serving as that incompetent princess’s guard because of money, aren’t you? Or perhaps a follower? How much did she give you? I’ll give you ten times that! A hundred times is fine! Someone with your formidable strength is utterly wasted by her side! I will grant you equal status! That person, abandoned by her mother and destined to be an orphan, certainly can’t give you what you desire!”

Hearing this, Ji Xue froze, utterly astonished that Nangong Xuan could be so shameless!

She was poaching him right to his face! And at such an exorbitant price!

A chill immediately settled in her heart… ‘Knowing Lin Mo’s avaricious disposition, he would surely—’

“Smack—”

A crisp sound instantly echoed through the silent corridor, interrupting everyone’s thoughts.

It was the resounding slap of Lin Mo’s palm striking Nangong Xuan’s face with considerable force.

It was struck with such power that her porcelain-like skin immediately swelled and turned crimson, a thin trickle of blood appearing at the corner of her lips.

“You… you dared to hit me…? You… you hit me?” Nangong Xuan stammered, her voice trembling with incredulity.

When had she ever endured such humiliation?

From childhood, she had always been cherished, held in the palm of everyone’s hand, the center of attention wherever she went, and now… she had been slapped?

“Get out of the way, you’re blocking the path.” Lin Mo cast a cold glance, immediately pushing Nangong Xuan aside, and strode directly towards the innermost private room. “Your Highness, let us dine. Don’t let these disgusting individuals spoil your appetite.”

Nangong Xuan was instantly enraged!

What kind of status did she possess, that Lin Mo dared to insult her?

She completely forgot how her two female companions had been subdued.

She immediately made a move, but faster than her was Lin Mo’s palm.

It directly slapped her into a daze.

She raised her head, looking at Lin Mo, only to be met with another slap.

She continued to lift her gaze, her eyes filled with even more confusion and shock.

Yet, immediately afterward, a searing pain bloomed on her cheek once more.

Stars swam before her eyes, yet for some unknown reason, she could distinctly see Lin Mo’s exquisitely beautiful yet indifferent face, from which a light suddenly emanated that she could not ignore.

‘Oh, it was a gaze.’

‘A chilling gaze.’

‘A gaze filled with disdain.’

It was a look akin to observing an ant, devoid of any emotion, its sharp intensity piercing her, causing her cheeks to ache along with the rest of her.

She understood.

Lin Mo cared nothing for her money, her power; he felt only revulsion towards her, a disdain and contempt that even wealth could not mitigate.

She covered her face, tears welling in her eyes, staring at Lin Mo without uttering a word.

Her defiance had been utterly shattered by Lin Mo’s series of slaps.

All her reliance, all her pride, was broken.

The unexpected outcome left Ji Xue somewhat bewildered.

It wasn’t until Lin Mo called her name that she snapped back to reality, quickly saying, “Oh… oh… let’s go.”

The two quickly entered the innermost room.

The door slowly closed, concealing them from view.

In the now empty corridor, Nangong Xuan’s tears finally flowed unrestrained, large drops pattering down.

Yet… these were not tears of sorrow.

Instead… they were tears of joy.

Yes, joy.

This Eldest Miss Nangong, who had been showered with boundless affection, cherished as if she might melt in one’s palm, had finally discovered the first “amusement” capable of stirring the flames of her heart.

If life were nothing but a smooth, unobstructed path, where even the whispers of the wind carried monotonous flattery, would it truly be living?

When she practiced her cultivation techniques, others would inevitably praise her, saying, ‘Her talent is exceptional.’

When she played the zither, her female companions would long ago have sighed, ‘She is imbued with the spirit of nature, her pure melodies surpassing even the celestial music of the Jade Terrace.’

Even if she carelessly spilled an inkstone, someone would fawn over her, praising, ‘Her spilled ink forms flowers, possessing three parts of unrestrained elegance.’

The Nangong family wielded immense power; no one dared not fear her, no one dared not respect her, no one dared not like her.

At first, she reveled in it.

She was intoxicated.

But gradually, she grew accustomed to it.

The constant flattery no longer brought her satisfaction, only an overwhelming emptiness.

Her heart felt as though it had been hollowed out; no matter how many times she was praised, how many compliments she received, she could not fill the void.

There was a hole in her heart that could never be filled.

Her heartbeat, too, seemed to grow slower, losing its vigor and rhythm.

She craved stimulation.

New experiences!

Experiences that could electrify her nerves, that could sting and provoke her.

And now… these slaps were making her feel something she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

A long-forgotten excitement.

‘That woman…’

‘That woman who wasn’t moved by my money or power, and could even lay hands on me…’

‘Someone who could trample me so, whose actions could wound my pride…’

‘Someone who could defy me…’

‘It’s amazing…’

‘It’s simply marvelous!’

‘She knew it, agreeing to this… was the right decision!’

‘Excitement.’

‘Exhilaration.’

‘She wouldn’t be bored anymore.’

The stinging pain on her face felt like a reminder, a signal that her boring life was finally about to end.

‘But…’

‘Was she still worthy?’

‘With the path to advancement so arduous, and still being targeted by Qiu Yue, what amusement could she possibly bring?’

‘Moreover, she would soon achieve a breakthrough; reaching the second layer of her cultivation technique would be a qualitative leap… her strength would greatly increase then…’

‘Conversely, what if she could overcome these difficulties?’

‘Wouldn’t she then be able to provide her with this kind of experience a second time?’

‘No…’

‘She needed to plan herself…’

‘She needed to strategize herself…’

‘She would snatch this toy… from Qiu Yue’s hands!’

Nangong Xuan had finally found her purpose.