Chapter 267: Useless at Everything, First Place in Watching the Show

"So it's not that there isn't any, it's just that you don't know."

Ying Duo concluded, and his words, though breezy, completely thwarted Meng Kexin's probing.

She had intended to hint at Ying Duo's oddity by saying "this world has no domineering CEO culture," but Ying Duo countered by throwing out an even more explosive piece of evidence.

Even Shen Zexi is watching!

That actually proves that such cultural products (no matter how melodramatic) exist in this world; it's just that Meng Kexin is narrow‑minded.

Meng Kexin opened her mouth to say something, but found herself at a loss for words.

She couldn't possibly say, "Shen Zexi reading that kind of book is even more abnormal," could she?

What if Shen Zexi truly has some unknown hobby?

She suddenly felt that dealing with Ying Duo was at least as exhausting as handling the Zhao Family, if not more.

"....... Fine," Meng Kexin finally could only accept Ying Duo's contempt with utter defeat, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Maybe....... it's because I don't usually pay attention to these."

"Let's hurry back to the Academy," Meng Kexin changed the subject, "it's not good to linger outside for too long."

Ying Duo nodded, with no objection.

The two once again walked silently along the path back to the Academy.

Only this time, another mystery added to Meng Kexin's mind:

What kind of person is Shen Zexi??

And Ying Duo remained silently behind Meng Kexin, while Yang Yixie began to do his own little calculations.

Perhaps when Shen Zexi is around later, I could casually ask, "Which chapter has your recent favorite Cold Duke updated to?"

To see what reaction he'll have then.

The NPCs in this game are really fun.

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Meng Kexin's thoughts were still immersed in the bad news about the Chen Family when a sudden burst of footsteps interrupted her.

Around a corner at the mouth of the alley ahead, five or six silhouettes blocked the road center, shouting loudly.

Their attire was a hodgepodge, and their weapons varied wildly—from crude iron clubs to modified energy daggers—each exuding a hostile aura.

Leading them was a bald, burly man with a scar on his face, eyeing Meng Kexin with ill intent, a flippant grin curling at his mouth.

"Yo, look who's this? The ungrateful miss of our Zhao Family? So early, wandering alone in this little alley with a guy? Who's she hooking up with now?"

The bald man's voice was hoarse, feigning "surprise."

Almost simultaneously, rustling sounds came from behind them, and the two's energy circulation was somewhat suppressed.

Ying Duo and Meng Kexin turned back, seeing the road behind also blocked by another four or five people, each holding a few pale‑blue stones etched with runes, resembling crystals.

It was the energy fluctuations emitted by those items that suppressed the energy within them.

Meng Kexin's brows knit instantly, her underlying irritation replaced by vigilance.

She halted, scanning the surrounding people; the usual timid expression vanished from her face, replaced by a scrutinizing gaze.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady.

"Who are you? This place is close to Mitra Academy; if anything happens, the Academy's people can arrive immediately."

"Mitra Academy? Ha!"

The bald man seemed to hear a funny joke, snorting with laughter, and the thugs behind him joined in with jeers.

"Miss, you don't actually think invoking the Academy's name will scare us, do you?"

"Sure, Special Ability Practitioners are formidable, but not every one can fight! Someone like you—soft‑skinned, always clutching a doll..."

His gaze leered over Meng Kexin, "Without Aberrant Arts, aren't you just a puppet?"

He deliberately raised the pale‑blue Rune Stone in his hand, its intricate patterns faintly glowing.

"Do you recognize this? Zhao Family Head… oh, it's a device your father specially commissioned, spent a lot of money on, meant to deal with a little girl like you who likes to play mind tricks."

He swung the stone proudly, "How about it? Does it feel like your little tricks are now useless?"

Meng Kexin felt a weight settle in her heart.

She had indeed tried to covertly mobilize her Aberrant Arts just now, but the energy extension hit an invisible wall, firmly suppressed by the interference field emitted by those Rune Stones.

Sure enough, they were sent by the Zhao Family.

The intel was truly swift; as soon as the Chen Family had trouble, they sent people to block her, even bringing a device specifically to counter her Aberrant Arts.

She instinctively turned back, wanting to see Ying Duo's reaction or plan.

Although she didn't expect this odd‑minded fellow to be of any help, she still trusted Ying Duo's combat prowess; dealing with these people wouldn't be a problem.

However, the moment she looked back, she was stunned.

Behind her was empty, except for another group of thugs grinning as they advanced.

Where's Ying Duo?

She instinctively lifted her head.

At some point, that emerald‑green figure had settled, squatting steadily on the wall top. He even adjusted his posture to sit more comfortably.

Seeing Meng Kexin look his way, he raised a clenched fist and made a "go!" gesture downward, the motion so precise it seemed he'd been on a sports‑day cheerleading squad.

Meng Kexin: "........" For a moment she couldn't tell whether to be angry or to laugh.

He climbed up pretty fast—must be a monkey's work?

"Hahaha!" The bald man also saw Ying Duo on the wall and laughed even more wildly.

"Looks like your new boyfriend knows his place, Miss. I advise you not to struggle—just come with us. Zhao Laoban just wants us to invite you back for a little catch‑up."

"Rest assured, the boss gave us special instructions: as long as you cooperate, we guarantee not to get rough......."

His words were completely ignored by Meng Kexin; her attention was now wholly drawn to the detached "spectator" perched on the wall.

But right now it's clearly not the time to contemplate Ying Duo's performance art.

A few thugs wielding clubs and daggers, at the signal of the bald strong man's glance, sneered as they slowly closed in from the front and rear.

They clearly do this often, their eyes fierce.

If a young girl were in their place, she'd probably be scared to tears just by seeing their looks.

Without the aid of Spiritual Anomaly Technique, frontal melee ………

Meng Kexin truly looks like a little girl with no strength at all.

She slightly lowered her eyelids, and her long lashes concealed the fleeting cold glint in her eyes.

"Alright........" Meng Kexin sighed softly, as if speaking to herself, yet also to the Ying Duo on the wall.

"Then I also have a slight grasp of some fist and foot techniques."