Chapter 27 Social Death
Chi Li thought that being monitored around the clock as if she were a fragile object was already the pinnacle of the experience brought about by the soul resonance.
Until she discovered that this thing... leaked sound!
It's not an emotion, it's not pain, it's what's in my heart!
The incident occurred on a sunny afternoon when Chi Li was listening to an old scholar (whose prototype was a turtle demon) who was in charge of the early education of demon cubs report on the progress of the newly compiled teaching materials.
This turtle demon elder spoke... in an extremely detailed and slow manner, able to cite numerous sources and draw on a single point of view for half an hour.
Chi Li maintained the patience and dignity befitting a demon king, listening very "attentively."
However, this is what she was thinking:
[…Can this old tortoise get to the point?]
[I remember last time he reported "sunrise" he even called it "sunset"...]
Why is that tuft of beard on his neck sticking up so stubbornly? It seems as obstinate as its owner.
Why is Tanglu so quiet today? What's she fiddling with in the flowerpot? Is she trying to make me my tenth green hat? (Referring to a headband woven from vines)
Just as she was internally ranting and raving, her thoughts drifting to what Tang Lu was actually weaving with vines...
"Pfft!"
A clear sound came from the flowerpot next to me, a sound of someone trying hard to suppress a laugh but failing.
Chi Li and the turtle demon elder, who was leisurely stroking his beard, were both startled and turned to look.
Tang Lu was covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking, and her eyes were curved into crescents; she was clearly laughing uncontrollably.
Seeing that both of them were looking at her, she quickly lowered her hands and tried to put on a serious face, but the ever-upturned corners of her mouth still betrayed her.
Chi Li's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she had a bad feeling: "Tang Lu, what's wrong?"
Tang Lu blinked her big eyes, pointing at the Turtle Demon Elder with an innocent yet excited expression:
"Lili, his... his beard!"
It really looks like they're dancing!
Just as you thought! Hahaha…
She finally couldn't help but laugh again.
Turtle Demon Elder: "???"
He touched his meticulously groomed beard in a daze.
Chili: "!!!"
She felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck the top of her head!
This is utterly ridiculous! This is a complete disaster!
How could this little tree spirit know what she was thinking?!
Has resonance evolved to the point where it can read specific thoughts?!
"Stop talking nonsense!" Chi Li forced herself to remain calm, her face hardening as she reprimanded him, trying to salvage her crumbling authority. "The elder is reporting important matters; you must not be rude!"
Tang Lu shrank back after being scolded, pouted aggrievedly, and muttered softly:
"But... it was clearly you, Lili, who said it first... and called him an old turtle..."
The Turtle Demon Elder's hand froze on his beard, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen.
Chi Li felt the veins on her forehead throbbing merrily.
She could almost imagine how the Turtle Demon Elder was secretly cursing her, this "two-faced" Demon King!
"Your Majesty..." the Turtle Demon Elder began softly, his voice trembling with anger, "This old minister... this old minister may have been a bit verbose, but compiling teaching materials concerns the future of the demon race, and I dare not be careless..."
Chi Li: "...Elder, you've worked hard. I understand."
Help! She just wanted to disappear into the ground!
Having finally managed to get rid of the turtle demon elder whose worldview might be shaken, Chi Li immediately took the "suspect tree" out of the flowerpot, placed it on the desk, and positioned it at eye level with her.
"Tell me, how did you know what I was thinking?" Chi Li tried to make her voice sound serious, but her slightly red ears betrayed her embarrassment.
Tang Lu sat on the desk, swinging her legs and tilting her head, seemingly trying to understand as well:
"Tang Lu doesn't know either... It just suddenly seemed like she could hear Li Li speaking in her mind... The voice was soft, but very clear!"
She found it quite novel and fun.
Chi Li sighed, rubbing her forehead.
That's it, it's confirmed.
Soul resonance has been upgraded to one-way telepathy!
It's still a passive skill and can't be turned off!
what does that mean?
This means that she will have absolutely no privacy in front of Tang Lu from now on!
She listens to any complaints, any lapses in concentration, and... well, any inner monologues of the little guy!
I can't live like this anymore!
For the next half day, Chi Li was plunged into an extremely agonizing period of "inner purification."
She tried hard to control her thoughts, especially to avoid thinking about Tang Lu that might make her feel proud or embarrassed.
[This little guy seems especially cute today...] Hold on!
[There's a leaf stuck in her hair, and I want to help her remove it...] No! I can't think about it! If I do, she'll definitely find out!
[What should we eat tonight? Should we take her to the market...?] Shut up, brain!
Chi Li felt that she had never concentrated her mental energy so much before; it was even more tiring than fighting a battle with someone for three hundred rounds.
The more you suppress your feelings, the more uncontrollably certain thoughts will emerge.
For example, when she saw Tang Lu start biting her nails out of boredom...
"Don't eat it, it's dirty." — A thought flashed through my mind unconsciously.
Tang Lu immediately stopped what she was doing, looked down at her "fingers," then looked up at Chi Li, her face full of grievance:
"Lili, Tanglu's hands aren't dirty! She washed them with spiritual spring water this morning!"
Chi Li: "...I didn't say it was dirty."
(Inner monologue: Help!)
For example, when she reviewed a memorial about a certain tribe presenting a batch of rare fireflies as tribute...
[I'll take her to see it tonight; she'll definitely like it.] — The thought slipped out of my control again.
"Really? Lili's taking Tanglu to see those glowing bugs?" Tanglu instantly snapped out of her drowsy state, clinging to the edge of the desk, her eyes shining brightly. "When are we going? Now? It's getting dark!"
Chili: "..."
She felt like she was about to have a heart attack.
This is practically a public execution!
To Tang Lu, her inner world was like an open book with audio reading.
Tang Lu went from initial surprise to getting used to it, and even began to find the ability incredibly useful.
"Lili, you think this fruit is very sweet, right? Then Tanglu will get you another one!"
"Lili, do you think that monster in the green clothes looks like a scallion? Hahaha, it really does!"
"Lili, are you sleepy? Tanglu is sleepy too, let's go to sleep!"
From initial embarrassment and breakdown, to later numbness, and finally even starting to give up entirely.
Fine, I'll read minds then.
Anyway... most of what she was thinking about was this little guy.
At least now, she doesn't have to say a word; the little one knows whether she's thirsty, tired, or wants a hug...
In a way, it saves trouble, right?
Tang Lu: "Lili, you want a hug!" She pounced on her instantly.
Chi Li caught the little tree spirit who had thrown herself into her arms. Feeling her warm aura and pure joy, the storm in her heart caused by the "privacy leak" gradually subsided into ripples of helplessness and indulgence.
That's all.
Anyway, she's destined to be ensnared by this little tree spirit for the rest of her life.
If you want to read minds, then go ahead and do it.
As long as what she reads is always a heart full of love and affection, that's enough.
Today, His Majesty the Demon King experienced the largest "social death" in history.
But after death... it doesn't seem so bad?
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