Chapter 89 The Evil Cultivator's Soulmate
"Cui, none of the people from Rabbit Country have gone out. What should we do?" In the hall, using the greenery as cover, Xie Biaohai glanced at She Ning and her group who were having breakfast in the distance and asked.
Choi Jong-hoon was also furious.
This year, the Rabbit Kingdom is acting unpredictably. They waited outside the hotel for two days, but She Ning and her group only stayed in their rooms and the lobby, showing no intention of going out.
They originally planned to have someone teach them a lesson when they went out. Since the security situation in Country F was bad, they would blame it on bad luck if something happened, and they would never be traced back to them.
She Ning is quite sensitive to people's gazes, let alone the malicious stares from Cui Zhongxun and the others.
She looked up and met his gaze directly, then calmly returned his eyes.
Country F and Country Rabbit have a time difference, so their team came a few days early. After resting for two days, everyone's spirits were much restored.
Some people who were feeling listless improved their condition considerably after having their Hegu acupoint massaged with the help of She Ning. They also adjusted their rest and exercise according to the theory of meridian flow in traditional Chinese medicine.
The news of Cui Zhongxun's plan had already spread far and wide. That evening, when they gathered, She Ning specifically discussed the study plan with the team leader.
A top-notch tutor—you'll understand once you learn from them.
Having experienced She Ning's teaching quality back in the training camp, everyone has been focused on learning at her pace ever since she proposed the study plan. Relaxing is out of the question, let alone going out for a stroll.
Choi Jong-hoon flinched at She Ning's calm yet all-knowing gaze and hurriedly looked away.
In his haste, he met the questioning gazes of his own teammates, and felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Damn Rabbit Country, they're like turtles hiding in their shells! Are they planning to stay in the hotel until the end of the competition?" Choi Jong-hoon cursed coldly.
His bluffing was quite intimidating; at least his teammates didn't notice his previous unease.
"Brother Zhongxun, this can't go on." Yun Hejun, with his side-swept bangs, frowned, his gaze never leaving She Ning. "Our men can't just storm into the hotel and take action; the risk is too great. And look at them..."
He gestured with his chin, indicating that Choi Jong-hoon should continue looking towards She Ning.
She Ning was holding a thick workbook, explaining something in a low voice to her teammates who were sitting around her. Her fingertips occasionally tapped on the paper, her movements clear and determined.
The other team members, including a few who had been listless just two days ago, were now focused and attentive, even exuding a... high fighting spirit.
The draft paper spread out in front of them was covered with dense formulas and various diagrams.
"What are they doing? Trying to cram at the last minute?" Choi Jong-hoon scoffed, but a strange unease crept into his heart.
The group's condition was completely different from what he had imagined—they were jet-lagged, tense, and anxious.
The little girl named She Ning in the Rabbit Kingdom team seems to have a peculiar ability to unite the team.
“It doesn’t seem like it.” Yun Hyuk-joon’s expression was serious. “They seem…very efficient. And, hyung, have you noticed? They’ve been unusually energetic these past two days. That She Ning seems to have used some strange method.”
Last night, he pretended to pass by their room and saw through the half-open door that She Ning was pressing a certain spot on her teammate's wrist, saying something like, "Massaging Neiguan acupoint can calm the mind and soothe the nerves."
Talking nonsense.
Although they consider themselves the most developed and powerful country besides the United States, the Rabbit Country, a country with a history of five thousand years, always has some unexpected abilities.
Yoon Hyuk-joon felt uneasy.
"Whatever their method!" Choi Jong-hoon scratched his head in frustration. "The problem is, they won't go out! We can't deliver the 'surprise' we prepared! Are we just going to let them go to take the exam so comfortably?"
Just then, She Ning finished her explanation, her gaze once again sweeping casually towards the direction of the green plants where they were hiding.
Choi Jong-hoon and Yoon Hyuk-joon instinctively lowered their bodies again.
She Ning's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. She turned to her team leader, a middle-aged woman with silver-rimmed glasses and short, ear-length hair, and whispered, "Teacher Li, it seems the 'spy' is still in place. Clive's intelligence is correct; they are indeed waiting for us to leave."
Besides the cloak that secretly followed and monitored Choi Jong-hoon, providing information about the H country team members plotting against them, Captain Clive from the M country also warned them.
As a nation known for its etiquette, She Ning and her friends reciprocated the courtesy and also taught Clive how to refresh himself by pressing the Hegu acupoint.
Professor Li pushed up his glasses, snorted coldly, and his eyes behind the lenses were sharp: "A petty trick, not worthy of being presented to the public."
"However, their constant staring, while not physically harming us, is somewhat disruptive to the team's mentality. Xiao She, your 'energizing package' is indeed very effective; everyone's condition has improved significantly. But being constantly surrounded by buzzing flies is also annoying," she said with some disdain.
"Don't worry, it won't interfere with us." She Ning's tone was calm, with a composure beyond her years.
"The more anxious they are, the more effective our strategy is. The adjusted schedules and acupoint stimulation I give everyone not only restore energy but also improve concentration and resist external interference. They think we are 'cramming for the last minute,' but we are actually 'sharpening our knives.'"
She Ning paused, picked up the thermos on the table, and took a small sip. The thermos contained a tea made with calming and invigorating herbs, which she had specially redeemed from the system using three points.
Foreigners aren't used to drinking hot water, so She Ning had the kitchen specially boil some for her. The team members have been drinking the same herbal tea as She Ning these past few days, which helps regulate their internal and external health, which is why everyone is in such good spirits.
"Since they are so patient, we will play along to the end. The last two days will proceed as planned: intensive problem-solving in the morning, simulated competition in the afternoon, and meditation and debriefing in the evening. The hotel gym and rooftop terrace are enough for us to stretch our muscles, so we don't need to step outside the door."
She Ning's gaze fell once again on the clump of unsightly green plants in the distance. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of her teammates beside her: "Gold medals are never won by luck or by underhanded tactics."
"They want to play dirty tricks, but we'll use the most honorable approach and the strength they fear most to crush them on the field. Everyone should keep their rhythm and focus on themselves. Those clowns outside are just background props to add some 'fun' to our pre-match activities."
Her words were like a reassuring pill, instantly calming the team members who were initially feeling slightly uncomfortable due to being maliciously spied on.
Yes, with She Ning as our "human cheat code" and a scientific preparation plan, what's there to be afraid of? The ones who should be worried are those shady characters outside!
Looking at the calm and focused atmosphere of the Rabbit Kingdom team in the distance, Choi Jong-hoon felt a strong sense of frustration and an even stronger surge of malice welling up in his heart.
He slammed his hand on the sofa armrest, gritting his teeth as he growled at Yoon Hyuk-joon, "No! We can't just let this go! If they won't go out... then we'll find a way to force them to! Or... create some 'accident' in the hotel!"
Yoon Hyuk-joon felt a chill run down his spine as he saw the dangerous glint in his eyes: "Brother, what are you planning to do? Making a move in a hotel could easily lead to..."
“There’s always a way!” Choi Jong-hoon interrupted him, his eyes sinister. “Go find that receptionist, or the cleaning lady… someone can be bribed. I refuse to believe they can stay so airtight forever!”
…………
The stairwell at night should be a quiet time for rest.
However, a sudden burst of rock music with a strong rhythm, like a pack of wild beasts in heat, ruthlessly shattered the tranquility.
This was followed by unrestrained laughter, screams, and loud "bang bang" sounds of pounding on the wall.
The sound source was not far down the corridor, in the room of the H country team.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Another series of banging sounds came from the wall, accompanied by excited shouts in H language, clearly pointing towards the direction of the Rabbit Country team members' room.
This was clearly not just ordinary noise, but a targeted and malicious provocation.
"Damn it! Can't a person get any sleep?!" Zhao Xiaoyan, who usually has a good temper, couldn't help but lose her temper because she was sleeping near the door, closest to their room and most affected by the noise.
She sat bolt upright in bed, grabbing a handful of her hair in frustration. "They're definitely doing this on purpose! They're stalking us during the day and then bombarding us with noise at night!"
The team members in the other rooms were also woken up. They opened their doors to check the situation. Some put on coats, while others rubbed their sleepy eyes, their faces showing anger and exhaustion at having their sleep forcibly interrupted.
Professor Li's face was ashen as he picked up the room phone to contact the front desk to file a complaint.
Just then, She Ning's door opened.
She was dressed in neat sportswear, and her expression showed no sign of annoyance at being disturbed; on the contrary, she was unusually calm, holding a small blue bottle in her hand.
"Everyone, don't rush. Go back to your rooms and close the doors." She Ning's voice wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, overpowering the noise coming from the other end of the corridor and clearly reaching the ears of each team member.
"She Ning, they've gone too far! This is clearly aimed at us!" Zhao Xiaoyan said indignantly, her head throbbing from the noise.
“I know.” She Ning nodded, her sharp eyes sweeping over the direction from which the noise was coming. “Their goal is to prevent us from getting a proper rest, so we won’t be in good condition tomorrow. Teacher Li, please follow the procedure to file a complaint and request the hotel to handle this immediately.”
"It's already underway!" Professor Li spoke seriously into the microphone, but the communication was clearly not going smoothly. Her brows furrowed, and her tone grew increasingly stern.
"Will complaining even work? I think they're in cahoots!" another team member said worriedly.
“Complaints are a way for us to express our attitude and stance, and also to leave a record and evidence,” She Ning explained quickly, while uncorking the small blue bottle. “But we can’t put all our hopes on others. Listen to me, do as I say, and I guarantee you’ll all be able to fall asleep again within three minutes.”
Despite being the youngest and most youthful-looking member of the team, her words inexplicably inspire trust.
Although the team members were angry, they still went back to their rooms as instructed, closed the doors, and instead of going back to bed, they all listened intently to the sounds outside.
In the corridor, She Ning did not go straight to the H country team's room. She first went to the door of the room of the team members who were most affected by the noise, and quickly pressed a small black dot into the inconspicuous wooden structure gap on the door frame. The small black dot was instantly stuck tightly to the threshold.
Next, she tilted the small blue bottle with the cork removed, and some liquid with a faint herbal fragrance flowed out of the bottle. She Ning used a cotton swab to dab it and quickly applied it to the bottom of the door crack and the doorknob of the team members' room.
After doing all this, she walked toward the center of the noise—the doorway of the H country team's room.
Choi Jong-hoon, Yoon Hyuk-joon, and the others were secretly observing the reaction of the Rabbit Kingdom through the crack in the door.
"Haha, Hyukjun, your idea is pretty good." Seeing that She Ning and the others were making a lot of noise and had come out because they couldn't stand the noise, Choi Jong-hoon patted Yoon Hyukjun, who was leaning against the door with him, with great appreciation.
The hotel staff on duty today have already made arrangements privately, and no matter how many calls are made, they will not come up to handle the situation.
He was really looking forward to seeing the Rabbit Country rush out in a fit of rage to argue or even fight, so that they would have a reason to ban the Rabbit Country from participating in the competition. Stroking his chin, Choi Jong-hoon thought smugly.
"Brother, you flatter me. It's all thanks to your leadership." Yoon Hyuk-joon said with a fawning smile.
The other team members chimed in, but before their joy had faded, the noise outside the door gradually subsided. Before the Rabbit Kingdom team members could launch into a furious attack or even take action, they saw a slender figure calmly walk over.
She Ning stopped a few steps away from their door. "System, can you arrange for the 'Moldy Sky' prop that the convenience store used before to be brought back?"
On the system panel, the item "Bad Luck" is grayed out and is unusable.
"Host, you can check your purchase history at the convenience store and make the purchase again. However, I think 'Evil Cultivator's Soulmate' is more suitable for you." The system, which had been active in its mind these past few days, offered its suggestion, having sensed its host's desire for a tit-for-tat response.
heretical cultivator's confidant
Note: Use the opponent's strength against them, turn it into your own, and retaliate against the damage (gain the greatest benefit at the lowest cost).
Number of uses: Unlimited (1 point per use)
Small print: The righteous path has its bright road, and evil cultivators also have their own unique cultivation methods.
She wanted both options, and after reading the description, She Ning decisively exchanged for the Evil Cultivator's Soulmate, and at the same time, she also repurchased the Misfortune Soaring to the Sky.
Five blind box points were instantly deducted. She Ning raised her hand and aimed it at each room of the H country team members. In mid-air, her slender fingers gently waved, and with her movement, the effects of the two props landed precisely on each of them.
On the system interface, the interface for the two items, "Moldy Qi" and "Evil Cultivator's Soulmate," changed from gray to bright, while the interface for the "Noise Canceller," a small black dot, also lit up.
Inside the room, Zhao Xiaoyan had just lain down, ready to endure the torment of noise, when suddenly she felt that the piercing drumbeats and screams in her ears had become distant and blurry, as if separated by a thick curtain of water.
A strange sense of tranquility wafted in from the crack in the door, which was coated with medicine, carrying the calming and soothing scent of herbs and plants, causing her tense nerves to relax involuntarily.
At the same time, the small black beads on the door frame seemed to form an invisible barrier, cleverly canceling or guiding away most of the vibration sound waves that penetrated the door panel.
Sleepiness washed over her again like a tide, and she fell into a deep sleep almost within seconds.
The other team members also experienced the same miraculous transformation.
The noise outside seemed to have been muted, no longer an unbearable torment, while the faint medicinal scent permeating the room acted like a gentle hand, soothing their agitation and anger.
Combined with the biological clock that She Ning had previously adjusted, and the deep fatigue brought on by efficient learning during the day, sleepiness quickly regained control of her body.
The door to the Rabbit Kingdom was tightly closed, and the sound of even breathing gradually rose.
Meanwhile, in the room in Country H, Choi Jong-hoon watched She Ning's rambling actions and couldn't help but chuckle: "Ha! What's she doing? Playing tricks? Has she been driven crazy by the noise?"
"Brother, could this be some kind of legendary Eastern witchcraft?" Having some knowledge of the history of the Rabbit Kingdom, Yun Hejun was somewhat uneasy upon seeing this.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Choi Jong-hoon scolded angrily.
Eastern witchcraft is a deceptive thing. If it existed, how could China be so peaceful? They would have used Eastern witchcraft to harm them long ago.
H country is the most powerful!
However, as soon as he finished speaking, he and his companions suddenly felt a strong sense of unease.
The deep bass that had initially excited them was now amplified countless times, the sound pounding directly on their hearts, causing palpitations and chest tightness to surge forth.
The screams and the sounds of banging on the wall seemed to be distorted, becoming exceptionally sharp and piercing, drilling straight into the brain. Choi Jong-hoon felt his temples throbbing and his brain as if it were about to explode.
The noise, originally intended only to disturb others, is now backfiring on them, and they can't stand it anymore.
"Damn it! What's going on? This music... my head hurts!" Yoon Hyuk-joon covered his head and squatted down.
"Turn it off! Turn the music off right now!" Choi Jong-hoon also felt his heart racing, his ears ringing and his vision blurring. He was so irritable that he wanted to smash things. He himself couldn't stand the "processed" noise anymore.
The H country team members in the room hurriedly turned off the stereo.
The noise stopped abruptly.
The corridor instantly returned to the silence that should have been there in the dead of night. At the door, after being attacked by the sonic waves that were reflected, amplified, and mutated by the evil cultivator's spiritual voice, the members of the H country team knelt on the ground, covering their heads, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Choi Jong-hoon was in even worse condition. His legs were too weak to support his body, and he collapsed to the ground, his face pale. If it weren't for the support of the door panel, he would have already collapsed to the ground.
In the corridor, She Ning closed the system interface. She calmly glanced at the closed door of the room in Country H, from which came suppressed and painful complaints. A very faint, slightly cold smile appeared on her lips.
"Those who invite trouble will ultimately be troubled themselves. Goodnight," she murmured to herself, her voice so soft that only she could hear it.
Then, she turned around and walked lightly back to her room, as if she had just come out for a short walk.
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