182: The ultimate social drama terminator! Su Chen: I am a social genius!

Seeing that Su Chen truly dared to step forward, standing rigidly like a fragile wooden stake at the intersection of ice and fire, both Liu Ruyan and Ling Qingzhu instinctively paused their movements and urgently retracted their powers.

Liu Ruyan propped up her chin with interest, her Soul-snatching phoenix eyes scanning Su Chen up and down, as if she were admiring a rare, newly unearthed object she had never seen before.

“Oh, Little Chen Chen, are you planning to stage a Hero Saving the Beauty?”

“What's wrong? Are you worried about your Little Ice Block?”

Her tone was full of mockery, but deep within her Soul-snatching phoenix eyes, something dimmed quickly, so fast that even she didn't notice it.

As for Ling Qingzhu, her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.

She gazed at the silhouette in front of her, which was not particularly robust, and a feeling of bitterness welled up in her heart.

There was the warmth of being protected, worry for his safety, and a hint of... grievance that even she couldn't understand.

【Is he protecting me?】

【But... why is he stopping me too?】

Ling Qingzhu's proud intuition and ability to overthink things had, for once, stalled at this moment.

She found that she could not completely see through Su Chen's intentions.

“Everyone, calm down.”

Su Chen, enduring two gazes that felt like they could burn him through and freeze him solid, felt cold sweat starting to break out on his back.

He cleared his throat, forcing his voice to sound like a Reclusive Expert who had seen everything and long since stopped caring about worldly affairs.

“You are all people of standing. Don't act like street Shrews who flip tables at the slightest disagreement. If word gets out, it will damage the reputation of your respective Sects.”

【Oh my god, I feel guilty saying that myself.】

【Talking about reputation to an Iceberg Fairy and a Crazy Demoness? I must be insane.】

【But there's no choice. Treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Stabilize the situation first!】

Su Chen steeled himself and first turned to Liu Ruyan, forcing a smile that he believed looked the most sincere and businesslike.

“Saintess Liu, I've long admired you. The Tear Mole near your eye perfectly complements the Killing Intent you wear today. It possesses a unique, Violent Aesthetic.”

【Is this awkward? It's too awkward! What kind of compliment is this? Complimenting her Killing Intent? I truly am a Social Genius!】

【But I can't help it. When dealing with someone this Crazy, you can't just compliment their beauty; you have to hit the mark! She likes this kind of abnormal vibe!】

Liu Ruyan was visibly stunned by this bizarre compliment, and then she actually let out a soft, "giggle" of laughter.

“Little Chen Chen, your little mouth is still so sharp.”

She trembled slightly as she laughed, as if she had been tickled.

“However... Big Sister likes it.”

She winked her seductive eyes at Su Chen, and the Killing Intent that had almost solidified finally dissipated by more than half.

Su Chen breathed a huge sigh of relief inwardly.

【First hurdle, passed by a narrow margin!】

【Next up, the Hell-level difficulty second hurdle!】

He slowly turned around, meeting Ling Qingzhu's phoenix eyes, which were cold yet held inquiry and grievance.

The pressure surged back like an overwhelming tide.

【I'm screwed, this one is even harder to handle.】

【Compliment her? No way, she'll think I'm slick-tongued and frivolous.】

【Talk sense? Even worse. You can't reason with a Love Brain, only emotions!】

【What to do? What to do? My Social CPU is about to burn out!】

Su Chen's mind frantically searched through the tens of thousands of melodramas and CEO Novels he had watched in his previous life.

Suddenly, a Risky Maneuver took shape in his mind.

His expression instantly became stern. He stared at Ling Qingzhu with an almost severe gaze and spoke in a deep voice: “Qingzhu, your sword is in disarray.”

Ling Qingzhu: “?”

Liu Ruyan: “?”

Spring Flower Autumn Moon: “?”

Everyone was bewildered by this Sudden Twist.

Su Chen remained standing with his hands behind his back, his expression as serious as that of a Reclusive Sword God scolding an unpromising Junior.

“First, your Sword Intent is pure and rigid, yet it lacks variation. If you don't know how to Conceal the Edge, then every spot becomes an edge. This might work against ordinary Demonic Cultivators, but against an Expert like her, who toys with people's minds, your sword becomes the easiest target to see through.”

“Second, your power seems to seal ten thousand miles, but in reality, it is full of flaws. A true sword only needs a single point to Break Ten Thousand Techniques.”

“Third, and most importantly.”

Su Chen's gaze seemed to pierce through her eyes, reaching deep into her Dao Heart.

“For a Sword Practitioner, the heart is the blade. If your heart is disturbed by external matters, the sword ceases to be your sword.”

Su Chen finished in one breath, feeling as if he were possessed by Dugu Qiubai, the 'Sword Devil'.

【Holy crap, I truly am an Unparalleled Genius!】

【These lines, combined with the Pretentious Gestures I learned from Wuxia dramas in my previous life, are absolutely perfect!】

【Using this kind of Dimensionality Reduction Strike "guidance" instantly pulls her out of romance and makes her realize the gap between us. This both resolves the awkwardness and solidifies my image as a profound Expert—Killing two birds with one stone!】

【I am truly too witty!】

Su Chen frantically awarded himself an Oscar statuette in his mind.

As for Ling Qingzhu, after experiencing this "Dao Shout" that struck straight at her Soul, she froze completely on the spot.

Her icy, pretty face was covered with shock and disbelief.

She repeatedly pondered Su Chen's words, connecting them to the strange stagnation in her Sword Intent.

She realized that everything Su Chen said... was correct!

The traces of grievance, anger, and jealousy in her heart instantly vanished into thin air.

Replacing them were deep-seated adoration from the depths of her Soul, and intense shame.

【I am truly useless. Not only did I fail to help him, but my impulsiveness also distracted him.】

【He stopped me just now, not because he cared about that Demoness, but because he was guiding me, teaching me!】

【Su Chen... thank you.】

Ling Qingzhu's Di Hua Divine Skill was once again running at full power, perfectly rationalizing everything.

She slowly dispersed the sky full of Ice Crystals, retracted her Sword Intent, and gave Su Chen a profoundly solemn bow.

“Qingzhu... I have been enlightened.”

Her voice carried a hint of heartfelt awe and admiration.

Su Chen looked at her respectful appearance, like a "Disciple greeting Revered Master," and his heart blossomed with joy.

【Mission accomplished!】

【Knowledge is power! I didn't read those novels for nothing!】

An earth-shattering battle that was about to tear through the Secret Realm was forcibly suppressed by Su Chen using two Risky Maneuvers: "alternative compliments" and "Expert Posturing."

Only Liu Ruyan, across from him, watched this scene quietly, her seductive phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, a hint of complex light swirling in their depths that no one could understand.