After they left, Gu Mingxuan and his group finally returned to normal.
"Huff, huff, huff..." A sidekick took a few deep breaths and asked with lingering fear, "Why couldn't I speak just now?"
Another one chimed in, "What kind of black magic did that brat use?"
Gu Mingxuan frowned, his expression even worse than if he had swallowed a dead mouse. As a peerless prodigy with an SS-level talent, a powerful background, and formidable strength, he had not only been embarrassed by Ling Chen time and time again, but he couldn't even take direct action against him because of school regulations. He didn't want to lose his position as the student council president. It was infuriating!
Bai Youxia and her two companions were equally stunned by this scene; they had never heard of a technique that could render someone speechless.
"Let's go too. I want to see that troublesome junior looking pathetic while he apologizes," Jin Moyan suggested, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Bai Youxia agreed. She also wanted to see Ling Chen make a fool of himself so she could have a good laugh at his expense; it would save her from being irritated by him every single day!
"Brother Xuan, are we going?" a sidekick asked.
"Go? Of course we're going!" Gu Mingxuan gritted his teeth. "Remember to record it. Post the footage of him being publicly denounced online and hire some bots to stir the pot!"
"Brother Xuan, that’s a ruthless move. You’ll ruin him for good!" The sidekick gave a thumbs-up.
Gu Mingxuan sneered, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. Fighting with him? He would turn Ling Chen into a social pariah, the nation’s favorite digital punching bag.
...
Inside the sports field, it was already a sea of people. At a glance, there were at least fifty thousand people—not just Haicheng University students, but many locals who had come for the spectacle. Of course, a portion of them had come to make trouble for Ling Chen, holding grudges from the internet drama the night before.
On the high platform hung a wide, long banner that read:
【Regarding the accidental injury in the Border Wilderness, Ling Chen of Haicheng University hereby issues an official response.】
Below the banner sat dozens of people: school administrators, government officials, and elders from the prominent families of Haicheng.
"Hold onto this draft. I printed it for you overnight." Qin Muwan handed him an A4 sheet of paper, forcing a smile and trying her best to appear gentle. "When the reporters ask their questions, the standard responses are all on here. Just read them out. Finally, apologize to the national audience and say it was unintentional, and the press conference will be a success. Of course, if you can manage to cry, that would be even better."
Ling Chen took the paper, didn't even glance at it, shoved it into his pocket, and strode toward the stage. Seeing him look so nonchalant, Qin Muwan’s heart skipped a beat. A sense of unease rose from the depths of her soul; she felt that something very unpleasant was about to happen.
"Ahem!"
Once he reached the platform, Ling Chen tested the microphone. In an instant, hundreds of lenses were pointed directly at him.
"Hello everyone, I am—"
"You’re nothing! Just start already!"
"We know you're Ling Chen, skip the chatter and get to the point."
Ling Chen’s eye twitched; he was speechless. He hadn't even introduced himself yet and was already interrupted by the crowd. It seemed he had quite a few haters!
At that moment, a man with glasses wearing a "Haicheng Daily" badge asked, "Student Ling Chen, I hear you are participating in the province-wide competition. As a rookie at the Awakening Realm Third Stage, aren't you just going up there to drag Haicheng down?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd responded in kind, especially the students and local residents. They all felt Ling Chen was just making up the numbers and bringing shame to Haicheng.
Down below, Gu Mingxuan crossed his arms and sneered, "That's it, ask him those questions and humiliate him thoroughly!"
"Is it recording?" he turned to ask.
"It is, Brother Xuan," the sidekicks holding their phones replied.
"Good. When the time comes, make sure to hire a good editor. Cut things out of context, you know what I mean?" Gu Mingxuan said.
They exchanged glances and smiled, as if to say, *we get it*.
On the other side, Qin Muwan furrowed her brows. Her unease was growing stronger. This question hadn't been discussed beforehand; why had the reporter suddenly changed the topic?
"Speak up! Are you mute?"
"You had plenty to say online last night, why can't you answer now?"
The crowd in the square began to urge him on. Every single one of them wore a look of mockery, waiting for the show. Ling Chen opened the crumpled draft and searched for a long time, but couldn't find a scripted response for this question.
*Sigh...* Director, this isn't my fault anymore.
He sighed inwardly, feeling a little less guilty. He grabbed the microphone and said loudly, "What’s the difference between the province-wide competition and playing against bots?"
"I’m going up there to slaughter them! Total dominance!"
As soon as he finished, the entire crowd burst into laughter, including those watching the livestream. This was pure nonsense. For a dead weight at the Awakening Realm Third Stage to have the nerve to say such things—he truly had no shame!
"You're so shameless, your left cheek is begging your right cheek for more skin!"
"Does your mother know you're such a poser?"
"I, Wang Situ, have never seen such a brazen and shameless person!"
For a time, mockery erupted from everywhere, each voice louder than the last.
*Damn it, you think I’m just going to take this?*
Ling Chen was furious. He cranked the microphone to maximum volume and started unloading:
"A bunch of spineless cowards, if you've got guts, come up here and fight me one-on-one!"
"Stop screaming at me, I was scared by a dog when I was a kid."
"I hope you all have a house full of children, all thanks to the 'help' of your good brothers!"
Chaos. The entire scene descended into total mayhem! A proper media apology had devolved into a shouting match.
【Anger Value +200】
【Anger Value +500】
【Anger Value...】
Seeing this, Qin Muwan’s face turned black. Especially when she saw the strange looks coming from teachers of other schools, she wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear! Why was this troublesome brat so prone to causing a stir?
At the back of the field, Bai Youxia spread her hands, helpless. "See? This is the usual style. I knew it would end up like this..."
Jin Moyan smiled awkwardly. "This junior... he’s truly ferocious!"
Below the banner, the high-ranking school officials and the elders of the great families looked at an elderly man beside them with strange expressions. One of them laughed and said, "Principal Cheng Boyuan, your student is quite something. Confident, and not the least bit stage-frightened."
Cheng Boyuan’s expression was grim; he knew they were mocking him. He forced a smile and said, "Young people, they're just a bit high-spirited. It's normal!"
After the staff intervened, the scene slowly quieted down. The reporter from the Haicheng Daily asked again, "Ling Chen, even Gu Mingxuan, the strongest in your school, wouldn't dare say that, would he?"
"Where does your confidence come from?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingxuan showed a hint of arrogance, his nostrils flaring toward the sky. He figured the money spent was worth it; they were finally asking exactly what he wanted to hear.
But the answer Ling Chen gave next sent him into a fit of rage once again.