Chapter 126: You've Become a Little Rascal Too! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

**Chapter 126: You've Become a Little Rascal Too!** It was hard to imagine. One moment, Xia Wuyou and Shen Qin were squaring off as if their lives depended on it, only to abruptly drop the intensity of their fight in an almost coordinated fashion the very next moment. Their attacks were far less fierce than before, riddled with obvious openings, more like a child's play than a serious match. What began as a high-level contest quickly regressed into something akin to children fighting or village ladies pulling hair. The apex confrontation morphed into nonsensical squabbling. This deflated some of Xu Shi's enthusiasm, but he wasn't surprised. He had instructed Xia Wuyou to hold back, even to the point of deliberately losing to Shen Qin, which she seemed to adhere to from the outset. In a genuine all-out match, her domain could have covered at least half the training room, granting her a significant advantage. The combat skills she displayed were far from the full extent of her ability. Even though she might have entertained the notion of taking out her frustrations on Shen Qin, she needed to prioritize Xu Shi's request. Shen Qin's intentions, however, were similar. She wished nothing more than to eliminate the traitorous woman who had betrayed her brother, right here and now. But she knew that doing so would not benefit her in the slightest. Furthermore, within Xia Wuyou’s sphere of influence, she was not faring much better due to the gravitational pressure. Simply defeating Xia Wuyou proved challenging enough, let alone accomplishing anything further. Thus, Shen Qin had to adjust her strategy as well. She had a few more tricks up her sleeve, yet saw no reason to reveal them. After all, this was merely an assessment; revealing all her cards here would be unwise. Many things were best kept as unexpected surprises. As "Nan Qian," she believed her displayed competence was sufficient to meet the passing mark, ensuring her entry into "Serpent Ring" and securing her position there. Losing to Xia Wuyou could also help Xu Shi lower his guard. So. The mindset shifted from "I must win" to "I need to lose." Yet, given her opponent's skill, which had been apparent from their prior exchanges, they couldn’t afford to be too obvious about it – collapsing after a single hit wouldn’t fool anyone. They not only had to lose, but do so flawlessly and naturally. This proved challenging for both women, seasoned in real combat and typically striving for victory. Sudden attempts to convincingly lose felt awkward. Like top students who always aimed for perfect scores, now deliberately failing an exam—a difficult feat indeed. Ultimately, it was Xia Wuyou who first found her footing, striking at an opening Shen Qin intentionally exposed. Seeing an opportunity, Shen Qin feigned a defensive posture, ready to be "overpowered." But she underestimated Xia Wuyou; the seemingly forceful strike suddenly softened at the last moment, gliding past Shen Qin's defense and harmlessly spinning away. Xia Wuyou capitalized on this to stagger backward, falling to one knee, looking utterly spent. "You... have some skill." Xia Wuyou’s defiant expression belied her words. "But, today's not my day, otherwise, you wouldn’t have... beaten me." Shen Qin was a bit taken aback. Admittedly, Xia Wuyou’s final tough remark left her uncertain whether the retreat was genuine or merely feigned. At that moment, she couldn't afford to dwell on it, knowing she couldn’t truly let Xia Wuyou lose to her. Thinking quickly, she adopted a condescending look. "And this is the best 'Serpent Ring' can offer? How amusing..." Her words cut short as she seemingly succumbed to darkness, collapsing unconscious. When Xu Shi emerged from the wings, he found both women sprawled out in defeat, each looking worse for wear. The sight was oddly comical. "Thank you both; you are remarkable operatives," he chuckled, suppressing his amusement as he approached Xia Wuyou first, gently helping her up. "Are you alright?" "…Sorry to disappoint you," Xia Wuyou panted, yet there was a distinct look in her eyes. — I'm not truly defeated by her, you see. It's as per your instructions. She's really not that capable! Regardless of whether Xu Shi had been watching, she needed to affirm this. "It's fine, just rest up," Xu Shi reassured her telepathically with a gaze full of approval. Splendid performance. Considering their extended time together, her acting skills had remarkably matured. What seemed genuine had come off without a hitch. Perhaps her time with him was to blame? After all, initially, she couldn’t even hide her thoughts during their first encounters. Oh dear, you've learned to be a little rascal! Turned into a naughty kid! Your aunt must have corrupted you! No way it’s my influence, Xu Shi firmly denied, as he arranged for Xia Wuyou to be escorted away for rest. He then turned his attention to Shen Qin. "Are you alright, Ms. Nan?" He knelt beside her, speaking softly. "I..." Shen Qin mumbled, "Did I... pass?" She hadn’t truly lost consciousness, merely putting on a show. She had witnessed Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou's earlier intimacy through narrowed eyes, feeling resentment stirring. Yet, she had to act oblivious. "Certainly." Xu Shi nodded with a smile, "Your combat skills are truly impressive. Congratulations on passing the assessment." "Starting today, you're officially part of 'Serpent Ring.'" "…That's good." Shen Qin nodded weakly, grateful for the truth within her words. Gaining entrance into the enemy’s ranks opened up possibilities for her. "Your injuries look severe... Are you in poor health?" Xu Shi expressed genuine concern as he helped her to her feet. "Let's get you to the infirmary for treatment, okay?" Even though the fight was staged, both Xia Wuyou and Shen Qin ended up with a few scrapes, particularly Shen Qin, who bore several blade marks. "…Thank you for your concern, Chairman Xu, but these are just minor injuries." Shen Qin accepted his support yet politely declined his concern. After wobbling momentarily, she produced a small bottle and swallowed a pill. "We, the 'Forgotten,' have our remedies, and I'm accustomed to using them." After ingesting it, her strength visibly returned. "I believe the formula has been shared with 'Prism.' Should you require it, you could explore its development." "…Wouldn’t you visit the infirmary first?" Xu Shi hesitated, blinking, "You're part of 'Serpent Ring' now; it's part of the employee benefits, after all." "Well... alright." Hearing this, Shen Qin couldn’t decline and replied, "Thank you for your care, Chairman Xu." "Caring for subordinates is a given, Ms. Nan. No need for thanks." Xu Shi waved it off and called in medical personnel to tend to her. But once she departed, his demeanor noticeably sharpened. Why was she so opposed to treatment...? Isn’t that peculiar?