Chapter 231: Hypnosis
The leather-clad woman stared coldly at Fang Xiaocao, slowly raising her katana and pointing it directly at her.
Fang Xiaocao frowned slightly. This kind of attitude was troublesome—like a stubborn rock in a latrine pit, both smelly and hard.
It was the type that gave hypnotists the biggest headaches.
“Do you think your blade is sharp enough?”
Fang Xiaocao decided to switch tactics.
As long as she could provoke an emotional reaction, there was still a chance to successfully hypnotize her.
“Sharp enough to kill you,” the woman replied coldly.
“Kill me?” Fang Xiaocao sneered. “Your blade is so dull it couldn’t even cut through paper.”
“With that thing, forget killing a person—you’d struggle to slaughter a chicken.”
She grinned, deliberately stoking the woman’s anger.
Anger was still an emotional response.
Fang Xiaocao’s hypnosis skills were among the best in the world, honed to perfection through repeated use.
She could tell at a glance that this woman was far inferior to Tom—no need to tread carefully.
All she needed was a flicker of emotion.
“You want to test it?” the woman said icily, stepping forward with her katana in hand.
Fang Xiaocao didn’t move, her expression unreadable, as steady as an old dog.
“What are you trying to prove?”
“Want to make a bet?”
“Your blade won’t even touch me.”
Her voice carried a teasing lilt.
The woman’s eyes flickered momentarily.
Her earlier intent to kill Fang Xiaocao had already stirred her emotions.
Now, Fang Xiaocao’s words, laced with hypnosis, had successfully breached her mental defenses.
From this moment on, the woman had unknowingly stepped into the psychological trap that Fang Xiaocao had laid.
“What, too scared to bet?”
“Not even confident in your own blade?”
Fang Xiaocao continued to provoke her, amplifying the emotional turmoil inside the woman, pushing her toward greater fury.
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Under Fang Xiaocao’s deliberate taunting, the woman reflexively retorted.
“Then do you dare to bet?” Fang Xiaocao mocked.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Once I pierce your heart with this blade, let’s see if you can still spout nonsense!”
For the first time, a trace of emotion flickered across the woman’s face.
“Sure!”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Fang Xiaocao grinned and even beckoned her with a finger.
“Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige.”
Gritting her teeth, the woman raised her katana and charged.
Watching the fury on her face, Fang Xiaocao inwardly smirked.
“Heh~”
She retreated slowly while locking eyes with the woman, activating her hypnosis.
The moment their gazes met, the woman’s vision blurred.
“I am a tree. Your target is on the left.”
Fang Xiaocao’s voice was soft, hypnotic.
Hearing her words, the woman’s eyes wavered—then she actually turned and lunged toward the large tree to her left.
Seeing this, Fang Xiaocao smiled in satisfaction.
“Success!”
But she didn’t let her guard down.
This hypnosis was only temporary.
It wouldn’t last long.
The woman swung her katana wildly, slashing at the “Fang Xiaocao” in her vision with all her strength.
Yet no matter how hard she struck, not a single scratch appeared on her target.
The familiar spray of blood, the sensation of steel cutting flesh—none of it came.
Instead, it felt like hacking at wood, the recoil numbing her arms.
“Impossible!”
“How is this happening?!”
Panic crept into the woman’s voice.
Fang Xiaocao smiled and walked leisurely to the tree.
“You’ve lost. Now step back three meters.”
Her tone was commanding.
The woman hesitated, pausing mid-swing.
Resistance flashed across her face—but she still retreated step by step.
Only when she had moved exactly three meters did she stop.
“When I snap my fingers, you’ll wake up.”
Seeing the woman on the verge of breaking free, Fang Xiaocao smoothly issued her final command.
Standing in front of the tree, she snapped her fingers.
“Click.”
Instantly, the woman’s eyes cleared.
“You lost, Miss.”
Fang Xiaocao declared first, seizing the initiative.
The woman froze, then stared at her in disbelief.
“No way…”
“How…?”
“How are you completely unharmed?”
“Nothing’s impossible.”
“You saw it yourself.”
“After all those slashes, you didn’t even tear my clothes.”
Fang Xiaocao shrugged, amused.
The woman looked at her flawless state, then at the tree she had hacked dozens of times without leaving a mark. Defeat washed over her.
Watching her expression, Fang Xiaocao stifled a laugh, her eyes glinting with triumph.
“Now that you’ve lost, you’re not going to be a sore loser, are you?”
She continued prodding, keeping the woman emotionally off-balance.
“Of course not!”
The woman snapped her head up.
“I admit defeat.”
Her voice was hollow.
By now, Fang Xiaocao had complete control over her emotions, leading her by the nose without resistance.
“Since you’ve conceded…”
“How about telling me your name as punishment?”
“I’m Hummingbird…”
“No real name…”
The woman—Hummingbird—answered without hesitation.
“Heh~”
Fang Xiaocao smirked inwardly.
The timing was perfect.
“Hummingbird, my poor knight, lift your head and look upon your princess.”
Her voice dripped with enchantment.
Hearing this, Hummingbird shuddered, then slowly raised her gaze in confusion.
The moment their eyes met again, her vision blurred.
“…Princess…”
Fang Xiaocao smiled.
“Got you.”
Through carefully crafted words, she began imprinting mental commands, reinforcing the hypnosis.
Her goal was to assimilate Hummingbird completely—just like Tom and Taotie—turning her into another loyal knight sworn to protect her.
As Fang Xiaocao continued weaving her influence, Hummingbird’s gaze grew clearer, her eyes filling with devotion, reverence, and worship.
Under Fang Xiaocao’s encouraging gaze, Hummingbird slowly knelt on one knee.
(End of Chapter 231)
