Inside the washroom, steam swirled, dreamlike and ethereal.
Su Nian gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her disheveled golden hair damp and clinging to her cheeks, a few strands falling playfully over her forehead, making her skin appear even fairer than snow, her features delicate as a painting.
Yet, the black collar around the girl’s neck stood out sharply in the mist, especially with the white stains atop her golden hair, constantly reminding her of the humiliating predicament she was in.
The girl in the mirror looked beautiful yet fragile, like a delicate flower battered by a sudden storm, evoking pity in anyone who saw her.
Who would have thought that the girl before them had already reached the Saint Level!
The memories from earlier—when she had been forced to cater to Chu Tian in every possible way just to accumulate one hundred thousand Humiliation Value—lingered like a nightmare she couldn’t shake off.
Every detail made her feel sick and ashamed; she didn’t even want to recall them.
No, she absolutely could not endure this again.
That feeling of having her soul torn apart, her dignity trampled—she never wanted to experience it again.
So, Su Nian decisively set a new Temporal Anchor at this very moment, overwriting the one she had set in her room before the Horned Demon Bastard entered.
She raised her hand, her fingertip gently touching the center of her brow, as if to carve this moment of resolve deep into her soul.
She felt the warm water flow over her body, washing away the filth the Horned Demon Bastard had left on her, sending it down the drain.
But the humiliation in her heart could not be cleansed.
Time.
Burden.
This moment.
Even as Su Nian washed herself, she still used Master-level Investigation and Master-level Hearing to keep track of the Horned Demon Bastard’s movements at all times.
She lingered in the washroom, hoping to wait for the perfect opportunity to make her move.
She hoped that the Horned Demon Bastard would let down his guard, that he would fall into a deep sleep…
But when she peered through the crack in the washroom door and saw that man still sitting steadily on the chair in the room, his gaze playful as he stared toward the washroom, Su Nian understood that the chance would not simply fall into her lap.
The Horned Demon Bastard before her was always vigilant, never exposing a flaw so easily.
What’s more, the longer she delayed, the worse it would be for her.
She couldn’t wait any longer!
Once midnight passed, the price for Destiny Reversal would double—from one hundred thousand Humiliation Value to two hundred thousand, a burden she could not bear.
Instead of waiting passively, it was better to take a gamble and fight for a sliver of hope.
Su Nian took a deep breath, letting the warm, humid air fill her lungs, as if it gave her a touch of courage.
She worked hard to steady the turmoil in her heart, making her breathing calm and even.
After losing so many times before, Su Nian felt a bit tense, but this time…
It was completely different!
She could win!
Su Nian put on a thin black silk nightdress and alluring black stockings, then slowly walked out of the washroom, her face once again calm as usual.
Like a flower blooming quietly in the darkness, she exuded a faint, enticing fragrance.
“Master…” Su Nian called softly, her voice so sweet it seemed it could drip water, like a nightingale’s melodious song, every note tinged with allure.
Since the Horned Demon Bastard wouldn’t easily show a weakness, she would create one herself!
The beauty trap was shameful, but it worked.
After what she had just done, what did she care about one last act of feigned seduction?
“Little wildcat, this look… suits you.” Chu Tian’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke, surprised by Su Nian’s change.
Normally, making her submit required a lot of effort on his part.
He would even gain those so-called “disgust” and “annoyance” value from her.
He was very curious—what new trick did the girl before him want to play?
Could it be that she had truly been tamed?
No, impossible.
Chu Tian rejected that thought in his heart.
He knew very well that deep inside, Su Nian still harbored hatred and anger toward him.
Everything she did was just to deceive him, to look for a chance to strike back.
But so what?
He enjoyed this feeling of controlling everything, loved watching the girl before him struggle and yield, yet remain helpless.
Su Nian didn’t answer, just walked slowly up to Chu Tian, bent down slightly, and gently placed her hands on his shoulders.
Her movements were gentle and elegant, like a tame kitten acting coy with its master.
“Master, you must be tired, right?” she said softly, her voice sweet and obedient, like a well-behaved maid caring for her master.
Her warm breath brushed gently past Chu Tian’s ear, carrying a subtle fragrance of a girl fresh from her bath, making his heart tremble slightly.
“Let me… give you a massage.”
Su Nian’s fingertips brushed across the Horned Demon Bastard’s shoulders, then she lay on her side on the bed, showing off her proud figure and peerless beauty to the man before her.
Chu Tian looked at Su Nian’s exquisite face, his gaze flickering.
That face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet carried a trace of stubbornness and defiance, like a rose with thorns—inviting to pluck, yet making one afraid of getting hurt.
Chu Tian didn’t refuse, tacitly accepting the girl’s invitation.
Su Nian thought to herself, There’s a chance!
She had to seize this opportunity—while breaking the [Lover’s Prison Collar]’s suppression of her magic, she would give the Horned Demon… a fatal blow!
Her soft, fair hands invitingly pulled the Horned Demon Bastard onto the bed.
Her slender fingers, infused with the delicate magic only a Saint-level Magic Mastery could wield, glided lightly over Chu Tian’s shoulders.
Su Nian’s movements were gentle and soothing, as if she were truly massaging him, easing the fatigue from his battles in the Monster Forest and the exhaustion from their recent “flight.”
Her fingertips traced his well-built back, feeling the firm lines of muscle.
She couldn’t help but blush and her heart raced, but Su Nian’s thoughts were as cold as ice.
The owner of this body…
Was her mortal enemy!
Demon!
This moment.
Su Nian focused her mind completely, her magic circulating quietly within her, like an undercurrent lurking in the deep sea.
She searched, searching for the flaw in the [Lover’s Prison Collar] she wore.
This Collar not only suppressed part of her magic, but also amplified her senses, like an invisible shackle, forcing her to teeter on the edge of pain and pleasure, tormented endlessly.
She had to break free, to emerge from the cocoon and become a butterfly—otherwise, she would never escape the shackles of fate, never defeat the Horned Demon Bastard.
Minute by minute, time passed.
Beads of sweat formed on Su Nian’s forehead, a few strands of golden hair sticking playfully to her cheeks, highlighting her tension and concentration.
Finally, as she massaged the Horned Demon Bastard, she secretly manipulated her magic and found the core node on the Lover’s Prison Collar.
If not for the Saint-level Magic Mastery’s acute sensitivity to magical fluctuations, it would have been impossible to detect.
‘This is it!’
Su Nian felt a surge of joy, as if she’d glimpsed a ray of light in endless darkness.
She knew this might be the core of the [Lover’s Prison Collar], the key to breaking her chains.
If she destroyed this node, perhaps she could lift the Collar’s suppression of her magic and regain her freedom!
She poured her magic power frantically into her fingertips.
Her originally fair fingers now glowed with a faint blue light, like stars twinkling in the night sky, filled with mysterious power.
Her fingers began to tremble slightly—both from the intense concentration of magic and from her own nervousness.