A blaring alarm went off in Su Nian’s heart in an instant.
The design of that accessory was so bold it bordered on obscene.
The bastard horned demon’s gaze was practically glued to it.
Could it be… he wants…
He wants her to wear such a shameful thing?!
No way!
The very instant the thought crossed her mind, Su Nian reacted.
She suddenly reached out and, for the first time, took the man’s hand beside her.
Then, almost dragging him along, she quickened her pace, skirting away from the jewelry store as if escaping.
As her fingertips touched the bastard horned demon’s warm, rough palm, an overwhelming wave of embarrassment surged over Su Nian.
Last night, it was these hands…
These hands had explored nearly every inch of her body.
He’d yanked at the collar on her neck, and even… smacked her…
And now, she had to be the one to take his hand.
Like a real couple, walking together through this bustling commercial street.
Ugh…
Her cheeks grew hot, utterly out of her control.
Chu Tian was a little stunned by Su Nian’s sudden action.
But feeling the girl’s cool, delicate hand in his, and seeing her almost flee in panic, his heart even skipped a beat.
Truthfully, he could see right through it—this little wildcat’s so-called “seduction” was awfully clumsy.
In fact, it was completely lacking in technique.
Yet—
Before such stunning beauty, every little detail of her embarrassed, angry, and shy initiative carried a fatal allure.
Su Nian herself thought her “beauty trap” had worked wonders, successfully distracting the bastard horned demon’s attention.
Little did she know, she never needed to try at all.
As they say, when the numbers are overwhelming, even the shoddiest technique becomes enchanting.
Chu Tian quickly composed himself, a barely noticeable smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
He turned his hand to tightly hold the girl’s soft fingers, letting her pull him along.
Taking advantage of Su Nian’s fleeting distraction by a shop displaying rare magic gemstones nearby,
Chu Tian’s fingertips moved ever so slightly.
An extremely subtle wave of magic quietly slipped out, turning into a silent command, sent precisely to Da Hei, who was following in disguise under a hidden cloak.
‘Go, buy that Emerald Body Chain.
And while you’re at it, get a few pairs of different stockings.’
He was looking forward to it.
Truly looking forward to seeing, with his own eyes, what Su Nian would look like wearing those things.
Su Nian had no idea.
She was wholly invested in her grand revenge campaign of “weakening the enemy’s finances.”
She “raided” several more shops that all looked expensive.
Aside from all sorts of clothes and accessories, she also bought plenty of costly magic materials, as well as some beautifully packaged snacks—luxuries only the well-off could afford.
Soon, both their hands were stuffed with shopping bags of all sizes.
Su Nian’s eyes spun, and she immediately put on a “fragile and helpless” look, then whispered to the bastard horned demon.
“Master, there’s too much stuff, I can’t carry it…”
She pouted slightly and, with perfect timing, loaded most of her bags onto the bastard horned demon’s arm.
Truth was, with her current Holy Knight Physique, not to mention these bags, even ten times more would have been no trouble.
But making this lofty bastard horned demon carry her things like a servant, even if only for a moment, this tiny reversal of power still filled her heart with a secret sense of triumph.
She’d won, a little, but not much.
‘Humph… But next time, I’ll win more… Definitely!’
After shopping, Su Nian’s gaze landed on a uniquely styled bar at the street corner.
Its sign was old-fashioned, the doors half-open, and inside there was the faint sound of low voices and clinking glasses.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t truly experienced any of this world’s unique spots—like a bar.
After all, in this world where drinks were scarce, Academy City was lined with bars, and many people even drank low-alcohol fruit wines as part of daily life.
Shopping was done, and it was still early.
Might as well take a look.
Maybe… she could even overhear some useful information.
Su Nian made up her mind and led the way to the bar.
“Ding ding—”
The crisp sound of windchimes rang out as she pushed open the door.
Inside, the lighting was much dimmer than outside, and the air was filled with a faint blend of alcohol and wood.
She found a two-person table by the window and sat down, the bastard horned demon naturally taking the seat across from her.
Su Nian had just picked up the menu, about to order a low-alcohol sweet drink, when a grating, unpleasant voice sounded from not far away.
“Well, if it isn’t the rising star Magic Girl Idol, Miss Su Nian? I’ve heard so much about you…”
The voice was greasy and lewd, with no attempt to hide it.
Su Nian turned to look, her brows instantly furrowing.
The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in extravagant finery, but with a face that was pale, sickly, and cruel.
Surrounding him were seven or eight guards, each radiating a brutal presence.
Every one of those guards had bulging temples and fierce, sharp eyes, the scent of blood on them marking them as desperadoes who lived by the blade.
Their arrival was like a stone cast into a still lake, instantly shattering the bar’s relaxed and lazy atmosphere.
The surrounding patrons all glanced over; many showed clear fear on their faces, and some paid their tabs and hurriedly left.
Panic spread silently.
At the same time, a man at the next table, wearing a Mercenary Guild badge and looking quite experienced, blurted out in a trembling voice.
“You… you’re… Baroque of the Neutral City-States… Lord Baroque!”
Baroque!
The moment that name was spoken, the remaining patrons in the bar fell completely silent.
The underground emperor of the Neutral City-States!
This man was infamous for his cruelty, greed, and lust, holding absolute power in the Neutral City-States and controlling a shocking slave trade from the shadows.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, people exchanging terrified looks.
Baroque’s infamy had long spread throughout the region.
No one had expected that this underground emperor would suddenly appear here, in Academy City, far from his domain.
At this moment, Baroque’s muddy eyes roamed shamelessly over Su Nian’s curvaceous figure as if appraising a commodity up for auction.
The greed and naked desire in his gaze were almost palpable, making one’s skin crawl.
Just a few days ago, he’d issued a secret bounty on Su Nian in the underground guild, offering a fortune for this famous Magic Girl Idol.
But days had passed, and those useless underlings had brought him no news.
Impatient, he’d come to Academy City himself to “take a look.”
Who would’ve thought his men would spot Su Nian in the commercial street and report in, allowing him to rush over just in time to catch Su Nian stepping into this bar.
Just as the saying goes: You wear out iron shoes searching in vain, only to find it when you least expect it!