The orange-red flames danced across his face, accentuating his deep features even more—half illuminated, half hidden in shadow—and also reflecting the pretty face of the maiden, flushed red with shyness.
Su Nian’s head snapped down, her long golden hair cascading forward to conceal her face.
She nervously stole a glance at Chu Tian, waiting for her master’s reply.
The only sound left in the mountain cave was the soft crackle of burning wood.
“Mmm…”
She began to let her mind wander uncontrollably.
Su Nian swallowed as she looked at Chu Tian’s still-unclothed body.
‘Master is so handsome. His body is amazing too—eight-pack abs, super alpha, super manly. And he’s very practical.’
Huh?
What had she just been doing?
Not only had she proactively suggested that this man kidnap her in front of the whole world, but she was also lusting after his body in her thoughts.
She was becoming less and less like herself.
These thoughts were so absurd, so crazy, that even she found them unbelievable.
Yet she really wanted to do it, and she felt she wouldn’t regret it.
Chu Tian was silent for a moment.
His gaze fell on the maiden’s flushed cheeks, on her moist lips pressed tightly together in unease.
The girl before him—she could have used the king’s proclamation to draw a clear line between them and return to her radiant throne as Saintess.
Besides, her strength was originally about the same as his.
If she had used her Saintess name to oppose him, he might not have been able to easily withstand it.
But for his sake, she willingly put the shackles of “hostage” on herself.
Those azure eyes of hers had already completely betrayed her true feelings.
The attachment and panic she couldn’t hide were there, yet she stubbornly insisted it was only for the Saintess’s reputation, not for him.
“Heh.”
Chu Tian let out a soft laugh, breaking the silence in the cave.
He reached out, his long, slender fingers accurately grasping Su Nian’s small chin, forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes—eyes that seemed to see through everything.
“So, you really want to be my hostage? Want me to capture you and then hide you away?”
His voice was not loud, but it carried an inexplicable pressure.
Every word hit Su Nian’s heart like a stone, stirring ripples.
“I…”
Su Nian’s voice trembled slightly.
The temperature transmitted from his fingertips made her whole body feel restless.
Chu Tian’s thumb gently brushed across her soft lower lip.
The touch of his calloused fingertip made her breath catch.
“Then tell me, what should a kidnapped hostage look like?”
He asked lightly, but his eyes were full of aggression.
Su Nian’s mind went completely blank.
‘A hostage… What should that look like?’
Unbidden, images appeared in her mind—
Cold chains coiling around her slender wrists and ankles, binding her tightly.
Her mouth gagged, allowing only helpless moans.
Under the gaze of the crowd, being hoisted onto his shoulder like a trophy, forcibly taken away by her master amid countless horrified or sympathetic stares.
Struggling weakly, being forced to submit, being manipulated by this “dangerous wanted criminal.”
And she, the noble Star-Moon Saintess, the hope of humanity, could only be that.
How humiliating that would be…
Su Nian swallowed again.
Though it was an extremely humiliating scene, she didn’t find it terrifying at all.
Instead, she even replayed it in her mind.
If it were truly terrifying, she wouldn’t be able to imagine it.
She actually thought that being captured and tied up by this big bad guy, then hidden away, wasn’t a big deal.
She was becoming stranger and stranger.
Hmm… it definitely wasn’t her fault.
Maybe because the Humiliation Value was already close to 80 million, being publicly captured and becoming the Horned Demon Lord’s prisoner in front of the whole world would earn a lot of Humiliation Value.
‘Mmm… right!’
Such a humiliating major event would surely net a ton of Humiliation Value, wouldn’t it?
She just… wanted to farm Humiliation Value!
That thought was like a lifeline, giving her shameful mind a thread of support.
“I… will obey Master. The master can do whatever he wants…”
Su Nian’s voice grew quieter, barely a whisper.
‘It’s just the final humiliating event anyway. Once I become a god, everything will be fine.’
Chu Tian stared at the maiden.
He let go of her chin and instead gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
His knuckles traced across her delicate, smooth skin, sending tiny shivers through her.
“Are you sure?” His voice dropped lower, carrying a dangerous edge, “Don’t regret it later.”
Su Nian bit her lower lip, her teeth leaving a faint mark on the plump flesh.
She knew better than anyone what agreeing to this proposal would bring next.
This big bad guy, this vile man who loved to see her humiliated, would never miss this golden opportunity.
He would capture her in front of everyone, then lock her away in a place of his choosing and do with her as he pleased.
But…
It would both preserve her reputation and allow her to stay by this man’s side, completing the remaining 20 million needed to reach the 100 million Humiliation Value goal.
Besides… she couldn’t think of a better plan.
If it was just him bullying her…
Su Nian secretly glanced at Chu Tian from the corner of her eye.
Those humiliating postures, only shown to him alone…
That wouldn’t be too bad.
The maiden’s cheeks flushed even redder, the heat spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
‘Forget it. After all… it wasn’t the first time.’
Her body had long been completely conquered by him.
One more public “kidnapping” didn’t seem like a big deal.
“I won’t regret it.”
She lifted her head abruptly, those azure eyes flashing with a resolute light, as if she had nothing to lose.
“Whatever the Master wants to do… I’ll cooperate.”
“Ding! Humiliation Value +30000!”
The system’s cold notification tone rang in her mind, but Su Nian had no attention to spare for it.
Chu Tian looked at her—so shameful yet stubborn—and the smile on his lips grew richer.
She was so embarrassed she looked ready to curl up, yet she gritted her teeth and spoke the most obedient words.
‘Su Nian… you’re getting more and more interesting.’
“Very good.” His voice was filled with undisguised satisfaction, “Then it’s settled.”
He stood up, looking down at her still sitting on the ground.
“When we reach the Royal Capital, I will tie you up in front of everyone.”
Suddenly he leaned down, bringing his mouth close to her ear.
His warm breath sprayed onto her sensitive earlobe.
“When that time comes, you’d better cooperate well and put on a good show.”
Su Nian’s body gave a violent start, a wave of tingling numbness spreading from her ear through her entire body.
She nodded subconsciously, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s, almost inaudible.
“Mm…”
Chu Tian straightened up, satisfied, and reached out to ruffle her soft golden hair like he was petting a pet.
“Come on, we need to go back and prepare.”
Su Nian stood up behind him, her steps still a bit unsteady.
Her mind kept replaying the conversation just now.
Was she really going to be kidnapped by that Horned Demon in front of everyone?
Then, all the people of the kingdom, her fans, the Academy’s faculty and students, the Saintess’s followers—everyone would see her being subdued.
They would see her powerless to resist.
It was super humiliating…
But in her heart, she actually felt, faintly and unstoppably, a surge of anticipation.
She was looking forward to being roughly captured by that Horned Demon Master in front of everyone.