Su Nian’s teeth grazed her lower lip, her body trembling faintly.
A storm of reluctance and humiliation churned within her, yet in this dire situation, the primal instinct to survive and the dread of unknown punishment began to eclipse her defiance.
Her fists clenched tightly, her gaze locked on the vile Horned Demon before her.
In her heart, she whispered reassurances to herself.
Even if she begged for mercy now, it would only be a facade—a temporary surrender.
She had no intention of engaging in a futile battle only to relive her previous defeat.
To overcome this Horned Demon, she needed the right opportunity, and this dungeon offered none.
So, even if she humbled herself, it didn’t mean she was truly broken.
“I… I was wrong,” she murmured, her voice quivering with a hint of a sob as she knelt before the Horned Demon.
“Please… forgive me this once. I didn’t mean to trespass into this dungeon. I wasn’t trying to steal anything.”
Each word felt like it drained her entire being, her head bowed slightly in submission.
“You didn’t mean to trespass?”Chu Tian, the Horned Demon, regarded her with a playful smirk, his tone laced with mockery.
It seemed this girl had finally learned her lesson.
Unlike before, when she’d attacked him without hesitation upon sight, she now showed restraint.
Good.
“Yes, I just… got lost,” Su Nian insisted, her voice faltering.
Surely, merely stumbling into the dungeon without attacking the Horned Demon wouldn’t warrant too harsh a punishment, would it?
“Really? You weren’t here for the Crystal Orb of Shadows?”Chu Tian raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I swear, I was just lost. Please, let me go…” Su Nian lied swiftly, desperation tingeing her plea.
“Ding-dong! Humiliation Points +4463.”
“Ding-dong! Annoyance Points +4463.”
She had walked right into his trap, cornered in this dungeon by the wretched Horned Demon, forced to beg for mercy.
Even with full health and mana, she hadn’t dared to fight—just surrendered.
The shame burned fiercely within her.
“Hmph! Let you go?” Chu Tian’s voice dripped with disdain as he circled behind her, leaning close to her ear.
“What makes you think you have the right to bargain with me, little slave?”
He emphasized the last two words, each syllable a sharp blade piercing her pride.
Su Nian turned her head away, muttering under her breath, “I’ve already admitted I was wrong. What more do you want?”
She had surrendered outright, yet it still wasn’t enough.
Clearly, things were not unfolding as she had hoped.
“What more? It seems I’ve been too lenient with you, failing to teach you how to properly serve your master.”
Chu Tian’s voice was low and dangerous as he crouched beside her.
His fingers brushed lightly through her cascading golden hair, then traced slowly down her pale cheek.
Su Nian’s body stiffened, her every muscle taut.
She didn’t dare move, only trembled faintly as she endured his touch.
Revulsion and rage boiled within her, but she was powerless to act.
“You beg for mercy, yet you still carry that defiant air…”Chu Tian’s voice grew darker, a menacing edge to it.
“It seems my little slave Su Nian isn’t nearly obedient enough. You need a lesson to make you remember.”
With that, his once-gentle hand struck downward with force.
“Slap!”
The sharp sound echoed through the silent dungeon like a thunderclap, startling Su Nian so much that her kneeling form lurched forward.
“Ah!” she cried out, her voice ringing in the empty chamber, laced with shock and fear.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She hadn’t expected this Horned Demon to humiliate her so brazenly.
Shame and fury flooded her, her cheeks flushing crimson as tears of indignation and terror welled in her eyes.
Before she could recover from the first blow, a second followed, as if intent on shattering what little dignity she had left.
At that moment, her mind went blank.
Though her hatred for Chu Tian blazed like wildfire, she was utterly defeated.
“I… I’ll be obedient,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, fading to a murmur.
“Please, Master, don’t hit me again…”
Her dignity felt crushed, scattered like dust in the wind.
“Ding-dong! Humiliation Points +8521.”
“Ding-dong! Annoyance Points +8521.”
She had avoided a fight, admitted her fault, and begged for mercy—yet this vile Horned Demon still tormented her.
How could he strike there?
‘Ugh, what a bully! Always picking on girls!’ she thought, her heart wailing.
“Since you claim you’ll be obedient, I’ll give you two choices. Pick one.”
Chu Tian stepped behind her, his warm breath grazing her ear as he whispered.
The sensation sent a flush to her cheeks, infuriating her further.
This cursed, overly sensitive body of hers reacted instinctively to his proximity, despite her loathing for him.
“What choices?” Su Nian tilted her head slightly, ensuring his lips didn’t brush her ear.
“It seems Miss Su Nian returned to the Shadowmoon Manor after the banquet ended. You must either love the manor… or this dungeon.”
Chu Tian’s voice was teasing, almost gleeful.
“How about this: you can live in the torture chamber from now on. What do you say?”
Su Nian’s gaze darted to the grim torture chamber, its array of ghastly instruments sending a chill through her.
She shook her head vehemently.
“No! I absolutely won’t stay here!”
Being locked in there, tormented day and night by this Horned Demon—she’d be broken beyond repair.
In truth, the torture chamber wasn’t Chu Tian’s creation.
It had come with the manor when he purchased it, an inconsequential detail left untouched.
Now, it served perfectly to intimidate the girl before him.
Though he fantasized about using those tools on her one day, the timing wasn’t right.
He needed to build her Annoyance Points gradually, and she wasn’t ready for such extremes.
“Not fond of the dungeon, then?”Chu Tian nodded, as if he’d anticipated her refusal.
“So, you must love Shadowmoon Manor, which is why you came back and got lost. Otherwise, the only explanation is that you came to steal.”
“And thieves,” he added, raising his hand as if to strike again, “face severe punishment.”
Su Nian flinched, shrinking back.
“Yes, I was admiring the manor’s gardens and the grand hall! That’s why I returned and accidentally wandered into the dungeon. I wasn’t stealing!”
She couldn’t admit to stealing.
Not only would it bring harsher punishment, but it would also expose her true intent—to steal the Crystal Orb.
“You love Shadowmoon Manor? Perfect!”
Chu Tian’s face lit up with a smug, infuriating grin.
“As your master, I’ll graciously allow you to live here, where you can enjoy your beloved manor every day.”
Living here meant endless opportunities for him to rack up her Annoyance Points.
‘Wait… live with this Horned Demon?’ Su Nian froze, stunned.
How had things spiraled to this point?
At that moment, a system prompt chimed in her ear.
“Ding-dong! Master’s Task Triggered.”
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