Chu Tian gazed at the black leather collar nestled in its box, a sly, amused curve tugging at his lips.
He lifted the collar delicately with one hand, his fingers brushing against the cold metal ring, while the other hand grasped the leash’s handle.
The image of Su Nian wearing it, her face a storm of humiliation and defiance, already danced vividly in his mind.
***
On the other side, Su Nian drew a deep breath, resolve hardening within her.
It was time to shift her strategy.
Before this moment, she’d always spoken grandly of achieving fame and dominating the continent, but deep down, she’d been content enough when Magic Feather Fantasy rose to idol stardom.
Beyond her burning obsession to defeat that wretched Horned Demon, she hadn’t felt an urgent need to grow stronger.
But now, everything has changed.
Even if she did nothing, the Horned Demon would find ways to degrade her.
If humiliation was inevitable, better to make it quick and sharp than a lingering torment.
Su Nian had initially planned to hunt for a photographic crystal orb, hoping to seize a chance to defeat the Horned Demon.
But her reckless infiltration of the dungeon had surely put him on guard.
Finding that crystal now would be no easy feat.
The only path to freedom was clear: she had to grow stronger and defeat the Horned Demon herself.
At this moment, the most reliable plan—and the one with the highest chance of success—was to amass enough Humiliation Points to elevate herself to the rank of Holy Demon Mentor.
So, she resolved to harness those points to fuel her ascent.
***
In the fragrant sanctuary of Shadowmoon Manor’s maidenly chambers, Su Nian stepped into the washroom.
With her mastery of water and fire magic, she conjured a pool of warm water in an instant.
Clutching her pale, tender frame, she crouched in the pool, submerging her face and letting bubbles escape her lips.
Perhaps the sensation of being enveloped by water sharpened her thoughts.
She’d considered the possibility that this room, arranged by that vile Horned Demon, might be rigged to capture her bathing.
But what could she do?
Even if he stormed in right now, she’d be powerless to resist.
For now, she needed a plan.
Su Nian had come to a stark realization: to grow stronger, she needed to maximize Humiliation Points without crossing her own moral lines.
Every taunt and indignity from Chu Tian was a chance to gain those points.
The process would be excruciating, steeped in shame, but to escape her predicament, she had no choice but to play along with the Horned Demon’s game—for now.
Of course, this was only a temporary surrender, a means to complete tasks and grow stronger.
As a man… or rather, as someone who had been a man, she refused to crumble under the Horned Demon’s cruelty.
She would not let him break her spirit.
In the end, she would face him head-on and defeat him for good.
To grow stronger, the Humiliation Points from tasks were substantial.
Beyond the unfinished Magic Feather Fantasy idol task, only the daily tasks remained:
“Daily Task: Exchange goodnights with Chu Tian – 0/1, 500 Humiliation Points (Incomplete)”
“Daily Task: Masochist Constitution – 0/1, 1000 Humiliation Points (Incomplete)” Â
“Daily Task (Master): Reside at Shadowmoon Manor at night – 1/1, 2000 Humiliation Points (Completed)”
“Daily Task: Address the Horned Demon as Master – 2/3, 3000 Humiliation Points (Incomplete)”
“Daily Task: Kiss the Horned Demon – 0/1, 5000 Humiliation Points (Incomplete)”
If she could complete these daily, she could amass a million Humiliation Points in three months, enough to ascend to the Saint rank.
But even with her resolve steeled, the sight of these tasks made her vision blur with dread.
So difficult!
Apart from residing at Shadowmoon Manor, none were complete.
She’d start with the easiest: 500 Humiliation Points were still points.
Over time, that small amount might make the difference against the Horned Demon.
Su Nian picked up the “magic phone” by the bath’s edge—a device crafted from crystal, powered by magic arrays and driven by magic stones, completely waterproof.
She could use it in the washroom without worry.
Opening the screen, she tapped the icon of a knight’s avatar—Chu Tian, the captain of Magic Feather Fantasy’s guards and the naive boy she’d once deceived in Flash Town.
She couldn’t reveal her true situation to him yet; for now, she’d maintain contact to complete daily tasks and gather points.
[Miss Su Nian]: You there?
***
In the next room, Chu Tian received her message instantly.
His special-edition magic phone was unique, capable of sending messages under chosen identities and equipped with a photographic function.
Miniaturizing the crystal orb for this had cost significant resources.
Mass-producing such a device for profit would be challenging, but a single, bespoke version could yield… delightful surprises.
For Su Nian, though, those surprises would be nothing short of terrifying.
[Chu Tian]: I’m here.
[Miss Su Nian]: I barely saw you at tonight’s banquet. Where’d you disappear to?
Small talk was necessary.
She couldn’t just say goodnight and call it done—that would treat Chu Tian like a mere tool.
[Chu Tian]: I had some matters to attend to. Why the sudden interest, Miss Su Nian? Are you worried about me?
After the battles at Shadowmoon Manor and two “conversations” in the dungeon, Chu Tian had transformed.
Gone was the shy boy who blushed under Su Nian’s gaze.
His growing strength, wealth, and influence—coupled with the fact that the idol countless adored was now at his mercy—had stripped away his former timidity.
Su Nian, meanwhile, was startled by his change.
Why did he suddenly sound so much like the Horned Demon?
She did care, just a little.
Shadowmoon Manor was home to that fiend, and she genuinely feared someone might fall prey to him.
[Miss Su Nian]: Who’s worried about you? Just asking casually.
[Miss Su Nian]: Oh, by the way, I’m moving to Shadowmoon Manor starting tonight. I won’t be staying at Magic Feather Fantasy anymore. Thanks for looking out for me.
She didn’t want to think about it too much.
The nightly residence task at Shadowmoon Manor came with penalties—like entering into Masochistic state that she had no desire to experience.
[Chu Tian]: Starting tomorrow, I’ll be moving to Shadowmoon Manor too.
Chu Tian sent the message after a moment’s thought.
He wasn’t ready to reveal his true identity as the Horned Demon; he needed a fallback.
With Su Nian at Shadowmoon Manor, his role as guard captain at Magic Feather Fantasy had lost its purpose.
[Miss Su Nian]: Huh?
[Miss Su Nian]: Shadowmoon Manor invited you?
[Chu Tian]: It’s settled. Mr. Moyuan appreciates my skills and appointed me captain of Shadowmoon Manor’s guards.
[Miss Su Nian]: Oh, congrats.
Something felt off, but she couldn’t place it.
No matter—time to finish the small talk and complete the task.
[Miss Su Nian]: I’m exhausted. Off to bed. Goodnight, Chu Tian.
[Chu Tian]: Goodnight. Sweet dreams.
“Daily Task: Exchange goodnights with Chu Tian – 1/1, 500 Humiliation Points (Completed)”
One task down.
Next up: “Daily Task: Masochist Constitution– 0/1, 1000 Humiliation Points (Incomplete)”