A soft “thump, thump, thump” echoed through the stillness.
Chu Tian froze, his brow furrowing slightly.
Who would dare disturb him at this hour?
A servant wouldn’t have the audacity to knock so late.
The door creaked open, and in the dim light, Chu Tian caught sight of Su Nian.
A flicker of surprise danced in his eyes, quickly giving way to something darker, more predatory, as he took in the girl’s lowered head and the flush of crimson staining her exquisite face.
Unrestrained amusement and desire glinted in his gaze.
“Well, well, Miss Su Nian,” he drawled, his lips curling into a wicked smirk.
“What brings you to my door in the dead of night? Missing your master, perhaps?” His tone was laced with malice, his eyes roaming over her without a shred of subtlety.
The girl who had knocked so boldly wore a slightly shorter black dress, paired with delicate, sheer black stockings—an outfit that bore a striking resemblance to the one she’d worn when she first arrived at Shadowmoon Manor.
Su Nian, coming to him of her own accord?
This was unexpected.
According to his original plan, he’d intended to let her roam freely during the day, allowing her to chase her dreams of being an idol, a mentor, a goddess adored by the masses.
But tomorrow night… tomorrow night, she’d be wearing his collar, calling him ‘Master’.
Yet here she was, tonight, standing at his threshold.
Had the girl already surrendered?
Su Nian fought to suppress the disgust and shame churning within her.
Her hands clutched the hem of her dress, knuckles whitening from the force, as she struggled to keep her voice steady.
Despite her efforts, a faint tremor betrayed her.Â
“I… I couldn’t sleep,” she stammered, her fingers nervously twirling a strand of golden hair.
“I went for a walk and… ended up here.” The lie slipped out instinctively.
She could hardly admit the truth—’ “Don’t talk, just kiss me; I need to complete my task.’ *
“Couldn’t sleep?” Chu Tian stepped closer, his presence looming as he positioned himself to block any sudden escape.
“And your walk just happened to lead you to the room next door?”Â
“I… I must’ve taken a wrong turn. Sorry, I’ll leave now.”
Su Nian clung to her flimsy excuse, her voice barely above a whisper.
She knew full well who stood before her—a vile, horned demon, her sworn enemy.
To come to his door in the middle of the night was already an act of profound humiliation.
There was no way she’d willingly take it further.
Yet, deep within, a traitorous part of her hoped he’d make a move, something cruel or overbearing, anything to help her complete her tasks and earn the “Humiliation Points” she so desperately needed.
“Daily Task: Moment of Pleasure 0/1, 1000 Humiliation Points – (Incomplete)” Â
“Daily Task: Address the Special Horned Demon as Master 2/3, 3000 Humiliation Points – (Incomplete)” Â
“Daily Task: Kiss the Horned Demon 0/1, 5000 Humiliation Points – (Incomplete)”
Her goal was clear: grow stronger, gather intelligence, and ultimately defeat this demon.
Despite his human guise—tall, imposing, and infuriatingly handsome in the eyes of Amy or to the rest of the artist in Magic Feather Fantasy—this was no man.
He was a high-ranking demon, a threat to humanity.
If she could endure this humiliation, stay close to him, and uncover his weaknesses, it would all be worth it.
“Since you’re here,” Chu Tian said, his voice low and commanding, “you’re not leaving.”
With a gentle but firm tug, he pulled her into the room and shut the door behind them.
Su Nian’s heart lurched.
Every instinct screamed for her to flee, but her feet felt rooted to the floor, as if bound by some invisible force.
She had resolved to do whatever it took to earn those points, to complete her tasks—but now, faced with the reality, the weight of her shame was nearly unbearable.
‘Maybe… maybe I should wait,’ she thought frantically.
‘I’ll come back tomorrow, after I’ve had time to prepare.’
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an excuse, any reason to slip away.
“I… I really should go,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible.
“I have things to do tomorrow.”
Chu Tian advanced, closing the distance between them.
His masculine scent enveloped her, overwhelming and intoxicating, sending a shiver of unwanted sensation through her body.
Earlier, alone in her room, she’d spent half an hour exploring herself, teetering on the edge of something intense but never quite reaching it.
Now, her body thrummed with a strange, heightened awareness, as if poised on the brink of a precipice.
And then, his scent—his master’s scent—hit her like a wave, leaving her limbs weak and her heart racing with a forbidden anticipation she refused to acknowledge.
“What could possibly be more important than keeping your master company at this hour?”
His voice was a low, magnetic rumble, carrying an authority that brooked no argument.
Su Nian’s cheeks burned hotter, her pulse hammering in her ears.
“I… I need to prepare for my classes at the Magic Academy tomorrow,” she said, turning her face away to avoid his piercing gaze and that maddening scent.
‘Damn it!’ He was just a demon in human skin.
She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let herself be swayed.
“You know,” Chu Tian said, stepping closer, pinning her against the wall, “as my little slave, where you go and what you do is entirely up to me.”
His words were a velvet threat, his body a towering presence that left her no room to retreat.
The plan to collar her wasn’t supposed to happen tonight, but with her standing here, in his room, alone… how could he let such an opportunity pass?
A beautiful girl knocking on his door in the dead of night?
If he didn’t take advantage, others might think him weak.
Su Nian shrank back, her shoulders pressing against the cold wall.
There was nowhere left to go.
She understood her situation all too well—for now, this demon hadn’t restricted her movements or locked her away.
That freedom was crucial.
If she lost access to the ‘Shop’, her ability to grow stronger through Humiliation Points would be severed.
And tomorrow, she needed to visit the Magic Academy’s library to research countermeasures against dark magic—vital knowledge for her eventual rebellion.
She couldn’t afford to anger him.
Not now.
Before she could respond, Chu Tian’s hand shot out, grasping her chin and forcing her to meet his gaze.
His eyes gleamed like cold stars, sharp and unrelenting.
“I’ll give you one more chance to tell the truth,” he said, his voice a dangerous growl.
“Did you really just wander here by mistake?”
Fear gripped her.
If she provoked him and ended up locked in a dungeon, her only escape would be forced teleportation—a desperate measure that would curse her with another permanent “Masochist Constitution”, weakening her chances of ever defeating him.
Worse, if she fled, this perverse demon might spread humiliating images or videos of her submission, destroying her reputation and leaving her ostracized, a pariah in the eyes of the world.
Realization settled heavily in her chest.
With a resigned sigh, Su Nian swallowed her pride and parted her lips, her voice trembling with the weight of her humiliation.
Though it went against everything she stood for—her honor as a knight, her dignity as a mage—she had no choice but to play along, for now.