A whole night of jolting and hurried travel.
When the first ray of morning sunlight spilled onto the earth, the distant towering spires of Academy City came fully into view.
Su Nian slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, as if trying to release all the fatigue and tension she had been holding since setting out.
Seeing this familiar place, an indescribable sense of relief quietly spread through her heart.
She was back.
Recalling the journey from Shadowmoon Manor to the Morsen Family Territory, her heart still instinctively tightened.
Officially, she had gone to investigate the trail of the Undead Mage.
In truth, she was constantly searching for an opportunity to break free from control, or even to strike back at that Horned Demon Bastard.
Every moment alone with him carried the risk of another defeat.
Every glance exchanged was filled with silent struggle and probing.
That mental tension was nearly suffocating.
Though… the final result could hardly be called a victory.
She had to use Destiny Reversal just to barely save herself from falling into an even deeper state of humiliation.
She had lost.
But it seemed she hadn’t completely lost.
With her own intelligence, she had maneuvered her way to this point.
That’s right… intelligence!
A faint, almost imperceptible smile surfaced on Su Nian’s exquisite cheeks.
Her index finger unconsciously twirled beside her temple.
Head-on confrontation was no longer a wise choice.
That Horned Demon Bastard’s strength was unfathomable, and now he had a terrifyingly powerful knight—Da Hei—as his servant.
On top of that, the damned Lover’s Prison Collar around her neck could suppress her magic at any time.
A frontal clash meant slim chances of victory.
She had to win with wit.
The next battle… would be a battle of intelligence.
And Su Nian lacked nothing in that department!
The Horned Demon Bastard might have Da Hei…
‘Hmph!’
But she had also gifted Da Hei to him.
Still… she could find someone to help her as well.
Someone trustworthy, capable, and preferably someone who knew about that Horned Demon Bastard and could get close to him.
A figure gradually took shape in her mind.
‘That’s right!’
‘The captain of Magic Feather Fantasy’s guard, Chu Tian.’
That man who appeared upright, reliable, and even somewhat… easily manipulated by her.
Su Nian’s eyes flickered.
‘It had to be him.’
This time, she couldn’t simply rely on manipulation and deception as before.
Perhaps… she should show some sincerity.
Exchange true heart for true heart?
Not necessarily.
But she could offer something tangible.
For example, using the hard-earned Humiliation Value to redeem precious magical items or rare equipment from the System Shop.
As bargaining chips, to gain Chu Tian’s deep cooperation.
Last time, she had tried to get Chu Tian to help hire adventurers to deal with the Horned Demon Bastard.
Unfortunately, the plan was discovered by that bastard early on.
The Lover’s Prison Collar tightened around her neck, plunging her into desperation.
Dozens of painful Time Reversals and countless tactics tried—all ending in crushing defeat.
That sense of helplessness and despair still haunted her to this day.
It had brought her to this point, almost making her believe the Horned Demon Bastard was invincible…
This time, she had to be more careful, more cautious.
She absolutely could not repeat the same mistakes.
The next moment, inside the carriage, a flash of white light appeared.
Silver radiance flowed and rippled around the girl like water waves.
Soft yet impossible to ignore.
The light faded.
In the blink of an eye, the silver-haired, pure, noble Saintess who seemed untouched by the mortal world vanished.
In her place stood a completely different yet equally dazzling figure.
The saintly, noble silver hair transformed into radiant, golden locks like sunlight.
Her hair was voluminous and curly, shimmering with vibrant energy in the morning light.
The light magic battle robe symbolizing brilliance and purity shifted into a stylish, well-tailored collaborative idol outfit.
Delicate pink and pure white intertwined, adorned with just the right amount of lace and ribbons.
The skirt playfully fluttered, revealing a glimpse of slender, fair calves.
Pure.
Beautiful.
Her entire being radiated the vibrant energy of youth.
Yet her sky-blue eyes held a subtle, undeniable allure, sparkling with seductive charm.
Like the finest jewel, constantly drawing others’ gazes.
Nine parts purity, one part enticing temptation.
Enough to make one unable to look away.
Su Nian lightly shook her head, golden strands drawing a lively arc.
She stretched her arms, feeling the comfort of this familiar yet cozy outfit.
The girl who had shed her disguise seemed to shed some of her worries along with it, feeling lighter.
Inside the carriage, Chu Tian, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
His deep gaze fell on the girl who had just transformed, filled with undisguised scrutiny and interest.
Watching the silver light fade, the golden brilliance bloom.
Watching the saintly be replaced by lively vibrancy.
He had to admit.
This girl before him was truly… captivating.
Whether as the cold and noble silver-haired Saintess, or this passionate, fiery, golden-haired idol of summer, two completely different temperaments, perfectly blended yet distinct.
Each had its own charm.
Both breathtakingly beautiful, impossible to look away from.
Of course, this was not the first time he had seen her transform.
He had even seen Su Nian in more intimate, more provocatively alluring outfits that stirred the most primal desires in men.
But that did not stop him from appreciating the beauty before him now.
A playful curve lifted the corner of Chu Tian’s lips.
Greedy?
Perhaps.
Only children make choices.
He wanted them all.
Whichever version of her.
Pure, charming, saintly, lively…
In the end, all would be his possession.
The carriage rolled through the increasingly familiar gates of Shadowmoon Manor.
Heavy wrought-iron carvings slowly swung open.
Su Nian almost impatiently jumped out of the bumpy carriage.
Her feet touched the smooth, solid stone pathway as she stretched lazily, her joints making a series of faint cracking sounds.
Shedding her disguise felt incredible.
The air carried the scent of freshly trimmed grass mixed with the faint sweetness of distant flowerbeds, and even a trace of the fresh aura unique to magical elements.
All of it was worlds apart from the damp wilderness, the oppressive Bai Shui Town, and the bloody bandit dens.
Even breathing seemed easier now.
She turned, motioning for the three still-shaken women to follow.
They hesitated, stepping cautiously, their eyes filled with unease and curiosity at the unfamiliar, luxurious surroundings.
Head Maid Rita was already waiting at the door with several maids.
Her demeanor was dignified, her face adorned with a perfectly measured respectful smile.
She first greeted Chu Tian with a bow, then turned to Su Nian.
“Mo Yuan Sir, Miss Su Nian.”
Chu Tian merely nodded casually, his gaze barely lingering on the three women for more than a second.
He gave a matter-of-fact command.
“Make the arrangements.”
“Yes, sir.” Rita responded obediently, then turned her gentle gaze to the three women behind Su Nian.
There was no scrutiny in her eyes, only just the right amount of compassion and reassurance.
“Please follow me.”
Her soft voice was like a spring breeze, carrying a comforting strength.
“The manor is very safe, there’s nothing to fear.”
She signaled the maids behind her to lead them toward the servants’ quarters, carefully instructing the follow-up body checks and hygiene matters.
Watching the head maid’s gentle and patient actions, Su Nian’s heart relaxed a little.
Rita’s kindness and care in her maid’s uniform sharply contrasted with the volatile Horned Demon Bastard.
At least, these three poor women would be safe for now at Shadowmoon Manor.
Returning to the manor she had been away from for several days, Su Nian felt every muscle relax.
Her taut nerves finally eased.
She almost couldn’t wait to cross the porch and head straight to the living room.
She threw her entire body into the soft, impossibly spacious velvet sofa.
Rubbing against it comfortably, she even rolled around on it like a lazy kitten, completely unguarded.
This was freedom.
Although the shadows of that Horned Demon Bastard lingered everywhere, at least she no longer had to play the poised, reserved “Holy Lady” who saved the world.
Heaven knew how exhausting that had been!
Not long after, the well-trained maids appeared as silently as ghosts.
They brought a carefully prepared breakfast.
Silverware gleamed softly in the morning light.
On white porcelain plates steamed hot food.
Golden, crisp toast smeared with bright, dripping strawberry jam.
Bacon cooked to perfection with fragrant, slightly charred edges.
And a mountain of pancakes drenched in maple syrup.
The rich aroma of milk mingled with freshly ground coffee’s robust fragrance and the fresh sweetness of various fruits.
All these tempting scents intertwined, making Su Nian’s fingers twitch.
Her eyes instantly lit up, sparkling with the pure glow of a true foodie.
She almost joyfully lunged at the table, picking up her knife and fork, and began to devour the feast without restraint.
Maybe becoming a girl had changed her body’s instincts.
She now had an exceptional fondness for sweets.
All kinds of exquisite, delicate, and adorably shaped pastries.
Mousse cakes, dense yet melting in the mouth.
Drinks perfectly sweet and bursting with fruit aroma.
All these were irresistible, making her smile with delight.
And it seemed the System’s mysterious power was at work.
As an idol needing to maintain a perfect figure, she did not have to manage her body at all.
No matter how many high-calorie foods she ate, her weight and shape never changed.
She could indulge in the joy of food without the slightest worry about gaining weight.
This was the ultimate talent every girl dreamed of.
After eating her fill, Su Nian patted her flat stomach with satisfaction, a happy flush coloring her face.
She let out a small, contented burp and left the dining room.
Her steps light and brisk, she returned to her own spacious, bright room.
She went into the bathroom like clockwork.
Fingertips moved slightly, quickly gathering water elements from the air.
Warm water rushed into the enormous bathtub, big enough to fit several people.
Steam soon filled the air, blurring the polished mirror.
She shed her clothes and sank her weary body into the warm water.
A comfortable sigh escaped her lips.
The hot water wrapped every inch of her skin, washing away the fatigue and soreness of the overnight journey.
Her tense muscles slowly relaxed in the warm bath.
Recalling last night, confined in that cramped, stifling carriage with that Horned Demon Bastard, she had barely closed her eyes, remaining on high alert the entire time.
Now, she could finally relax completely and rest well.
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