In the tranquil ambiance of Shadowmoon Manor, Chu Tian’s gaze was riveted to the glowing screen of his enchanted phone, fixed on the last message Su Nian had sent.
His heart churned like a storm-tossed sea, emotions swirling in a tangled dance of hope, doubt, and yearning.
He couldn’t decipher the truth behind her words—whether they sprang from genuine feeling or concealed some deeper intent.
This girl, for whom his heart had long beat, dangled hope before him time and again, only to let it slip away, leaving him adrift like a lone boat battered by relentless waves.
He had all but abandoned hope for their bond, resolving instead to don the guise of Demon Chu Tian—a persona crafted to demean and dominate Su Nian, to claim her entirely.
Other matters, he’d decided, could wait until the demon clan’s assault was crushed.
Yet now, with his plans meticulously laid, her message arrived, a spark in the dark.
Could it be that Su Nian still held him in her heart?
Should he reveal his true self to her?
Demon Chu Tian stared at the collar before him, his mind a battlefield of indecision.
In the end, reason prevailed.
He knew altering his plan carried grave risks.
Compared to the three years he’d endured, the safety of himself, Su Nian, and the future of the Western Continent’s people took precedence.
Though Chu Tian’s time in this world was brief, he was no stone.
How could he remain unmoved?
Each person he’d met was flesh and blood, their lives intertwining with his own.
Deep down, he yearned not to flee to the Eastern Continent with newfound power but to vanquish the demon clan outright.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the manor, Su Nian was far from idle, racking her brain to amass Humiliation Points.
Gritting her teeth, she muttered, “To hell with it—I’m going for it!”
But when her eyes fell on the task labeled “Masochist Constitution” in the system, her resolve faltered, her face flushing with dread.
Did she really have to do something so mortifying here?
The thought of that wretched Horned Demon living next door sent a shiver through her, a mix of shame and unease crawling like ants across her skin.
“Come on!” she rallied herself.
“If I skip this task, relying only on daily quests, it’ll take three months to scrape together a million Humiliation Points for an SS-tier ability to ascend to Saint rank.”
Three months didn’t sound long, but it felt like an eternity.
That Horned Demon, gorged on some unholy elixir of strength, was growing more powerful by the day.
She had to act fast.
And this wasn’t even the worst task.
Her gaze drifted to another: kissing the Horned Demon.
Her vision darkened.
“Damn it! If that kissing task only gave 1,000 Humiliation Points, I’d skip it in a heartbeat.”
But it offered 5,000 points daily—nearly half her daily quota.
Without it, reaching Saint rank would take six months.
“Six months!” she groaned.
“By then, who knows what that perverse demon would do to me?”
So, she steeled herself.
Moments later, fresh from a bath, Su Nian slipped into a sheer gown and slid under the covers.
Beneath the blankets, she began the task…
Her legs, clad in sleek black stockings, gleamed faintly.
Thirty minutes later, her face burned crimson.
Why?
The daily task—”Masochist Constitution”—remained incomplete, 1,000 Humiliation Points out of reach.
Why wasn’t it working?
She felt as feeble as a minnow, utterly outmatched by the Horned Demon.
She knew why: her Owned status.
[Owned]: As the possession of her master, her body’s sensitivity and pleasure were dulled by 80% in the presence of others, her masochistic traits nullified, returning her to a normal state. Only before her master did her sensitivity and pleasure surge by 20%—even when alone, she reverted to normal.
Since gaining the [Owned] status, she was hypersensitive only in the Horned Demon’s presence.
Alone, she was ordinary.
She’d asked the system about it.
Breaking free was simple in theory: defeat the Horned Demon just once.
But she lacked the strength, and a reckless move would only worsen her plight.
A wild thought flickered in her mind.
‘Go to the Horned Demon.’
No!
How could she even consider it?
The idea filled her with shame, stripping away her pride.
It was like a lamb strolling into a tiger’s den, begging to be devoured.
Those unaware of the truth might think she’d surrendered to that vile demon.
But even if she didn’t go now, two tasks loomed:
“Daily Task: Address the Horned Demon as Master—2/3, 3,000 Humiliation Points, (incomplete).”
“Daily Task: Kiss the Horned Demon—0/1, 5,000 Humiliation Points, (incomplete).”
These offered the most points she could earn now.
Why not?
She could seek out the Horned Demon, treat him like an NPC, and complete the tasks without overthinking.
If she did nothing, his grip on her would only tighten.
She’d rather err than remain passive.
Once the thought took root, it consumed her.
Beyond reason, a nagging, almost desperate urge pushed her forward.
Of course, she knew going to him risked violation.
But she had an ace: her S-tier [Phantom Flame Spirit Break], still hidden.
If the Horned Demon tried anything, she’d fight to the death, never yielding.
In the dead of night, Shadowmoon Manor lay cloaked in silence.
From a room scented with faint fragrance, a breathtaking girl emerged.
She wore a flowing black dress, its hem cascading like ink, accentuating her slender waist and delicate curves.
Her legs, sheathed in black stockings, gleamed subtly, their sleek texture hugging her skin, elongating her graceful limbs.
The stockings’ sheen flickered in the dim light, lending her an air of mystery and allure.
Crimson heels added a spark of color.
Her golden hair spilled like a waterfall, tumbling over her shoulders and back, a few strands clinging to her sweat-dampened cheeks.
Su Nian’s hands fidgeted with her skirt’s hem, her trembling betraying the shame and turmoil roiling within.
Her skin, usually pale as jade, now glowed with a faint blush, a mark of the humiliation burning through her.
The Horned Demon was in the next room.
Yet her steps were slow, as if crossing a vast distance.
At last, she reached Demon Chu Tian’s door.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked softly.
Her heart raced, threatening to burst from her chest.
Her mind spun with visions of his possible reactions—fear, shame, and humiliation crashing over her like a tidal wave.
She knew this choice might change her life forever.
But to break free from the Horned Demon, she had no other path.
This was the price of her past defeats—and her only hope.