Chu Tian’s fingers lingered on the girl’s earlobe, his breath stirring a stray lock of her hair.
Su Nian’s body tensed, every nerve on edge.
She could feel countless eyes piercing through the darkness, clinging to her back like shadows.
On this bustling street, collared and led by that wretched horned demon—what a farce!
Absolutely unacceptable.
Yet, kneeling to greet the horned demon felt just as humiliating…
The man’s low, deliberate countdown reverberated in Su Nian’s ear, each syllable a hammer to her resolve.
The night street glowed with the warm light of shop lanterns, merchants still bustling with trade.
Carriages clattered by, their wheels kicking up cool breezes that tugged at the edges of everyone’s clothes.
Not far off, the siblings Amy and Evan whispered soft reassurances to each other, oblivious to the torment Su Nian endured.
Her fans, those who knew her true identity, watched from a distance, perhaps wondering why she stood frozen with the horned demon, curiosity flickering in their eyes.
“Fine, I agree,” Su Nian spat, her body trembling with rage.
She didn’t dare defy him outright.
Tears of humiliation welled in her eyes, spilling silently as she forced the words through clenched teeth.
Chu Tian’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
He released her earlobe, and they continued down the street.
Fury and resentment churned in Su Nian’s heart, but she was powerless.
Her mind raced with plans—once she returned to Shadowmoon Manor, she’d push herself to reach Saint-rank and find a way to fight back.
She refused to remain his puppet.
Back at Shadowmoon Manor, the horned demon vanished in an instant, muttering about some errand.
Su Nian stormed to the washroom, tasked with preparing his bathwater as ordered.
No choice.
The horned demon’s tricks were endless, and the [Soul Prism] was yet another factor she had to weigh carefully.
For now, until she reached Saint-rank, she couldn’t act recklessly.
Otherwise, she’d lose any chance of turning the tables.
Hmph, just thinking about it made her blood boil!
She’d been working tirelessly, bolstered by the system and the new combat techniques she’d learned at the Magic Academy.
Yet that infuriating horned demon, who spent his days idling and tormenting her, somehow grew stronger without effort.
How?
As Su Nian prepared to heat the bathwater with a basic spell, as she always did, her magic phone pinged.
It was him.
The horned demon.
Of course.
Nothing good ever came from his messages.
[Horned Demon Lord]: “That spell you used today was impressive. Quite pretty. Use it to prepare my bathwater.”
Su Nian froze, then realization hit her like a slap.
That bastard!
The perverse horned demon wanted her to use the advanced [Spirit Abyss Flame Wall]—her strongest spell, meant for battle, the one she’d one day use against him—to heat his bathwater?
The audacity!
It was an insult beyond measure.
[Miss Su Nian]: “Master, please, can I use another spell? I’ll prepare it properly, I beg you.”
Rage roared within her, but her typed words carried none of it.
She couldn’t risk disrespect, so she pleaded humbly, each keystroke a wound to her pride.
To wield her most powerful ability, her pride and joy, for such a menial task—it was a dagger to her dignity, a humiliation that cut deep.
[Horned Demon Lord]: “No. I like that spell. Stop dawdling and get to it.”
He wasn’t even here.
He couldn’t see her.
Could she… fudge it?
As if reading her mind, another message arrived.
[Horned Demon Lord]: “The washroom has a surveillance crystal. Try to skimp, and you know what happens.”
Su Nian stared at the message, fury surging until she nearly smashed the phone and the crystal.
But she knew that would only bring worse consequences.
She took a deep breath, swallowing her anger and shame, and summoned her magic.
“Spirit Abyss Flame Wall!” she hissed through gritted teeth, casting her mightiest spell.
A massive orb of fire and water elements materialized in the washroom, flames roaring beneath a shimmering water membrane, radiating heat that warped the air around it.
The spell’s form shifted, molding into a radiant silhouette of Su Nian herself, enveloping her in its glow.
With the advanced Spirit Abyss Flame Wall, she could effortlessly heat a pool of water to the perfect temperature using water and fire magic.
Tch.
Just tonight, she’d used this spell with confidence, defeating foes and saving Amy from an imposter.
Now, she was reduced to using her proudest technique to prepare bathwater for that wretched horned demon.
“Ding-dong! Humiliation Points +9367.”
“Ding-dong! Annoyance Points +9367.”
“Daily Task (Master): Use the Spirit Abyss Flame Wall to prepare bathwater for the Horned Demon 1/1. 5000 Humiliation Points earned.”
“Hmph, good girl,” Chu Tian’s voice crackled through the phone, smug with satisfaction.
“When I get back, if the water’s cold, you know what happens.”
Su Nian gripped the phone so tightly her nails nearly cracked the case.
“Yes, Master,” she replied, her voice low, dripping with helplessness and shame.
She stared at the bathwater, conjured by her Spirit Abyss Flame Wall, and vowed silently, ‘One day, you’ll pay for this.’
Wait.
Maybe she could make him pay a small price now.
She often used water and fire magic to heat her own bathwater—it was faster than relying on maids.
So, she’d prepared this water to her usual preference.
For the horned demon, though?
A few degrees hotter wouldn’t hurt, right?
Perfect.
She snickered to herself, cranking up the heat.
A short while later, Chu Tian returned to Shadowmoon Manor.
He’d been tying up loose ends, ensuring no clues from the crime scene pointed to Su Nian or himself.
He’d also tested a new ability.
[Negative Emotion Marker]: For 50,000 Annoyance Points, he could permanently absorb negative emotions from a single target, regardless of distance.
It worked.
Forcing Su Nian to use her flashy spell for bathwater had earned him a tidy sum of Annoyance Points.
Before, his point gains were limited by proximity.
Now, Su Nian’s emotions were his to harvest from anywhere, opening up endless possibilities.
Meanwhile, Su Nian received a message: the horned demon was back.
She steeled herself.
Tonight was another chance to rack up Humiliation Points.
She’d decided to set aside her shame for now.
The faster she earned points, the sooner she’d reach Saint-rank and break free of his control.
If she delayed and he reached Saint-rank first, she’d be doomed forever.
Footsteps echoed outside.
Her enhanced hearing, bolstered by new auxiliary skills, picked them up clearly.
And, as per his earlier threat, she’d have to kneel to greet her “master”…