Chapter 173: The Girl Plans to Seize Shadowmoon Manor!

Su Nian trembled suddenly.

Why did the thought of returning to Shadowmoon Manor, returning to a peaceful life, fill her heart with a sense of relief?

What kind of place was Shadowmoon Manor?

It was clearly a gorgeous prison that held her captive.

A place where she endured humiliation day and night, forced to carry out all kinds of shameful tasks!

How could it be called “home”!

This very thought was a betrayal.

A desecration of all the suffering she had endured.

It had to be an illusion!

She must be exhausted.

Yes, that had to be it.

Su Nian shook her head hard, trying to expel this absurd, even terrifying, idea completely from her mind.

However, compared to the familiar environment of Shadowmoon Manor, this exhausting, perilous journey had indeed worn her down.

At least, in Shadowmoon Manor, she didn’t have to wear a false mask like now, playing the role of a “Saintess” that was not truly hers.

She didn’t have to endure the jolting, bone-shaking carriage ride.

Nor did she have to brave the elements, constantly alert to unknown dangers.

She didn’t have to worry about unpredictable emergencies.

She didn’t have to personally engage in life-or-death battles with terrifying necromancers.

Or engage in cunning battles of wits with the scheming Knight Order.

Though, going back still meant facing that Horned Demon Bastard.

Enduring his endless, ever-changing humiliations.

And completing those tasks so shameful she just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

But at least…

It seemed…

Like a daily life she had gradually become… “used to”?

No…

Su Nian’s fingernails dug sharply into her palm beneath the wide sleeves of her light magic robe.

The sharp pain instantly sobered her up.

How could she get used to a life like this?

She absolutely could not!

To get used to it meant falling into despair.

Meant giving up the fight!

Meant that Su Nian would become nothing more than that bastard’s possession!

Shadowmoon Manor was not home.

‘Never!’

It was a bad place she had to break free from, had to escape from.

Yes, a bad place.

Su Nian had wanted to label Shadowmoon Manor as “hell” in her mind.

But then, images came unbidden: the maids carefully preparing desserts, rich with the scent of cream and jam.

The aroma of roasted meat that melted on the tongue.

The dazzlingly beautiful dresses in the wardrobe.

Various styles, various fabrics—from light silk to luxurious satin—all freely available for her to choose.

Her room was spacious and unbelievably comfortable.

The furniture was exquisite and luxurious, each piece worth a fortune.

Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling window was a garden carefully tended by dedicated staff, blooming with flowers in all seasons, the scenery flawless.

Every time she left, an ornate carriage lined with soft velvet cushions waited at the door.

Material conditions… indeed seemed… flawless…

Even luxurious to the extreme.

She had heard the entire estate was worth over forty thousand gold coins!

Converted to the currency she knew before crossing over, that was four hundred million in value!

The place itself was not wrong.

The one at fault was the person!

The Horned Demon Bastard!

He had destroyed all the beauty there!

A bold thought flashed like lightning across the pitch-black sky, instantly illuminating the darkness in Su Nian’s heart.

If…

If one day she could really defeat that Horned Demon Bastard…

Would she…

Be able to take complete possession of Shadowmoon Manor?

It seemed…

Completely possible!

Once she defeated that bastard and took everything he owned…

That priceless manor.

Those piles of wealth.

And the Magic Workshop at Shadowmoon Manor producing Magic Phones, a truly high-end industry.

If she won, all of this would be her spoils!

‘Heh heh heh!’

This idea planted a magical seed in Su Nian’s heart that instantly took root and grew at an incredible speed.

An unprecedented, surging power welled up inside her.

Almost about to burst through her “Saintess” disguise.

To return now.

To that “bad place.”

To prepare properly.

To wait for the perfect moment.

Not just for revenge, to cleanse all the humiliation he had inflicted on her.

But also for…

To make a big profit off him!

To snatch everything from that Horned Demon Bastard and let him taste pain!

***

On the wooden platform.

Su Nian’s heart was already turbulent, thoughts swirling.

Her face even showed a faint blush of excitement, barely noticeable.

But on her face remained that sacred, compassionate expression, as if untouched by any impurity.

Perfect and flawless.

Her gaze slowly swept downward.

The townsfolk knelt devoutly, their eyes burning with a fanatic fervor bordering on madness, looking at her like a deity walking among mortals.

“The matter here is settled.” Her voice remained ethereal and distant, carrying a fitting detachment.

As if at the next moment, she would turn into a beam of light, riding the wind, returning to her rightful heaven.

“The plague and evil have been purged.”

“I shall leave now.”

No choice—the Horned Demon Bastard had already sent orders, urging her to return home.

“May the Holy Light bless you all.”

After uttering this standard, emotionless formal phrase, she no longer paid attention to the sincere pleas from below, nor the even more fervent, deafening worship cries.

Su Nian turned.

Her steps light, her posture elegant.

The white light magic robe fluttered gently with her movements like flowing moonlight.

Yet it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

She walked toward the exit of the square.

From the corner of her eye, she seemed to catch sight of a Knight Order adjutant hiding in the ruins of a collapsed building.

He was looking rather disheveled, sneaking around while holding a transparent crystal orb that glowed faintly.

A Photography Crystal Orb?

Su Nian didn’t pause her steps, not even raising an eyelid.

As an official Knight Order of the Morsen Family, using such magical tools to record scenes and gather evidence was a normal procedure.

Besides, she had just played the role of “Saintess,” with flawless words and deeds, no shameful acts.

Let them film.

The clearer, the better.

She could also have a “secondary” identity, one she could switch to anytime with the Guanghui Plastication Technique, transforming into her current appearance.

Right now, the priority was to leave this troublesome place.

Return to the “bad place” that stirred all her complicated feelings: Shadowmoon Manor.

Then begin her new plan.

Revenge, and… seizing Shadowmoon Manor!

Though by the Horned Demon Bastard’s side, she would have to keep playing the obedient little slave.

Endure those tasks that filled her with shame and anger.

But she could accumulate more Humiliation Value this way.

Use the Humiliation Value to buy stronger equipment and magic, waiting for the summoning of the three Void Beasts to complete.

Then… a cold gleam flashed in Su Nian’s eyes.

She would take everything from him.

‘Horned Demon Bastard, just you wait!’