Chapter 181: Why Is the Girl So Skilled?

This band of bandits colluded with the Knight Order, working hand in glove to help spread the Plague, poisoning the innocent lives of Bai Shui Town.

They murdered, looted, and captured defenseless women, imprisoning them deep within this filthy mountain stronghold and subjecting them to inhuman tortures.

Every single one of their crimes was atrocious beyond measure, igniting righteous fury.

“In the name of those who died in despair during the Plague in Bai Shui Town—kill!”

“In the name of the women abducted and broken in body and mind by the bandits—kill!”

“In the name of eradicating the scum of the world to restore peace—kill!”

The terrifying Knight, Da Hei, froze mid-motion at these words, his massive, heavy body seeming to await final confirmation.

At the entrance to the stronghold, near the carriage.

From afar, Chu Tian’s voice drifted lazily on the night breeze.

“Do as she says.”

The voice was low but carried an unmistakable authority that entered Da Hei’s ears clearly and without question.

The order was confirmed.

The pale blue Soulfire suddenly flickered fiercely in Da Hei’s hollow eye sockets.

There was no longer a shred of hesitation.

The Heavy Black Iron Greatsword, stained with dried, blackened blood, was gripped tightly by his knotted fingers, wrapped beneath battered armor.

Then, it was raised high.

The heavy blade sliced through the foul air, stirring a muffled, mournful wind.

The bound bandits instantly ceased their futile struggles.

Fear choked their throats.

Rags muffled their screams.

Their bodies trembled violently like sieved grain.

They looked despairingly at the towering, death-like figure of Da Hei, their eyes filled only with endless terror.

The sword’s edge traced a cold and hopeless arc in the dim light.

It tore through the thick, oppressive wind.

“Pssht!”

“Pssht!”

“Pssht!”

A few desperate, muffled whimpers came from behind the gag, sounds of death’s approach.

Then the muffled sounds abruptly stopped.

Everything quickly fell utterly silent.

Only the heavy stench of blood lingered in the stronghold.

And the suffocating, icy death aura emanating from Da Hei.

Su Nian stood quietly where she was.

The mingled light of moonlight and the setting sun outlined the silhouette of her sacred battle robe, creating a strange contrast against the surrounding bloodshed.

She watched the slaughter unfold swiftly before her eyes.

Watched the twisted corpses lose their last traces of life.

The expression on the girl’s beautiful face did not change in the slightest.

Her amber eyes were calm, showing nothing but a deep, bottomless chill.

No mercy.

No wavering.

‘These people were getting what they deserved… they should die!’

***

The evening breeze tried to blow away the lingering stench of blood inside the stronghold but only brought with it a more biting cold.

Su Nian slowly lifted her gaze from the filth-stained ground.

She looked toward the corner.

The few women recently rescued were still huddled tightly together.

Their eyes mixed lingering fear, newborn confusion, and a faint glimmer of hope as fragile as a candle in the wind.

Su Nian took a step forward.

She tried to make her voice sound less cold, with a trace of deliberate calmness.

“You’re safe now.”

Those simple four words made the three women tremble violently.

The tears they had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam flooding everything in its path.

They lifted their heads, looking up at this powerful magician who had descended like a deity.

This master had wiped out the entire brutal bandit stronghold with a wave of the hand.

Their voices choked with sobs, barely coherent.

“Master Mage… we… we don’t have a home anymore…”

Each word trembled with despair.

“Our families… all gone in that damn Plague in Bai Shui Town…”

Another woman, slightly younger, wept uncontrollably, repeating the same hopeless truth.

“We have nowhere to go… Master…”

Supporting each other, they used their last strength to try and kneel before Su Nian.

Their eyes held nothing but complete despair and a final, humble plea.

“Master Mage, please have mercy… take us in…”

“We can do anything! Really! Laundry, cooking, cleaning, chopping firewood… as long as we have food and shelter…”

“If you don’t mind that we’re a burden… please take us with you…”

The three women were ragged and torn.

At this moment, they all knelt almost prostrate, placing their faint remaining fates entirely in Su Nian’s hands.

Su Nian looked at them, silent for a moment.

‘Take them back to Shadowmoon Manor? that place… belonged to the Horned Demon Bastard.’

Would it really be safer than the Plague-ridden Bai Shui Town, or this stronghold freshly soaked in blood?

Upon closer thought, it did seem safer for them…

But everything in Shadowmoon Manor was ruled by that man.

Bringing three unknown women back would require the Horned Demon Bastard’s approval.

The manor was vast and luxurious, like a palace.

Supporting three more people was nothing to that wealth rivaling a kingdom.

Perhaps… it was worth a try?

Begging the capricious Horned Demon Bastard… for mercy?

The thought churned in her stomach uneasily.

But to save these poor women, she seemed to have no other choice.

Su Nian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the physiological discomfort.

She turned and walked toward the carriage waiting outside the stronghold.

She lifted the curtain.

Inside the dimly lit carriage, the man reclined lazily, a glass of red wine in hand from somewhere, savoring it slowly.

Su Nian forced down her reluctance and shame.

She forced a smile she thought would please him, cautious and a bit tentative.

She shifted her steps, slowly approaching Chu Tian.

Her movements were deliberately submissive and humble, yet maintained elegance.

The girl reached out and lightly tugged at the sleeve of his expensive garment, her fingertips feeling the touch of fine fabric.

“Master~”

Her voice was intentionally soft and light, with a hint of sweetness she herself felt was somewhat cloying.

Chu Tian raised an eyebrow, his interest deepening.

He leisurely watched her clumsy yet earnest performance.

Although he knew the girl was deliberately flattering him with purpose.

But it didn’t matter.

As long as she cared enough to put in the effort…

“They’re so pitiful… those women outside…”

Su Nian lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling lightly, her amber eyes shining like precious gems.

Her voice carried the carefully crafted weakness and compassion.

Men…

She understood!

Gentle, frail, kind girls—hard to resist!

“They… their families are all gone, and those wicked Knights tricked them here… they’ve suffered so much…”

As she spoke, she cautiously raised her head and stole a glance at Chu Tian’s expression from the corner of her eye.

“The manor’s so big, three more won’t be anything… really, nothing at all…”

“Besides, they can do everything, help the maids with chores in the manor, they won’t just eat and do nothing…”

She continued in that soft, clinging voice, with a subtle trace of urgency.

“Please, Master… won’t you? Please?”

At the end, her voice was thick with pleading.

She even rubbed her originally holding hand gently against the large hand of the Horned Demon Bastard, taking the act of coaxing to its peak.

This entire string of actions and words—from flattering, to coaxing, to cautiously pleading—flowed seamlessly.

So skillful it startled even herself.

When had she… become so practiced in this humiliating performance?

Was it numbness born from repeated defeat?

An instinct honed for survival?

Or did she even take some perverse pleasure in it…

Hmm…

Definitely not that last one!