Chapter 229: The Maiden's Defeat

The playful, mocking expression on Chu Tian’s face froze in an instant at Su Nian’s words, “If you have the guts, then kill me.”

The smile on his lips receded like a tide, replaced by a chilling, ominous gloom.

Kill her?

Su Nian wants to die?

The girl before him spoke of life and death so casually, it left him with a surge of inexplicable irritation and anger.

He could accept her resistance, her hatred, even her meticulous scheming to kill him.

Even if she wanted to escape, so be it!

At worst, he could just catch her and punish her again.

But “death”—that was absolutely out of the question!

This woman was the one he set his sights on, the one he would utterly conquer.

Her life—only he had the right to decide.

She wanted to die?

He wouldn’t even allow her the thought!

A violent, savage impulse grew madly within Chu Tian’s mind, carrying the unique paranoia and possessiveness that came after his demonization.

He had to make Su Nian remember, deep in her bones, that the thought of dying was strictly forbidden!

In the next instant, the air around Chu Tian turned wild and violent.

He suddenly reached out, his five fingers like red-hot iron, with an irrefutable force, seizing Su Nian’s slender neck—still clasped within the Lover’s Prison Collar.

In a flash.

Su Nian could clearly feel the strength from the man’s fingertips.

“Ugh…”

She felt an irresistible force lift her right off the ground!

Her silver-white boots kicked helplessly, never touching the hard earth, her petite body swaying slightly in midair.

“Little wildcat, do you really think your master dares not kill you?”

Chu Tian’s eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and hoarse, like a demon’s whisper echoing from the depths of hell—every word laced with cold killing intent.

He hauled her up to his face, his hot, blood-scented breath blasting upon her delicate cheeks that were turning scarlet from lack of air.

“Since you want to die so much…”

“Then your master… will grant your wish today!”

To forever stamp out Su Nian’s suicidal thoughts, he had to “frighten” the girl before him.

Before he finished speaking, his hand around her neck tightened sharply!

“Uh… Ah… Ha… Ha ha…”

The fierce suffocation engulfed Su Nian like a furious tide, swallowing her whole in an instant.

Air was completely cut off.

Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes flew wide open, blue irises contracting violently with terror.

By instinct, she reached out with both hands, nails digging deep into Chu Tian’s hardened arm, trying to pry off the hand gripping her life.

But she was already exhausted; even her Holy Knight Physique couldn’t contend with Chu Tian, who had regained most of his strength.

Her struggle now was so weak, so feeble.

The armor plates of her Saint Radiance Knight Armor scraped against the scales on his arm, issuing a harsh “creak,” but it didn’t budge him in the slightest.

Blackness began to invade her vision, snowy spots flickering at the edges, a buzzing roar in her ears, the world’s sounds fading rapidly away.

The shadow of death had never been so clear, so cold as it now enveloped her.

Was she really… about to die?

Just like this, strangled to death by this Horned Demon… with his own hands?

Wuwuwu…

If she’d known, she wouldn’t have been so stubborn.

A chill of utter despair, like a venomous serpent, spread from the depths of Su Nian’s heart, instantly invading every inch of her body.

Once, before she’d fully fallen into this man’s demonic grasp, before she’d lost the strength to resist, she’d considered dying together in mutual destruction.

She’d thought, if resistance proved hopeless, better to die in a blaze of glory—at least preserve the last shred of dignity for a transmigrator.

But now…

When death was truly descending, when the icy suffocation slowly claimed all her senses, stripped her of her final ounce of strength…

Only then did she realize, she was far less carefree and fearless than she had imagined.

Especially after that night of humiliation at Shadowmoon Manor, after being forced into those unspeakable, shamefully infuriating entanglements with him…

After paying such a “price,” dying now just felt like a bad bargain.

She still had so much left to do…

If she cast off the shackles of vengeance, she could truly enjoy this world.

There were still so many beautiful clothes she hadn’t worn, she could still bask in the spotlight on an even grander stage!

The System’s promise of “a god above the heavens,” “Eternal Life,” those star-bright blueprints still shimmered in her mind.

Immortality…

For anyone who had once been small and powerless, who could truly refuse the soul-deep allure of such a thing?

On one side was eternal splendor and infinite possibility; on the other, only cold emptiness and absolute end.

So long as she didn’t die, so long as she could escape this demon’s grasp…

With her peerless beauty and Holy Knight-level power, what couldn’t she obtain—wealth, fame, status?

When that day came, the sky would be the limit and the sea boundless—she, Su Nian, would surely live a brilliant life of her own!

Moreover, her parents back home were still waiting far away for news of her safe return.

The friends in Magic Feather Fantasy —Amy, Lise, Commander Matthew, and Captain Chu Tian.

Her fans who idolized Su Nian, the magic apprentices who came to listen to “Instructor Su Nian” teach classes.

Little Green, Little Violet… they were still waiting for her to save them, to fight side by side!

If she just died so aggrieved here… everything would truly vanish.

Even the bone-deep humiliation, the sleepless bitterness—would all be lost forever, never to be avenged.

No.

She didn’t want to die!

The will to live, like a volcano repressed to its limit, erupted within her in that moment, instantly filling her entire mind.

Those sky-blue eyes, losing focus from lack of air, now blazed with a brilliance she’d never known—almost mad—staring stubbornly and fiercely at Chu Tian’s cruel gaze.

No longer pure anger or defiance, but… with a hint even she herself hadn’t realized—a fragile, almost pleading longing.

She… didn’t want to die.

“Don’t… don’t kill me…”

Held aloft, Su Nian’s hands, which had been clawing instinctively at that iron grip, suddenly stopped.

With great effort she raised them, slender fingers curling weakly in the air, forming a gesture of surrender.

“Please… please don’t… kill… me…”

Her broken, trembling voice squeezed out from her throat, thick with sobs she couldn’t suppress.

“I… I surrender… I admit defeat.”

“Wuwuwu…”

How humiliating.

Once again… she’d surrendered to the Horned Demon.

“Wuwuwu…”

“Ding dong, detected host’s sense of humiliation from defeat, Humiliation Value increased by 100,000.”

“Ding dong, absorbing emotion of humiliation, Rage Value +100,000.”

“Ding dong, host has surrendered to the Horned Demon, current state has changed.”

“Current Spiritual Path: 50%↓, host is now at a critical juncture. Based on the host’s next choices, you will either enter the [Path of Depravity], or return to the [Vengeance Path].”

Current status: First Experience (Chu Tian), Recognized Master lv2, in defeat, surrendered, masochistic physique.