Chapter 423: A Maiden's Fantasy of Being a Wife

The light and shadows dispersed.

The violent spatial rifts around them calmed down, and the sharp howling also faded.

Su Nian slowly lifted her head.

What came into her view was a majestic castle standing atop a mountain peak, like a dormant ancient beast, exuding a chilling and solitary aura.

Sharp towers pierced through the clouds, and deep green vines crawled up the walls.

The entire castle was built from pitch-black rock, adding a touch of weathered age under the gloomy sky.

She had been here once before, but had never seen this place from a distance.

It was much larger than Shadowmoon Manor.

“We’re here.” Chu Tian’s voice sounded in her ear.

He released his arm from around her waist, but the chain on her wrist remained cold.

Su Nian stood still, momentarily dazed.

From today onward, she would live here as a “hostage.”

The target of 100 million Humiliation Value had less than 20 million remaining.

After she accumulated enough, then what?

Become a god, and then… then what?

Take revenge on him?

That thought flashed through her mind, but it was no longer as firm as before…

She’d think about it when the time came.

Su Nian’s gaze fell on the distance.

Outside the castle, a sizable village had already formed.

Smoke rose from chimneys, and faint sounds of human voices and roosters could be heard.

A massive castle and the countless Magic Beasts raised within required a huge amount of manpower and supplies.

Merchants, workers, mercenaries, and adventurers who sensed the opportunity had settled here.

To facilitate trade, the surrounding infrastructure had also been built and completed.

Hmm…

It seemed she had arrived at a new place.

As the pure and kind Star-Moon Saintess, being captured by the evil Horned Demon to such a place… what would happen?

What kind of life would she lead from now on?

Would she endure the immense humiliation he inflicted on her day after day?

Or… a shameless life… Ah!

Su Nian’s cheeks burned suddenly.

What was she thinking!

Su Nian, Su Nian, you must pull yourself together!

Even if her body had been conquered by this bastard, even if her heart… had also developed inappropriate feelings for him, her will must not degenerate!

Hmph!

She had just toughened herself up mentally.

But the man beside her suddenly let out a light laugh, leaned down to her ear, and whispered in that magnetic, seductive voice:

“Tonight, I want to see you in black fishnet stockings, paired with those red stiletto heels.”

Su Nian’s body froze for a moment.

The flame of “resistance” that had just ignited seemed to be doused by a bucket of cold water, extinguished without even a wisp of smoke left.

Almost instinctively, in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, she replied obediently: “…Yes, Master.”

At the entrance of the outer village.

Chu Tian didn’t fly directly into the castle with Su Nian.

Instead, they landed on the ground.

Both wore hoods, blending into the flowing crowd as they slowly walked toward the castle.

The village streets were paved with bluestone slabs, lined with all kinds of shops.

The clanging of forging came from the blacksmith’s, while the wooden door of the tavern was half-open, spilling out the aroma of ale and the boisterous boasts of adventurers.

Everything seemed vibrant.

Su Nian pricked up her ears and soon caught what she most wanted to hear—gossip about herself.

“Did you hear? The Star-Moon Saintess was captured by a mysterious black-robed man!” A mercenary carrying a huge axe took a big gulp of ale, spraying spittle as he spoke.

“Of course I heard! It’s all over the Magic Phone! That scene was super intense!” Another chimed in.

“The Saintess had just finished blessing the entire city, in her weakest state. That bastard took advantage of her weakness—so despicable!”

Su Nian’s heart tightened.

What would others think of her?

Would they think this Saintess was useless, easily captured?

But the conversation that followed was completely unexpected.

“Hmph, so what?” A middle-aged man who looked like a caravan leader snorted coldly.

“You haven’t seen the Saintess’s might! At the Floating Fortress, she single-handedly repelled the magic beast tide! If she hadn’t exhausted her magic to save us commoners, a mere wanted criminal could never have succeeded!”

“Exactly! The Saintess fell into danger for us!”

“That scumbag named ‘Mo Yuan’ better not cross my path, or I’ll make him taste my axe!”

The people around agreed, their words full of admiration and concern for Su Nian, and bitter hatred for that “black-robed demon.”

No one thought Su Nian had lost face.

In their eyes, she was still the hero who had been captured after exhaustion.

Hearing these discussions, a warmth surged in Su Nian’s heart.

Her plan… had succeeded.

Not only had she preserved her reputation, but she hadn’t been separated from the Horned Demon Master.

The people connected to her in Academy City would not be hurt because of her.

Everything was moving in a good direction.

She sneakily glanced at Chu Tian beside her.

That “black-robed demon” cursed by thousands was now leisurely walking beside her, as if those angry shouts had nothing to do with him.

This feeling… was very strange.

The whole world was worried about her and condemning him.

Yet she, the “victim,” followed the “kidnapper” with a clear conscience, and the plan was even proposed by him.

“Ding! Mental Toughness -2, Current Corruption Status: 24%”

Su Nian’s cheeks flushed slightly.

She tugged at her hood, hiding herself deeper.

After passing through the village, the two arrived at the castle’s massive portcullis.

As Chu Tian’s identity was confirmed, the heavy iron gate slowly rose, revealing the scene inside the castle.

This was, indeed, another world.

A spacious courtyard, well-trimmed lawns, and those familiar faces—the servants and guards who had worked at Shadowmoon Manor had all been relocated here.

Seeing Chu Tian and Su Nian, everyone stopped their work and bowed respectfully.

“Sir.”

“Miss Su Nian…”

When they saw the delicate but conspicuous chain on Su Nian’s wrist, shock and worry appeared on their faces.

“Master… really captured Miss Su Nian back?”

Murmurs arose.

“Oh my god, this…”

“Everyone, stay calm.” Before Chu Tian could speak, Su Nian showed a gentle, reassuring smile, “Don’t worry, this is just part of a plan between Master and me. It’s a performance to deal with the Demon Race. Please don’t reveal it to outsiders.”

She spoke softly, displaying the bearing of a Saintess.

Saying this also benefited her.

She couldn’t exactly say she had been truly defeated and taken captive by her master, could she?

Using the excuse of a “plan against the Demon Race” made her seem less humiliated.

Chu Tian, however, merely cast a cold glance at everyone and added, “Anyone who dares say a single word to outsiders will be killed.”

Immediately, all the subordinates present acknowledged this.

Clearly, they knew this Mo Yuan’s character well—he treated loyal subordinates extremely well, but traitors… would suffer a fate worse than death.

The stark contrast in attitudes made Su Nian wave her hands awkwardly.

She tugged at the Horned Demon Master’s clothes and whispered, “Why so harsh…”

Inside the castle’s main building.

Su Nian met her parents.

Unlike when they parted in Hidden Dragon Town, both elders looked much healthier.

They wore expensive clothes and carried clearly valuable magical accessories, obviously well taken care of.

Seeing their daughter “captured” back, they panicked.

Su Nian quickly stepped forward and told them this was all an act, omitting the embarrassing details, finally calming her parents down.

Unlike the threats made to the Shadowmoon Manor subordinates, Chu Tian’s face broke into a smile when facing Su Nian’s parents.

He was completely like the sunny, cheerful big boy from the time he lost his memory on Big Mountain Island.

Not at all like a powerful ruler who commanded a region and made decisive kills.

Rather, like a bright, cheerful young man.

Seeing the satisfied smiles on her parents’ faces, Su Nian’s heart softened in some place.

‘Master… is actually quite nice, after all.’

At least he was very good to her parents, very courteous, and gave them face.

‘Maybe I can reward him… hmm…’

Next, she had to consider where to live here.

Since Chu Tian didn’t live here permanently, he hadn’t prepared a dedicated bedroom, only a study.

So, the task of arranging a new room naturally fell on her, the “lady of the house.”

“This wardrobe, put it over there against the wall. The bed… I want that light gold one. Yes, that one.”

Su Nian stood in the middle of the room, directing the furniture movers.

Her demeanor and actions carried a kind of ease and familiarity she hadn’t even noticed herself.

A few young maids nearby worked while secretly whispering.

“Look at Miss Su Nian, she’s more and more like the lady of the house.”

“Yeah, yeah, I think the master and miss are getting close to a good event. This castle will soon have a true mistress.”

“When that happens, should we start calling her ‘Lady’?”

These words floated into Su Nian’s ears word for word.

Her face instantly flushed bright red, and her heart raced uncontrollably.

‘Lady…’

Live in this huge castle with that bastard Horned Demon, become his “Lady”?

Su Nian began to indulge in fantasies beyond control.

Her parents were nearby, so she could visit them anytime.

There were abundant supplies, countless servants to serve, all kinds of beautiful clothes and jewelry to wear as she pleased, living in this towering castle like a real princess…

Seemed… not so bad, actually.

As for being bullied by the Horned Demon Master…

Su Nian’s cheeks grew even hotter.

Recently, she no longer resisted.

Unlike the initial physical passivity, now even her mentality was slowly changing.

Though she was still considering whether to “fix” that bastard Horned Demon properly after becoming a god with 100 million Humiliation Value.

At least for now, she wouldn’t refuse any request from the man before her.

In fact, she even felt… it was wonderful… happy.

If she really became the Horned Demon Master’s wife, it seemed… not bad.

After all, she had already done everything a wife would do… becoming a wife wouldn’t be much different.

“Ding! Mental Toughness -3, Current Corruption Status: 22%”

“When Corruption reaches 20%, Charm Mark Lv.3 will be unlocked.”