Chapter 16: The Demon’s Gambit

Speaking of which, tonight was a remarkably clear night.

Although it wasn’t her first time gazing at the night sky, Mo Qiu found herself experiencing an entirely different sensation than ever before.

The distant night sky, beyond her reach even if she stretched out a hand, was adorned with countless stars, each radiating its own unique brilliance.

One particular star even shimmered with a distinct hue, traversing the vast expanse.

No, wait, wasn’t that just an airplane?

“Hiss, that stings.”

Her backside seemed to have collided with a stone, sending a jolt of pain straight to her brain that made the young woman involuntarily groan aloud.

Influenced by the demon’s power, her physical resilience had increased, yet her mental state had regressed considerably.

While she would have endured such minor pain without a flicker of emotion in the past, now she couldn’t help but let out strange noises.

“I’m warning you, don’t try any tricks.”

“Brother, could you please slow down? My backside is getting chafed and it hurts.”

This, at least, was no lie.

Dragged across the ground by Bai Chen, her poor backside had undoubtedly endured countless hazards along the way.

“Excellent. Shall I speed up?”

“No, no, no! Suddenly, it doesn’t hurt at all!”

Facing the young woman’s adorable smile, Bai Chen merely grumbled coldly, “Hypocrite.”

‘You’re the hypocrite, aren’t you?’

The angle of Mo Qiu’s lips, which had curled upwards, now dropped as she couldn’t help but inwardly scoff.

‘He truly is a little virgin, utterly clueless about cherishing and protecting women.’

‘Flattery won’t work, nor will acting cute. Just what will it take to make your heart flutter and your cheeks blush?’

‘I don’t understand. I truly don’t.’

Just as Mo Qiu continued counting the stars above, Bai Chen’s face abruptly filled her vision, eclipsing the entire sky.

“Alright, there’s no one here.”

‘”Here” meant an alleyway where only the two of them were present?’

Fengling City was not a first-tier metropolis, yet its development had been astonishingly rapid, its area expanding and its buildings proliferating.

A natural consequence of this growth was an ever-increasing labyrinth of complex alleyways, with the probability of encountering people dwindling in older historical districts.

“I thought you’d take me to your branch office. Turns out, you’re quite knowledgeable, aren’t you?”

“Huh?” Bai Chen felt an immediate surge of irritation upon seeing her smile.

“Bringing me to a place like this, you must have been eager to *enjoy* me, weren’t you?”

Mo Qiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, her expression softening into one of alluring charm.

With a subtle twist of her body, her skirt slipped from her legs, revealing plump thighs encased in black stockings.

Tracing upwards from her inner thighs, her rounded, peach-like glutes were tantalizingly half-exposed.

Mo Qiu distinctly observed Bai Chen’s Adam’s apple bob, a surge of triumph filling her as she realized she had found a way to deal with him.

‘So, you like this kind of thing…’

“Pah! Shameless demon!”

Bai Chen’s expression plummeted, utterly defying her expectations.

“Who would ever like someone as disgusting as you? You’re miles apart from *her*.”

The “her” he referred to, of course, was Mo Qiu herself.

Compared to the demon currently before him, he much preferred Mo Qiu’s eyes, devoid of any glint of life.

Bringing Libelle here wasn’t about the Lower House controlling the Upper House; it was about—

Bang!

A black fist, crackling with arcs of electricity, slammed into the ground beside Mo Qiu’s face, leaving a shallow crater.

“Where exactly is that girl you harmed?”

Upon hearing the question, Mo Qiu paused, momentarily stunned.

“Are you referring to the one holding the clothes?”

“Yes, her! What did you do to her? Speak quickly!” Bai Chen’s agitation flared instantly.

“Let me warn you in advance, I won’t go easy on you just because you’re pretty.”

By the rules, demon hunters were strictly forbidden from negotiating with demons alone.

Discovery would lead to being branded a traitor, expelled, and purged.

Mo Qiu’s whereabouts remained unknown, and Bai Chen was frantic with worry.

Aside from the gravely injured passerby who was still in critical condition, this demon named Libelle was his only current lead.

For the sake of that young woman, Bai Chen was willing to risk being labeled a traitor, desperately searching for that single glimmer of hope.

Mo Qiu was momentarily frozen, distinctly sensing Bai Chen’s emotions, which were at once elevated and complex.

Anger, self-reproach, and anxiety mingled together, transforming into the burning black flames in his eyes.

‘He’s angry, because of me?’

The instant this thought surfaced in her mind, the young woman’s rigid expression completely relaxed, and she burst into heartfelt laughter.

“What are you laughing at? My patience is limited,” Bai Chen declared, raising a black-gloved hand that crackled with blue electrical arcs.

“I’m laughing at you, you utterly pathetic worm~”

Bang!

Bai Chen’s fist struck the wall, sending fragments of stone scattering to adorn the young woman’s fair, delicate cheeks.

“I’m giving you one last chance. Answer me!”

Bai Chen’s fist trembled.

If any further incident occurred, his black flames truly would consume Libelle.

Only when her throat felt parched did Libelle cease her laughter, answering earnestly, “I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Didn’t I tell you she ran away?” Mo Qiu maintained her smile.

“My dear brother, you can’t just blame others for your own incompetence, can you?”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Bai Chen seized her collar, slamming her against the wall.

Her back slammed violently against the wall, eliciting a slight cough from Mo Qiu, whose slightly disheveled dark blue hair cascaded across her cheeks.

“You definitely have information about her. Speak!”

“Even if you truly kill me, I can’t tell you something I don’t know.

My pathetic brother, shouldn’t you be reflecting on yourself instead?”

Mo Qiu truly sensed an emotion called “killing intent” emanating from Bai Chen.

Despite knowing that further provocation would put her life in peril, she simply couldn’t resist.

‘Was it because her inner restraints had been unleashed, or was this simply her true nature?’

However, one thing Mo Qiu could be certain of was that Bai Chen genuinely cared about her.

Feeling his heartbeat grow increasingly frantic, Mo Qiu finally understood that her plan had not been in vain.

‘A little virgin truly remains a little virgin.

No matter how much he pretends to be virtuous, he won’t escape my grasp.

A so-called savior? He’s nothing more than a loyal dog in my scheme.’

Bai Chen’s chest heaved violently with rage, yet instead of immediately striking her face, he flung Mo Qiu to the ground.

Her shoulder struck something upon impact with the ground, making Mo Qiu wince in pain.

Immediately, she saw him pull something from his pocket.

‘Was he preparing to contact other demon hunters?’

‘I’ll be taken back to the Demon Hunter Guild’s branch office, won’t I?’

‘This was not good.

Even if Mo Qiu’s disguise could fool the branch office, Libelle being imprisoned and Mo Qiu simultaneously disappearing would be enough to arouse Bai Chen’s suspicion.’

‘I must find a way to escape.

This identity cannot be exposed before my deception is complete.’

Hearing footsteps approaching her, she hastily plastered on an ingratiating smile, pouting coquettishly with a syrupy voice:

“My dear brother, please don’t hurt me.

I can do anything for you.

As long as you’re willing to spare me, you’ll be my master from now on.

Your great kindness cannot be repaid, except by me serving you like a loyal ox or horse.”

“Really?” Bai Chen crouched down, clutching something in his hand.

“Master, how could I ever lie to you?” Mo Qiu playfully stuck out her pink tongue, looking both adorable and mischievous.

“What a naughty little imp who needs a good lesson.”

Her change of expression was truly faster than flipping through a book.

In contrast, Mo Qiu’s unchanging face was far more intriguing than hers.

“Since I am your master, open your mouth.”

“Ah, oh.”

Mo Qiu closed her eyes, bracing herself to have some elongated object inserted into her mouth.

She felt a surge of tension; it was her first time “serving” a man.

‘What if Bai Chen was some kind of pervert who would grab her head and ruthlessly toy with her, making even breathing a luxury?’

Just as Mo Qiu hoped he would be gentle, Bai Chen roughly seized her mouth, forcing a small vial between her rosy lips.

Only when the entire dose was emptied did he release her, leaving the young woman to cough on the ground.

“What did you… make me drink?” Mo Qiu’s eyes widened.

“Guess?”

This should complete the branch office’s mission.

Next up was observing the drug’s effects.

No sooner had Bai Chen tucked the small vial back into his pocket than he noticed Mo Qiu’s unusual state.

The young woman, who had moments ago been utterly flustered, now had flushed cheeks.

Even her star-like eyes had taken on a seductive, heart-shaped gleam.