Chapter 5: The New Master’s Unveiling

—“As long as I keep trying, I will succeed one day.”—

You always told himself this, repeating it endlessly in his heart.

Although deep down, he might have grown numb to this trial, You still held a certain degree of anticipation for a new master.

After all,

If he found a powerful and reliable master, he wouldn’t need to expend too much effort, and the success rate of the trial would be higher.

You’s ideal candidate for an Evil God, his ideal new master…

Possessed a robust physique, exuded a domineering presence, a terrifying face that could scare people to death without consequence, a cunning and treacherous mind, and a cruel and ruthless personality.

In You’s view, only those who possessed these “virtues” could be considered qualified candidates for an Evil God.

Unfortunately,

In the past thousand-plus trials, You had never encountered such a perfect master.

But even so,

You’s heart still held onto hope.

—“I hope the next candidate won’t disappoint me.”—

With this thought, You fell into a deep slumber.

****

Time passed, though for how long, You knew not. In his sleep, You indeed awaited the summons of a new master, just as he had hoped.

He was filled with immense anticipation for this new master.

However,

After being summoned by the new master and arriving in the present world,

Facing this new master, You felt an indescribable feeling of bewilderment.

“Enmm, how should I put it?”

…

…

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

A girl’s shrill scream tore through the tranquility of the Snow Lotus Palace, shattering the silence. A tangible tension, a sense of impending crisis, suddenly permeated the air.

The cry was like a sharp shriek piercing the night, filling every corner of the palace with unease.

Upon hearing this scream, You disconnected from Starfall Palace and swiftly drifted towards the Snow Lotus Palace.

Currently, You had not yet acquired a new vessel, so he moved as a silver energy body, taking on the familiar form of his previous generation’s silver-haired youth.

In some ways, he was akin to a ghost.

Though lacking a physical body undoubtedly presented You with numerous inconveniences, this ethereal state also offered certain distinct advantages.

Facing thick castle walls and formidable defensive arrays, You passed through them silently, without hindrance.

Finally,

You phased directly through the wall, into the girl’s room.

“This is…”

Upon entering the room, You floated in place, his mood a complex blend of emotions.

Before him,

A girl with delicate features, yet alarmingly frail, her cherry-colored hair framing a pale face, was clad in a thin white nightgown, curled on the bed, trembling uncontrollably.

Her eyes, wide with terror and confusion, betrayed the profound horror she had just endured. The very air in the room felt heavy and cold, as if the temperature had plummeted in response to her terror.

This cherry-haired girl was now staring ahead in utter terror.

There,

Lay a truly gruesome scene.

Unbeknownst to her, five or six black-clad assassins had materialized silently within the room. These assassins were tightly garbed, with only their eyes visible, and wielded strange crescent-shaped blades.

Each was a highly trained killer, a lethal threat in their own right. Yet now, they lay brutally slaughtered across the room, their blood-stained bodies scattered in a horrific tableau of carnage.

Blood slicked the floor, and droplets splattered the walls. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, a testament to the swift and brutal massacre that had just occurred.

These assassins had clearly intended harm to the cherry-haired girl, yet they had not anticipated such a fatal failure within this seemingly secure chamber.

Beside these corpses stood three dark figures, similarly clad in black, yet exuding an eerily sinister aura.

Their black attire seemed to swallow the surrounding light like an abyss, making them appear more like phantoms of the night than mere mortals.

A chilling blue light gleamed from their eyes, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Beneath their hoods, everything but their blue eyes was shrouded in black mist.

Evidently,

These three figures were not beings of flesh and blood but unknown entities composed of black mist.

These were the Shadow Soldiers, previously summoned by You from Starfall Palace.

They were the most fundamental reconnaissance units within Starfall Palace.

The assassins who had just entered the cherry-haired girl’s boudoir had been slain by these very Shadow Soldiers.

…

“So that’s it…”

Gazing at the corpses and the unsettling aura of the Shadow Soldiers, You immediately grasped the reason for the cherry-haired girl’s terrified scream.

Subsequently,

The Grand Steward of Starfall Palace redirected his gaze to the trembling girl curled on the bed—the Third Holy Princess of the Ophelia Theocracy.

She was You’s new master.

The one thousand three hundred and twenty-second Palace Lord of Starfall Palace, Xiamiya-Seraphiel.

…

Of course,

With the demise of the intruders, You was not the only one whose gaze settled upon Xiamiya.

The three Shadow Soldiers, still kneeling, also fixed their eerie blue eyes on Xiamiya, staring intently.

They gazed upon their great Evil God.

As servants of Starfall Palace, the Evil God was undoubtedly their most revered object of worship, their supreme and exalted sovereign.

For Shadow Soldiers, mere lower-tier combat units of Starfall Palace, to gaze upon their sovereign from such close proximity was an immense honor!

They

Watched Xiamiya with adoration, longing to absorb some of the Black Abyss energy emanating from their Evil God.

However,

Even as they gazed at Xiamiya with reverence, a flicker of doubt seemed to etch itself into the Shadow Soldiers’ chilling blue eyes.

‘Speaking of which,’

‘Why is the Evil God trembling so violently?’

…

Feeling the Shadow Soldiers’ scrutiny, the cherry-haired girl, our Miss Xiamiya, the Holy Princess, shivered uncontrollably.

She gradually snapped back to awareness from the horrifying spectacle she had just witnessed.

Looking at the Shadow Soldiers before her, and sensing the doubt, even a faint hint of suspicion, in their gazes, Xiamiya’s own eyes immediately welled with intense regret and unease.

However,

In the next instant, drawing upon the ‘formidable’ mental fortitude she had cultivated over the past year, Xiamiya took a deep breath, instantly calming her agitated heart.

The unease and panic in her eyes abruptly vanished, replaced by a chilling, resolute solemnity.

Her trembling body, too, instantly regained its composure.

The next moment,

Sweeping her gaze over the three Shadow Soldiers below her, Xiamiya spoke with chilling authority:

“Who told you to interfere? You didn’t truly believe a few petty assassins could pose a threat to me, did you?!”

At these words, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from Xiamiya, the Shadow Soldiers involuntarily trembled and bowed their heads.

“But, my Lord, just now… wasn’t it… wasn’t it you who cried, who screamed ‘Help!’?”

Hearing this,

Xiamiya’s brow furrowed, and her small hand nervously clutched the blanket.

Despite this, the cherry-haired girl lifted her head, speaking in a haughty, scornful tone:

“Fools! I was merely feigning weakness, wasn’t I? I wanted them to experience the fleeting joy of success, and then, as they savored that joy, I would send them to their demise! Just imagine their expressions at that moment—how utterly delightful… And then you? How dare you ruin my game?!”

As she spoke,

A questioning glint flashed in Xiamiya’s eyes, her rainbow-colored irises narrowing to slits. An overwhelming, chilling killing intent enveloped the three Shadow Soldiers.

Upon hearing this,

Sensing their Evil God’s displeasure, the three Shadow Soldiers immediately understood, bowing their heads in profound trepidation:

“Forgive us, my Lord… Please punish us…”

“Hmph, punish? What’s the point of punishing you useless beings who feel no pain? Never mind, I’ve lost interest.”

Xiamiya yawned, her expression utterly bored.

“Begone, all of you. I wish to rest. Next time, do not enter my room without my direct command.”

“Yes, my Lord…”

Receiving their orders, the three Shadow Soldiers instantly melted into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.

Watching the Shadow Soldiers obediently depart, and no longer sensing their presence, Xiamiya finally released a deep sigh of relief.

The powerful aura that had previously enveloped her instantly crumbled.

“W-woah, that was close! I d-didn’t, didn’t blow my cover! If, if those guys had found out… wouldn’t I have been utterly exposed?”

Just imagining her potential fate, Xiamiya couldn’t help but shiver uncontrollably.

She hastily grabbed a nearby water cup, taking two large gulps before she could somewhat stabilize her wildly thumping heart.

Then, Xiamiya tremblingly gazed at the nauseating corpses strewn across the floor. Even after seeing many bodies over the past year, Xiamiya instinctively recoiled with revulsion and a hint of fear.

“T-these guys, they’re just, just too, too cru… huh?!!”

However,

The next instant, Xiamiya’s muttering abruptly ceased, for a voice had gently, eerily drifted into her ears.

—“Master…”—

?!!

“Y-You?! W-when, when did you…?”

Suddenly, Xiamiya whirled around, looking with fright and unease at the silver-haired youth who had appeared behind her without warning, like a phantom.

After a brief moment of stunned silence,

Driven by a strong will to survive, Xiamiya immediately suppressed the unease and fear on her face, instantly adopting the same serious expression as before, and hastily began to explain:

“I, I, I!! I meant these guys died too easily! Those who dare to assassinate me should suffer endless torment before death! H-how could they be allowed to die so easily? So… sigh, those Shadow Soldiers, they’re just too unreliable… Heh, hehe, hehehe…”

Xiamiya explained incoherently, her words a panicked jumble.

To Xiamiya’s flustered explanation, You merely replied with calm indifference:

“Oh, I see.”

“A-and,”

Xiamiya still seemed uneasy, asking cautiously:

“By the way, You, when, when did you c-come into my room?”

“…”

Gazing at Xiamiya’s rainbow-colored eyes, filled with apprehension and even a hint of pleading, You remained silent for a few seconds before sighing inwardly.

‘Sigh…’

After his internal sigh, You slowly spoke:

“I just entered, Master.”