Outside the hair salon, Luo Yu lit firecrackers that shattered the air with their booms.

Inside the hair salon, men and women lit firecrackers that shattered the air with their booms.

Luo Yu hadn’t wandered the streets for long before she’d burned through all the firecrackers she’d scavenged.

She shrugged, bored, and glanced back at the curtained second-floor window of the salon. She had no idea how things were progressing inside.

With no more firecrackers to play with, she slumped against the wall, knees drawn to her chest. Her eyes fluttered open and shut, as if she might drift off.

Soon, a seven-year-old disabled beggar girl hobbled over and stopped beside her.

Staring at the half-asleep girl, the beggar’s dull eyes suddenly brightened.

“It’s Sister Luo Yu…”

She cautiously reached into Luo Yu’s pocket, fingers searching for coins or food.

The moment the grubby little hand slipped in, Luo Yu’s eyes snapped open. She seized the girl’s wrist.

The beggar struggled weakly, then froze under Luo Yu’s puzzled gaze—and burst into tears.

Liquid dripped from her trousers. She’d wet herself from fright.

“You’re from the Wang family, right? Why the tears?”

Luo Yu pulled her into a hug, then fished a small pouch of rice husk powder from her pocket. She mixed it with water, shaped it into a ball, and popped it into the girl’s mouth.

The crying stopped. The girl nibbled the food slowly, tiny bites.

Before long, Luo Yu’s entire sack of provisions was gone.

The beggar sat stunned, savoring the fullness in her belly. Then, remembering Luo Yu’s gentle smile, she scrambled to her knees.

She kowtowed frantically: “Thank you, Sister Luo Yu! Thank you! May you grow rich, marry a good husband, and live happily ever after…”

“Wrong title! All wrong!” Luo Yu pulled a plaque from her robes and waved it. “I’m Highborn Demon now. You must call me ‘Lord Luo Yu’! And this lady plans to become Demon Emperor—building palaces, filling wine-and-meat pools, throwing imparties! Why would I just *give* myself to some man?”

“Huh?” The girl squinted at the plaque, then at Luo Yu’s confident face, utterly confused.

Luo Yu handed her another pouch of powder.

“Thank you, Lord Luo Yu! Thank you! May Lord Luo Yu marry a fine man someday…”

Luo Yu ruffled her hair. “Still wrong! Why do you keep pushing marriage? Say I’ll be Demon Emperor—”

“…Sister Luo Yu.” The girl stood up, deadpan. “That’s enough.”

Luo Yu: “…”

“Here.”

“Thank you, Lord Luo Yu! May Lord Luo Yu drive an impact someday…”

After sacrificing three pouches of food and a lengthy tug-of-war, Luo Yu finally got the exact phrase she wanted.

Satisfied, she let the girl leave. Stretching luxuriously, she tried to nap again—but sleep wouldn’t come.

“I wonder if that damn Champion’s really getting busy in there…”

*Heh heh… His harem’s about to catch fire. I’ll burn it all down. Soon, everything will belong to Emperor Luo Yu…*

As Luo Yu muttered curses under her breath, someone grabbed her hair and yanked upward.

“Ow! That hurts!” She struggled to stand but couldn’t break free. Opening her eyes, she spotted familiar cat ears and lit up. “Cat Lady?”

“Girl,” Cat Ten panted, exhaustion weighing her voice as she gripped Luo Yu’s head. “Where’s the Champion? We’re leaving Lan City *now*. We must find him before Sister Chai returns. Where did you hide him?”

“Huh? You’re leaving *today*?”

“Yes. Immediately. Every delay risks more chaos.”

“What happened?”

“It’s complicated.” Cat Ten’s strength faltered. “The Demon God Legacy intel was faulty. Lan City’s unsafe. We depart today. You’ve been with him all day—”

Luo Yu nodded awkwardly. “I know… but he’s… occupied right now…”

“Where?” Cat Ten shook her violently. “Tell me! Sister Chai will be back any moment!”

“Stop shaking! I’ll break!” Dizzy, Luo Yu pointed across the street—at the hair salon.

Cat Ten followed her finger and laughed. “Getting a haircut? I thought he was up to something shady. With his amnesia, I worried he’d fall for scams or get brainwashed into something filthy…”

“Ah…” Luo Yu scratched her chin, avoiding eye contact. “Cat Lady… what if he’s already strayed off the righteous path?”

“What?” Cat Ten sensed trouble. She reread the salon’s sign: *Wash & Cut: 2 yuan. Blow: 50 yuan…*

“Holy crap.” Cat Ten’s eyes widened.

“Ahem…” Luo Yu rubbed her neck. “He’s been so weak lately. I thought… experienced women might help him recover…”

“That’s *not* helpful!” Cat Ten ripped off her chestplate, revealing plain clothes beneath. Sword in hand, she charged toward the salon.

Luo Yu snickered, relishing the Champion’s impending doom.

Cat Ten whirled, grabbed her ear, and dragged her along.

“You’re coming too.”

“Oww! Too hard, Cat Lady!”

“You rotten girl! Failed assassination wasn’t enough? Must you scheme like this? What did the Champion ever do to you, damn it?” Cat Ten jabbed Luo Yu’s forehead.

Luo Yu’s eyes darted away. “Well… I *am* destined to be Demon Emperor. If I give up conquering the Champion, what’s the difference between me and a salted fish?”

“Just—don’t let Sister Chai find out.” Cat Ten sighed. “She’d never forgive you.”

“Huh?” Luo Yu’s grin froze. “Why? Sister Long is so cool and beautiful! How could she hate me—”

“She and the Champion share a bond forged in blood. She’s *obsessed* with him. Any woman he marries must pass *her* approval.” Cat Ten’s tone turned grave. “Keep this up, and when Sister Chai comes for you? I won’t save you.”

“Nooo…” Luo Yu clutched her head in despair. “My beloved Sister Long… completely conquered by that Phantom Man…”

Cat Ten shot her a withering look, then kicked open the salon door. She called for the owner, demanding to know what Er Yue Feng was doing inside.

“Cat Lady, wait—” Luo Yu whispered. “The Champion’s too weak to cause trouble. He’s useless at bad things…”

“Shut. Up.”

“Mmph…”

“Knight-sama,” the owner approached, hearing Cat Ten’s question. “You mean the young white-haired gentleman we served earlier?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, him.” The owner’s face tightened with exasperation. “He’s… unwell. Deep in some delusion. A dozen nurses and doctors couldn’t satisfy him—he insists this isn’t a proper hospital! Demanded a top specialist from the capital. But in Lan City? With my connections? How could I possibly get my sister—a *real* physician—to quit her job and work in this trade just to treat him?”

Cat Ten stared, utterly bewildered. “Huh?”