At first, none of the Abyssal Demons grasped the gravity of the situation.

They simply assumed the Virtuous Maiden had gone mad from her fall, or grown restless and dissatisfied after too long in the Sacred Court, seeking some twisted thrill.

Until—

A faint metallic tang of blood hung in the air of the girlish bedroom.

"Ah... ah..."

The demon girl froze, staring at the mangled form on the floor, her face twisted in utter horror.

The other followers stood equally petrified, their scalps prickling with dread.

Beyond doubt, the corpse belonged to the Champion.

A frail Virtuous Maiden walking alone into demon territory and subduing them all was already unthinkable.

But a Sacred Court Virtuous Maiden killing the Champion? That shattered reason itself, exceeding their comprehension!

Silence.

Oppression.

The room’s air thickened, pressing down on every demon present until they could barely breathe.

"My lord, did you..."

"I did it."

Luyi spoke calmly. "He intended to assault me. So I killed him."

The Demon Sovereign never stood for mercy. And the Chaos Slaying Star Dragon, an entity of finality, was no benevolent force.

These twin powers had long since dulled Luyi’s fear of blood and death.

Gazing again at the Champion’s body, recalling his actions moments ago, only contempt and revulsion remained in her eyes.

"He deserved death."

"!"

Was it even permissible for a Virtuous Maiden to say such things?

Weren’t those lines reserved for Demon Lords?!

Who was the real villain here?!

Yet...

This seemingly innocent, doll-like girl, casually uttering such words, made their very souls tremble.

As if she weren’t the Virtuous Maiden at all—but some terrifying sovereign far beyond their rank.

"Waaah!"

The princess found the atmosphere suffocating. She stumbled backward, then yelped when her hand knocked against the nightstand.

"You seem... afraid?"

Luyi turned to the princess, whose eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I thought your kind reveled in slaughter. That you were born heartless."

"My lord," a demon woman beside her hesitated before speaking softly, "this is our first time in the human realm. And Her Highness... she fears blood."

Indeed.

Unlike her brothers who inherited the Demon King’s potent bloodline, the princess had been born weak—mediocre talent, timid nature.

While her siblings mastered combat techniques, she lagged at the starting line.

During beast forest training, she’d tremble, unable to draw her bow.

At ten years old, she’d sobbed after watching a chef slaughter a chicken.

Gradually, she became the most marginalized royal.

Every gaze from the court carried disdain.

Now the demons understood Luyi’s earlier meaning.

Destroying the chamber, abducting the Virtuous Maiden—it was all to frame the Abyssal Demons for ambushing and killing the Champion while capturing her.

The blame for the Champion’s death would fall entirely on them.

Well, let it fall.

The Demon King himself had slain several Champions before. One more mattered little.

Survival was all that counted. They’d do anything.

But the greater problem remained—

How would they escape safely after this?

They’d arrived unseen, but leaving required spectacle.

Did the Virtuous Maiden possess a high-tier spatial scroll even the Demon King hoarded jealously?

"Speaking of which—"

Luyi paused, then casually tossed a dozen potion bottles from a spatial vortex. The clatter of rare metals hitting the floor made their hearts lurch again.

"Drink these. It should suffice."

"This is..."

The demon girl picked up a bottle, cautiously uncorking it. The liquid glowed faintly even in darkness. Its fragrance filled her senses, stunning her. "A ninth-star strength-enhancing potion!"

"Ninth-star?!"

The surrounding demons gasped in disbelief.

Ninth-star potions rarely circulated even in human markets, fetching astronomical prices at auction.

And these were all strength-enhancing—often more valuable than spatial scrolls in critical moments.

Yet Luyi discarded them like trash?

Not even the Virtuous Maiden of the Supreme Sanctuary would wield such extravagance!

The demons trembled.

But to Luyi...

These ninth-star potions were literal backpack clutter—mostly failed skill-practice batches. Her auction house vault still overflowed with unsold stock.

"My lord Luyi," one demon voiced their trembling confusion, "why do you possess such... wealth?"

"The Virtuous Maiden’s affairs need no explanation from you," Luyi replied coolly. "Prepare yourselves. We move in ten minutes."

Ignoring the demons as they shakily lifted the potions, she swept her gaze one last time over her former bedroom.

Hesitating briefly, she finally picked up the clumsily stitched little toy bear resting beside her pillow.

...

That night.

A petite figure walked the Sacred Court’s corridors, silver hair shimmering under moonlight.

"Miss Shiriri."

Guards bowed as the small girl approached.

But she seemed not to hear, hurrying forward with flustered urgency.

The guards exchanged helpless smiles.

"Miss Shiriri lost in a new barrier design again?"

"Seems so. She tunes out everything when deep in thought."

"The Sage’s granddaughter... truly one of a kind."

...

Had they paid closer attention, they’d have seen Shiriri’s tear-streaked face, tight with panic.

Her whispered words weren’t complex formulas—

"Can’t run away! Can’t run away, can’t run away, can’t run away..."

From her pocket, her small hand drew a crystal-carved dagger, its surface etched with intricate, glowing runes.

Activating its power could instantly kill even a fifth-tier cultivator.

Her grandfather’s gift—a last-resort weapon she’d never used. Until tonight.

"Champion..." she breathed, her voice icy. "How dare you... how could you... barge so violently into Luyi-nee’s room..."

Moments earlier, her hidden Origin Qi detector outside Luyi’s chamber had been destroyed.

The final image showed the Champion erecting a barrier array.

What was he doing?

Her expression had frozen instantly.

She’d never killed anyone. But the thought of him entering Luyi’s sanctuary unleashed a torrent of murderous intent.

"Luyi-nee..."

The golden-haired girl who’d stepped through her door, bathed in sunlight.

"Luyi-nee..."

The one who’d taken her to the market for the first time, handing her cotton candy with a smile.

Who’d patiently tied her hair into twin tails, murmuring, "This suits you, Shiriri."

Who’d cherished her poorly sewn plushie, insisting, "This little bear is adorable!"

Who’d taken her to watch fireworks after failures, saying, "You’re a true genius, Shiriri. I know you’ll succeed next time."

Who’d raced through storm-lashed mountains until covered in mud and cuts, chest heaving, yet forcing a smile as she whispered, "Found you."

...

Luyi had pulled the shy, self-loathing Shiriri from her dark corner, turning her world from winter to high summer.

She’d believed they’d walk hand-in-hand forever, watching clouds drift toward blooming horizons.

But tonight—the Champion shattered that dream.

"I absolutely cannot... lose Luyi-nee..." she told herself. "So I won’t run."

"I must stop this. I must... I must kill the Champion!"

"Yes. Killing him will fix everything... Luyi-nee will stay with me forever..."

...