After night fell, rain clouds quickly gathered over Wind Chime City, and a light rain began to patter down.

As expected, Mo Qiu came home soaked to the skin. After a quick shower, she sat in her unlit room with a towel draped over her damp hair.

The light from the computer screen fell across her lovely face, making her pale skin look even more sickly. Her eyes, as if they’d been dead for a hundred years, stared straight at the news broadcast without a hint of emotion.

“There have been two more monster-related murders recently. We urge all citizens to avoid going out at night whenever possible. If you encounter danger, call the emergency number at once. The Demon Hunters will ensure everyone’s safety.”

Here we go again. Wind Chime City’s been restless lately.

Mo Qiu chewed on the dried fish she’d just bought, letting the saltiness spread through her mouth. Outside, wind and rain battered the windows. Inside, there was a girl fresh from the shower, a computer, and her favorite snack.

Forget Wind Chime City. The whole world was an unstable spinning top. Before long, it’d lose speed, wobble across the ground, and roll straight into a gutter.

Besides ordinary people, Earth was also home to creatures known as “monsters.” They were violent by nature, hideous in appearance, and fond of attacking humans.

To fight back, humans with supernatural powers banded together and formed demon-hunting organizations to fend off the monsters.

Besides the official forces established by the government, there were plenty of private agencies, large and small. They put themselves in danger just to earn enough to get by.

There were plenty of Demon Hunters, but there were even more monsters. No matter how many of the creatures wreaking havoc in the world they killed, another one always appeared. People said rats bred by the litter. Monsters seemed to show up several litters at a time.

“What an idiot. Does he really think he can become some great hero who saves the world?”

Watching the news anchor confidently report on the Demon Hunters’ achievements, Mo Qiu couldn’t help curling her lips into a smile.

“No matter what they do, all they’re doing in the end is stocking up food for the monsters.”

“Well said. I knew I was right about you.”

At the sound of the praise, a small black creature like a miniature goat appeared on the girl’s shoulder.

The Monster Tamer lounged lazily. “If only everyone realized that, like you have.”

No. That has nothing to do with what you said.

Mo Qiu glanced at it but kept the words to herself.

Mo Qiu was so certain the monsters would destroy the world not because she’d suddenly come to her senses. She’d seen the world end with her own eyes.

Mo Qiu used to be a man—or rather, she’d been one from her previous life until not long ago.

He’d been born into poverty, and his only childhood memories were of his parents fighting. Whenever he came home, those two were arguing, even over the most trivial things.

When they had nowhere else to direct their anger, they took it out on their only child. From slippers to leather belts, rolling pins to wooden clubs—Mo Qiu had experienced just about every weapon they could get their hands on.

They were careful not to go too far, though. Afterward, Mo Qiu could only endure the pain all night, but at least it wasn’t enough to send him to the hospital.

Over time, the light faded from Mo Qiu’s eyes, and he stopped smiling.

As an adult, he stepped into the gray areas of society and became a seasoned “con artist.” For a while, Mo Qiu thrived on lies and deception—at the cost of becoming a high-priority fugitive.

Then one day, he decided he was done with that life and wanted to go straight.

He thought his life might finally change. Then, at that very moment, the world faced the threat of destruction.

Mo Qiu saw the hero who would save the world appear with his own eyes, bringing him hope.

But the hero failed. He fell right in front of Mo Qiu because of a foolish mistake, and the monsters went on to destroy the entire world.

When Mo Qiu opened her eyes again, she was back at fifteen. It didn’t take long for her to realize she’d been reborn.

If she did nothing, the world would still meet its end. So this time, Mo Qiu chose an extreme path.

He became a she.

“How does the new body feel? Just what you wanted?” the Monster Tamer asked with a bright smile.

“It’s great. I’m very satisfied.” Mo Qiu looked at it, her gaze unusually deep.

She’d encountered the Monster Tamer in her previous life, too, but hadn’t accepted its offer. This time, Mo Qiu agreed at once, absorbed the power of the monsters, and took a position as a cadre in the Imperial Organization.

Even after becoming a girl, Mo Qiu still couldn’t quite accept it. She kept the lights off because she didn’t want to see her own face in the mirror.

“There’s something I’m curious about.” The Monster Tamer floated in midair, watching her face. “I know you wanted to test your power, but why did you act so ingratiating toward that human?”

At those words, Mo Qiu turned stiffly to look at the black goat’s slit pupils. Lightning flashed outside, casting the Monster Tamer’s shadow across her impassive face.

Silence lingered for a moment before she answered:

“Don’t you think it’s interesting?”

“Huh?”

“I can control a human so easily. I can do whatever I want to him.”

“But what will you do if he finds out?”

“That’d be even more interesting. Isn’t watching the beauty of humanity crumble what monsters love most?”

“You know us pretty well. Have you dealt with the Imperial Organization before?”

Mo Qiu shrugged. “Do I need to have dealt with them? Can’t I figure that out just by watching the news?”

The girl’s eyes were like an abyss, without a glimmer of light. Her expression never changed as she spoke, so it was impossible to tell whether she was lying.

“Sometimes I wonder whether you’re human or a monster.”

After saying that, the black goat’s figure dissolved into a cloud of dark mist and drifted out into the wind and rain.

Mo Qiu turned back to the computer screen.

She’d deceived the Monster Tamer. Everything she knew about monsters came from her previous life. It was her gray-market dealings with the Imperial Organization that had made her a high-priority fugitive.

With the power of monsters on her side this time, it’d be much easier to act.

Small-time scams no longer satisfied Mo Qiu. She planned to save the world—not by herself, of course, but through the hero who would save it: Bai Chen.

Mo Qiu had already worked out a plan: find a way to transfer to his school and get closer to him, one step at a time.

She’d indulge him and grant his every wish, pushing him to grow stronger and overcome his flaws until he became a hero who hated evil and never showed mercy to the wicked.

Of course, favors alone wouldn’t be enough. Mo Qiu also planned to destroy the thing he loved most and drive his hatred of monsters to its absolute limit.

But what did he love? After turning it over in her mind, Mo Qiu decided she’d make herself that thing. She’d become the girl he loved most, share happy times with him, and become his inseparable lover.

He’d gotten that embarrassed just from sucking on a finger. Someone like him was easy to fool. Then, once she revealed the whole truth in front of him, Bai Chen’s expression would be priceless.

As for how the deception would end, Mo Qiu would have angered both Bai Chen and the monsters. They’d surely take revenge on her together.

But she was a seasoned con artist. If Mo Qiu could deceive them once, she could fool them a second time with a fake death.

At the thought, a flush spread across the girl’s pale cheeks, and she drew a deep breath. Curled up, she trembled slightly.

Just imagining his expression sent a thrill through Mo Qiu so intense she could barely contain it.

A girl’s body really was troublesome.

Mo Qiu grumbled to herself as she went to the bathroom.

She closed the news page, opened a hidden folder, and went over Bai Chen’s personal information yet again.

Don’t you dare disappoint me.

In the dim little room, the girl let out a giggle.

The very next second, her smile suddenly froze.

For the first time that day, Mo Qiu’s face twisted with pain. She convulsed and fell from her chair. An indescribable agony swallowed her whole like a towering tide.

Not again. This is a real pain in the neck.