Category: Dear, it’s time for your medicine!

Chapter 267: Sylph Would Never Betray Lord Jie Luo

Hearing Airi’s sobs, Loseweisse’s mind went blank, her body swaying.

Sylph… dead?

How… how was that possible?

Sylph was so strong, how could she die so easily?

She couldn’t believe it, refusing to accept the news.

But Airi’s tears soaked her chest, and Eileen’s face was also filled with grief, forcing Loseweisse to confront the reality of Sylph’s death.

Was she truly dead?

Loseweisse’s lips trembled, her face pale.

She wasn’t saddened by Sylph’s death. In her secret diaries, she had even planned dozens of gruesome deaths for the elf.

She was angry. Sylph’s death might jeopardize her plan to resurrect Jie Luo.

“Damn it… what happened?” She couldn’t even maintain her Saintess composure.

“It… it was a trap,” Airi sobbed, “Ronald… he was tortured… he’s already dead, his body… eaten by wild beasts…wuwuwu…”

She looked up, wiping her tears, “That Lomond… he’s become so cunning… he hid Ronald’s death to lure us in.”

“We went to the dungeon, it was swarming with Demon Beasts.”

“Ronald wasn’t there. We had to interrogate a Pig-headed Man guard to learn the truth…”

Another blow.

All color drained from Loseweisse’s face, she didn’t even have the energy to be angry.

Sylph was dead, and so was Ronald.

Four members of the Hero Squad were gone.

She clenched her fists. Could the remaining six really succeed in assassinating Qin Chu, who was growing stronger every day?

Only Ekaterina had gained his trust.

And Athena had made some progress.

The others were still… distant.

Relying solely on Ekaterina and Athena seemed like a long shot. Loseweisse felt a growing despair, unsure if she could continue.

“Did you… see Sylph die?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Airi shook her head. “No,” she sobbed, “We were together, but then… Sylph’s invisibility was broken, and she was discovered.”

“Lomond and his forces surrounded her. Eileen and I… we had to escape…”

“He’s so cruel… Sylph must be dead…”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not dead.”

A familiar voice came from outside the tent.

The curtain was lifted, and Sylph stood there.

Although Eileen and Airi had left earlier, they had gotten lost in the fog and had to travel on foot. Qin Chu and Sylph, however, could use magic and fly, arriving much sooner.

Eileen and Airi stared at Sylph in disbelief.

Why? they thought. Why is she still alive? Why didn’t she just die? Does she want to steal our Jie Luo that badly?

Airi was filled with resentment.

The twins exchanged glances, a mixture of shock, fear, and resentment in their eyes.

Loseweisse, initially surprised, then felt a surge of relief. Although Ronald was dead, and Sylph was a rival, it was good that she was alive. One more member meant a greater chance of resurrecting Jie Luo.

But why was Sylph wearing a maid outfit?

Airi, recovering quickly, rushed forward with a joyful cry, grabbing Sylph’s hand, “Sister Sylph, you’re alright! That’s wonderful!”

“We felt so guilty after we left. We should have stayed and fought with you!” Her face was filled with feigned regret.

Sylph, glancing at the seemingly distraught Airi, her eyes filled with crocodile tears, a performance that might have fooled a man, but not her, smiled coldly. “It’s okay,” she said, “I know you must have felt very guilty.”

“Although I don’t know how my invisibility was broken, if we had all stayed there, none of us would have survived.”

“You were thinking about resurrecting Jie Luo, after all. That’s the most important thing for our squad.”

“We can all be sacrificed for that goal.”

“Ekaterina can be sacrificed, Athena can be sacrificed, Ronald can be sacrificed, and so can I, Sylph.”

“I won’t blame you two for abandoning me.”

Her slightly sarcastic words made the atmosphere tense.

Loseweisse sensed the underlying tension. Sylph seemed to suspect that Airi had deliberately broken her invisibility.

Even if it wasn’t deliberate, she was still resentful that they had abandoned her.

It was good that Sylph was alive, but… Loseweisse now had a bigger problem. This incident had created a rift within the Hero Squad, and mending it wouldn’t be easy.

And that was her job.

Damn it!

She forced a smile. “Sylph, it’s so good that you’re alive! You wouldn’t believe how much Airi cried.”

“Is that so? My apologies,” Sylph said casually.

“By the way, there are some things that Eileen and Airi might not have told you. I’ll say it again,” she said coldly, “Ronald is dead.”

“His storage ring fell into Lomond’s hands, and Jie Luo’s soul fragment should be there as well.”

Loseweisse frowned. More bad news.

Why did every mission end like this?

Lomond wasn’t easy to deal with. That massive creature… Retrieving Ronald’s storage ring from him would be incredibly difficult.

Damn that useless Ronald.

Not only had he failed to bring back Jie Luo’s soul fragment, he had made it even harder to obtain.

Why didn’t you just die? she thought.

Oh, right, he was already dead.

“And there’s more bad news,” Sylph continued, “that Lomond was able to capture Ronald, and the traps that almost caught us… it was all because of someone named Horus.”

Her voice was cold and indifferent, like a routine report.

“This person knows a lot about the Hero Squad, almost everything.”

“Lomond values him greatly. It seems this Horus has a deep grudge against Jie Luo and the Hero Squad. Lomond even followed his instructions and arranged for thousands of Demon Beasts to… entertain… Ronald…”

Loseweisse gasped.

“Don’t doubt it, it was exactly the kind of… entertainment… you’re imagining. Until Ronald finally died, and his body was discarded.”

“I suggest you investigate this Horus. You might find something interesting,” Sylph said, glancing at Loseweisse.

Loseweisse nodded, memorizing her words.

But Horus?

Who was this person?

She had never heard of this name before. How could she even begin to investigate?

“I understand…”

Sylph nodded silently, then turned to leave.

“Wait, Sylph, you haven’t told me how you escaped… And what’s with your clothes? I thought you hated dresses,” Loseweisse asked quickly.

“I was almost surrounded. I was desperate, so I contacted Qin Chu…”

Qin Chu?

Loseweisse frowned. “Why didn’t you contact us? I…”

Sylph remained silent.

Loseweisse quickly understood and smiled wryly.

Of course, Airi and Eileen had just abandoned her. How could she still trust the other members of the Hero Squad?

In her desperation, she had turned to Qin Chu.

Ronald had been… entertained… by thousands of Demon Beasts. Sylph’s fate, if captured, would be even worse. It was understandable that she would grasp at any chance of survival.

Loseweisse understood… but she still couldn’t forgive her.

Seeking help from the Second Hero was betrayal.

And if Qin Chu died there, how could they resurrect Jie Luo?

Had that bitch Sylph not considered this at all?

Malicious thoughts swirled in her mind, but she kept her face neutral.

She just asked curiously, “But Qin Chu was at the camp before, how could he have arrived so quickly…?”

“He has two magic scrolls for long-distance spatial teleportation, which he bought for a fortune,” Sylph glanced at her, “I heard that during his duel with the Grand Prince, he bet all his money, even borrowed some, on himself winning…”

“You know, the Hero’s reputation carries weight. It wasn’t difficult for him to borrow money, so he made a killing.”

“Then he encountered someone selling magic scrolls on the black market and bought them. One scroll cost a million Mana.”

Sylph’s explanation of how Qin Chu had arrived differed slightly from the truth. This was Qin Chu’s instruction.

Although she didn’t understand his reason, Sylph, still resentful towards the Hero Squad, hadn’t questioned it.

The duel with the Grand Prince… Thinking about that gamble made Loseweisse want to cry. She had bet her entire fortune, ten million Mana, on the Grand Prince, and lost it all.

Remembering this painful experience, tears welled up in her eyes.

“As for my clothes…”

“Qin Chu forced me to wear them, as payment for saving me. I have to be his maid for a while…” Sylph’s hands clenched, her face flushing crimson, “That bastard, he even had a maid outfit prepared.”

“Just how much does he like maids?!”

She was furious.

Seeing her flushed face, her clenched fists, calling Qin Chu a bastard…

It seemed that being forced to wear a maid outfit had angered Sylph greatly. She must hate him now.

But this Qin Chu…

Carrying a maid outfit with him, did he want to turn all the women around him into maids?

What a strange fetish.

Sylph took a deep breath, suppressing her embarrassment. “Then, for a while, I’ll stay by Qin Chu’s side… You can handle the rest,” she said.

Staying here made her feel suffocated, disgusted. She would rather be with Qin Chu.

With that, she turned and left.

The three remaining women exchanged uneasy glances. The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Eileen and Airi looked awkward.

The former Hero Squad, seemingly united, was on the verge of collapse, and it was their fault.

“Loseweisse, don’t you think Sylph is getting too close to Qin Chu? She’s actually going to be his maid? Do you think she’ll betray us?” Airi asked after a long silence, “What if she tells Qin Chu about our plan…?”

Loseweisse felt a surge of frustration.

It was their fault. If they hadn’t abandoned Sylph so readily, she wouldn’t be so resentful.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Don’t worry…”

“Sylph would never betray Lord Jie Luo, she would never betray us. I’m certain of that!”

Loseweisse knew how deep Sylph’s feelings for Jie Luo were.

Chapter 266: Is Sylph Dead?

A gentle smile graced the prince’s handsome face, a stark contrast to his father, Wadsworth. He looked every bit the charming nobleman.

He arrived at Qin Chu’s tent and saw Angelica preparing breakfast. So this is the maid the Hero requested on his first day, he thought. Although a mere servant, she was undeniably beautiful. It was understandable why the Hero was smitten.

Seeing the prince, Angelica curtsied.

The prince, showing no arrogance, returned the greeting with a smile. “Beautiful lady,” he said, “I am Warren Aberchian, the Seventh Prince of the Auville Empire. Could you inform the Hero that I wish to speak with him?”

Angelica’s face fell.

“He’s unavailable at the moment.”

“Is the Hero attending to important matters?” Warren asked curiously, glancing at the tent. He had heard the rumors about the Hero. Although he had made great contributions in the fight against the Demon Beasts and his strength was growing rapidly, his… reputation… wasn’t exactly stellar.

Was the Hero currently engaged in… strenuous activities… inside the tent?

Well, it was morning, after all… As a man, Warren could understand.

Perfectly normal!

Angelica rubbed her forehead wearily, “The Hero is not in the camp. He seems to have… slipped away… again…”

Prince Warren was taken aback.

The Hero had left?

This…

This was highly inappropriate!

The Hero was a crucial figure, his safety paramount. What if he encountered Demon Beasts and something happened to him? The Heavenly Continent would be…

“Your Highness, don’t worry, this is quite common,” Barnal, having finished his duties, approached and said, seeing the prince’s surprise.

Warren’s face darkened, and he spoke with the authority of a prince, “How could you be so negligent? The Hero’s safety is paramount! He must have guards at all times! If anything happened to him, you would all be executed!”

Barnal looked aggrieved. “Your Highness, it’s not our fault! Do you know how strong the Hero is?”

“If he wants to leave, we can’t stop him. And even if he did encounter Demon Beasts, who knows who would be the unlucky one…”

“Last time he sneaked out, he encountered Eldritch, the Second Demon Beast Prince, and two War God-level Demon Beasts, a Snow Woman and a Blood Elf…”

Hearing this, even Warren, despite his royal composure, couldn’t help but be alarmed. “What?!” he exclaimed, “Eldritch? And War God-level Snow Woman and Blood Elf?”

Good heavens.

Now that the Demon King rarely appeared, the war against humans was mostly handled by his children.

And among them, the most famous was Diabolique, the First Prince.

Then there was Eldritch, the Second Prince, incredibly talented, although not as strong as his elder brother, he was still a War God. Even level 80 experts were no match for him. A level 82 general had once died at his hands.

And the last one was Lomond, the Seventh Prince.

Although weaker than the other two, his massive size made him a force to be reckoned with. Even without using any abilities or magic, just his stomping feet could cause destruction comparable to Super-tier magic.

And the Snow Woman and Blood Elf were also powerful Demon Beasts.

For the Hero to encounter Eldritch and two War God-level Demon Beasts, it must have been incredibly dangerous…

Barnal shrugged, “And then the Hero killed Eldritch and brought back the Snow Woman and Blood Elf… Look, over there…”

He gestured towards the side.

Warren was stunned. He turned his head and saw a woman with icy blue hair, her skin as white as jade, and another woman with long golden hair, her figure graceful and alluring.

The woman with icy blue hair seemed normal, but the golden-haired woman, with her pointed ears, was clearly a Blood Elf.

“This… this…” Warren was speechless.

“It seems the Hero intends to keep them,” Barnal whispered.

The Seventh Prince was completely dumbfounded. After a long moment, he finally spoke:

“As expected of the Hero.”

Good heavens, in the eyes of ordinary humans, Demon Beasts were terrifying and brutal.

But this Hero was actually taking them as… consorts? He was even more… flamboyant… than his father.

…

Meanwhile, on the mountaintop.

Sylph was tidying her torn clothes, the morning breeze raising goosebumps on her skin.

Just how… vigorous… is he? she thought, looking at her ripped leather armor.

How could she wear this?

She wasn’t like Ronald, who always carried dozens of spare outfits. Her clothes were back in her room, and her storage ring only held her bows, arrows, and other such items.

Could she just go back naked?

She glared at Qin Chu resentfully.

He chuckled and produced a pure white dress… a maid outfit.

Sylph rolled her eyes. “Why do you have women’s clothes?” she asked. “Do you have a cross-dressing fetish?”

“How could that be? I prepared this for Angelica,” Qin Chu replied immediately, “It’s a maid outfit, but a little variety is always good, right?”

“You’re so dirty-minded!” Sylph said, snatching the dress from him.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. Looking at the flowing tassels and white lace on the dress, she felt a twinge of dislike. She preferred her practical, form-fitting leather armor, which allowed her to move freely and fight effectively.

This dress was too… cumbersome.

And deep down, she also felt a sense of aversion… because it was meant for Angelica.

She didn’t like that.

But she had no choice. She couldn’t just wear leaves.

She reluctantly began to change.

However, she didn’t notice the cold, indifferent glint in Qin Chu’s eyes as he watched her with a smile.

He would let her enjoy this happiness for a while. She was still useful.

The revelation of the truth, after he had extracted all her value, would be even more… delightful.

Because she wasn’t used to such flimsy clothing, it took her a long time to change. But Qin Chu wasn’t in a hurry, just enjoying the view.

After she finally finished changing, Sylph’s forehead was covered in sweat. Then she looked down at her own tattered undergarments, clearly unwearable.

Qin Chu produced another set of clothes: black stockings and a black tube top.

Sylph was speechless. Why did this guy have so many women’s clothes?

Although she disliked these even more, she had no choice.

She suspected that Qin Chu had some strange fetish and was deliberately not giving her any normal clothes.

Qin Chu’s eyes lit up as he looked at the newly dressed Sylph.

Putting aside their animosity, he had to admit that she was truly beautiful.

Her figure was athletic and slender, not particularly curvy, but perfectly proportioned.

Not as voluptuous as Athena, but elegant and refined, the maid outfit’s belt accentuating her slender waist.

The pure white dress and the black stockings, the black lace against her fair skin…

The contrasting colors were strikingly beautiful.

Qin Chu swallowed. She was a true enchantress.

His heated gaze made Sylph feel a flicker of smug satisfaction.

Even Lord Jie Luo never saw me like this… she thought.

Then she smiled wryly. Although this was supposed to be a treatment, she had already been… thoroughly enjoyed… by Qin Chu. They were both very familiar with each other’s bodies.

Compared to that, changing into a more seductive outfit seemed insignificant.

Just as she was lost in thought, she felt a strange sensation against the black fabric.

Her body went weak, her eyes clouding with confusion.

“If you tear them again,” she murmured, “I’ll have no clothes left…”

“Don’t worry, I have plenty…”

…

Meanwhile.

Eileen and Airi, after a sleepless night and a brief detour through a foggy forest, finally returned to the camp.

Without speaking to anyone, they went straight to Loseweisse’s tent.

Seeing them, Loseweisse’s face lit up, expecting good news. But when she saw that only the two of them had returned, Sylph and Ronald nowhere in sight, a bad premonition filled her heart.

The next second, Airi threw herself into Loseweisse’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, “Sister Loseweisse…wuwuwu…”

“Sister Sylph… Sylph… she’s dead…”

Chapter 265: Sylph Needs More Treatment

Sylph was mortified.

It was all Qin Chu’s fault.

If it weren’t for him, her body wouldn’t be so sensitive, her mind wouldn’t be filled with such… inappropriate… thoughts, and she wouldn’t have made such a fool of herself.

He was the one to blame.

Her embarrassment seemed to worry Qin Chu. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice filled with concern, “Were you injured during the fight with the Demon Beasts? Where? Let me see.”

His gentle concern made Sylph feel even more flustered.

Please don’t be so kind to me, she thought. It only made her more confused.

She bit her lip, stood up, and shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said, “it’s just a small scratch…”

But under his insistent gaze, she couldn’t refuse. Sighing, she unbuttoned her leather armor, revealing the delicate skin beneath her collarbone.

A crimson wound marred the snowy white flesh, a strangely beautiful contrast.

A soft, white light emanated from Qin Chu’s palm, and as he touched her, the wound began to close, the stinging pain fading.

Sylph adjusted her shirt, her gaze complex as she looked at him. “Why were you in the Demon Beast territory?” she asked.

“And you just happened to save me?”

It felt… too coincidental.

“I heard that Eileen returned, and then you, Athena, Eileen, and Airi left. It seemed that Ronald was trapped in Lomond’s territory,” Qin Chu said, his voice grave, “I was worried that you might be trying to rescue him, so I rushed over.”

“I arrived just in time.”

Actually, he had been there for a while, watching from a distance, only intervening when Sylph tried to kill herself.

He wasn’t done playing with her yet, how could he let her die so easily?

Besides, he hadn’t fully unravelled the secret within her, those threads of the Evil God, which could be very useful.

Sylph’s feelings were a tangled mess.

This Second Hero, Qin Chu, was a truly good person.

The former Hero Squad members hadn’t accepted him, yet he was so concerned for their safety.

This poor man, he didn’t even know that they all wanted to kill him, that they only saw him as a tool to be used and discarded.

“By the way, where are Athena, Eileen, and Airi?”

“Athena went to support Muse, at the Snow Chain Mountains,” Sylph answered without thinking, then added with a hint of mockery, “As for Airi and Eileen, they should be safe now.”

“Safe, that’s good,” Qin Chu seemed relieved.

Seeing his reaction, Sylph knew that if Airi and Eileen were still in the Demon Beast territory, he would rush to their rescue.

What a foolishly kind man.

Sylph felt increasingly conflicted, torn between Jie Luo’s resurrection and this good-natured Qin Chu.

The images of the two men flickered in her mind, an endless loop.

She longed for something to distract her from this turmoil, like those times at the residence, lost in a frenzy of passion, her mind blank, focused only on Qin Chu.

She had so much pent-up frustration, she needed to release it.

She placed her hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and spoke, her eyes locking onto his:

“Hero…”

“I think I need… more treatment.”

“Huh? Are you feeling unwell somewhere else?”

Sylph bit her lip, her heart racing, her eyes glazing over, “No, I mean… inside my body, my soul… the corruption…”

Qin Chu understood.

Of course.

With the taint still within her, she must be worried. They should indeed continue the treatment as soon as possible.

“Then, which method do you prefer this time?” he asked.

Sylph’s cheeks flushed crimson. “The… second one?” she stammered.

“No, wait, the third one.”

Something’s off with you, Sylph, Qin Chu thought, a smile playing on his lips.

“Perhaps we can try a few different methods and see which one is more effective,” he suggested.

Sylph, forgetting their location, her shyness replaced by a strange eagerness, reached for her armor, as if to remove it.

But Qin Chu stopped her.

She looked at him, puzzled. Was he refusing to treat her?

“I mean… let’s just… keep it on… just in case we’re attacked,” he said, finding a convenient excuse.

…

Meanwhile, in the dark forest.

Thanks to Sylph drawing away all the Demon Beasts, Eileen and Airi’s escape had been surprisingly smooth.

They had already left Lomond’s territory and crossed back into human lands.

But they didn’t relax their vigilance.

Night had fallen, and the dim light of their oil lamp barely penetrated the darkness.

Although they could see clearly in the dark, this was still Demon Beast territory, and they had to be careful.

The sounds of nocturnal creatures echoed through the forest, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Airi’s fingers toyed with a thin, silver wire, while Eileen’s hand spun a dagger expertly.

After a long silence, Eileen finally spoke, her voice tight, “Why did you leave Sylph behind? Why didn’t you maintain her invisibility?”

This question had been weighing on her mind. They were twins, their thoughts usually in sync, but this time, she couldn’t understand Airi’s actions.

But she had still cooperated with her sister.

Under the moonlight, Airi’s orange eyes seemed to glow red, a flicker of killing intent that made even Eileen’s hair stand on end.

“Because that bitch wanted to steal Big Brother Jie Luo!” Airi said with a cheerful smile, “And it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t dispel her invisibility. It was her own carelessness that exposed her, not me.”

Eileen ignored her excuse, her brow furrowed. “You wanted to kill Sylph just because of that?”

“It was Lomond who killed her, not me,” Airi shrugged.

“Well, if she died… If not, her fate might be even worse than Ronald’s.”

“And that’s not the only reason,” she continued, stretching her arms, trying to puff out her chest, but her figure remained stubbornly flat, which made her pout slightly, “You haven’t met Qin Chu, so you might not know, but… Sylph and he are very close.”

“It’s more than just surveillance, or trying to please him for the sake of resurrecting Big Brother Jie Luo.”

“That woman is not on our side. Keeping her around would only be trouble. It’s better to use Lomond’s hand to eliminate her. And no one can blame us afterwards,” Airi said with an innocent smile.

That smile made even Eileen’s scalp tingle.

Everyone thought that Loseweisse and Ronald were the most devoted to Jie Luo… but Airi’s devotion was no less intense, and perhaps even more…twisted.

“What if… one day… you see me as an obstacle and eliminate me too?” Eileen asked, her eyes narrowing.

Airi looked at her sister in surprise, then grinned and hugged her, her head nuzzling against Eileen’s shoulder, “Sister, what are you talking about?”

“You’re my sister.”

“Don’t you remember? We’ve always shared everything, haven’t we?”

A smile appeared on Eileen’s face. Yes, they were used to this, sharing everything.

They were sisters, inseparable.

After a long moment, they separated.

“By now, Sylph should have been captured by Lomond. I wonder how long she can last. We should go back soon,” Airi said, glancing around, her orange eyes flickering nervously as she saw a few will-o’-the-wisps dancing in the forest.

By the time they returned to the camp, it was already the next morning.

The reinforcements from the Auville Empire had arrived.

Emperor Wadsworth had promoted Barnal to the rank of lieutenant general, recognizing his achievements. Although it wasn’t a particularly high position, it was the highest rank a commoner could achieve, breaking the class barrier.

But this army was a bit… special.

To boost morale, Wadsworth had even sent one of his sons to the front lines as the supreme commander, instructing him to listen to the advice of the veteran officers.

Clearly, he was just there for show, to gain some experience and perhaps learn a bit about military command.

And if Wadsworth had sent his son, the other nobles, naturally, followed suit, each sending a descendant to the battlefield, along with a large number of personal guards to protect them. This greatly inflated the army’s size.

And in Wadsworth’s eyes, these personal guards, better equipped and trained than the regular soldiers, were the true reinforcements.

The arrival of the reinforcements, bringing with them a large amount of supplies, weapons, and food, brought a renewed sense of hope to the camp.

The prince in charge knew he lacked experience, and with his father’s instructions, he immediately appointed Barnal as his second-in-command, entrusting him with all matters of logistics, training, intelligence gathering, and giving him full authority over all the soldiers, including the nobles’ personal guards.

He could punish anyone who disobeyed, even execute them.

After giving his instructions, the prince immediately went to the Hero’s tent with his attendants.

He knew his true mission. Fighting on the front lines was secondary, at least for now.

Building a good relationship with the Hero was his top priority.

Moreover, he had brought a special gift from Wadsworth for the Hero.

And a piece of information that the Hero would be very interested in, related to the being that had corrupted the Grand Prince, and to the Blissful Witch Society!

Chapter 264: Sylph’s Filthy Mind

Sylph fled.

Lomond pursued.

He intended to chase her to the border of his territory, then use the excuse of a potential human ambush to retreat.

But his territory was vast.

And scattered throughout it were Demon Beasts who, upon seeing Sylph, joined the chase with excited roars.

Sylph was forced to change directions repeatedly, her Mana and Battle Qi rapidly depleting.

As the Ghost Archer, she was capable of bursts of incredible speed, but like Eileen and Airi, her stamina was limited. She couldn’t maintain prolonged combat like Ekaterina, Benson, or Karsus.

How long had she been running? Ten hours? Twenty?

She didn’t know.

Her dwindling reserves slowed her down.

Hope was fading.

Her legs felt heavy, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her face flushed.

Sweat plastered her golden hair to her face, stinging her eyes.

The words of the Pig-headed Men echoed in her mind:

“Held in a cage, put on display for all the Demon Beasts to see.”

“Entertained by thousands of strong Demon Beasts…”

“Any Demon Beast, as long as they pay, can have their way with him.”

“Begging for mercy…”

Each time she recalled these words, the image of Ronald’s torment filled her mind, making her shudder.

She had never felt such terror.

She knew that if she was captured, her fate would be even worse than his.

She would rather die than become a Demon Beast’s plaything.

A group of patrolling Demon Beasts spotted her and gave chase.

Sylph made a decision.

She stopped abruptly, a sharp dagger appearing in her hand.

Her hesitation was brief.

This made Lomond pause, confused. What was this woman doing?

Was she planning to fight?

Please, no, he thought. His subordinates were a mindless horde, and he wasn’t sure he could control them. If they accidentally killed her, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his agreement with Horus.

And he couldn’t call out to her. That would reveal his deal with a human, which he had to keep secret.

The next second, Sylph plunged the dagger towards her heart.

Holy shit! Lomond’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected this.

He froze, his simple mind unable to process what to do.

Sylph wouldn’t normally be so impulsive.

But Ronald’s fate was too terrifying.

It was her unwillingness to be a noble’s slave that had awakened her power, leading her to slaughter the merchant’s family.

Becoming a plaything for Demon Beasts was even more unacceptable.

The sharp blade pierced her skin, drawing blood.

Just then, a dark red chain shot out, striking her wrist.

Her fingers went numb, and the dagger flew from her grasp.

Sylph’s face paled, not from the pain, but from despair.

Even suicide was denied to her. Did these Demon Beasts truly intend to capture her alive?

Her pale face twisted with rage, her eyes filled with killing intent.

Don’t underestimate the Ghost Archer.

If they wanted to capture her alive, they would pay the price.

She gathered her remaining strength, her aura rippling outwards.

Just then, the chain that had disarmed her wrapped around her waist.

She was about to resist when a voice echoed in her ear:

“Relax.”

“Don’t resist.”

The familiar voice made her legs go weak, and she almost fell from the branch.

A surge of warmth filled her chest, a flicker of hope.

It was… Qin Chu’s voice?

What was he doing here?

Sylph was confused, but she let the chain bind her. The next second, she was yanked away, flying through the air.

A few seconds later, she landed in a warm embrace, strong arms holding her tightly.

That familiar feeling, it was Qin Chu.

A sense of security, of comfort, washed over her.

She had so many questions, so many things to say, but then she remembered where she was, and her face paled. “Why… why are you here?” she stammered, “There are so many Demon Beasts, it’s dangerous! You have to…”

“Shh…” Qin Chu smiled, signaling her to be quiet.

He activated a magic scroll, and the next instant, they vanished before the eyes of the stunned Demon Beasts.

Lomond breathed a sigh of relief.

Sylph hadn’t died, and he had fulfilled his agreement with Horus.

Although he was currently ascendant, his position was still precarious. If he broke his deal with Horus, that man, with his uncanny ability to gather information, could easily replace him with another prince.

At least until he became the Demon King, he wouldn’t break his agreement with Horus.

Who was that person who had just appeared?

He had been too far away, and the figure had been shrouded in light, so Lomond hadn’t seen his face clearly.

Judging from his build, it must have been Horus.

But all humans looked the same to Lomond, small and insignificant like ants.

Why had Horus bothered to save Sylph?

Could it be that he had taken a liking to her? It seemed that Horus also had… unique tastes…

Although in Lomond’s eyes, this woman was skinny and unattractive.

If Horus liked this type, then when his own power grew, he would simply give him a few Succubi, Blood Elves, and Snow Women. That would surely make Horus forget about human women and focus on serving him loyally.

Lomond pondered, then another thought occurred to him.

He had to salvage the situation.

A member of the Hero Squad had infiltrated his territory and escaped. This was a blow to his reputation.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t very smart, and no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn’t think of a suitable excuse.

Since he couldn’t figure it out, he would ask someone more cunning, like Candice.

Although he despised her mixed blood, he had to admit that she was very resourceful.

As expected, Candice quickly provided a solution:

The despicable members of the Hero Squad had attempted to rescue Ronald, and the brave Seventh Prince, leading his forces, had personally pursued them. Although they failed to capture the Ghost Archer alive, they had forced the Hero Squad members to flee in terror, greatly demonstrating the might of the Demon Beasts and defending the Demon King’s honor.

Candice’s response stunned Lomond.

He had achieved nothing, yet this half-breed had spun it into a glorious victory.

After a long moment, the Seventh Prince finally spoke:

That’s so damn shameless.

Then, equally shamelessly, he had his subordinates spread this version of the story throughout his territory.

He felt that he was being corrupted by Candice and Horus.

…

Meanwhile, Sylph felt a wave of dizziness.

This was her first experience with spatial teleportation.

Looking at the barren mountaintop around her, she was still disoriented. Where am I? she wondered.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe here,” Qin Chu’s voice came from above, “This is hundreds of kilometers away from Lomond’s territory. He won’t be able to catch up anytime soon.”

Sylph realized that she was still in his arms.

Recalling the thoughts that had flashed through her mind before she attempted suicide, she blushed and squirmed out of his embrace.

“What kind of power is this? Did you learn spatial magic?” she asked, changing the subject.

“How is that possible? No one taught me spatial magic,” Qin Chu said, holding up the blank magic scroll, “It’s the effect of this scroll.”

“I spent a fortune to obtain it. I only had two, and now I only have one left.”

This was a lie. He had forced Shaye to create hundreds of these scrolls, all stored in his spatial ring.

He wouldn’t run out even if he used them to buy steamed buns every day.

Of course, making it sound rare made it seem more valuable.

A magic scroll with spatial teleportation?

Sylph naturally understood its value.

In critical moments, like today, it could save your life.

And he had just used it?

“Although it pains me to use it, saving Miss Sylph was worth it,” Qin Chu said with a smile.

Sylph’s heart fluttered, a warmth spreading through her chest.

When her former comrades, those she had fought alongside for years, had abandoned her, this Hero had paid a great price to save her?

In her mind, Jie Luo’s image faded slightly, while Qin Chu’s became more prominent.

Like a brand, indelible.

She lowered her eyes as he approached, his hand reaching towards her chest. Her face flushed, her heart pounding.

“This… here? Isn’t… isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” she stammered, her eyes flickering with a mixture of shyness and anticipation.

Although just before she tried to kill herself, she had also longed to be with him again.

But this was a mountaintop!

The thought of being seen made her blush.

But… it would also be quite exciting.

“Huh? I’m just treating your wound. Do we need to choose a location for that?” Qin Chu asked, puzzled.

Ahhh! So embarrassing!

Sylph clutched her head, a small moan escaping her lips. She wanted to jump off this mountain and end it all.

Her mind was filled with filth!

Chapter 263: The Goblin’s Demise

Sylph’s face was a mask of shock and disbelief. Eileen and Airi had abandoned her.

Had she been detected?

Had they left her to face the Demon Beasts alone, afraid of sharing Ronald’s fate?

But how had she been detected?

The twins’ invisibility magic was powerful. There had been no problems before.

Could it be that Airi, who had cast the spell, had done it deliberately?

A flurry of thoughts raced through her mind.

But she didn’t have time for grief or anger.

With Eileen and Airi gone, she was exposed, countless ferocious gazes locking onto her, making her scalp tingle.

The Demon Beasts swarmed, surrounding her, the encirclement tightening.

Even with her strength, she couldn’t face so many.

Lomond’s recent rise in power had attracted a large number of followers, all eager to prove their loyalty, and they wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Awooo…

A Dire Wolf lunged, its crimson eyes gleaming, its sharp fangs bared.

Can’t fight them all. Must escape!

Sylph made a swift decision.

There were only a few thousand Demon Beasts here now, perhaps ten thousand at most.

She could kill them easily, but more were arriving every second.

And eventually, the elites, even Lomond himself, would appear.

She couldn’t face them.

She wouldn’t allow herself to suffer Ronald’s fate.

A woman captured by Demon Beasts… it would be a fate worse than death.

She gritted her teeth, kicked off the ground, and soared into the sky, riding the wind, fleeing towards human territory.

A horde of Demon Beasts pursued her, some taking to the air, their wings beating furiously.

Meanwhile, in his palace, Lomond waited smugly for the Hero Squad to walk into his trap.

But they didn’t come.

He paced impatiently, his frustration growing.

Then, he heard a commotion outside, and his frown deepened. He couldn’t sit still any longer and left the palace.

He saw chaos in his territory.

“Damn it, what’s going on here?!” He grabbed the Goblin Chieftain, who was about to lead his troops into battle.

The Goblin Chieftain paled, trembling before Lomond’s fiery gaze.

“Your Highness,” he stammered, “members of the… Hero Squad… have appeared…”

“Where are they?” Lomond’s eyes lit up, scanning his surroundings, but he saw no humans.

“It’s… it’s a woman, the Ghost Archer, Sylph.”

“She… she appeared in the dungeon, killed over four hundred prisoners and dozens of Pig-headed Men guards, and then escaped,” the Goblin Chieftain said quickly, his eyes darting around. He knew that this news would enrage the prince.

He had to find an excuse to save his own life.

As expected, Lomond’s gaze turned ferocious.

He stared at the Goblin Chieftain, his eyes burning, making the small, green creature tremble with fear.

“Goblin,” he growled, “you told me…”

“That those humans are cunning, that they would see through the dungeon trap and think Ronald is being held in my palace…”

“It seems their actions are completely opposite to what you predicted.”

His low growl made the Goblin Chieftain’s scalp tingle, and a desperate, hoarse plea escaped his lips, “Your Highness, please, give me another chance! I will capture that damned human and bring her before you!”

Lomond glanced at the pleading Goblin Chieftain, his eyes cold and merciless.

He needed intelligent subordinates, but not this arrogant, self-proclaimed strategist.

He casually tossed him aside.

With a shrill scream, the Goblin Chieftain’s body slammed into the ground, exploding into a bloody mess.

He died instantly, without even a chance to twitch.

The other goblins trembled, their green skin turning pale.

Lomond glanced at them and chose the strongest among them. “You,” he said, “from today onwards, you are the new Goblin Chieftain…”

“Relay my orders. Gather all the Demon Beasts in the territory… no, half of them, and hunt down that Ghost Archer.”

The chosen Goblin was overjoyed. He had thought he would be punished, but instead, he had been promoted from a mere guard to the Chieftain.

He didn’t even mourn for his predecessor’s death, rushing off excitedly to relay the prince’s orders.

As for Lomond, he stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Horus had instructed him to capture any other members of the Hero Squad and hand them over.

But if it was the blonde elf, Sylph, the Ghost Archer, he was to pretend to pursue her, then let her go.

Although he was reluctant to give up such an easy achievement, Lomond knew that maintaining a long-term cooperation with Horus was more beneficial. There would be plenty of opportunities to capture Hero Squad members later.

He should inform Horus about this. It could be used as a bargaining chip in future trades.

So, under Lomond’s personal command, a massive horde of Demon Beasts, flying and ground-based, swarmed through his territory, pursuing Sylph like a dark cloud.

Sylph was fast, leaping through the trees, covering dozens of meters with each bound.

But there were also flying Demon Beasts, incredibly swift, always close behind, maintaining a constant pressure.

She couldn’t shake them off.

Looking at the dark mass behind her, the countless glowing eyes, hearing their ferocious roars, sensing their bloodlust…

She even saw Lomond, his massive form like a moving mountain, surrounded by elite Demon Beasts, at least three of them level 80 or higher.

Even Sylph, with her strength, couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear. That was a power she couldn’t possibly contend with.

And compared to humans, Demon Beasts had greater stamina. When her Mana and Battle Qi were depleted, her speed would inevitably decrease, and then, the horde would descend upon her.

A quick death would be a mercy.

If she was captured alive, like Ronald…

The thought of his fate made Sylph’s face pale, her beautiful eyes filled with terror.

If she was subjected to such filth, even if she survived, she would be unworthy of Qin Chu…

This thought startled her.

Why?

Why, facing death, was she thinking about Qin Chu?

It shouldn’t be like this.

She loved Jie Luo.

Perhaps her love for him wasn’t as intense as Athena’s, Ekaterina’s, or Loseweisse’s, but it wasn’t that much weaker either.

Although recently, because of her own predicament, she had thought of him less often, it didn’t mean she would think of Qin Chu at a time like this, right?

Qin Chu, that bastard who had taken advantage of her under the guise of treatment…

She only desired his body, not his heart…

That’s what she had believed, but now, her feelings were a tangled mess.

At this moment, she actually longed to be with him again, even just once.

Her emotional turmoil affected her speed, her movements slowing, and the Demon Beasts gained on her, some even within striking distance, launching fireballs, poison arrows, and wind blades.

Although their individual attacks weren’t very strong, their sheer number was terrifying.

Sylph suppressed her inner turmoil and dodged the incoming attacks, her speed increasing once more.

Seeing her accelerate, Lomond breathed a sigh of relief. Good heavens, they almost caught her, he thought. This slow pursuit was agonizing…

Sylph wanted to call for help, but she didn’t know who to turn to.

The former Hero Squad members couldn’t help her.

She knew how selfish they were. Would Loseweisse and Ekaterina really risk their lives to save her?

Ekaterina might.

But Loseweisse definitely wouldn’t.

She thought of Qin Chu. She had a feeling that if she asked for his help, he would come immediately.

He would.

Just like he had risked his life, entering her body, her soul, to cleanse the Evil God’s threads.

But looking at the horde of Demon Beasts behind her, remembering Ronald’s fate, even if Qin Chu was strong, he couldn’t possibly defeat so many.

His title as the Hero wouldn’t protect him. His fate might be even worse than Ronald’s.

And even if she did contact him, could he arrive in time?

It was impossible.

Forget it, she thought, making her decision, if I can’t escape, I’ll just kill myself…

She smiled wryly. She was a selfish woman, wasn’t she?