Category: I Became a White-Haired Loli

Chapter 23: I Was Careless!

Lin Yan’s arrival quickly calmed the situation, quelling the brewing unrest.

Her primary task was to reassure the panicked citizens, on the verge of collapse due to the demon’s presence.

However, regardless of Lin Yan’s own intentions, the Garrison Knights under her command were now effectively under Glaimond’s control.

This was a crucial piece of information.

Xu Bai had also served under the Garrison Knights. The “Sharp Assault” squad, a special operations unit on the Saint Noyes front line, had reported directly to Commander Lugner.

Back then, the Garrison Knights were an independent force, nominally answering only to the Emperor.

In reality, however, they were entirely under Lugner’s control.

But now, everything that had belonged to Lugner, including his life’s work, the Garrison Knights, was gradually being absorbed by Glaimond.

Glaimond’s intentions were clear.

“The position of Ninth-Order Legendary Knight…”

There were only nine, and could only be nine, Legendary Knights in the entire North Empire.

Xu Bai knew that the title represented more than just status; it also granted immense power, far beyond human limits.

The nine Legendary Knights were the pillars supporting humanity’s fight against the demons.

Glaimond’s ambition was evident. He wanted to become one of the nine, and the vacancy left by Commander Lugner’s “death” was the perfect opportunity.

But what about Commander Lugner?

Was this what he wanted?

Xu Bai didn’t believe Lugner was unaware of Glaimond’s machinations, yet he had still been attacked, almost as if he had been expecting it.

“…This is so troublesome.” Xu Bai sighed, shaking her head wryly.

Perhaps Sasha was right. She shouldn’t get involved in such complicated matters.

The crowd at the checkpoint gradually dispersed under Lin Yan’s reassurances, leaving only a few stubborn individuals who sat in front of the Garrison Knights, grumbling and refusing to budge.

Lin Yan ignored them, letting them be.

Suddenly, she noticed a little girl, no older than eleven or twelve, standing nearby, looking lost and confused, seemingly separated from her family. Lin Yan frowned slightly.

“Whose child is this? Bringing her here and not looking after her.”

Without a second thought, she walked towards the girl, intending to help.

Xu Bai, having pieced together the situation, realized the crowd had mostly dispersed. She looked up to see Lin Yan approaching.

“Oh no, she’s spotted me…” Xu Bai’s heart sank, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger on her back.

“Little girl…”

Lin Yan approached Xu Bai, crouching down and forcing a friendly smile.

Before she could finish, a dagger was pressed against her throat. She looked up in surprise, meeting a pair of sharp, hostile eyes.

“Enemy attack!”

The surrounding Garrison Knights instantly raised their spears, activating their psychic circuits, aiming them at Xu Bai.

The standoff lasted less than a second before Xu Bai withdrew her dagger, lowering her eyes to conceal her gaze.

“…I was careless.” Xu Bai inwardly groaned. Why had she reacted like that?

She had known Lin Yan from her time in the Garrison Knights, but they hadn’t been on good terms. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Their encounters often involved physical altercations, usually initiated by Lin Yan, but always ending with Xu Bai soundly defeating her.

Xu Bai had never seen Lin Yan as a normal girl, considering her a troublesome and persistent nuisance.

So, seeing Lin Yan approach, she had reacted instinctively, drawing her dagger without thinking. Fortunately, she had regained control at the last moment.

Lin Yan was startled, but the scene felt strangely familiar.

And those sharp eyes… she felt a strong sense of déjà vu, as if she had been on the receiving end of that gaze before.

The appearance and disappearance of the dagger had been instantaneous. Now, Lin Yan saw only a small, timid girl, her head down, seemingly trembling.

Lin Yan examined the girl. She looked like any ordinary child, perhaps a bit prettier, though her current disheveled appearance made it difficult to tell.

It seemed she had simply been wary of a stranger approaching, and then frightened by the knights raising their weapons at her.

In these turbulent times, it was normal to be cautious of strangers… right?

“But those eyes… well, it must have been my imagination.”

Lin Yan shook her head. She must be overworked and stressed.

Sighing softly, resolving to get a good night’s sleep, she turned to the Garrison Knights and said in a low voice,

“Lower your weapons. She’s just a little girl.”

“Commander Lin, but…” The Garrison Knights hesitated, but lowered their spears slightly, no longer pointing them directly at Xu Bai.

“There are no buts,” Lin Yan paused, glancing at the still-cowering Xu Bai. “If she wanted to kill me, she would have done so already, not waited for you to react.”

“Besides, she couldn’t hurt me.”

The Garrison Knights sheathed their weapons, though they still gripped them tightly.

Lin Yan crouched down again, softening her voice as much as possible.

“Little girl, where are your parents?”

“I… I don’t know…”

Xu Bai, head down, struggled to maintain her composure. It was surreal to hear Lin Yan, who had always been so aggressive, speaking to her in such a gentle tone.

Just controlling her expression and remaining silent was difficult enough; she didn’t dare look up.

But Lin Yan mistook the girl’s silence for fear. She scratched her head.

“You don’t know?”

Lin Yan felt a pang of frustration. She had never dealt with lost children before; she had no experience and didn’t know what to do.

She had interacted with girls her own age, but this… ahem, this was new territory.

Chapter 22: “Old Friend”

The next morning, dawn broke over Vikarn Port, the horizon glowing faintly, but the city remained shrouded in a light mist.

The news of the demon’s appearance, combined with the recent string of incidents, had fueled widespread panic.

The people of Vikarn Port finally realized they were caught in a dangerous, unpredictable maelstrom.

Countless citizens packed their belongings overnight, preparing to leave, or rather, flee Vikarn Port.

Just as they had fled cities under demon attack during the war, a pattern repeated for centuries.

But just then, a Garrison Knight unit stationed in Vikarn Port suddenly mobilized.

However, instead of searching the city for the demon, they set up checkpoints on the roads leading out of Vikarn Port, blocking all departing citizens.

“Why!”

A man stepped forward at the southern port checkpoint, his face flushed with anger, shouting at the impassive Garrison Knights.

“Why won’t you let us leave! You don’t try to deal with the demon in the city, but you stop us from escaping it!”

“Yeah! We don’t pay you to stop us!”

“All you do is attack your own people! Go kill the demon if you’re so capable!”

The surrounding crowd joined in, the situation escalating.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please step back. Do not approach the checkpoint.”

A Garrison Knight, armed with a spear, stepped forward, pushing back the citizens attempting to breach the barricade. His expression remained unchanged.

Xu Bai was among the crowd, but she wasn’t trying to leave Vikarn Port. Her destination was simply closer to the southern port, and she had come to see what the commotion was about.

“It seems Glaimond is getting impatient…”

Seeing the heavily guarded checkpoint, Xu Bai understood. Glaimond was accelerating his plans, though he still needed time.

Ice Lily wasn’t with her. Xu Bai didn’t want her to know about Sister Neily’s death, so she had made an excuse to come alone, intending to investigate her past, and Sister Neily’s.

Ice Lily hadn’t questioned her too much, only giving her a rune and instructing her to activate it in case of danger.

But the southern port, usually the quietest part of Vikarn Port, was now unexpectedly chaotic.

“Well, nothing to see here.”

Xu Bai quietly slipped away from the crowd, her small size proving advantageous.

The man who had first spoken was about to shout again, his face red with anger, but a spear struck him across the face, silencing him.

“Alright, everyone, please remain calm and don’t interfere with our work.”

A figure in heavy armor emerged from behind the Garrison Knights, retrieving the fallen spear.

Xu Bai, about to leave, froze upon hearing the voice.

“That… that’s…”

“You… you dare hit me! I’ll report you to your superior!” The man, sprawled on the ground, glared at the knight.

“Superior? My apologies, but you’ll have to report to His Majesty in the capital.”

The knight removed her helmet, revealing a surprisingly young, handsome face.

Her clear eyes held a hint of heroism, her shoulder-length hair neatly tied back in a ponytail. A faint smile played on her lips, but she exuded an undeniable authority, silencing the crowd, sending shivers down their spines.

“The newly appointed Garrison Knight Commander—Lin Yan!”

Like Xu Bai’s name, it originated from an ancient empire that had been at the forefront of the war against the Abyssal Demon Realm.

The early stages of the war had been a devastating conflict between that empire and the demons, ending in the empire’s complete annihilation, leaving only a few scattered descendants.

Even the current North Empire, the only surviving human empire, couldn’t compare to the power of that ancient empire.

Lin Yan’s family was one such lineage. After Commander Lugner’s retirement, Lin Yan, already renowned within the Garrison and the Empire, had naturally assumed the position of Commander with her family’s support.

However, she hadn’t inherited the authority of a Ninth-Order Legendary Knight, not because she was a woman, but because she was too young to be considered a successor.

Xu Bai, a veteran of the front lines, naturally knew Lin Yan. Or rather, Lin Yan wasn’t just her former comrade, but also… a sort of rival.

After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted in chatter again.

But this time, it wasn’t chaotic. Their tone was respectful, even reverent. Several young women gazed at Lin Yan with admiration, their faces flushed.

Xu Bai was familiar with this. Lin Yan was strikingly handsome, her heroic demeanor more captivating to some girls than most men.

“Still as arrogant as ever.”

Xu Bai noticed a hint of pride in Lin Yan’s seemingly gentle expression, a slight smile playing on her lips.

From the crowd’s discussion, Xu Bai learned that Lin Yan was now the Garrison Commander, which wasn’t surprising.

Unlike Glaimond’s position as Eastern Front Commander and General, the Garrison Commander had to fight on the front lines alongside the Knights, responsible for immediate command in battle.

The Commander, on the other hand, oversaw troop movements and held strategic command.

In terms of rank, the Commander and the Garrison Commander were equal, but in actual combat, excluding the influence of Lugner’s personal prestige, Garrison Commanders typically followed the Commander’s orders.

Moreover, now that the war was over, the city-defense-focused Garrison Knights had largely lost their purpose. The Empire had other Knight units, and the Garrison wasn’t as crucial as it had been during wartime.

Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that Lin Yan, relatively inexperienced, had been appointed to this now largely symbolic position, especially with her family’s influence.

“How nostalgic…”

Xu Bai recalled her past skirmishes with Lin Yan in the military, shaking her head wryly.

All of that was gone now, along with the quiet young man, buried forever in the ruins of Saint Noyes.

“But I didn’t expect Glaimond to be able to command even Lin Yan… Is it because of her family?”

Xu Bai looked at Lin Yan, her expression unchanged from her memories, but she noticed a hint of fatigue on her face.

“Perhaps… everything surrounding Vikarn Port is far more complicated than it appears…”

Chapter 21: Shifting Tides

Glaimond’s use of the word “back” revealed that he knew Vikarn Port was Salred’s hometown.

However, Demon Hunters rarely ventured deep into the Empire’s heartland, even to visit their hometowns.

Due to their half-demon nature, the Empire couldn’t allow such unstable individuals near vital areas.

Salred was aware of this and had concealed his identity, only revealing it when forced to save the little girl.

He wasn’t surprised that Glaimond had sought him out, only that he had appeared so quickly.

“Mr. Salred, I trust the Demon Hunters have no ulterior motives?” Glaimond asked, a smile on his face, but a glint of coldness in his eyes.

Salred’s appearance was unexpected. The Demon Hunters’ headquarters were far from Vikarn Port, on a different front line. He shouldn’t be here.

Moreover, Glaimond hadn’t anticipated the other demon being a commander-level threat.

Even if he inherited the full power of a Legendary Knight, he could only barely hold his own against such a foe, let alone defeat her.

These unforeseen deviations from his plan irritated Glaimond. He, who always had everything under control, felt a loss of control, his tone becoming sharper.

“Of course not. But it’s not something I can discuss with just anyone,” Salred replied vaguely, avoiding a direct answer.

His return to his hometown wasn’t simply for sentimental reasons. Moreover, his family had perished long before he became a Demon Hunter.

This answer didn’t satisfy Glaimond. His smile faded, the atmosphere growing tense.

Salred hadn’t anticipated Glaimond’s sharp reaction, but he knew he couldn’t reveal his true purpose, not yet. Even if it became known later, he couldn’t divulge anything now.

The Demon Hunters had sent Salred, who wasn’t their strongest member, partly because Vikarn Port was his hometown, and partly as a gesture of goodwill towards the Empire, a way to ease their vigilance, or perhaps distract them.

This mission was crucial for the Demon Hunters, for the eradication of demons.

“But General, you know that the Demon Hunters’ only enemy is demons. Our interests and goals align,” Salred said, looking directly at Glaimond. “At least for now.”

Glaimond paused. “But you still haven’t explained why the Demon Hunters are in Vikarn Port.”

Under normal circumstances, Glaimond might have overlooked the Demon Hunters’ presence.

But in this critical period, such an unpredictable variable was unacceptable.

“Why are you so insistent, General?” Salred calmly reloaded his crossbow, his other hand gripping a dagger.

He had expected Glaimond, so highly praised by the elder council, to have a different perspective on Demon Hunters, but he was disappointed. Glaimond was no different from other Imperial generals.

He wasn’t like Lugner, the former Garrison Commander, who had resigned a year ago.

Glaimond’s gaze fell on Salred’s hands. Salred made no attempt to conceal his preparations for battle.

“…I’m not. I simply want to know if Mr. Salred’s actions in Vikarn Port will endanger the citizens here. That is all.” Glaimond softened his tone, controlling his emotions.

He couldn’t afford another conflict at this crucial juncture. Salred was a formidable opponent; defeating him would require too much effort.

“They won’t. On the contrary, it might even be to protect them—”

Salred stopped mid-sentence, realizing he had said too much.

“Very well,” Glaimond nodded. “I hope Mr. Salred completes his mission quickly. As you can see, Vikarn Port is currently unstable.”

Glaimond paused, looking at the surrounding destruction and the lingering demonic aura. “Being a Demon Hunter is a sensitive matter. At a time like this… it’s best not to stay too long, to avoid further complications.”

“I understand.” Seeing Glaimond’s change in demeanor, Salred discreetly lowered his crossbow.

He knew Glaimond’s words held truth.

As outcasts, Demon Hunters weren’t viewed favorably by ordinary humans, making them easy targets for misunderstanding.

“If you have nothing further, General, I’ll take my leave.”

Salred didn’t want to prolong the conversation.

He could tell that while he had his own agenda, Glaimond did as well. The general’s behavior and carefully chosen words suggested he was planning something.

Salred wanted no part in it, not even the slightest knowledge. This wasn’t his fight.

“Very well, Mr. Salred,” Glaimond forced a smile. “I hope we can cooperate in the future. The Knights and the Demon Hunters should be allies.”

Both men harbored secrets, neither willing to reveal them.

Salred nodded almost imperceptibly, then turned and quickly left.

Glaimond watched Salred’s retreating figure, the forced smile vanishing from his face, replaced by a dark scowl.

The approaching City Guards, seeing Glaimond’s expression, hesitated to approach.

It was clear the general was in a foul mood. Approaching him now would be asking for trouble.

But Glaimond quickly composed himself, taking a few deep breaths and closing his eyes, suppressing his displeasure.

Vikarn Port had become the center of a growing storm. Demon Hunters, a demon commander, and perhaps even more unknown entities were converging here, far exceeding Glaimond’s initial expectations.

“Did you anticipate this as well, Commander Lugner…?”

Glaimond opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the overcast sky, his expression grave.

“But I won’t lose…”

“Send word. Have the Garrison Knights lockdown Vikarn Port.”

Chapter 20: Friends and Outcasts

The commotion at the restaurant didn’t last long. After Xu Bai and Ice Lily disappeared, the crowd quickly dispersed, the City Guard not even needing to intervene.

Although the crowd had appeared passionate, eager to slay the demons on the spot, their bravado had stemmed from their numbers and the presence of the City Guard. It was easy to shout along with the masses.

But with the demons gone, their courage vanished, replaced by a fear even greater than before.

No one wanted to be the next terrified restaurant owner.

Or worse, end up like the mangled corpses from that morning.

Soon, only a few City Guards remained at the restaurant, tasked with cleaning up the scene. The distraught owner was taken to the City Guard barracks for questioning about the demons he had witnessed.

Salred walked through the restaurant’s rubble, stopping where Xu Bai and Ice Lily had last been seen, his eyes narrowed, sensing the lingering demonic aura.

He had rushed to the scene upon sensing the demonic energy fluctuations, but he had arrived too late, witnessing only their disappearance.

Now, however, he was almost grateful for his late arrival.

“Destruction Class… no, at least Calamity Class, a commander level demon…” Salred’s expression grew grim. The demon hadn’t bothered to conceal her presence, her aura radiating outwards with blatant disregard.

Such a powerful being wasn’t something he could handle alone. Even the “elders” among the Demon Hunters couldn’t face a Calamity Class demon individually. They needed a coordinated team to stand a chance, and a full-scale assault to kill one.

The only humans capable of facing a demon commander head-on were Ninth-Order Legendary Knights, whose power was equivalent to “early Calamity Class,” barely reaching the upper echelons of Solor’s power scale.

[Shattered Class] [Collapse Class] [Destruction Class] [Calamity Class] [World Ender Class] [Void Class]

These six destruction levels corresponded to the six true power rankings on the continent of Solor.

The Empire’s Knight ranking system, from First to Ninth Order, was merely a simplified version to avoid public panic.

Excluding Ninth-Order Legendary Knights wielding the Imperial Authority, the strongest human warriors, Eighth-Order Grand Knights, were only between Collapse and Destruction Class, struggling to match high-ranking individuals from other races.

Salred’s power was around mid-Destruction Class, surpassing most Eighth-Order Grand Knights, rivaled only by a few exceptionally talented knights.

This was the true disparity between psychic circuits and Demonic Runes.

However, even among demons, Calamity Class commanders were rare. Why would one appear so openly in Vikarn Port, deep within the Empire?

Salred frowned, perplexed.

Regardless, such a dangerous demon’s presence in human territory couldn’t be a good sign.

A nearby City Guard was about to approach Salred, but seeing his attire and the characteristic bandage over his eye, he retreated.

News of the morning’s events had spread quickly within the City Guard, causing quite a stir.

The existence of Demon Hunters wasn’t a secret; their sworn enmity with demons was well known throughout the Empire.

But facing these beings, who maintained a human facade yet were clearly something else entirely, even the Empire’s soldiers kept their distance.

Salred stood in silence for a moment, finding no other demonic traces, then turned to leave.

“Mr. Salred.”

A smooth, refined voice suddenly called out from behind him.

“Who’s there?” Salred instantly tensed, loading a silver bolt into his crossbow and aiming it behind him.

“Relax, Mr. Salred. I’m not an enemy.”

A lighthearted chuckle accompanied the words as the speaker openly displayed his psychic circuits, easing Salred’s apprehension.

“Who are you?” Salred asked, his gaze fixed on the man in the crisp military uniform.

Even a human wasn’t necessarily a friend.

The man didn’t answer, instead pulling a relatively intact chair from the rubble and sitting down gracefully. “Apologies, I don’t enjoy standing while conversing. It gives me the impression we’re about to fight.”

“Don’t worry, I mean no harm. I just want to talk.” Seeing Salred’s continued vigilance, the man shrugged, spreading his hands. “Besides, isn’t my identity rather obvious?”

Salred’s eyes widened. He looked around. The City Guards who had been cleaning the battlefield had retreated, standing at a distance, their expressions a mixture of respect and awe.

In Vikarn Port, to be treated with such deference by the City Guard, and to approach him so silently… there could only be one person…

“General Glaimond. I’ve heard much about you.”

Salred lowered his crossbow, relieved.

If it was General Glaimond, he couldn’t be an enemy.

He was the only general in human history to achieve victory against a large-scale demon invasion, even forcing the Abyssal Demon Realm into a truce!

Legend had it that in the Battle of Saint Noyes, details of which were sealed away in confidential archives, it was this general who single-handedly turned the tide, using the abandoned fortress as bait to lure the demon legions into a trap and annihilating them!

Salred had heard praises of Glaimond countless times in the Demon Hunters’ elder council. His return to Vikarn Port, his former human home, was partly motivated by a desire to meet this legendary general.

“The Demon Hunters have quite a reputation in the Empire as well,” Glaimond said, his eyes narrowed, looking at Salred.

“I doubt it’s a good one.”

“Perhaps… I’ve had dealings with Demon Hunters. Many times,” Glaimond smiled. “On the battlefield against demons, you are valuable warriors.”

“But within the Empire, we are unwelcome outcasts,” Salred added softly.

Glaimond didn’t deny it, his smile fading slightly.

“So, Mr. Salred, what brings you back to Vikarn Port at this time?”

Chapter 19: Don’t Move

Ice Lily’s sudden action startled Xu Bai, but her stern gaze silenced her.

“Don’t move.”

Xu Bai wanted to speak, but a cold current flowed from the Demonic Runes on her cheeks, spreading throughout her body.

“Close your eyes,” Ice Lily’s cold voice commanded. “Try again.”

“I…”

This power…

Xu Bai’s pupils constricted. Her limbs grew cold, a chill seeping into her very core.

It was demonic power. To be precise, the power of the Ice Demon clan.

She had just fought Ice Lily, who wielded this very power. There was no mistaking it.

“Why can this power flow through me… am I really a demon?” Doubt gnawed at Xu Bai.

To wield demonic power so effortlessly… even the half-demon Demon Hunters couldn’t do that. They paid a price for using demonic power, a price that ultimately led to their transformation into mindless monsters.

But Xu Bai felt no such cost. The power flowed smoothly, as if it were a natural part of her.

Seeing Xu Bai’s continued inaction, Ice Lily frowned deeply.

“Don’t tell me you don’t even know how to use your own Demonic Runes? No inherited memories? Which bloodline do you belong to…?”

“I… I don’t know,” Xu Bai stammered, her voice filled with confusion.

She didn’t know what to make of herself anymore.

The reality before her was difficult to accept, but she couldn’t find any other explanation besides being a demon. While she’d never heard of a demon wielding psychic circuits, the idea of a human perfectly controlling Demonic Runes was even more inconceivable.

“Alright, calm yourself and focus on the presence of your Demonic Runes… Yes, like that.”

Before Ice Lily could finish, the scarlet mark on Xu Bai’s collarbone glowed faintly. Ice Lily nodded approvingly. “You learn quickly.”

Xu Bai channeled the power from the mark to activate the rune on her collarbone, the process eerily familiar, almost frighteningly so.

At the same time, her grayish-white hair shortened, turning black, and dark pupils reappeared in her frosty eyes.

But her expression was now somber.

Seeing Xu Bai’s complete transformation back into a human girl, Ice Lily suppressed her own Demonic Runes, returning to the appearance Xu Bai had first seen. Although she still possessed an ethereal, otherworldly beauty, it was less conspicuous.

“Ice Bai, why did you come to Vikarn? Did someone send you?” Ice Lily asked seriously, still using the same name for Xu Bai. Xu Bai no longer cared.

Perhaps “Ice Bai” truly was her name, not “Xu Bai.”

Ice Lily wasn’t as cold and aloof as she had been during their first encounter. Now, she seemed almost chatty.

“Vikarn? Vikarn Port…?” Xu Bai considered her answer. “I grew up here. I’ve just come back.”

“Grew up here!” Ice Lily’s eyes widened slightly, her breath catching. “Wait, were you adopted? By a human woman, around my current age?”

“Did you know me before?” Xu Bai looked at Ice Lily, disbelief coloring her tone. “But I didn’t look like this before…”

“No, I’ve never met you before,” Ice Lily said, regaining her composure. “But I know the human woman who adopted you… No wonder…”

Xu Bai paused. “Did she know you, too?”

Sister Neily knowing an Ice Demon, and Xu Bai potentially being an Ice Demon descendant… the coincidence was unsettling.

Had she been a demon disguised as a human all along?

But then, who was the quiet young man in her memories…?

Sister Neily’s image was growing hazy in Xu Bai’s mind. Her most vivid, and final, memory was of Neily smiling gently, arms outstretched in a final embrace, as she faded away.

Although she couldn’t recall Neily’s exact words, Xu Bai knew that even in her last moments, the emotion in Sister Neily’s eyes had been real.

“Yes,” Ice Lily’s expression returned to its usual indifference. “But it was a long time ago. I’m not sure if she remembers me.”

After a moment of hesitation, she added, “I said I was looking for someone in Vikarn. I was looking for her.”

Xu Bai didn’t speak, her gaze falling to the ground.

Despite her impassive expression, a flicker of hope shone in Ice Lily’s eyes.

It seemed Sister Neily and Ice Lily had been close…

Xu Bai sighed, still unable to reveal the truth.

“She… she’ll be back soon. Just wait a little longer.”

“Alright, I understand.” Ice Lily’s tone was lighter. Then, as if thinking of something, she asked, “What are your plans now? After I finish my business here, I could take you back to our clan lands and pass on the Ice Demon heritage to you.”

Xu Bai didn’t reply, only nodding slightly.

She wasn’t sure if any of this was real; she could only accept it for now.

But if it meant fighting against the Empire as part of the demon legions, she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to fight against her former comrades.

As if sensing Xu Bai’s reservations, Ice Lily added, “The Ice Demon clan did not participate in the Abyssal Demon Realm’s war against humanity. Even within the Abyss, there were strong disagreements about the war. The Ice Demons remained neutral.”

“I see…”

Ice Lily’s words brought to mind some of the unusual things Xu Bai had witnessed in past battles.

If the demons weren’t as unified as she had believed, those anomalies made sense.

And Ice Lily, close friends with a human like Sister Neily, couldn’t possibly harbor deep prejudice or malice towards humanity.

“But, about my true identity… perhaps the only one who knows is Sister Neily…”

Xu Bai remembered why she had returned to Vikarn Port: to find any clues Sister Neily might have left behind.

So much had happened since then. She was now inexplicably wanted, and she had discovered that she might have been a demon all along.

Everything circled back to her original question.

“It’s time to go home…”

Chapter 18: Mmm-mmph?!

Looking at Ice Lily’s indifferent, almost vacant expression, Xu Bai rubbed her eyes, a headache forming.

Since Ice Lily had mistaken her for a fellow clansman, her cold aura had softened considerably, the chill in her eyes receding.

Moreover, her words and actions towards Xu Bai were now gentle, almost accommodating.

Ice Lily had no reason to feign kindness here. Xu Bai could tell she genuinely intended to treat her as a junior in need of care.

Even within the human Empire, where families were bound by blood ties, it was rare to find such a selfless “elder” like Ice Lily, offering protection not for gain, but simply based on a shared lineage.

But this was precisely what troubled Xu Bai.

She wasn’t a demon, nor was she Ice Lily’s junior!

“Sigh,” Xu Bai fretted, fiddling with her grayish-white bangs and looking at her reflection in a puddle at her feet. “How do I change back…”

The frosty Demonic Runes on her cheeks hadn’t faded; they were still prominent.

Moreover, Xu Bai could sense a faint demonic aura emanating from her.

Although barely perceptible, it was a pure demonic aura, similar to Ice Lily’s.

If she weren’t certain from her memories that she wasn’t an Ice Demon, Xu Bai would have started to wonder if Sister Neily had found her in the Abyssal Demon Realm.

So, it was understandable that Ice Lily had mistaken her for kin.

“Change back? You mean disguise yourself as a human, like before?” Ice Lily looked at Xu Bai, a flicker of understanding in her usually indifferent eyes. “I saw a rune mark on your collarbone. It seems to be the one that alters your appearance—the form I first saw you in. Why aren’t you using it?”

“Collarbone?”

Xu Bai looked down, surprised. There, on her delicate collarbone, was a scarlet mark identical to the rune Sasha had given her.

But now, it resembled a Demonic Rune.

More complete than the ones on her face, its crimson color almost seemed to bleed.

Xu Bai quickly pulled her clothes higher, concealing the mark.

Her current appearance was alarming enough; adding this scarlet rune…

If anyone saw it, Xu Bai wouldn’t be able to explain it away.

“But, aren’t runes single-use… how can it be imprinted on my body?” Xu Bai frowned.

Runes were essentially spells, techniques, and incantations sealed within a special medium, allowing anyone to use them without prior training.

Typically, these runes crumbled after a single use. Reusable runes were rare, and runes that imprinted themselves on the user were unheard of.

So, what exactly was the rune Sasha had given her?

Was it truly a Demonic Rune?

Yet it lacked any demonic aura or the characteristic invasiveness of Demonic Runes.

“Why aren’t you using the rune?” Ice Lily asked again, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Xu Bai hesitated. “It’s no longer working.”

“It’s not. I tried it just now,” Ice Lily said casually.

Xu Bai: “???”

Wait, when? How? She hadn’t noticed anything.

“When I was holding you, I accidentally saw the rune on your collarbone and tried it,” Ice Lily explained, seeing Xu Bai’s bewildered expression.

“Accidentally… tried it…”

Xu Bai was speechless. Ice Lily seemed genuinely oblivious, so perhaps she was just being overly cautious. Maybe Ice Lily was simply being kind.

Ice Lily was very different from Sasha. Sasha… well, better not to think about her. Who knew where she had run off to.

“By the way, Miss Ice Lily, how did you find me? No, why did you try to kill me earlier?”

Xu Bai suddenly remembered. Ice Lily had clearly been looking for her at the restaurant; it hadn’t been a chance encounter.

And judging by her indifference to the rioting humans, Ice Lily wasn’t a bloodthirsty demon. If she had wanted to kill Xu Bai, there must have been a reason.

But that reason hadn’t been strong enough to outweigh her concern for a “fellow clansman.”

“I wanted to find you, so I did,” Ice Lily turned her head slightly, avoiding Xu Bai’s gaze. “As for why I wanted to kill you, it was just a misunderstanding.”

For some reason, Xu Bai sensed a hint of guilt in Ice Lily’s voice.

“…Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Xu Bai decided not to press the issue.

Despite being a demon, and possessing a demon’s decisiveness in combat, Ice Lily was different from the demons Xu Bai had encountered before.

Not just her apparent cluelessness, but also her lack of hostility towards humans and the absence of the usual demonic arrogance and coldness.

Honestly, aside from being a demon, Ice Lily was far kinder than most of the so-called higher-ups Xu Bai had met in the Knights.

She couldn’t bring herself to see Ice Lily as an enemy, even though Ice Lily had just tried to kill her.

“How do I use this transformation rune?” Xu Bai hesitated, then asked.

Since Ice Lily had tried it, she should know how it worked.

“Didn’t you use it before?” Ice Lily frowned. “Just channel energy into the rune and visualize the form you want to take.”

“…It’s no different from a normal rune.”

Except…

Xu Bai raised her arm; her psychic circuits were still unresponsive.

It seemed the earlier overexertion had taken a severe toll. Her circuits were completely depleted, unable to function.

“What’s wrong?” Ice Lily asked.

Xu Bai hesitated, then shrugged slightly. “I… I don’t have any energy left to activate the rune.”

“You do,” Ice Lily said firmly.

“I don’t.”

“You do,” Ice Lily repeated.

Xu Bai flexed her arm. “See? I really don’t have any strength left.”

Ice Lily, seemingly exasperated, stepped forward and cupped Xu Bai’s face in her hands.

“Mmm-mmph?!”

Chapter 17: Ice…

“Kill the demon! Kill the demon!”

The impassioned cries echoed through Vikarn Port. Glaimond stood in a room atop the distant Clock Tower, looking down on the scene, his eyes narrowed.

“Things seem to be escalating a bit too quickly. That juvenile demon is rather impulsive. This is troublesome…”

Despite his words, his tone lacked any real concern.

Knock, knock, knock…

A knock came at the door, followed by the voice of a messenger.

“Reporting, sir. The demon girl has escaped, but another suspected demon has appeared alongside her… Should we deploy the Garrison Knights?”

“No. Hold our position. Let the City Guard handle it.” Glaimond replied calmly.

The messenger hesitated. “But, sir, the City Guard’s strength is insufficient against a demon of squadron leader level or higher…”

“That is an order.” Glaimond’s tone remained even, but now carried an undeniable authority.

“…Yes, sir.”

The messenger offered no further argument, bowing his head and exiting the room.

As an invisible wave spread out, only a few in Vikarn Port detected it.

“Did she attract a real demon?” Glaimond closed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“If it’s a true demon… that would be even better.” Glaimond opened his eyes, looking down at the source of the clamor. “To dare venture alone into Vikarn Port, deep within the Empire… within the reach of the Empire’s authority. Unless it’s a demon legion commander, then… hmph…”

Glaimond touched an ornate ring on his finger, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

“Another demon slain would add to my credentials when I inherit the mantle of Legendary Knight…”

Despite the vast disparity in power between their races, humanity had stubbornly waged war against the demons for centuries, not due to demonic mercy, but because of the “Imperial Authority” wielded by the Empire’s Legendary Knights.

Within the Empire’s territory, Legendary Knights wielding this authority could exert power far exceeding their own, a force even high-ranking demons had to treat with caution.

However, when the Empire’s control over its borders weakened, so did the Imperial Authority. Without it, Legendary Knights couldn’t stand against the demon legions.

This was how the Abyssal Demon Realm had gradually chipped away at humanity’s territory and the Empire. Centuries later, only the once mighty North Empire clung to its remaining lands.

Although Glaimond hadn’t officially inherited the title of Legendary Knight, he had, by chance, obtained a ring containing a fragment of the Imperial Authority, allowing him to combat invading demons.

This was the source of his confidence in his plan to assassinate Lugner and usurp his position.

So far, everything was proceeding smoothly, according to plan. With Lugner incapacitated, Glaimond could finally make his move, extending his influence within the Empire.

Everything was ready. He just needed the silver-haired demon captured and executed publicly. Then, Lugner would “peacefully pass away,” his “vengeance” fulfilled.

With his prior preparations, Glaimond could then seamlessly inherit Lugner’s “authority” and become the new Legendary Knight.

It was all perfectly orchestrated. Now, Glaimond simply had to wait, patiently.

He looked up at the overcast sky, the shouts below seemingly growing louder.

Remembering the City Guard’s morning report, his smile faded slightly.

“Demon Hunters… what are they doing here?”

…

Xu Bai huddled in Ice Lily’s arms, quiet as a porcelain doll.

Ice Lily used her innate ability to create a field of light-refracting ice particles around them, effectively rendering them invisible.

They moved through the agitated crowd, reaching a secluded, deserted alley.

“Miss Ice Lily, you can put me down now,” Xu Bai whispered, her long eyelashes fluttering, a slight blush on her cheeks. She hadn’t expected Ice Lily to pick her up again in this embarrassing manner.

Even if Ice Lily weren’t a demon, being held like this by any girl would make Xu Bai uncomfortable.

But given the circumstances, she hadn’t protested.

Now, safe from immediate danger, Xu Bai couldn’t wait to escape the cold, faintly fragrant embrace.

“Alright.”

Ice Lily complied, bending down and gently setting Xu Bai down.

But for some reason, Xu Bai felt as if Ice Lily’s hands had lingered, brushing against her entire body as she was being lowered.

However, when Xu Bai looked up, Ice Lily’s gaze was straight ahead, her expression as indifferent as ever, as if nothing had happened.

Xu Bai hesitated, then spoke. “Miss Ice Lily, did you just…”

“No.”

Before Xu Bai could finish, Ice Lily quickly replied, her clear, unwavering gaze fixed on her.

Xu Bai: “…”

She definitely did! She definitely did!

Xu Bai clutched her clothes tighter, stepping away from Ice Lily, mentally placing her on the same alert level as Sasha.

What was it about her that attracted such attention? Two strange girls in two days…

Ice Lily remained expressionless, seemingly unaffected by Xu Bai’s distancing, but she also took a few steps back, maintaining the previous distance.

Xu Bai stepped back again, and Ice Lily followed.

“…”

“Miss Ice Lily, aren’t you in Vikarn Port looking for someone?” Xu Bai asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Although Ice Lily had helped her escape, she was still a demon.

And to Xu Bai, demons were mortal enemies.

“Yes,” Ice Lily replied. “But she might not appear for a while. I need to look after you.”

She paused, then added seriously, “The Ice Demon bloodline is rare. Although I don’t know your standing within the clan, I must treat you as a junior for now—by the way, what is your true name?”

“I… never mind.” Xu Bai decided against explaining, simply replying, “Just call me Bai. Nothing else.”

Like Little Sister Bai, for instance…

“Alright, Ice Bai.”

Ice Lily nodded slightly, indicating her understanding.

Understanding? Understanding what?!

Xu Bai twitched her lips. This Ice Demon seemed different from the demons she knew.

She seemed… a bit clueless?

Chapter 16: Miss Ice Lily, Could You Do Me a Small Favor?

A rumble echoed through the air, and the battered restaurant, weakened by Xu Bai and Ice Lily’s fight and the owner’s desperate escape, finally collapsed.

Two figures, one tall and one small, emerged from the dust cloud. They didn’t resemble the monstrous Fallen Demonspawn, but the surrounding City Guards remained tense.

The restaurant owner, still on the verge of a breakdown, didn’t even register the destruction of his livelihood. His only thought was to escape.

He had witnessed Xu Bai and Ice Lily’s fight, the terrifying patterns spreading across their faces reminding him of the demonic images propagated by the Empire.

Terror gripped him, overriding all other thoughts, compelling him to flee.

But no one paid attention to the distraught owner. The City Guards braced themselves for another demon attack.

As the dust settled, Xu Bai stood motionless, her face blank.

Ice Lily remained beside her, her posture unchanged.

“It’s her!”

Despite the slight differences, the City Guards instantly recognized Xu Bai as the demon girl from the wanted poster, gripping their weapons tightly.

“It’s her! The demon who attacked our protector, the knight!”

“I…” Xu Bai opened her mouth, but seeing the fear and hatred in the guards’ eyes, she closed it again, defeated.

Ice Lily’s cold, sharp voice cut through the tension. “I don’t understand. Why do you insist on denying your demonic heritage?”

Xu Bai remained silent, her face expressionless as she looked around. Everywhere she looked, the City Guards and civilians regarded her with either fear or hatred.

She had seen those looks before.

It was the same look the knights she fought alongside had given the demons at the city gates.

But now, those looks were directed at her.

This was why Xu Bai had hesitated to return to human territory after her transformation, why she had been so reluctant to face her own reflection.

She felt a pang of irony. She had spent her life fighting against demons, and now she was being treated as one.

She was the invading “demon.”

Having seen the “demon” in person, perhaps realizing she wasn’t as terrifying as they imagined, the crowd’s fear morphed into intense hatred.

“Kill the demon!”

Initially just a few scattered shouts, the cries quickly escalated into a deafening roar.

“Kill the demon! Kill the demon!”

But the City Guards hesitated. Unlike the civilians, they knew that these two beautiful demons were not as harmless as they appeared.

Although generally weak, the City Guards were veterans of war, some having even faced the demon legions on the front lines.

The truly terrifying demons weren’t the grotesque monsters, but those like these, with appearances closer to human aesthetics, yet far more ruthless and cruel.

Those were the demons that truly chilled them to the bone.

“Why isn’t the Garrison here yet…” The City Guards gripped their weapons, sweat beading on their foreheads.

Only the heavily armed and powerful Garrison Knights were equipped to handle demons; the City Guard was merely a peacekeeping force.

The crowd was becoming increasingly agitated, some even trying to push past the guards, brandishing crude weapons, intent on killing the demons.

Ice Lily remained silent, indifferent to the growing unrest, her cold gaze fixed on Xu Bai, as if deep in thought.

Xu Bai also stood still, her face slightly pale.

“No Garrison…”

Only the weak City Guard was present; the powerful Garrison Knights, the true demon-fighting force, were nowhere to be seen.

This meant that, from the beginning, the Garrison had no intention of intervening.

Xu Bai knew what this meant.

“Are these people… expendable to him…?” Xu Bai looked around, a sense of despair washing over her.

The City Guard was clearly no match for a demon attack.

And now, with the capable Garrison absent, “his” intentions were clear.

“He’s not ready yet. He doesn’t want this farce to end too quickly, even at the cost of countless lives.”

Such ruthless tactics… several figures flashed through Xu Bai’s mind, finally settling on one.

“It’s you, isn’t it, General Glaimond…”

General Glaimond, the Eastern Front commander, renowned for his cold, calculating strategies. In his plans, anyone, no matter how many, could be sacrificed to achieve his objectives.

Glaimond had once used two outlying settlements as bait to lure a small demon squad deep into enemy territory, then annihilated them in an ambush.

It was a rare victory for humanity, a complete annihilation of a demon squad. But behind this glorious achievement lay the slaughtered populations of two settlements, no survivors.

Although impeached countless times, his brilliant strategic mind and undeniable strength had only elevated his position within the Knights.

This situation clearly bore Glaimond’s signature, and with his ambition, a plan to assassinate Commander Lugner and inherit his position wouldn’t be surprising.

“Miss Ice Lily,” Xu Bai turned to Ice Lily, her voice calm. “Could you do me a small favor?”

Xu Bai’s eyes met Ice Lily’s, and for some reason, she noticed a flicker of hesitation in her gaze.

“Tell me,” Ice Lily averted her gaze slightly.

“Can you get me out of here? Without harming these humans?” Xu Bai asked, her tone even.

“I understand.”

Ice Lily nodded, stepping closer and scooping Xu Bai into her arms, just as before.

Countless ice particles swirled around them, refracting the light.

As the ice spread, their figures gradually disappeared.

“The demon is gone…”

The nearest City Guards watched Xu Bai and Ice Lily vanish, but they didn’t pursue, instead breathing a collective sigh of relief.

The surrounding crowd continued their deafening chants of “Kill the demon!”

Chapter 15: Can I Put You Down Now?

Xu Bai looked up, meeting Ice Lily’s indifferent gaze. She was being held like a doll, the sharp ice blades hovering inches away, frozen in mid-air.

Ice Lily had stopped at the last moment? Just a few inches further, and those blades would have killed her…

In her past battles with demons, Xu Bai had never encountered such a situation. Fights between knights and demons always ended in death.

Xu Bai was more surprised by this than by being held in a princess carry by Ice Lily. She opened her mouth to speak,

“You…”

“Who are you?”

Before Xu Bai could ask her question, Ice Lily spoke first, frowning slightly as she examined her. “I’ve never seen you in my clan before.”

“Never seen me? Clan? A demon clan?”

Xu Bai was increasingly confused. “I’m not a demon. How could you have seen me?”

“You’re… not a demon?” A flicker of confusion crossed Ice Lily’s eyes. She brushed Xu Bai’s hair aside, gently stroking her cheek. “Although still weak, these are indeed Demonic Runes.”

“What? Demonic Runes?”

Xu Bai’s heart pounded. She looked at the hovering ice blades.

Reflected in their surfaces was a pale, frail girl, her appearance strangely beautiful, yet unsettling.

Her short, black hair, transformed by the rune, was now the same grayish-white as Ice Lily’s, growing rapidly until it almost reached the ground.

And, instead of her expected dark-gold vertical pupils, her eyes were a pale blue.

But what truly alarmed Xu Bai were the simple patterns spreading across her cheeks, familiar yet foreign.

—Demonic Runes.

Ice Lily and Xu Bai, reflected in the ice blades, looked like sisters.

What was happening? Why was she transforming again?

Could it be that Sasha’s rune had malfunctioned?

But a malfunction wouldn’t turn her into a demon…

Xu Bai felt a surge of fear. She had finally been able to move freely in human territory, and now she had to hide again?

“Can I put you down now?” Ice Lily’s voice interrupted Xu Bai’s thoughts.

Xu Bai realized she had been held in this embarrassing position for quite some time, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

“Y-yes.”

Ice Lily, seemingly oblivious to Xu Bai’s embarrassment, gently set her down. “I was trying to figure out how to kill you without being discovered, but since you’re a fellow clansman, I can’t bring myself to do it.”

Xu Bai took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself, but Ice Lily’s words made her flinch.

What if… what if she said that her current appearance was perhaps… maybe… possibly just an illusion created by a rune? Would Ice Lily attack again?

Xu Bai wanted to fight, but her psychic circuits were depleted.

Although she sensed another source of power within her, seeing her current appearance, she feared it might be the Demonic Runes.

“It seems… I can’t change back for now…” Xu Bai brushed her grayish-white hair aside; it showed no sign of returning to black.

To change back, she would have to find Sasha again, but Sasha didn’t have any more runes, and she was now who-knows-where…

No, no, no. That wasn’t important right now.

Xu Bai slapped her cheeks, forcing herself to focus, then looked at Ice Lily.

The most pressing issue was the unknown threat posed by this Ice Demon.

“Miss Demon, what are you doing in Vikarn Port?” Xu Bai gripped her dagger. Even without her psychic circuits, she could still hold her own against Ice Lily with her swordsmanship.

For a while, at least…

“I’m looking for someone. I sensed her presence here.”

Ice Lily answered surprisingly readily, but she seemed displeased by being called “Miss Demon.” “My name is Ice Lily. You can call me Miss Ice Lily, or just Ice Lily.”

“I’ve never addressed a demon so politely…” Xu Bai muttered, still wary. “Well, Miss Ice Lily, regardless, don’t you think it’s inappropriate for a demon to be in a human town, even during a truce?”

Ice Lily’s indifferent expression remained unchanged. “Aren’t you too?”

“Me?” Xu Bai was momentarily speechless, then stammered, “I… I’m not a demon.”

“But you’re being hunted as a demon on the wanted posters in this human town.” Ice Lily pointed at Xu Bai’s face. “And look at yourself. Demonic Runes cannot be faked.”

“It’s just a misunderstanding. I’m not a demon. And these Demonic Runes don’t prove anything. As you saw earlier, I use psychic circuits.”

Xu Bai shook her head, continuing to deny it.

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I think you should explain it to him.”

Ice Lily looked towards the restaurant entrance, and Xu Bai followed her gaze.

The restaurant owner was leaning against the doorway, trembling, muttering to himself,

“Demon… a demon… the demon is here…”

Xu Bai fell silent. The owner’s terrified gaze was fixed on her. He believed she was the demon, the one he feared.

“I’m not the demon. She is. Look at her.” Xu Bai pointed at Ice Lily, her voice laced with frustration.

But her words only made the owner tremble more violently, his face contorted with fear.

“Stay… stay away! Don’t kill me…”

“I’m really not a demon!” Xu Bai took a step forward in desperation.

But that single step shattered the last vestiges of the owner’s sanity.

“Stay away!!!”

He scrambled towards the frost-covered door, smashing through it, leaving a trail of blood, and fled in terror.

“Demon… the demon killed someone!”

His earsplitting scream, filled with fear and despair, instantly infected the nearby crowd, drawn by the commotion. Even the approaching City Guards paled upon hearing the cry.

“What? It’s the demon!”

Chapter 14: Eh? Eh? Eh?

As a knight who had fought on the front lines for many years, Xu Bai was all too familiar with the patterns spreading across Ice Lily’s face.

“Demonic Runes.”

This was a power unique to demons, similar to humans’ psychic circuits, but far more potent and invasive.

Once tainted by the power of Demonic Runes, the body’s existing power system would be forcefully destroyed and replaced, ultimately transforming the victim into either a half-demon or a twisted monster.

Even powerful races like elves and beastkin were not immune, let alone humans.

“Frost Calamity.”

Ice Lily’s words were few, her tone still indifferent.

As she spoke, the frosty air around them condensed, the area of effect shrinking, focusing on Xu Bai.

The temperature around Xu Bai plummeted, a thin layer of frost forming on her lips.

“She’s strong…”

Without hesitation, Xu Bai activated her psychic circuits, the power of a Grand Knight returning.

“Ice Blades.”

Before Xu Bai could react, sharp ice blades materialized around Ice Lily, hurtling towards her.

[Severing Cut: Falling Petals]!

Xu Bai instantly countered, swift, subtle slashes deflecting each blade.

The shattered fragments, propelled by her attack, flew back towards Ice Lily, but dissipated into mist before reaching her.

Ice Lily’s expression remained unchanged. Within her “Frost Calamity” domain, she controlled all ice-based power.

“This is troublesome…” Xu Bai steeled herself, the sluggishness in her long-dormant psychic circuits fading, channeling a surge of energy into her dagger.

This was no time for holding back; she had to give it her all to defeat this demon!

Ice Lily raised a hand, conjuring more ice blades, this time in greater numbers.

As the blades attacked again, Xu Bai deflected them, but the effort was clearly taking a toll.

More blades followed relentlessly, Ice Lily mechanically repeating the same attack, giving Xu Bai no respite.

After several waves, Xu Bai’s stamina was depleted, her breath ragged.

“What are you trying to do…” Xu Bai narrowed her eyes, observing Ice Lily. Conjuring the ice blades didn’t seem to strain her, yet she only attacked in waves.

However, Xu Bai’s psychic circuits were nearing exhaustion. Within Ice Lily’s “Frost Calamity” domain, her energy consumption was significantly amplified.

“I can’t keep this up. I have to attack!”

Xu Bai made up her mind. As the next wave of ice blades approached, she didn’t deflect them. Instead, she leaped, using the blades as footholds to close the distance with Ice Lily.

“I have to get close… her ice blades will be useless at close range!”

Xu Bai focused, her small body moving nimbly between the blades, her movements synchronized with her sword.

Simultaneously, her psychic circuits flared, her aura surging, becoming unstable.

As Xu Bai approached, Ice Lily’s expression remained calm, only the speed of her ice blade conjuration increasing.

But for the battle-hardened Xu Bai, this wasn’t enough to stop her. Using her small size to her advantage, she weaved through the gaps.

Once in close combat, Xu Bai, with her superior swordsmanship, would have the upper hand.

Within ten paces, with her burning psychic circuits, she was confident she could inflict serious damage!

“Ten paces, five paces—”

Finally, within striking distance, Xu Bai lunged, her dagger flashing.

[Severing Cut: Startling Shadow]!

[Severing Cut: Soul Sever]!

[Reverse Severing Cut: Life Extinguishing]!

Three swift, devastating slashes aimed directly at Ice Lily.

Xu Bai poured all her remaining energy into these three strikes, the overflowing power even severing a nearby beam.

The angles of her attacks were perfect, leaving Ice Lily no room to dodge; she had to face them head-on.

Allowing Xu Bai to get this close, unguarded, was already a defeat.

However…

Ice Lily slowly raised her head, meeting Xu Bai’s gaze. There was no fear in her eyes, no longer the previous indifference, but a swirling blue-white light.

She was activating her Demonic Runes!

What was going on? Had she miscalculated?

Xu Bai’s heart skipped a beat, but her attack had already been launched. Ice Lily would be severely injured.

Judging by her Demonic Runes and abilities, she was likely of the Ice Demon race, not known for their physical strength or close-combat prowess.

Even without using her psychic energy, Xu Bai was at least a Seventh-Order Knight.

Moreover, this all-out attack posed a lethal threat even to a Ninth-Order Legendary Knight. Unless Ice Lily was a high-ranking demon, she wouldn’t escape unscathed.

“Frost Calamity, Gather.”

Just as Xu Bai’s attack was about to land, Ice Lily’s voice rang out. The scattered ice blades around them instantly reformed, floating in mid-air.

A last-ditch effort?

No, it wasn’t.

“Frost Calamity, Solidify.”

A thick layer of ice armor encased Ice Lily, freezing her entire body.

Clang!

Xu Bai’s attack shattered the ice armor, sending shards flying.

However, the attack’s force was also completely neutralized, leaving only a shallow scratch on Ice Lily’s body, which quickly healed.

“She… transformed into ice!”

“I’ve fought too few Ice Demons. I forgot about this technique…”

Xu Bai realized her mistake the moment her dagger struck the ice armor, but it was too late.

This was a defensive spell used by Ice Demons when facing a fatal threat, transforming their bodies into solid ice to withstand any attack.

At the same time, a far greater number of ice blades than before converged towards Xu Bai’s back with the force of a blizzard.

After that all-out attack, Xu Bai had no energy left to defend herself.

Feeling the chilling air behind her, with no time to react, she braced for the agonizing pain of being impaled.

“…”

But, to her surprise, instead of the expected agony, she felt a soft, cold embrace, a faint, familiar fragrance filling her senses.

“Eh? Eh? Eh?”