"In my cooperation with the Monarch of Wind, Rain, and Snow, entering the Country of All Stars wasn't originally part of the deal. It was only after I reincarnated using the Flame of Knowing and Guarding god and became a Legendary sorcerer that I happened to qualify to join the angel hunt. That was why the Monarch of Wind, Rain, and Snow revised the terms of the transaction."
Under Igola's three-thousand-word directive, Weixi was finally unable to digress. She honestly disclosed the intelligence Yaxiu and the others desperately needed: "I originally wanted to refuse. The terms it offered were extraordinarily generous, and even if I failed, I would merely revert to other trade options. But as long as I kill the angel—or prove that I played a pivotal role in its demise—it will count the transaction as fulfilled.
"More importantly, upon an angel's death, 'godhood' drops. That is the true treasure the Divine Lords are vying for. Even if other Legendary sorcerers kill an angel, they must still surrender the godhood to their Divine Lord. But the Monarch of Wind, Rain, and Snow doesn't require the godhood. In other words, if I kill the angel, that godhood belongs to me!"
"What exactly is godhood?" Yaxiu couldn't resist asking.
"I don't know much, and explaining it is complicated," Weixi replied. "Just think of it as the crucial treasure that leads beyond Six Wings.
"Currently, every country has dispatched Legendary sorcerers into the Country of All Stars, including the Starry Kingdom. However, the Starry Kingdom's Legendaries aren't here to kill the angel, but to stop us. That means hunting the angel will involve three factions: foreign Legendaries who share a common goal, Starry Kingdom Legendaries who only want to cause trouble, and the angel itself."
Yaxiu asked, "How do we find the angel?"
"Don't you already have a lead?" Weixi said. "The Ruby Angel isn't human. If it lives in human society, anomalies will inevitably appear—things like antisocial behavior or serial killings. For example, 'Dead Frenzy' Niya Sevier is a major suspect.
"Still, even if we can't find it, it doesn't matter, because the Divine Lord of Stars will help."
Yaxiu and the others were taken aback. "What?"
"The other Divine Lords only want to seize the godhood, but the Divine Lord of Stars, having captured the angel, wants to swallow it whole," Weixi said. "Though it's impossible to predict what will happen, the Divine Lord of Stars will definitely 'digest' the angel at regular intervals until the angel is completely absorbed.
"The first 'digestion ritual' might occur in just the next few days, and when it does, the angel's true form might be exposed. Of course, all the Legendaries will arrive then. If you want to hunt the angel too, you'll have to clash with the most elite sorcerers of the six nations.
"However, your chances of winning are extremely high." Weixi glanced at Feili. "The other Legendaries might not have found their demons yet, but you, Master, already have an obedient, well-behaved, and easily controlled demon right here."
When Yaxiu looked over, Feili immediately defended herself, "I know she's trying to drive a wedge between us! I didn't believe her!"
"But as an ordinary person, suddenly being turned into someone else's tool and dragged into a life-and-death struggle without gaining any benefit yourself—that's a fact, isn't it?" Weixi said with a smile. "Haven't you noticed Master looking at you with regretful eyes from time to time? He's actually regretting it—that chain should have been used on you, not on me."
"I don't believe it," Feili hurriedly shook her head at Yaxiu. "I don't believe you at all!"
"It's just..." The blonde girl looked at her phone and found over a dozen unread text messages. "It's getting really late, and my friend is pressing me to go back... Ah!"
What about her friend's info?
"It's not very convenient to head back this late, and there are plenty of rooms here," Igola said. "You shouldn't mind making do and staying the night, right?"
Feili shifted uncomfortably. "I... I..."
"The soundproof room has already been cleared out," Rose said. "It's very quiet and comfortable. There's a bathroom and pajamas. Hand your clothes over to me, and they'll be washed by tomorrow morning!"
"I... I... ugh..."
Seeing that Feili was on the verge of tears, Yaxiu snapped exasperatedly, "Rose, take Feili back. Feili, we have no intention of tying you down here. But once you get back, don't tell anyone you went to Nebula University tonight, and definitely don't reveal that you're a demon or that you met us. Otherwise, other evil sorcerers will force you to work for them."
"Mm!" Feili nodded gratefully. "I'll never tell a soul!"
"I'll make preparations over the next couple of days and come find you."
"Huh?"
"It's also true that we need your help," Yaxiu said. "If possible, I hope you can become our companion. Don't refuse just yet. I'll do my best to offer sincere terms. You can also think about what you need—if it's within my power, I'll provide it."
"I... I..." Feili lowered her head and said, "I'll think it over carefully."
Once Rose escorted Feili out, Weixi spoke up: "If it were me, I wouldn't let her take half a step outside. You wouldn't even need to kidnap her; pure intimidation would be enough to keep her from ever defying your orders."
"Because we only need to protect ourselves, not participate in this game," Yaxiu said. "According to what you said, as long as we obediently wait for the Legendaries to decide the victor and slay the angel, we can return to reality safe and sound."
Weixi nodded. "Mm, that's certainly one way of looking at it."
Yaxiu was a little surprised. "You're actually not intimidating us? Not egging us on to hunt the angel and throw our lives away?"
"There's no need. After all, look—I offended you, and now I've become your maid. If I egg you on to hunt the angel, what if you actually end up killing it?" Weixi shrugged. "Besides... you folks don't seem like bystanders who would miss out on such a grand feast."
Igola and Harvey immediately fixed their gazes on the party's resident team-wipe engine. The latter remained impassive. "Any other intelligence?"
"None. The main points are finding the demon, waiting for the Divine Lord of Stars' signal, then slaughtering all the other Legendaries, and finally killing the angel."
Yaxiu remarked, "I thought the Spectre Prophet would have prepared an elaborate, detailed conspiracy."
"Death is the greatest conspiracy of all," Weixi said. "Kill everyone who poses a threat, and you win. As long as you kill enough of them, they will begin to fear you, second-guess you, flee from you, and ultimately acknowledge you. They'll acknowledge you as an unpredictable natural disaster, willingly abandon their struggles, and even romanticize your slaughter, taking their own deaths for granted—"
Clap!
Yaxiu clapped his hands, snapping the engrossed Igola and Harvey back to reality.
Just then, Rose returned. Yaxiu asked in surprise, "Back so soon?"
"I didn't drive her myself; I hailed a cab for her." Rose glanced at her phone. "It's already time for my bath and rest. Are you all heading to sleep?"
Yaxiu and the others were indeed tired and nodded one after another. Rose then turned to Weixi: "How should she be arranged?"
"A maid should naturally attend to her master closely, shouldn't she?" Weixi batted her eyelashes.
"Put her in the soundproof room," Yaxiu said.
At these words, everyone stared intently at Yaxiu. Before Rose could ask whether she needed to prepare any props, Yaxiu continued, "Lock it tight and shut her inside, lest she hear my voice and interpret it as an order to run wild. Before I unlock her door tomorrow morning, none of you are allowed near her either, so she doesn't bewitch you."
The demon maid obediently followed Rose upstairs. When she reached the second floor, Weixi glanced back down at Yaxiu and offered a faint smile.
Her voice sounded like a prophecy, a proclamation, and even more like a curse:
"You cannot keep me hidden forever."
* * *
"You cannot keep him hidden forever."
In a villa in the Lone Diamond District of the Starry Kingdom, Felix looked at Sonia and said helplessly, "Even if you rent a place outside, you'll still have chores and duties. You can't keep an eye on him constantly. Doing it once or twice is fine, but over time, an accident will inevitably expose him.
"Not to mention, transportation is a problem. How do you plan to move him out?
"Even though I'm reluctant, hiding them here truly is the only way right now."
"I don't trust you." Sonia watched the pajama-clad Felix warily, as if terrified the other would snatch Yaxiu from her embrace. "You belong to the Four Pillar Cult. Leaving them here is far too dangerous—heaven knows what ritual materials you might turn them into. On top of that, this is a priority search zone with Sanctuaries and Legendaries watching closely. It's way too risky."
"I don't mind you taking them away, but don't expose me in the process!" Felix threw up her hands in defeat. "Three people and a coffin—how do you plan to haul that away?"
"Hmm... mm..." The Paw-Extending Sword Saint pondered for a moment. "I'll take Yaxiu away first today, and deal with the rest gradually."
Suspicion—absolute suspicion! The moment this girl took Yaxiu away, she would lose herself entirely in indulgence and forget all about the remaining two people and the coffin!
"Why don't you buy a safe, lock Yaxiu inside whenever you're away, and only open the safe to haul him out and play with him when you visit?"
The Country Girl's expression darkened, radiating an intimidating aura. "What do you mean by that?"
Undeterred by the Sanctuary's imposing majesty, the second young lady of the Vosloda family said, "What I mean is that you just want to hide Yaxiu away for your own use! With you and so many Sanctuaries and Legendaries watching, how could our Four Pillar Cult possibly harm these guys? Besides, they've already searched this place once; they won't be coming back anytime soon.
"You get what you want, but the moment you or Yaxiu are exposed, you'll report us a hundred percent!" Felix said resentfully. "Do you dare swear that you won't drag us down with you?"
"I dare!"
"Bullshit! You're not even looking at me—you're still staring at Yaxiu! Not a shred of sincerity! He's fast asleep, what's there to look at?!"
"Isn't he good-looking?" Sonia blinked, showing Yaxiu off like a treasured plushie. "Don't you think he's cute?"
Felix took two steps closer and examined Yaxiu's sleeping face carefully. "Well..."
"See, you're charmed too!" Sonia instantly tucked Yaxiu behind her and hugged him tightly. "Leaving Yaxiu at your house is far too dangerous! I have to take him away, or he'll definitely fall victim to your sinister clutches!"
Felix practically wanted to drop to her knees. "...Where on earth do you get this confidence that your lover is the most invincibly adorable person in the entire world..."
*Ding-dong.*
Suddenly, the chime of the doorbell rang through the hollow villa.
Chapter 797