Chương 10: Chapter 9 Part 1

Morning light filtered gently through the heavy, dark velvet curtains of the guest chamber, casting a warm, golden glow across the expansive room. Dust motes danced lazily in the sunbeams, illuminated against the rich mahogany furniture and the intricate, hand-woven rugs that covered the cold stone floor. Ming Xuan Ji stirred, the obscenely soft, deep blue silk sheets shifting around her.

For a long, disorienting moment, she simply lay there, staring up at the grand, tasseled canopy of the bed, her mind completely blank. There was no biting wind howling through jagged pine trees. There was no damp, root-tangled dirt pressing against her spine. There was no distant, blood-curdling roar of an Abyssal beast on the prowl. There was only the faint, cheerful chirping of songbirds in the manor's meticulously kept gardens and the incredibly soft crackle of the dying embers in her private hearth.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, stretching her arms high above her head. A deeply satisfying series of pops echoed from her joints. She had slept flawlessly, a heavy, dreamless sleep that had completely washed away the lingering, bone-deep mental fatigue of surviving in the Zel'Mora forest for over a hundred days.

'Best sleep of my entire life,' she thought, finally throwing off the heavy, fur-lined covers. She stood up, her bare feet sinking into the plush rug. With a mere thought, she willed her [Heavenly Demon Raiment] out of her spatial inventory. The black and crimson hanfu materialized instantly over her skin, the ethereal fabric wrapping around her and adapting seamlessly to her movements.

The silk felt incredibly fresh, carrying a faint scent of lotus flowers, as if it had just been newly laundered and expertly pressed. It was an artifact perk she still appreciated immensely; the self-cleaning property alone made it a god-tier item for wilderness survival. Just as she finished tying her intricate crimson sash, a soft, incredibly polite knock echoed from the heavy oak door.

"Enter," she called, her voice naturally slipping back into its steady, melodic, and perfectly composed cadence. The door opened with a quiet click. A young maid stepped hesitantly into the room. She was dressed in a crisp, immaculate black-and-white uniform, complete with a heavily frilled apron, white stockings, and a neat lace cap pinned to her hair.

But what instantly shattered Xuan Ji's calm facade, at least internally, were the twitching, black-furred cat ears sitting atop the girl's head, the fluffy, expressive tail swishing anxiously behind her, and the bright, luminous golden eyes that sparkled with a mixture of nervous awe and intense curiosity. A catgirl.

'Holy shit. A real catgirl maid,' Xuan Ji's heart did a violent, embarrassing little flip in her chest. A massive tidal wave of memories from her old life on Earth, late-night anime marathons, ridiculous gacha game pulls, and VR cafe visits, flooded her mind. For a split second, the fearsome Heavenly Demon who had vaporized a troll army wanted nothing more than to ask if she could pet the fluffy ears. She ruthlessly clamped down on the urge.

She forced herself to steady her breathing, chilling her racing heart with a pulse of Yin energy to maintain her ethereal, untouched poise. Outwardly, absolutely nothing showed. Her face remained a mask of flawless, serene royalty. The maid curtsied gracefully, her ears flicking forward in a sign of respect.

"Good morning, my lady. I am Lira, at your service. I have brought your morning tea and a light refreshment to start your day."

"Thank you, Lira," Xuan Ji said gently, gesturing toward the small, plush sitting area by the hearth.

"You may set it there." Lira moved with a silent, feline grace that made no sound against the floorboards. She carefully set down a heavy silver tray bearing a steaming porcelain pot of the estate's signature forest-blend tea, along with a plate of warm, buttery scones dusted with fine sugar. As she poured the tea, her tail curled around her leg in what seemed like a mix of enthusiasm and deep-seated reverence.

"The Marquess awaits you in the morning room for breakfast, whenever you are fully prepared," Lira murmured, bowing once more and taking a step back, intending to slip out the door.

"Wait," Xuan Ji called out softly. Lira froze, her golden eyes widening slightly, her ears pressing flat against her hair in sudden panic.

"M-My lady? Did I displease you? Is the tea not to your liking?"

"No, the tea is perfect," Xuan Ji reassured her, taking a seat in one of the velvet chairs. She patted the empty chair opposite her.

"Join me for a moment. I've been… isolated from civilization for quite some time. Sit. Tell me about life in Theloca. The daily rhythms of this frontier city." Lira's jaw dropped slightly. She hesitated, her impeccable posture stiffening as her tail flicked nervously.

"My deepest apologies, my lady, but that would be entirely inappropriate. A servant does not sit with an esteemed guest of the Marquess. However… if you simply wish for a conversation partner, it would be my honor to stand here and answer any of your questions."

"That's fine," Xuan Ji said gently, not wanting to push the girl into a panic attack over noble etiquette.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Speak freely." Lira relaxed a fraction, her ears perking back up.

"Thank you, my lady." Xuan Ji picked up her porcelain cup, letting the floral, Qi-infused warmth wake up her meridians, before taking a small bite of a scone. It was crisp on the outside, incredibly fluffy on the inside, and melted on her tongue with a burst of sweet butter. Absolute bliss.

"Tell me about the people here," Xuan Ji prompted. Over the next twenty minutes, Lira's initial nervousness melted away, replaced by a vibrant, earnest enthusiasm. She spoke of the city's annual Harvest Festival, where beastkin from the lower districts would perform intricate dances under floating lantern light, and where the dwarven smiths would host massive, chaotic ale-drinking contests that left half the city guard hungover for days.

She talked about the Adventurer's Guild halls in the commercial district, describing how they grew rowdy and deafeningly loud on weekend nights, packed with elves, orcs, and humans sharing exaggerated tales of their quests into the fringes of the Zel'Mora forest. She spoke with quiet pride of Theloca's prosperity, a wealth built not on the taxes of the capital, but on the hard, bloody work of monster hunters, the forest trade, and the deep iron mines.

Lira's tales painted a vivid, breathing picture of a resilient melting-pot city. It was full of life, grit, and community. It sounded remarkably similar to the bustling player hubs in Unlimited Blade Art Online, but with real stakes, real history, and real people whose lives were on the line. Xuan Ji listened intently, offering small smiles and nods. For the first time in over three months, she felt the simple, profound joy of basic human connection. Eventually, Lira noticed the time and bowed deeply.

"I have taken up too much of your morning, Lady Xuan Ji. The Marquess will be waiting."

"You've been wonderful company, Lira. Thank you," Xuan Ji said, rising gracefully to her feet. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. As Lira gathered the tray, her tail swishing happily, Xuan Ji prepared her mind. The relaxing morning was over. It was time to re-enter the political battlefield.

(Drelion Vael's POV) Marquess Drelion Vael sat at the head of the long, sunlit table in the morning room, staring blankly at the heavy parchment scroll in his hands. His meticulously brewed tea had gone entirely cold an hour ago. Zero. That was the number written at the very bottom of the civilian casualty report. Out of a border city housing fifty thousand souls, facing a coordinated, frenzied vanguard of Deep-forest trolls that numbered in the thousands, exactly zero civilians had perished.

Only fifteen frontline guards had died in the initial breach of the western gate before she had intervened. Drelion set the parchment down heavily on the table, aggressively rubbing his temples to stave off a mounting headache. It defied all military logic. It defied the fundamental laws of warfare, physics, and magic. He had stood on the command parapet of the inner wall and watched her. He had seen the sky turn a blinding, apocalyptic white.

He had felt the localized earthquake that shattered the very bedrock of the plains, instantly vaporizing a massive horde of creatures whose regenerative hides were famously thick enough to deflect dwarven siege ballistas. And she wasn't even a mage. She used no arcane chants, no grand runic staves, no sacrificial blood rituals, and no mana crystals. She claimed it was "martial arts," a mythical, forgotten eastern discipline of internal Qi.

'She is a walking cataclysm in a silk dress,' Drelion thought, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck despite the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the glass windows. His mind drifted back to the vault last night.

'And I gave her the Enigma Ring.' The memory of that dark, unassuming artifact seamlessly binding to her pale hand played over and over in his mind like a recurring nightmare. The ring had violently, aggressively rejected every grandmaster, runic scholar, and archmage the Zareth Kingdom had ever produced. It had sat in his family's vault for two centuries, an unusable, stubborn lump of latent power. Yet it had submitted to her instantly, glowing with a terrifying, crimson light that felt distinctly demonic.

He didn't regret giving it to her. Not for a single second. If anything, it was the single greatest political investment the Vael family had made in five generations. You do not negotiate with a natural disaster; you simply open your doors, offer it your finest tribute, and pray to the gods it moves past your house without tearing the roof off. He needed to handle her perfectly today. If she was displeased, she could likely turn the Vael manor, and the rest of Theloca, to ash before lunch.

But if she remained an ally, or at the very least, a neutral, wandering powerhouse with fond memories of his family's hospitality, the political capital he would gain in the royal court would be astronomical. Crown Prince Theron himself would be begging Drelion for an introduction. He heard the quiet, perfectly rhythmic sound of footsteps approaching the morning room. Instantly, Drelion cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and banished the lingering terror from his bright blue eyes.

He expertly replaced it with the warm, practiced, and deeply respectful smile of a welcoming noble host.

(Ming Xuan Ji's POV)"Good morning, Lady Xuan Ji," Drelion said, rising smoothly from his high-backed chair with a warm, genuine smile as she entered the room.

"I trust you slept well?"

"Better than I have in months," she replied honestly, taking the seat he offered at his right hand.

"The bed was heavenly. Your wards ensured complete silence."

"I am exceedingly glad to hear it." Drelion gestured to the lavish spread laid out before them by the silent kitchen staff. There were platters of exotic fresh fruits imported from the southern territories, bowls of thick yogurt heavily drizzled with golden honey, baskets of warm, flaky rolls, and perfectly carved, lightly smoked meats.

"The city feels significantly lighter today," Drelion continued, pouring her a fresh cup of tea with practiced grace.

"The return of our evacuees from Valdren has brought a much-needed sense of normalcy back to the streets. Furthermore, rumors of your incredible deed have spread rapidly through the lower districts overnight. The people are already calling you the 'Crimson Lotus Savior.'" Xuan Ji paused, a silver butter knife hovering over her roll.

'Crimson Lotus Savior? Seriously?' she thought, physically suppressing a cringe.

'That's incredibly chuunibyou. But I guess it fits the Heavenly Demon aesthetic perfectly. Better that than something related to my actual gamer tag.'

"News travels fast," she said coolly, taking a delicate bite of the roll, projecting an aura of someone utterly unbothered by mortal fame.

"Especially when it comes with such an undeniable, earth-shattering impact," Drelion noted, his expression turning thoughtful and perfectly serious.

"If I may ask… what are your immediate plans? Theloca would be profoundly honored to host you indefinitely. You would want for nothing." She considered her answer carefully, maintaining her steady eating pace. Thanks to her cultivated body and incredibly high metabolism, she was easily polishing off portions that could feed a family of four, absorbing the caloric energy without the slightest bit of physical discomfort.

"Your hospitality has been more than generous, Marquess," she began, her tone appreciative but firm.

"But I cannot remain here. There are still too many questions about this world that need answers, and far too many places I need to visit. However, before I leave, I must process the materials I acquired during my time surviving in the Zel'Mora forest." Drelion nodded immediately, leaning back in his chair.

"Of course. I anticipated as much. I have already sent word to the Adventurer's Guild and the Merchant Consortium. They have cleared their entire butchery wing exclusively for your use today. They await your arrival eagerly."

"Efficient," she praised him, genuinely impressed by his proactive management.

"Let us go, then." After breakfast concluded, they exited the manor and boarded Drelion's sleek black carriage. The lacquered wood, trimmed with polished silver, gleamed in the mid-morning sun as it was pulled by a pair of massive, well-groomed warhorses. As they rode through the winding streets toward the commercial district, Xuan Ji looked out the window. The contrast from yesterday evening was staggering. The streets were bustling with renewed, frantic energy.

Merchants were throwing open their wooden stall shutters, loudly hawking their wares. Children were running through the cobblestones, chasing stray dogs. There was a palpable, heavy sense of relief in the air, the suffocating shadow of the troll horde had been completely lifted. When the carriage finally pulled up to the main thoroughfare, the Adventurer's Guild hall came into view.

It was a massive, incredibly sturdy stone building built like a fortress, adorned with a giant iron sign depicting a crossed sword and shield. Attached to the main building was a sprawling, warehouse-like structure, the butchery wing, designed for processing massive monster hauls. Thanks to the ongoing military ban on entering the Zel'Mora forest, a massive crowd of heavily armed, restless adventurers was lounging outside the guild.

They sat on crates and barrels, sharpening heavily notched blades, repairing chainmail, and sharing early morning drinks. But the moment the Vael family carriage rolled to a halt, the rowdy laughter died in their throats. A heavy hush fell over the entire crowd. Whispers rippled through the hardened ranks of mercenaries like wildfire, the "Savior" had arrived. They stared at the carriage with a mix of blatant awe, intense curiosity, and deep-seated fear.

Waiting at the grand, double-door entrance of the butchery wing were two distinct figures, clearly the highest authorities present. The guild master was a tall, grizzled elf named Elandor. He wore hardened leather armor, his pointed ears notched from old battles, and his sharp face marked by a series of brutal, faded scars. Beside him stood the merchant guild leader, a stout, broad-shouldered dwarf woman named Thare, adorned in rich silks and heavy gold jewelry that spoke of immense wealth.

As Xuan Ji stepped down from the carriage, her black and crimson robes billowing lightly in the breeze, both Elandor and Thare bowed deeply, folding at the waist.

"Lady Xuan Ji," Elandor greeted, his voice carrying the rough, gravelly edge of a veteran adventurer who had spent decades in the wild.

"We are deeply honored by your presence. We received word from the Marquess. Everything is prepared." Thare inclined her head, eyeing Xuan Ji's pristine robes with veiled, calculating curiosity.

"Indeed, my lady. We cleared the entire butchery specifically for you today. With the ban still in effect on the forest, there are no other hunting parties bringing in materials. You have our full, undivided attention. We will ensure fair and prompt handling of your spoils." Xuan Ji nodded, her dark eyes sweeping over the quiet, heavily reinforced building.

"Then let's begin," she commanded softly. They led her inside. The butchery wing was a vast, cavernous workshop. Long, heavily scrubbed stone tables stretched across the room, surrounded by complex, enchanted bone-saws that hummed faintly with latent energy. Glowing along the stone walls were massive preservation arrays, casting a faint, icy blue light that kept the massive room chilled like a meat locker. The air smelled sharply of cleaning herbs, fresh sawdust, and ozone.

Xuan Ji walked to the very center of the room, stopping between the largest tables. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what was about to happen. She knew that dumping her entire three-month collection of boss-tier monsters at once would likely break the local frontier economy and cause mass panic. She fully intended to only unload about ten percent of her hoard, the lower-tier garbage she simply didn't need to carry around anymore.

She raised her pale right hand, the dark Enigma Ring glinting faintly in the magical light. With a subtle, controlled pulse of Qi, she opened her [Void Storage Ring].