Chapter 5: The Useless Demoness (2)
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Needless to say, the whiny young boy in front of her looked exactly like Shiyuan, and yes, his name was also Shiyuan.
Well, at least the system was considerate enough not to let her mistakenly call the wrong name in her moment of panic.
Apart from addressing him as Great King, she found a jade pendant in her room, said to be left by her parents, engraved with three neat characters: “Frost North Snow.”
Interesting.
Then, Lin Nan encountered many familiar faces in the mountain stronghold.
Like Morris, Adeline, Trissa, Tom, Jerry, and their nearly thousand demonic underlings.
Perhaps to match the world’s aesthetic, they had all donned Chinese warrior costumes, and their double horns were nowhere to be seen, but their features still looked rather European. This made Fatty, who was designed as a local Indigenous character, stand out like a sore thumb.
What puzzled Lin Nan even more was that the demon race had lost their original memories. Like Fatty, they had completely integrated into this world, becoming nearly NPC-like in existence.
As for the origins of the demon people, Fatty explained it this way.
They came from the Great Food Nation, having hurriedly escaped after failing in a political struggle. After crossing mountains and rivers, they arrived here and were taken in by you, Great King.
Since then, they have been wholly loyal to you, even if the task is certain d*ath, they wouldn’t dare to complain.
“Do you have a map?”
After leaving Shiyuan’s room, Lin Nan immediately asked Fatty.
Fatty blinked in confusion, shaking his head. “Map? What’s that?”
Alright, she shouldn’t have overestimated Fatty’s intelligence in this world.
But looking at the current size of the stronghold, she had about a thousand Demonic people under her, along with another thousand local Indigenous folks. Their strength was not bad—sufficient to withstand an attack from nearly ten thousand soldiers as long as they had enough food stored.
With her pitiful martial prowess, she somehow commanded such a seemingly strong army. The system wasn’t being too stingy after all.
But just as she was starting to feel good about it, Fatty came sprinting toward her at nearly a hundred meters per second.
“Great King, it’s bad, it’s bad!”
Good heavens, why is it that every time you appear, it’s always bad news?
“A bunch of martial arts people are outside yelling that they want to duel with you.”
“A duel? I’ve got so many underlings, do I really have to jump into battle myself?” Lin Nan looked utterly confused.
Fatty replied, “How about you go take a look yourself?”
Lin Nan felt truly helpless.
She’d just opened her eyes in this bizarre place and hadn’t even had a sip of water when one problem followed another. The little bit of goodwill she had built up towards the system vanished in an instant.
The stronghold was built on the mountains, with only one mountain path leading down.
The checkpoint was right on the mountain path. It’s said that one person can hold off a thousand. As Lin Nan stood at the tower and looked out, she couldn’t help but feel such sentiments.
She saw about thirty white-clothed swordsmen glaring at her angrily.
The leader was a striking figure, tall and aloof, with cold eyes like daggers.
“Demoness! Hand over Young Master Shiyuan immediately!” he shouted fiercely.
Once someone led the charge, the rest followed suit, “If you’ve got guts, come down and fight us! If you lose, we’ll leave right away; if you win, you have to let him go!”
“Yeah, yeah! According to martial arts rules, one-on-one! No help allowed!”
Lin Nan glanced at Fatty, “What’s their deal?”
Fatty blinked back, “By the looks of their outfits, they’re probably from some sword sect, who knows?”
“Then let me ask you this: Can these thirty-something people break through our stronghold’s defenses?”
“Nope.”
“Well then, don’t report me this kind of rubbish in the future, unless you think we can’t hold it!”
Lin Nan turned and walked away.
What a joke! She knew her own abilities and felt that challenging those professional martial artists was just inviting d*ath!
As soon as Lin Nan stepped out of their sight, the white-clothed swordsmen began to shout even louder.
“Hey, timid woman! You’ve got the guts to snatch someone but not to duel with us!”
“Exactly! Who told her to be a demoness? There’s no good in anyone from the Demon Sect!”
Upon hearing that, Lin Nan paused for a moment.
“Wait a minute, what did he just say? Demon Sect? We’re the Demon Sect?”
Fatty’s face turned pale as he looked at Lin Nan, retreating step by step like a mouse facing a cat.
Lin Nan had thought she was just an ordinary mountain king, but surprise, surprise—she had this whole extra backstory!
In a martial arts world, being part of the Demon Sect naturally meant she had a villainous trait. If a martial arts novel doesn’t have terms like righteous, evil sect, or demonic sect, it loses all credibility. Of course, this also led to the rampant existence of demonic sects; ancient novels always had one hanging around, whether main characters or side characters. In short, the ancient world felt incomplete without a demonic sect.
It seemed the system was well aware of this, which is why it tirelessly portrayed her as a useless villainous demoness.
d*mn it!
In the last small world, she was at least a Bureau Director—while she couldn’t say she could k*ll gods, no one dared to cross her in her little dominion.
Now, here she was, sporting a pile of useless powers. What was she supposed to compete with?
Just then, with a creak, the stronghold’s tower gate swung open.
What’s going on here?
Is it possible that the soldiers guarding the gate, including Fatty, were actually internal spies from the righteous faction, and she was sold out?
But Fatty looked horrified, what on earth was happening?
Is there anyone who can come out and explain this?
Lin Nan maintained her philosophy of “the less I speak, the fewer mistakes I make,” and observed with a stern face.
The soldiers around her mirrored Fatty’s state, seemingly afraid she might suddenly eat them.
Could it be…
“Haha, see! Just mentioning the Demon Sect makes that demoness eager for a fight!”
“A demoness is still a demoness; a dog can’t change its nature!”
The thirty-some white-clothed swordsmen keened outside the gate, still blabbering away.
Lin Nan glanced around—everyone had looks of fear mixed with expectancy.
Do I really want to fight them? What’s with that expression on your faces? Just go ahead and zen out!
Close the door and let that bunch of bozos hype themselves up.
【Quest Name: The Demoness’s Glory!】
【Perfect Completion Condition: Unify the Martial World.】
【Minimum Completion Condition: Survive for 60 days.】
【Friendly Reminder:
The Demon Sect has been wiped out by the righteous for five whole years. As the last ember of the Demon Sect, you dream of restoring its glory one day.
Now, an excellent opportunity is right before you.
Shiyuan, destined to bear the Demon Seed according to the prophecy, is also the current Martial Arts Alliance Leader Shi Jinghai’s son.
If you could merge your strengths with him, your Luck Value will continually increase, aiding in your quest for success.
You better seize this chance!】
Lin Nan, “…”
With her current useless level, how did she survive the catastrophe of the Demon Sect’s annihilation?
And still become the head of an entire stronghold?
Except for the system cheating for her, she couldn’t think of any other reason.
But faced with the shouts from the swordsmen outside and the expectations from her own soldiers within, what on earth was she supposed to do?