“…”
Even the Judge, the furious-faced witch, was at a loss for words.
The smarter a magic energy body was, the less it could understand Wuqixiao Mo’s answer.
It left her completely frozen, silent for a long, long time, unable to anticipate such an outcome.
At that very moment, the Faceless Witch exchanged a glance with Ten-Step Hall.
No one knew how she did it, but that was the impression they got.
Ten-Step Hall immediately understood—she knew it was her turn to step forward.
In fact, she and the witch had planned this whole scenario in advance.
“Are you admitting to being a traitor to Demonkind?” She cleared her throat, her voice cold and sharp.
She and Feini had once been members of the same squad; this would surely become a stain on her career.
The witch was giving her the chance to publicly judge Feini, so she could clear her own name.
“Who did I betray? Tell me.” Feini smiled, but there was a trace of sorrow in her smile.
“You betrayed Demonkind. You sold our secrets to the Human Race. You betrayed all of us. Now, I’m giving you one last chance for redemption—tell us the name of the Pseudo-Demon!” Ten-Step Hall’s tone brimmed with righteousness, inciting the crowd.
“Shijietang Simon…” Feini murmured.
“I did not! You’re slandering me!” Ten-Step Hall shouted at once.
“I’m not talking about you. Don’t get so worked up—what, feeling guilty?” Feini sneered, “You betrayed me. I never once betrayed you.”
Ten-Step Hall really did feel a twinge of guilt.
It wasn’t Feini’s words, but the mounting pressure from her allies’ gazes all around her.
If this went on, she’d lose all prestige, her reputation ruined.
Just as her mind was in turmoil, Feini’s Banyan Lily Second Skill activated once more.
The noisy chamber instantly fell silent. Time itself seemed to stop.
Three choices popped up in Ten-Step Hall’s mind—at this moment, she was once again being forced to make a choice for her. Unbelievable.
Option One: Slap her.
Option Two: Whip her.
Option Three: Fiery Heart-Piercing Fist!
The first was a joke, too mild. The second seemed reasonable, but nothing special. The third, though, was truly severe—so much so that it was almost unthinkable.
But if she didn’t go hard on herself, how could her scheme of self-sacrifice succeed?
This time, Feini was dead set on making Ten-Step Hall look bad—she wouldn’t let her get through this crisis with ease.
“Ha ha.” Ten-Step Hall forced an awkward laugh, then steeled herself.
In a flash, a burst of blazing fire lit up the room.
“Puchi!” came a crisp, clear sound.
When everyone looked again, that traitor to Demonkind had been struck straight through the heart by President Simon’s signature Fiery Heart-Piercing Fist.
So fast! So ruthless! So fierce!
The Society Bosses were dumbfounded, and any suspicion toward President Simon vanished. Some even began to applaud.
One punch and you’re dead—fists are the ultimate law! That’s the true spirit of a Demonic Beast! Everyone was convinced!
At this moment, Ten-Step Hall Simon truly won over the hearts of every Magical Beast Apprentice in the high school division, completing the first step of her grand ambition.
But Feini opened her mouth, unable to utter a word.
There was no blame in her gaze, only a faint approval that gradually faded as she collapsed to the ground.
Fortunately, Weapon Demonkind do not bleed; there was no mess. Her body was just a cold piece of Memory Metal.
And in that instant, an unfamiliar memory flooded into Ten-Step Hall’s mind as she pierced Feini’s body.
When discovered by the Kingdom Army:
“Option Three: We are the King’s Secret Squad. You have no right to question the details of our mission. Go perform your duties, soldiers.”
When harassed by shameless Adventurers:
“Take action!”
As long as no one died, the mission wouldn’t fail. She had to teach the Adventurers a lesson, to pave the way.
When arrested by the Saintly Official squad:
“Remain silent.”
Silence is golden; don’t slip up.
When discussing whether to return to the Magic Academy:
“Return to the Academy.”
Retreat decisively—if the Priests had their eye on her, she needed to avoid the limelight and not be investigated by the Sacred Maiden.
During the society war, when her identity was exposed…:
Continue to remain silent, avoid drawing attention, clear yourself of suspicion.
At the very end…:
“Option Three: Fiery Heart-Piercing Fist.”
Kill me, and may you fulfill your great undertaking.
Her punch shattered Feini’s body; now she was reading her memories. The past surged into her mind.
Ten-Step Hall realized she shared a mysterious spiritual connection with Feini.
Feini could even secretly influence her thoughts, and had made several critical decisions for her.
This realization sent a cold sweat down her back.
Yet she saw that though Feini possessed the power to kill her at any time, she never did; instead, she’d helped her through every crisis.
But… why would she help me like this…?
And now I have personally killed the one who helped me overcome every hardship—my own mother…
Soon, Ten-Step Hall Simon discovered the reason for their spiritual bond.
Because Feini was the Slayer Demon Sword Phoenix.
“It was you who betrayed me. I never betrayed you.”
Feini’s final words echoed in her ears, her tone absolutely clear of guilt, lingering long and deep.
But she had just killed her with a single punch; she would never hear her voice again.
As for why the banished Demon-Slaying Sword would still help her from the shadows instead of taking revenge, Ten-Step Hall Simon quickly found the answer.
That half-blood, the Half-Dragon she always scolded as a mongrel… was her own daughter!
She bore her own blood. Feini didn’t want their child to grow up fatherless.
The sudden rush of memories left Ten-Step Hall Simon frozen, her head bowed, staring at Feini’s lifeless body.
Her pupils trembled; her dragon mind felt shattered by these sad truths.
There was not a trace of pain on Feini’s face; her lips curved in a faint arc, as if she had found relief.
“Well done… Red Dragon…”
Now, Ten-Step Hall Simon could almost hear Feini’s last words as she fell—these were her true final words.
At this moment, regret, guilt, remorse, and sorrow—every kind of negative emotion pierced Red Dragon’s once-unbreakable body like blades.
“President Simon is ruthless!”
“President Simon is powerful!”
“President Simon is the best!”
No one could see her expression. The crowd thought she was savoring her victory, cheering loudly.
“Ten-Step Hall Simon!!!”
But a discordant roar echoed through the hall, as if a full moon was crashing down.
Instinctively, Ten-Step Hall raised her dragon-fire-clad palm to block the incoming strike.
“Puff!”
But this time, her palm was pierced, the tough flesh of the Red Dragon punched through.
But that was all. The contracting dragon flesh grew tougher, clamping the sword blade in place; the tip could go no further.
Her heart had long been numbed by pain far worse than any physical wound; she barely reacted to this attack.
On any other day, it might have broken her down for half a day.
She turned her head to look—the attacker was the long-absent white-haired swordswoman.
In this moment, Qingshamu was the embodiment of wrath, with no mercy left, her face fierce as she became a goddess of slaughter.
Even the Hero hadn’t expected Ten-Step Hall to act so swiftly and ruthlessly, showing not a shred of sentiment. Even the Sword of the Bright Moon was caught off guard.
She’d prided herself on her sword’s speed her whole life, yet at the most critical moment, she’d been a beat too slow. Now, there was nothing but regret, as fury consumed her.
“Why! Why are you so heartless? Why did you kill Feini!” Qingshamu roared, yanking her sword free from the dragon’s palm, then slashing again and again in a crescent flurry, determined to chop Ten-Step Hall to pieces.
“I…”
Ten-Step Hall didn’t know how to answer; she stood frozen, not moving, not dodging, giving up all resistance and waiting for Qingshamu to finish her.
“Don’t you dare hurt President Simon!”
“We’ll help you, President Simon!”
“Are you a Pseudo-Demon’s ally?”
She had given up fighting back, but her subordinates and supporters would not allow it.
The other Society Bosses had long been itching for a fight. They charged in, including Orange Sea Dream herself.
The entire audience surged forward to protect Ten-Step Hall, surrounding Qingshamu and beating her down.
The Judgment Hall was instantly turned into a brawl!
Now, everyone was overjoyed at the death of the Pseudo-Demon traitor. If someone wanted to avenge her, they must be a traitor’s accomplice.
“A Pseudo-Demon’s ally? No… I am the Pseudo-Demon! I am the Hero!”
Her heart-wrenching howl was matched by a flurry of sword qi, each one shimmering with moonlight.
Unleashing her ultimate moves, she cut a bloody path in an instant.
The Beast Academy club presidents felt the threat of death and fled at once, rolling on the ground to dodge.
The slower ones were chopped to pieces, blood spraying everywhere.
“Hero?” Red Dragon Haime was baffled, and even more stunned by the power erupting from this white-haired girl.
And this girl radiated a strange, pure magic—she was clearly a mage, too?
This time, Qingshamu held nothing back, nor did she need to.
The knight’s sword in her hand shone even brighter than a magic rod, blazing like a lightsaber.
It sliced easily through the thick hide of high-level Demonic Beasts, even able to wound the Red Dragon.
And more—two ominous figures appeared at the Hero’s side, tears streaming down their faces, radiating terrifying killing intent that stunned the hall.
Even the wounded high-level Demonic Beasts dared not breathe.
Among them, the shadowy Dark Moon Girl had already snatched the traitor’s corpse, holding it close as she trembled, “Mother isn’t dead yet, there’s still hope. But we can’t delay any longer.”
“We’re leaving.” Qingshamu leveled her lightsword. Though she longed to slaughter and duel the Demon King, saving a life took priority.