After washing his back, Cherisse carefully rinsed it with warm water and finally dried Qiaolin’s back with a dry towel.
“Truly remarkable. Seeing how young you look, one wouldn’t expect you to have experienced so many things. I can feel every mark those events left on your body. You must be someone who has done great things.”
“How have you been all these years?” Qiaolin finally spoke.
Cherisse had been deliberately avoiding exposing his identity.
From the moment she touched him, everything about Qiaolin had slowly unfolded before the Succubus girl like silk being unraveled.
“A very peaceful life, just as Tor promised us back then,” Cherisse said, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
“As for you, after all these years apart, why did you change your face? I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“That old appearance was far too memorable. Right now, I’m… in a state of semi-retirement.”
“Semi-retirement? Hehe.”
Cherisse chuckled.
Compared to Qiaolin’s conflicted expression, she seemed quite relaxed.
Regarding the matter that weighed heavily on Qiaolin’s mind, Cherisse — the “victim” — had actually become the beneficiary.
After obtaining the Hero Essence, her growth had surged, granting her power that left all her kin in the dust.
She wanted to repay him.
Qiaolin naturally knew this, but he felt emotionally uneasy.
It was through this connection that the Hero Party had secured a foothold and allies in the Demon King’s Castle.
The two could be friends, but Qiaolin was still unwilling to have too much contact with Cherisse.
This meeting was a last resort, but Qiaolin used the opportunity to gauge her rank.
“You’ve actually reached the King-level Peak. That’s quite a surprise.”
Cherisse’s movements slowed slightly.
“I thought you would compliment me on becoming more beautiful or something. Strength… it isn’t that important to me anymore.”
“You haven’t changed much, so I recognized you the moment we met.”
“Heehee.”
As if hearing something she loved to hear, Cherisse let out a satisfied laugh.
Meetings between old friends always began with warm inquiries.
Through Qiaolin’s general description, Cherisse learned about his life over the past few hundred years.
“Even after laying down the burden of being the Hero, are you still carrying Tor’s wish?” Cherisse said.
“I hope she can feel comforted by your changes from Heaven.”
Seeing Cherisse speak these words like a devout believer, Qiaolin smiled helplessly.
“Those aren’t words a Succubus should be saying.”
“Because we’re friends. Ever since Tor passed away, there was no news of you. I thought I might never see you again in this lifetime.”
Cherisse asked Qiaolin, “So, did you come to the Demon King’s Castle this time at the invitation of the Demon King?”
“It’s that girl. She’s nearing a breakthrough and needs me to help maintain stability in the Demon King’s Castle.”
“I’ve heard about the conflict between the Demon King and the Tyrant of Rock. She consulted me for advice…”
Cherisse paused, then continued, “If there’s anything I can do to help, I will contribute my strength.”
“You and your sisters have already done too much. I promised Tor that no matter what happens in the future, I would keep you all out of it,” Qiaolin said calmly.
However, there was an unquestionable will in his tone, making Cherisse deeply feel that the man before her was no longer the young Hero of the past.
“Then how long do you plan to stay this time? 3 years or 30?”
“I don’t know. It depends on the timing of Gabriela’s breakthrough. To become a Saint-level Powerhouse, one must overcome their Inner Demon. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone was stuck at that stage for their entire life.”
“She is a sentimental member of the Demon Race. I imagine the Inner Demon stage will be very difficult for her,” Cherisse said with some concern.
During Gabriela’s reign, the Demon Race, which had been on the verge of destruction, had flourished under her governance.
As the Demon King, she was not inferior to her blood relatives at all, which was something Cherisse admired.
“The Demon King often comes to bathe with Lady Demigula. They’re both here today, you know.”
“Hmm? They’re here too?”
Qiaolin’s eyes lit up, and he perked up.
“Should I arrange for you to be together?”
“Better not.”
Qiaolin sighed and said, “That girl, Gabriela, would definitely be shy.”
“Pfft… You really are considerate of her. I suddenly feel like I’m getting to know you for the first time,” Cherisse laughed.
“Hmph, don’t laugh.”
“The Demon King likes you very much. Has she confessed her feelings to you yet?”
Qiaolin’s body stiffened.
He hadn’t expected Cherisse to suddenly bring this up.
“Why are you asking that?”
However, Qiaolin still answered, “I don’t think so… She’s a reserved girl, just like Tor, only more fragile.”
“Then you…”
“I like her too,” Qiaolin said, almost blurting it out.
“But I can’t. I can’t accept myself. I’ve… lost the ability to actively express love. I’m afraid of tragedy repeating itself, that’s all.”
“Is that so…”
The tip of Cherisse’s tail dropped slightly, resting against the edge of the pool.
She knelt by Qiaolin’s side, her cherry-pink hair damp with water droplets cascading over her shoulder blades.
Under the man’s gaze, she shed the flirtatiousness she had shown when they first met, becoming soft and quiet.
“The service is over. Remember to give a 5-star review!”
—
“Master Lockes, which of us would you like to choose to serve you?”
Looking at the several Succubi casting flirtatious glances at him, Lockes’s face turned bitter.
“Ch… choose?”
“Yes! Or would you like us to serve you all at once? That works too!”
“No, no, no.”
Lockes knew exactly what these Succubi meant by “service.”
They were after his vigorous energy and blood as a member of the Vampire race.
That absolutely wouldn’t do.
Although the outside world often confused Vampires and Succubi, mistakenly thinking the two Demon Races were the same type, only those in the know understood they were vastly different.
A Succubus’s growth relied almost entirely on plundering, converting Life Energy into their own Magic Power.
For Vampires, blood-sucking was merely a combat method.
Even though it could be used for cultivation, most Vampires disdained using others’ blood to become stronger.
“I only want a scrub. I don’t need any other services,” Lockes said.
The Succubi were stunned upon hearing this.
Gazing at the youth’s handsome, fair appearance, they could only sigh inwardly with regret.
“Then I will arrange a professional scrubbing Artisan for you, Master Lockes.”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Lockes sighed helplessly.
To be honest, he didn’t want to come to this place.
On the surface, it was a bathhouse, but in reality, it was a dining hall set up by the Succubi of the Demon King’s Castle.
They would find every way possible to make the guests receiving service cough up their Life Energy.
They didn’t dare to make things too difficult for someone famous like him in the Demon King’s Castle.
But if someone like Qiaolin accidentally wandered in, or other ordinary members of the Demon Race, they would be eaten until not even scraps remained.
‘But with Qiaolin’s strength, he should be able to sense it…’
Lockes still felt a bit uneasy. These Succubi really would eat people.
Absentmindedly, Lockes arrived at his bath.
He opened the door, and suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over him.
“Hmm?”
“Welcome, guest.”
An androgynous voice washed over him.
Lockes focused his eyes and saw a Succubus — one covered in bulging muscles, with chest muscles that actually twitched.
“You…”
He wore a skin-tight outfit with a heart-shaped chest cutout and then cracked his knuckles at Lockes, his bones popping and clicking!
“No time to waste. Let’s get started!”
“Wait, no… What on earth are you!”
The youth’s tragic scream became muffled behind the closing door.
“Aaaaaagh!”