Chapter 102: I Still Prefer You at Sixteen

Just as that woman had said earlier, Solaris was a Sequence Hero, the future hope of the Holy Sanctuary, and the object of full cultivation by the Reiyat family and the God-blood lineage. Lu Mo did not kill Solaris here.

If she died within the mist zone, the three major powers would likely launch an investigation and would not let the matter rest easily. Even the slightest clue could lead them straight to her.

Lu Mo wasn’t particularly worried about herself. What she worried about most was actually Cecilia.

This fool would always stand by her side unconditionally. If something happened, Cecilia would absolutely stand with her against the Holy Sanctuary, even against the entire human world, and then follow her into a life of flight, impossible to shake off.

If she died in this Simulated Reincarnation, at worst she’d just return to reality. But… what about Cecilia?

If possible, she wished for Cecilia to always be well, to live happily forever, without experiencing that darkness, pain, and despair.

Lu Mo turned in the mist and slowly walked toward Cecilia.

Cecilia immediately jogged over, threw herself into her arms, and hugged her tightly. Her body was a little cold, trembling slightly in Lu Mo’s embrace like a frightened little animal.

Lu Mo felt her chest grow damp again.

“Miss Lu Mo…” Cecilia sobbed softly, “I thought… you wouldn’t come back either… I’m glad you’re okay…”

Her experience was clearly worse than Lu Mo’s, yet at this moment, her greatest concern was still Lu Mo. She didn’t mention her own grievances or sorrows at all.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” Lu Mo said softly, stroking her golden hair, brushing away the dirt and dust. “I said no one could take you away. It’s over now. No one will bully you anymore.”

Not long after, Solaris regained some strength. Leaning on her Severance Sword, she struggled to her feet with great difficulty.

Lu Mo gave her a cold glance.

After a brief silence, Solaris dragged her blood-stained body over to Cecilia, knelt before her, and begged for her forgiveness.

Seeing the blood spreading where she knelt, Cecilia’s heart softened a little after all. “Don’t let it happen again,” she said coldly.

Then, Solaris handed over her communication crystal, letting Lu Mo examine it freely.

Lu Mo flipped through the messages expressionlessly. Solaris stood by, trembling with fear, terrified that Lu Mo would drop her sword and execute her the next second.

Only when Lu Mo returned the communication crystal to her did her hanging heart gradually settle.

She then took out many things as compensation—treasures, secret techniques, life-saving items… each one priceless. Watching these things being given away made her heart bleed.

Soon after, the others who had gone to exterminate the other demon squad returned.

Seeing Solaris so grievously wounded, they all showed shock.

“Lady Solaris, you…” one of the women couldn’t help but ask.

Another woman was about to speak but was cut off by Solaris: “I was ambushed by the demons. I spared the strongest one, wanting to extract some information. But he made a desperate last stand, shattering a crystal containing the Demon King’s power, trying to take me down with him.”

As she spoke, she glanced at that woman.

“Yes, that’s right!” the woman immediately understood and nodded vigorously.

“Demons have no honor!”

“How despicable!”

“Let’s fight them to the death!”

Everyone cursed angrily.

No one mentioned Lu Mo. Solaris didn’t say a single word about her either.

Lu Mo also remained silent.

The matter seemed temporarily settled.

However, she was clear that Solaris feared her, not submitted to her.

“So, no matter what, Solaris must die,” Lu Mo murmured softly.

Once they entered the core region under the Demon Emperor’s Eye, she would make her move.

Just then, a woman’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

Lazy, indifferent, yet carrying a hint of playful amusement.

“A knight? That’s your identity?”

“To beat the Sequence Hero of this era to such a state, even nearly killing her… you really are born to be a Demon King.”

“Subversion, rebellion, madness… I’m growing fonder of you by the day.”

Lu Mo ignored it.

“You’re doing all this for that Saintess named Cecilia?” the voice continued.

“My affairs are none of your business,” Lu Mo responded coldly. “You’d best not have any thoughts about her.”

“Oh? Angry?” the woman chuckled. “Don’t worry, why would I lay a hand on her? After all… you are my dear master now.”

“Don’t be so cold all the time, Master~ Could it be you don’t like my tone?”

“Or perhaps… you prefer catgirls? Meow~ Master is ignoring me, boo-hoo meow~”

“Or something more exciting? Like… I’m master’s little puppy?”

The woman kept probing.

Lu Mo’s fist slowly clenched.

“Ah, time’s up…” the woman yawned, her voice gradually fading. “I wanted to learn more about my master… Well then, good night, my great master.”

The voice vanished.

Lu Mo slowly relaxed her fist.

That voice came from the Sin Emperor Armament, a being similar to a weapon spirit. Whether it was a naturally born intelligence of the Armament or a remnant soul of the Demon Emperor, she didn’t know and didn’t care.

She looked down at her hand.

The black patterns had completely receded, and there was no trace of demonic aura left on her.

Right now, she was still human.

All of this was done by the Sin Emperor Armament.

As for what exactly was agreed upon between her and the Armament, no one knew.

Time passed.

Not long after, human powerhouses arrived at the place where the Pillar of Darkness had once risen.

The Pillar of Darkness had vanished, but the air still lingered with the chaotic aura of the demon realm and a heavy scent of blood.

They saw Nie Xu Gong lying on the ground.

A Demon Duke.

Long dead.

When that powerhouse approached and clearly saw the corpse’s condition, his eyes widened in shock.

Nie Xu Gong’s body had completely withered, as if utterly devoured by some power in an instant!

This became an unsolvable mystery.

Later, someone asked Lu Mo about it. She merely said she had left upon sensing the intense demonic fluctuation and had not engaged in direct combat.

As the expedition advanced, the matter was soon forgotten.

Another year passed.

Humanity arrived at the core region under the Demon Emperor’s Eye.

The Demon King’s Throne was within sight.

Looking from afar, beneath the colossal Demon Emperor’s Eye, black cubes engraved with crimson patterns rose from the ground, converging to form a jet-black throne.

It was both a throne and a fortress, a city.

Humanity established a camp between the mist zone and the core region.

Everyone knew the final battle was imminent.

The demons also began a frenzied counterattack, launching frequent assaults, while demons lurking in the human world revealed themselves, assassinating high-ranking officials and destroying cities.

Initially, humanity suffered significant losses.

But as vigilance increased, most of the lurking demons were quickly eliminated.

The expedition force continued its advance.

During this period, Solaris was extremely irritable.

Despite having vast resources, she simply couldn’t break through to the Heavenly Dominion Realm.

Every time she tried to break through, the image of that day—being beaten to a pulp by Lu Mo, nearly dying—would flash in her mind.

She would wake with a start, drenched in cold sweat.

Lu Mo had become her inner demon.

She didn’t even dare to look Lu Mo in the eye anymore.

Thus, the camp often saw Lu Mo and Cecilia inseparable.

“Is this still just a knight and saintess relationship?”

“What about Solaris? Doesn’t she care?”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Maybe she’s hiding in some corner watching.”

“Useless Hero, huh?”

The camp was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Cecilia and Lu Mo also gradually began talking about life after the war.

She smiled very happily.

As if she had already escaped the fate of a Saintess.

Night fell.

After Cecilia fell asleep, Lu Mo set up a defensive formation, quietly left the room, and went outside the camp to practice her sword.

The sky was moonless, only a giant hollow suspended high above, as if the Demon Emperor was gazing down upon all living beings.

Surroundings were silent, only the sound of the sword echoed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside her.

The next instant, Earth Veil Peak-level power erupted, striking directly at her!

Lu Mo did not draw her sword, nor did she dodge.

The attack stopped right before her chest.

She didn’t even blink.

“Why didn’t you counterattack?!” the person roared. “That was dangerous just now! What if I were an enemy?!”

Lu Mo didn’t answer, just pointed at her feet.

The other person was barefoot, the bells on her ankles jingling.

The other person’s face flushed red instantly. She simply removed her mask.

“Enough!” Yuxia gritted her teeth in anger.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Lu Mo said expressionlessly.

“I couldn’t possibly be mistaken!” Yuxia fumed. “Your sword clearly has ‘Mo’s’ shadow in it!”

“Maybe it’s your delusion.”

“After all these years, you still won’t admit it?” Yuxia put her hands on her hips. “You’ve been chasing that name. Aren’t you tired?”

Lu Mo, finding her pestering a headache, simply ignored her and continued practicing her sword.

“I’m not leaving!” Yuxia sat down, puffing out her cheeks in anger. “I’ll just watch you practice!”

In the night, the girl’s figure, wielding her sword, was as clear and cold as the moon.

Yuxia watched, chin in hand.

The current Lu Mo was breathtakingly beautiful.

But she still preferred the “Mo” from that year when she was sixteen.

That masked girl, sharp and unbridled.

Who tore her dress and defeated her in the Genius Tournament, making her cry her eyes out.

She swore she would find “Mo” and defeat her fair and square.

But the other had vanished as if evaporated from the world.

Her family urged her to give up.

But she refused.

“Even if she became a mother of two, I’d dig her out and give her a beating!”

All these years, she had been chasing that name.

Her attire had also remained stuck at that year when she was sixteen.

Twin tails, loose dress, bare feet.

She hadn’t even grown much taller.

For so many years, she had been living in her own sixteenth year.