Even Aiya, a resolute holy knight, couldn’t help but twitch her lips.
What kind of development was this?
On the other side of the suspension bridge, Bai Yue Ling was held tightly by Ying Ye, a dagger pressed firmly against her soft neck.
Tears welled in her eyes, her expression like a pear blossom in the rain as she looked pleadingly at Aiya.
“Wuwu… Big Sister Aiya, I’ve been kidnapped by the evil villains of the dark faction! I’m so scared… Please, come save me!”
A cute, silver-haired, busty girl was sobbing and begging for help—who could bear to refuse her?
Aiya took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Do you think I’ll fall for your tricks a second time?”
Treading Snow Seeking Plum had already told her the full story.
Little White was a liar, a wicked woman who toyed with people’s hearts, a ruthless demon who harmed her own companions!
She would only deceive your feelings, exploit your sympathy, and then ruthlessly squeeze every bit of advantage from you!
Just like now—crying so pitifully, it had to be an act.
It was an act… right?
“Take off that armor of yours!” Ying Ye growled, feigning ferocity. “Or I’ll kill her right now!”
Aiya remained unmoved. “Don’t try to fool me. You’re all otherworld travelers—death just means resurrection.”
“Oh? Are you sure about that?”
With a swift motion, Ying Ye’s dagger sliced downward.
Bai Yue Ling let out a pained cry as a tear appeared in her previously intact clothing.
“Big Sister Aiya… save me…”
At this sight, Aiya’s pupils constricted slightly.
“Even if Little White can resurrect, I promise you, I have ten thousand ways to make her wish she could neither live nor die.”
Ying Ye pinched Bai Yue Ling’s cheek harshly and snarled, “I’ll lock her in a prison, just like your Inquisition tortures sinners, tormenting her day and night with the cruelest methods, making her experience… experience…”
“Experience a fate worse than death,” Bai Yue Ling whispered, prompting her.
Ying Ye quickly shouted, “Yes, a fate worse than death!”
From across the suspension bridge, Aiya imagined the adorable Little White suffering torment, and her heart wavered slightly.
She was a holy knight with little resolve, easily swayed.
This was exactly why Bai Yue Ling had devised this ploy of playing the victim.
As long as they could deceive Aiya, even if it only weakened her slightly, it would be a massive gain for Bai Yue Ling and her allies.
In battle, one must use any means necessary!
“Did you hear me? Hurry up and take off that silver skirt armor!”
Ying Ye urged, her dagger leaving a shallow cut on Bai Yue Ling’s snowy neck. She quickly whispered, “I didn’t hurt you, did I, Little White?”
“No… it only took 1% of my health,” Bai Yue Ling shook her head slightly. “You can act a bit tougher.”
Their hushed exchange was so subtle that Aiya, far across the bridge, couldn’t notice.
Aiya took a deep breath, her gaze resolute. “If I take off my equipment, will you let her go?”
She’d taken the bait.
Ying Ye pinched Bai Yue Ling’s cheek again. “That’s right, I’ll set her free, and you can protect her by your side.”
As if I’d let you have Little White—she’s mine!
“…I hope you keep your word.”
Aiya set down her giant spear and began removing her knight’s armored skirt with an expressionless face.
As the heavy armor came off, a simple white cinched dress was revealed, making Aiya look like an ordinary village girl, completely defenseless.
“Is this enough?”
Ying Ye shook her head coldly. “That spear taller than you? Toss it too.”
Aiya sighed and thrust the silver-white giant spear into the ground behind her.
“Good. Now raise your hands and walk over slowly,” Ying Ye commanded. “Once you’re here, I’ll hand Little White over.”
As instructed, Aiya raised her hands and began walking step by step toward the suspension bridge.
It worked… Ying Ye’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. This impromptu plan had actually succeeded.
Bai Yue Ling held her breath, silently watching Aiya’s movements.
Seeing Aiya remove her armor, discard her weapon, and approach defenselessly, it seemed she was about to fall into their carefully laid trap.
But at that moment, a sudden change occurred—
Holy light burst from Aiya’s feet. She surged forward like a streak of golden light, each step leaving scorched footprints on the wooden bridge.
In truth, shedding her armor had made her even faster.
All along, she’d been calculating the distance and her speed, determining whether she could cross the bridge before Ying Ye could harm Bai Yue Ling.
Seeing Aiya charge toward her, Ying Ye’s pupils shrank. Instinctively, she pushed Bai Yue Ling aside to shield her from the attack.
But instead, Aiya veered to the side, catching Bai Yue Ling and pulling her tightly into her arms.
“Little White…”
Aiya looked at Bai Yue Ling, who wore a triumphant smile, and said with a complicated expression, “You’ve tricked me again, haven’t you?”
“Sorry about that,” Bai Yue Ling whispered. “But if we don’t use every trick in the book, we’d never stand a chance against you.”
Bai Yue Ling clung tightly to Aiya, pressing against the toned curves beneath her clothing.
Five blazing orbs of holy light erupted from her chest.
She was going to self-destruct, aiming to deal as much damage to Aiya as possible.
Boom—
The five holy orbs exploded like a small sun, their blinding radiance forcing Ying Ye to shut her eyes.
[Your teammate “Priest Hero” has died.]
Mere seconds after the death notification, a white figure dashed out from the castle.
“Not even a moment of mourning for Bai Yue Ling’s death, rushing straight to the battlefield—it’s Bai Yue Ling!”
Her brows furrowed as she stared at the thick smoke from the explosion.
As the smoke cleared, Aiya still stood tall, though her dress was now tattered.
She coughed lightly, her gaze dimming for a moment before regaining its brilliance.
“I didn’t expect your holy orbs to have such terrifying power,” Aiya said, staring intently at Bai Yue Ling. “Little White, just who are you?”
Bai Yue Ling replied calmly, “Just a soul trapped in a cycle of torment and suffering.”
Since holy knights also wielded holy light in combat, they had some resistance to it. Even with 99 spirit-enhanced orbs detonating, it wasn’t enough to defeat Aiya.
But the damage was sufficient.
Suddenly, a massive skeletal claw burst from the ground, seizing Aiya’s lithe, mature form.
At the same time, Luoluo Yue flapped her wings, hovering at the castle entrance, and unleashed crescent-shaped wind blades at Aiya.
But Aiya stood unfazed, conjuring a layer of holy light around herself to block all attacks.
She gazed steadily at Bai Yue Ling, searching her face for any trace of guilt from her deception.
But alas, Bai Yue Ling felt no remorse.
As she’d said: in battle, one must use any means necessary.
“Little White, I won’t be fooled by you again,” Aiya said sharply. “From now on, I’ll judge you with my own hands.”