The Demon Hides Her Tail
The night air was thick and humid, clinging to my skin like a lover’s breath. I stood alone on the moonlit balcony of the temporary residence, gazing out over the darkened streets of Luoyang. The city that had once echoed with the cries of war now lay deceptively quiet, as if holding its breath for the next storm.
Everything is proceeding according to plan.
Yet something felt off. A faint unease gnawed at the edge of my thoughts, the kind that came from years of surviving in this dog-eat-dog world. I had spent the evening entertaining a string of visitors—minor officials, ambitious merchants, and a few curious beauties who had heard rumors of the “rising star from the north.” Each one left with a smile and a seed of loyalty planted deep in their hearts. My Charm and subtle applications of Memory Manipulation had seen to that.
But one guest had lingered longer than the rest. Her name was Wang Yi, the sharp-tongued daughter of a fallen warlord. She had come under the pretense of offering intelligence on Cao Cao’s recent movements, yet her eyes had betrayed something far more personal. The way her fingers had brushed mine when she passed me the scroll… the slight tremble in her voice when she whispered my name. It was almost too easy.
I smirked into the darkness. Women like her are the easiest to break. All it takes is the right pressure in the right place.
Just as I was about to retire for the night, a soft rustle of silk reached my ears. I didn’t turn around. I already knew who it was.
“You’re late,” I said quietly.
A low, melodic chuckle answered me. The voice was like velvet wrapped around a blade.
“Forgive this humble one, my lord. Some prey… require more delicate handling than others.”
Diaochan stepped out from the shadows, her lithe figure draped in sheer black robes that left little to the imagination. The moonlight kissed her pale shoulders, highlighting the elegant curve of her neck and the subtle sway of her hips as she approached. Even after all this time, the sight of her still stirred something primal in me.
She stopped just behind me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her body. Her delicate fingers traced lazy patterns along my spine.
“The merchant from Jingzhou has been dealt with,” she purred. “He won’t be spreading any more inconvenient rumors about your… unique talents. And the spy Cao Cao sent? He sang quite prettily before I silenced him for good.”
I finally turned to face her. Those captivating eyes—eyes that had toppled dynasties—looked up at me with a mixture of devotion and hunger. It was a look I had grown very familiar with.
“Good work,” I murmured, cupping her chin. “Though I’m starting to think you enjoy this part a little too much.”
Her lips curved into a wicked smile. “Only because it pleases you, my master. Every life I take, every secret I steal… it’s all for you.”
I pulled her closer, our bodies pressing together in the cool night air. Her scent—jasmine and something darker, more dangerous—filled my lungs. As my hand slid down to rest possessively on her waist, I felt the faint tremor that always ran through her when I touched her like this.
She’s completely mine now. Body, mind, and soul.
But even as I claimed her lips in a deep, demanding kiss, that nagging feeling refused to disappear. Something was watching us. Something ancient and powerful that even my system couldn’t fully detect.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing harder than before, Diaochan’s eyes had taken on a glassy, submissive sheen. Exactly how I liked them.
“There’s one more thing, my lord,” she whispered against my mouth. “A letter arrived while you were entertaining your guests. It bears the imperial seal… but the handwriting is unmistakably hers.”
She produced a scroll from within her robes and handed it to me. The moment my fingers touched the paper, I felt a strange pulse of energy. My System immediately reacted.
Hidden Quest Updated: The Demon’s Tail
The one who hides her true nature has sent you an invitation.
Will you attend the midnight banquet at the abandoned temple?
Reward: Unknown
Warning: High risk of mental corruption
I stared at the glowing blue window only I could see, my pulse quickening. So it was her after all. The woman who had been pulling strings from the shadows since the very beginning. The one whose name still made hardened generals tremble.
Empress Dowager He.
Or rather, the creature wearing her skin.
Diaochan watched me carefully, sensing the shift in my mood. “Shall I prepare your clothes for the banquet, my lord? Or would you prefer I accompany you… in a more discreet manner?”
I rolled the scroll between my fingers, feeling the strange energy coiling within it like a living thing. A slow, dangerous smile spread across my face.
“Both,” I decided. “And tell the others to stay on high alert. If this is the game she wants to play…”
I crushed the scroll in my fist, dark energy crackling between my fingers as I activated Memory Manipulation on a deeper level than ever before.
“Then I’ll make sure she remembers exactly who she’s dealing with.”
The night wind picked up, carrying the distant sound of temple bells. Somewhere in the darkness, an ancient evil was smiling back at me.
But I had no intention of being anyone’s prey.
Not when I was the one holding all the leashes.