Chapter 72: Aftermath
Ji Ma’s heart was racing.
She was betting her life.
Ji Ma despised the word “bet,” but there was no more fitting term to describe her situation.
She was betting that “people are more likely to believe what they want to believe,” and who in their right mind would believe that their charming and sexy succubus lover could be the evil demon king?
Perhaps he would find an excuse for himself. So she proactively admitted it, hoping to gain his sympathy, cleverly using the word “might” to give George room for imagination.
And perhaps she didn’t want to hear George start questioning her, or perhaps she was still betting that George loved her very much. But even Ji Ma herself couldn’t clarify it.
Time dragged on, and Ji Ma realized she had been staring at the floor for too long.
The length of time felt like torture. She began to doubt whether her assumptions were too self-deluded. Was her summary of experience irrelevant to George?
Ji Ma’s heart felt weak, and her legs were a bit shaky.
Please be kinder to me, even if I am indeed a villain who deserves punishment, but… but… I…
Suddenly, a hand gripped the horns on her head tightly, pulling her back, and Ji Ma was startled. She opened her reddened eyes to meet George’s blue, focused gaze.
Is he going to yank my horn and pull my head off?
Before that thought settled, George let go of Ji Ma’s horn and hugged her tightly, saying:
“Don’t be afraid, that’s just the scheme of the demon king, Kima. I’m here to ask you about it mainly because I suspect that demon king Kima is using you to seize his extraordinary substance as the vessel for his resurrection.”
Tears flooded Ji Ma’s eyes, as if becoming a girl made her more prone to crying.
She dropped the cat and tightly embraced George, his broad chest pressed closely against her, giving a sense of safety, a feeling of dependency.
Great, he believes it, he believes it…
Ji Ma cried as she bit into his shoulder hard, saying, “You bastard…”
George patted her back, saying, “I’m sorry I scared you. I never suspected you were the demon king Kima. After all, he’s a formidable powerhouse. How could he humble himself to become a succubus and date me?”
Ji Ma pounded her fists on George’s back: “You bastard, you’re not a good person.”
“He’s not as cute and charming as you…”
“It’s all his scheme.”
George comforted Ji Ma for a long time, but gradually she couldn’t hear his reassuring words.
Perhaps it wasn’t comfort but rather George convincing himself to believe his reasons. People tend to believe their own conclusions; now that he felt safe, he was completely at ease.
When her heart was no longer suspended, Ji Ma relaxed, resting her head on George’s shoulder, feeling as though she had walked a tightrope between life and death and had come out alive. She longed to indulge herself.
She exhaled warm breath on George’s ear, sticking out her tongue to gently lick it: “So clean, don’t comfort me anymore. My psychological resilience is quite good, you know.”
George’s ears turned red as he said softly, “Ji Ma, there’s one more thing—”
“Don’t talk about serious matters anymore.” Ji Ma kissed George’s lips, which were very soft, pressing hard against them.
She kissed with a sense of security. His scent, his body temperature, and the sensation of his tongue triggered familiar responses in Ji Ma’s body.
She clung tightly to George, who was steady and warm. The butterflies in her stomach flapped their wings; with each flap, her heartbeat quickened.
Perhaps it was gratitude for not being killed, or perhaps it was bribery, but after a while, Ji Ma finally pushed him away.
The night passed quickly.
The cat sat aside, wide-eyed, watching the two.
…
…
In the morning, inside Eve Frostleaf’s tent.
Ji Ma woke up and sprang out of her sleeping bag.
“Cough cough cough.” She cleared her throat but didn’t bring anything up. “My throat feels awful; I nearly choked.”
“Rip.”
The sound of the curtain being pulled apart rang out. Ji Ma looked towards the source of the sound and saw Eve Frostleaf, neatly dressed, pulling back the curtain. Her silver hair was messily draped over the tent, her face icy, and her whole body radiating cold.
If Ji Ma hadn’t witnessed it last night, she wouldn’t have known that deep down, she was a masochist.
Eve Frostleaf’s gaze seemed unfriendly as it fell on Ji Ma.
Ji Ma felt irritable as well, purposely using a hoarse voice to say, “Good morning! Frostleaf, I was really exhausted last night.” What a useless warrior I am; I nearly lost to George and ended up at a stalemate.
Eve Frostleaf remained silent, her gaze still fixed on Ji Ma.
Ji Ma, adept at reading emotions, realized that Eve Frostleaf had another meaning, but what could it be?
Eve Frostleaf continued to keep quiet. Who knows what this long-legged beauty was thinking? Women’s thoughts are truly hard to guess.
“My lady Frostleaf, you’re awake? How are you feeling?” The elven maid, who had been largely ignored by Ji Ma, spoke up. “You two slept for quite a while.”
Ji Ma immediately caught the unique subtlety in the maid’s tone. Implicitly, it was asking if she had slept with George last night. What happened to the clarification and severing ties? Something didn’t seem right.
“I’m fine, just tired from last night.” Eve Frostleaf showed no signs of disturbance, standing up with her legs straight and together. “My hair.”
The elven maid immediately helped Eve Frostleaf tie her hair up.
Her gaze fell upon Ji Ma.
Ji Ma finally understood Eve Frostleaf’s meaning: she was afraid that Ji Ma would get jealous and go to great lengths to ruin her relationship with George, such as rushing to report to the elven maid immediately.
Once Ji Ma figured it out, she tossed her black hair back and said, “Frostleaf, I’m really sorry about last night. I thought… Hehe, how’s my palace? I hope you can forgive me for its comfort.”
Upon hearing this, the elven maid immediately imagined a scene of Ji Ma throwing a fit out of jealousy, creating chaos and forcing Eve Frostleaf to cut ties with George.
No wonder the atmosphere between them was so tense right after waking up; usually, Ji Ma would address her affectionately as Sister Frostleaf.
The elven maid internally rejoiced, feeling once again that having a succubus as an ally was truly reliable. However, she pretended to be oblivious and asked, “My lady Frostleaf, was there any unpleasantness last night?”
Ji Ma smiled and said, “Just say it outright, Frostleaf.”
“We have only a pure camaraderie of warriors, with no ambiguity whatsoever. We will never cross that line in the future.”
Ji Ma tilted her head, placing her hand near her ear, saying, “That’s too quiet; I can’t hear you.”
“Only pure camaraderie of warriors!”
“Alright, good.” Ji Ma got up and picked up the cat. “Goodbye, I’m going to find George now.”
After Ji Ma left.
The elven maid consoled, “My lady Frostleaf, although it’s only natural to distance yourself from that heartless human, that succubus is truly detestable and infuriating.”
Eve Frostleaf pointed at the tent entrance, signaling for her to leave.
“Yes, my lady Frostleaf.” The elven maid walked to the entrance and paused, turning back to say, “My lady Frostleaf, you can resent me if you wish, but considering your status, getting too close to a human isn’t good for either of you.”
“Get out.”
The elven maid hurriedly left, and just as her figure disappeared at the entrance of the tent.
Almost simultaneously, Eve Frostleaf, who had been standing as if relaxed, couldn’t help but sit down, bending her sore long legs and rubbing her aching waist, letting out a sigh of relief.
If the elven maid had been present, she might have noticed something. Good thing she wasn’t.
…
…
In front of George’s tent, a fire pit blazed strongly.
Next to the fire pit stood George, who had just finished his morning prayers, and the sergeant major.
Ji Ma tossed a handful of cat fur into the fire pit; as the flame changed and flickered, she looked at the ever-changing fire and said, “The enemy still hasn’t pursued; we are safe.”
The sergeant major breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had known since yesterday that the enemy was inactive, he hadn’t slept well all night and could now finally let go of his worries.
The chaplain would surely say our army is doomed.
But that familiar voice didn’t sound, and the sergeant major looked surprised at the usual spot where the chaplain would stand, only to find it empty.
He then remembered that the chaplain had died at the hands of a beastman nearly as tall as a building, dying to save him.
A wave of sadness washed over the sergeant major, and he turned back to stare blankly at the flickering flames.
Ji Ma asked George, “Should I now divine the location of the demon king’s extraordinary power?”
George looked at the sixty or so assembled troops before him.
Some were injured, and a large area was empty.
He swallowed hard and said, “No, my army has sustained heavy losses and desperately needs to recuperate and resupply.”
“Back to the cathedral?”
“No, we will rendezvous with Bishop Gregory.”
