The Holy Sword’s Hiding Place and the Bodyguard Interview

After dinner, Li Yue followed Mo Linyu into what was known as the ‘Demon Lord’s Chamber.’

‘Your performance tonight has pleased me, Hero.’

The Demon Lord, seated on her bed, appeared quite delighted.

‘It’s rare to see my father wear such an expression; he’s incredibly controlling and dislikes anyone telling him ‘no.’ You, however, are different. Having just saved my life, he couldn’t possibly disregard your request.’

‘No, that’s not the reason at all.’

Li Yue, shaking her head from her seat, countered, ‘He confined you for your safety, and his allowing you to leave is also for your safety. Even if we hadn’t clarified things, he would have believed our words; he fears something truly fatal might befall you, yet he’s hesitant to let you roam freely. That’s why he agreed to let me interview.’

‘Thus, my performance is about to begin.’

Li Yue stretched her wrists in the chair, adding, ‘Once I pass your father’s interview, you’ll be free to leave the estate and continue searching for souls from other worlds…’

‘Don’t underestimate them, Hero,’ Mo Linyu cautioned. ‘My father’s bodyguards are formidable. As your interviewers, they certainly won’t hold back. Since you’re meant to protect me alone, you must prove stronger than all of them.’

‘Heh, when it comes to a fight, I’ve never lost,’ Li Yue said dismissively. ‘Besides, it’s not like I haven’t faced them before.’

She had, in fact, been apprehended by Mo Changhong’s bodyguards previously, when she’d been speeding Mo Linyu from the city to the suburbs. At the time, Mo Linyu hadn’t known their identities, leading to a confrontation.

‘They wouldn’t have fought seriously then, but this time will be different.’

Li Yue, pinching her nose, scoffed, ‘Oh, that sounds suspiciously like an excuse from someone who’s lost a fight.’

Mo Linyu merely asked, ‘They’ll be back shortly. Are you sure you don’t want to warm up?’

‘Return my weapon, and I’ll fear no number of opponents.’

Only then did Mo Linyu break into a wide grin.

‘So you’ve finally revealed your true motive,’ she remarked. ‘Ninety percent of the reason you came here was for the Holy Sword, wasn’t it?’

‘Wrong, it’s 99%! Nothing in this world is more important to me! Your days of fondling my Holy Sword at every whim are over! Give it back to me!’

‘Hm?’

Mo Linyu paused, then, understanding dawned on her face, replied, ‘Look at you! I’ve been maintaining it for you every day, you know? Not only cleaning it, but even waxing your Holy Sword.’

Li Yue’s brow furrowed. ‘Tsk,’ she thought, ‘So that’s where that strange feeling came from?’

‘So, where did you hide it?’

As Li Yue glanced around the room, Mo Linyu rose and walked to her wardrobe. Pressing down the hem of her nightgown, she half-squatted and pulled open a drawer.

In that instant, a golden light, tinged with iridescence like a rare character summoned in a mobile game, burst forth from the drawer, illuminating the entire bedroom and blinding Li Yue’s eyes.

‘What the—’

Li Yue cursed under her breath, then bellowed, ‘Why would you hide it in your underwear drawer?!’

Submerged amidst a sea of intimate garments, the Holy Sword was thoroughly imbued with the Demon Lord’s scent.

****

Mo Changhong’s bodyguards arrived.

However, the men in suits and sunglasses from last time were nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the two short-haired female bodyguards who had previously forced Mo Linyu into a car were the interviewers Li Yue was now set to face.

Mo Linyu’s explanation for this was…

‘Any male other than my father who appears on the estate will be shot on sight.’

While ‘shot on sight’ sounded like a jest, it was far from one in reality. After all, Li Longkang had nearly been hacked, sliced, and diced by Mo Changhong during their last encounter.

‘If you knew that, why did you sneak out last time?’

Li Yue grumbled softly, then declared, ‘Very well, then I shall go meet them.’

Both female bodyguards were tall, slender, and capable women, each sporting short hair and sunglasses, which made Li Yue wonder if they could even see clearly at night.

‘This is our second meeting, little girl!’

‘You stole the credit for saving our young mistress! It’s infuriating!’

‘We absolutely won’t give you another chance to get near her!’

‘If we eliminate you here, we can remain the young mistress’s personal guards forever!’

‘Die, you *bleep*! I’ll kill you!’

The female bodyguards immediately began shouting loudly at Li Yue.

Li Yue sensed an immense surge of resentment.

‘Huh? What kind of bodyguards are these? Aren’t they just street thugs?’

Mo Linyu quietly explained, ‘They’ve been stationed right outside our room recently; they follow me whenever I leave. Your offer to become my bodyguard is essentially trying to snatch their livelihood.’

Li Yue narrowed her eyes at Mo Changhong, who then stated, ‘Then I’ll trouble Miss Li Yue to fight them. There are no restrictions, as long as no lives are lost. How about it? To be my daughter’s protector, surely you possess this level of resolve?’

A sigh escaped Li Yue’s lips.

She then asked, ‘So, I only need to fight two people?’

The two female bodyguards grew even more enraged, their faces contorted as they shrieked, ‘Huh? Who are you looking down on, you mere whelp who hasn’t even fully grown? When I was fighting, you were nothing but a *bleep*!’

‘Ugh, their mouths are awfully foul, aren’t they?’

[‘Why this stinking brat?! I want to bathe with the young mistress too!’]

[‘Kill her! Kill, kill, kill!’]

Their internal thoughts were just as abusive; truly, they were consistent both inside and out.

Annoyed by the din, Li Yue picked at her ears and hoisted the Holy Sword onto her shoulder.

‘Come on then, why don’t you both attack at once?’

Li Yue unleashed a taunt.

The two female bodyguards didn’t bother with courtesies. Forgoing any semblance of martial arts ethics or chivalry, they charged forward in unison, their eyes gleaming with a ferocity that even their sunglasses couldn’t conceal.

Their weapons were brass knuckles, a common sight in street brawls. Though unassuming, a hit from them could tear flesh. Yet, Li Yue was intimately familiar with such implements.

Clang—

Brass knuckles, swung with force, met a metal baseball bat. The outcome was predictable; however, Li Yue blocked with such skill that the aggressive bodyguard’s fist went numb from the recoil.

Though the adage claimed two fists couldn’t contend with four hands, Li Yue, facing the onslaught of the two exceptionally strong female bodyguards, parried and countered with effortless grace. Each time a bodyguard attempted…

Li Yue relied on her mind-reading abilities.

While this half-baked mind-reading ability had limited use in close-quarters combat, the moment she created distance, she could discern her opponent’s next intention, or even…

[‘This little hussy, fighting and still has time to stare at my chest?’]

Li Yue’s lips twitched. Reversing her grip on the baseball bat, she abruptly thrust it into one bodyguard’s nape, instantly knocking her unconscious.

As for the remaining female bodyguard, her composure clearly faltered at her companion’s collapse. In a two-on-one, there might have been a chance to maneuver, but to face Li Yue in a solo confrontation…

These bodyguards might have received professional training, but compared to the practical, lethal techniques honed through battlefield combat, they were simply outmatched. Li Yue harbored no doubt that she would win.

And the outcome was as expected.

‘Unqualified.’

Li Yue declared, looking at Mo Changhong.

‘To think they’re bodyguards. Go back and train some more.’