Chapter 81:Victory’s Price,A new Flame of War

The battle had ended.

The Murim Alliance's assault had crumbled, White Tiger had fallen, and after absorbing the immense cultivation left behind, Lucifer had stepped into the Third Mahayana Realm.

It was a realm countless martial artists dreamed of reaching.

A realm that could change the balance of Murim.

The disciples of the Unorthodox Murim celebrated throughout the palace. Warriors drank themselves unconscious, servants rushed from one banquet hall to another, and songs praising the Devil echoed through every corridor.

For the first time in years...

The Unorthodox Murim truly felt victorious.

Yet the man responsible for that victory looked anything but happy.

Lucifer sat lazily upon the throne, supporting his chin with one hand.

His eyes were half closed.

"...This is even more troublesome than fighting White Tiger."

Standing below the throne were two women.

One wore elegant crimson robes.

The other wore the black attire of the Demonic Cult.

Both stared at one another as if the next war in Murim was about to begin.

Sue folded her arms.

"I'm Lucifer's legal wife."

"So I think it's only natural that I remain by his side."

Yu Ming smiled.

It was a beautiful smile.

Unfortunately...

It carried enough hostility to freeze the room.

"Legal?"

She slowly rose from her seat.

"You're standing inside the Unorthodox Murim."

"We don't recognize your laws here."

Sue's eyebrow twitched.

"So you're saying your customs are above marriage?"

Yu Ming crossed her arms.

"I'm saying I knew him before you."

"I ruled this place for him before you even entered his life."

Sue refused to back down.

"And yet..."

"I'm still his wife."

The atmosphere became unbearably tense.

The guards quietly slipped out of the throne room.

No one wanted to become collateral damage.

Even Chirin slowly floated backward.

"I'm just a sword spirit."

"I don't get paid enough for this."

The argument only intensified.

"I met him first."

"I'm married to him."

"He trusts me more."

"I share his surname."

"I've ruled beside him."

"I shared a wedding ceremony with him."

Back and forth.

Neither woman was willing to surrender.

Finally...

Both turned toward Lucifer.

"Husband."

"Lucifer."

"You decide."

Silence.

Lucifer slowly stood.

He looked at Yu Ming.

Then at Sue.

He scratched his cheek.

"Hmm..."

The two women waited anxiously.

Lucifer suddenly grinned.

"Boys choose."

He stepped down from the throne.

"Men take them all."

Before either woman understood what he meant—

He effortlessly lifted Yu Ming onto one shoulder.

Then Sue onto the other.

"Wha—"

"H-Hey!"

Ignoring both of their protests, Lucifer casually walked toward his residence.

"Time for a victory party."

"Put me down!"

"I can walk!"

"So can I."

"But this is faster."

The palace echoed with their voices until the doors to Lucifer's residence finally closed.

...

Back inside the throne room...

Chirin floated over to the empty throne before letting out a long sigh.

"So..."

"I'm guarding the palace."

"While he's enjoying himself."

"What a cruel fate."

He looked toward the ceiling.

"I should've found another master."

The following morning...

The palace had returned to its usual calm.

Outside the gates of the Unorthodox Murim...

A lone rider arrived at full speed.

Elizabeth.

She immediately dismounted before even the horse had completely stopped.

"I hope I'm not too late..."

The moment she had heard about White Tiger personally leading an invasion, she abandoned her own mission and rushed toward the Unorthodox Murim without resting.

She expected smoke.

Ruins.

Countless casualties.

Instead...

The streets were lively.

Children ran around laughing.

Merchants had already reopened their stalls.

Warriors proudly carried barrels of wine through the city.

It looked less like a battlefield...

And more like a city celebrating a festival.

Elizabeth blinked.

"...What?"

She grabbed a passing disciple.

"What happened here?"

The disciple looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"The war."

"Oh."

His face immediately brightened.

"Lord Lucifer defeated White Tiger."

"The Alliance retreated."

"Everything's over."

Another disciple joined the conversation.

"I heard Lord Lucifer even protected the palace himself."

"He's truly worthy of leading us."

Everywhere Elizabeth looked...

People spoke his name with admiration.

Not fear.

Not hatred.

Admiration.

She slowly released the disciple.

"...Seems I wasn't needed after all."

She should have been relieved.

Instead...

She found herself wanting to see him.

Immediately.

"...I'm only here to confirm Father entrusted the mission to the right person."

She nodded to herself.

"That's all."

"...Definitely."

Convincing herself, Elizabeth headed toward the palace.

A guard saluted respectfully.

"Lady Elizabeth."

"Where's Lucifer?"

The guard answered honestly.

"In his room."

"...With his wives."

Elizabeth froze.

"...Wives?"

Before the guard could explain...

She was already walking away.

Each step somehow felt heavier than the last.

"...Why am I nervous?"

She couldn't understand it.

Her heartbeat quickened for no reason.

She reached the door.

Just as she raised her hand to knock—

The door opened.

Lucifer stepped outside, lazily stretching.

"...Why is it always you ruining my timing?"

Elizabeth ignored the joke.

Instead...

Her eyes wandered past him.

Inside the room...

Sue lay sleeping peacefully.

Beside her...

Another beautiful woman rested under the same blanket.

Elizabeth's eye twitched.

"...Explain."

Lucifer scratched the back of his head.

"...It's complicated."

"...Very."

A few minutes later...

The two sat inside the palace garden.

The morning breeze gently carried the scent of blooming flowers.

Lucifer explained everything.

Yu Ming.

The fake marriage.

Becoming the ruler of the Unorthodox Murim.

How everything eventually became more complicated than either of them expected.

Elizabeth listened quietly.

When he finished...

She looked away.

"...So..."

"...She's not exactly your wife from the beginning."

"More or less."

Somehow...

That answer made her feel strangely relieved.

"...What am I thinking?"

She quickly shook her head.

"Stop imagining nonsense."

Lucifer tilted his head.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

She coughed awkwardly before changing the topic.

"Father sent me on another mission."

Lucifer immediately became interested.

"Oh?"

"The Demonic Cult is preparing to strike back."

A familiar grin slowly appeared on Lucifer's face.

Elizabeth sighed.

"There it is."

"What?"

"That smile."

"Whenever you smile like that..."

"...something disastrous usually follows."

Lucifer laughed.

"...Fair enough."

Elizabeth unfolded a map across the stone table.

"My mission was to observe Great Elder Dragon's territory."

Lucifer studied the map.

Then his smile widened even further.

"So..."

"We're finally attacking."

"The Heavenly Demon has grown tired of constantly defending."

Lucifer tapped Sichuan on the map.

"They'll expect us to regroup first."

"They won't expect an immediate offensive."

Elizabeth nodded.

"Exactly."

"But we lost many people."

"We need time."

Lucifer shook his head.

"So do they."

"If we wait..."

"They recover too."

His finger moved toward the Unorthodox Murim.

"We'll use them."

Elizabeth looked surprised.

"Can we?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"My wife rules this place."

"I think I have enough influence."

"The Unorthodox Murim alone is enough to overwhelm Great Elder Dragon's territory before the Alliance realizes what's happening."

Elizabeth slowly smiled.

"...I'll report this to Father."

Lucifer nodded.

"We'll meet in Sichuan."

"Sichuan?"

She blinked.

"Why there?"

Lucifer leaned back in his chair.

"Because no one expects an invasion to begin from inside their own sphere of influence."

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh.

"...That's unbelievably reckless."

"And brilliant."

She stood.

"I'll leave immediately."

Lucifer waved lazily.

"See you on the battlefield."

After Elizabeth disappeared beyond the palace gates...

Lucifer remained seated beneath the tree.

The smile on his face slowly returned.

"The last war hasn't even cooled..."

"...and another is already beginning."

Far away...

Hundreds of kilometers from the Unorthodox Murim...

A woman stood quietly beside the window of the Tang Estate.

Tang Ock.

A cold breeze brushed past her face.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

She looked toward the estate gates.

The smiles on her face slowly disappeared.

Outside...

Countless Murim Alliance banners fluttered in the wind.

Thousands of martial artists surrounded the Tang Estate from every direction.

Steel flashed beneath the morning sun.

No one entered.

No one left.

The siege...

Had begun.