A Waste of Time

Chapter 122: Resonant Drift

Daemon chose to retreat, giving Ippo the chance to soak up the attention of the Orcs and animals. His eyes instead drifted toward the Chief’s Tent—more precisely, to the numbers floating above it on the Mission’s notification. The count had shifted from 2/200 to 85/200. A remarkable leap. His Orc residents were thriving.

With that reassurance, he pulled his awareness back into the material world—back to the prison of the Azure Lock Chamber.

There was always someone with him, whether to guard or to observe. This time, however, there was another.

An old woman.

The moment Daemon laid eyes on her, the hairs along his neck prickled. Her gaze was that of a predator studying prey—but prey it had no urgency to devour. She watched him the way a satiated beast might, curious but in no rush.

A step behind her stood Bai Sui, grim and silent. The middle-aged jailor who usually replaced Su An was gone.

“Why didn’t you continue your meditation?” the woman’s voice carried a soft lilt, but beneath it Daemon sensed steel. She lowered herself gracefully, and a simple praying mat appeared beneath her robes just before they touched the floor. Neither he nor Bai Sui had seen her retrieve it, but both knew it hadn’t come from a storage item. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Hopefully your accumulations were assimilated successfully… I would regret being the one to delay your progress.”

Daemon’s expression remained calm, unimpressed. He hid his emotions, thoughts, and secrets behind that blank mask, refusing to be dragged into her mind games. He was confident in his own cunning, but certain that even in victory she would pry something loose from him.

So blue outranks green, just as yellow outranks ash, he noted quietly to himself, the only detail he dared commit from what he observed.

Mo Qiuya smiled, the image of a kindly grandmother one might find in any mortal village. Frail, harmless. Or so she wanted him to believe.

“Are they feeding you enough? Is your little tummy full?” she cooed.

Daemon’s spine stiffened when her eyes drifted—not toward him, but toward the jade vials and squat gourd siphoning his life. Her gaze lingered there too long.

“Bai Sui!” she snapped, twisting her head to glare at the Blood-Brush. Her aura flared like a sudden storm, Spirit Suppression rolling outward in a suffocating wave. “Why are you draining the boy’s Life-Blood and Blood Essence?”

Bai Sui paled, sweat pouring instantly from his brow. He cupped his fist, bowing his head, but his voice quivered. “Apologies, Grand Elder Mo. I am acting within Sect Rules. The Elder Council passed the verdict under Chief Shen’s supervision. The boy’s punishment was decreed—to be made an example for mortals, a resource for Juniors of the Mountain to strengthen their bodies and cultivation. The rest… depends on the future.”

He risked a glance at Daemon. How is this brat so calm? he thought bitterly. I’m at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, half a step from the Golden Core, and yet I can hardly bear this suppression. Meanwhile, he sits as if he’s watching adults bicker.

Daemon, in truth, was amused, though he hid it well. His eyes stayed vacant, his face neutral.

“Humph.” Mo Qiuya’s snort was thunderous. The air itself seemed to hum, the shimmering barriers of the prison flaring as beast-murals roamed along the pillars to stabilize the Formation. “Can’t you see he’s suffered enough?” She jabbed a finger at Daemon’s pale face. “Ten days! And in that time you’ve drained him twice over. The brats of this Mountain have already feasted on his Life-Blood more than once, with extra set aside for later.”

She sniffled, dabbing imaginary tears from the corner of her eyes. “At least let me feed him some Pills or Spirit Resources to restore the vitality and lifespan you’ve already stolen, before the damage to his potential becomes permanent. He’s been obedient, well-behaved since he woke. At least he shows goodwill, unlike you cruel lot.”

“I… I’ll see what I can do.” Bai Sui’s face twisted with bitterness. He knew this hag had been present at the same Council meeting that decreed the punishment. Her performance now was hypocrisy of the highest order. But he did not dare speak it. With a flick of his green robes, he retreated from the chamber.

Mo Qiuya ignored him completely. She turned back to Daemon, smile soft and grandmotherly. Don’t worry, child, her expression promised. Granny has your back. You’ll be free soon.

Daemon let a trace of wariness slip before showing a faint, favorable impression. It was calculated, and it was exactly what he wanted her to see.

Her smile deepened, convinced. “I hear your name is Da Niu, but you prefer Daemon.”

“Uh-huh,” the boy hummed, shifting uncomfortably on his cushion. She latched onto the gesture at once, building on it.

“I can come back another time, if that’s your wish,” she offered sweetly. Then, tilting her head, “I also heard from Xueling that you like sweets. Is it alright if I leave some for you? I swear they’ll be safe—no tummy aches, I promise.”

Daemon’s eyes brightened faintly, feigning interest, then cooled again with a wary shadow. After a pause, he gave a reluctant nod. “Okay.”

Mo Qiuya’s face lit with victory. She had what she came for.

She rose smoothly, showing respect for his space, and left the chamber. Her parting impression was one of warmth and kindness, carefully crafted to linger.

Daemon watched her go, neutral mask in place, knowing better than to trust—but more than willing to let her believe otherwise.

Daemon gave the container of sweets one last glance before yawning softly. He rolled onto his side, eyelids growing heavy, and let himself sink into the act of drifting off to sleep.

Even if I’m not worried about her tricks, he thought, I’ll test her patience first. Extort more information. And milk as much of the good stuff from her as I can.

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

Daemon stirred as Su An’s familiar voice brushed against his ears.

“Just a bit more… I’m tired.” He curled into himself like a child in the womb, murmuring. In his dream he was right at the sweetest spot, belting the backside of the one who dragged him into this world—doing it gleefully, right at the doorstep of that humble-looking hut.

Su An smiled at first, charmed by his childish plea for more time to laze. But her smile faltered as her gaze fell upon the cruel tools embedded in him. The Silver-Ghost Needles and Blood-Leech Threads were still at work, siphoning away the boy’s lifeforce drop by drop.

I’d help in a heartbeat if I could… but I’d be destined to fail if I dared. And destined to feed the beasts if I were caught. Su An’s heart ached as she gently combed her fingers through his hair.

Her eyes prickled with tears she fought to hold back. “You’ve been asleep for hours now. At least eat something before you lie back down.”

Your life-lamp is already dimmer than when my last shift ended a couple days ago. That bastard Ah Gui must’ve been neglecting you. She bit her lip as she retrieved a spread of food from her Space-Pouch, this time heavy with meat dishes.

“You’re lucky this big sister is a kind one,” she teased softly, resting her cheeks in her palms as she watched him rouse himself.

Daemon sat upright and began eating, chewing slowly, carefully, making sure every mouthful was minced finely enough for his stomach to process it quickly and efficiently. Only after a while did he raise his eyes from the plate. He caught the genuine happiness in Su An’s expression and asked simply, “Why is that?”

Su An puckered her lips in mock seriousness. “You know… for keeping you comfortable. For pampering you. For giving you time to rest and be such a lazybum.”

Her voice softened. “You’re a Body-Refiner, yet you rarely move or stretch your muscles. That’s bad for your future. You’re always so… sad.

“And I understand why you are. I really do.

“But I also think you’re wrong to stay that way. I can see it in your eyes—you’re searching for an opportunity to avenge your friends. I respect that loyalty, I really do… but I don’t think they’d want to see you spending your days like this. Always sad.”

Her voice wavered as she leaned forward. “It breaks my heart to see you like that. And I’m just someone on the sidelines, wishing I could be your friend.”

She hadn’t planned to speak so much, but the words poured out anyway. It felt like lifting a weight from her chest—saying aloud what had pressed on her for days. She remembered all too clearly when the boy swore he’d rather become a ghost than let his friends’ killer rest in peace, how he swallowed his pride and endured the torture of the needles and threads without complaint, clinging only to the hope of hearing a name that did not even exist. She longed for the strength to tell him the truth, to expose Bai Sui’s deception, to bring back the spark of hope to his sorrowful eyes. To draw a smile on his face.

Daemon sat in silence, studying her with unreadable eyes. Inside, his thoughts stirred. Such a pure soul… she really is.

“Thank you,” he said at last. His lips curved faintly. “You’re a good person. No wonder Big Sister Su An is so beautiful.”

Her cheeks flushed.

Daemon pushed a small container toward her—the sweets Grand Elder Mo had left behind. “A lady came earlier and left me these. You can have them… if you want to be my friend.”

Su An’s heart leapt. She accepted them immediately, knowing what it meant. Refusing would have been the same as rejecting him, as betraying the words she had just spoken. She unwrapped one on the spot, popped it into her mouth, then tucked the rest away.

“But you need to promise me something!” she said quickly, cheeks puffed as she chewed. “Stay active and eat more. No more being lazy from you!”

Daemon raised his face from the bowl of rice, his eyes smiling. “Now you sound like the aunties back in the village, nagging their husbands.” He lowered his gaze again, resuming his meal.

Su An’s blush deepened to crimson. She cursed him silently for being so cheeky. The compliment of her beauty still lingered in her heart, but now he had the gall to compare her to a nagging housewife—even if a beautiful one.

She glared, lips tight, as her heart thumped with a mix of embarrassment and something she dared not name.

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