Regret

Faced with Li Qi's order to leave, the witch immediately panicked, hoping Li Qi would spare her.

Though she herself had no idea what had happened, she knew that the senior before her could not possibly have summoned her without reason. Now he had called her over and was telling her to leave again. It looked like he was ordering her about to flaunt his authority, but there had to be a deeper reason beneath it.

Especially in the demonic path, where such things were even more so.

So the witch immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy. Though she understood nothing at all, that did not stop her from calling for help.

"Spare you? Oh, you've misunderstood. I never intended to kill you, nor did I tamper with you in any way. I merely wanted you to appear once, so she could see what exactly was going on." Li Qi pointed at Number One before him.

"Now that she has seen enough, you may leave." Li Qi waved his hand. "Go back and attend to your business."

"Senior, might you allow me to remain and observe?" At that moment, the witch raised her head. Though she was still kneeling, she spoke those words with utter decisiveness.

"Oh? That works too. Stay here, then." Li Qi paid her no further mind. Ignoring the witch, he waved at Number One.

Number One suddenly woke up. Her temptation had been dispelled, along with the yearning she had previously held deep in her heart for this place.

Number One truly possessed a steadfast will. The demonic thought from before had merely served the most ordinary purpose, like a carrot dangled before a pig.

That demonic thought was a "thought."

A thought of rising above the rest.

And so, beneath that thought, her "steadfastness" had