Blue Star, the Great Jing Empire.
"The Demon Cave threatens the hundreds of millions of citizens in the Great Jing Empire, yet Chu He, entrusted with the duty of guarding it, has been derelict in his duties!"
In the courtroom, a video played on a large screen.
It showed a slender, upright young man drinking tea and fishing.
The so-called Demon Cave appeared calm and peaceful, with birds chirping and flowers in bloom.
"He's completely disregarding the lives of our entire nation!"
"Is this the kind of person my tax money is supporting?"
"From the looks of that video, the Demon Cave isn't that dangerous at all! He's just scamming us for money and fame!"
"…"
Incensed condemnations echoed from all corners of the courtroom.
Some people in the crowd even took off their shoes and hurled them at the slender figure on the stand.
But the distance was too great, and they missed.
"The Queen is discerning and will not tolerate any slackers or frauds."
"Effective immediately, by Order Number 1 of the Queen: Chu He is hereby stripped of his position, deprived of his rights, and all his benefits are revoked! Furthermore, we reserve the right to pursue further accountability pending a follow-up investigation!"
"Chu He, do you have any objections?"
As the gavel fell, the young man's fate was sealed.
But Chu He, standing on the trial platform, wore a cold, mocking smile.
Ten years ago, Demon Caves appeared all over the world.
Countless Evil Spirits invaded, and the technology humanity was so proud of proved to be as flimsy as paper.
Fortunately, the planet's Spiritual Qi revived, Martial Arts rose to prominence, and many exceptional heroes were born.
And Chu He was the strongest of them all—a peerless figure who stood above even those heroes.
Seeing children wailing, a girl on the roadside clutching her father's corpse, a man sacrificing himself to the ghouls to protect his family…
Chu He's power soared, and he drove back the thousands of Evil Spirits, suppressing the Demon Cave at its source.
The Great Jing Empire finally entered an era of peace and prosperity.
During his years of watch, Chu He had no companions and endured the torment of solitude.
So, he took up fishing, reading, brewing tea, building snowmen…
These were the few forms of entertainment available inside the Demon Cave.
There was no dereliction of duty. As long as Chu He was there, the Evil Spirits of the Demon Cave dared not act out of turn.
This was a testament to his absolute confidence and power!
Yet now, the people of the Great Jing Empire cursed him with the foulest words imaginable.
The judge, who was supposed to symbolize fairness and justice, wore a look of ridicule.
The written verdict was tossed onto the table before him.
All his honor, gone in a puff of smoke, erased with just a few words.
The former National Guardian War God had become a pariah, despised by all.
It was as if Chu He, the man who had guarded the Demon Cave for all those years, was more detestable than the Evil Spirits themselves.
"From this day forward, the affairs of Great Jing, the Demon Cave, and the Evil Spirits have nothing to do with me."
A smile touched Chu He's lips.
'These years have been too lonely, too exhausting. I can finally get some rest.'
Everyone had forgotten that back then, this dazzlingly brilliant prodigy was just a young man.
Even now, upon his return, he was only twenty years old.
"He's still smiling! How shameless!"
"'Nothing to do with you?' Who needs you!"
"If it weren't for the new Queen taking the throne, we'd still be kept in the dark!"
"We women are finally going to stand up!"
"The Demon Cave? Pfft, I could do it too."
"…"
The surrounding crowd grew even more incensed.
This nationwide trial was being broadcast live.
Through a window, Chu He could see many people holding banners covered in profanity.
"Heh…" Chu He let out a cold laugh.
'I was tired of it all long ago. It's time to let go and enjoy life.'
'This is for the best.'
...
「Royal City, the Council Pavilion.」
A regal and stunningly beautiful young woman sat at the head of the room.
Her name was Ji Shengyue, the first-ever Queen in the history of the Great Jing Empire, a true trailblazer.
The entire Great Jing Empire was under the control of the monarchy.
The screen in front of her finished playing a recording of the trial.
"Chu He was the man your father, the king, trusted most. He even held the title of Great Jing Martial God.
How could you use such tactics against him? Do you want to see the entire Great Jing Empire ruined at your hands?"
An elegant, middle-aged woman walked in, seething with anger.
"Do you have any idea how much pressure I'm under, sitting on this throne?
How many people in the entire Great Jing Empire look down on me?
Why? Just because I'm a woman!
Why is it that they are born trusted, born to shoulder great responsibilities, but I can't?
My uncles and cousins can sit on this throne, but I can't?
If Chu He can guard the Demon Cave, then so can others!
I will prove to the world that I will be the greatest and most prosperous Queen Great Jing has ever seen!"
Ji Shengyue gave the furious middle-aged woman a cool glance and waved her hand. "Mother is tired. Have her taken away to rest. From now on, she is forbidden from entering the Council Pavilion."
"You…" the middle-aged woman began, enraged.
But before she could say more, she was forcibly escorted out by several female guards.
"Your Majesty, public opinion online is already stirring.
Although many people are criticizing Chu He, many others are worried. Without Chu He, who will guard the Demon Cave?"
A woman approached. She was a councilor newly promoted by Ji Shengyue.
"It's time to issue Order Number 2," Ji Shengyue said, tapping her fingers on the table.
"What should be done about Chu He?" the councilor asked.
"If he behaves, we can turn a blind eye. But if he dares make a single rash move...
...assemble our top experts and kill him on sight."
Ji Shengyue's expression was ice-cold. "It's time for a change in this world run by men!"
...
That afternoon, the Queen's Order Number 2 was announced.
It came in the form of a video featuring twelve women as beautiful as flowers.
The title read: The Time Girl Group Will Replace Chu He in Suppressing the Demon Cave.
"Waaaah… The girls are so beautiful!"
"The ladies are so pretty! Can I be your simp?"
"Can… can they really do it?"
"Such a heavy responsibility, and twelve women taking it on! This proves that women are superior to you men! Even Chu He couldn't compare!"
"This isn't a game. Some of you kids are too young; you've never seen how terrifying the Evil Spirits are."
"They've got to be better than that slacker Chu He, right?"
"We women can do more than just have babies and cook! We can do what you men can do, and we can do what you men can't! This is the power of women!"
"…"
The comments were a mix of doubt, admiration for the women's beauty, and genuine concern.
These twelve female warriors had been handpicked for their talent, figures, and looks.
...
「The Demon Cave.」
A towering mountain suddenly trembled. Black mist billowed out, and the temperature plummeted.
The lush grass and flowers on the mountainside withered in an instant. A bird flapped its wings, but before it could fly two meters, it fell to the ground with a broken wing, its flesh decaying into a skeleton.
"Chu He is gone."
"HEH HEH HEH… That Demon has finally left! We don't know what happened, but our chance is here."
"We don't know if that guy will come back. We have to move fast."
"Let's break the seal in one fell swoop and turn the Mortal World into a Purgatory!"
"When we get out, I'm going to devour an entire city of people to fill my belly!"
Suddenly, golden Chains materialized out of thin air.
Immediately, sickly blue-black hands shot out from below, grabbing onto the Chains and pulling with all their might.
Soon, on a link of one of the Chains, a crack silently appeared.