Maybe because Liang Bing wasn't wearing her usual makeup
and had suppressed her demonic aura,
Homelander merely saw her as a particularly pretty woman.
If it weren't for the presence of Ronn
and that terrifying woman with the mismatched eyes earlier,
he might've already slammed her head into the counter by now.
What the hell does she mean by "join me"?
If that kind of rumor got out, what would people think of me, Homelander?!
"I like your attitude," Liang Bing said coolly, taking a sip of her drink,
"but your words just made this queen very unhappy."
Homelander shot back immediately, voice sharp as a blade:
"If we weren't in this tavern, you'd already be dead."
The entire room went silent.
Every eye turned toward him in disbelief.
Even Ronn froze for a second—
while Rayleigh, who had personally witnessed Liang Bing's true strength,
could only stare and murmur in awe,
"A role model for all of us… truly fearless!"
Liang Bing smiled faintly. "Mind if I… educate him a little?"
Ronn sighed, setting down his glass.
"Not inside. If you must, take it outside."
"Understood."
Liang Bing clasped her hands lightly together.
A strange vibration rippled through the air around Homelander.
Then—
BOOM—!
Two enormous black demonic claws ripped open the space beside him,
snatched him up before he could even react,
and hurled him out through the tavern door.
It all happened too fast—
not even Homelander, Rayleigh, or the Holy Master could process what they'd just seen.
"I'll be right back."
Liang Bing winked at Ronn and sauntered out,
her slender waist swaying, heels clicking elegantly on the floorboards.
For the next few minutes,
only two sounds filled the air outside:
Homelander's screams—and the sharp crack of a steel whip slicing through air.
No one dared to look,
but everyone could imagine the outcome.
"What in the world was that thing?" the Holy Master asked, wide-eyed.
"One moment he was there, the next—gone!"
The Demon Dragon leaned forward, just as curious.
They hadn't seen Liang Bing in action yesterday.
To them, she'd just seemed like some eccentric woman with a bad temper and a talent for recruiting henchmen.
Ronn chuckled and rubbed his chin.
"That's Liang Bing's unique power.
If Lucoa is a god of myth,
then Liang Bing is a god of science."
"Give her another ten thousand years of research and maybe a working understanding of the void—
she might even find a way to pull you two out of Hell."
The father and son exchanged a look—half awed, half terrified.
They both thought the same thing:
Thank goodness we didn't mouth off like that idiot earlier.
Still…
"Wait," the Demon Dragon muttered, "did he just say ten thousand years?"
"…Forget it then," said the Holy Master quickly.
A sudden crash echoed as the tavern doors burst open again.
Homelander's broken body came flying in,
spinning through the air straight toward the bar.
Ronn calmly flicked a hand.
A crimson magic circle unfolded midair, intercepting him—
THUD!
The circle shattered into motes of red light,
and Homelander collapsed limply to the floor,
all strength drained from his body.
Everyone's breath caught.
His flesh was split open from head to toe,
blood dripping steadily onto the floorboards.
He convulsed, gasping in agony.
For those few minutes outside,
he'd struggled with all his might—
but no matter how hard he fought, the demonic claws never loosened.
His vaunted invulnerability meant nothing.
Each strike of Liang Bing's whip tore through body and soul alike.
Even his laser vision, the attack that could incinerate anything,
had pierced straight through her body—
only for the wound to vanish instantly.
"Can you talk properly now?"
The click of high heels rang out as Liang Bing stepped back into the tavern.
Her steel whip trailed behind her, hissing softly across the floor.
At that moment, she was the very picture of a queen—
radiant, terrifying, commanding.
Every man's heart skipped a beat at the sight.
But to Homelander,
she looked like death itself walking toward him with a smile.
He was broken, terrified, humiliated.
If he could, he'd erase this entire day from existence.
Stormfront's death.
Starlight replacing him as team leader.
His son leaving him.
Now this—a public beating in another world's tavern.
The anger, pain, and despair all churned inside him,
ready to burst.
"He looks like he can't even talk," Rayleigh said with a wry grin.
"Oh, he's fine."
Liang Bing sat down at the bar, crossing her legs elegantly.
"He's just having a mental breakdown."
She took a slow sip of her drink, sighed, and added with mild disappointment,
"Still, I'll admit—he's surprisingly durable."
"A shame. I was curious how long he could last. Maybe long enough to collect a genetic sample or two."
Everyone else: "…"
Lady, that's not curiosity—that's clinical evil!
Ronn rubbed his forehead. "Holy Master, mind using the Horse Talisman to heal him?
Before he bleeds all over the floorboards."
"On it."
The Holy Master crouched beside Homelander and pressed a clawed hand to his chest.
A burst of white light flared, flooding the tavern.
Before long, the gaping wounds closed, and his skin knit itself whole again.
"...Thank you," Homelander said hoarsely, bowing his head.
At last, he understood something vital—
when out in the wider world, speak carefully.
Otherwise, society would make sure your face met a very fast-moving lesson.
He turned toward Liang Bing, bowed slightly, and said,
"I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
Liang Bing smiled lazily.
"Then, would you like to follow me?"
"Follow the Demon Queen—Morgana."
"Whatever you desire, I can make it happen."
Homelander hesitated for only a moment.
"I will, Your Majesty."
Of course, refusal was no longer an option.
Politeness—and survival—both demanded compliance.
The air shimmered.
A ripple of light appeared above the counter—
and a small cake dropped gently onto the bar in front of him.
Liang Bing grinned.
"I read that today's your birthday.
Go on. Blow out the candles."
Homelander: "...???"
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/ZoroTL442