Chapter 79: First Experience with the Sword, Family Annihilation - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 79: First Experience with the Sword, Family Annihilation [You were born. On the day of your birth, your father had just slain two enemies and gazed upon you with a face smeared with blood. He named you Su Mo.] [You were born into the Su family in Qingyang Prefecture, a family renowned for its swordsmanship. The entire family found joy in learning swordplay, gaining a grand reputation in the martial world, and this reputation spread far and wide, causing their enterprises to sprawling across the nation, untouched by anyone.] ... Observing the splendor of the Su family depicted on the screen, Su Mo couldn't help but sigh. This time, it seems the choice was right. From the introduction, it was clear that the Su family was in a gradual state of decline, yet even a dying camel remains larger than a horse. Subsequently, Su Mo continued to watch the evolutionary scenes. ... [As the eldest son of Su Tai, the head of the Su family, you were burdened with high expectations from a young age, with hopes that you would inherit the family mantle and carry forward the family's traditional swordsmanship.] [During your hundred-day banquet, you grasped a small wooden sword, which thrilled the entire family, who believed you would surely inherit the Su family's legacy.] [Under the hopeful eyes of numerous elders, you grew up joyfully.] [At the age of three, you received your first sword.] [The sword, named "Frost," is a treasure forged from cold iron, emanating a fierce chill when swung, unbearable for ordinary folk.] [Legend has it that the raw material of this sword was extracted from the belly of a demonic python slain by your Su family ancestor.] [For many years, it was enshrined in the family's ancestral hall, but on this day, it was exceptionally bestowed upon you.] [The gradual decline of the Su family over the years has been evident to all.] [In your case, hopes are pinned. They wish for you to lead the Su family to newfound glory.] [Every member of the Su family must acquire three swords in their lifetime. The first sword is gifted by the family elders.] [The second sword is to be seized from an opponent, claiming the sword of the strongest adversary for one's own use.] [The third sword is to be crafted personally by oneself only after mastering swordsmanship, creating a blade best suited to oneself.] [Only upon obtaining the third sword is a Su family member considered a true swordsman.] [This tradition has allowed the Su family to stand unshaken within the martial world of the Song Dynasty.] [Upon receiving your first sword, your grandfather expended all his life’s cultivation to perform a ritual on you, enhancing your aptitude significantly.] [Time flies like the blink of an eye.] [As you gradually grew up in the Su household, you were consistently practicing the familial internal art "Tian Yuan Qi Cultivation."] [Tian Yuan Qi Cultivation isn't an extraordinary internal art but is essential for the Su family's sword technique "Impeccable Sword."] [Only by cultivating Tian Yuan Qi to the sixth level of perfection can the full potential of the Impeccable Sword be realized.] [At the age of eight, you broke through to the third level of Tian Yuan Qi, marking the beginning of your learning of the Impeccable Sword.] [During your practice of the Impeccable Sword, you discovered your talent.] [Your strike speed is typically three times that of others.] [Often when you thrust the sword, others might see the sword pierce the target but find it hard to discern how you executed the move.] [As a swordsman, while mastery in technique is important, speed in striking is essential for survival!] [Typically, faster strikes translate to swifter killing.] [Your talent caught the attention of everyone in the Su family, filling their hearts with hope.] [They believe you were sent by the heavens to elevate the Su family’s prestige.] [You became increasingly favored within the Su family.] [Among those who adored you most was Ning Er, the groom.] [Ning Er was once a notorious bandit in the martial world, his hands stained with much blood.] [One year, he crossed paths with those he shouldn’t have offended and turned to the Su family for help, who spent three hundred East Pearl to save his life.] [Since then, Ning Er became a groom for the Su family.] [Ning Er held great affection for you. Recognizing your speed superior to others, he taught you his signature move, the "Flying Locust Hand."] [Flying Locust Hand is a projectile technique, yet uniquely an open and honorable one.] [It emphasizes: grasping any object in sight, tossing without pause, releasing projectiles endlessly with seamless precision.] [Once you've mastered Flying Locust Hand, anything around you can serve as your weapon.] [Even your sword can become a projectile weapon.] [Ning Er claimed that with your talent, you could elevate Flying Locust Hand to unprecedented heights.] [When your father, Su Tai, learned that Ning Er was teaching you Flying Locust Hand, he didn't intervene, understanding that not everyone is privileged to learn it.] [Being taught by Ning Er is your fortune.] [You grew up gradually, learning Tian Yuan Qi, Impeccable Sword, and Flying Locust Hand.] [By age sixteen, you had successfully cultivated Tian Yuan Qi to the fifth level, mastering the Impeccable Sword and Flying Locust Hand.] [Ning Er once appraised that aside from a lack of worldly experience, you could easily rival top martial masters.] [It was your sixteenth birthday, and the entire Su mansion was adorned with lights, celebrating this special day.] [Yet you found no excitement in the day's festivities.] [Qingyang Prefecture is a water-scarce vicinity, but the Su mansion's rear mountain boasts a spring. Whenever unoccupied, you enjoy taking baths there, with the Su mansion frequently consuming your bathwater over the years.] [Today, the heat is intense, and the incessant cicada calls rattled your nerves.] [So you headed to the rear mountain, intending to relieve your fatigue with a bath.] [But upon your return after the bath, the entire Su mansion was eerily silent.] [Arriving at the banquet hall, you witnessed a scene you'll never forget.] [Your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and numerous invited martial experts, along with servants and handmaids, lay dead.] [Their passing was peaceful, tranquil.] [The smiles from their lives remained etched on their faces.] [For a moment, you forgot how to express sorrow, with silent tears flowing instead.] [Footsteps approached, pulling you into a side room.] [Only then did you recognize Ning Er standing before you.] [Facing someone familiar, your emotions broke free.] "Uncle Ning Er, my parents, they..." [Before you could finish, Ning Er covered your mouth.] [You now noticed his complexion was livid, darkly purple.] [A poisoned dart embedded in his shoulder.] [Poison had deeply penetrated him.] [Ning Er's voice was rushed.] “Young master, you must leave now. They are searching the courtyard for survivors.” [After speaking, Ning Er placed a token in your hand.] [It was a black iron token engraved with the words "Misty Rain."] “This is a token from Misty Rain Tower. If you encounter members of Misty Rain Tower, show them the token, and they'll know what to do.” [As you wanted to inquire who "they" were, Ning Er succumbed to his injuries.] "Uncle Ning Er!" [You were overwhelmed with grief.] [At this moment, you must choose:] [Option 1: Leave the Su mansion immediately, go into hiding, and search for members of Misty Rain Tower.] [Option 2: Engage in a fierce battle with the intruders to ascertain their identity.] [Option 3: Hide within the Su mansion, wait for everyone to leave, and bury your family.] ... Faced with the three choices materialized before him, Su Mo pondered carefully. The style of poisoning the entire Su mansion bore a strong resemblance to the Blood Garment Tower from previous simulations—could it be them? If it were indeed the Blood Garment Tower, the situation was dire. Blood Garment Tower is an organization entrenched in the martial world for centuries, seemingly existing since the dawn of the martial arts world. Defining them with ordinary terms is impossible. No one knows the true nature behind this organization. To avoid squandering this precious opportunity, Su Mo decisively opted for the first choice. It's best to flee when possible. Encountering the Blood Garment Tower, even with skills akin to top martial artists, would be futile. As for the Misty Rain Tower. Su Mo vaguely recalled this affiliation from previous simulations. It seemed to be an organization of assassins. In that previous simulation, his personality leaned towards taking revenge personally, and with his enemies eliminated thoroughly, he never truly interacted with the Misty Rain Tower. The power of Misty Rain Tower and how it compares to Blood Garment Tower remains unknown. ... [You chose the first option.] [With the Frost Sword and two hundred silver taels you had saved up, you left the Su mansion. Although you hadn't trained in light-footed skills, your familiarity with the Su estate helped you evade detection.] [After leaving, you hid in the Maidens' Mountain near Qingyang Prefecture.] [A group of bandits resided on Maidens' Mountain, engaging in robbery and human trafficking daily.] [However, their martial skills were mediocre, and you easily eradicated the entire band using the Flying Locust Hand.] [In the bandits' cellar, you discovered many women who had been brutally mistreated.] [These women were bound with various instruments of torture, completely naked.] [Never having witnessed such a scene, you felt on the verge of vomiting.] [After rescuing the women, they expressed their deep gratitude and left Maidens' Mountain, intending to return to their homes.] [As you continued searching, you found a woman cooking in the kitchen. She introduced herself as Li Suyun. She had been kidnapped just yesterday, her entire family slain by the bandits. Now, she was homeless.] [If she left the mountain, her fate would involve begging or being sold by beggars.] [Seeing your hesitation, Li Suyun knelt before you.] "My body hasn't been defiled by the bandits yet. They said I was pretty and wanted to sell me to Yichun House in Qingyang Prefecture, where a virgin fetches a good price." "Master, let me serve you! I can keep you warm at night!" [Looking at the pitiful Li Suyun.] [At this moment, you must choose:] [Option 1: Agree to Li Suyun's request and let her serve as your maid, attending to your daily needs.] [Option 2: Refuse Li Suyun's request. Her words cannot be entirely believed, and you decide to kill her to eliminate any future threats.] [Option 3: Execute Li Suyun on the spot.] (End of Chapter)