Chapter 89: Journey to the Black Wind Stronghold, Wang Qinghe’s Only Daughter Lives! - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 89: Journey to the Black Wind Stronghold, Wang Qinghe’s Only Daughter Lives! [The sky had darkened, and the officials at the county office invited you to stay for the night.] [They also prepared a grand banquet for you.] Looking at the scene where he was dining and toasting with several officials, Su Mo recognized them, as they were the same ones who had been present during the daytime. He even offered them a toast. Reflecting on how effortlessly the simulation recreated everything, Su Mo couldn't help but marvel. This "Love Fate Life" simulation is indeed extraordinary. ... [Early the next morning, you prepared the necessary things and set out.] [Due to your haste, Wang Qinghe gave you the fastest horse in the county office.] [Although it wasn't as fast as your small red horse, it could still travel six hundred li a day.] [After leaving the city, you headed towards the direction of Black Wind Mountain as they had told you.] [Along the way, it was as if there was no sign of human life; you didn’t even see a single person.] [You could already feel the deep threat posed by the demon.] [If things continued this way, the people of Linjiang County might all be consumed by it.] [By the time you arrived at Black Wind Mountain, it was noon, yet even the midday sun offered no warmth.] [The entire Black Wind Mountain was shrouded in dark clouds, exuding a sinister chill.] [As you ventured deeper into the mountain, you saw more and more bones scattered along the path, incomplete and bearing savage bite marks.] [You presumed these were the victims who had fallen to the demon.] [Although you had no personal connections to these people and came for the bounty, an anger still brewed within you.] [You wished you could immediately tear that demon to pieces.] ... Seeing the scenes of Black Wind Mountain where his simulation with Guo Lin had drastically changed, Su Mo couldn't help but feel a bit worried. Could it be that the bear spirit had already transformed into human form? If so, would the simulated version of himself still be a match? Shaking his head, Su Mo dismissed the thought. So be it. It would be great if he could win, and if not, there was no need to dwell on it as his simulation attempts were unlimited. Over the next two months, he aimed to simulate as much as possible to acquire talent rewards. Even if Fa Hai couldn’t assist, he could still flee to a far-off place with Madam Huang and her companions. ... [Upon reaching the Black Wind Stronghold, you discovered it had become a graveyard.] [Skeletal remains lay scattered everywhere.] [Among them were many abandoned weapons and bizarre artifacts, whose purposes you couldn't discern, but their presence indicated they belonged to mages.] [They were no match for the demon and were devoured instead.] [You selected a cerulean long sword, feeling its lightweight sturdiness; it was the only weapon among the swords and various strange arms without nicks.] [Surely a treasured sword.] [Though you didn’t know its name, its previous owner obviously wasn’t a mere nobody.] [You scavenged many darts and caltrops from among the bones and pocketed them; these common weapons used by martial artists would supplement your gear.] [Nevertheless, you deemed them mere adornments to your now-mastered Divine Maiden Technique.] [You began searching for the demon, eventually finding yourself in a dungeon.] [Inside, you found three emaciated young adults, two men and one woman, huddled, weakly against the stone walls.] [When they spotted you, their spirits lifted instantly, eyes filled with a hunger for life.] “Hero, help us!” “Please save us, Hero!” “…” [Observing the three, you promptly broke the iron lock and freed them.] [Seeing they were famished, you handed them your water pouch filled with rock sugar rice wine to quench their thirst and stave off hunger.] “Take a sip each, I have questions for you later.” [Starved for days, the three savored the sweet rice wine, feeling revitalized.] “Thank you, Hero, thank you!” [They obediently each took a large sip, heeding your command.] [Seeing their improved condition, you started questioning them.] “Have you seen the demon in this mountain?” [The three nodded immediately.] “Many heroes and mages came here recently, but all were devoured by the demon.” “It seems the demon has been using some dark magic, having consumed enough people by now.” “We survived because it no longer needed us.” “Since then, it hasn't brought us food, and we thought we'd starve in this cell.” [You were startled to hear this; if the demon’s dark magic was complete, wouldn’t you be no match for it?] “Describe the demon’s appearance to me.” [The sole young woman among them spoke.] “The demon was initially covered in black fur, resembling a massive black bear.” “But over time, its fur lessened; seven days ago, during our last sighting, it had assumed full human form, like a burly, hairy man.” “And as a man, the way it looked at me changed too, from food to something filled with desire.” “But I was too skinny, my appearance marred by my condition, so the demon didn’t take me.” [Learning that the demon had turned into a human form left you anxious.] [As a child, you read in a book of wonders that a demon who became human-shaped was most fearsome and formidable.] [Not even the world’s greatest martial artists were said to be able to defeat such demons.] [However, the text referred to those entirely human in form, with no trace of their animal appearance.] [Recalling that this demon had only recently achieved initial human form, you felt slightly relieved.] [Your mastered Divine Maiden Technique, unparalleled at twenty-three, regarded even such demons with disdain.] [With this in mind, you addressed the three captives.] “I will search for the demon soon. Meanwhile, finish off this sweet rice wine and find your way down the mountain.” [As you prepared to leave, the woman among the trio spoke up.] “Might I ask if you have seen my father on your way?” “Who is your father?” “Wang Qinghe.” [Surprised to learn she was Wang Qinghe’s daughter, you couldn’t help but react.] “So you’re the county magistrate’s daughter.” “He believes you to be dead. Now you’re able to return home safely, which will surely surprise him.” [The mention of this brought tears to Wang Qinghe’s daughter’s eyes.] “Thank you for reuniting us!” “It’s nothing.” “Perhaps your father could reward me with an extra thousand taels of silver.” “Certainly, certainly…” ... [With that, you left the dungeon and headed towards the rear of the stronghold.] [Upon reaching the rear, you found an archaic bronze alchemy furnace on a piece of open ground.] [Surrounded by many skeletal remains, which judging by their condition, had clearly been boiled.] [The furnace seemed dormant for ages, its hearth's ashes scattered everywhere by the wind.] [While searching for the demon, you suddenly sensed a foul wind.] “What business has a child entering my Black Wind King’s stronghold!” [With the voice, a demon emerged from the rear mountain.] [He stood eight feet tall, with a ferocious face clad in an iron chain vest, armed with a thick wooden club embedded with spikes.] [But the chain vest seemed ill-fitting on him, apparently looted from somewhere.] “Are you the man-eating demon?” [You spoke loudly, invoking the ninth level of the Divine Maiden Technique, turning nearly transparent.] [The cerulean treasure sword in your hand buzzed with the infusion of inner strength.] [Seeing your transformation, the bear demon laughed heartily.] “Today, an interesting one arrives.” “Last time, a woman had this very sword; never thought you’d pick it up.” [Surprised by the mention of a woman, you inquired further.] “And where is this woman now?” [The bear demon expressed regret.] “Alas, she managed to flee.” “Such fine, tender flesh would have tasted exquisite.” As the bear demon swung its wooden club, stirring the air, it charged toward you. You decided not to confront the bear demon head-on. Instead, with a light leap, you soared into the air, unleashing a barrage of darts and caltrops from your pouch, each imbued with innate energy, hurling them toward the bear demon with crushing force. These projectiles, charged with your innate energy, packed a formidable punch. Yet, the bear demon, appearing overconfident and unaccustomed to battling formidable martial artists, brazenly faced the onslaught without dodging. The sharp whizzing of the projectiles was followed by cries of pain as they hit their target. The bear demon, now in agony, cried out in shock. Your projectiles punched bloody holes through the bear demon’s hide, terrifying it. Never before had it encountered someone as powerful as you in the martial world, and so in a panic, it charged recklessly toward you. Wielding its wooden club fiercely, the entire creature bore down on you like a heavy-duty truck with the intent to crush. However, your movements were far too swift for the bear demon. No matter how it tried to kill you, it couldn’t so much as touch a hair on your head. Taking advantage of a brief opening, you executed a series of elegant sword techniques, deftly slicing away the bear demon’s scalp. The bear demon’s long-cultivated mane was effortlessly ripped from its roots by your hand. The demon looked at you with a hatred so intense it seemed ready to consume you whole. “Damn you, you’ve got some skill!” With that, the bear demon’s body began to swell, bursting its chainmail and clothes as its size increased. Eventually, a towering black bear, reaching nearly six meters tall like a formidable iron tower, stood before you. Faced with such a beast, you momentarily hesitated, unsure where to strike. At this moment, Su Mo watched the bear in surprise. Didn’t Monk Liaoming say it was only three meters tall? This nearly-seven-meter height—could it have evolved? ... Just as you planned to attack the bear demon from behind, it suddenly opened its mouth wide, generating a massive, terrifying suction from within. A fierce wind arose from nowhere, and everything around you began to be sucked into the bear demon’s mouth. Witnessing this scene filled you with dread. You had never expected the bear demon to have such a powerful move! In no time, your semi-transparent form was pulled into the bear demon’s mouth. As you were enveloped by darkness, only one thought lingered in your mind: “Damn, I'm done for!” (End of Chapter)