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Join the ServerAfter settling Rosie’s matter, Su Mu and the others returned to the Upper City.
The bustling streets teemed with people.
The calls of merchants and hawkers mingled with the clamor from jade terraces and towering buildings.
The lively scene before them only intensified their sense of the Lower City’s oppressive weight.
Having experienced their excursion into the Lower City, everyone’s spirits were dampened, and they decided to conclude their outing for the day.
Roland departed with his old butler, while Katusha, having other arrangements, bid farewell to Su Mu and left alone.
On the noisy street, only Su Mu and Bai Ji, master and servant, remained.
Su Mu stood at the crossroads, halting his steps with a sigh that carried a hint of bewilderment.
The prosperity here was undoubtedly grand, yet it failed to make him feel a part of it.
This sensation reminded him of his own past: after graduating from university, he had left his hometown to wander a great city alone.
After countless fruitless job searches, he had stood on the city streets, adrift and lost. Perhaps the feelings he harbored then were precisely the same as now.
“Things will get better…”
Su Mu murmured.
He had once fought his way through life alone until he found his footing, and he was confident he could do so again.
Su Mu steadied himself, and hope gradually rekindled within his heart.
“Your Highness, shall we return?”
Bai Ji asked softly.
Su Mu was about to respond when, suddenly, a long-unheard chime echoed in his mind.
“Congratulations, Master. You have once again triggered a critical choice node. Please choose carefully.”
‘Damn it!’
Su Mu felt an intense surge of frustration. The hope that had just ignited within him was instantly extinguished by this sudden, life-or-death choice.
Just thinking about having to endure that suffocating death again made him feel a profound sense of discomfort.
With a deep sigh, Su Mu gazed helplessly at the naturally appearing fluorescent blue panel before him, carefully analyzing the options presented this time.
“At this fork in destiny, you choose:”
“Option One: Take a stroll through the Illusory Paradise in the center of the Upper City.”
“Option Two: Return to the slums to further investigate the truth behind Rosie’s death.”
“Option Three: Head home and rest in your palace.”
‘A fork in destiny?’
From the question alone, Su Mu could sense the gravity of this choice.
Yet, their current situation was merely a simple decision of where to go, so why did it involve such a serious choice?
Su Mu felt a flicker of confusion.
However, there was no time for prolonged contemplation. Bai Ji was waiting beside him, and he needed to make a decision swiftly.
Su Mu pondered the three options.
First, Option One: a stroll through the Illusory Paradise… What exactly was the Illusory Paradise? The name sounded somewhat familiar.
Su Mu recalled Roland’s previous introduction to the Royal Capital’s three sacred havens for men: Illusory Paradise, Dream Tavern, and the Divine Artisan’s Workshop.
He remembered Roland’s description of the Illusory Paradise as…
‘A succubus haven, offering every imaginable position. There’s nothing you can’t conceive, and nothing they can’t deliver.’
‘Hmm?’
‘Holy shit, a brothel?!’
Realizing this, Su Mu was stunned.
‘What the hell does this option mean? Is it trying to tempt me into visiting a brothel? That’s utterly insulting!’
‘How could Su Mu be such a lecherous individual?’
‘Hmm… perhaps he was, just a little bit tempted.’
Su Mu secretly glanced at Bai Ji beside him.
Bai Ji’s cool demeanor instantly doused the rising heat in his heart.
‘Forget it, forget it. I dare not be tempted.’
Bai Ji was still with him. If she found out he intended to visit such a place, given her temperament, she would surely devour him whole.
Su Mu sighed. He certainly didn’t want to die by Bai Ji’s hand again.
Speaking of which, during the previous two critical choice nodes, he had died at Bai Ji’s hands each time. He was truly exasperated.
This time, regardless of whether he died or not, he would at least set a small goal: to avoid dying by Bai Ji’s hand again.
After all, even though Bai Ji had killed him so many times, he still held a considerable fondness for the outwardly cold but inwardly warm Ah Bai. Being killed by her always left him feeling quite distressed.
Su Mu looked at Option One again, immediately ruling it out.
As a fine young man of the new era, upholding the ideal of comprehensive development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor, he could only reluctantly forgo this option.
He regretfully shifted his gaze to Option Two.
Returning to the slums to further investigate the truth behind Rosie’s death…
To be honest, whether Rosie lived or died had nothing to do with him. As for pursuing some notion of fairness or justice, making another trip to the slums to thoroughly investigate a truth that served no purpose was utterly absurd.
It would be time-consuming, laborious, and offer no reward.
Most importantly, this journey might entail considerable risks.
Su Mu had already experienced the chaos of the slums during his previous visit.
The moment they entered the Lower City, a horde of rats had followed close behind, eager to pounce. If not for Bai Ji by his side, he might have been stripped of everything, down to his underwear.
Even with Bai Ji, absolute safety couldn’t be guaranteed. The Lower City was like a labyrinthine rat’s nest; no one knew what unexpected dangers might arise from a single misstep.
Su Mu didn’t want to try, nor did he dare to.
Therefore, Option Two was also out.
The final option, Option Three, was to head straight home.
This option aligned perfectly with Su Mu’s wishes.
After all, he had been out for quite some time and was feeling a bit tired.
Moreover, in such a life-or-death scenario, where could be safer than home?
At least at home, there were world-class Sword Saints and Illusion Masters. With these two protecting him, it would be difficult for him to die even if he wanted to.
Thus, it was clear that the only correct option was Option Three.
Yet, Su Mu still hesitated.
‘Should I take a risk?’
This was the question he was now contemplating.
To be honest, although his analysis indicated Option Two was extremely dangerous, it also meant that even if he died, the information he could gather would be substantial.
He had a faint feeling that if he chose Option Two, he might glimpse the true face behind Laura’s twisted nature and the reasons for her distortion.
Su Mu wavered, thinking for a long time, but ultimately chose to play it safe.
He truly did not want to experience death again.
That kind of pain was only known to those who had endured it—a profound ache, a sharp agony.
Besides, he had already decided to keep his distance from Laura as much as possible in the future, so understanding her true nature didn’t seem all that important anymore.
With this thought, Su Mu made his decision.
“Yes, let’s go back.”
“Understood.”
Bai Ji followed behind Su Mu, embarking on the path home.
Su Mu had largely decided that Option Three was the correct choice, and as they walked home, his mood was incredibly relaxed.
His gaze wandered casually when suddenly, a display window of a clothing store by the roadside caught his eye.
In the window was a short black dress.
The skirt was brief, yet its patterns were exceptionally exquisite, adorned with various thoughtfully designed details that imbued the gown with a sense of beauty, much like the feathers of a black swan—noble and elegant.
Su Mu glanced at Bai Ji, appraising her figure, and a satisfied smile touched his lips.
“Your Highness, is something amiss?”
Bai Ji looked at Su Mu with a hint of confusion.
Su Mu offered a mysterious smile, saying, “Just wait.”
Under Bai Ji’s puzzled gaze, Su Mu turned and entered the clothing store.
When he emerged, Su Mu held a neatly packaged box containing the black gown.
The shopkeeper had mentioned that this particular gown was the only one of its kind in the entire Royal Capital.
“Here, it’s for you.”
Su Mu said with a smile, tossing the dress to Bai Ji.
Bai Ji took the dress, still a little bewildered.
“Your Highness, why are you giving me this?”
“I wanted to give it to you, so I did. What, you don’t like it?”
Bai Ji said, a hint of shyness in her voice, “I do like it, but it’s too precious. It’s not worth giving to me…”
Su Mu rolled his eyes. “What’s this about ‘worth’ or ‘not worth’? I think it’s worth it, and most importantly, I want to see you wear it. Is that reason not enough?”
“Hmm… Thank you, Your Highness.”
Bai Ji’s eyes grew somewhat hazy. She stared intently at Su Mu’s retreating back as he walked ahead.
Then, she uttered an incredibly soft murmur: “I love you, Your Highness…”
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