Chapter 2-The Creepy Pursuit
Dawn couldn't come fast enough.
Li Wei spent the night pressed against the hollow tree, every muscle locked in terror, watching the forest through gaps in the roots. The rain had stopped an hour ago, leaving everything cold and dripping. His clothes were soaked through. His broken arm throbbed. His healing wounds ached.
But he was alive.
The coalition had moved on, their search expanding outward. Lin Xue had left with them, her frost-covered sword glinting in the moonlight as she disappeared into the trees.
She thought he was dead.
Good.
Let her think that.
TIME REMAINING: 2h 14m
Current Threats in Area:
- Mortal Realm demon beasts (3)
- Scattered coalition scouts (7)
- Wife #1: 847 meters away
Hang in there! :)
Li Wei stared at the notification. "You can track them?"
Of course! I'm bonded to Zhao Tian's Resonance Array.
All 100 wives are marked in the soul formation. I can sense their general location within 1km.
Useful, right?
"That's..." Li Wei paused. "Actually really useful. Thanks."
You're welcome!
Also: bad news.
Of course there was bad news.
"What now?"
Original Zhao Tian did something monumentally stupid.
He told all his wives about his unique soul frequency signature.
Meant it as a romantic gesture (it wasn't). Said: "No matter what form I take, you'll always recognise your husband."
Translation: Disguises won't work on your wives. They can sense your soul within 10 meters.
Li Wei's eye twitched. "Are you KIDDING me?!"
Nope! You're stuck with it!
Original villain was an idiot :)
"So I can't even hide from them properly?!"
Correct! Stay more than 10 meters away and you're fine. Get closer and they'll KNOW it's you.
Makes life interesting, doesn't it?
Li Wei wanted to scream. Instead, he took a deep breath and focused on not dying.
One problem at a time.
First: survive until dawn.
Second: get away from this forest.
Third: figure out how to NOT get murdered by a hundred angry women who could sense his soul.
The System chimed again.
QUEST COMPLETE!
Survived until dawn!
Reward: Basic Healing Pill
(Added to inventory)
Current HP: 8% → 35% (after pill)
The pill materialized in his hand—a small red sphere that smelled faintly of herbs. Li Wei didn't hesitate. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed.
Warmth spread through his chest, flowing to his injuries. The broken arm straightened with a sickening crack that made him bite back a scream. Bruises faded from purple to yellow to nothing. The deeper wounds knitted together, leaving pale scars.
Still hurt like hell.
But he could move now.
Li Wei tested his arm, flexing his fingers. Not perfect, but functional.
"Okay," he muttered. "Step one: get out of here."
He crawled out of the hollow tree, legs shaky, and looked around. The forest stretched in all directions, dark and foreboding. North was the cliff. South was where the coalition had set up camp.
East or west, then.
He chose east at random and started walking.
Twenty minutes later, Li Wei heard it again.
That voice.
"Husband..."
He froze mid-step.
No.
No no no, she was supposed to be gone!
"I know you're here somewhere..." Lin Xue's voice drifted through the trees, closer than before. "Your blood trail might be cold, but I can feel it. The bond we share."
Bond?! Li Wei thought frantically. What bond?!
Zhao Tian's memories supplied the answer: the Resonance Array. It connected him to all his wives on a spiritual level. A one-way connection for him to borrow their power.
But apparently, they could sense it too.
Great. Just great.
Li Wei ducked behind a thick tree, pressing himself flat against the bark.
Footsteps crunched on dead leaves.
"The coalition thinks you're dead," Lin Xue continued, her voice eerily calm. "Sword Saint Chen called off the search. They believe you died from your wounds."
Closer.
Ten meters.
Five.
"But I know better." She was right on the other side of his tree. "I was your first wife, Zhao Tian. Fifteen years of marriage. You think I can't tell when you're still breathing?"
Li Wei held his breath, heart hammering.
Lin Xue's hand rested on the tree trunk, ice crystals spreading from her palm.
"Come out," she said softly. "Let me finish this properly. No more running. No more hiding. Just... end it."
For a moment—one horrible, terrible moment—Li Wei almost did it.
He was so tired. So scared. And she sounded almost... sad.
Then Zhao Tian's memories reminded him: she'd betrayed him. Sold him out to both alliances. Led them straight to his location.
Whatever sadness she felt, it wasn't for him.
It was for the man he used to be.
And Li Wei wasn't that man.
He moved.
Fast as his injured body could manage, he bolted from behind the tree and ran.
"There!" Lin Xue's voice cracked like a whip.
Frost exploded where he'd been standing. Ice spread across the ground in a deadly wave.
Li Wei jumped, barely clearing it, and sprinted deeper into the forest.
"ZHAO TIAN!" Lin Xue's composure shattered. "Stop RUNNING, you coward!"
Branches whipped his face. His lungs burned. The healing pill had fixed the worst of his injuries, but he was still weak. Still slow.
And she was Core Realm Stage 7.
The gap was insurmountable.
A sword beam sliced past his ear, close enough to feel the cold.
"I'll hunt you to the ends of this continent!" Lin Xue screamed. "You can't hide from me! The soul bond—"
Li Wei's foot caught on a root.
He went down hard, skidding across wet earth.
Rolled.
Came up facing her.
Lin Xue stood twenty meters away, sword raised, eyes blazing with cold fury. Frost swirled around her like a living thing.
"Finally," she breathed. "No more running."
Li Wei's mind raced. He couldn't fight her. Couldn't outrun her. Couldn't talk his way out because she wanted him DEAD.
Options?
None.
He was going to die here.
Again.
Then—
CRACK.
A tree to their left exploded.
Something huge moved in the shadows—scaled, massive, radiating killing intent.
ALERT: Spirit Realm Stage 4 Demon Beast detected!
Ironscale Serpent
Threat Level: EXTREME
...This is either very bad or very convenient timing.
The serpent burst from the undergrowth—fifteen meters long, scales like black iron, eyes glowing red. Its mouth opened, revealing fangs the size of swords.
And it was looking at Lin Xue.
She turned, sword flashing. "Out of my way, beast!"
The serpent lunged.
Lin Xue met it head-on, her blade a blur of frost and steel.
Li Wei didn't wait to see who won.
He RAN.
Behind him, the sounds of battle echoed through the forest—Lin Xue's ice techniques clashing against the serpent's raw power. Trees shattered. The ground shook.
Li Wei didn't look back.
He ran until his legs gave out, until he collapsed at the edge of the forest, gasping for air.
Ahead: a dirt road.
And beyond that: civilization.
He'd made it.
QUEST COMPLETE!
Escaped Wife #1
Reward: +50 System Points
Bonus: Survival Instinct +1
Current Points: 75
NEW QUEST: Reach nearest town
Reward: Unlock System Shop
Li Wei dragged himself to his feet, every muscle screaming.
The nearest town was visible in the distance—smoke rising from chimneys, walls of wood and stone.
Safety.
Maybe.
He stumbled forward, one step at a time.
Behind him, the forest fell silent.
Either Lin Xue had killed the serpent, or...
No. Don't think about it. Just walk.
One foot in front of the other.
The town gates loomed ahead.
Guards in leather armor stood watch, bored expressions on their faces.
Li Wei approached, trying to look normal. Trying not to seem like a half-dead cultivator fleeing from a murderous ice empress.
"Halt," one guard said lazily. "State your business."
"Just... traveling through," Li Wei managed. "Looking for work."
The guard looked him over—muddy clothes, pale face, barely standing.
"Rough journey?"
"You have no idea."
The guard waved him through. "Welcome to Golden Leaf City. Try not to cause trouble."
Li Wei nodded, not trusting his voice, and stumbled through the gates.
He'd made it.
Alive.
Somehow.
Now he just needed to figure out how to stay that way.
WELCOME TO GOLDEN LEAF CITY!
Population: 50,000
Threat Level: Low
Wanted Posters: 47 (including you)
Good luck! :)
"Wanted posters," Li Wei muttered. "Of course there are wanted posters."
He pulled his collar up, tried to make himself smaller, and disappeared into the crowd.
One problem at a time.
Find shelter. Find food. Find a way to survive.
And avoid getting recognized.
Simple.
Right?