Chapter 291 I'm Here to Take You Home
[Has entered the 'Abyss' world again]

[Current special challenge mission: Defeat the Abyss Witch]

[Special bonus given to players this time: Immune to max version. (The max version usually consumes more physical strength and causes severe discomfort. To ensure the game experience, players need to use it at their discretion.)]

[Special rules for challenge tasks: To ensure the basic gaming experience of players, a 'direct failure' option will be provided. Players can terminate the task at any time if they feel the experience is not good.]

[No penalty for failure]

"..."

"Hey, little brother? It's you."

"Long time no see, I thought you were dead."

"..."

Familiar place, familiar fruit stall.

"Fresh dragon fruit. I won't cheat you this time... I'm closing the stall anyway. I'll give you one as a gift."

But I am not too familiar with the fruit stand owner. Originally a young boss in his early 30s, he now has an open collar and obvious wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Is there a time change?
"It's been about seven or eight years, right?"

"I remember the guy at that time was wearing a neat shirt and looked like a foreigner. Don't blame me for ripping you off."

"Ha... I'm honest now. A few years ago, I cheated an official and nearly lost my head. You see, my scales are very accurate now."

"..."

Times have really changed.

The originally medium-sized town of Kuli now seems to have become at least a second-tier town due to the expansion of the empire to which it belongs.

"Dead city?"

"Oh, you are talking about the old legends, right? Only those of us who have experienced it and haven't been silenced know about it. It's long gone... so don't mention it casually."

"The current Dead City has developed quite well. It's not much worse than this. The name has also been changed to Curry City East District. Don't mention that name casually... If you're caught, you'll be beheaded."

"..."

Looking around, the streets were no longer the ones Su Ming was familiar with.

Eight out of ten hotels where I used to live have changed. Of the remaining two, one has remained in its original layout but has become a restaurant. One is still in the hotel business, but has expanded greatly.

"Abyss Witch?"

"what's that?"

"The big thing that happened... Brother, you are not an underground investigator, are you? I swear, I am really honest! If you don't believe me, weigh it yourself!"

Chatted with the fruit stall owner for a long time.

No one has ever heard of the Witch of the Abyss. The only major event that happened was that the empire to which Curry Town belonged passively welcomed the war, but the war became more and more fierce, and they annexed most of the land of the neighboring country. The business was affected by fluctuations, and now because of the conscientiousness, the reputation has gradually improved...

Extremely low-difficulty tasks generally do not require much effort to find the target.

But now there are two problems.

First, the target is not Serthis strictly speaking, but the Witch of the Abyss.

Second, the difficulty is intermediate.

If Thertis completely lost control and became a so-called witch, there should be corresponding rumors. It should be easy to find...

Seven or eight years?

"Clap."

Su Ming lit up a cigarette, took a deep breath, and looked toward the street. There were people of all kinds coming and going, and even more people with hair of different colors. This place was really completely different.

First, follow the usual practice of searching and asking. You will eventually find out what the current situation of Setis is. No matter what the Abyss Witch is, find Setis first.

"Have not heard."

"If you want to find someone, you can pay to go to the Explorer Service Center and ask."

"..."

After seven or eight years, has the bounty on me been completely forgotten? I don't see the "Witch Hair" commission that used to be at the top of the bulletin board. There is no bounty on me. Now at the top is the Explorer Exchange Competition held by several countries. As long as you get a name within the top 10, you can get a reward. This has nothing to do with Su Ming.

5 month 21 day.

The time was obtained by asking for directions. But Su Ming knew very well that this was not the May when he left last time. It was the May seven or eight years later.

The road from Kuli Town to the Dead City was originally rugged, but now a pipeline has been built. There are villages and even markets along the way.

There was no green leaves growing near the dead city back then, but now there are large areas of green vegetation.

But Su Ming searched the entire dead city full of life but still couldn't find Sertis. Her figure was easy to identify... If you could see her, you would definitely find her.

Communication competition?

By becoming famous... no, she could do something else. For example, show up and set a fire. Let everyone know that it was done by 'Su Ming'. In this way, whenever she goes to a place with people nearby, she will definitely hear the rumor. Whether it's out of resentment or joy, at least she will come.

5 month 22 day.

Night.

Su Ming didn't find Sertis, but he met another acquaintance.

"..."

The petite figure stood in front of Su Ming.

"You're so weird. I thought it wasn't fun and was about to leave, but you came back."

Still with the same tender face as Xia Ye, she stared at Su Ming calmly.

"Your wife is gone. She just disappeared. It's weird."

"..."

She should be talking about An Shiyao.

Su Ming heard the fruit stall owner say that seven or eight years had passed, and when he checked the NPC status, it showed that it had been completed. That was nothing... It was not a difficult task that An Shiyao should have gotten involved in.

"Are you looking for another wife?"

"I know where she is~"

5 month 22 day.

late at night.

"Can we talk now?"

Su Ming now thinks back that her requests had been all sorts of weird since the first time she met this guy.

Just lick the feet.

Now he insisted on lying on her thighs. She was too skinny and it made the back of his head uncomfortable.

"Why, are you always so angry? You are so happy when they give you this."

"..."

"Is it because I'm too young?"

"I don't understand what you want to do. There was a threatening feeling in the front. Before...seven or eight years ago, you helped An Shiyao."

"I don't know what I want to do. I was very hungry when I woke up. After eating, I felt strange in my body... and then I realized that a lot was missing. If I hadn't seen you while searching for my body, I would have wanted to sleep again."

"……Thanks."

No matter what.

An Shiyao had received help from her. Perhaps she shouldn't be viewed as a boss who must be defeated. Now her actions were more like a child with extraordinary powers who had nothing to do after eating.

"Ok?"

Xiao Xiaoye tilted his head slightly, "Oh, because I helped your wife."

"I've already lain down. Can you tell me where Thetis is now?"

"right here."

She pointed to the floor.

"?"

"Look again, and you will find it."

This is crap.

"I want you to be happy lying on my lap, but this is not it."

She stood up and gently smoothed the hem of her skirt. Her white legs extended from the hem of her skirt, and her bare feet were stained with mud.

"But will you still want her as much as before? She's become very strange now."

"I wouldn't want to see you even if I knew you were coming back. Human minds are so complicated."

"..."

Su Ming really wanted to pin her to the ground and interrogate her until she got to the bottom of the matter.

But this guy's strength is unfathomable. He won with his new immune max version ability... With her weird personality, will she really tell the truth? If she doesn't win, she might be trampled underfoot again. Although this guy probably didn't mean to humiliate anyone, he just thought it was fun.

"If I'm happy lying on your lap, can you be more specific?"

"..."

Xiao Xiaoye raised his hands above his head, "Because you think I'm so young, I don't even need the most basic decorations for humans to lie?"

"You have to lie down happily as the price. Until you really lie on my lap happily."

She sat down again, hugging the hem of her skirt and patting her thigh, "Big brother, we can't go anywhere, okay?"

5 month 23 day.

early morning.

Su Ming searched around the dead city alone and found an old city area with some relatively intact buildings.

But this doesn't exist in Sertis.

That guy said that Sertis is here. Is he talking about this world... or the Dead City or Curry Town?

Although it was a bit frustrating to meet her and not be able to talk properly, but if you think about it from another perspective... at least she was able to come here from the Snow Country, which proved that she knew the 'way'. As long as the mission of the Abyss Witch is completed, it might be easy to find her when bringing Sertis back.

I was in a hurry before and didn’t think about this at all... and I didn’t have time to meet this guy.

5 month 23 day.

Three o'clock in the morning.

After not sleeping for several days, Su Ming felt a little sleepy.

I planned to go back to the hotel and ask 'Xia Ye' again, but she, who had stayed there, was long gone.

"A small woman?"

“Has anyone like this ever come to the store?”

"..."

have to.

Now, not to mention Thertis, even Summer Night is nowhere to be found. May 5.

Four o'clock in the morning.

I can't confirm it. It has been seven years and five months since Brother Su Ming left.

Living an ordinary life...

Just being able to breathe was exhausting. Just being able to stay near the town was exhausting, staring at the bustling town day and night... Only in the late night and early morning when no one was around could I come to pick up food.

No matter who I met or what color of emotion I felt, I was tormented.

I won.

It should be a win, right?

The voice in my head never came back after I denied all bad speculations and dug out the flesh near my temple with my hands.

He no longer tempted me to think, as Brother Su Ming had long forgotten me.

It no longer tempts me to think that Brother Su Ming will never come back.

I said, if Brother Su Ming said three years, I will wait for thirty years. Even sixty years. I will wait forever.

"..."

But I'm broken.

My body became tattered. I no longer had the confidence to stretch out my legs, nor did I have the confidence to stand in front of Brother Su Ming.

This is the price.

I am lucky enough to win against the voice in my head that does not belong to me. It is impossible to win without paying anything.

I will not accept a voice that does not belong to me just to be normal and look good. That is a real monster, a monster that will hurt Brother Su Ming in front of me.

"Even if you become a monster, you must give me a child."

really?
I clenched my teeth, not thinking that Brother Su Ming would tell lies.

As long as I see Brother Su Ming, I won’t have to endure it anymore, right?

Can I think like this?

I stared at my toes. They were shoes I picked up from the garbage dump. I rolled up my trouser legs. The corrosion marks were still clearly visible. I touched my cheek and felt a sharp pain in my fingers. Half of my face... was ruined because I tried so hard to live an ordinary life.

Even the baby cafeteria that once could unbutton a button and say it was for seduction... is the same.

5 month 23 day.

Five o'clock in the morning.

I was very scared, afraid that Brother Su Ming would say... he didn't recognize me, he didn't like me.

I really want to believe it, but I just can't muster the confidence.

but……

I couldn't hold back my emotions. Brother Su Ming really came back to see me, faster than I expected. I don't have to endure it anymore, I can relax.

I just lay beside him who was already asleep. I took a shower after a long time. It didn't smell bad.

Although many parts of my body have become extremely ugly, my feet are still acceptable...

"..."

I seemed to have a lot to say, but when I touched Brother Su Ming's face and felt his breath, I didn't know what to say.

Only tears flowed unconsciously.

I tried really hard... I wasn't afraid of death. I would rather die than be controlled by that monster and become a real bad guy. I once took out the contents of my brain with my own hands just to stop hearing that voice.

Brother Su Ming is really happy with other women, he can be happy without any need...

I'm jealous, but I also hope it's true.

"..."

No.

If Brother Su Ming doesn't come to see me, I really can't bear it. Year after year, I hope to hear the familiar voice.

Can hold me up.

It's really hard.

I even thought that if I didn't know Brother Su Ming... I would become a monster and do whatever I wanted. As long as I didn't have to think.

"……lark."

I already knew it.

If we come here openly like this, we will definitely be discovered.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it would take this long."

"..."

I hugged Brother Su Ming from behind, more and more tightly, not wanting to let go.

The tears kept coming out, and I couldn't stop them. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't speak smoothly.

Only when he wants to look back at me...

"Don't turn your head. Don't..."

I was afraid of seeing disgust in Brother Su Ming's eyes.

"I have... tried very hard as Brother Su Ming said. Living an ordinary life... has won it."

"..."

Didn't turn around.

But his hands fell on me, groping.

Even if I tried to stop it, it would still fall on the damaged half of my face. It would sting, right? It would not feel smooth at all, and it would look ugly.

“Don’t, don’t look…”

Still, it was seen.

Half of the face was black. Half of the face was polluted. The black color spread to the chest, and the surface was no different from black mud. The waist and thighs were also covered with black.

"..."

He didn't say anything, he just got up. I didn't see his expression... As expected, he would think it was ugly, right?

This inferiority complex almost made me breathless.

She used to be inferior to the women around Brother Su Ming, and now she is even more...

"lark."

"Look at my face now."

"..."

There were several charcoal marks on Brother Su Ming's face.

"So I'm not myself anymore?"

"I told you, even if it's a monster, it has to give birth to a child for me. What's more, it's a normal Skylark? And I should be able to help you with it."

"..."

I didn't see any disgust. Just touched my cheek, polluted.

"Sorry. It's my fault."

It was really hard to bear. I missed you over and over again but never got a response, and it became like ants gnawing at my heart and lungs. Just after the third year, I was just one step away from no longer being Thertis or Skylark.

Even now, holding Brother Su Ming's hand, I feel like I'm dreaming.

"Woo..."

I still couldn't bear it anymore, so I hugged Brother Su Ming tightly. Since I wouldn't be hated, could I really relax now? I wouldn't have to endure it alone anymore.

5 month 23 day.

Five o'clock in the morning.

"..."

He hugged Setis, whose entire body was covered in a strange black color, like half of her face was covered in mud.

to be frank.

Su Mingzhen didn't care about her appearance. And as long as he could bring her back, he would find a way to restore her to her beautiful appearance.

[Character: Sethis Skylark (contaminated)]

【Favourability: 171】

[Description: I have extreme love and trust for you. I am willing to do everything for you, including things that are not good for the target.]

The translucent entry frame above her head made Su Ming more concerned.

Contaminated?

However, the description and favorability do not reflect the consequences of being polluted.

Now, the soft body of Sertis in his arms was just shedding pearls to vent. It was impossible to win a medium-difficulty mission just by meeting and knocking Sertis down.

The Witch of the Abyss is most likely Setis.

It's not the time yet, but what should I do when it is? Kill Thetis who has been waiting for me for nearly eight years?
"Can I still... call you Brother Ming?"

"of course."

"Well, kiss... well."

Su Ming was a little breathless in the arms of Sertis, but compared to what she was going through, it was nothing.

Ok.

Regardless of the contamination and changes to her body, at least find a way to compensate her. There is always a way. It's already here, so it's impossible not to do it just because it's troublesome. The previous immunity was actually very strong. The current max version is probably a bonus given as the mission difficulty increases. It may not be as difficult as imagined. If it is in the body of Setis, then wait for it to come out and find a way to train it. If it is outside, it's even better, just kill it.

"..."

Su Ming just got up and wanted to pour two glasses of water, and then he saw Sertis sitting on the bed, shaking non-stop, and she couldn't hold back her tears.

"..."

She didn't want the cup at all. She just hugged Su Ming again and refused to let go.

That feeling... was like being sold to a slave, being abused every day. Just reaching out would make her shrink in fear in the corner. She was the same. When Su Ming just went to get a glass of water, she was afraid that she would not see him.

So, there is no need to say anything unnecessary until the end.

"I know a weird girl, she's a little weird, but she knows the way to my hometown."

"I came here this time to take you home."

She needed to know this.

(End of this chapter)