**Chapter 5: Covered in Duck Feathers, Wang Er Seeks the Truth About Bai Suzhen** - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

**Chapter 5: Covered in Duck Feathers, Wang Er Seeks the Truth About Bai Suzhen** [From this point forward, your life at the base of the mountain becomes unbearably monotonous. You aren't sure whether it's due to the effects of the golden alms bowl, but every now and then, a few wild fruits appear before you. Though they taste awful, they at least stave off hunger and thirst.] [As time passes, to alleviate the boredom, you begin to ponder various Buddhist scriptures and practices.] [During this period, you intuitively comprehend the 'Arhat Demon Subduing Divine Skill.'] [The Arhat Demon Subduing Divine Skill is grand in its aspirations, and many of its mystic arts can be mastered without a teacher, achieved effortlessly.] [After five years, your comprehension of Buddhism reaches a state of perfection. Perhaps sensing your enlightened state, the golden alms bowl autonomously departs.] [Without its presence, the surrounding land softens, allowing you to dig through the earth and successfully emerge from Fahai's suppression.] [Your first decision upon freeing yourself, what do you choose?] [Option 1: Seek revenge on Fahai, annihilate everyone at Jinshan Temple, and transform it into a haunted wasteland.] [Option 2: Return home to your parents. Your father, Su Donglai, is now the fiscal commissioner for Jiangsu and Zhejiang, overseeing local officials. Seek his help in sealing off Jinshan Temple and imprisoning all the monks.] [Option 3: With your perfected Buddhist skills and devoid of hostility, you can now exorcise demons in Hangzhou, earn merits, and reclaim your place as an Arhat.] ... Su Mo contemplates the three options seriously for the first time. Previously, he always chose the most fun or chaotic options, but he's reluctant to make a reckless choice in this White Snake scenario. After all, he hasn't even met Bai Suzhen yet. He wonders what she looks like. Surely, she's beautiful—how would she compare to Madam Huang? But if he provokes that bald-headed Fahai, he might not get to see anything. Recognizing practicality as a virtue. With that thought in mind. Su Mo promptly chooses the third option. [You've chosen to exorcise demons in Hangzhou. After you leave, Fahai appears at the site of your departure. Seeing your transformation, he feels reassured.] ... Witnessing this scene, Su Mo feels a surge of relief. Thank goodness, he chose the third option. Who would've thought that bald-headed Fahai was keeping an eye on him? ... [You arrive in Hangzhou City, but having been buried under the mountain for five years, your long hair is wildly unkempt, and your body is coated in a layer of dirt-yellow grime, resembling a wild man.] [Your appearance in Hangzhou causes an uproar, and two constables attempt to arrest you, prompting you to flee.] [Understanding that your current appearance might cause misunderstandings, you thoroughly cleanse yourself in West Lake, washing your monk's cap, robe, and pants, which are still wearable despite five years under the mountain. You even weave a pair of straw sandals.] [From this moment on, Hangzhou recognizes a wandering monk committed to justice, exorcising demons.] Soon after, an image forms before Su Mo, resembling a wandering monk much like the legendary Ji Gong. ... [One day, you see a peculiar-looking man on the street—a skinny youth covered in duck feathers, even on his face.] [He's squatting by the roadside, wailing loudly.] "My life is miserable! These duck feathers won't come off. They grow back as soon as I cut them. Someone save me!" [Though the youth's sharp features seem untrustworthy, your curiosity about how duck feathers could grow on a person piques.] [You approach and use the Arhat Demon Subduing Divine Skill to examine the youth's meridians, but find nothing unusual, as if he was born that way.]    "How did these duck feathers grow? How long has it been?" [Seeing you, the youth reacts as if he's found his savior. Rumor had it a strange monk was in Hangzhou combating injustices and exorcising demons. He had been waiting by the street hoping to meet you.] "Master, Living Buddha, my name is Wang Er. Ever since I ate a duck five days ago, these feathers sprouted. Every night they itch unbearably, driving me insane." [You discern Wang Er's words to be true and begin asking if anything unusual happened before he ate the duck.] "Was there anything unusual before you ate the duck?" [Wang Er, fearing to conceal anything, recounts that he stole the duck. After taking it, he roasted and ate it without plucking the feathers.] "Master, nothing unusual happened. The duck wasn’t mine—it was the property of my neighbor, Old Zhang. I stole it, afraid the feathers would give me away, so I roasted it with the feathers on. That night, these duck feathers grew on me." [On learning Wang Er's story, you immediately perceive someone is punishing Wang Er for stealing, resulting in this odd transformation.] "Are you sure nothing else unusual happened?" [Your voice is loud and stern, startling Wang Er.] [He dare not omit any detail.] [He reveals that a newlywed couple recently moved into their neighborhood and opened a pharmacy called Baohe Hall. The man is named Xu Xian, and the woman is Bai Suzhen.] [Wang Er admits to frequently visiting and flirting with the heavenly beautiful Bai Suzhen.] ... This! Su Mo’s heart skips slightly. Bai Suzhen, at last, clues to her whereabouts. It's a pity she's already married to Xu Xian. A pity indeed; Su Mo had his own thoughts on the matter. Since she’s another’s wife, there’s no point in pursuing a romantic angle. How this destined life connection will unfold between them remains uncertain. Meanwhile, the simulation of this fated life continues. ... [As Wang Er mentions Bai Suzhen's name, dark demonic energy releases from his body, triggering your alertness.] [Intuitively, you sense that Bai Suzhen may not be as benign as she appears.] [It seems Wang Er, due to offending Bai Suzhen, has ended up with these itchy duck feathers.] [Obliged to exorcise demons, you have Wang Er lead you to Baohe Hall.] [Wang Er assumes you're eager to glimpse the celestial beauty of Bai Suzhen, somewhat amused that even a venerable monk has desires.] [Subsequently, Wang Er, covered in duck feathers, guides you to Baohe Hall.] [Upon arrival, you immediately notice two soaring demonic auras above Baohe Hall.] [Unexpectedly, Baohe Hall houses not just one demon, but two.] [Confronting two formidable demons poses a challenge. If only you had Fahai’s golden alms bowl, courage wouldn’t be in question, but alas, you don't.] [Consequently, you decide to probe these demons' identities by having Wang Er seek treatment at Baohe Hall.] [Accompanied by Wang Er, you enter Baohe Hall, met by a well-spoken and handsome young man with scholarly elegance.] [You recognize the young man as Xu Xian. As Wang Er describes his condition, Xu Xian stands baffled, having never witnessed such symptoms before.] (Chapter ends)