### Chapter 21: Though Freedom Was Lost, Life Was Gained - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

### Chapter 21: Though Freedom Was Lost, Life Was Gained Upon hearing Daji's words, you look at her in disbelief, unable to understand why she decided to spare you. Yet, the joy of survival floods your heart. As long as you can stay alive, Daji's true intentions don't matter to you. ... Su Mo was also stunned by this scene. Really? So hasty. Just decided not to kill? Could it be that due to being bound by the role of romantic interest, this Daji fell in love at first sight with the simulation's version of me? His eyes held an expectation. It seems that this simulation might not end as early as he thought. Daji placed a bronze collar around your neck. The collar seemed to possess a magical power, alerting and tightening if you moved more than a thousand meters away from her, forcing you to stay by her side. Though you've lost your freedom, you've clung to life. The nobles at court were aware of your existence. Seeing the bronze collar on you, their initial suspicious gazes turned to pity. This bronze collar is a magical artifact, continuously siphoning the wearer's life force to transfer it back to its original owner. To the nobles in court, it seemed inevitable that you would lose all your vitality and die within a year. A palace maid informed you about the collar's effects. Daji, upon discovering this, gazed at you with a complicated expression. "Do you believe it?" You didn't answer, as you never felt your life force diminishing. Instead, the collar occasionally gave off a warm current that invigorated you. You noticed Daji often staring at you, as if appreciating a work of art. You didn't quite understand what this gaze represented, but every time your eyes met hers, a dormant volcano within you began to stir. Despite this, you're acutely aware of the vast gap between you and Daji, as great as that between an ant on the ground and a phoenix in the sky. But you felt indignation in your heart—why must you be born a slave? With this resentment, you lived on calmly for a while. However, as time went by, the gazes of the palace maids became increasingly peculiar—filled with curiosity, admiration, and intensity. Like a pack of female leopards, they looked at you as if they wanted to devour you whole. Although you had conquered many beasts, in such situations, you found yourself fleeing. In the Shang Dynasty, the harem was filled with women, with no eunuchs around, structured like the General Zhenyuan household, distinct inner courtyard separated from the outer quarters. Due to the necessity of staying close to Daji, you lived in the harem where the maids watched you day by day. Your strong physique, handsome face, and robust presence haunted their every dream. Over time, you noticed Daji venturing out of her palace less frequently. Each time she did, her complexion was unusually pale, as if she had endured a grave illness. As the days passed, the palace maids became bolder with you. One night, as you were sleeping, the maids overpowered and bound you tight to the bed. Just as they were about to take advantage of you, Daji arrived. Seeing this scene, Daji's gaze turned icy. Her cold eyes could freeze anything in the world. Finally, she left behind a single order: "Execute them all." Daji rescued you. As the maids were dragged away, Daji approached your bedside, eyeing your utterly exposed state with irritation, her delicate hand pinching your waist hard. "Were you looking forward to this?" "Did you already have thoughts about those women?" As you remained silent, Daji's words came faster, her tone rising. "I knew it!" "I just knew it!" "Remember your status; you are merely my slave!" "And you will always be my slave!" Daji spoke angrily, holding her head high as if to mask her displeasure. You said nothing, watching her fiery demeanor, you couldn't suppress your irritation and snapped back. "Fine, I consent!" "And what are you, claiming to be my master?" Daji was taken aback by your retort, retreating awkwardly before quickly leaving your room. Outside of the scene, Su Mo felt a bit disappointed after witnessing this unfold. Why skirt around the edges? Why not engage directly! Sigh! Indeed, the circumstances of one's birth and innate talent dictate much of one's life choices. Had it been a different scenario, he would have probably subdued Daji by now. But now, he could only watch the simulation unfold without any control over his own choices. After Daji's departure, you felt a pang of remorse. Could your words have been too harsh on her? But before thoughts could linger, the bronze collar began to constrict your neck, as if alive. Its grip was precisely controlled, leaving you breathless yet able to draw meager breaths. The guilt you felt for Daji vanished with your struggle... The collar finally relented by morning, and you gradually regained your strength. Upon rising, you discovered that all the palace maids had been replaced, leaving you slightly apprehensive of Daji's methods. From maid gossip, you learned that Daji vanished after the maid incident, reappearing only at dawn, her face devoid of any color. Upon learning this, a sliver of concern crossed your heart, wondering what trials Daji had faced. On the third day following the maid incident, a priestess removed your bronze collar and informed you that you were free from the palace, next destined for the Blood Hunting Grounds. The Blood Hunting Grounds were a place where slaves battled beasts or each other for the entertainment of nobles. As a slave sent there, the end awaited only in battle; no slave ever survived. Death was your certain fate. Throughout, Daji never came to see you again. Upon realizing this, a sense of loss settled into your heart. You could only accept your fate with silent resignation. The Blood Hunting Grounds lay south of Chaoge City, a place you knew only from rumors. In those grounds, besides beasts, slaves, and captives, there were myriad intricate bronze mechanisms and magical creations. Now, you too would partake as one of the slaves in this lethal spectacle, fighting until death drew near. **(End of Chapter)**