chapter 185 Tie Shan's suggestion - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

After hearing Tie Shan's suggestion, Su Mo was tempted, yet he was acutely aware of the critical timing and dared not overstep any boundaries. "Ahaha, I think I'll pass for now," he responded. Tie Shan seemed a little disappointed and edged closer to Su Mo, while Meng Hongshang, who was in the room, overheard their conversation, immediately feeling a pang of anxiety. In a flash, she got out of bed, opened the door, and, pulling Su Mo back inside, shut him away from Tie Shan. Glaring at Tie Shan, she spoke with an unmistakably unfriendly tone. "Senior, perhaps you should consider living alone." Before Su Mo could even react, Meng Hongshang had already shut the door, leaving him to face her angry, reproachful gaze. "Enjoying the attention of such a stunning woman, are we?" she accused. Su Mo quickly pleaded, "Absolutely not! Hongshang, in my heart, there's only you. There will never be anyone else!" Seeing Su Mo's earnest expression, Meng Hongshang couldn't help but burst into laughter, her beautiful lips curling into a smile. "Yeah, right. As if you'd dare!" "Alright, I was just saying..." With Meng Hongshang softening a little, Su Mo cautiously asked, "So, should I still go out?" Meng Hongshang shot him a glare. "Oh? Do you still want to go out and see that woman?" Seizing the moment, Su Mo took a big step forward, fixing his gaze intently on her. "How could I possibly think of anyone else when I have such a beautiful woman as you?" Meng Hongshang's eyes flickered with uncertainty as Su Mo approached. "Y-You... You'll sleep on the floor tonight!" She then fetched a blanket from the inn’s cabinet, spreading it on the ground. "You’re sleeping here tonight. No leaving." Su Mo frowned dramatically in response, "Hongshang, dear Hongshang, can you really be so heartless as to make me sleep on the floor?" Meng Hongshang remained stern. "Sleep if you want to; it's up to you." Without a care for his reaction, she climbed into bed, nestling under the covers without even bothering to remove her clothes. Su Mo gently pointed out, "Hongshang, sleeping in your clothes can't be comfortable." "I'm perfectly fine with it!" Seeing that she was adamant, Su Mo decided not to push further and simply lay down on the blanket spread across the floor. With legs crossed, he pondered how he might covertly visit Meng Hongshang during the night. On her part, Meng Hongshang found it hard to sleep, her heart thumping like a wild drum. At that very moment, Su Mo began to strip down to his skin, revealing his muscular physique. Catching sight of this in her peripheral vision, Meng Hongshang's voice wavered nervously. "Wha– What are you intending to do?" Who could have guessed that the famously enchanting Peach Blossom Lady would grow so flustered at the sight of a man's body? Su Mo chuckled cheekily. "What do you think I’m doing? I'm going to sleep, of course. It's my right to sleep without clothes, isn't it?" Rendered speechless by this reasoning, Meng Hongshang found herself without grounds for protest. Before long, the steady sound of Su Mo's breathing filled the room. Despite the sun not having completely set, he had already fallen asleep. Faced with the reality of his sleepiness, Meng Hongshang felt an inexplicable irritation – could there truly be time to sleep right now? Reflecting on this, she found herself staring down at his peacefully sleeping face from the bed’s edge. One must admit, Su Mo possessed an undeniable masculine charm rarely seen in other cultivators. Was it possible that she'd soon leave behind her solitary days and share a life with this man? The thought brought a flush to her cheeks, warming her heart to the core. As they say, when an older woman falls for someone, it’s like an old house catching fire – impossible to extinguish. Realizing that Su Mo was fast asleep, Meng Hongshang quietly rose, stripping down to just her corset and undergarments, and hanging her clothes on the rack. Her skin gleamed like polished ivory, her graceful legs exposed to the night's gentle touch, the lines of her corset forming a diagonal across her body. Her thighs were plush yet firm, her calves straight and taut, and her delicate feet were as pristine as silk, her toes free from any discoloration. Gazing at herself, Meng Hongshang felt a wave of insecurity wash over her, fully aware of how incredibly beautiful Su Mo's previous partner had been. Could she really compare? Or, more pressing, could Su Mo resist the blatant allure and temptations of that woman? The shroud of self-doubt enveloped her, leaving Meng Hongshang uncertain of her next move. Just then, Su Mo stirred slightly in his sleep, prompting her to swiftly dive under covers, afraid to expose her vulnerability to his eyes. With thoughts racing, sleep eventually crept in. Meng Hongshang fell into a slumber awash with dreams, filled with memories of her and Su Mo’s shared experiences, although her dreams also included Tie Shan trying to snatch Su Mo away. Strangely, it culminated with Su Mo's sister, Liuli, joining the fray. This jolted her awake. Upon waking, she found herself cocooned in a broad, warm embrace, instantly startling her. A closer inspection revealed that at some point, Su Mo had slipped into her covers. By now, deep into the night, occasionally a rooster crowed from outside the window. The skin-to-skin contact brought an odd comfort yet unfamiliar sensation to Meng Hongshang – was this what being held by a man felt like? However, this guy hadn’t even asked for her permission before hugging her like this. That darn thing was even jabbing into her back. Quickly, she nudged Su Mo awake, adopting a firm tone. "When did you get into my bed?" Groggy and barely awake, Su Mo found himself face to face with her imminent irritation. Quickly, he explained, "I didn't come by choice! You were yelling in your sleep, begging me not to leave you. I was worried, so I came over. The moment I did, you wrapped around me like an octopus, and I didn’t dare move. I soothed you by patting your back until you calmed down and fell asleep." Realizing the truth in Su Mo’s words and recalling her vivid dreams, Meng Hongshang relented, acknowledging his honesty. "Then get out. This is my bed!" Su Mo only held her tighter. "Come on, just let me cuddle you tonight. It's late already, and tomorrow we need to head to Cuiling Mountain for the opening of its mansion." "Just this once, okay? I promise it won't happen again!" Seeing his cheeky persistence, Meng Hongshang capitulated. "Then move that thing of yours away. It's poking me!" "Yes, ma'am!" That night passed without further words between them. The next morning, Meng Hongshang woke early and dressed quickly before leaving the inn while Su Mo was still asleep. Yuluo Lady, who had been hiding within Su Mo’s scalp, called out to wake him. "Master, master, your lovely maiden has already departed." "Best you get up soon too." Upon Yuluo Lady’s urging, Su Mo immediately woke. The fragrance she had left lingered in the bed, but the enchanting lady herself was gone. Hurriedly, Su Mo dressed and rushed out of the inn. At this time, many cultivators were already making their way towards the outskirts of Cuiling Mountain, hoping to gain something from the mansion’s opening. Having calculated his next move based on strategic insights, Su Mo aimed to reunite with Meng Hongshang and then seek the reincarnation of Blue Bamboo Wanderer Zhao Qinghe. Once he secured his cooperation, Cuiling Mountain and Plantain Cave would be as good as pocketed. Upon finding Meng Hongshang, he saw her standing by a bridge on the edge of the village, lost in thought as she watched fish swim in the river. The sky drizzled lightly, cloaking the scene in a misty, picturesque blend of rain and beauty. Walking up to her, Su Mo spoke, "Hongshang, do you think the mountain’s former master has reincarnated and is now mingling among the crowd, ready to reclaim control of the cave?" Snapped out of her reverie by his words, Meng Hongshang nodded, "Hmm, what you say makes sense. If that’s the case, we should keep an eye out. Just where might this reincarnated immortal be?" Suddenly, a charming, regal voice chimed in from behind them. "What are you two discussing?" Turning around, they saw Tie Shan standing there with a warm, honeyed smile, her phoenix eyes filled with gentle affection as she gazed at Su Mo. Feeling a surge of apprehension, Meng Hongshang realized the full impact of Tie Shan's beauty and stature. This aura, cultivated from an early age, was akin to that of a divine maiden stepping out from ancient lore. Watching Tie Shan, Su Mo whispered quietly to himself, "Forgive me for the temporary disappointment. Once I win over Meng Hongshang, I'll properly make it up to you." At that moment, Meng Hongshang spoke up. "This is a private matter between the two of us, and it's not convenient to share," she said. "Sister, I've overstepped," Tie Shan replied, unfazed by the remark. As an earth immortal, she had more than enough time at her disposal. In her view, Meng Hongshang surely couldn't withstand the impending tribulations of the half-millennium scattered immortal trials. In the end, wouldn't Su Mo still end up being hers? Just then, Su Mo caught sight of a suspicious figure at the foot of Cuiling Mountain. Due to the looming clouds over the mountain, cultivators feared being struck by lightning and dared not approach. Yet, a middle-aged mortal seemed to march forward fearlessly. There was no doubt—this must be the reincarnation of the Blue Bamboo Wanderer! Immediately, Su Mo spoke, "Hongshang, look, that should be the reincarnated Blue Bamboo Wanderer." Without further ado, Tie Shan acted, employing a technique to instantly transport the middle-aged man before them. After a brief calculation, Tie Shan said, "Su Lang, your eyes are indeed sharp. This man is indeed Blue Bamboo Wanderer Zhao Qinghe’s reincarnation. Yet, it’s puzzling why he hasn’t started cultivating by now." The middle-aged man was startled, realizing Tie Shan was not someone to provoke, and he quickly begged for mercy. "Madam, I'm merely a tourist here at Cuiling Mountain, not the reincarnation of any Blue Bamboo Wanderer." Ignoring his feeble attempts to deny it, Tie Shan conjured a tricolored flame in her hand, instantly refining the man into ashes. A faintly glowing shadow materialized in her hand—the primordial spirit of Blue Bamboo Wanderer Zhao Qinghe. Being the thirteenth princess of the Asura race, Tie Shan was no stranger to killing; dispatching a scattered immortal's reincarnation with no backing was a trivial matter. Terrified, Zhao Qinghe’s spirit kneeled repeatedly, pleading for forgiveness. "I was wrong to deceive you, grandmother. Please spare me and let me be reborn." Tie Shan's lips curled in a chilling grin. "It’s not up to me. You’ll have to ask my husband." Seeing Tie Shan’s ruthless nature worried Meng Hongshang a bit. Su Mo, however, chuckled and said, "I have no objections, as long as you tell us how to enter Cuiling Mountain's cave mansion. All Hongshang and I want is the alchemy furnace." The spirit of Zhao Qinghe eagerly nodded. "I will reveal everything I know." After waiting a few more hours, the storm above Cuiling Mountain intensified, lightning snakes danced wildly, with some bolts striking the rocks. At this, the spirit of Zhao Qinghe spoke, "The time has come. We can proceed now." Hearing his words, Su Mo, Tie Shan, and Meng Hongshang executed their techniques and flew towards Cuiling Mountain. Observing this, the other cultivators loitering around no longer hesitated and surged forward towards the mountain as well. The trio entered the cave mansion at the very moment it opened. Zhao Qinghe's spirit guided, "Take the central passage." Following the path straight ahead, the trio found themselves in a celestial grotto — a realm of abundance and tranquility. Yet, Zhao Qinghe’s spirit dared not relax. "In the third stone chamber lies my cave mansion’s token. With it, you can control the Five Elements Annihilation Array outside my mansion, preventing anyone else from entering." Entering the chamber, Su Mo retrieved the token, hesitated for a moment, and handed it over to Tie Shan. "This rightfully belongs to you." Tie Shan giggled, declining to comment, and promptly broke the restrictions on the token, activating the Five Elements Annihilation Array outside the cave mansion. In an instant, sword rain, poisonous miasma, weak water, heart fire, and flowing sand surged against those outside the mansion. Having accomplished all she wanted, Tie Shan released Zhao Qinghe’s spirit. After a grateful bow, Zhao Qinghe’s spirit vanished into a streak of light. Such was the advantage of being a scattered immortal—a freedom to reincarnate as desired. At this point, Tie Shan noticed the grand Nine Dragons Cauldron. "Since this alchemy furnace is why you have come today, I will not contest your desires. Take the furnace; I plan to cultivate here." Meng Hongshang was puzzled. Why had this celestial suddenly changed her stance, no longer vying for Su Mo’s attention? Regardless, it was exactly what she wished for. "Thank you!" Expressing her gratitude, Meng Hongshang took the Nine Dragons Cauldron, giving Su Mo a look. "Let’s go." "Alright." Though reluctant, Su Mo took one last look at Tie Shan before following Meng Hongshang out of the cave mansion. As she watched them leave, Tie Shan was resolute. Having discovered their whereabouts and company, finding them again would be no problem… Meanwhile, outside the cave mansion, the cultivators struggling against the formation suddenly found it had ceased. As they puzzled over this change, they saw Su Mo and Meng Hongshang emerge. Before the crowd could question, Su Mo swiftly addressed them. "The cave mansion at Cuiling Mountain has now been claimed by Princess Tie Shan of the Asura clan. I suggest everyone departs." (End of Chapter)