Simulation

Li Ke did not know what demon the Kinkou Order disciple intended to drive out, but he was certain she had absolute confidence. Otherwise, no matter what, she would not have let him get into the carriage.

Since she had allowed him aboard, it was obvious that the demon was something the girl before him could handle.

Then all he needed to do was make sure he was not caught in the crossfire.

"So... want to run a simulation?"

Looking at his status panel, Li Ke felt eager to give it a try.

Spirit: 90/140

Life: 203/157

The invigorating medicine in that bowl of fruit wine had helped him recover quite well, greatly increasing the speed at which his spirit recovered. He could now perform one simulation.

That was also why he had gone out to earn money.

Although treasures that enhanced one's strength were scarce in Ionia, medicines that accelerated spiritual recovery were plentiful. They were just rather expensive, consumables meant for high-level warriors and cultivators.

But Elder Souma lived simply, with every word and action close to nature, so naturally he had none.

Li Ke glanced at the calm-looking girl and still felt tempted, but to be safe, he asked a question.

"Um, how far are we from that monster?"

The girl glanced at him, then closed her eyes.

"Half a day away. You need not worry about your safety. As long as you are not beguiled by evil, you will be fine. I assume a disciple of Elder Souma possesses at least that much mental fortitude."

After saying that, the girl closed her eyes and continued resting her spirit.

Li Ke secretly made a V-sign in his heart. With half a day ahead of them, his spirit would recover enough for normal combat. There was no problem, then.

"But... can I simulate this world?"

Li Ke rubbed his chin and decided to try.

He cast his mind into The Void and pressed the quick simulation button. Li Ke felt his spiritual and life energy being drawn away.

Vaguely, The Void sent back a response.

"Blur memories?"

After thinking it over, Li Ke chose yes. He had never tried this function before, so it was best to test it.

"Expend additional spiritual energy to gain a talent?"

Of course not. He did not have any spare power to pull off something so reckless.

Then the simulation began.

At the same time, the Kinkou disciple sitting across from him opened her eyes and looked curiously at Li Ke, whose eyes were closed.

"What sort of secret cultivation art is this? And he actually trusts me this much? He really has no guard up..."

Sensing Li Ke's aura weakening, the girl frowned, but she said nothing. The Kinkou Order had plenty of similar cultivation methods, so she was not particularly surprised.

But just as she was about to close her eyes and resume meditating, Li Ke's aura suddenly rose again, making her open her eyes once more and look at him.

Li Ke's expression, meanwhile, turned rather strange.

The reason was simple. The simulation had ended:

You and the Kinkou disciple boarded a carriage. Along the way, you attempted to strike up a conversation with her, but she put a kunai to your throat and informed you that her daughter was nearly as old as you.

You were greatly shocked. Looking at her still girlish figure, you became even more excited.

One hour later.

You continued attempting to strike up a conversation with the Kinkou disciple, wanting to ask whether her husband had died in battle. You were punched.

You fainted.

Three hours later.

You awoke. The Kinkou disciple had also reached her destination and found her target. To your surprise, you discovered that the hideous monster was wearing the uniform of a Kinkou disciple. You were greatly shocked, and during the conversation that followed, learned that the person this Kinkou disciple had come to subdue was another Kinkou disciple who had been invaded by demons.

The girl fought the monster. The coachman revealed his disguise, and only then did you discover that he was allied with the monster. He had long since bred inner demons and had been possessed and controlled by a demon.

The girl fell into a trap and was forced into a bitter battle. Since you had seen too much, the coachman did not intend to spare you, so you drew your sword and faced the enemy.

You died.

You gained 15 life energy.

"..."

Li Ke rubbed his brow, suppressing the shock in his heart.

This ability could truly simulate reality, projecting the future of reality according to his own path!

He had never expected it. He also finally understood how memory blurring worked: it erased all memories and turned them into simple lines of text. Throughout the process, he could remain conscious instead of falling completely asleep as before.

"But that coachman is actually an accomplice of the demon..."

Li Ke covertly glanced at the coachman driving the carriage ahead of them, silently lamenting that the girl before him was unreliable. She had actually overlooked such crucial information.

As for him trying to chat her up and asking whether her husband was dead, he felt that was absolutely not something a person like him would do.

He liked girls with huge breasts and long legs. A girl who looked so utterly ordinary, with nothing but legs that suited his tastes, could not possibly make his heart stir.

Especially not a married woman!

This also reminded him of something: the version of himself in quick simulations was very likely one who had completely let himself go, someone he could not control.

"But... first, I need to verify something."

Li Ke's hand lightly settled on the hilt of his sword. At that very instant, the Kinkou disciple opened her eyes and watched Li Ke warily.

"If I were you, I'd rein in that killing intent. It's far too obvious!"

As soon as he said that, both the girl and the coachman froze. But before Li Ke could make a move, the girl before him narrowed her eyes and vanished like lightning.

Almost at the same instant, Li Ke heard the coachman scream and felt the carriage come to a halt.

"She's that reckless?"

Li Ke stared in astonishment at the large hole the girl had kicked through the carriage wall. Through it, he saw the girl holding two sickles that shone red and green, aimed at the fallen coachman.

He had merely bluffed. Why had this woman charged in headfirst?!

"Speak. Why is there killing intent on you?"

The girl stared coldly at the Kinkou disciple before her. Of course, she had not attacked the coachman merely because of Li Ke's words. The instant Li Ke drew his sword and said that, the Kinkou disciple acting as the coachman had lost his composure, and a trace of panic had appeared in his aura!

Others might have overlooked such a reaction, but she had seen countless people like him. From nothing more than a change in someone's aura, she could roughly tell what had happened.

She had seen far too many.