Chapter 194: The Return of Simo Tu

Ruo Yun poked her head out of the seawater and took a deep breath.

She scanned the surroundings, and after confirming she had shaken off those old-world people, she immediately swam to shore.

Caught off guard by the grayish dregs' corrupted magic, she had nearly been captured.

Fortunately, her recent training had taught her to set multiple contingencies.

She had pre-thrown the touched trash bombs to the alley entrance, wired the alley’s garbage pile into a magic bomb, and detonated it while her pursuers weren’t paying attention.

Her second wand had read a card — Stellar Mark Descends: Invisible Arrival of the Chameleon — tricking those old-world members and letting her slip into the sea.

That’s how she escaped.

If it had been before, there was no way she could have managed it alone.

After climbing ashore and resting briefly, Ruo Yun inhaled deeply.

Old-world people were far harder to deal with than she’d imagined.

They even had Magical Girls who could transform using dregs.

Not only did they wield Magical Girl power, they could also use the dregs to interfere with normal Magical Girls’ magical outfits and abilities.

As the Saint Hall Envoy had said, the versions really had updated.

The enemy’s level was not comparable to the old Witch Association or Disaster Beasts.

Even when she was fully prepared, she nearly failed.

She had to be more careful...

Just as she considered contacting the others, she suddenly realized every communicator had stopped working.

Ruo Yun lifted her head and looked around.

The docks, tall buildings, structures, billboards—

everything was reversed.

“Welcome to the space of the Mirror Kingdom.”

Clutching the Miracle Seed tightly, Ruo Yun spun around.

A girl with hundreds of red pupils was smiling at her.

“It’s been a long time since we last parted.”

“I don’t remember knowing you.”

“In the Heart Image Remnant, you stole a lot of things from our Mirror Kingdom.”

Ruo Yun narrowed her eyes. “Prince of the Mirror Kingdom?”

“How nice that you remember me.”

The Prince rose and walked over. “Although before I wanted to wipe out your Saint Hall demon squad in one fell swoop, I have since changed my mind.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think we’re enemies.” The Prince reined in her arrogance. “We have no reason to be hostile. The Mirror Kingdom has no plan to invade this world;

on the contrary, other old-world forces are ambitious. From what those people just said, you heard them too — they want to harm this world.”

Ruo Yun’s heart jolted. The other side had been monitoring both sides this whole time?

“Therefore, I think we can cooperate.” The Prince lifted her chin slightly, and a suppressed pride slipped back out. “Your Saint Hall demon squad can take missions from other people, so you can take missions from me, right?”

Ruo Yun tilted her head. “Why are you so confident?”

“From the things you took in the Heart Image Remnant and from your recent inquiries into Mirror Kingdom technology in South China, Saint Hall is clearly interested in our techniques. Am I wrong?”

The Prince sat on a weathered white plastic chair on the dock, yet she looked as if perched on a throne, every inch regal.

“I want to trade our Mirror Kingdom’s technology for a little favor from you. I believe you will not refuse.”

“As befits a sovereign, you can see our needs precisely.” Ruo Yun put away her communicator. “I’ve heard the legends of the Mirror Kingdom, especially about the Prince — rolling in wealth, generous to a fault, tossing money around at partners with disdain.”

The Prince’s proud brows twitched.

“Tossing money in an ally’s face like some nouveau riche humiliation.”

Ruo Yun smiled slightly. “As a royal, perhaps Prince-sama would happily humiliate Saint Hall that way too? As proof of your sincerity.”

The Prince’s proud brow relaxed. She crossed one leg wrapped in white silk and lightly snapped her fingers;

a bank card materialized before Ruo Yun.

“What’s wrong with rewarding the heirs our Mirror Kingdom produces?”

Ruo Yun kept a neutral expression. “I know your tricks. A copied card won’t work.”

“There’s a hundred thousand in it. See how you perform — the better you do, the more I’ll transfer.”

Honestly, this felt less impressive than Teacher Bai Mei...

Ruo Yun took the Galaxy Card with some disbelief. If you’re so strapped for cash, why pretend to be a prince?

This money split among the Infinite Demon Kill Squad wouldn’t even count as a bonus. If Feng Xinzi saw it she’d laugh at me;

if the Saint Hall Envoy saw it, he’d expel me by nightfall.

“What do you want us to do?”

“Enter South China’s Super Magical Girl Mid-Season Tournament — ‘Desperate Magic Survival’.”

“Huh?”

......

South China, Mingxin City, Witch Association major factory.

An underground factory running around the clock, a sweatshop working non-stop.

It was one of the Witch Association’s important assets in South China.

At this moment, Xilan sat in the workshop, bound by iron chains and attached to a witch-only shock collar.

If she dared stop working, two hundred volts would immediately jolt her back awake.

She had worked three days without sleep, fixed things for four hours, then been dragged back to the assembly line.

This hopeless grind was finally breaking Xilan emotionally.

She dabbed at her small tears while softly sobbing, “Just wait, just wait...”

“Wait for Simo Tu-sama’s return, wait for Simo Tu-sama to come back! You’ll be finished! Absolutely finished!”

Since Simo Tu had dispatched her to find the witch reagent, Xilan had suffered dearly.

In the end, everyone still cared more about Simo Tu himself;

they had no real interest in her, a mere witch.

Even if they proclaimed that Simo Tu had triumphed over the purple killer demon of Beihai and was now slaughtering across Beihai, destined to return and leave Azure Cloud Sect gasping out its last, nobody was really willing to give her any credit.

Even the intel about the witch reagent had taken her huge effort to obtain.

Those complete witches who flattered Simo Tu near the Heart Image Remnant were truly short-sighted sycophants!

When Simo Tu was present, they almost glued to him and offered themselves up.

Now that he was gone, they wouldn’t even speak to her;

they defied orders and ruined their lord’s plan!

Because the Witch Association had so many of these worms, they kept getting crushed — not only by the Disaster Control Bureau, but even the newly emerged Azure Cloud Sect stomped on them!

These insects remained shameless and indifferent!

If not for Simo Tu at the Heart Image Remnant, the Witch Association’s face would have been completely lost!

When one of the two major organizations opened the Heart Image Remnant, the Witch Association was suppressed so much by Azure Cloud Sect and the Disaster Control Bureau that it couldn’t even lift its head — a real humiliation!

It was Simo Tu’s spectacular performance later that salvaged the Witch Association’s honor.

Ultimately, the grassroots faith in the Witch Association came from Simo Tu’s strength.

But the association’s upper echelons simply propagated that they possessed techniques enabling anyone to attain Simo Tu’s power...

Even Xilan, who had long been used to the Witch Association’s ways, couldn’t help but be disgusted by their shamelessness.

Of course, falsely claiming Simo Tu’s achievements infuriated her even more.

But she was helpless — she couldn’t beat them.

To find the witch reagent for Simo Tu, Xilan humbled herself, begging and pleading, and only after Simo Tu’s promises did someone finally reveal where to buy the reagent.

That place was this factory.

Publicly a shoe factory, it secretly manufactured various Witch Association materials.

Once Xilan learned they stocked the witch reagent, she camped out here.

At first she thought to use Simo Tu’s name to get the factory to hand over reagent for free.

After all, Simo Tu was a Witch Association legend — a light of the witches!

Though male — a somewhat odd title — in the Witch Association, a legendary name meant everything.

The Light of the Witches bore the mission to defeat Magical Girls and set the world ablaze!

Yet they refused to give free reagent to the Light of the Witches.

Even when Xilan chafed her lips raw begging, it didn’t work.

And the factory’s security systems nullified Xilan’s proud blending ability;

she couldn’t steal reagent by sleight of hand.

At her wit’s end, Xilan ran into Prince-sama.

She thought she’d found an angel.

When she had no more options and was despairing about failing Simo Tu’s task, the Prince appeared and told Xilan she was Simo Tu’s friend — come to her if you need help.

Xilan had been moved to tears.

She still remembered those moments vividly.

The Prince had kindly asked, “Do you want the witch reagent?”

Xilan answered, “Yes! But they won’t give it to me!”

“Did you mention Simo Tu?” the Prince asked.

Xilan fumed, “I did, but they just insulted me, treated me like trash!”

The Prince stroked her head and sighed, “Good child, I’ll help you.”

Xilan had cried out, “Prince-sama! You can’t!”

But the Prince simply reached out: “Give me your phone.”

Then Xilan was stunned.

“Where did fifty million come from?”

“LoanLend is a big platform that even cooperates with city governments;

new users get thirty minutes interest-free...”

She’d thought she met an angel;

it turned out to be Angel Loan!

But desperate Xilan had no choice;

she joyfully told Simo Tu about it, praising Prince-sama’s kindness.

With Simo Tu around, who’d worry about money?

Who knew the loan would be called in the very next day!

Weren’t there thirty minutes interest-free? Nobody told her it was thirty minutes!

And because she used the loan to buy witch reagent, the factory and LoanLend had a cooperation — she couldn’t even withdraw a ton of reagent with the loan, and because she couldn’t repay she was enslaved as factory labor to pay the debt!

She had been set up.

The Prince and LoanLend were in cahoots: after lending her the money, they vanished, leaving her in this state!

But if she could deliver a ton of reagent to Simo Tu, she didn’t mind.

The problem was she was trapped before delivering it — it made Xilan frantic with grievance.

What if Simo Tu thought she’d failed or betrayed him?

At the thought, Xilan felt unbearably wronged.

Her life didn’t matter;

what mattered was that Simo Tu’s plan to change the world was delayed — that would be a wasted death!

At least let me finish Simo Tu’s mission...

Thinking of Simo Tu’s disappointed, indifferent face later made Xilan cry even harder.

“Stop crying, if your horse piss affects the reagent, see how I deal with you!”

A complete witch monitoring her snarled the warning.

Xilan, still upset at failing Simo Tu, snapped back fiercely like a hysterical mad dog, “Come on, do your worst! If you can, kill me!”

This complete witch was Yun Ke.

She was the main reason Xilan couldn’t steal reagent or escape the factory.

Yun Ke had an ability that completely countered Xilan.

This entire factory was actually a creation of Yun Ke’s polluted magic.

Her magic seeped into every part of the building and was undetectable inside the structure — even Magical Girls couldn’t sense it.

So Xilan couldn’t blend into any corner;

if she did, Yun Ke would immediately catch her.

And because the factory belonged to Yun Ke, any object Xilan fused into came under Yun Ke’s control.

A true nemesis.

It wasn’t that Xilan’s power was weak — the opponent had tailored counters. Got it?

Yun Ke’s ability was also the reason she prospered in the Witch Association;

in South China the Disaster Control Bureau was fierce, and witches faced harsh treatment.

To be undetected and to preempt Magical Girl reconnaissance, the association needed someone like Yun Ke.

Her profits elevated her status, far beyond Xilan’s.

But who was Xilan? She claimed to be Simo Tu’s top general!

For Simo Tu’s honor, she wouldn’t bow to these ants!

“Yun Ke, if you dare, kill me! I, Xilan, will gouge out my eyes and kneel to your granny!”

Bound and buzzing with electricity, Xilan shouted wildly.

Even drooling and dazed, she refused to back down.

“To beat worms like you witches!”

“He will return! He will return!”

Her roaring made ears ring, relentless and deafening.

“Simo Tu-sama forever!”

The other factory workers regarded her as an idiot.

Xilan was the only one making trouble, hence so many restraints on her. The rest had fewer constraints.

They toiled for a living — it was exhausting but they got paid decently, so they didn’t stir up trouble.

Xilan acted like a masochist;

perhaps she got addicted to the shocks, because unless she staged a fuss and got shocked, she wouldn’t behave.

Yun Ke didn’t engage in much conversation.

The Twins in the Witch Association — the Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix — knew how to be practical.

Xilan was stubborn;

she wouldn’t stop until she hit a wall.

If you didn’t act, Xilan never calmed down.

Yun Ke had little interest in Simo Tu, the Witch Association legend.

She who ran factories and businesses detested mere fame without gold and resources.

A penniless pretty boy asking Xilan for money — what nonsense.

No wonder Xilan hung on so clumsily...

A whip struck Xilan — not hard, but certainly painful. Yun Ke sneered:

“You being called a witch is embarrassing. Xilan, whatever that man is, the Witch Association’s stinky man only wants your money. You’re just a tool to make him money!”

“You don’t know a thing! Simo Tu is not like that! He defends the witches’ justice and peace!”

“Men have two brains: one for money, one for lust. Don’t be naive, Xilan. They tricked you, your money’s gone, and you’re of no use. They’d discard you long ago!”

“Dare insult Simo Tu and I’ll take you on!”

Yun Ke raised her whip to strike Xilan, who continued to make a scene.

What a useless creature — can’t stay, won’t work, only causes trouble. Maybe sell her to another old-world group for a good price...

As Yun Ke’s thoughts churned, her arm suddenly wouldn’t move.

She looked back to see a youth wearing a fox mask, a finger gently pressing her wrist.

Yun Ke felt her wrist snap.

The factory, previously noisy with workers watching the show, fell silent — even Xilan’s teeth-clenched sobs stilled.

Only the machines’ mechanical hum remained.

Yun Ke leapt back to create distance but hadn’t even cleared it before her hair was grabbed.

She was slammed hard to the ground!

A thunderous roar filled the air.

The entire factory gave a dull, resonant sound.

Yun Ke’s forehead hit the floor;

half her skull showed cracks, dark polluted magic seeping out.

She was stunned.

She didn’t even know what happened.

She couldn’t discern the attacker’s motion. In an instant she transformed.

Witch transformations were more convenient than Magical Girls’. With a Grief Seed in hand, a thought could trigger a transformation.

Though lacking invincible frames, the transformation was equally forcible and rarely interrupted.

In South China, where the Disaster Control Bureau could raid at any time, witches always kept Grief Seeds on them.

Sensing the disturbance, she immediately initiated transformation.

Before the magical outfit covered her, the stranger had already grabbed her head and smashed it into the ground!

If the entire factory hadn’t been saturated with her own magic, that blow might have crushed her skull!

Crucially, the witch’s outfit shattered from the violent impact.

With brute force he prevented her transformation...

Yun Ke, shaken, reacted quickly and smashed the red button on her wrist. “Attack! Level One Alert!”

A shrill alarm blared as countless gun barrels extended from the walls.

A large number of combatants surged from all directions, wielding modern firearms saturated with polluted magic.

But the youth simply turned and stomped toward them!

A massive fissure crazily spread from his foot outward. Walls and ceiling cracked away.

All the gun barrels were crushed within the fissure!

The armed Witch Association members hadn’t even approached before they were buried by rubble and debris!

Those remaining froze. When the masked youth glanced their way, they immediately dropped their weapons and raised their hands!

Who would risk their life against such a monster!

One stomp could collapse the entire factory!

This couldn’t be human!

Not only the ordinary fighters, even Yun Ke was stunned and gave up resisting;

she lay obediently on the ground.

Everyone held their breath, terrified and awestruck at the youth who had appeared.

Only the alarm continued to shriek.

“Xilan.”

The masked youth said calmly, his voice suppressing the alarm. “Should I spare her?”

Xilan, long frozen, burst into tears.

To serve Simo Tu-sama — she felt truly blessed!

“Simo Tu-sama!”

She cried out with devotion and then the chains and shock devices around her fell away naturally.

She ran up and hugged her boss.

“Xilan truly missed you, Simo Tu-sama!”

Yun Ke and the others felt their hearts jump.

Simo Tu.

A legend who could fight a Blooming Magical Girl head-on without losing.

He had sneaked in silently, and even the factory’s alert systems hadn’t reacted!

If some thought him a rumor-mongering braggart before, none doubted the legend now.

No wonder Vice President Jialan took him so seriously...

“Simo Tu-sama, how did you find this place? I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I heard it from the Twins.”

Xilan’s face shifted awkwardly when she heard the Twins’ name. “Hmph, Twins... whatever — as long as it helps Simo Tu-sama!”

Simo Tu tapped the head he’d been holding;

Yun Ke’s face sank into the ground.

“Kill her?”

Xilan kicked Yun Ke viciously, then inhaled deeply and returned to a composed expression. “No. Simo Tu-sama can’t kill her. If we kill her, we won’t get the witch reagent.”

Yun Ke, expecting death, was stunned that Xilan spoke on her behalf.

And Simo Tu actually listened — he let go and allowed Yun Ke to stand.

Holding the cracked side of her face, Yun Ke’s wounds rapidly healed after transforming. She looked at Simo Tu and then at Xilan.

She hadn’t expected Xilan to be so important in Simo Tu’s eyes.

Not only did he come personally and save her, he was willing to harm Yun Ke for Xilan’s sake.

Then Xilan said to spare her — and Simo Tu obliged.

Why?

Why did this useless witch earn such weight in Simo Tu’s regard?

Because of love?

Mutual affection...

“You’d better behave.” Xilan emulated her leader’s manner and warned Yun Ke. “We need witch reagent — every piece in this factory. If you can’t produce it, you all die!”

“We only process part of it.” Yun Ke took a breath. Though Simo Tu could kill her, she showed no fear. Witches in South China were accustomed to death threats. Calmly she replied, “The finished product isn’t here. Finished reagent is kept at Witch Association headquarters. Xilan, you should know they control all resources...”

“Then what about that promised ton of reagent?”

“All at headquarters. Witch Loan operates at headquarters;

they didn’t trust your repayment ability from the start, so they never intended to ship.” Yun Ke raised her head. “Unless you give five thousand units first.”

“I don’t care.” Xilan sneered, towering before Yun Ke. “My Simo Tu-sama needs the reagent. If you can’t bring a ton back, you’ll all die!”

“I said we can’t get it.”

“Whatever tricks you use — sell yourselves, beg, kneel — you must get it!”

“Hah.”

Unexpectedly, Yun Ke laughed. “We’re no match for Simo Tu, and I know you want to kill me like slaughtering a chicken, but I, as a witch, have dignity! Kill me if you must, but don’t humiliate me! I, Yun Ke, am no coward!”

Seeing Yun Ke growing more fiery, Xilan inwardly panicked — they’d met a hard nut!

While pondering options, Simo Tu, who had been quietly listening, reached into his bosom and produced something.

He slapped it on Yun Ke’s face.

The proud witch about to roar found her expression melting when the beautiful black-gold flickered in her eyes.

“What does this mean, Simo Tu-sama?”

“A Black Gold Card. Fifty million.”

His deep, magnetic voice pierced Yun Ke’s heart.

She finally understood why Xilan had been so enthralled.

This man wasn’t ordinary.

Even his voice was intoxicating...

An inner charm radiated outward — more alluring than his strength.

A business-minded woman like Yun Ke was naturally drawn to well-off, resource-rich figures.

She almost collapsed, but her composure returned.

She cupped the platinum card: “Simo Tu-sama, you should’ve said sooner. With a platinum card, getting a ton of witch reagent back is easy. You handle things;

who dares cross you?”

Yet Simo Tu still drew two more platinum cards from his chest and tossed them to her subordinates.

“Do you need someone to warm your bed too?” Yun Ke asked seriously. “You can’t demand loyalty or service from me.”

“Shoo! Not your turn!”

Xilan drove her away without concern.

Hah, no hoarding!

“These two cards.” Simo Tu said softly, “I want you to get me the witch reagent’s production method.”

Yun Ke shuddered. “That’s betraying the Witch Association!”

She quickly added, “Pay more.”

She’d only joked;

two cards would have sufficed.

Unexpectedly, the youth casually produced another Black Gold Card and tossed it.

Yun Ke nodded. “The Witch Association actually refused to give Simo Tu the reagent’s production method.”

“That’s betrayal! I, Yun Ke, will rectify this for Simo Tu!”

Xilan gnawed her handkerchief in envy. They had just met — why was she so trusted by Simo Tu?

“Also.”

When Simo Tu spoke, Xilan and Yun Ke fell silent and listened intently.

“I plan to vie for the Vice President position. Using this factory as a core, I’ll gather members of the Witch Association willing to swear fealty to me.”

Yun Ke’s face grew grave but she said nothing.

Xilan went ecstatic. “Yes! Simo Tu-sama, I’ve long said Jialan should give way. If she won’t yield gracefully, we’ll help her make way!”

Jiang Si smiled lightly and said nothing.

Securing the Vice President position gives the right to approach headquarters.

It’s far more convenient to directly claim Witch Association resources from headquarters.

His gaze shifted to Yun Ke;

she turned to the workers and Witch Association fighters.

“You all heard that? Simo Tu-sama wants to be Vice President.”

“Is this rebellion?” a middle-aged man asked, very uneasy. “We’ll be finished...”

“Don’t have that mindset?”

Yun Ke’s expression hardened. She slammed the nearby machine. “Failure is rebellion! Success is revolution!”

“The Witch Association needs a change from top to bottom. Simo Tu-sama has returned! Back to his most loyal Witch Association factory! Only his leadership can make the Witch Association great again!”

Yun Ke, impassioned, brandished a black card and tasted the flavor of money.

“I won’t hoard this honor for myself. Everyone’s wages and meal allowances will double!”

Those who had hesitated now hardened.

All rose and bowed toward Simo Tu and Yun Ke.

“Loyalty!”