Three days later.
In the territory of the Ancient Phoenix clan within the Qisu Kingdom.
Wen Li settled into an inn with Gu Linshu and Zongzheng Huangyue.
Meanwhile, Xie Tinglan, Yao Dai, and Xin Jiuxian went to lie in wait in the Dragon lands.
Hua Cishu had gone alone to the Nine-Tailed Fox lands to gather information on Xiao Du.
Wen Li had initially been uneasy about him going alone since he had no cultivation and wanted someone to accompany him, but he insisted on going by himself, so she let him be.
Until they had a clear grasp of internal information regarding each clan, Wen Li didn't plan to approach them directly with the Moon Soul Arrow. The three of them stayed in a small town on Mount Phoenix for the time being, taking walks and strolling around each day.
Just as the rumors they had gathered earlier suggested, members of the Ancient Phoenix clan rarely went out, mostly gathering within the clan territory to live and cultivate.
The inn Wen Li stayed at was built by human cultivators. Perhaps because it was rare to see fellow humans in a land of demon beasts, the innkeeper was exceptionally warm and hospitable, often chatting with Wen Li, which allowed her to hear quite a bit of gossip.
Word was that the Phoenix clan's young master had gone missing again. He loved sneaking out to play, scaring the clansmen into searching high and low for him. This young master was a precious treasure that the Phoenix Clan Chief had incubated for a full century before finally having a child late in life, and he was cherished beyond measure.
It was also said that the political marriage between the Dragon clan and the Nine-Tailed Fox clan had been delayed, though the exact reason remained unclear.
Oh, and that Demon Tide Tournament wasn't just for human cultivators—demon cultivators of the Qisu Kingdom could also participate. As long as they could defeat disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, they could join the Beast Taming Sect as inner disciples, a policy supported by the Qisu Kingdom.
However, Wen Li was baffled. Demon cultivators joining the Beast Taming Sect...?
During the disciple assessment, if a demon cultivator couldn't pass, would they have to contract their own parents and uncle to scrape by?
Now that would be true filial piety.
As the morning mist dispersed, Wen Li pushed open the window in front of the tree hollow loft.
A lush, fairytale-like forest unfolded before her eyes. The air was exceptionally crisp, carrying a faint grassy fragrance that soothed the mind just by inhaling it.
“Master, time to eat.”
Zongzheng Huangyue brought up the dishes from the tavern downstairs, accompanied by Gu Linshu.
Wen Li turned around and sat down, picking up her chopsticks to eat.
Suddenly, the communication device at her waist lit up.
Wen Li immediately placed it on the table and waved her hand, causing Hua Cishu’s phantom image to materialize.
“Master, I found information about Xiao Du. It’s even more significant than we thought.”
Wen Li knit her brows slightly. “Wait, I’ll notify Yao Dai and the others so they can listen in too.”
“All right.”
Zongzheng Huangyue took out a communication device to alert Yao Dai's group of three. Fortunately, they were all together at the moment and could listen directly.
It was pitch-black where Hua Cishu was, seemingly underground. His tone was brisk.
“Xiao Du was actually the Young Master of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan five hundred years ago. Back then, he took in an eight-tailed fox who had lost one tail as his disciple. Later, the Dragon Young Master fell in love with that little fox and proposed a marriage alliance with the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, which they accepted. But later, for unknown reasons, Xiao Du died, and that little fox committed suicide on their wedding day, being buried within the Dragon clan. Because of that, the Dragon clan and Nine-Tailed Fox clan became bitter enemies for centuries.”
“Now, because of a new marriage alliance between the Dragon clan and the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, their grudge has been resolved, forming an alliance to share cultivation resources.”
Wen Li asked, “Did you mention this to Xiao Du? Where are you now?”
Hua Cishu shook his head. “I haven't. I wanted to ask Master about our next move before deciding. Right now, I'm inside a cave near the Nine-Tailed Fox lands. I overheard this from the idle chatter of a few elderly foxes.”
Through the other communication device, Yao Dai couldn't help but ask, “What was the name of that Dragon Young Master from five hundred years ago?”
Hua Cishu replied, “Long Qinyan.”
“Why is it still him?” Yao Dai sounded surprised.
Wen Li asked, “What's wrong?”
“Master, the Dragon Young Master we heard about in the Dragon lands who's set to marry into the Nine-Tailed Fox clan right now is also named Long Qinyan,” Yao Dai spoke up. “If he loved that little fox so much five hundred years ago, why would he enter a marriage alliance with the Nine-Tailed Fox clan a second time?”
Zongzheng Huangyue suddenly chimed in, “Do either of your sides have shadow stones with portraits of Long Qinyan and the current Eldest Miss of the nine-tailed fox demons?”
Yao Dai shook her head. “We haven't had the chance to see them.”
“I actually do have one,” Hua Cishu said smugly.
“A few days ago, I heard that the Eldest Miss of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan had returned, so I went to check out the commotion. Conveniently, my shadow stone was recording the whole time. This is the fox demon who's marrying Long Qinyan: Qi Mei’er.”
On his end, he pulled out a shadow stone and projected the image over the communication device so everyone could see it.
“It’s her...” Wen Li narrowed her eyes.
Everyone was intrigued. Yao Dai asked, “Master, you know her?”
Wen Li said indifferently, “That day in Wuxue City, when an explosion and commotion broke out among the Fire Fox clan, I went to investigate and struck up a conversation with a fox spirit. That was her.”
“Didn’t they say the fan went missing from the Nine-Tailed Fox clan five hundred years ago? Could it be that she was heading to the Fire Fox clan that day to reclaim the Cloud Porcelain Kunxu Fan?” Hua Cishu frowned.
Wen Li nodded. “That’s possible, but...”
Her gaze shifted toward the pensive Zongzheng Huangyue. When their eyes met, something seemed to click.
Zongzheng Huangyue astutely pointed out, “Old Five, show the shadow stone of Qi Mei’er to Xiao Du. Don’t say anything; just let him take a look.”
When she had asked earlier whether they had portraits of Long Qinyan and Qi Mei’er, she was already suspecting a certain possibility.
Over on Yao Dai’s end, Xie Tinglan also realized what she was thinking.
“You think... Qi Mei’er is that eight-tailed little fox who was betrothed to Long Qinyan and taken as a disciple by Xiao Du five hundred years ago? Either she came back from the dead, or she reincarnated.”
“Yes. Don't you think that if Long Qinyan and that little fox were truly mutually in love, why would she slit her throat on the day of their wedding? It makes no sense,” Zongzheng Huangyue nodded. “And Xiao Du said he was waiting for someone...”
Once this hypothesis was voiced, everyone understood: she suspected Xiao Du had been in love with his own disciple, only to be torn apart by Long Qinyan.
Down in the underground cave, Hua Cishu immediately retrieved the Cloud Porcelain Kunxu Fan and summoned Xiao Du out.
“There's someone I want to show you.”
White hair brushed beside Xiao Du’s ears. Pursing his lips, he gave an elegant, refined nod.
“All right.”
Hua Cishu brought out the shadow stone with Qi Mei’er’s likeness.
Xiao Du cast a casual glance over, but suddenly, his gentle fox eyes flickered.
This is...
Who?
His beautiful, clear eyes trembled in dazed bewilderment, yet also held unfamiliarity. He could not resist reaching out to touch that figure, but his fingertips passed right through the face projected by the shadow stone—after all, he was nothing more than a soul.
Instinct told Xiao Du that he did not know this woman, yet a bitter, aching pang and a fierce tremor surged within his heart. Suddenly feeling a cool sensation on his cheek, he reached up to touch it, discovering it was a tear.
Xiao Du was astonished. Did he truly know this woman?
Suddenly, a dull ache throbbed in his mind. The next instant, a tearing agony felt as though ten thousand needles were piercing into his nerves. Clutching his head with both hands, veins bulging on his temples, he let out a roar.
“Ah!”
His voice turned hoarse.
“The... the person I'm looking for... it seems to be her!”
“Aaaagh!”
With a splitting headache, Xiao Du continuously struck his own head with his hands, desperately trying to stop the suffocating, needle-sharp agony inside his mind.
“Who is she?! Who is she?! I want to see her!”
“Let me see her!”
His eyes turned bloodshot as he went mad, trying to charge away from the Cloud Porcelain Kunxu Fan. Yet no matter what, he could not stray farther than three meters from the magical artifact; flying any further immediately repelled him back, while the agony in his mind only worsened.
Frowning and worried Xiao Du might end up destroying himself, Hua Cishu promptly stowed away the shadow stone and folded the fan. Xiao Du vanished back inside.
Everyone was stunned by his sudden behavior.
The conclusion was unmistakable: Qi Mei’er might not necessarily be the disciple of Xiao Du who had slit her throat five hundred years ago, but she was definitely connected to her.
Rate on N.U.
