“Ah?”
The little fox tilted her head, her button-like black eyes staring blankly at Xu Qi’an.
A few seconds later, she said with delight, “How did you know my pet name is Little Darling? That’s what the elder sisters all call me.”
That’s not the point!! Xu Qi’an criticised severely in his heart, but kept a kindly smile on his face:
“So, do you have any way to contact her?”
The little white fox nodded, then shook her head. Her dark eyes showed a trace of wariness as she replied:
“Mistress’s movements are confidential. Without permission, I can’t contact her on my own initiative.”
Mistress? Princess? Who are they talking about, I wonder… Li Lingsu, who was listening on the side, was momentarily stunned.
Although he knew that the Huntian Divine Mirror was a relic of the Queen of the Wanyao Kingdom, he had no idea that Baiji belonged to the nine-tailed fox clan, nor did he understand Xu Qi’an’s intentions.
Xu Qi’an turned to look at Li Lingsu and Miao Youfang, frowning:
“What are you standing around for? Didn’t you hear your tasks? Get to work, I’m not here to support idlers.”
Miao Youfang picked up his sabre and scampered off.
That old soothsayer and her son got what they deserved, and their underlings who helped them bully the people were no better.
If they thought that leaving the City God Temple would wipe their slate clean, they were only fooling themselves.
Li Lingsu’s task was to treat the wife of that middle-aged man, to keep her from dying of illness.
Xu Qian—no, Xu Qi’an—this guy, ever since he admitted his identity, he’s stopped pretending… occasionally I still miss the old Senior Xu, at least he wouldn’t just scold people like Xu Qi’an does, no manners at all, what a vulgar martial artist.
Senior Xu at least had the demeanour of a senior…
While quietly resenting Xu Qi’an, Li Lingsu also found himself reminiscing about Xu Qian.
Xu Qi’an closed the temple doors, took the little white fox from Mu Nanzhi’s arms, lifted her high, and showed a gentle, sunlit smile:
“Help me contact the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox and I’ll buy you all the delicious food you can eat, lots and lots of it.”
Baiji was unmoved by the temptation of freeloading. In a soft, childish voice, she said very seriously:
“No, rules are rules.”
If it were Xu Lingyin, she’d probably have sold out the whole family already. It’s true, human children and fox pups are nothing alike… Xu Qi’an tried again:
“Do you know about the Huntian Divine Mirror?”
The little white fox honestly replied, “No, I don’t.”
In her clan, she was still very young. For her, events from five hundred years ago were too distant, and she only knew fragments of stories passed down by word of mouth. She certainly couldn’t know every ancient magical treasure that had vanished centuries before.
Xu Qi’an explained the story of the Huntian Divine Mirror.
“That’s why you must contact her. It’s very important.”
Xu Qi’an put on an adult’s authority, adopting a serious, no-nonsense attitude.
Normally, children faced with such a manner would hesitate or feel lost, since they weren’t used to making decisions.
Of course, this would never work on Xu Lingyin, she’d listen with a serious face, then ignore you completely.
But Baiji was delicate, prone to tears, gentle-tempered, and had the proud innocence of a little girl from a noble family, sensible, like a little grown-up.
“Al— alright…”
She tilted her head and thought for a long while, then answered softly.
Because Silver Gong Xu spoke with such gravity, and because the matter involved a relic of the old monarch, Baiji felt it really was important.
Maybe Mistress really needed this. She couldn’t let things go wrong.
She immediately kicked her hind legs, indicating Xu Qi’an should put her down.
Freeloader Xu did as asked, and Baiji, tail cocked, trotted to the fallen statue, glanced up at the tall pedestal, and turned to look back:
“Help me up there, will you?”
“Can’t you jump up yourself?” Xu Qi’an retorted.
The little white fox’s beautiful eyes seemed to grow moist with grievance:
“I can’t jump that high.
“Mistress’s arrival should be impressive, I have to be up there.”
Xu Qi’an picked her up and set her on the pedestal where the temple deity’s statue once stood.
The little white fox curled up, wrapping her tail around herself, closed her eyes, and looked as if she was asleep.
Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi waited patiently.
After about fifteen minutes, an immense will, as vast as mist and as mighty as the sea, descended, or rather, to be precise, it awakened within Baiji.
A second tail grew from her back, then a third, a fourth… until nine tails appeared, fanned out like a peacock’s display.
She opened her eyes. The inky pupils were replaced by an overflowing, luminous clarity.
A bell-like, charming laugh echoed through the temple, carrying an allure that could captivate all beings.
She’s here…
Princess of the Wanyao Kingdom, Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, one of the world’s supreme experts.
Xu Qi’an had met her, once, but he still dared not take her lightly. He instinctively tensed and saluted with clasped fists:
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Baiji, now with nine flowing fox tails, walked forward step by step, treading on thin air, and stopped before Xu Qi’an, looking him straight in the eye and smiling:
“A little silver gong like you, what brings you to seek me out?”
Such a big-sisterly attitude… Xu Qi’an muttered inwardly, but did not state his business directly. Instead, he looked Baiji up and down:
“Is Baiji your own bloodline?”
The nine-tailed celestial fox’s appearance was a bit unusual: it wasn’t her will descending externally, but rather more like awakening.
In other words, Baiji herself could be seen as the nine-tailed celestial fox in slumber, and, if she wished, could directly take over this body.
Xu Qi’an had seen enough in his life to know that, besides a special secret technique, the vessel had to be a close blood relative for such a feat.
The nine-tailed celestial fox chuckled lightly:
“Why don’t you guess?”
…Xu Qi’an was left momentarily at a loss for words.
The nine-tailed celestial fox turned her head towards Mu Nanzhi, who immediately glared.
What are you looking at!
She carelessly averted her gaze and looked towards the Stupa tower.
“You have found the other arm of Shenshu, so why not release him?” the nine-tailed celestial fox asked, her voice soft and alluring.
Are you questioning me now… Xu Qi’an replied calmly, “The prerequisite to releasing him is being able to control him. Besides, the tower spirit refuses to release Shenshu.”
“Foolish!”
Even as she called him a fool, it sounded like the coquettish banter between lovers. Xu Qi’an thought this must be the highest level of enchantment.
“If the tower spirit won’t cooperate, just destroy it. What use is a disobedient enchanted item? Shenshu’s severed arm is full of malice, but from another angle, it is the best weapon against an enemy.
“If you use it properly, it can help you surpass your level and kill those more powerful than you. You’ve interacted with it before, so you should know that it can be communicated with and negotiated with. It’s not just some mindless, evil thing.”
As the little white fox walked and spoke, she stopped so close that her face was nearly touching Xu Qi’an’s.
Clearly just a fox cub, yet she radiated a dominating, older-woman aura.
Xu Qi’an frowned and took a step back.
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox paused, scrutinised him for a moment, and then suddenly burst into laughter, teasing,
“Beast Gu.”
Beast Gu was the same as Heart Gu.
With a charming smile, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox said,
“The fox clan has no shortage of beauties, seductive and wanton, innocent and lovely, enchanting and passionate, cold and aloof… We could grant Silver Gong Xu a batch of fox beauties for you to cultivate the Heart Gu.”
Your Highness, we foxes should always keep our promises… Xu Qi’an replied in a low voice,
“Thank you for your kindness, but this Silver Gong is not a lecher.”
Mu Nanzhi kept a wooden expression throughout, but inside she was furious.
As a woman, she instinctively felt repulsed by the seductive Nine-tailed Celestial Fox. What concerned her even more was that Xu Qi’an, usually so at ease among beauties, seemed unable to gain any advantage here, indeed, he was faintly being suppressed.
This was not a suppression of cultivation, but a reversal of host and guest position.
Xu Qi’an took a deep breath. “There’s an important matter for which I’ve invited Your Highness here.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox smiled wordlessly, waiting for him to continue.
“I have found a fragment of the Huntian Divine Mirror,” Xu Qi’an said, not beating about the bush.
The little white fox’s nine gently waving tails immediately froze. After a few seconds, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox’s soft and alluring voice sounded, tinged with longing and delight:
“Are you sure it’s the Huntian Divine Mirror?”
Xu Qi’an did not waste words. He beckoned, summoning the Stupa tower and communicating with the tower spirit.
The doors of the Stupa tower’s first floor opened, and the Huntian Divine Mirror flew out, wrapped in golden light, landing in Xu Qi’an’s palm.
The Huntian Divine Mirror seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, the lidless eye on its surface no longer protruded.
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox’s gaze followed it. The clarity in her eyes faded, revealing a pair of gleaming black pupils, but though they were the same eyes, to Xu Qi’an, the spirit behind them was utterly different from the little white fox’s.
Baiji’s eyes were clear and innocent, the cleanest of a child’s eyes.
But now, these eyes brimmed with myriad emotions, reminiscence, sorrow, joy, wistfulness… Eyes are the windows to the soul, and the emotions within them were so complex.
“The Huntian Divine Mirror was once the dressing mirror of the monarch of the Wanyao Kingdom?”
Xu Qi’an played with the bronze mirror, asking.
“Every magical treasure has its own unique power, but indeed, my mother kept it on her desk as a dressing mirror.”
The complex emotions in the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox’s eyes faded, the clarity returning and filling her eyes once more.
Xu Qi’an smiled: “Then, what do you plan to offer in exchange, Your Highness?”
With the roles reversed, Xu Qi’an now held the initiative.
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox sighed and pouted:
“You heartless man! I’ve already given Baiji to you as your child bride, still not enough? Now you want even more, shameless. Oh well, Yeji is your old flame anyway, so I’ll give you both Baiji and Yeji.”
Mu Nanzhi’s eyebrow twitched.
Trying to take advantage of me for nothing? Xu Qi’an chuckled:
“Your Highness, please don’t joke like that.
“Magical treasures are rare in this world. Though the Huntian Divine Mirror is damaged, I can nurture it with Dragon Qi and keep it for defence.
“If you are not sincere, then I’ll take my leave.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox laughed:
“My mother was right. When a man is hard-hearted, he really does not care for old ties.
“Never mind, since Silver Gong Xu doesn’t want Baiji and Yeji, we’ll have to come up with another offer.”
She clearly already had an idea and continued without pause:
“Two Demon-Sealing Nails!”
Xu Qi’an’s eyes lit up. “Four!”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox pouted:
“Why don’t you just let me remove all your seals for you?
“I may have the means, but I can remove at most two. Any more and I am powerless. You should already know: the Demon-Sealing Nails are artefacts refined by the Buddha. Aside from him, only a Bodhisattva can remove them all.
“Moreover, I am currently overseas and cannot return to Jiuzhou. It will take some time before I can help you remove them.”
Trading a broken magical treasure for two Demon-Sealing Nails is a massive profit for me. Given the current situation, nothing would benefit me more than unlocking the seals… Xu Qi’an frowned:
“How long?”
“Three months!” she replied.
“Can’t do. I’ll give you one month. If you’re late, the deal is off.” Xu Qi’an spoke forcefully.
Three months would be far too late.
“Agreed!”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox accepted.
With the deal struck, Xu Qi’an asked, “Why did Your Highness go overseas?”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox smiled, “To search for possible surviving clansmen.”
Xu Qi’an did not really understand, or perhaps did not realise the importance of this information.
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox explained:
“After the fall of the age of gods and demons, the human and Yao races rose up. Some of the descendants of gods and demons went far overseas and never returned.”
Gone far overseas… Xu Qi’an suddenly thought of the ‘Baidi’ divine beast in Yunzhou legend, a beast said to be descended from the Qilin.
It had once come from overseas, stayed for a long while in the coastal region of Yunzhou, and whenever it appeared, storms accompanied it. Its breath could become wind, and its inhalation thunder; at its appearance, wind and rain would come, solving a historic drought in Yunzhou.
“The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox is a descendant of gods and demons, blessed with unique spiritual essence, but our numbers have always been few. Now, all that is left on the Central Plains is myself.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox sighed, bemoaning her fate, “We have lived for hundreds of years as an old maiden, and still long for marriage. That is why we went overseas in search of a future husband.”
… For a moment, Xu Qi’an could not tell if she was joking or not.
To be honest, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox’s personality left him at a loss. In the wuxia novels of his youth, she would be the mischievous and unpredictable enchantress.
Well, she was a Yao-woman after all.
Why insist on only finding your own kind? What’s wrong with marrying outside your species… Xu Qi’an said,
“I think Heart Gu suits you very well.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox choked for a moment, staring at him,
“Your provocation is perfectly delivered.”
Xu Qi’an gave an awkward laugh, changing the subject:
“Why did the Huntian Divine Mirror end up in the Central Plains?”
“In those years, the Yao were utterly defeated, the survivors scattering in all directions, hiding throughout the Central Plains. After I rose to power, I gathered most of the remnant forces of the Wanyao Kingdom, but a minority were so terrified by the Buddhist sect that they chose to assimilate into the human race to live in peace, or withdrew into forests, never again meddling in the affairs of either race. Each of them had their own share of the Wanyao Kingdom’s legacy, many of the treasures have been lost to the world, not just the Huntian Divine Mirror.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox replied.
“Before you go, Your Highness, I have a few questions.”
As he returned the Huntian Divine Mirror to the Stupa tower, Xu Qi’an asked,
“What was the true reason the Buddhist sect destroyed the Wanyao Kingdom?”
According to history books, it was because the Yao caused chaos and harmed the people, the Buddhist sect destroyed them for the sake of humanity.
But having been through so much himself, he would be a fool to believe what was written in the books now.
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox was silent for a while. Her mature, sultry voice grew colder as she countered,
“Why did the Buddhist sect covet the lands of the Central Plains?
“If you can discover the truth hidden behind this, you will naturally know why the Buddhist sect wanted to annihilate the Wanyao Kingdom.”
If I knew, why would I ask you? Xu Qi’an said,
“Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox pursed her lips, snorting, “The value of that information is greater than your own life could pay for. You’re dreaming, shameless man.”
Her tone was sweet, almost coquettish.
You are like a widow causing trouble at night! Having failed to get an answer, Xu Qi’an grumbled inwardly, then changed the subject:
“How do you see the situation in the Central Plains, Your Highness? As I understand, Xu Pingfeng has already joined forces with the Buddhist sect to encroach on the plains.”
The Wanyao Kingdom and the Buddhist sect were mortal enemies, if Xu Pingfeng allied with the Buddhist sect, then he was a natural enemy of the Wanyao Kingdom, too.
“I will provide a certain amount of support.”
The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox frankly stated her position, “Is there anything else?”
At what age are foxes considered adults… Xu Qi’an shook his head, “No, that’s all.”
Baiji flew back to the pedestal, her tails diminishing one by one, the clarity retreating from her eyes.
When her four little legs landed on the pedestal, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox had just departed.
“Has Mistress left?”
Oblivious, she looked left and right, then carefully walked to the edge of the pedestal to peer down, judged the drop, and gingerly jumped… entirely failing to land on her feet.
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