Chapter 39

Mo Huijun appeared in a large room with intricate carvings on the walls, the columns, on the floor beneath him. Red, black and gold were the theme of the Devil realm's palace, complimenting Mo Huijun's own robes. Sound of rustling cloth as it drags on the floor, with lofty grace the Devil Venerable sat on his high raised throne. With carvings of dragons curled around the seat, at the right moment when the light hits the carvings it seemingly came to life. The carving of the dragon looked like it had come to life. Shuddering scales, nostrils quivering, the slight glinting of its eyes.

"Xin lai," Mo Huijun began, his voice reverberating through the room. "You have some nerve summoning this Venerable, it better be worth my time."

Kneeled before the throne was a man in a mask, with horns, fangs, and an angry expression. It was the standard devil mask sold by the street in festivals. Though it may seem to be a "standard" mask, the man wearing it was not "standard".

"Reporting to the Lord, I have successfully suppressed any information regarding…" Xin Lai was unsure what to refer the Devil Venerable's child as, he finally settled down, "the young Lord."

Elbow rested on the armrest, Mo Huijun propped his cheeks with his hand, clicking his tongue. "Of course you had, I expect nothing less. Xin Lai, this could not be the only reason you summoned me." His sentence was both a praise and a scolding.

"Unfortunately the Demon Venerable had some of her people stationed in Dongfu."

Mo Huijun chuckled. "Ahh, is this what people call being 'even'?" He asked cryptically.

Xin Lai knew what his Lord was referring to. "It seems to be the case, the Demon Venerable has yet to spread any news of the young Lord. Only her and her people are informed."

Mo Huijun was now fully aware why one of his most trusted had summoned him. He stood from his throne. "You'll be accompanying this Venerable to meet with that little fox."

Clasping his hand and fist together Xin Lai bowed even lower. "As the Lord commands."

The two spared no time and arrived at the gates of the Demon Venerable's place. Wide courtyard with trees as its surrounding, buildings made out of wood, successfully made the place seem like a forest and a palace at the same time. A place fit for that fox.

The still and silent tree groaned, creaking, coming to life. The earth bursts into the air, as roots stirred beneath the ground, piercing to the sky. A face appeared on all of the trees, wrinkled, but a face nonetheless. Mo Huijun and Xin Lai remained composed despite the towering trees surrounding them.

"Devil Venerable!"

"It's the Devil Venerable!"

"Why is he here?!"

The trees' voices were overlapping each other's, until one firm voice unified them all. "What intentions does the Devil Venerable's have today, to have come to our Lady's realm unannounced?"

"I have business to deal with the fox."

Outraged by Mo Huijun's tone the trees swayed vigorously, their body creaking, and twisting.

"How dare you speak of our master in such way!"

"How dare you!"

"Kill him!"

"We shall kill!"

The trees' roots were inches away from Mo Huijun and Xin Lai's faces, when a voice interrupted the trees. "Stop." The trees came to a standstill, they withdrew their leaves and branches. "Stand back." The trees parted revealing a woman with tails swaying dangerously at her back.

Soft fluffy looking tails, and fox ears stood up right on the woman's head. The woman stood on the top of the stairs leading to a large and grand building. "Mo Huoyan, I was expecting you."

The Devil Venerable lift a brow. "Expecting me? This," His hands gestured to the trees who was returning to their previous places. "Does not seem as if you were expecting me, fox."

The woman propped her elbow with one hand and waved in a dismissive way towards the Devil Venerable, chuckling. "You don't expect me to welcome you in a boorish way do you? Invite you for a tea, announcing your entrance to my place… dream on!"

"Ever the sly fox." The corners of Mo Huijun's lips were lifted. "Since you know why I am here, I suppose there's no need for any tiresome conversation?"

"Of course not." The Demon Venerable smiled. Mo Huijun returned the smile with a subtle gaze to a certain direction, a building. The fox's expression immediately froze, lips abruptly pressed into a line, teeth gnashed. "Mo Huoyan…" Came the fox's warning.

The Devil Venerable scoffed, strolling forward, climbing the steps. With each step the air around the two gradually grew stiff and heavy. Mo Huijun stood close to the woman with tails flickering back and forth, ears firmly stood up. "Now that we are 'even', do not think that I am incapable of tearing your precious little heart, even though now I have one of my own. Lift a finger and I could make it so that even a simple goodbye is left unuttered."

Knuckles white, crescent marks were left onto the Demon Venerable's palms. Her breath remained steady. "What would it take for me to not need any goodbyes?"

Mo Huijun tipped his head to the side, smirking. "Easy, you and your little people keep your mouths shut."

"What a simple request, I thought you'll be asking for my heart and liver."

Mo Huijun's laughter filled the tension. "But didn't I just ask for that?" His voice faded away, as the man vanished along with his aide.

Like a rubber band that had been pulled and broken, the Demon Venerable released a breath she had been holding. Her legs moved before her mind caught on, heading for the building the Devil Venerable had his eyes on.

Door slammed open, surprising the only occupant of the building. A tiny boy with large fox ears peeked from behind a chair, his ears twitching. When the boy's eyes landed on the Demon Venerable's, his dimmed eyes shined.

"Mother!" The child bounded for the woman.

The Demon Venerable had her arms stretched out, welcoming the child into her embrace, burying the child's face at the crook of her shoulder. She took in the smell of the boy, kissing the top of the child's head. "My heart…" Her arms wrapped around the child tightly.

"Mother, is everything alright? I hid just like you told me." The child asked innocently, meeting the Demon Venerable's eyes.

The woman smiled brightly, not a trace of her former cold drenched worries. "Of course, mother kicked the bad man away!"

"Mother is amazing!" The child cheered, rubbing his face against the woman's neck.

Her thoughts drifted away once more, we are 'even' are we? The Demon Venerable chuckled. "Who would've imagined that man would gain a heart."

"Mother?"

"Nothing my heart, just recalling a joke."

***

Luo Huifang opened the door and entered the tea shop. She came in wearing a different face and a different outfit from yesterday's. "Little Lord are you ready?"

She had sold her portion of loot, in one single night. They had divided the loot amongst themselves, but the amount each of them had to sell was still massive. With the massive amount of precious things she had to sell away it cost her hard work, a dry lips, dry throat, and tested her ability to sweet talk.

The first one to arrive back should be Meihui and Liwei.

Those two were extremely sensitive to money. Lai Meihui was a pro haggler, she once hagled the price of an antique spiritual artifact by half, it wouldn't be too far fetch to say that Lai Meihui had seduced the seller. Jin Liwei was highly aware of any items' average prices and general quality assessment, and used that as a bargaining point to lower down prices to his benefit.

Luo Huifang should be the last one to return. What with her going back and forth to Yiwu to pick up her future disciple.

Mimi was behind the counter fanning himself with a wooden fan. "'Some people suddenly sold a great amount of precious artifacts and treasures'. You and your group of friends are making some waves again through the realm. I heard the amount of rare treasures circulated in the market greatly increased, in one day and night."

"They're just a bunch of treasures." Luo Huifang said dismissively.

"Just a bunch of treasures!" Mimi wanted to vomit blood, slapping his fan closed. "Let me tell you, you just single handedly destroyed the market! Why didn't you sell me some?"

Turns out the ghost was mad because he wanted a portion of Luo Huifang's loot. "You didn't ask." She simply kicked the ball of blame back at the old ghost.

"I'll—"

"Ghost cultivator Venerable, I'm ready to take my leave." The little Lord came into the tea shop through the back door beside the counter.

Luo Huifang looked at the child up and down, the child had no luggage. "You're not bringing anything with you?"