Volume 1, Chapter 5 – Concubine
In a quaint town nestled on the fringes of the Lingxiao Sword Sect's territory, a group of men and women clad in Moonlit Sword cultivation robes returned to their quarters, fatigue etched into their faces after a grueling battle.
"Fellow disciples, this arduous mission has truly tested us all."
"Indeed! Our accomplishments were significant. We managed to eliminate so many demonic creatures, all thanks to Junior Sister Song!" another chimed in.
"Yes! If it hadn't been for Senior Sister Song cutting through the encirclement of those fiends, we might have faced dire consequences," added a round-faced girl, her eyes filled with reverence as she glanced at Song Shiyuan.
The group nodded in unison, acknowledging the truth of her words.
During their mission to eradicate the demonic creatures plaguing the area, several junior disciples found themselves cornered due to inexperience and miscalculations.
It was Song Shiyuan's timely intervention that had carved a path for their escape, ensuring that they all returned safely.
Yet, what astounded them, even more, was the revelation that this girl, once their peer, had ascended to the fourth realm of cultivation—the Nascent Soul stage.
In the history of the Lingxiao Sword Sect over the past century, only a handful of cultivators had reached the Nascent Soul stage before turning one hundred.
Even fewer had accomplished this feat before fifty, with fewer than twenty achieving it at that age.
Those who managed to reach Nascent Soul before twenty were a rarity, they could be counted on one hand.
The most notable among them was Song Shixuan, the esteemed eldest disciple of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.
As a disciple of Celestial Sovereign Qingzhi, the Sect Leader, Song Shixuan had entered the Nascent Soul stage before the age of seventeen, earning the title of the most exceptional talent in the sect in the last hundred years.
Following his early success, he had garnered numerous accolades on the battlefield, carving out a formidable reputation and earning the current Sect Master's favor as the heir apparent. In the realm of the younger generation, he stood unrivaled.
However, unbeknownst to the world outside, the esteemed young Sect Master, Song Shixuan, had a younger sister—Song Shiyuan, who was also his junior martial sister.
Her talent matched that of her brother, yet she preferred to linger in his shadow, avoiding the spotlight and the competition that fame brought. As a result, outside the Lingxiao Sword Sect, only a few knew of her.
Among the disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, it was common knowledge that when Celestial Sovereign Qingzhi emerged from seclusion to accept disciples, she first recognized Song Shiyuan's potential, followed by that of Song Shixuan.
Had Song Shixuan not been the elder and more distinguished sibling, and had Song Shiyuan not been so modest, the younger generation would surely have hailed her as Senior Martial Sister instead of their Senior Martial Brother.
At just seventeen, Song Shiyuan exuded an enchanting aura, her hair elegantly pinned with a jade hairpin. Despite the fatigue etched on her features, her youthful charm remained undeniable. Yet, beneath her beauty, a hint of worry clouded her expression as she listened to the praises from her junior disciples.
Noticing her concern, a young man spoke up.
"What's wrong, Senior Martial Sister Song? Did you sense something off? Was there an issue with the demonic creatures earlier?"
Surprised, Song Shiyuan smiled and shook her head. "No, that's not it."
"I'm just concerned about my brother… about Senior Martial Brother Song."
"I heard he was confronting the Fox Monarch's subordinates and then lost contact. I'm anxious about his well-being."
"What if he's been captured by the Fox Monarch?"
"Otherwise, we would have heard something by now."
Her words sparked unease among the young men, the thrill of their recent victory over the demonic creatures fading into the background.
"No, Senior Martial Brother Song is fortunate; he'll be fine," a young male Jianxiu asserted.
"I have faith in him; he'll find a way," another added.
"Hasn't he always managed to overcome challenges?"
"Whatever difficulties he faces, he always finds a way to turn danger into opportunities!"
Their confidence in Song Shixuan was palpable.
He was a living legend within the Lingxiao Sword Sect, with extraordinary talent and an abundance of opportunities. It felt as though fate itself favored him, ensuring he faced no insurmountable obstacles.
Even against the formidable fox demon, he would surely hold his ground!
Song Shiyuan smiled again, this time more assuredly. "That's right; Senior Martial Brother Song will take care of himself."
At that moment, a cold female voice echoed through the air.
"You have quite a lot of confidence in that sword practitioner surnamed Song."
"Who's there?!"
A group of young men, their anger flaring, summoned their soulbound swords, bracing for battle.
"Her Majesty wishes to invite the high-achieving disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect to the Fox Palace for a discussion.
"Of course, your Song Shixuan is also there."
The voice faded, leaving the young disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect stunned.
"Brother was captured by the Fox Monarch?! How could this be?!" Song Shiyuan exclaimed, disbelief etched across her face.
Before they could process the situation, a massive shadow of a fox tail swept through, knocking them unconscious in an instant.
In the depths of the Demon Palace dungeon, darkness and dampness reigned, filled with an indescribable stench.
After their capture by the Fox Monarch, Song Shiyuan and her fellow disciples found themselves imprisoned here, surrounded by layers of restrictions set by the Demon Monarch herself.
With their cultivation sealed, escape was impossible.
"Those fox demons said that Senior Martial Brother Song was also taken to the Fox Palace. I wonder how he is faring now?"
"Do you think they'll do something to Senior Martial Brother Song?"
"What… will happen to us next?"
Dejection clouded the faces of the young men, even dimming the usual brightness of their lively junior sisters.
"Fox demons capture cultivators with pure yang energy; what else could they want? If not for that bit of yang energy."
"At worst, we'll end up as living cauldrons, drained until we're nothing but dry husks."
"Heh… if it comes to that, I'd rather self-destruct my Golden Core! I'd choose death over humiliation at the hands of those fox demons!"
"Save your energy…" a young man interjected, his tone resigned. "Don't forget whose territory this is. You don't know the reputation of that one, do you?"
The mention of the Fox Monarch sent a wave of despair through the group.
She was the Fox Monarch of the Departed World, one of the four Demon Monarchs, infamous for her cruelty and tyranny.
Though she rarely left the Demon Realm, her notoriety spread like wildfire across the continent.
The young men had never laid eyes on the Demon Monarch, but the tales from their elders in the sect had painted a vivid picture of her fearsome reputation.
Legend had it that those who fell into the grasp of the Demon Monarch faced a fate where death was the most merciful outcome.
Anxiety rippled through the young men as they sensed the gravity of their situation.
Footsteps echoed from the direction of the Fox Palace, drawing their attention.
An elegant white fox demon approached with a graceful poise, flanked by a group of demon guards clad in black armor.
"Fox demons… what do you want again?"
The young men tensed, their vigilance heightened. This marked the first time anyone had come to see them since their confinement.
Song Shiyuan felt an unsettling gaze upon her; the white fox demon seemed to be fixated on her.
Was this fox demon here specifically for her? If so, why?
"Which of you is Song Shiyuan?" Hu Xian'er inquired.
A heavy silence enveloped the group. The disciples hesitated, uncertain if they should respond.
Taking a deep breath, Song Shiyuan realized the truth: the fox demon had been staring at her since her arrival, clearly knowing who she was.
"It's me, I am Song Shiyuan," she replied, her voice steady. "What do you want with me?"
Hu Xian'er scrutinized her for a moment longer. "You're quite pretty. You also possess some courage."
As one of the heroines in the novel, Song Shiyuan's beauty is undeniable.
"Take her away." Hu Xian'er ordered, her tone leaving no room for dissent.
The guards in black armor moved forward, ready to escort Song Shiyuan away.
"Wait! What do you want to do?"
"Why take Junior Martial Sister Song away?"
"Fox demon, if you have anything to say, come at us, don't bully Junior Martial Sister Song!"
Several Sword Sect youths stepped forward, forming a protective barrier around Song Shiyuan.
Hu Xian'er regarded them with an impassive expression. "She has been chosen by Her Majesty to become her concubine."
"Taking her away is to ensure she serves Her Majesty."
"Do you have any more questions?"