Volume 1, Chapter 30 – The Feeling, So-So
Song Shiyuan hurried back, her footsteps quickening with urgency.
Back?
Why was she returning?
Song Shiyuan, have you forgotten? That little fox demon might just be the nine-tailed fox demon who had imprisoned her here. An eighth-realm powerhouse.
In this world, the number of people who can injure her is few and far between.
Was she really worried about a fox demon of such strength being violated by a random sword practitioner?
No, Song Shiyuan, you should be more concerned about her own safety!
She raised a hand to rub her temples, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Why am I feeling this way?" she muttered to herself.
Was it disbelief? She still couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that the little fox demon was the Fox Monarch.
No, it was more than that. The little fox was full of contradictions. Even if she wasn't the Fox Monarch herself, she had to be hiding something—
She couldn't be trusted.
With a deep, Song Shiyuan reminded herself, "There must be another reason…"
The uninvited guest who had barged into her room was the only sword practitioner she had encountered in the Fox Palace.
All her previous knowledge had come from the fox demons. If that sword practitioner was a friend or foe, she needed to find out for herself.
With that thought igniting her determination, Song Shiyuan quickened her pace once more.
As she navigated through the corridors, she passed several low-level fox demons, all moving with anxiety.
Their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her, but when they noticed the collar around her neck, their expressions shifted to one of realization.
None cared to engage with her, but whispers floated through the air, reaching her ears.
"I heard a sword practitioner lost control and escaped from the dungeon! Hu Xian'er is leading the pursuit!"
"Is the sword practitioner really that dangerous?"
"I don't know… They say he's a Spirit Ascension stage practitioner."
"Oh heavens! That's terrifying! We should hide!"
"A Spirit Ascension stage sword practitioner? Too risky! Hu Xian'er has sealed off the Fox Palace. If they can't catch him, it might alert Her Majesty, the Fox Monarch!"
"Do you think Her Majesty will intervene?"
"Not sure. She's been secluded in the rear hall for ages. I haven't seen her in so long."
The thought nagged at her: had the Fox Monarch truly been in seclusion for that long? Was the little fox demon really not the Fox Monarch?
And if that sword practitioner was indeed a Spirit Ascension stage powerhouse…
That made sense. The restrictions imposed by the Fox Monarch could only be forcefully broken by someone of that caliber.
Hu Xian'er, the head steward of the Fox Palace, was no ordinary being.
As a six-tailed fox demon, she stood at the same cultivation level as a Spirit Ascension stage sword practitioner. But that was where the balance tipped.
Sword practitioners were inherently combat-oriented cultivators, particularly skilled in overcoming opponents of higher cultivation.
Their pure yang sword energy posed a natural threat to fox demons. At their level, it would be a daunting challenge for a fox demon to best a sword practitioner in direct confrontation.
As a sword practitioner herself, Song Shiyuan understood this all too well. She realized it wouldn't be easy for Hu Xian'er to capture a sword practitioner by herself.
Her heart raced as she considered the implications.
*If that little fox demon is truly the Departed World Fox Monarch, then that sword practitioner is in grave danger.*
"I need to get back quickly!"
Meanwhile, in Song Shiyuan's courtyard, a girl around fifteen or sixteen knelt outside a room.
She was slightly shorter than Lu Zhuxin, with a chubby baby face that radiated youthfulness, her cute twin ponytails bouncing as she shifted.
Clad in a fluffy yellow dress, she resembled a little yellow chick, especially with the golden giant sword standing beside her—almost as tall as she was.
The ancient and battle-worn sword bore countless scars on its blade. Each one told a story of violence and survival.
"Your Majesty, the restrictions in this house have all been broken with sword energy," the little yellow chick girl reported, her voice respectful.
"Excellent work tonight, Young Master Huang," Lu Zhuxin replied with a smile.
"It is my honor to serve Her Majesty," the little chick said, her head bowed, cheeks flushed with a mix of pride and embarrassment. She couldn't meet Lu Zhuxin's gaze, her body responding to the intoxicating fox demon pheromones wafting from the room.
Just a whiff made her yang Qi stir restlessly within her, a sensation she found hard to control. She marveled at how the previous female sword practitioner had managed to resist the allure of such a powerful nine-tailed fox demon.
"You may retire," Lu Zhuxin said, noticing her discomfort. "But I'll need to borrow your sword later."
With that, she turned to the red fox beside her, Hu Mei'er.
"Are you ready, Hu Mei'er?"
"Your Majesty," Hu Meier replied, fingers crossing in front of her chest. "Mei'er is not very talented at acting; I feel a bit nervous."
"It's alright," Lu Zhuxin reassured her gently. "Just follow the plan we discussed, and everything will be fine."
"Your Majesty, Mei'er will give it her all!" Hu Meier declared, her small fists clenched with determination.
Lu Zhuxin pulled a strip of cloth from her side and handed it to Hu Mei'er.
"Let's get started. Shiyuan will be back soon," she said, smiling and encouraging.
Hu Mei'er's nerves were palpable as she clutched the cloth, her face flushed.
Although, she had occasionally entertained similar fantasies late at night. But never did she expect actually act on them with her Majesty.
"Y-y-your Majesty… forgive me," she stammered, climbing onto the bed with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
She carefully bound Lu Zhuxin's slender wrists. Her touch was almost too gentle.
Lu Zhuxin frowned.
"Be rougher. Shiyuan is sharp; if you don't do it right, she won't believe it."
"O… okay!"
Hu Mei'er's voice quivered as she pulled the cloth tighter, yanking Lu Zhuxin's hands above her head.
"Your Majesty…"
Hu Mei'er whispered, one hand gripping Lu Zhuxin's wrists while the other pressed her down onto the bed.
The sound of fabric tearing filled the air as Hu Mei'er leaned in, intoxicated by the scent she had long desired. Her fingers trailed down along the torn dress, grazing Lu Zhuxin's smooth abdomen.
"Hiss——!" Lu Zhuxin gasped.
She had claimed she couldn't act, yet here she was, playing the part flawlessly. If this were modern times, she'd be an Oscar contender.
A wave of insecurity washed over her.
"Wait! Lighter!"
"I regret it! Don't bite so hard, just leave a mark!"
Song Shiyuan returned to her courtyard and froze when her eyes landed on the door.
It had been forced open.
Deep, jagged gouges marred the wooden panels, evidence of a sharp blade.
Her chest tightened with unease.
Her gaze shifted. In front of her room, a golden, ancient giant sword stood, embedded deeply into the ground.
An unfamiliar scent lingered in the courtyard. It was faint, yet clung to the air like a shadow.
This smell… it tugged at her memory.
It reminded her of the Red Spring Pavilion. That same unsettling feeling lingered nearby.
"Wuuu…"
A muffled sob, low and agonized, floated out from within her room.
Her breath caught. It was the little fox demon's cry.
And that cry—
It was identical to the one she had heard in her dream.
A sudden, violent jolt shot through her body. Her chest felt as though it had been struck with a giant hammer.
Her head buzzed; her blood surged, rushing backward in a dizzying wave of pain.
She bolted into the room.
Her pupils trembled at the scene before her.
A middle-aged man in yellow robes rose from her bed.
He moved with deliberate slowness, fastening his trousers, his movements exuding an air of callous indifference.
Then, his eyes—cold and scornful—settled on her.
"This little fox," he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain, "is she a concubine the Fox Monarch gave you?"
He smirked, his tone casual, almost bored.
"She looks alright, but she's too young."
He paused. As if considering something.
"The feeling…"
His lips curled into a faint sneer.
"So-so."