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墨書 Inktalez
Things turned out to be easier than expected. Ye Chuanze dealt with the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan Leader, who had fallen from mid-air, and walked up to Kitsunetsu and the High Priest.
"How is it? Are you injured?" Kitsunetsu asked.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. The leader of the Fox Clan was no match for me; he was just relying on that magic sword in his hand," Ye Chuanze replied. After a pause, he continued, "However, I noticed that the leader's body has already been controlled by that magic sword, leading him down a dark path. Even if I hadn't dealt with him today, he would eventually become a mere skeleton puppet once the sword drained his essence."
Upon hearing this, Kitsunetsu's expression grew more worried. "That magic sword is no ordinary item. Although you have sealed it, it still needs to be properly stored. Keeping it nearby is always a threat; I have an uneasy feeling about it."
Ye Chuanze dismissed his concern casually. "I understand. Don't worry; I have my plans."
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Kitsunetsu had no choice but to let it go. He hoped that the unease in his heart was unfounded; he always felt that the magic sword was not an ordinary object.
With the matter resolved, Ye Chuanze glanced at the sky. The dark clouds had dispersed, revealing the bright moon that had been hidden, casting a gentle and bright glow. He turned to Kitsunetsu and said, "The issue has been resolved. I will return to the Bamboo House now. Once you finish your matters here, come find me."
Kitsunetsu nodded in response, and Ye Chuanze left alone. Now it was up to the Fox Clan to handle their own affairs, which an outsider like Ye Chuanze could not interfere with.
Upon returning to the Bamboo House, Ye Chuanze summoned his accompanying treasure, Black Lotus, and sat down on it to meditate and recover his energy. Although it seemed to Kitsunetsu and others that Ye Chuanze had the upper hand during his fight with the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan Leader and appeared to be effortless, in reality, he had expended most of his magical power to counter that magic sword. The sword emanated a dark and ominous aura that could easily shake one's mind; if one was not careful, they could be ensnared by it or fall into darkness like the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan Leader.
From the very beginning, that magic sword had been releasing dark energy in an attempt to invade Ye Chuanze's mind. Just resisting the Demonic Energy took a significant toll on his mental strength.
Meanwhile, Kitsunetsu was busy calming the frightened Fox Clan citizens alongside the High Priest and dealing with matters following the Festival. They did not return to the Bamboo House until dawn.
"You look quite exhausted," Ye Chuanze said as he knelt on a mat, taking a teacup from a nearby tea tray and placing it across from him. He poured a cup of hot tea for Kitsunetsu.
Kitsunetsu sat down and took a sip of hot tea before saying, "Thanks to you this time; otherwise, the Fox Clan would have faced utter disaster. Half of those who came to participate in the Festival yesterday turned into bones in an instant."
"The Fox Clan must have been eroded by that magic sword long before this. Last night when I looked into their eyes, I sensed something was off—too much evil energy," Ye Chuanze remarked.
Kitsunetsu sighed and said, "You think like I do."
"What do you plan to do with the remaining Fox Clan?" Ye Chuanze asked.
Kitsunetsu's expression darkened, and his voice turned somewhat cold as he replied, "Expel them from Qingqiu Mountain."
Ye Chuanze raised an eyebrow and asked, "All of them?"
"All of them," Kitsunetsu said decisively without hesitation.
Ye Chuanze looked somewhat surprised and said, "The remaining Fox Clan consists of the old, weak, women, and children. Last night, I saw your sympathetic expression and thought you might change your mind."
Kitsunetsu appeared somewhat helpless as he said, "What does sympathy matter? We don't know if these remaining Fox Clan members have been corrupted by Demonic Energy. They cannot be left in Azure Hill; otherwise, it could lead to trouble in the future." What Kitsunetsu did not say was that when he saw the hatred in the eyes of those young Fox Clan children, the last bit of sympathy in his heart vanished. The enmity between the Fox Clan and the Spirit Fox Clan did not disappear with the death of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan Leader; instead, it deepened. Just like the rebellion a thousand years ago, what remained for both clans was an unresolved hatred.
Ye Chuanze seemed indifferent upon hearing this; these were matters of the Fox Clan and had nothing to do with him. He was merely asking out of curiosity. What concerned him more was another issue: "Have you interrogated those Fox Clan survivors about where that cursed sword came from?"
At the mention of this, Kitsunetsu frowned and said, "No one among the Fox Clan knows the origin of that cursed sword."
"Not surprising; those who knew are probably already dead," Ye Chuanze replied without any surprise.
Kitsunetsu's expression turned contemplative upon hearing this.
"Enough about that; what about the promised reward?" Ye Chuanze looked at him and said.
Ye Chuanze's words broke the heavy atmosphere in the room. Kitsunetsu's face showed some helplessness as he said, "You really are quite practical."
"Friendship is one thing, but business is another; they should not be confused," Ye Chuanze replied matter-of-factly.
Kitsunetsu twitched the corner of his mouth and casually threw a piece of parchment and a Jade Tablet at him, saying, "The parchment shows the route to that island overseas. I've placed a restriction on Spirit Island, and with the Jade Tablet, you can come and go freely."
"Thank you!" Ye Chuanze reached out to take the parchment and Jade Tablet. He put them away and said, "Since there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait! Don't leave so quickly," Kitsunetsu called out to stop him.
"Huh!?" Ye Chuanze looked up at him, his expression showing some surprise. "Is there something else?"
Kitsunetsu glanced at him, his face looking somewhat strange. After hesitating for a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and thought, let it be! "The clan is already preparing for our marriage."
"What did you say!? Did I mishear you, or did you misspeak?" Ye Chuanze appeared somewhat shocked, his expression darkening.
Kitsunetsu weakly supported his forehead with one hand and sighed helplessly, "I knew it would be like this. Don't get angry just yet. Let me finish speaking; at least give me a chance to explain myself before I die."
"What else do you have to say?" Ye Chuanze replied ominously, "You may leave your last words!"
"The clan had many objections regarding our marriage, which is why it couldn't be decided for a long time. Your evasion played right into their hands." Kitsunetsu paused before continuing, "However, after last night, your heroic act seems to have won the admiration of the clan." At this point, Kitsunetsu's face twitched slightly as he continued, "As a result, they strongly support our marriage and are eager to facilitate it. Last night, the clan sent people out to search for the betrothal gifts you wanted, and this morning they have already begun preparing for the wedding."
"…"
Ye Chuanze was at a loss for how to express his complex emotions. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "Are you kidding me?"
"I'm telling you, this marriage absolutely cannot happen!" Ye Chuanze declared.
Kitsunetsu quickly nodded. Even though he was tempted by Ye Chuanze's beauty and had felt a moment of attraction, he still believed that his life was more important than beauty! No matter how beautiful someone is, one must have life to enjoy it!
After being emotionally stirred for a while, Ye Chuanze suddenly calmed down.
Kitsunetsu noticed that he had fallen silent and secretly glanced at him. Seeing the calm expression on his face without a hint of anger made her feel even more uneasy. It was truly the calm before the storm, the peace before death!
"Now, come with me to see the High Priest," Ye Chuanze said, each word deliberate and impossible to refuse.
Kitsunetsu reflexively nodded and said, "Okay... Wait! No!" She quickly realized and hurriedly rejected the idea.
Ye Chuanze's expression immediately shifted from clear to cloudy. "Not good?"
"What I mean is... it's not good to be so straightforward. A Xuan has a bad temper; we should take it slow... take it slow!" Kitsunetsu said, sweating on her forehead, desperately coming up with an excuse.
Ye Chuanze smiled at her ominously. "My temper is worse. Now you have two choices: either tell the High Priest the truth or die!"
"..." Kitsunetsu.
Faced with Ye Chuanze's threat of death, Kitsunetsu wisely made her choice. A Xuan might punish her, but Ye Chuanze could very well kill her. Kitsunetsu believed that Ye Chuanze was definitely capable of such a thing! Thus, she walked toward the High Priest's house with a grim expression on her face. The wind howled, and the waters were cold; once a brave warrior leaves, they may never return!
Outside the Bamboo House of the High Priest, Kitsunetsu paused in her steps. She secretly turned back and met Ye Chuanze's murderous smile. Instantly feeling a chill in her heart, she lifted her foot and strode forward; at least A Xuan wouldn't kill me!
Inside the Bamboo House, a moment later.
"So, your marriage is fake?" The High Priest of the Fox Clan, Fox Xuan, looked calmly at the two people before him and asked.
"Yes."
"Yes... yes."
The former spoke calmly was Ye Chuanze, while the latter was Kitsunetsu.
"I understand." Fox Xuan said calmly, turning his gaze to Ye Chuanze and adding, "I truly apologize for the trouble I've caused you."
"It's no problem; I should take part of the responsibility as well," Ye Chuanze replied.
"No, you need not say that. Everything is due to my king's recklessness." As Fox Xuan spoke, his expression and tone were extremely calm, devoid of any emotion, yet it made Kitsunetsu's heart tremble. From what he knew of this old fox, it was clear that he was angry!
Upon hearing this, Ye Chuanze surprisingly felt a rare sense of calm. He glanced back at Kitsunetsu, who seemed to be curled up and shivering like a silver-furred fox. He paused for a moment and said, "It really isn't easy," though it was unclear who he was referring to.
Once the matter was addressed, Ye Chuanze had little else to do, so he politely took his leave. What remained were mostly internal affairs of the Fox Clan, such as how to discipline the reckless king and the might of the High Priest.
Kitsunetsu stubbornly insisted on seeing Ye Chuanze off. Ye Chuanze understood that this was Kitsunetsu's last struggle before facing his fate and sympathetically did not extinguish his final hope, silently agreeing. Fox Xuan also remained noncommittal, so Kitsunetsu dragged Ye Chuanze away.
"You have it tough too!" Ye Chuanze remarked, observing Kitsunetsu's expression of having narrowly escaped disaster. Then he quickly added, "But it's all self-inflicted."
Kitsunetsu replied with indignation, "You don't understand my plight at all! Being such a free-spirited and unruly person, encountering a strict and humorless High Priest is nothing short of a disaster."
Ye Chuanze's lips twitched as he said, "Having a king like you in the Fox Clan is the real disaster!"
After seeing Ye Chuanze off, Kitsunetsu suddenly said before parting, "I really want to know who that person is whom you cherish in your heart."
Ye Chuanze was taken aback by this remark.
"Don't worry; I won't tell anyone. Although you try hard to conceal it, your words occasionally reveal something. You can hide it from others but not from me!" Kitsunetsu said with a hint of pride in his expression.
Ye Chuanze initially felt tense but couldn't help but twitch his lips at Kitsunetsu's smugness. He replied, "Do you know why smart people tend to die quickly?"
"Why?" Kitsunetsu asked.
"Because they know too much!" Ye Chuanze said calmly.
"......" Kitsunetsu.
Ye Chuanze glanced at his expression and then slowly said, "But don't worry, you don't know enough."
Kitsunetsu raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying I'm not smart?"
"Rarely, you were smart this time," Ye Chuanze praised.
"......" Kitsunetsu.
Ye Chuanze left Qingqiu Mountain, and the matters of the Fox Clan came to a close. He did not return to Buzhou Mountain but went to the Purple Cloud Palace outside the Thirty-Three Heavens.
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