“I think this fox looks quite similar to you—it must be of your own kind. Though you’ve committed countless evils, considering how difficult your cultivation has been, we can’t treat you too harshly. This fox will stay here to keep you company.”
Red Mian, imprisoned within the magical artifact, had gradually regained her spiritual consciousness. She glanced at the motley-furred fox in the bamboo basket beside her. She had never seen such an ugly fox. Saying she looked like this fox?
This little wretch was clearly calling her ugly.
Red Mian was so furious that she used her body to ram against the cage imprisoning her, but as soon as she touched the golden cage, she was bounced back by the powerful spiritual energy on it. Even her fur was burned, becoming mottled and unsightly.
“This cage was specially customized for you. The cage body is exquisite and comes with its own golden light—understated yet luxurious. It’s certainly not wronging you, the number one beauty of the evil cultivator realm.” Though Kong Hou was smiling, the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Seeing these evil demons and evil cultivators who fed on human lives, Kong Hou thought of those common people in the mortal realm who had died from the plague.
In the eyes of these evil demons and evil cultivators, ordinary mortals were probably worth less than pigs and dogs—to be killed at will, to be eaten at will, subject to their humiliation. Taking their lives wasn’t enough; they wouldn’t even spare their souls. Having done such evil deeds, they still considered themselves straightforward and looked down on righteous sects full of benevolence and morality.
Harming people’s lives without the slightest concealment, as if it were more straightforward than following rules and propriety—what kind of logic was that?
She bent down, the mockery and coldness in her eyes undisguised: “A beast is just a beast.”
Red Mian bared her teeth and pounced at her with a snarl, but was once again bounced back.
Another large patch of fur was missing from her body.
“Fairy Kong Hou…” Zhou Xiao, who was standing nearby, saw this scene and hesitantly spoke: “Isn’t this… somewhat inappropriate?”
Kong Hou straightened up and turned to look at him.
Zhou Xiao didn’t quite dare to look at her. He lowered his head and said softly: “This female demon has already become a prisoner with no power to resist. Why must you still humiliate her like this? This seems… seems to violate righteousness.”
Kong Hou snorted with a laugh. After a long while, she slowly cupped her hands and said: “Daoist Zhou speaks correctly.” When these words came out, the expression on her face was distant and indifferent. She wasn’t truly agreeing with Zhou Xiao’s words, but was simply too lazy to argue with him.
Not knowing why, seeing Kong Hou’s expression, Zhou Xiao felt as though he had said something wrong. But the other party hadn’t debated with him, and didn’t even show an unhappy expression. He didn’t know what to say to continue this topic.
“Kong Hou.” Huan Zong walked over, still wearing a faint smile on his face. He glanced at the fox in the cage. “Fox fur has a heavy odor. Let me take you aside to wash your hands.”
The fox in the cage let out a miserable cry, filled with both anger and hatred.
Huan Zong looked back at it, his gaze as cold as a poisoned arrow: “Cruel and bloodthirsty beast—if it’s killed, then it’s killed.”
The fox demon’s entire body stiffened. Its small eyes looked at Huan Zong, revealing no discernible emotion.
By the time she came to her senses, Huan Zong had already left with that little wretch. As a fox demon, she liked handsome men with vigorous vital essence. Having cultivated for many years, she had seen countless men. Zhong Xi was the one who had most amazed her. But this man had a face like jade and a heart seemingly carved from jade as well. Despite using every method at her disposal, this man refused to spare her even a single glance.
She possessed an enchanting figure that countless women envied, along with the most perfect features. To obtain the world’s most beautiful features, she had collected countless beauties and replaced her own features with the most beautiful parts from their bodies. These women were also foolish—clearly possessing beautiful appearances, yet deceived by mediocre men. And she only needed to help them take revenge on those scoundrels, and they would willingly offer everything.
Human men were stupid and greedy; human women were weak and foolish. These creatures deserved to be toyed with between her palms. They had almost nothing worth taking, except their tender hearts, which tasted fresh and delicious—more delicious than the hearts of any animal.
There was no man in the world she couldn’t have. If she couldn’t have one, then she might as well destroy him.
Glancing at the man still standing there, Red Mian felt disdain. Another pig-brained fool.
Zhou Xiao watched as Zhenren Zhong Xi truly took out a jade gourd and poured water for Fairy Kong Hou to wash her hands. His cheeks felt somewhat hot, though even he himself didn’t understand why he should feel embarrassed.
“Senior Brother, I think that although one shouldn’t be overly calculating in dealing with people, one should still understand what words should and shouldn’t be said.” Jin Ling crossed her arms and walked to Zhou Xiao’s side, kicking the cage holding the fox demon with her foot. “You see this fox demon as weak now and feel sorry for her. But think about those who died at her hands, and those controlled souls from before—they’re even more pitiful.”
“I…” Zhou Xiao stammered, unable to speak.
“When the evil cultivator self-destructed earlier, if not for Zhenren Zhong Xi, we all would have died at the hands of those evil cultivators.” Jin Ling snorted. “Is it your turn to sympathize with her?”
Zhou Xiao lowered his head, his expression somewhat dejected.
“Senior Brother, you have some feelings for Fairy Kong Hou, don’t you?” Jin Ling moved closer to Zhou Xiao and patted his shoulder, saying softly: “Rest assured, you’ll never have a chance in this lifetime.”
Zhou Xiao: “…”
“We’re entering the city.” Someone shouted. Zhou Xiao came back to his senses and saw Zhenren Zhong Xi and Fairy Kong Hou following behind Elder Qiu Shuang. The two walked side by side, their sleeves touching. He didn’t know if they were secretly holding hands, but anyone could see that between these two people lingered an inseparable, indivisible atmosphere of beauty.
The queuing crowd saw a group of men and women in fine brocade robes enter through the middle of the city gate without queuing. Not only that, even the guards respectfully saluted them. No one was stupid enough to make a fuss asking why these people didn’t need to queue. They only discussed quietly which great sect these guests were from.
This exchange conference was attended not only by major sects but also by delegates from the Scattered Cultivators Alliance. Cultivators from various regions came admiringly, and even the cultivation world’s imperial family sent officials to join in the excitement, showing they valued this exchange conference.
Of course, in reality, no one in the cultivation world cared whether the imperial family valued the exchange conference or not. Even the fact that they had sent officials over wasn’t taken to heart.
“Big Brother, which great sect do those fairies and immortals who just entered come from?” A rather bold female cultivator asked with a smile the nearby Liuguang Sect guard maintaining order. “They really looked quite imposing.”
“Those are representatives sent by Yunhua Sect and Yuanji Sect.” This wasn’t some secret that couldn’t be told. Though the guard’s expression was serious, it hadn’t reached the level of being cold as ice. “Fellow Daoists queuing, please pay attention to your belongings and hold your life tokens in hand. Enter the city with your life tokens.”
“So it’s Yunhua Sect—they actually arrived early this year.”
“Hahaha.”
It seemed that Yunhua Sect coming to watch the excitement but missing the competition would continue to be mentioned for at least a hundred years.
Kong Hou heard the laughter outside the city gate. With her cultivation level, she could faintly hear what those cultivators were saying. She cleared her throat with a dry cough. Looking at the other senior brothers and sisters whose expressions remained unchanged, she deeply felt her cultivation was still insufficient.
“Gui Lin, I’ve noticed you haven’t been talking much these past two days. Are you airsick from the flying palace?” Li Rou nudged Gui Lin with her elbow. Gui Lin was knocked off balance by her nudge. With a dark expression, he said: “Gentle and cute Junior Sister Rou, next time you nudge me, could you be a bit gentler?”
“Don’t worry about such small matters.” Li Rou cleared her throat. “If you’re airsick from the flying palace, go ask Grand-Uncle Qingyuan for a couple of pills. Guaranteed to cure you immediately.”
“You’re overthinking it. I’m perfectly fine.” After saying this, Gui Lin quickened his pace and walked to the front, distancing himself somewhat from the Yuanji Sect disciples following behind.
Li Rou shook her head and sighed: “Being airsick is airsick—it’s not something shameful. Caring about face while suffering—what a problem.”
The streets of Pei City were bustling with activity. Cultivators wearing various sect robes shuttled through them. Outside Yuxiao Sect’s shops, customers crowded together as if snatching up goods.
Kong Hou swallowed and took two steps back, walking shoulder to shoulder with Ling Hui: “Senior Sister, why are there so many people at Yuxiao Sect’s shops in Pei City?”
“Although Yuxiao Sect has shops in all major cities, only the shops in the main city where Yuxiao Sect is located and in Pei City have the cheapest prices and most complete selections.” After speaking, she pulled out a thick stack of lists. “These are things the senior sisters asked me to buy for them…”
“Senior Sister Ling Hui, Huan Zong seems to have something to discuss with me. Goodbye.” Seeing the shopping list in Ling Hui’s hands, Kong Hou didn’t hesitate to turn and run, secretly rejoicing that before leaving, she and Huan Zong had gone into closed-door cultivation. Otherwise, she would have one of these shopping lists too.
Ling Hui: “…”
What use was having such a junior sister?
Huan Zong had just felt disappointed because Kong Hou had run off to find her young lady friends, but unexpectedly, she ran back after just a moment. He forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just felt… the air around you is fresher.” Kong Hou extended her index finger to hook Huan Zong’s index finger. Her index finger was somewhat cool, like a fine piece of mutton-fat jade. But Huan Zong felt something wasn’t right. Kong Hou’s hands were usually warm—how had they suddenly become cool?
“Huan Zong, do you think my hairstyle looks good today?” Kong Hou pointed at her own hair.
“It looks good.” Huan Zong answered without thinking. Rather than saying it looked good, it would be better to say it was cute. The delicate white lotus bun adorned with dangling tasseled hairpins, and on her jet-black hair, little white fluffy ball hairpins were dotted about. Against her fair, tender face, it was so cute that one couldn’t bear to say a single negative word.
The pink-colored flowing fairy dress, paired with a tender green shawl, made her look like a delicate, charming flower bud. One glance was enough to inspire feelings of tenderness.
Huan Zong didn’t understand women’s dress and adornment, but today’s Kong Hou did seem especially cute. Her smiling, curved eyes made one wish to give her everything, to unconditionally dote on her.
Kong Hou breathed a sigh of relief: “Then do you think elderly elders would prefer this kind of dress?” To coordinate this entire outfit properly, she had spent nearly an entire hour.
Huan Zong was slightly stunned, then understood Kong Hou’s intention. He opened his palm, enveloping Kong Hou’s entire hand in his palm: “They will all like you very much.”
Her fingertips gradually warmed in Huan Zong’s hand. The smile on Kong Hou’s face became brilliant again, no longer an exaggerated smile.
“I think so too. After all, I’m so cute.”
Qiu Shuang, walking ahead: “…”
Getting old—better pretend her hearing wasn’t so good.
—
**Author’s Note:** Qiu Shuang: To become an elder who doesn’t meddle too much in others’ affairs actually isn’t easy.