The fox boy strolled in leisurely, and Xiang Su and Xiao Yan were astonished to discover that both his ears and tail had disappeared. For a fox demon, cultivating to the point of being able to hide one’s ears and tail required at least a hundred and eighty years. Even if it had absorbed the vital essence of mortals, it would be impossible to achieve such results so quickly.

“Who exactly sent you here?” Xiao Yan asked in a somber voice, staring coldly at the fox.

The fox raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. “How did you know?”

Xiao Yan snorted. The person who had directed this fox demon to come had not only helped it cultivate, but had even cleansed the demonic aura from its body—he could no longer sense it at all. Moreover, the fox demon had easily passed through the demon-subduing array laid down with dog blood, its magical power having advanced by leaps and bounds compared to two days ago.

The fox’s voice hadn’t changed—still alternating between male and female with each sentence. Its giggling laughter made one’s hair stand on end. “Your death at my hands can be considered your destiny in this life.”

Xiang Su drew her dagger and stepped forward. Xiao Yan was injured; it was her turn to protect him now.

“Evil creature, you’ve committed numerous crimes—it’s time to pay for them!” She imitated Junshang’s tone. Though she lacked presence, she still seemed quite convincing. She secretly grasped Xiao Yan’s hand and pushed him behind her. Honestly, the way the fox had appeared today made her feel their chances of winning were even more remote.

The fox didn’t take Xiang Su’s abilities seriously, staring at her with a seductive smile. “Good, come then. You’re my most delightful sacrificial offering.”

With that, its eyes turned fierce. Xiang Su sensed trouble and opened her fan, holding it before her like a shield. The fox leaped into the air, its sharp claws slashing down. Xiao Yan scattered a large handful of spirit talismans that spread like an umbrella above them both. Blocked by the talisman formation, the fox could only viciously claw at the spirit talisman array, unable to get close for the moment. Xiao Yan bit his middle finger, preparing to perform a blood curse. When the fox saw this, its expression changed, appearing extremely anxious. With a sharp cry, it actually revealed its true form. With a swipe of its claws, all the talismans turned to paper dust and scattered.

Xiang Su jumped in fright. The fox was on all fours, moving so swiftly that it was impossible to determine from which direction it would attack. She saw a flash of white light beside her, then heard Xiao Yan behind her let out a muffled groan. Turning around with her heart and liver splitting in terror, she saw that the fox had already bitten into Xiao Yan’s shoulder. Using magic to enlarge its form, it grabbed Xiao Yan in its jaws and headed toward the outskirts of town.

Xiang Su quickly used her silk ribbon to entangle its hind legs, but the fox easily dodged and continued running. Xiang Su shouted Xiao Yan’s name as she chased to the edge of the barrier, barely managing to stop before she rushed out.

She absolutely could not leave the barrier. The fox saw her stop and, seeming to understand her situation, arrogantly placed the already unconscious Xiao Yan by the small river outside town, then provocatively bit off a chunk of his flesh. Xiao Yan woke from unconsciousness due to the pain and let out a miserable scream.

“Xiao Yan!” Xiang Su’s hatred was so intense that blood nearly flowed from her eyes. Her feet shuffled toward the barrier, but ultimately she still didn’t step out.

The fox let out a strange cackling laugh and bit down on Xiao Yan’s neck. The child couldn’t even cry out anymore, his hands and feet trembling violently.

Xiang Su gritted her teeth. The sky was completely dark, and there wasn’t a soul around. As long as she stepped just a few paces outside the barrier, once her magical artifacts recovered their power, she could instantly destroy this evil creature and save Xiao Yan! She finally made up her mind, leaping across the barrier while simultaneously swinging the Sinking Star Fan. Perhaps it was her fury driving her power, for her magic was especially fierce—the flying star thunder roared swiftly through the air, striking the fox with a bang and sending it tumbling several times across the ground. Xiang Su clenched her teeth, preparing to swing her fan again, when the fox suddenly transformed back into human form, blood flowing from the corner of its mouth as it collapsed on the ground and shouted: “Wait! I’m helping him!”

Xiang Su was so angry she forgot to strike it dead with another blow of her fan, shrieking in demand: “Helping?! What kind of help is this?!”

The fox knew its life hung by a thread and spoke with urgent sincerity: “It’s true! Xiao Yan is an immortal undergoing tribulation. Helping him end this life early is helping him complete his tribulation!”

Xiang Su hadn’t expected it to say such a thing. Thinking of Xiao Yan’s various unusual behaviors, the claim that he was a deity descended to undergo tribulation was actually quite believable… But she furrowed her brows. “I don’t care about that. You’ve still harmed so many mortals—paying with your life is only right!” With that, she swung her fan, and star thunder flew out like rain, heading straight for the fox. After several banging sounds, smoke immediately rose all around. Fearing a counterattack from the fox, Xiang Su immediately commanded the wind to disperse the fog. However, the fox had already vanished without a trace, and there was no blood or remains on the ground either. Had someone rescued it? Xiang Su looked around vigilantly, but everything was quiet without any sign.

“Su…” Xiao Yan called her name softly, his breath already extremely weak. Xiang Su quickly put away her magical artifacts and ran over to half-lift him up, checking his injuries.

“I’m already done for.” Xiao Yan’s expression was actually relaxed, his tone even somewhat light and cheerful. “Don’t be sad.”

Tears streamed down Xiang Su’s face like rain. She hated this feeling of watching a friend die. After spending so much time together, were they really going to part like this…

“Alas, silly girl.” Xiao Yan’s face grew paler and paler, his breathing more rapid. He was clearly failing, yet his expression became even more peaceful. “What the fox said is true… I’m not dying, but completing another tribulation. Quickly entering reincarnation again is actually a good thing.”

Hearing this didn’t stop Xiang Su’s tears at all. “Death is death. Even if you reincarnate, we won’t meet again.” Even if they did meet, he would be a completely new person. How would that be any different from parting forever?

Xiao Yan smiled and raised his hand with difficulty. Xiang Su thought he wanted to touch her face, so she didn’t dodge. But instead, he touched her forehead with his middle finger. Xiang Su only felt a refreshing coolness. When she touched it with her hand, there was nothing unusual.

She looked questioningly at Xiao Yan in her arms, only to discover that his eyes were clear, deep, and profound—not only lacking the clouded emptiness of someone dying, but actually… not at all the eyes of a child. “This is my Profound Heaven Heavy Water. When I complete my tribulation, I will naturally come find you.”

Since the dying person was so relaxed and cheerful, Xiang Su felt that continuing to cry and wail would make her look especially foolish. She could only sniffle and pretend to be nonchalant as well, saying: “Alright, but how will I know it’s you? I need to leave a mark too.”

Though she said this, she truly didn’t know how to leave a mark. After thinking for a moment, she reluctantly bit her finger just a little and, imitating Xiao Yan’s action, touched his forehead and sent in a bit of spiritual power. The blood drop was very cooperative—it seeped into Xiao Yan’s forehead and transformed into a tiny, delicate gardenia bud shape, appearing quite striking between his brows.

“Don’t worry. When Junshang finishes forging his sword, I’ll definitely find that fox and avenge you,” she said in a muffled voice, still feeling unwilling to accept this.

Xiao Yan grew increasingly weak, yet a smile remained at the corner of his mouth. He gently shook his head. “No need… I already know who sent it.”

Xiang Su’s eyes widened as she pressed: “Who?”

Xiao Yan coughed up a mouthful of blood. When the final moment truly arrived, he looked into her eyes and asked softly: “I never knew what your name was…”

“Xiang Su.” Seeing him gradually failing, Xiang Su’s heart still felt as if it were being cut by knives. Though he had explained everything so clearly, she still couldn’t face separation and death with equanimity.

Xiao Yan smiled with pursed lips—he was actually quite handsome. He slowly closed his eyes. “Mm, I’ve committed it to memory.”

Xiang Su brought Xiao Yan’s body back to the Su family home and silently watched the neighbors rush over to wail and grieve with Master Cao, organizing Xiao Yan’s funeral with sorrowful lamentations. This wasn’t the first time she had watched mortals face death, but as someone who could observe their reincarnation, Xiang Su felt an indescribable melancholy.

She always laughed at how mortals lived only a hurried few decades, but the joys and sorrows, partings and reunions they experienced—how were they any different from an immortal spirit like her who prided herself on eternal life? Another familiar person had left. Xiang Su even began to feel that possessing an eternally long lifespan might not necessarily be a good thing—to experience such sorrows ten or a hundred times over. No wonder they said wood spirits needed to be good at forgetting the past, because they were always the ones left behind, and their past was filled entirely with memories of friends departing.

Fortunately… Xiang Su exhaled a long breath, trying to relax herself. She had Junshang. As long as she was together with Junshang, no matter how long the years or how many losses she suffered, nothing would be so frightening anymore, because what was most precious remained.

Several dozen miles away, atop a desolate mountain peak, the fox boy kowtowed and rose: “I thank Your Highness for saving my life.”

Yumu’s expression was distant and detached. He looked at the fox for a while, his hands clasped behind his back alternately clenching and loosening, clearly weighing something.

The fox boy gazed longingly at him under the starlight, his graceful bearing filling its eyes with adoration. It certainly couldn’t imagine that this elegant and distinguished immortal was at this moment hesitating over whether or not to kill it.

Yumu’s brows relaxed slightly as he finally made up his mind. Though this little fox was humble and insignificant, it was the Fox King’s youngest child. If he killed it to silence it, he would invite investigation and entanglement from the fox clan, creating complications instead. He smiled faintly and spoke with gentle instructions, his tone indescribably amiable: “Don’t mention today’s events again, especially whom you’ve encountered.”

The fox nodded. “Hu Chen understands.”

“I will naturally mention your contribution to the Fire Lord. When the Water Lord returns to his palace in the future, there will be rewards for you as well.”

Hearing this, Hu Chen looked at him gratefully and said: “Your Highness’s kindness to Hu Chen…”

Yumu grew somewhat impatient and interrupted it with feigned affection: “Earlier you asked me to help you break through your cultivation barrier—have you decided whether to become male or female?”

Hu Chen lowered its head and said somewhat shyly in a soft voice: “I’ve decided… I want to become female.”

Yumu hummed in acknowledgment and channeled spiritual power into Hu Chen’s meridians. Hu Chen endured the pain, and before long its form had transformed into a delicately proportioned female body, its features also changing into the appearance of a lovely young woman.

“Done.” Yumu smiled at her perfunctorily and turned, about to summon clouds to leave.

Hu Chen sat weakly on the ground. Seeing him about to depart, she grabbed the corner of his robe without regard for appearances. “Your Highness, Hu Chen wishes to constantly attend Your Highness…”

Yumu’s mind was full of concerns, and he had no regard for Hu Chen’s request. However, he put on a gentle smile, bent down slightly to lift her chin, while his other hand secretly pulled back the clothing she was grasping. He looked into her eyes and said softly: “Little fox, train well. When you’ve mastered your fox clan’s Thousand Faces transformation in the future, then come to my side… This way I won’t have to worry about you being bullied in my palace. This is also for your own good.”

Hu Chen was completely captivated by him, staring up at his handsome face in a daze, her expression entranced as she said: “Yes.”

Yumu approvingly kissed her cheek, then took advantage of her distraction to turn and summon clouds to depart, his expression becoming cold and disdainful. He had merely casually commanded a minor fire spirit, never expecting it to be the Fox King’s son. He had already felt some regret, and now she had developed such presumptuous thoughts.

Yumu frowned and cast aside thoughts of the little fox demon. Originally, he had only wanted to show a small favor to Qing Ze, but unexpectedly, the other had discerned Xiang Su’s hiding place. Perhaps this was an excellent opportunity bestowed by heaven.

Eliminating Dong Tianyun was a wish Father Emperor had hidden in his heart for hundreds of years. If he could accomplish it without leaving a trace, wouldn’t the position of Crown Prince be within easy reach?

Flying all the way to Lingze Mountain—after the sword had been cast and retrieved, Lingze Mountain had already transformed into ruins resembling a massive pile of stones. Dong Tianyun had sealed Bi Lian within the belly of Lingze Mountain. Only a few people in the Three Realms knew of this, and Yumu was one of them.

Yumu restrained his divine consciousness to avoid having his identity detected by Bi Lian, then slowly descended upon the mountaintop. Changing to an aged voice, he asked: “Bi Lian, do you wish to escape your confinement and avenge your humiliation?”