Fox Demon

Even Lin Langyao, who was usually absorbed in his own thoughts, was drawn in, approaching with a question.

“How is it Lu Wenhan?”

The man in the mirror was none other than the Master of Lu Clan Manor.

Wen Chaoxuan gestured for silence, urging him to focus on the scene.

The mirror was replaying a memory: Lu Wenhan was dressing himself before a mirror in his room.

After tidying his sleeves, he suddenly turned his back to the mirror and walked to a wall opposite it, stopping there.

A massive white tiger skin tapestry hung on that wall, beneath which stood a sword rack.

Lu Wenhan placed his Thunderous Snow Blade onto the rack, and behind the lifted tiger skin, a dark, cavernous door appeared, leading to an unknown destination.

The moment he released his grip, he stepped behind the tapestry and vanished.

Lin Langyao also turned towards the tiger skin tapestry, reaching out to lift it, when Wen Chaoxuan suddenly seized his wrist.

Wen Chaoxuan’s expression was composed as he tilted his head, listening intently.

Before long, he seemed to discern a sound, immediately pulling Lin Langyao to duck behind a nearby hanging curtain.

The very next second after they concealed themselves, a hand emerged from behind the wall through a gap in the curtain, lifting the tiger skin, and out walked Lu Wenhan, the Lu Clan Master, who was supposedly in secluded cultivation.

Lin Langyao silently wiped away a bead of cold sweat.

Had it not been for Wen Chaoxuan’s vigilance, they would have been caught red-handed.

Lin Langyao, pinned motionless by his master’s hand on his shoulder, turned his head and mouthed to him.

‘Should we go out now and catch him off guard?’

Wen Chaoxuan slowly shook his head, signaling him to wait.

Upon entering the room, Lu Wenhan first picked up his personal blade, then turned and called out a name towards the outside.

Soon, a disciple pushed the door open and entered.

The disciple bowed his head in礼.

“Master.”

“During these past few days of my secluded cultivation,” Lu Wenhan inquired, “has anything happened within the manor?”

The disciple replied.

“Nothing significant has occurred in the manor, Master, except that Sword Venerable Qiu of the Wuling Sword Sect arrived today, accompanied by their Young Master.”

Lu Wenhan seemed puzzled.

“The Wuling Sword Sect? What brings them here?”

“They claim to have brought news regarding Lin Langyao’s whereabouts.

The Young Master is currently entertaining them with a few elders.”

Lu Wenhan let out a cold laugh.

“Lin Langyao? I haven’t heard a peep about his whereabouts since the day his cultivation was crippled at Qintian Peak.

The Wuling Sword Sect… why would those sword cultivators suddenly be so kind as to inform us of this?”

The disciple explained.

“To answer you, Master, yesterday the Sect Master of the Heavenly Craft Pavilion met a tragic end, and it is rumored that Lin Langyao was the one who killed him.

The Heavenly Craft Pavilion is now extensively searching for Lin Langyao’s trail.

Furthermore, when the Heavenly Craft Pavilion’s Master died, those two from the Wuling Sword Sect were also guests at the Heavenly Craft Pavilion and confronted Lin Langyao.”

Lu Wenhan fell silent for a moment.

“Could you not have told me all of this at once?”

The disciple quickly offered a fawning smile, likely overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information and unsure where to begin.

Lu Wenhan waved his hand dismissively.

“Never mind, never mind.

If he’s dead, then he’s dead.

Let them fight it out with Lin Langyao; it makes no difference to my manor who becomes Sect Master.

As for the Wuling Sword Sect, have Zhuo’er entertain them well.

Lin Langyao is now a stray dog, no longer a threat.

Report any further news to me.”

The disciple acknowledged him and then withdrew.

Behind the silver satin curtain, Lin Langyao looked at Wen Chaoxuan, unable to conceal the astonishment in his eyes.

They had always assumed the Heavenly Craft Pavilion’s Master was killed by someone from the Lu Clan, but judging by Lu Wenhan’s indifferent tone, he seemed completely unaware of the matter.

This raised a perplexing question: if the person wasn’t killed by the Lu Clan, nor by Lin Langyao and his group, then why did the Heavenly Craft Pavilion’s Master die?

Wen Chaoxuan remained silent, gesturing to Lin Langyao, then slowly retreated with his hand on his sword, vanishing into the shadows of the inner chamber.

Lu Wenhan, unaware that the “stray dog” Lin Langyao, as he had called him, was hidden in his own bedroom, was in quite a good mood.

With external threats seemingly cleared and old grievances avenged, the rise of Lu Clan Manor to dominate the cultivation world seemed imminent.

He turned the curtain and walked into the inner chamber, only to abruptly collide with a figure in red.

Even a renowned family head in the cultivation world would be greatly alarmed upon suddenly seeing a stranger in their bedroom.

Lu Wenhan gasped, swiftly drawing his blade and pointing it at the red-clad figure.

Just as he was about to demand who dared trespass, the figure turned, revealing a veiled woman whose clear, autumn-water eyes gazed intently at him.

Lin Langyao, feigning a delicate voice and half-concealing his face, uttered, “You scoundrel, do you not even recognize me?”

Lin Langyao was certain this man had countless romantic entanglements outside, and decided to trick him.

As expected, Lu Wenhan’s face showed hesitation.

If it had been a man, he could have immediately called for guards to apprehend him, but since it was a woman, he genuinely wondered if she might be one of his old paramours.

Lu Wenhan softened his tone.

“How am I to recognize you with your face covered like that…?”

“I’m afraid my true face would scare you to death,” Lin Langyao mused, then coincidentally tossed out the love letter he had found.

Lu Wenhan glanced at the paper fluttering at his feet, his expression dramatically changing.

“This was clearly in my room… Who exactly are you?!”

“Oh no, you’ve discovered me,” Lin Langyao said, dropping his hand and turning fully to face him, revealing his true appearance.

If his previous reaction was astonishment, this was true utter dismay.

Although Lin Langyao’s makeup was quite thick, anyone familiar with him could recognize him at a glance.

For a family head like Lu Wenhan, who had frequently been summoned to Chaotian Pavilion to accompany Lin Langyao in immortal council meetings and had endured prolonged torment, the memory of that face was etched deep into his bones—he wouldn’t forget it even if it turned to ash.

Unexpectedly facing this past nightmare once more, Lu Wenhan, in his shock, completely forgot that Lin Langyao was no longer the Lin Langyao of old.

His first instinct was still to subconsciously turn and flee.

The moment he turned, he came face to face with the long-awaiting Wen Chaoxuan.

With a single strike of his sword sheath, Wen Chaoxuan knocked him unconscious to the ground.

Lin Langyao walked over, gave him a kick, and then stepped on his body.

“I told you my true face wouldn’t scare you to death, but you just wouldn’t believe me.”

Wen Chaoxuan was speechless for a moment at his presumptuous demeanor.

“…What are you still standing around for? Take his blade and put it on the sword rack.”

“Aye!” Lin Langyao’s expression immediately shifted as he turned, responding obsequiously.

“Master, what do you think is behind this wall?”

As the Thunderous Snow Blade was placed on the sword rack, the pristine white wall behind the tiger skin tapestry instantly opened into a door.

Inside was complete darkness, with a faint glow of firelight seemingly deeper within.

Just as Wen Chaoxuan was about to reply, he suddenly heard a very faint human groan from the deepest part.

Master and disciple’s expressions changed simultaneously, and they immediately dashed into the passage.

The passage was dark but not long.

After running inside for a short while, they could see many ever-burning lamps lining the sides.

The further they went, the louder the groans became, accompanied by low panting sounds like those of animals.

Wen Chaoxuan’s steps grew progressively slower, and when he finally reached a stone door, his expression turned peculiar.

All the sounds emanated from the stone door at the end of the passage.

Lin Langyao pressed his hand against the stone door for a while, failing to find a mechanism.

He turned to Wen Chaoxuan and asked.

“Master, should we just cleave it open?”

Wen Chaoxuan frowned, appearing hesitant to speak.

He pulled Lin Langyao closer and instructed him.

“…You stand behind me in a moment.”

Lin Langyao.

‘?’

Wen Chaoxuan rarely displayed any protectiveness towards him.

Given Lin Langyao’s personality, Wen Chaoxuan was usually relieved if he wasn’t out bullying others and never worried about him being bullied.

Yet now, merely to break open a door, Wen Chaoxuan intended to shield him.

Lin Langyao felt both flattered and strangely goosebumped.

However, he then reconsidered, surmising it was probably due to his female attire.

His current appearance must have made his master perceive him as fragile and pitiful… which was perhaps understandable?

Only after Lin Langyao obediently positioned himself behind him did Wen Chaoxuan raise his sword and cleave through the stone door before them.

The door shattered into countless falling stone fragments, creating a tremendous sound.

The people inside were naturally startled.

Lin Langyao quickly peeked out from behind Wen Chaoxuan, expecting to see a scene of Lu Wenhan’s illegal imprisonment and torture.

Instead, his eyes fell upon countless pale, exposed bodies writhing in the flickering firelight.

Wen Chaoxuan silently pushed his head back.

Lin Langyao stared dumbfounded for a moment, profoundly shaken, then clung to Wen Chaoxuan’s arm and peeked out again.

Wen Chaoxuan.

‘…’

Wen Chaoxuan swept away the encroaching crowd with his sword qi, but those people felt no pain; they would get up even after being thrown.

Unaware of their true nature, Wen Chaoxuan was unsure if these individuals were willingly engaging in dual cultivation (TL Note: A cultivation practice where two individuals cultivate together, often involving sexual intercourse, to enhance their spiritual energy or reach a higher realm.) or if they had been captured by Lu Wenhan for some sinister ritual.

He dared not kill them rashly.

Even with his high cultivation, he was helpless, finding himself in a predicament.

One of the stragglers reached Lin Langyao, pulling at his dress.

Lin Langyao screamed in fright, leaping onto Wen Chaoxuan.

Once he recovered his wits, he erupted in fury, pulling out his Azure Cloud Sword and wildly brandishing it to fend them off.

With one arm around Lin Langyao and the other forcing back the tide of people, Wen Chaoxuan glanced at the stone ceiling above.

He was contemplating creating an obstruction to block them when he suddenly detected an ominous aura.

He abruptly spun around, pulling Lin Langyao with him in a swift retreat—a surge of energy, like a wave breaking through the wind, overturned an entire mass of piled bodies.

Wen Chaoxuan and Lin Langyao simultaneously looked towards the source of the energy.

Amidst the pale, fleshy mountain of intertwined bodies, a woman clad in crimson robes lazily floated up as if just awakening, opening a pair of utterly captivating eyes.

She possessed peerless beauty, like that of a celestial maiden, and even amidst this depraved hell of carnal desire, her radiance remained utterly untarnished.

Wen Chaoxuan’s gaze fell upon her feet, where countless iron chains shackled her ankles.

The chains spread out like a spiderweb, extending to the many stone pillars throughout the hall.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Tribulation Transcension Stage (TL Note: A high cultivation realm where cultivators face a heavenly tribulation to ascend to a higher plane of existence.) cultivator…” The woman’s voice was ethereal and fleeting, yet every word carried an intense power of enchantment.

If one’s cultivation was insufficient or their Dao heart not firm enough, they would easily be affected.

Lin Langyao’s eyes lost focus for a moment, then he shook his head, instantly clearing his mind.

Wen Chaoxuan, unaffected, calmly stated.

“Are you a demon?”

The woman idly twirled a strand of her long hair, watching the two with a light chuckle.

Suddenly, a pair of ears sprouted from her head, and a fluffy tail appeared behind her.

Nine voluminous, swaying fox tails unabashedly flicked towards the strangers.

“I am Tong Sui, the Fox Demon,” the woman declared, extending a finger.

The shattered stone fragments of the door, broken by the Heaven-Bearing Sword, floated up, reassembling into a perfectly intact door that slammed shut behind them.

“Forgive my lack of proper welcome.”

“Who imprisoned you here?” Wen Chaoxuan asked, his hand on his sword, unmoving as an unshakeable mountain, completely unfazed by the fox demon’s display of power.

He simply wished to uncover the truth.

“Lu Wenhan?”

Tong Sui lightly stroked her cheek.

With a slight movement of her legs, the chains clanged.

“These are the Lu Clan’s inherited Demon-Binding Chains.

Surely you cultivators recognize them?”

“He made you bewitch these people’s minds and force them into dual cultivation?”

“Yes, and no,” the fox demon Tong Sui replied with a brilliant smile.

“Lu Wenhan needs my power to help him and his manor grow stronger, but confined here, my magic can’t flow ceaselessly.

I do require some offerings, don’t I?

Why so many questions?

Since you’ve come, why not stay and experience supreme ecstasy?”

Having spoken, Tong Sui’s gaze fell upon Lin Langyao, whom Wen Chaoxuan held in his embrace.

She wrinkled her nose.

“You, a Tribulation Transcension cultivator, your appearance is quite decent even among my demon race, but your taste… I have plenty of even more beautiful women here.

Would you not consider them?”

It took Lin Langyao a while to process, finally realizing that the fox demon’s disdainful look was an expression of contempt for his appearance.

He… coughed lightly, then, reverting to his original voice, stated, “I… am a man.”

‘…’

The fox demon was silent for a moment.

“So, you’re a ‘cut sleeve’ (TL Note: A Chinese euphemism for homosexuality, derived from a historical anecdote about Emperor Ai of Han, who cut his sleeve rather than disturb his sleeping male lover.)”

Wen Chaoxuan tried to cover Lin Langyao’s ears, but it was too late.

Lin Langyao asked, bewildered.

“What’s a ‘cut’…”

Tong Sui interrupted him.

“It doesn’t matter! I have plenty of handsome men here too.”

Wen Chaoxuan could no longer stand it.

He said coldly.

“If we wish to leave, you cannot stop us.”

“Oh, really? Then let’s see,” Tong Sui replied with a soft smile.

Without warning, she suddenly attacked, transforming her palm into a claw and striking fiercely.

Wen Chaoxuan pulled Lin Langyao behind him, meeting the fox demon’s strike with his own palm.

The fox demon’s power was extraordinary; as immense spiritual and demonic energies collided, an object suddenly shook loose from Wen Chaoxuan’s sleeve.

Tong Sui cast a casual glance.

Upon seeing the rhombus flower mirror, in that brief instant—which felt like ten thousand years—the fleeting glimpse caused all the fox demon’s relaxed composure, like ten thousand miles of frozen ice, to shatter completely.

Her beautiful eyes, which held a hint of red, instantly transformed into eerily vertical pupils, and her voice, no longer ethereal, became sharp, almost a fox’s howl.

“Yeluan’s mirror! Why do you—”

Lin Langyao was incredulous, hearing the fox demon utter the name of his artifact-refining friend.

Wen Chaoxuan drew his sword, intercepting the rhombus flower mirror.

The fox demon roared, revealing her true ferocity.

With a shake of her body, she transformed into her fox form, glaring viciously at the two.

“I’ll have your lives—”