Guo Yi fell silent, and the two quickly exchanged glances before splitting up to take action.
Hiding behind the pear tree, Song Ya covered her mouth in terror, already frantically thinking of how to explain herself if caught. The riverbank suddenly became deathly quiet.
Chang Yao, meanwhile, was still pondering the words direct disciple of Lord Yunshan.
How could this youth, whose cultivation was merely at the Fixed Void realm, be his disciple?
Meng Linjiang and Guo Yi hid on opposite sides of the riverbank, waiting for the suspicious dark shadow to approach. Suddenly, they both lunged out from the front and back, shouting sternly, "Who goes there?!"
"Eek!" The dark shadow jumped, letting out a delicate cry. "It's me, it's me! Brother Meng, don't hit me!"
Behind the pear tree, Song Ya’s expression changed when she heard that voice.
Meng Linjiang felt goosebumps break out all over his body at that coy "Brother Meng." He stumbled back two or three steps, shoving Guo Yi forward to deal with it.
"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. So it’s Miss Song. We thought it was a demon out for a midnight stroll. Cultivators are a bit sensitive, our apologies," Guo Yi said with a forced laugh. "But Miss Song, what brings you out in the middle of the night?"
"I... I... I couldn't sleep. While I was up doing chores, I saw you two walking about. Curiosity got the better of me, so I followed. I'm not a demon!" Song Zhi said anxiously and aggrievedly. "That woman is the demon!"
"Which one?" Meng Linjiang poked his head out from behind Guo Yi.
Song Zhi gestured with her hands, full of indignation. "Su Yuji, the one who gave you those crispy flower cakes today! She’s the demon. Everyone in the village calls her a fox spirit!"
Guo Yi: "..."
Meng Linjiang rubbed his nose. "There is such talk."
Guo Yi nodded in agreement. "I heard earlier today that she’s a refugee from a deserted village and used to stay in a brothel, so people have some prejudices against her."
"Believe me, I'm telling the truth! She’s a fox spirit that specifically eats people!" Seeing their lack of concern, Song Zhi grew frantic. "She’s bewitched Brother Chen. Over the last few days, his health has been declining. I don't think he’s far from death, and it’s all Su Yuji’s fault!"
Meng Linjiang cleared his throat and straightened his expression. "Miss Song, we've noted everything you've said. If we get the chance, we will certainly investigate. As for this Brother Chen, I suggest you take him to the town to see a doctor tomorrow. If his health is poor, he needs timely medical attention; it shouldn't be delayed."
Song Zhi stared at him blankly for a moment. Seeing that he didn't believe her, she stomped her foot in anger and ran away crying.
Once she was out of earshot, Guo Yi sighed. "Prejudice truly is everywhere."
"Should you follow her? It’s late, and she’s just a young girl walking alone..." Before Meng Linjiang could finish, Guo Yi shook a paper talisman in his hand. "A 'little tail' is following her. How about it? Want to see if your Kunlun Spirit-Driving Art can match our Bodhi Sect's Spirit-Governing Art?"
Meng Linjiang’s expression turned subtle, and he refused indignantly, "No!"
Guo Yi was puzzled. "Lord Yunshan didn't forget to teach you, did he?"
"Of course not!" Meng Linjiang bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "My Master teaches me everything! If I can't learn it, that's on me, it has nothing to do with him!"
Guo Yi: "..."
"You can't even learn the Spirit-Driving Art?"
Meng Linjiang’s face darkened. "...If I can't, I can't!"
Heaven knew how hard he tried. He practiced day and night, writing the incantations a thousand times daily, but he simply couldn't master them.
Guo Yi patted his shoulder in consolation. "Look on the bright side. Though you have no talent and your cultivation is poor, the fact that Lord Yunshan hasn't severed your master-disciple relationship is a kind of luck others would envy."
Meng Linjiang slumped his shoulders, muttering dejectedly, "My Master is so incredible, yet I’m so useless. I’m such an embarrassment to him."
In Kunlun, geniuses were a dime a dozen; talent was the one thing they didn't lack. Yet, he was the one with the least.
The least talented person was the only disciple of the Sect Leader, receiving one-on-one guidance from Lord Yunshan. Many were green with envy at first, but after a few years, that envy turned into mockery.
Seeing he was truly upset, Guo Yi slung an arm around his shoulder like a brother. "Hey, if Lord Yunshan doesn't find it embarrassing, why should you? When he took you as a disciple, he didn't say you had to surpass Lord Dingkun, spread his fame across the world, and replace the Fengtian Sect as the Immortal Leader, right? Don't be so hard on yourself. Cultivation is just about making sure your spiritual veins keep moving. My Master always says to stay relaxed; a good mindset makes everything better."
Chang Yao was utterly stunned that Song Jixue would take a "trash" student as his disciple.
Remembering Yan Zibian, Song Jixue had only taken him because of his transcendent talent. What was it about this clean, bright youth with such poor potential that attracted Lord Yunshan?
The two youths wandered around the riverbank but found nothing.
Meng Linjiang pondered, "Strange. I clearly sensed demonic energy."
Guo Yi yawned. "Forget it, forget it. Come back during the day when you're more alert." He led him by the shoulder back toward the village.
Meng Linjiang: "I am alert!"
Guo Yi: "Then tell me, what are the incantations for the Three Rites of Cleansing?"
"..." Meng Linjiang pulled him along in a huff. "Just go back to sleep!"
Song Ya, hiding behind the tree, had nearly fallen asleep. She waited until they were gone before standing up on numb legs. After the intruders left, the Wubing River returned to its silence. The night wind rippled the surface, and in the moonlit water, a graceful figure flickered in and out of sight.
Chang Yao had thought Song Jixue’s new disciple was a self-loathing failure, but when she saw him again during the day, he was a completely different person.
The villagers were out early to fish. Dozens were pulling nets through the water, their shouts echoing along the banks. It was a lively scene. Many were working extra hard because the village beauty, Su Yuji, was there in a light red gown, picking flowers by the river with a bamboo basket. She occasionally glanced at the men and laughed shyly behind her sleeve, making hearts race. Some were so distracted they tripped and fell into the river, drawing loud laughter.
Every eye was on Su Yuji. Lust, adoration, jealousy—the gazes were incredibly complex.
Chang Yao found it strange. With several cultivators present, this fox demon still dared to be so flashy. Was she truly fearless, or was she certain she wouldn't be caught? Even if Meng Linjiang’s cultivation was low, wasn't there a Senior Brother surnamed Zhan who had reached the Void Transformation realm?
The Song sisters were also there. Song Ya was running back and forth, bringing tea and towels to her Brother Chen. Chen Yuan, however, was listless. His eyes constantly drifted toward Su Yuji, and with every glance, his spirit seemed to dim further. He was stumbling as he walked.
"Brother Chen... be careful." Song Ya’s heart hammered like a drum. It took all her courage to speak, but Chen Yuan didn't hear her. He went back into the river in a daze, clutching a corner of the net. Song Ya watched him, full of worry.
Her sister, Song Zhi, had stopped following Chen Yuan around. Instead, her eyes lit up when she saw Meng Linjiang and his group approaching. Her sweet voice rang out, "Brother Meng!"
Meng Linjiang: "..." The goosebumps were back.
As Song Zhi ran toward Meng Linjiang, her gaze fell on the two people beside him. These two were slightly older, a man and a woman wearing the uniforms of Kunlun Yunshan—gold belts and apricot blossoms embroidered on the hems.
The woman had clear, bright eyes and a waist as slender as a willow. Her every blink evoked pity. The young man was extraordinarily handsome, with peach-blossom eyes that seemed naturally inclined to smile, carrying an air of gentleness.
Chang Yao thought the woman looked familiar. When she saw the young man, she fell silent. Even though he had hidden his aura and slightly masked his peerless features, she recognized him instantly. It was her second brother, the Fox King.
Why wasn't he back at Fox Mountain recovering from his injuries? Since when had he come to the mortal world and become a disciple of Kunlun Yunshan?
Song Zhi said sweetly, "Brother Meng, are you here to see the River God? The festival just passed; what a pity you didn't arrive sooner."
Meng Linjiang was now calm and composed, his posture carrying a hint of lazy arrogance—he had captured about twenty percent of his Master's temperament. Unlike his gloominess at night, he was now as confident as if he could beat ten cultivators even as an ordinary man. In short: he was putting on an act.
The village head introduced them enthusiastically. "This is the Wubing River. It's famous for clams. When the plague hit years ago, the plants on Mount Changtuo died, but this river was fine. It didn't dry up, and the fish survived. We lived off them." He joined his palms toward the water. "The plague skipped over the water and moved to other mountains. We owe our lives to the River God."
"What is this festival about?" Meng Linjiang asked.
Song Zhi beat everyone to the answer. "It’s a festival to thank the River God. It starts on the seventh of January every year. If you're curious, Brother Meng, why not come next year?"
Meng Linjiang said expressionlessly, "Kunlun is too far from here. I probably won't make it."
Song Zhi pouted. "That’s next year! How could you not have time?"
Meng Linjiang added, "Because I'm not curious at all."
Song Zhi: "..." The girl glared at him in fury and ran off.
Guo Yi turned away to hide his laughter.
Meng Linjiang looked at the young man standing by the river. "Senior Brother Zhan, is there really a River God here?"
The one called Senior Brother Zhan—Shi Tianhao—didn't turn around. He said softly, "The life in the river is vibrant. I sense nothing out of the ordinary."
"But the Fei's plague avoided this river. Was it not afraid of something?" Guo Yi asked.
"The plague was worst in the West Sea and the Central Plains. The Upper Court wasn't affected as much. It happened to end at the mountain before this one. By the time it got here, its power had weakened, and Mount Changtuo blocked most of it," Shi Tianhao said. He turned to the woman beside him and smiled. "What does Senior Sister Cui think?"
The name "Senior Sister Cui" instantly jogged Chang Yao’s memory. This was Cui Miaomiao of Haoran Peak, who had once been possessed by a Painted Skin to plead for her senior brother.
"It should be as you said." Cui Miaomiao bit her lip, appearing troubled. She lowered her eyes and said dejectedly, "I’m such a failure as a senior sister. I’m not even a fraction as good as you; I couldn't think of that at all."
Meng Linjiang’s eyes twitched. He quickly signaled Shi Tianhao to stop asking. This Senior Sister Cui was famously "weak, pitiful, and helpless." She wasn't actually weak in strength, but she believed she could do nothing right. If you asked her for answers, you’d only get a face full of distress. She was a "little white rabbit" who had belittled herself into the dust.
When Meng Linjiang first met her during a training excursion, he hadn't known any better and asked her too many questions. He had questioned her until she had a breakdown, crying until her eyes were swollen while apologizing. He had been so confused he almost knelt to apologize to her, until Senior Brother Xue arrived to save him.
Most in Yunshan knew of her temperament and avoided such situations. Shi Tianhao was also from Haoran Peak; surely he shouldn't be making this mistake. Was it intentional?
Meng Linjiang’s eyelid jumped. By the time he looked back, Shi Tianhao and the senior sister had already walked far down the riverbank.
Shi Tianhao walked along the bank, his eyes constantly drifting toward Cui Miaomiao. "Senior Sister, if you are anxious to see Senior Brother Xue, we can leave for the Bodhi Sect after noon."
Cui Miaomiao hesitated. "Is there really nothing wrong with Shibang Village? Several people have died in a row..."
"Don't worry, Sister. I checked yesterday. There is no demonic aura in the village, no anomalies. Even this river—" Shi Tianhao paused as he looked at the water. "The talk of a River God is just the villagers comforting themselves. The spiritual energy here is shallow. Never mind a River God, even common minor demons are rare."
Cui Miaomiao nodded. "It’s good if there are no demons."
Shi Tianhao looked back at the water. Two or three fish were circling the same spot as if afraid of something, not daring to swim forward. Further ahead, the water was different—no living things were visible, and nothing dared approach.
Shi Tianhao glanced at the dead pear tree on the bank, then at the motionless water, and raised an eyebrow. Was there something in this village other than a fox spirit that he had missed?
Chang Yao’s spiritual sense noted that Meng Linjiang and his group left Shibang Village after noon.
Su Yuji leaned against her window, watching the cultivators depart. The smile in her eyes deepened, tinged with greed and regret. Eating a cultivator with spiritual veins was much more nourishing than a commoner. It was a pity they left before she could act.
As she closed her window, she spotted the girl peeping from a corner. Her lips curled into a meaningful arc.
The villagers had a bountiful catch that morning. By evening, they were busy distributing the fish and starting cooking fires. Wisps of smoke rose into the air, and wild cats emerged from corners to jump onto the courtyard walls, drawn by the scent of fish.
Song Ya stood up with a bowl of fish soup, preparing to leave. Song Zhi stopped her. "Where are you going?"
Song Ya didn't answer and quickened her pace. Song Zhi blocked her. "I'm talking to you!"
The two collided. The bowl slipped and shattered on the ground. Song Zhi jumped back with a cry. "What are you doing?! Can't you hold it properly? You spilled it all over my dress!"
Their mother poked her head out from the kitchen and scolded, "Song Ya, causing trouble for your sister again! Go and wash her dress immediately; she needs to wear it to your uncle's house tomorrow!"
Song Ya felt a surge of indignation. She clenched and unclenched her fists under her sleeves. Finally, she gathered her courage, shoved Song Zhi hard, and ran out of the courtyard. She ignored her sister’s cries and her mother’s shouting. The cold night wind whisked away the tears from her eyes.
She felt so wronged. She was taking that soup to Brother Chen because he looked so tired lately and she wanted him to regain his strength, but Song Zhi had ruined it all!
Song Ya ran all the way to the Chen house. She happened to see Chen Yuan climbing over the wall. She was about to call out but froze. Why was he climbing a wall instead of using the front door?
Chen Yuan wasn't very graceful; he tumbled off the wall, losing all his usual elegance. Song Ya saw that he had gashed his head, but he didn't care. He ran off into the shadows in a suspicious manner.
Song Ya knew where he was going. The village lights weren't all out yet, but Su Yuji lived in a secluded spot with no neighbors—very convenient for those with ill intentions.
Su Yuji’s house was lit. Chen Yuan licked his dry lips and knocked on the door, calling out in a pained voice, "Yuji, Yuji..."
Song Ya watched from behind, her eyes stinging. Laughter came from inside, making Chen Yuan look even more wretched. Song Ya couldn't stand it. She was about to step forward when the door opened from the inside. No one was there, but Chen Yuan rushed in with bloodshot eyes.
Song Ya gritted her teeth and followed. She had to take Brother Chen away! That was a bad woman!
The laughter stopped abruptly when she ran in. In the inner room, she saw Su Yuji leaning against Chen Yuan in her undergarments. Her Brother Chen was breathing heavily, biting and licking the woman. His desperate lust made Song Ya feel sick.
Su Yuji smirked, pushing Chen Yuan back playfully. "Brother Chen, don't be like this. Sister Song is watching."
Song Ya trembled with rage, shame, and embarrassment. As she turned to leave, a familiar cold voice rang out, "Truly a fox spirit."
A sword light flew past her. Song Ya caught a glimpse of the apricot blossom on the person’s robe. The sword light was so blinding she had to look away.
"Get back!" The youth who had returned used his sword to separate the two in front of him. "Take him and go!"
Song Ya saw Chen Yuan fall at her feet and snapped back to her senses. She hurried to pull him up. "Brother Chen!"
Su Yuji clutched her face where the sword light had struck. "Little Daoist, don't hit a woman in the face!"
Meng Linjiang replied intensely, "You're not a person!"
Su Yuji let out a chilling laugh, her features becoming even more seductive. Her fingers turned into claws. "A mere Fixed Void realm dare return to seek death!"
"Brother Chen!" Seeing the fight start while Chen Yuan was still acting possessed, Song Ya slapped him. "Wake up! She’s a demon, you’ve been bewitched!"
Meng Linjiang took a moment to form a hand seal and pointed a finger at Chen Yuan, but he was struck by Su Yuji’s demonic aura and forced back several steps. Realizing his Heart-Clearing Incantation wasn't working, he told Song Ya, "Forget him, you go first!"
Su Yuji sneered. "Leave? You've ruined my mood tonight; none of you are leaving!"
Seeing the fox demon charging at her, Song Ya retreated in terror. Once Meng Linjiang stepped in to block her, Song Ya turned and fled the courtyard. Her heart was pounding with fear. Her legs felt weak, but her survival instinct kept her running.
This place was far from the village, but close to the Wubing River. Song Ya scrambled toward the bank, tumbling down in front of the pear tree. She nearly fell into the water. She dropped to her knees and joined her palms. "River God protect me... please... please save Brother Chen... save the little Daoist..."
She was so scared she was sobbing. That little Daoist didn't seem very strong; having heard his conversation with Guo Yi, she had no confidence in him. The sounds of the approaching fight confirmed her fears. The little Daoist couldn't beat the fox demon.
As she heard a piercing sword whistle, Song Ya looked back in shock, only to feel something cold and icy land on her cheek. She looked up. The withered pear tree was suddenly blooming with snow-white flowers. The flowers fell as soon as they bloomed; their life was only a fleeting moment.
When Song Ya looked back at the Wubing River, she saw the same vision she had seen years ago underwater. Long black hair draped over shoulders, a long tail becoming legs. A woman walked across the surface of the water, bare feet creating ripples. The woman was beautiful, with a slight smile that made Song Ya feel a sense of distance. She possessed immense power and a calm posture. As she walked past the girl, she reached out and lightly tapped Song Ya’s forehead.
Chang Yao said, "River God's protection."
Song Ya’s tension snapped. Her eyes stung as she wiped away her tears and followed her onto the shore.
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