Volume 2, Chapter 102 – I Believe Her

Qu Qingtang’s eyes dimmed slightly.

However, in just an instant, she cleared away that trace of darkness, and a faint smile returned to her face.

“Since that’s the case, Qingtang will take her leave first.”

Qu Qingtang turned around, her gaze sweeping casually over Hu Mei’er.

Then, she left Lu Zhuxin’s bedchamber quite naturally.

Hu Mei’er inexplicably shivered.

“Your Majesty…” Hu Mei’er looked at Lu Zhuxin with concern.

Lu Zhuxin lifted her hand and rubbed Hu Mei’er’s cheek. “You’ve already done very well, Mei’er.”

“Your Majesty…” Hu Mei’er said, “That Immortal Venerable Qu… is somewhat dangerous.”

“Mei’er feels that Your Majesty should keep some distance from her.”

“Mm, I know.”

Even without Hu Mei’er’s reminder, Lu Zhuxin was already very clear about this.

The things Hu Mei’er could perceive, how could Lu Zhuxin not see them?

…

Qu Qingtang arrived outside the room, the smile on her face fading.

She sensed a gaze carrying hostility.

Qu Qingtang looked up and saw a white-furred fox demon.

Qu Qingtang remembered her. Though her strength was weak, she was the first person in this Fox Palace to strike out at Qu Qingtang.

The princess of the Snow Fox clan, her name seemed to be Hu Xian’er.

Qu Qingtang knew of her.

Hu Xian’er looked at Qu Qingtang, her expression cold.

She walked straight forward, passing by Qu Qingtang and entering Lu Zhuxin’s bedchamber.

From beginning to end, Hu Xian’er never gave Qu Qingtang any pleasant expression.

Qu Qingtang let out a soft laugh.

It seemed the fox demons in this Fox Palace weren’t particularly welcoming toward her.

How difficult.

『Do you want to use a Custom Task?』

『Spending Destiny Value to use a Custom Task might help you quickly change the current situation.』

“Not yet.”

Qu Qingtang concealed the darkness in her eyes as she murmured to herself.

She decided to first go see those two sword sect masters.

Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing had been captured by the fox demons because of Qu Qingtang’s involvement.

Both emotionally and logically, Qu Qingtang should indeed go see them.

…

“Your Majesty…” Hu Xian’er pushed the door open and entered.

“Xian’er is back?” Lu Zhuxin said. “How did things go?”

“The aftermath in the Fox Palace has basically all been handled.” Hu Xian’er paused. “Except for Song Shixuan who escaped from our hands.”

Lu Zhuxin waved her hand. “That man is rather troublesome, but there’s no need to worry about him for now.”

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“He won’t be able to stir up much trouble.”

“Let Lingxu Sword Sect deal with him. It’s best if the fox clan doesn’t participate.”

“Yes.” Hu Xian’er acknowledged.

This wasn’t the first time Hu Xian’er had heard strange orders regarding Song Shixuan from Lu Zhuxin.

That man was dangerous and troublesome.

And Lu Zhuxin’s attitude toward that man was equally unfathomable to Hu Xian’er.

Hu Xian’er could see Lu Zhuxin’s wariness toward that man. Yet on the other hand, Lu Zhuxin’s attitude toward that man was extremely permissive.

This left Hu Xian’er feeling very conflicted.

“Is there anything else?” Lu Zhuxin looked at Hu Xian’er.

Given Hu Xian’er’s personality, if she only had this small matter to report, she wouldn’t have come to find Lu Zhuxin specifically.

Just as Hu Xian’er was preparing to speak, a young childish voice came from behind her.

“Fox Boss! You’re okay, right!”

The petite tiger girl poked her head out from behind Hu Xian’er.

“Hu Po?” Lu Zhuxin furrowed her brow, then immediately put on a stern face.

She still clearly remembered how this little tiger girl had abandoned her alone to run away.

If this little tiger girl hadn’t run so fast, Lu Zhuxin wouldn’t have been forced to face Qu Qingtang alone.

Seeing this untrustworthy little tiger girl again now, naturally Lu Zhuxin had no pleasant expression.

Admittedly, this little tiger girl had only come to help Lu Zhuxin, so she truly had no reason to risk her life for Lu Zhuxin.

However, when facing Qu Qingtang, she hadn’t shown even the slightest intent to resist, instantly abandoning Lu Zhuxin and turning to flee.

This was too much!

This little tiger girl didn’t even bother to act!

What kind of hired muscle lacked even this much professional integrity!

No matter how powerful Qu Qingtang was, she couldn’t just casually kill an Eighth Realm powerhouse, right?

If this little tiger girl had just shown a bit of honor and remained on the scene to engage with Qu Qingtang for a moment…

Well, Lu Zhuxin didn’t even expect her to actually hold off Qu Qingtang for long. As long as she could engage with Qu Qingtang for a brief moment, Lu Zhuxin could have used this little tiger girl’s cover to escape.

How could they allow a physically delicate fox demon to remain alone to deal with an overbearing and domineering sword cultivator?

This kind of thing should be left to tiger clan members, these thick-skinned, fleshy, and brainless hired muscles to do!

Thinking of this, Lu Zhuxin’s gaze toward the little tiger girl was filled with resentment.

However, this little tiger girl seemed completely oblivious to the resentment in Lu Zhuxin’s eyes.

“Fox Boss! You’re really amazing!”

At this moment, the little tiger girl’s innocent tiger eyes were filled with sparkles.

“How did you manage to subdue that terrifying woman Qu Qingtang?!”

Lu Zhuxin’s expression grew strange as she was looked at with such an extremely admiring gaze.

As she said, Lu Zhuxin had indeed used the two sword sect masters and sword sect disciples trapped in the formation as leverage, successfully forcing Qu Qingtang to back down.

At the time, Lu Zhuxin had been relieved that she truly found a way out in a desperate situation.

But now, thinking back, Lu Zhuxin no longer felt that initial relief.

Strictly speaking, Lu Zhuxin had indeed avoided the worst outcome.

If Lu Zhuxin hadn’t used the sword sect people as leverage while simultaneously breaking the concealment spell on Qu Qingtang’s body, drawing over that half-mad Demon Venerable…

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Perhaps at this moment, Lu Zhuxin would have already been taken by Qu Qingtang to Lingxiao Sword Sect to be kept in captivity.

Lu Zhuxin knew that Qu Qingtang harbored no killing intent toward her, but Qu Qingtang was definitely plotting something regarding her.

If given the chance, that Immortal Venerable would certainly forcibly take Lu Zhuxin away.

However, the final result was that Lu Zhuxin successfully won back a round.

This was the only thing worth feeling relieved about.

Not being taken by Qu Qingtang to her home turf, and successfully restricting a portion of Qu Qingtang’s power.

Now, Lu Zhuxin was still in her own territory, with the initiative in Lu Zhuxin’s hands.

This was Lu Zhuxin’s advantage.

“Hu Po.” Lu Zhuxin said, “These righteous disciples all have their own weaknesses.”

“Even Qu Qingtang is no exception.”

“Grasp the weakness, press the advantage. This is the key to victory.”

Lu Zhuxin spoke without her face turning red or her heart racing.

“Ohhh!!” The sparkles in Hu Po’s eyes grew even brighter.

“Fox Boss! You’re so amazing!!”

“Cough, cough…” Lu Zhuxin cleared her throat lightly.

“Hu Po, did you come find me for something else?”

“Mm-hm!” Hu Po nodded. “I came to say goodbye to you.”

“Ah?” Lu Zhuxin was surprised. “You’re leaving?”

Hu Po was a rare source of combat power. Lu Zhuxin had originally wanted to find a reason to keep Hu Po in the Fox Palace for a while longer.

Such powerful and easily fooled hired muscle wasn’t easy to find.

“I’ve already been out for a very long time.” Hu Po’s little brows couldn’t help but knit together. She seemed extremely resistant to this.

“After so much time, my sister must have discovered I’m gone.”

“If she finds out I’m here, she’ll definitely come drag me back.”

The Tiger Monarch…

Lu Zhuxin recalled the Tiger Monarch from her own writing.

That female tiger wasn’t exactly someone who liked to be reasonable either.

Dealing with one Qu Qingtang was already annoying enough. Lu Zhuxin didn’t want to deal with an unreasonable female tiger on top of that.

The little tiger girl looked at Lu Zhuxin’s face and reached out to hug her arm.

“Fox Boss, I know you can’t bear to part with me, and I can’t bear to part with you either!”

Lu Zhuxin pressed her lips together.

No, she wasn’t actually reluctant. It was just that losing a usable hired muscle made her feel a bit regretful.

But thinking carefully, although this hired muscle was powerful, she wasn’t that useful.

Remembering Hu Po’s feat of fleeing at the sight of battle before Qu Qingtang, Lu Zhuxin suddenly felt less regretful.

“It’s fine! Hu Po!” Lu Zhuxin also lifted her hand to embrace the silly tiger clan little loli before her.

“We’ll have chances to meet again later.”

“If there’s a fight, I’ll come find you again!”

At the mention of fighting, Hu Po’s eyes immediately brightened.

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She excitedly tugged at Lu Zhuxin’s sleeve. “Then it’s settled!”

“Fox Boss!”

“If there’s anywhere to fight in the future, you must come find me!”

“I’ll find a way to avoid my big sister and sneak out!”

Silly little girl… can’t you think of some normal solution?

Lu Zhuxin sighed as she waved at Hu Po.

Hu Po left.

Unreliable battle personnel in the Fox Palace -1.

The Fox Palace’s combat power became even more reliable.

Lu Zhuxin looked at Hu Xian’er wearily. “Is there any other good news?”

Hu Xian’er said, “Song Shiyuan should be waking up soon.”

Previously in the Fox Palace, Song Shiyuan had gone into qi deviation and wanted to forcibly kill Song Shixuan, but was knocked unconscious by Liu Funing.

Later, Huang Shangshang gave Song Shiyuan the pills that Lu Zhuxin had gifted her.

Those top-grade pills could repair the hidden injuries in Song Shiyuan’s body and nourish the meridians that had been forcibly torn open by her rampaging spiritual power.

That was why she had remained unconscious all this time.

“Little Shiyuan is about to wake up.” Lu Zhuxin supported her chin with her small hand, the emotion in her eyes unclear.

“Your Majesty, do we need to do anything?” Hu Xian’er asked.

“No need.” Lu Zhuxin said, “Leave the rest to Huang Shangshang.”

“Song Shiyuan cannot see me anymore.”

…

On the other side, Qu Qingtang also successfully met with Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing.

Perhaps having received advance instructions from Hu Xian’er, the fox clan powerhouses guarding these sword sect disciples did not obstruct Qu Qingtang.

Instead, they actively opened the restriction for Qu Qingtang.

After being captured by Hu Po, Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing were imprisoned by the Fox Palace’s powerhouses in specially-made cages.

Liu Funing’s complexion was very poor.

She was not an Eighth Realm powerhouse herself, and had taken Hu Po’s strike head on.

If not for the life-saving treasures from the sword sect, she might have died on the spot.

Yet even with sword sect treasures protecting her, she still suffered severe injuries.

Barely clinging to life, even after returning to the sword sect, she would need to use precious spirit medicines to heal.

Anyone who walked this close to the line between life and death would not be in good condition.

Compared to Liu Funing, Jiang Hongliang’s state was much better.

He still appeared to be that extremely slovenly and dejected figure, his aura somewhat dispirited.

At this moment, seeing Qu Qingtang, his eyes revealed frustration and guilt.

“I apologize! Immortal Venerable, I was unable to complete my plan, and even implicated the Immortal Venerable.”

Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing already knew about the deal Qu Qingtang had made with Lu Zhuxin to rescue them.

Lu Zhuxin had deliberately told them.

Jiang Hongliang said, “Those fox demons are too vicious! They actually used all the sword sect disciples in the Fox Palace as leverage.”

“How despicable and shameless!”

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“When that Fox Monarch set fire to the Fox Palace, did she not consider her clansmen remaining in the Fox Palace?”

Qu Qingtang looked at Jiang Hongliang with an indifferent expression. “Within the Fox Palace, there existed no other fox clan to begin with.”

“That Fox Monarch had already evacuated all the fox demons in the Fox Palace beforehand.”

Jiang Hongliang’s eyes showed shock. “But when Liu Funing and I entered the Fox Palace, we clearly saw other fox clan present!”

“Could those all be…”

Qu Qingtang confirmed, “Yes, you had your eyes deceived.”

“Even the Fox Palace’s formation was altered in advance.”

Jiang Hongliang smiled bitterly. “So our supposedly flawless plan had already been detected by those fox demons.”

Qu Qingtang lowered her eyes slightly. “The Fox Monarch is clever and good at perceiving hearts.”

“The Fox Monarch’s daughter’s wedding was a trap set for us from the very beginning.”

“We lost to her fair and square.”

Even Qu Qingtang had somewhat underestimated Lu Zhuxin.

Jiang Hongliang remained puzzled. “But… I only told Song Shixuan about the plan targeting the Fox Monarch.”

“Song Shixuan couldn’t possibly tell the fox demons these secrets…”

“Then how did those fox demons detect our plan? And make arrangements beforehand without anyone knowing.”

“Immortal Venerable, could it be that someone leaked part of the plan in advance, allowing the fox demons to detect clues, which is why they guessed our true target wasn’t rescuing people, but the World-Ending Fox Monarch?”

Qu Qingtang’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this. “By saying this, Sect Master Jiang has a suspect in mind? Say what you want to say directly.”

“I am not someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong.”

Seeing his small scheme detected, Jiang Hongliang stopped being coy. “Immortal Venerable, I suspect Song Shiyuan.”

Right then, Jiang Hongliang completely told Qu Qingtang about what had happened in the Fox Palace.

“I see.” After listening, Qu Qingtang curved her lips. “So that’s why Sect Master Jiang suspects my disciple of betraying you all.”

“Immortal Venerable, I have no other meaning.” Jiang Hongliang said, “It’s just that Miss Song is still young and inexperienced. She could easily fall under the fox demons’ deception, which is why she…”

“Mm, I understand Sect Master Jiang’s meaning.” Qu Qingtang said. “However, Song Shiyuan is my disciple.”

“I believe in her. Even if she fell under the fox demons’ deception, she would not betray Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

“Immortal Venerable?” Jiang Hongliang’s eyes showed surprise.

Qu Qingtang smiled lightly. “Sect Master Jiang, I understand what you want to say.”

“Qingtang has her own judgment regarding this matter.”

“If it truly was Song Shiyuan’s doing, Qingtang will absolutely not show leniency.”

“Moreover, this matter doesn’t only involve Lingxiao Sword Sect, but also implicates Qinglan Sword Sect.”

“If the information leak was truly due to Lingxiao Sword Sect’s involvement, then Lingxiao Sword Sect must also give Qinglan Sword Sect an explanation.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hongliang let out a small sigh of relief.

Qu Qingtang truly was not someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.

However, Jiang Hongliang didn’t know that at this moment, Qu Qingtang was thinking of something else entirely.

“Song Shiyuan…”

“Our divine lord acts somewhat unusual toward that little girl.”

Qu Qingtang lightly pressed her lips together.

“I should also go see that little disciple of mine.”