Volume 2, Chapter 106 – That Deity’s Methods

Who wouldn’t love such an adorable girl who took her feelings so seriously?

Song Shiyuan wiped away the tear stains on her face. After calming her emotions, she slowly began to recall.

She gradually recounted to Qu Qingtang this story that only she knew.

This story was infused with all of Song Shiyuan’s emotions—sour, bitter, and sweet.

Even in reminiscence, Song Shiyuan couldn’t help but shed tears.

It was as if in this moment, she had truly turned back time, returning to those bygone days. Those happy days in the fox palace where no one disturbed them, where only she and the little fox spirit existed.

No early morning lessons from the sect, no stern words from the elders, and no burden of the responsibility to eliminate demons and uphold the dao.

Though it was called imprisonment, and she had no freedom, that period of time was the most relaxed and comfortable since Song Shiyuan had joined the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Qu Qingtang listened quietly.

She didn’t express any opinions about Song Shiyuan’s romance.

She knew that right now, Song Shiyuan only needed an audience, someone who could patiently listen to her express the feelings in her heart.

From Song Shiyuan’s account, Qu Qingtang could sense her deep love for that pure and kind little fox spirit.

And when the little fox spirit ended her own life for Song Shiyuan’s sake, Qu Qingtang could feel that despair and heartrending pain in Song Shiyuan’s heart.

After listening, Qu Qingtang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Pure and kind?

That fox spirit? That Creator with such vile temperament and cold ruthlessness?

Qu Qingtang couldn’t help but marvel at that deity’s methods.

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Admittedly, among the women around Song Shixuan, Song Shiyuan’s temperament was the easiest to figure out.

However, this didn’t mean she was the easiest one to conquer.

On the contrary, she was the one among all the fated female leads who had the deepest connection with the fated male lead.

The bond between siblings who had spent over ten years together, the subtle feelings of a young girl’s first awakening of love.

These bonds would deepen the karmic connection between the two of them.

To sever this connection and make the siblings turn against each other was no easy task.

And Lu Zhuxin had accomplished it.

Qu Qingtang had indeed known early on that Lu Zhuxin would conquer Song Shiyuan, but she didn’t know the specific process.

Now, having learned the detailed course of events from Song Shiyuan’s mouth, she had to admire this deity’s methods.

From Song Shiyuan’s perspective, that little fox spirit was truly beautiful and pure. But it was as if heaven had played a joke on her, bringing all kinds of tragedy and misfortune down upon her.

And these tragedies and misfortunes were all more or less related to Song Shiyuan.

From Qu Qingtang’s third-person perspective, she could see many things that Song Shiyuan hadn’t noticed.

That deity had grasped Song Shiyuan’s psychology and personality to perfection.

She had fully utilized her nature, leading her step by step into a honey trap meticulously prepared for her.

In the end, with a death so complete that bones were ground to ash and no remains left behind, she thoroughly severed the karmic connection between Song Shiyuan and Song Shixuan.

Truly excellent method.

And now, by understanding the various ways Lu Zhuxin and Song Shiyuan had interacted, as well as the style of methods she liked to use, Qu Qingtang could roughly analyze some of this deity’s preferences.

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This point was very important to Qu Qingtang. It was also the greatest gain from this trip.

After finishing her story, Song Shiyuan fell into a long silence.

Having relived the past once more, having recalled every little moment, that intense emotion once again enveloped Song Shiyuan’s heart.

The longing and grief in her heart nearly drowned her again.

Song Shiyuan suppressed the bitter feelings in her heart.

She pressed her lips together lightly, looking at Qu Qingtang before her.

This was the first time Song Shiyuan had told anyone about this experience, this story that belonged only to her and the little fox spirit.

She didn’t know how her master would view her, how she would view the deceased little fox spirit.

And how would she deal with… Song Shiyuan, who had lost control in rage over the little fox spirit’s death and angrily swung her sword at her own beloved fellow disciple?

After all, regardless of the reason, Song Shiyuan who had drawn her sword against a beloved fellow disciple had already committed a grave sect offense.

Even if it meant death… that would be fine.

It was just that, if it came to that, she would ultimately disappoint the little fox spirit who had died to wash away her stains.

Qu Qingtang looked up and asked, “Shiyuan, you said earlier that part of the reason you wanted to kill Song Shixuan was because he betrayed the Sword Sect, colluded with fox spirits, and harmed fellow cultivators?”

“Yes…” Song Shiyuan answered.

This was the true reason for Song Shiyuan’s disappointment in Song Shixuan.

And Song Shixuan’s persecution of the little fox spirit had completely transformed this disappointment into hatred.

Qu Qingtang looked at Song Shiyuan and asked again, “Besides your speculation, is there any other evidence?”

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“Yes.”

Song Shiyuan thought for a moment.

Given Qu Qingtang’s position, she might be the most suitable person to expose Song Shixuan’s true face.

Thinking this, Song Shiyuan no longer hesitated and took out that letter from Song Shixuan.

“It’s this,” Song Shiyuan said. “This is his handwriting. I couldn’t possibly be mistaken.”

Qu Qingtang took the letter from Song Shiyuan’s hand. Seeing the contents of the letter, she immediately understood.

So it was this letter after all.

This wasn’t the first time Qu Qingtang had seen this letter.

Even without Song Shiyuan’s explanation, she knew the authenticity of this letter.

After all, she had seen that man’s true face countless times already.

However, Qu Qingtang was also curious. With just a single letter, how had Lu Zhuxin made Song Shiyuan believe the contents written on it?

In the past that Qu Qingtang had experienced, Song Shiyuan had also encountered situations where she saw this letter.

But rather than the contents of the letter, she believed more in what Song Shixuan said.

After all, Song Shixuan had his own reasons for approaching the Fox Monarch.

The Fox Monarch was a great enemy of the righteous path. Song Shixuan was using himself as bait to eliminate this great enemy for the righteous path.

Putting himself in danger was an act of great righteousness.

“Besides the letter?” Qu Qingtang said. “This letter can only prove that he had private contact with fox spirits.”

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“But to use this to establish Song Shixuan’s crime of betraying the Sword Sect and betraying fellow cultivators is still somewhat insufficient.”

Song Shiyuan wouldn’t have struck a killing blow against her own brother based solely on such a letter.

Hearing Qu Qingtang’s question, a trace of dimness flashed in Song Shiyuan’s eyes. “There is other evidence… but I wasn’t able to bring it out.”

Sensing Qu Qingtang’s questioning gaze, Song Shiyuan immediately said, “It was a ledger of accomplishments… Though I didn’t obtain it, I still remember the contents written on it.”

Song Shiyuan then recited several entries from memory to Qu Qingtang.

Qu Qingtang understood.

So that’s how it was.

Truth mixed with lies, genuine and fake intertwined.

With just one listen, Qu Qingtang knew that among the several entries Song Shiyuan recited, some were false and some were true.

To gain the Fox Monarch’s trust, Song Shixuan had indeed sold some genuine intelligence to the fox spirits.

And that intelligence had actually all been screened once by Jiang Hongliang.

Qu Qingtang could still guess what kind of intelligence that old fox would provide.

Using the fox palace’s hands to cause some trouble for other sword sects, taking the opportunity to increase Lingxiao Sword Sect’s position and power.

Jiang Hongliang truly loved doing such underhanded things that harmed others to benefit himself.

One authentic letter of collusion with fox spirits, one ledger of accomplishments mixing truth and lies.

These were Lu Zhuxin’s methods for destroying Song Shiyuan’s trust in Song Shixuan.