Volume 2, Chapter 107 – I Will Do Everything to Take Her Away

“Master… the matter concerning Song Shixuan is of grave importance…”

Song Shiyuan bit her lower lip lightly, looking at Qu Qingtang.

She didn’t know if this choice was right or wrong.

Song Shixuan was also Qu Qingtang’s disciple… so would her master still stand on her side?

But Song Shiyuan had no other choice.

The Qingzhi Immortal Venerable’s position was transcendent. Since Song Shixuan was her disciple, having her deal with Song Shixuan was the most appropriate choice.

The other higher-ups of Lingxiao Sword Sect, such as Sect Master Jiang Hongliang, were clearly biased toward Song Shixuan’s side.

Song Shiyuan had a vague feeling that even if she handed that letter to Jiang Hongliang, he would very likely destroy it to preserve Lingxiao Sword Sect’s reputation.

And as someone in the know, Song Shiyuan would probably be dealt with secretly by him as well.

After thinking it over, giving it to Qu Qingtang should be the most appropriate choice.

“Shiyuan,” Qu Qingtang said softly. “If you hadn’t encountered me when you woke up this time… what would you have done with this letter?”

Song Shiyuan fell silent.

Qu Qingtang smiled and continued, “Just now, the young sect master of Lingxu Sword Sect, Huang Shangshang, was taking care of you the whole time. I think that if nothing unexpected happened, you would have handed this letter to Lingxu Sword Sect to handle, right?”

Song Shiyuan didn’t have anyone highly positioned and trustworthy within Lingxiao Sword Sect. If she wanted Song Shixuan to pay the price, handing this matter to Lingxu Sword Sect would actually be the best choice.

Having her thoughts exposed by Qu Qingtang, Song Shiyuan’s expression remained calm. “Master… that man, will he pay the price for this?”

“What kind of price do you want him to pay?” Qu Qingtang asked with interest.

In past experiences, the girl before her had always been that man’s most steadfast supporter.

Qu Qingtang was now somewhat curious about how she would view that man now that the fated karmic connection had been severed.

Hearing this, Song Shiyuan lowered her head slightly, then raised it again with determined eyes. “He should receive the punishment he deserves for what he’s done.”

Betraying the Sword Sect, betraying fellow cultivators. Death was inescapable.

Qu Qingtang didn’t see any hesitation in this girl’s eyes.

Her earlier silence seemed more like she was contemplating what kind of ending would be more suitable for that man.

The influence of the fated karmic connection had completely disappeared from this girl.

That deity had indeed personally modified this girl’s ending.

However, to bring down that man protected by fate, just one letter and a few words from an ordinary disciple wouldn’t be enough.

Qu Qingtang sneered inwardly.

But on the surface, her expression dimmed slightly as she said, “Little Shiyuan, I may not be able to help you for now.”

Surprise flashed in Song Shiyuan’s eyes. “Master?”

Qu Qingtang said, “In the previous battle at the fox palace, Sect Master Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing fell into the fox clan’s trap… along with dozens of Sword Sect disciples in mortal danger.”

“To save everyone, I had no choice but to agree to the Fox Monarch’s deal…”

“Hand over my natal sword and serve as a fox palace maid, attending the Fox Monarch for one year.”

“So… I can’t help you right now.”

Astonishment filled Song Shiyuan’s eyes. “How could this happen?”

Qu Qingtang briefly explained to Song Shiyuan what had happened in the fox palace earlier.

After listening, Song Shiyuan was still somewhat dazed.

“So… when I woke up, that’s why I found myself still in the fox palace.”

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Song Shiyuan never imagined that after all of Lingxiao Sword Sect’s planning, this would be the outcome.

“I didn’t expect it either,” Qu Qingtang sighed lightly. “That Fox Monarch’s courage and strategic intelligence surpass ordinary people.”

“That Fox Monarch… truly keeps her cards close to her chest,” Song Shiyuan smiled bitterly. “We planned for so long, calculated so much, yet everything was within the Fox Monarch’s control…”

“Even Master… actually…”

Song Shiyuan found it hard to imagine that even Qu Qingtang, a Venerable Saint, would also stumble in this fox palace.

She thought of the cold, stunning beauty in red she had seen before.

The nine-tailed Fox Monarch. Alluring, cold and beautiful, powerful.

This was Song Shiyuan’s first impression of her.

She hadn’t expected that the Fox Monarch, famous for her brutality, would also be so exceptional in strategic intelligence.

Qu Qingtang looked at Song Shiyuan’s expression and suddenly asked, “Little Shiyuan, you’ve seen that Fox Monarch.”

Song Shiyuan nodded.

She was somewhat puzzled why Qu Qingtang asked this.

“Sect Master Jiang’s decision-making error was because they had never seen the Fox Monarch in person, so they were deceived by her false body,” Qu Qingtang said. “Do you still remember what she looks like?”

Song Shiyuan didn’t suspect anything and described the cold, stunning beauty from her memory.

Hearing this, Qu Qingtang suddenly reached out and lightly tapped the empty air.

A painting scroll appeared before Song Shiyuan.

“Little Shiyuan, do you recognize the person in this portrait?”

With a puzzled expression, Song Shiyuan took the scroll from Qu Qingtang’s hand. Opening it to look, her pupils immediately contracted.

The hand holding the scroll trembled lightly.

This painting was simple.

It only depicted a fox beauty in red.

Eyes containing autumn waters, beauty that could topple cities.

Song Shiyuan was very familiar with this fox beauty.

How could she not be familiar? The fox beauty painted here was her little fox spirit!

“Master…” Song Shiyuan bit her lower lip, suppressing the tremor in her voice. “How does Master have her portrait…”

“She is…?” Qu Qingtang probed.

Song Shiyuan choked up. “Master… she is the little fox spirit I loved…”

“And also the Fox Monarch’s adopted daughter who was previously to be married to Song Shixuan… Ming Zhaoxi…”

Ming Zhaoxi?

This time, it was Qu Qingtang who froze.

She murmured, repeating, “Ming Zhaoxi… hehe… Ming Zhaoxi… so it’s actually Ming Zhaoxi…”

Song Shiyuan looked puzzled. She noticed that after hearing her say this name, Qu Qingtang’s entire body was trembling lightly.

“Master… what’s wrong?” Song Shiyuan frowned. “Do you know the little fox spirit?”

“I’m fine… I just remembered something happy,” Qu Qingtang’s expression calmed down.

When she first heard this name earlier, Qu Qingtang thought it was a joke.

But after receiving confirmation from Song Shiyuan’s mouth, she couldn’t help but be amused.

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Qu Qingtang could even imagine that when that deity used this name to pursue Song Shiyuan, how spectacular the expression must have been on the face of that hot-tempered red fox.

“Master… what does this mean?” Song Shiyuan’s gaze turned somewhat cold. She was shocked that Qu Qingtang would have a portrait of the little fox spirit, but didn’t think there was anything funny about this.

The little fox spirit… was already dead!

“I apologize… Little Shiyuan,” Qu Qingtang sensed Song Shiyuan’s displeasure. “I was just surprised.”

“Surprised?” Song Shiyuan was puzzled.

“Yes,” Qu Qingtang said calmly.

She never imagined that when that deity went to pursue Song Shiyuan, she had used her own face.

Though she used Ming Zhaoxi’s name, she didn’t disguise her appearance.

Or perhaps…

“That deity, she couldn’t possibly not know illusion techniques, right?” Qu Qingtang murmured softly.

Lu Zhuxin might not only be unable to use illusion techniques. Qu Qingtang had discovered earlier that the girl had no combat ability whatsoever on the battlefield.

Delicate and powerless.

“Ming Zhaoxi must have been pulling strings behind the scenes.”

Qu Qingtang chuckled quietly to herself.

Ming Zhaoxi had really been doing quite a bit of secret maneuvering.

“Master?” After hesitating several times, Song Shiyuan finally asked, “Master, where did this scroll come from?”

The little fox spirit rarely left the fox palace. How would outsiders possess her portrait?

“I obtained it by chance in the fox palace,” Qu Qingtang said. “She is very beautiful. Anyone who has seen this portrait would be amazed by her beauty, and I am no exception.”

“So I kept this scroll.”

Song Shiyuan was stunned, murmuring, “Yes, she is indeed very beautiful.”

No one could resist the little fox spirit’s beauty, so that man, he…

“Is she really dead?” Qu Qingtang said.

Song Shiyuan bit her lip.

Only after a moment did Song Shiyuan say, “Song Shixuan… slandered her as the nine-tailed Fox Monarch, so…”

Grief filled Song Shiyuan’s eyes, making it difficult for her to speak.

“So… she died under Sect Master Jiang’s sword…”

Qu Qingtang looked at Song Shiyuan with a complex expression.

But this wasn’t slander.

If… this little girl knew that the person she loved was actually Lu Zhuxin herself, what would happen?

Qu Qingtang was very curious.

Of course, she wouldn’t just reveal this matter.

On the contrary, she would help conceal this for a certain little fox.

Song Shiyuan might be able to become her entry point for approaching Lu Zhuxin.

Thinking this, Qu Qingtang said, “Since that little fox spirit has already…”

“The deceased has passed, the living must go on…”

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“Master, I understand,” Song Shiyuan smiled bitterly. “I shouldn’t disappoint the little fox spirit’s good intentions. No matter how painful it is, I should strive to live on…”

“It’s best that you understand,” Qu Qingtang said. “So what do you plan to do?”

“Plans?” Song Shiyuan hesitated. “I don’t know… I only want to see that man pay the price he deserves…”

However, this matter wasn’t that easy. Just one letter would be difficult to directly establish the crime of a Sword Sect young sect master.

“This matter requires careful planning,” Qu Qingtang said. “To deal with him, you need more evidence.”

“Is Master willing to believe me?” Song Shiyuan asked.

“I believe you,” Qu Qingtang said. “It’s just that I can’t intervene in this matter right now.”

“Even if you hand the letter to Lingxu Sword Sect, it would be difficult to make Song Shixuan immediately receive punishment.”

Darkness clouded Song Shiyuan’s eyes.

“Little Shiyuan, will you return to Lingxiao Sword Sect next?” Qu Qingtang asked.

“I… don’t know…” Song Shiyuan shook her head.

Return to Lingxiao Sword Sect?

Returning to Lingxiao Sword Sect now was not a good choice for Song Shiyuan.

Especially since Qu Qingtang couldn’t return to Lingxiao Sword Sect in the short term.

One year, though brief for the strong, was enough time for many things to happen.

“If you don’t want to return to Lingxiao Sword Sect, then will you return to the Nanhe Song Clan?” Qu Qingtang asked again.

Confusion filled Song Shiyuan’s eyes.

She already couldn’t return to Lingxiao Sword Sect, let alone the Nanhe Song Clan. Though that place was once her home, it was also Song Shixuan’s hometown.

As a fratricidal person, how could the Nanhe Song Clan tolerate her?

Song Shiyuan realized she had nowhere left to go.

“Master, can I stay in the fox palace with you?” Song Shiyuan looked at Qu Qingtang.

Qu Qingtang reached out and rubbed Song Shiyuan’s head.

“Of course you can, Little Shiyuan.”

…

Qu Qingtang left the residence where Song Shiyuan was being held.

She looked back at the building behind her, her face carrying a faint smile.

When Qu Qingtang mentioned earlier that she also had a fox spirit she liked, Song Shiyuan hadn’t asked about that fox spirit’s identity.

Naturally, Qu Qingtang wouldn’t reveal it either.

“I’m sorry, Little Shiyuan.”

“That little fox spirit you love…”

“Your master will do everything in her power to take her away.”

‘Did you get the result you wanted?’

“Half and half,” Qu Qingtang said softly.

“At least, I’ve figured out why that deity doesn’t like me.”

‘…?’

“That deity likes to have everything under her control.”

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“She really enjoys that feeling of controlling everything, toying with people’s hearts. This can also be seen from Little Shiyuan.”

“Knowing this, it becomes easy to figure out why that deity doesn’t like me.”

“Because I…” Qu Qingtang chuckled lightly. “Am beyond her control.”

“She can’t guess what I’m thinking, doesn’t know what I want to do, and has no means to restrain me. Everything about me is unknown to her…”

“This kind of unknown makes her feel repulsed.”

“And moreover… most importantly,”

Qu Qingtang covered her mouth and chuckled.

“When I caught her from behind, I frightened her.”

“A startled little fox will bite and go crazy, it’s all very normal.”

“She discovered she had no way to deal with me, discovered that even taking my natal sword didn’t truly mean controlling my lifeline.”

“So the little fox became afraid.”

“She curled herself up into a ball, putting on a calm front to protect herself.”

“Inside, though, she was so scared she wanted to run away from the fox palace immediately.”

“How adorable.”

‘This doesn’t seem to help your current situation?’

“How could it not help?” Qu Qingtang said. “Knowing where the problem lies, I just need to solve it.”

‘How will you solve it?’

“Let her know what I’m thinking, let her understand what I want.”

“Let her feel that she can control me.”

“That is the best way to approach her.”

“Just like what she did to Little Shiyuan before.”

“I need to let that little fox know just how much I like her, just how much I want to have her.”

“Emotion and desire are the best handles to control a person. Even Venerable Saints are no exception.”

Qu Qingtang’s face held a light smile, her eyes gleaming with a strange light.

“And I will hand her this handle, let her control me.”

“Truth and falsehood interwoven, reality and illusion hard to distinguish.”

“This is what our deity personally taught me.”

“And under the cover of these false feelings, I can achieve our true purpose.”

…

“Achoo…”

Lu Zhuxin rubbed her nose uneasily.

“Eh… who’s scheming against me behind my back now?”

She shook her head and continued searching the library pavilion for ways to solve her heat period problem.

Qu Qingtang’s sudden arrival made her feel uneasy.

But right now, the problem she most needed to solve was the approaching heat period.