Volume 2, Chapter 117 – She is not the Fox Monarch

“A fox demon?” Liu Funing’s face showed surprise.

Immortal Venerable Qu had left the courtyard early in the morning, and unexpectedly, she had run off to be with a fox demon.

That’s right, this was the Fox Palace. Aside from the few of them sword cultivators, everyone else was a fox demon.

Qu Qingtang was a sword sect Immortal Venerable. She was forced to remain in this Fox Palace as a maidservant for this group of fox demons.

Then, these fox demons definitely wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to ruthlessly humiliate her!

Thinking of this, Liu Funing didn’t think twice and quickly pursued them.

After passing through several courtyards, Liu Funing finally saw a familiar figure.

It was Qu Qingtang, and beside her was a petite fox demon.

“It really is Immortal Venerable Qu, but who is that fox demon?”

Because she only saw their backs, Liu Funing hadn’t seen that fox demon’s face clearly.

However, that silhouette inexplicably gave Liu Funing a very familiar feeling.

Who was that fox demon? Had she seen that fox demon before?

Liu Funing furrowed her brow slightly. Before Liu Funing could recall who that fox demon was, she heard the voices of Qu Qingtang and that fox demon speaking.

Liu Funing saw that, not knowing what Immortal Venerable Qu said to that petite fox demon, the little fox demon was raising her hand to cover her mouth as she laughed softly.

“Tang’er, you told that story quite well just now. It’s even more interesting than the storybooks Hu Xian’er bought for me from the human marketplace. Where did you hear it?”

Tang’er?!

Liu Funing’s eyes showed shock.

Was this form of address referring to Immortal Venerable Qu?!

Her guess was indeed correct. Those fox demons seeking out Immortal Venerable Qu early in the morning were up to no good!

They dared to frivolously humiliate an Immortal Venerable of our sword sect!

Liu Funing was so angry her fingertips trembled.

At the same time, she deeply blamed herself.

What kind of person was Immortal Venerable Qu? In the Demon Realm, only that Nether Abyss Demon Venerable could compare to her.

Even the Fox Clan’s peerless Fox Monarch could only conduct herself as a junior before Immortal Venerable Qu.

Yet at this moment, that Immortal Venerable Qingzhi who held such an incomparably transcendent position in the sword sect was being frivolously humiliated by a weak fox demon.

How damnable! If not for saving them who had been ambushed by fox demons, Immortal Venerable Qu wouldn’t have suffered such tremendous humiliation!

Liu Funing felt furious inside, secretly cursing the fox demons’ despicable shamelessness.

Just then, Liu Funing heard Qu Qingtang’s voice.

“If Master likes it, Qingtang can tell more.” Qu Qingtang’s voice was gentle. “Qingtang has no special talents. The only thing worth mentioning is that she’s lived a bit longer and heard more stories.”

Mas… Master?!

What did Immortal Venerable Qu call that fox demon?!

Master?!

Those fox demons! How could they be so shameless!

Even the Nether Abyss Demon Venerable of the Demon Realm couldn’t humiliate a Venerable Saint like this!

That damned fox demon! She actually made Immortal Venerable Qu call her Master!

How dare she?!

Liu Funing was so angry her fists hardened.

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She trembled all over, wanting to confront that fox demon.

However, at this moment, Liu Funing saw Qu Qingtang turn her head and glance at her.

Although that exquisitely beautiful face wore a smile, those sharp eyes held no warmth whatsoever.

Liu Funing inexplicably felt her entire body turn cold.

What did that glance from Immortal Venerable Qu mean?

Was Immortal Venerable Qu warning her not to come forward?

Was it because of that fox demon?

Did Immortal Venerable Qu not want her to clash with that fox demon?

“What’s wrong?” Lu Zhuxin noticed Qu Qingtang’s backward glance.

She knew someone was there, and she knew who it was.

Lu Zhuxin chuckled softly, leaning slightly closer to Qu Qingtang and saying quietly, “Is Tang’er feeling ashamed because her embarrassing side was discovered?”

“Does the Immortal Venerable care so much about her image?”

“How could that be?” Qu Qingtang’s gaze returned to the fox beauty beside her.

“Qingtang simply doesn’t want anyone to disturb the time we spend together.”

Only after Qu Qingtang and Lu Zhuxin left together did Liu Funing’s body regain its ability to move.

The scene she’d just witnessed kept replaying in her mind.

“The Fox Clan humiliating a powerhouse of our sword sect like this… Did the Immortal Venerable not let me come forward because she didn’t want to implicate me as well?”

Liu Funing felt sad inside. She felt a wave of powerlessness surge through her body.

Admittedly, Liu Funing was now also a hostage of the Fox Palace. Rashly clashing with fox demons in the Fox Palace was not a wise thing to do.

Although she could understand the stakes involved, Liu Funing still felt unwilling.

“That fox demon just now… should be the World-Ending Fox Monarch, Lu Zhuxin.”

Liu Funing remembered. She had felt that silhouette was familiar because the Fox Monarch’s figure was very similar to the fox demon she’d seen beside Song Shiyuan previously.

However, that day when first entering the Fox Palace, that fox demon had been wearing a mask the entire time, so Liu Funing had never seen that fox demon’s face.

So that was why Song Shixuan had identified that little fox demon as Lu Zhuxin at that time.

Within the sword sect, the only one who clearly knew the Fox Monarch’s appearance was Song Shixuan alone.

“World-Ending Fox Monarch!” Liu Funing bit her lower lip, clenching her fists.

She took a step forward, preparing to catch up.

She wanted to see how else that fox demon would humiliate a Venerable Saint of the sword sect.

If that fox demon committed more shameless acts, then even at the risk of being punished by the Immortal Venerable, she must step forward to stop that fox demon!

Thinking of this, Liu Funing’s expression became grave.

However, before Liu Funing had taken more than a few steps, her neck suddenly felt a tightening sensation.

It was the maidservant collar Hu Xian’er had made her wear, slowly contracting.

“Damn it…” Liu Funing cursed.

These fox demons had obtained this thing from who knows where. Not only could it suppress her cultivation, it could also restrict her range of movement.

Supposedly, this thing could only affect cultivators below the Eighth Realm.

Therefore, among the four sword cultivators remaining in the Fox Palace, only she and Song Shiyuan had this thing around their necks.

Thinking of this made Liu Funing angry.

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Originally she had wanted to resist this humiliating collar.

As a result, that girl Song Shiyuan had quietly and voluntarily put on this collar.

Hu Xian’er had even sarcastically said to Liu Funing, “Even the Immortal Venerable’s first disciple is so reasonable. Sect Master Liu, is your credibility not even as good as a Fourth Realm junior’s?”

Liu Funing remembered that at that time, even Huang Xifeng had cast strange looks at her, making Liu Funing seem like an untrustworthy villain.

“The fox demon clan humiliating our sword sect’s Immortal Venerable like this… I must let Sect Master Huang know about this too…”

Because of the collar, Liu Funing couldn’t leave the Fox Palace and could only turn back.

When she returned to their group of four’s residence, Liu Funing discovered Huang Xifeng wasn’t there.

The only person still remaining in the courtyard was Song Shiyuan.

She was still holding a broom, silently sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard by herself.

Liu Funing frowned. This girl had been too deeply poisoned by fox demons and held too much hostility toward her. She actually didn’t really want to interact with this girl.

Sighing, Liu Funing still asked, “Miss Song, where is Sect Master Huang?”

Song Shiyuan raised her eyes slightly.

“Sect Master Liu,” she paused. “Sect Master Huang was just called away by fox demons. I don’t know where she went either.”

Seeing her like this, Liu Funing couldn’t help but frown again.

How could a disciple of Immortal Venerable Qu be like this?

Liu Funing had seen many sword sect disciples poisoned by fox demons.

Among them were many promising talents who, after the fox demons’ true nature was exposed, could suddenly wake up and repent.

Of course, Liu Funing had also seen many who remained obstinate.

But someone like Song Shiyuan, who clearly knew it was a fox demon yet still fell in, and fell so deeply. Liu Funing was seeing this for the first time.

To the point where, even after that fox demon had been ground to dust with not even bones remaining, she still refused to wake up.

Thinking of this, Liu Funing became even angrier.

At this moment, Immortal Venerable Qu was still being humiliated by those fox demons in who knows what way, yet her disciple still remained immersed in the beautiful dream woven by fox demons, unwilling to wake up.

Although Immortal Venerable Qu had said she would properly teach Song Shiyuan and not let her fall deeply into the wrong path, and even Huang Xifeng had told Liu Funing not to interfere with Song Shiyuan’s affairs.

But after Immortal Venerable Qu was taken away by fox demons, Song Shiyuan still looked like this, which Liu Funing truly couldn’t stand to watch.

“Song Shiyuan, are you still immersed in the gentle beautiful dream that fox demon wove for you?” Liu Funing questioned. “Do you know where your master is now, what situation she’s in?”

Song Shiyuan finally deigned to raise her head and give Liu Funing a glance.

What was Master doing?

Master should have gone to find the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin.

After exchanging words with Master that day, Song Shiyuan came to know Master’s feelings for the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin.

So Song Shiyuan had also given Master quite a few suggestions, many of which were things Song Shiyuan and the little fox demon had done together.

This made Song Shiyuan herself feel quite strange.

Mourning someone was painful.

But when recalling every little moment with the little fox demon, she still felt happiness and sweetness.

However, after immersing herself in this happiness and sweetness of the past, it would bring even more painful grief.

The more happiness, the more pain.

The deeper the love, the greater the grief.

She had already tasted this bitterness fully, so she didn’t want anyone else besides herself to bear this pain.

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Especially when that person was her own master.

That gentle master who, when no one understood her and it seemed the entire world had abandoned her, said to her, “You are not in the wrong.”

Song Shiyuan had no favorable feelings toward that enchanting Fox Monarch.

But she didn’t want her master to experience her pain all over again either.

Master liked that Fox Monarch. Song Shiyuan would support her and would do her small part to help Master fulfill her wishes.

Just this Sect Master Liu.

Song Shiyuan raised her head to look at Liu Funing and asked, “Did something happen to my master?”

“You still don’t know?!” Liu Funing said. “Immortal Venerable Qu was taken away by the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin! She left the Fox Palace!”

“And! I also heard that fox demon she actually…” Liu Funing felt she didn’t even know how to speak.

A dignified Immortal Venerable was being so frivolously treated by the Fox Monarch.

How infuriating!

Finally, Liu Funing said through gritted teeth, “As a junior, she actually… addressed Immortal Venerable Qu as ‘Tang’er’!”

Liu Funing couldn’t bring herself to say that she’d heard Qu Qingtang address the Fox Monarch as “Master.”

Hearing this, Song Shiyuan understood.

So it was like this.

Master should now be out on a date with the Fox Monarch in Mingzhao City.

Although she had such a guess before, Song Shiyuan hadn’t expected Master’s movements to be so quick.

Moreover, that Fox Monarch was actually willing to accompany her.

Going on a date with a sword sect Immortal Venerable—even an Eighth Realm great demon would feel pressure.

That Fox Monarch agreed to Master’s invitation and even used such an intimate form of address.

It seemed she also had feelings for Master.

Then Master and the Fox Monarch should be able to naturally come together.

Thinking of this, Song Shiyuan felt somewhat comforted inside.

One person, one fox, with mutual affection.

At the very least, Master wouldn’t have to experience the twists and turns Song Shiyuan had gone through back then.

This was a good thing. Song Shiyuan knew she should bless them.

But why… did Song Shiyuan’s heart still feel sour and painful?

She thought of the little fox demon again…

If only she and the little fox demon could have been this fortunate and smooth back then, how wonderful that would be.

Seeing Song Shiyuan like this, Liu Funing became even more furious.

Her own master’s fate was unknown, yet as a disciple, she could still remain so indifferent.

“Song Shiyuan, what kind of reaction is this!” Liu Funing frowned. “Did you already know your master was taken away by the Fox Monarch?”

Song Shiyuan closed her eyes slightly, suppressing the sourness in her heart.

“Sect Master Liu… Master’s whereabouts in this Fox Palace don’t need Sect Master Liu to worry about.”

“So you knew all along.” Liu Funing’s brow furrowed even tighter.

She thought again of that scene that occurred in the Fox Palace that day.

“Have you seen the Fox Clan’s Fox Monarch?” Liu Funing asked.

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The Fox Clan’s Fox Monarch, Master’s person of affection. How could Song Shiyuan not have seen her?

Although they’d only met once, it left Song Shiyuan with a deep impression.

That moon-lit beauty bathed in a rain of blood.

Enchanting yet dangerous.

“I’ve seen her,” Song Shiyuan said. “She’s a very beautiful fox demon.”

“You’ve seen her!” Liu Funing felt furious.

Although Liu Funing had only seen a silhouette, and only once, she could confirm that the fox demon who took her own life before Song Shiyuan that day had a figure identical to the Fox Monarch’s.

No… perhaps just as Song Shixuan said, that fox demon was the Fox Monarch’s false body!

To extract intelligence from Song Shiyuan, she pretended to be pure and innocent, taking the opportunity to approach Song Shiyuan!

“So you’ve seen the Fox Monarch! Why do you still have no doubts about that fox demon!” Liu Funing said. “Have you ever considered that she was the Fox Monarch in disguise!”

“Fox demons love to toy with people’s hearts, and that Fox Monarch is the best among them!”

Liu Funing gritted her teeth.

From that Fox Monarch forcing Immortal Venerable Qu to call her “Master,” this could be seen clearly.

Hearing this, Song Shiyuan’s gaze gradually became cold.

Did this Sect Master Liu still think even now that the little fox demon back then was the Fox Monarch in disguise?

Taking ten thousand steps back, even assuming that the little fox demon who stayed by Song Shiyuan’s side that day really was the Fox Monarch transformed through illusions, she had already taken her own life before everyone, and even her corpse was ground to dust by Jiang Hongliang.

Yet that Fox Monarch could still be lively and go on dates with Master.

Even with all this, it still couldn’t clear the little fox demon’s suspicion in Liu Funing’s heart?

Song Shiyuan only felt sad.

The sword sect members’ prejudice against fox demons was deeply rooted and difficult to change.

“Has Sect Master Liu ever seen the Fox Monarch’s true appearance?” Song Shiyuan asked.

“I have not.” Liu Funing frowned.

She indeed had never seen the Fox Monarch’s real face.

“The little fox demon, she is not the Fox Monarch.”

The little fox demon couldn’t possibly be the Fox Monarch. Song Shiyuan had confirmed this.

First, Song Shiyuan knew what the Fox Monarch looked like.

That Eighth Realm great demon couldn’t possibly be so idle as to transform her appearance to deceive her, a small Fourth Realm sword cultivator.

Second, fox demon illusions could only deceive a cultivator’s senses. They couldn’t actually change one’s bodily form.

Song Shiyuan had been very intimate with the little fox demon.

She had kissed and caressed that face that fascinated her so deeply.

She could confirm that the little fox demon’s face had not been concealed with any illusions.

Given all this, the little fox demon couldn’t possibly be the Fox Monarch.

“Since Sect Master Liu has never seen the Fox Monarch, then why are you so certain that my beloved was the Fox Monarch? Was it because of the mask she wore?” Song Shiyuan asked in return.

That mask had been worn by the Fox Monarch during her campaigns and was stained with the Fox Monarch’s True Fox Spirit.

So it could make the little fox demon’s aura become the same as the Fox Monarch’s, even allowing her to deceive the Fox Palace’s formation restrictions.

This was the only thing Song Shiyuan could think of.