Volume 2, Chapter 124 – The Moon is Beautiful

Lu Zhuxin’s tongue tip pressed against her teeth.

She averted her gaze.

Pretending to look at the moonlight outside.

“The moon is so beautiful,” she said.

She heard Qu Qingtang’s soft laugh.

“Zhuxin, why don’t you look at me when you say that?”

This woman, she really…

Lu Zhuxin’s breath stopped for an instant at this moment.

“I’m praising the moon, not you.” She muttered softly.

Though her voice was small, it couldn’t escape Qu Qingtang’s ears.

She gazed intently at Lu Zhuxin’s face. The fox clan beauty before her was pure and lovely, with a trace of red on her pretty face, adding a touch of fox-like charm out of thin air.

Among all the states in the world, most were false sentiments and pretenses; true words were hard to find.

Only that blush on the face of a young woman first awakening to love could surpass a thousand words.

“Zhuxin.” Qu Qingtang laughed softly. She reached out her hand and gently tapped Lu Zhuxin’s cheek with her finger.

“When did you apply rouge here?”

“Mm…” Lu Zhuxin turned her head and glared at her.

She mumbled, “I… don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?” Qu Qingtang asked gently.

Lu Zhuxin straightened up, raising her hand to cover her heart.

Her eyes rippled.

“I don’t understand… why you would choose me?”

She raised her head, meeting Qu Qingtang’s gaze.

Qu Qingtang was surprised.

She could see the seriousness in Lu Zhuxin’s eyes.

The girl before her was solemnly asking about her feelings.

Why choose her?

Qu Qingtang had reasons she couldn’t speak aloud.

And those reasons especially couldn’t be known by the girl before her.

“Zhuxin…”

“Does liking someone truly need a reason?” Qu Qingtang looked at Lu Zhuxin.

Liking someone, or falling in love with someone… perhaps it only needed one glance, perhaps only that one moment.

Love at first sight.

“I…” Lu Zhuxin lowered her head slightly. “I still don’t understand…”

“I don’t know what I should do…”

The hand pressed against her chest tightened.

Qu Qingtang saw that the young woman’s conflict and hesitation were written all over her face.

She was hesitating, she was wavering.

She was like someone trapped in the maze of her heart, not knowing where the path lay.

Qu Qingtang moved to her side and reached out to hold her hand.

“Zhuxin… I know you already know my feelings.”

“Now, I want to know your feelings.”

Lu Zhuxin’s hand struggled once but couldn’t break free from Qu Qingtang’s grasp.

“Qingtang…” Lu Zhuxin bit her lip.

She grabbed Qu Qingtang’s wrist.

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“Give me a little more time… let me think about it, okay?”

“After all, this matter concerns the fox clan…”

“And also concerns the entire Demon Realm and the Orthodox sword sect…”

“Let me think about future matters, okay?”

Qu Qingtang looked at her.

The little fox before her had wandering eyes, a flushed face, and a flustered expression.

Her heart was in chaos.

“Alright…” Qu Qingtang nodded.

Going too far was as bad as not going far enough; maintaining balance was the right principle.

Tonight’s progress was already sufficient.

“No matter how much time you need, I will wait for you.” Qu Qingtang released Lu Zhuxin’s hand.

She raised her hand and rubbed Lu Zhuxin’s smooth head.

“I’m fond of you, and this heart and intent will never change.”

Lu Zhuxin lowered her eyes.

Her hands clutched tightly at her sleeves.

Her delicate body trembled lightly.

She mumbled, “Qingtang… actually I…”

“Zhuxin, I know you have concerns.” Qu Qingtang said, “I will wait for you…”

“Whatever difficulties you have, I can help you.”

“I am a Venerable Saint of the sword sect. The rules and precepts of the seven great sword sects cannot bind me.”

“What I want to do, even the Nether Abyss Demon Lord cannot obstruct.”

“Don’t say anymore…” Lu Zhuxin raised her hand to stop her words. “It’s not because of that…”

“Qingtang… actually I’m not…”

“Mm…”

Lu Zhuxin suddenly stopped speaking, her eyes full of conflict.

“Zhuxin, what do you want to say?” Qu Qingtang’s face showed confusion.

“Don’t ask anymore… okay…” Lu Zhuxin stood up.

“Let me think about it alone, Qingtang…”

After saying this, Lu Zhuxin turned and ran out.

…

Qu Qingtang watched Lu Zhuxin’s departing figure, her expression uncertain.

She mimicked Lu Zhuxin’s earlier posture, propping up her chin with one hand on the table.

Her height was much greater than Lu Zhuxin’s, and this posture wasn’t comfortable.

However, a smile of unclear meaning suddenly curved Qu Qingtang’s lips.

“What was she trying to tell me just now?”

“Was she planning to confess everything to me?”

Her eyes smiled, but without warmth.

It was a cold smile.

“System, query target’s favorability status.”

‘Target’s favorability… no change.’

“No change?” Qu Qingtang’s brows turned cold. “Is your detection result really accurate?”

‘The favorability value is the result of comprehensive calculations by detecting changes in the target’s emotional state.’

‘Human thoughts are extremely complex and cannot be completely calculated and quantified with numerical values.

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‘Favorability values can only be used as a reference for strategy and cannot represent the strategy’s outcome.’

“So favorability values cannot completely represent a person’s inner preferences?”

Qu Qingtang’s fingers lightly tapped the table.

“I did so much just now, and her favorability really didn’t change at all?”

‘That’s not the case.’

‘According to detection, during the host’s strategy process, the target’s emotions did indeed fluctuate dramatically.‘

‘The favorability value also indeed showed fluctuations.‘

‘It’s just that after comprehensive calculation and comparison, the final numerical value appears as no change.‘

“Heh… I see.” Qu Qingtang let out a soft laugh.

‘Host, do you have a clue?‘

“That Divine Lord is very skilled at adjusting her own emotions.” Qu Qingtang said. “So-called favorability detection can only detect the most superficial emotional values, right?”

‘Yes, humans won’t hide the emotions arising in their hearts, so favorability values calculated this way are already sufficient.‘

Qu Qingtang continued propping up her chin, but her gaze seemed to pass beyond the courtyard before her, seeing Lu Zhuxin’s fleeing figure.

“Love arises unknowingly and grows deeper still.”

“I wonder how long that Divine Lord plans to deceive herself?”

…

On the other side.

Lu Zhuxin quickly distanced herself from Qu Qingtang’s residence.

Her small hand kept pressing against her chest.

The corner of her lips curved in an arc.

The heart rate that had lost control earlier was now slowly calming down.

Her delicate body trembled lightly, but her heart was extremely excited.

She believed that was the best her acting had ever been since transmigrating.

The accelerated heartbeat was real, the disrupted breathing was real.

The blush on her face was real.

Even that flutter of the heart was real.

The perception of a Venerable Saint was formidable; ordinary lies could never deceive Qu Qingtang.

To deceive Qu Qingtang, the best method was to actually develop feelings for Qu Qingtang herself.

Deceive herself, then she could deceive Qu Qingtang.

Lu Zhuxin had succeeded.

Qu Qingtang hadn’t discovered anything unusual and hadn’t grown suspicious.

She probably truly believed Lu Zhuxin had already fallen for her.

[Host, were you just about to tell Qu Qingtang your origins and confess everything?]

The System’s voice transmitted from her mind.

Lu Zhuxin bit her lower lip. “Yes.”

“I believe that a romantic relationship should be built on mutual understanding.”

“…I’m not the Fox Monarch, not even someone from this world.”

“The long-lasting companionship she wants, I cannot give her.”

“Even… I don’t know which day I might leave this world.”

“In such circumstances, how can I accept her feelings?”

“I cannot feel at ease about it.”

[Host, you’ve really changed a lot.]

“Have I changed?” Lu Zhuxin’s face showed a bitter smile. “If possible, I wouldn’t want this kind of change.”

“Peacefully strategizing those destined heroines, smoothly cutting off the destined male leads’ fortune.”

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“Finally, leaving without attachments to return to my own world.”

“That… would be the best ending.” Lu Zhuxin sighed.

“If possible, I don’t want to provoke anyone.”

[Host, it’s truly good that you can think this way.]

System Miss’s voice seemed filled with relief.

She was very satisfied with Lu Zhuxin’s change.

[However, you can completely accept Qu Qingtang’s feelings. You don’t need to care too much about other things.]

Lu Zhuxin’s expression stirred upon hearing this.

She asked back, “Is this a strategy suggestion from the System?”

[It’s just a small suggestion, unrelated to strategy.]

[Sometimes, romance can have a little bit of selfishness.]

[Besides, if you don’t try to accept her feelings, how can you be one hundred percent certain this romance won’t have a good outcome?]

Lu Zhuxin’s face broke into a smile again. “Then I’ll take your auspicious words, System.”

[Hehe, assisting the host in better strategy is the System’s duty.]

From System’s tone, one could hear she was currently in a very pleasant mood.

[So, when do you plan to accept her feelings?]

“…Let me think about it more.” Lu Zhuxin said.

Accept her feelings?

How could that be possible?!

Every moment spent with that woman, Lu Zhuxin’s thoughts were all about how to eliminate that woman.

“My lord.” Hu Xian’er’s figure appeared before Lu Zhuxin.

“What is it?” Lu Zhuxin asked.

If there wasn’t something urgent, Hu Xian’er generally wouldn’t come find her directly.

Some simple small matters would only be relayed through Hu Mei’er.

“The ancient ruins you were looking for have been found.” Hu Xian’er’s tone remained calm.

The ruins of the Bliss Demon Sect had been found?

This was good news!

This concerned Lu Zhuxin’s future plans for dealing with Qu Qingtang.

“Where is it? Take me there.” Lu Zhuxin said.

…

Qu Qingtang returned to her lodging in the Fox Palace.

She sensed that Lu Zhuxin had left Mingzhao City, but didn’t know where that little fox had gone.

To prevent arousing suspicion, she had no intention of investigating Lu Zhuxin’s whereabouts.

Returning to that small courtyard, Qu Qingtang heard Liu Funing’s voice, along with coughing sounds.

Qu Qingtang frowned slightly. As she entered, she also caught a whiff of an indescribable odor.

What was going on?

“Those fox demons! They’re simply too much!”

Liu Funing’s pretty face was pale. She fiercely slapped the table.

“It’s one thing for them to make me work as a veterinarian for the fox clan’s spirit beasts!”

“But today they actually… actually made me deliver babies for a group of steel-tusk mountain pigs?!”

Liu Funing had never suffered such humiliation in her entire life.

She slapped the table, making a copy of “Postpartum Care for Steel-Tusk Pigs” on the table shake wildly.

“I said I’d never done such a thing! They actually told me to learn on the spot!”

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“This is simply too much! These fox demons simply don’t put the Qinglan Sword Sect in their eyes at all!”

Liu Funing was furious. She looked toward Huang Xifeng, who had been standing by the pillar holding her sword the entire time.

“Sect Leader Huang, those fox demons didn’t give you trouble, did they?”

Huang Xifeng felt somewhat amused.

This girl Liu Funing seemed to have been tormented quite severely by those fox demons. She now seemed to want to find a fellow sufferer to balance her feelings.

Unfortunately, she had found the wrong person.

Song Shiyuan was unwilling to deal with her, Qu Qingtang wasn’t here, and Liu Funing truly had no one else to complain to.

Huang Xifeng only felt both annoyed and amused.

“Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader Liu. Those fox demons didn’t give me trouble.” Huang Xifeng said, “They only had me serve as a guard for the Fox Monarch.”

“Serve as a guard for the Fox Monarch?” Liu Funing was stunned. “Then did you see Immortal Venerable Qingzhi?”

“Naturally I saw her.” Huang Xifeng said, then looked toward the entrance. “See, the Immortal Venerable has just returned.”

“Immortal Venerable Qu.” Liu Funing turned her head and saw Qu Qingtang.

As she spoke, she moved closer to Qu Qingtang. “Are you alright? Those fox demons didn’t give you trouble, did they?!”

Qu Qingtang’s nose twitched slightly.

She keenly stepped back two paces.

“Immortal Venerable?” Liu Funing looked at Qu Qingtang’s retreating movement in astonishment.

“My apologies.” Qu Qingtang realized her movement was inappropriate.

“It’s, it’s fine.” Liu Funing’s expression was somewhat awkward.

Qu Qingtang looked at her. “Wild beasts always like to mark with scent. It’s their nature.”

“And especially spirit beasts with powerful spiritual energy. The scent on their bodies is difficult to remove even with spiritual power and spells.”

“It requires bathing with specific spiritual medicines to wash clean.”

Liu Funing cupped her fists. “Thank you for the Immortal Venerable’s guidance.”

Qu Qingtang nodded slightly, then looked toward Huang Xifeng on the side.

That’s right, when she was beside Lu Zhuxin, among the guards she had sensed was Huang Xifeng’s aura.

Hu Xian’er had really sent Huang Xifeng to guard Lu Zhuxin.

Huang Xifeng was also looking at Qu Qingtang, her expression complex.

“Sect Leader Huang, thank you for your hard work today.” Qu Qingtang said.

“Thank you for the Immortal Venerable’s concern.” Huang Xifeng said, “It was just a small matter, not worth mentioning.”

Huang Xifeng knew her whereabouts couldn’t be hidden, so she didn’t plan to conceal them.

She had been sent by Hu Xian’er, which was also the truth.

It was just that Qu Qingtang’s position in saying this always made Huang Xifeng feel strange.

As if Huang Xifeng had been serving as Qu Qingtang’s guard today.

Qu Qingtang had no intention of continuing to exchange pleasantries in the courtyard.

She walked straight past the two of them.

Song Shiyuan hadn’t rested yet. Hearing Qu Qingtang’s voice, she pushed open her door.

“Master, you’re back.” Song Shiyuan’s expression remained listless. “How was today’s date with the Fox Monarch?”

She lowered her voice, using a soundproofing technique so no one else could hear.

Qu Qingtang looked at her, her face bearing a smile.

“Today was very pleasant.”

Song Shiyuan pressed her dry lips together.

Radiant with glory and in a pleasant mood, it seemed Master and the Fox Monarch’s progress was going quite well.

She should feel happy for her master.

Yet somehow, a trace of sourness welled up in Song Shiyuan’s heart.