Volume 3, Chapter 205 – Host, We Found Her

Lu Zhuxin still remembered that the last dream was the Silver Bell Snow Mountain of the Snow Fox Tribe.

That was Hu Xian’er’s homeland.

And now, this crimson red grassland before Lu Zhuxin’s eyes was the Red Fox Tribe’s encampment, wasn’t it?

This was Hu Mei’er’s dream.

“Mei’er.” Lu Zhuxin looked at Hu Mei’er beside her. “I saw those two Sin Moon Tower assassins chase after you. Are you alright?”

Those two Sin Moon Tower assassins, one Fifth Realm and one Sixth Realm. Logically speaking, they shouldn’t pose any threat to Hu Mei’er.

However, human assassins were sinister and ruthless. Hu Mei’er was also too innocent. Lu Zhuxin was still somewhat worried Hu Mei’er would suffer a loss.

“Your Majesty…” Hearing this, Hu Mei’er’s eyes immediately reddened. “ Wuu … Mei’er is useless. I’ve betrayed Your Majesty’s trust. This time, I let those two assassins escape again. Wuu …”

“They escaped?” Lu Zhuxin looked at Hu Mei’er’s tearful appearance and couldn’t help but laugh softly. “If they escaped, they escaped. It’s no big deal. We’ll capture them next time.”

“Your Majesty… It’s because Mei’er is useless. Mei’er couldn’t even beat those two human cultivators.” Hu Mei’er rubbed her reddened eyes.

She briefly told Lu Zhuxin about what happened in the forest earlier.

“So that’s how they escaped.” Lu Zhuxin felt slightly surprised.

However, though it was beyond expectations, it was within reason.

As assassins, carrying a teleportation talisman as a life-saving measure was reasonably justified.

“It’s fine now, Mei’er.”

Lu Zhuxin reached out and ran her hand through Hu Mei’er’s smooth hair, comforting her. “After all, no one could have expected those two assassins would carry spatial teleportation talismans.

“However, this kind of life-saving teleportation talisman only works when used unexpectedly. If someone knows about it in advance and is prepared, they can plan for it as well.”

“Really, Your Majesty?” Hu Mei’er blinked her slightly red eyes.

“Of course.” Lu Zhuxin smiled. “Forcing out their trump card is Mei’er’s achievement. Even if Xian’er were here, she couldn’t find any fault.”

In fact, spatial magic was one of the more difficult types of cultivator magic to guard against.

Lu Zhuxin had once used this method to slip away from Song Shiyuan with the golden cicada-shedding-its-shell trick.

Even if Hu Mei’er knew that those assassins possessed escape teleportation talismans, without sufficient strength, preparing countermeasures in advance wasn’t easy.

However, after receiving Lu Zhuxin’s comfort, Hu Mei’er’s mood clearly improved considerably.

When Lu Zhuxin raised her hand to rub her fluffy, soft fox ears, Hu Mei’er even squinted her eyes with an expression of enjoyment on her face.

Mei’er was really easy to coax.

However, Mei’er’s ears were really soft.

Touching someone else’s ears was more comfortable than touching her own.

After clearing her throat, Lu Zhuxin said, “Those two escaped assassins don’t need our attention for now. Compared to them, we have more important matters.”

Lu Zhuxin recalled the plot involving Sin Moon Tower in the original text. In the early stages of the original text, Sin Moon Tower had little plot presence.

Only in the later stages did Lu Zhuxin design the plot for the Heaven-Mandated Male Lead Song Shixuan to subdue Sin Moon Tower.

However, that was after the male lead Song Shixuan had completely matured.

The current Song Shixuan had not only had two important opportunity points severed by Lu Zhuxin, but had also suffered severe damage from her.

Therefore, his growth had definitely been significantly affected.

Because of this, Lu Zhuxin didn’t need to worry about Song Shixuan connecting with the  Sin Moon Tower for now.

Since that was the case, Sin Moon Tower’s priority could naturally be appropriately lowered.

For Lu Zhuxin, the matters of the Seven Sword Sects and the Chi family now required more of her attention.

Lu Zhuxin withdrew her hand from rubbing the fox ears and asked Hu Mei’er.

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“Pheromone detection stones are scarce in number. The Seven Sword Sects themselves don’t have much stock. How could they suddenly lend such rare stones to the imperial court’s Demon Suppression Bureau?”

“And only assign a few outer sect disciples to protect them?”

“Moreover, why did our intelligence network receive no word of this beforehand?”

Seeing Lu Zhuxin withdraw her hand, Hu Mei’er’s face showed some reluctance.

However, she knew she couldn’t delay important matters because of a momentary attachment.

“Your Majesty, regarding this matter, we’ve already inquired with Sect Master Huang.”

“Sect Master Huang didn’t know about the sword sects lending out pheromone detection stones.”

“During the Seven Sword Sects conference, no one mentioned this matter either.”

“Therefore, this matter should only be Lingxiao Sword Sect’s unilateral action…”

After hearing this, Lu Zhuxin’s expression changed slightly.

“It wasn’t mentioned during the Seven Sword Sects conference?”

“Did Huang Xifeng inquire whether any sword sect besides Lingxiao Sword Sect lent out pheromone detection stones?”

Hu Mei’er pondered for a while, carefully recalling the intelligence she obtained from Huang Huying. “Sect Master Huang only mentioned that Lingxu Sword Sect and Qinglan Sword Sect didn’t lend out pheromone detection stones.”

Lu Zhuxin was surprised. She mused, “Qinglan Sword Sect actually didn’t participate?”

Hu Mei’er continued, “Your Majesty, Sect Master Huang also asked whether Lingxu Sword Sect needs to do anything regarding the imperial court’s Demon Suppression Bureau and Seven Sword Sects’ joint operation this time?”

Lu Zhuxin furrowed her brows. After contemplating for a moment, she said with a solemn expression, “Given the current situation, Lingxu Sword Sect cannot get involved anymore.”

“Go tell Huang Xifeng that for this Seven Sword Sects and Demon Suppression Bureau operation, whatever the other sword sects do, Lingxu Sword Sect should do the same. Stick to their duties and fully cooperate with the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

“Regarding the pheromone detection stone matter, have Huang Xifeng pretend she doesn’t know.”

Hu Mei’er’s face showed some confusion. “Your Majesty, why is this?”

“Not just Lingxiao Sword Sect, even the imperial court and the other sword sects suspect there’s a mole within the Seven Sword Sects.” Lu Zhuxin said. “The pheromone detection stone matter is a very dangerous signal.”

If the first fox demon this thing encountered in Beihe Commandery wasn’t Lu Zhuxin, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

“Lingxu Sword Sect is very important to the fox clan. The more such times arise, the more we cannot expose ourselves.”

“Try not to use intelligence from Lingxu Sword Sect anymore, because that might be bait deliberately thrown to Lingxu Sword Sect by someone.”

“If we borrow too much, it will easily expose Lingxu Sword Sect.”

Lu Zhuxin raised her hand to rub her forehead, her eyes revealing some fatigue.

Pheromone detection stones were scarce in number. Even the most powerful Lingxu Sword Sect among the Seven Sword Sects couldn’t equip every dispatched disciple group with pheromone detection stones.

Why did this pheromone detection stone happen to appear in Beihe Commandery, one of the Nine Heavens and Twelve Commanderies?

Moreover, for such an important stone, Lingxiao Sword Sect only dispatched a group of outer sect disciples to protect it.

If Lingxiao Sword Sect’s disciples were scarce and manpower insufficient, that would be one thing.

But working with the sword sects was also the Demon Suppression Bureau. How could even the Demon Suppression Bureau be like this?

Lu Zhuxin felt that this matter was filled with abnormalities everywhere.

It was almost as if… it was deliberately sent out to be destroyed…

At this thought, Lu Zhuxin’s eyes suddenly narrowed slightly.

“That pheromone detection stone at the city gate… is very likely just bait…”

Although pheromone detection stones were useful, they were scarce in number and had considerable limitations.

Just placing them at city gates to inspect for fox demons was neither efficient nor reasonable.

Fox demons weren’t fools. Seeing such a setup, they could naturally avoid it from far away.

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“The sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau openly displayed that demon-detecting stone. It was more like announcing to the hidden fox demons that they possessed treasures capable of detecting fox demons hidden among humans…”

“As long as the demon-detecting stone remains in the Demon Suppression Bureau’s hands, it poses a great threat to the fox clan…”

“Are the sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau’s purpose to lure fox demons to appear and actively destroy that stone?”

“But after Hu Mei’er destroyed that stone, it didn’t trigger any commotion, did it?”

“If that really was a trap deliberately set by the sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau, why has there been no reaction until now?”

“This doesn’t make sense…”

Lu Zhuxin furrowed her brows, her face showing contemplation.

“No… that’s not right… perhaps matters aren’t so simple.”

“The pheromone detection stone is covered with powerful restrictions. Destroying it isn’t an easy matter…”

Lu Zhuxin had personally held that stone. She knew how powerful the restrictions covering that stone were.

Lu Zhuxin relied on her Eighth Realm great demon’s spiritual consciousness to find the restriction’s flaw on that stone. Through Hu Mei’er’s hands, she destroyed that stone while also fabricating the illusion that the stone was destroyed by coincidence.

And this was precisely where the problem lay.

Lu Zhuxin pressed her forehead, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

Previously, she had no choice but to destroy that stone.

If she hadn’t destroyed that stone, she would have already exposed her true form before Chi Xiyan.

It was all that damned Chi Zhong’s fault. If he hadn’t troubled Chi Xiyan at this particular time, Lu Zhuxin wouldn’t have risked changing her plan.

And precisely because of this, Lu Zhuxin had inadvertently fallen into the Seven Sword Sects’ trap.

“To destroy that stone, one must first break the restrictions. That requires at least Seventh Realm spiritual consciousness, combined with Sixth Realm level power.”

“The Demon Suppression Bureau and sword sects cast a wide net, distributing those stones to various locations…”

“Wherever a pheromone detection stone is destroyed proves a powerful fox clan member exists there…”

At this thought, a cold smile appeared on Lu Zhuxin’s face.

“Using precious gemstones to exchange for the whereabouts of powerful fox clan members. Is this trade really profitable?”

Compared to other demon realm races, the fox clan truly had far fewer powerful members. And powerful members who could be dispatched to human territories as inside agents were even rarer.

Of course, even if powerful members were scarce, they could, like Hu Mei’er, quickly flee after destroying the gemstone.

Normally, if the sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau didn’t secretly dispatch powerful members to protect the pheromone detection stones and wait for prey, this would simply be a losing transaction.

However, Lu Zhuxin confirmed that no powerful members were near that stone.

Therefore, this matter may not have been so simple.

There might be other reasons involved.

“The sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau didn’t set powerful guards, perhaps because the target they’re truly seeking could easily see through their concealment…”

“The sword sects and Demon Suppression Bureau’s real intention lies elsewhere…”

A very unpleasant speculation surged in Lu Zhuxin’s heart.

“Regardless of who came up with this idea behind the scenes, their real target is very likely me!”

The Fox Monarch’s cultivation was very strong, an existence second only to the Venerable Saint level.

Previously, Lingxiao Sword Sect Master Jiang Hongliang only dared attack the Fox Monarch when her cultivation greatly decreased during her heat period.

Ordinary Seventh or Eighth Realm powerhouses simply couldn’t be the Fox Monarch’s match.

“They didn’t set powerful guards because this pheromone detection stone fundamentally isn’t meant to trap any ordinary powerful fox clan members…”

“It’s only meant to probe the Fox Monarch’s whereabouts…”

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Where the Fox Monarch personally arrives, powerful fox clan members will definitely follow.

Setting powerful guards would instead alert the prey.

But this speculation still had one problem it couldn’t explain well.

“Lingxiao Sword Sect, or perhaps the imperial court’s Demon Suppression Bureau… how did they know the Fox Monarch came to the human territories?”

Lu Zhuxin’s previous speculations were all based on the mastermind knowing the Fox Monarch’s whereabouts.

If the fact that the Fox Monarch came to the human territories was false, then all the previous reasoning would fail to hold.

Given the fox clan’s loyalty to the Fox Monarch in the original book’s setting, the possibility of news leaking from within the fox clan was very low.

In fact, even within the fox clan, only a few high-ranking fox clan members like Hu Xian’er and Huang Huying knew Lu Zhuxin came to the human territories.

If the news didn’t leak from within the fox clan…

Lu Zhuxin suddenly had an ominous premonition.

This feeling had only appeared when confronting and maneuvering with Qu Qingtang.

“Could it be… within the Seven Sword Sects and Demon Suppression Bureau, there exists someone similar to Qu Qingtang?”

Thinking of Qu Qingtang made Lu Zhuxin’s heart grow complicated again.

In the end, she never figured out Qu Qingtang’s origins and background, nor did she understand her true purpose.

Only one thing was certain. That woman was extremely dangerous to Lu Zhuxin.

Unknown background, powerful strength, and intelligence sources like cheating…

Anyone facing such an opponent would feel their scalp tingle.

Lu Zhuxin could counter Qu Qingtang partly due to luck.

“Ugh! A storm is approaching…” Lu Zhuxin sighed.

She just wanted to play a romance development game with the female leads she wrote, clear the game and go home smoothly. Why were there so many off-field factors affecting the game experience?

“Your Majesty, have you discovered something?” Hu Mei’er asked Lu Zhuxin.

When Lu Zhuxin was thinking just now, Hu Mei’er hadn’t dared disturb her.

Now seeing Lu Zhuxin seemed to have figured things out, she dared to inquire.

Lu Zhuxin rubbed her forehead. “I indeed thought of some things I really didn’t want to see.”

“Ah, this is so troublesome!”

She complained dissatisfiedly.

Hu Mei’er didn’t understand.

Lu Zhuxin had no intention of explaining. She couldn’t explain such matters to anyone.

Lu Zhuxin only said, “Mei’er, Xian’er should be aware of all our experiences in human territories, right?”

“Mm.” Hu Mei’er nodded. “Sister Xian’er specifically instructed that all intelligence regarding Your Majesty must be transmitted to her in detail.”

After speaking, Hu Mei’er asked again, “Your Majesty, have you discovered some problem?”

“It’s hard to say right now.” Lu Zhuxin supported her face. “After all, there’s no evidence to corroborate my speculation.”

However, Lu Zhuxin never needed any evidence when doing things.

“I have several matters I need you to notify everyone about.”

“First, collect intelligence and investigate all locations where pheromone detection stones have appeared. If any are discovered, you may attempt to destroy those stones while ensuring your own safety.”

Originally, Lu Zhuxin wanted fox demons to destroy those stones at any cost.

However, issuing this order now would feel like self-deception.

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It would be blatantly telling the mastermind that Lu Zhuxin had already noticed her intentions.

Therefore, there was no longer that necessity.

“Second, have the fox demons lurking in human territories, as well as Hu Xian’er, prepare emergency contingency plans. The Fox Monarch’s whereabouts may have already been leaked.”

Hearing this, Hu Mei’er’s face was full of shock. “Your Majesty’s whereabouts have been leaked?!”

“Don’t panic. It’s only a possibility.” Lu Zhuxin said. “Regardless, preparing in advance is never wrong.”

“Um… Mei’er understands.” Hu Mei’er pressed her lips together slightly. She said softly, “No matter what happens, Mei’er will protect Your Majesty well.”

“Also, one last matter…” Lu Zhuxin continued. “Song Shiyuan is still at Lingxu Sword Sect, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Hu Mei’er nodded.

Although Hu Mei’er didn’t like that little sword cultivator, she still answered truthfully. “Sect Master Huang has been having her daughter Huang Shangshang watch over her.”

Lu Zhuxin lightly tapped her lips with her finger. “Have Huang Shangshang watch her well. During this period, Song Shiyuan cannot get involved in sword sect matters.”

“Even more, she cannot leave Lingxu Sword Sect.”

…

Human territories, Nine Heavens and Twelve Commanderies, Central Heaven Royal Capital.

The vast imperial city stood upon the earth. At the very center of this ancient imperial city was the Human Emperor’s residence.

Golden and magnificent, imposing and grand. The Human Emperor’s Palace was as dazzling as the blazing sun. Its might reached the clouds, its presence dominated the sky.

A maid wearing palace robes hurried through the imperial palace.

She came before the palace doors, holding a sealed scroll with restrictions, and bowed slightly to the sword-bearing maid guarding outside the palace.

“Urgent transmission from Lingxiao Sword Sect. Must be immediately presented to Her Majesty.”

The sword-bearing maid was expressionless. She was about to receive this sealed scroll.

But at that moment, from within the great hall, a lazy female voice came. “No need for such trouble. Just bring it directly in.”

As soon as the words fell, the maid felt her hands lighten. The sealed scroll had already disappeared from her hands, remotely seized by the person within the hall.

“Your Majesty.” She quickly bowed.

Inside the great hall, a young girl wearing imperial robes half-reclined on a couch.

The gorgeous imperial crown had been removed by her, carelessly tossed aside like some worthless trinket.

Her smooth black hair had lost its restraints and naturally cascaded down.

The young girl unrolled the sealed scroll in her hand. The restrictions upon it were entirely opened with a single brush of her index finger.

She finished reading the message on this sealed scroll, a smile appearing on her face.

“Lingxiao Sword Sect previously sent out seven pheromone detection stones to various commandery capitals.”

“Three genuine, four fake.”

“And one of these genuine ones, not long after arriving at the commandery city, was destroyed by someone.”

“This is much earlier than I anticipated.”

“Hehe.”

“If my prediction is correct, she should be right there.”

“Beihe Commandery.”

『Congratulations, Host. Successfully located the conquest target’s whereabouts.』