Volume 1, Chapter 63 – How could it be, Ming Zhaoxi

Although they were supposed to exchange tokens of affection, Lu Zhuxin possessed nothing. She had arrived in this other world with only herself and had nothing she could give to Song Shiyuan.

Of course, if she wanted to, she could take some treasures from the Fox Palace’s treasury.

But doing so would easily expose her identity.

And it would also defeat the purpose of exchanging gifts.

In that case, it was better to simply not give anything at all.

Fortunately, Song Shiyuan could understand. What could a single-tailed fox demon maidservant possibly have to give her?

Therefore, she didn’t insist.

Song Shiyuan found a small wooden plaque and carved two names on it.

(Song Shiyuan X Ming Zhaoxi)

Lu Zhuxin looked at this wooden plaque, her expression somewhat subtle.

Mmm, how childish.

[Heh…]

Well, at least right now, Lu Zhuxin’s reaction was in sync with the System’s.

Lu Zhuxin watched as Song Shiyuan solemnly hung the wooden plaque on the ancient tree of marriage, her expression growing even more subtle.

“Now, where else shall we go play?” Song Shiyuan asked. She wore a smile like a blossoming flower and looked very happy.

The silver-haired fox demon girl suddenly seemed to remember something. She said, “Ah! Look at Axi’s memory.”

“A few older sisters in the Fox Palace asked Axi to buy some things for them.”

“Axi’s been playing all this time and almost forgot.”

Song Shiyuan opened her mouth, about to ask if she needed to accompany her, when she caught a glimpse of moon-white in her peripheral vision.

Her pupils immediately contracted slightly.

“Ming Zhaoxi, I…” Song Shiyuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

“No need, no need!” The silver-haired little fox demon waved her hands. “Shiyuan, you’ve been walking around with me for so long, you must be tired. I’ll just go by myself.”

“You find somewhere to rest. Later, we’ll meet back here. I won’t make you wait too long.”

“…” Song Shiyuan pondered for a moment, then said, “Alright!”

The little fox demon ran off. Song Shiyuan watched her leave the entire time.

Only after that petite figure had completely disappeared from view did Song Shiyuan turn and leave.

Song Shiyuan was certain. She hadn’t mistaken that flash of moon-white wandering spirit just now.

This was a secret communication method for Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples.

There were Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples in Mingzhao City!

Song Shiyuan’s heart suddenly became burning hot.

She never expected to encounter people from her sect here.

“Is that Junior Martial Sister Song?” A young man in blue robes appeared before Song Shiyuan.

Although he was dressed like a down-and-out scholar, the sharp sword intent on his body simply couldn’t be faked.

“Which Senior Martial Brother from Lingxiao Sword Sect might you be?” Song Shiyuan asked cautiously.

“Junior Martial Sister Song hasn’t met me. My name is Lu Guan, a disciple under Sect Master Jiang.” As Lu Guan spoke, he took out a jade pendant and showed it to Song Shiyuan.

“So it’s Senior Martial Brother Lu.” Song Shiyuan looked clearly and saw that the jade token was indeed Lingxiao Sword Sect’s identification. She had seen an identical one on her brother Song Shixuan.

Lu Guan added, “This isn’t a place to talk. Junior Martial Sister Song, please come with me.”

Lu Guan led Song Shiyuan through various twists and turns, finally arriving at a remote and shabby inn.

They went straight upstairs.

Entering the room, Song Shiyuan saw a group of familiar sword cultivators.

All were senior martial brothers and sisters from Lingxiao Sword Sect.

When these sword cultivators saw Song Shiyuan, every one of them showed surprise on their faces.

“It’s Junior Martial Sister Song!”

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“Senior Martial Brother Lu, you actually found Junior Martial Sister Song!”

“Junior Martial Sister Song! Are you alright? We heard you were captured by fox demons. The senior and junior martial brothers and sisters in the sect were all very worried about you!”

“Everyone!” Seeing these familiar people again, Song Shiyuan felt her eyes grow slightly sore, as if separated by a lifetime.

“Ah! Junior Martial Sister Song has suffered! We senior brothers came too late!”

Song Shiyuan sat down and exchanged pleasantries with the various sword sect senior brothers for a while before learning what had happened.

It turned out that shortly after the Young Sect Master went missing, Lingxiao Sword Sect discovered that the training team Song Shiyuan was in had also disappeared.

After some investigation, the sect elders suspected that Young Sect Master Song Shixuan and the other senior and junior martial brothers had all been captured by the World-Ending Fox Monarch and brought to the Fox Palace.

Therefore, the sect organized an elite team to investigate in fox clan territory and find an opportunity for rescue.

However, although the fox clan wasn’t strong in combat, their intelligence network was extremely formidable. To avoid attracting the fox clan’s attention, they had concealed their tracks along the way, keeping a low profile. They had only recently entered the fox clan’s Mingzhao City.

Senior Martial Brother Lu Guan had been conducting routine investigations in the area when he happened to discover Song Shiyuan, which was why he revealed himself.

Song Shiyuan’s experiences equally shocked all the sword sect disciples.

No one had expected that not only was Song Shiyuan captured by fox demons, but she had also become the World-Ending Fox Monarch’s female consort.

Everyone said, “These fox demons are truly going too far!”

“Moreover, listening to Junior Martial Sister Song’s description, it sounds like they knew Junior Martial Sister Song’s identity and went straight for her?”

One senior brother raised this question.

“Aren’t the sect disciples’ training routes all internal secrets? How could the fox demons know your training route?”

This was also a point that had been puzzling Song Shiyuan.

She couldn’t understand who would do such a thing, or why.

At this moment, Lu Guan spoke up, “There’s a traitor within the sect. The Sect Master has long suspected this.”

“Right now, the sect elders are thoroughly investigating this matter. Presumably it won’t be long before there’s a result.”

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Song Shiyuan, however, frowned.

She thought of that sword cultivator scum surnamed “Song.” Could that be the Lingxiao Sword Sect traitor Lu Guan was talking about?

Was it also him who sold out Song Shiyuan’s whereabouts?

So that’s why she was “sold” into the Fox Palace?

Song Shiyuan told them what she had heard.

Everyone fell silent.

“This matter is of great importance. We can’t draw conclusions based on this alone,” Lu Guan said. “However, I will report this matter to the sect elders and have them investigate this sword sect disciple surnamed Song.”

Song Shiyuan nodded. Having the sect handle such matters was the best choice.

“Junior Martial Sister Song, you’ve suffered these past days,” Lu Guan sighed.

Song Shiyuan shook her head.

Actually, the fox demons in the Fox Palace had all treated her quite well. Apart from spending a few days in the dungeon at the beginning, she hadn’t really suffered any wrongs.

The other senior brothers hadn’t been so fortunate.

“What about the Young Sect Master? Is there any news of him?” Lu Guan asked.

“Senior Martial Brother Song, he…” Song Shiyuan thought of the fragments of conversation she had heard in the Fox Palace.

She said hesitantly, “I only heard the fox demons say he was also brought into the Fox Palace, but I haven’t encountered him.”

“What a pity…” Lu Guan’s face showed disappointment.

They had come for the Young Sect Master. If there was no news of the Young Sect Master, this was not good news at all.

Seeing this, Song Shiyuan said, “Actually, these days posing as the Fox Monarch’s female consort haven’t been completely without gain.”

As Song Shiyuan spoke, she took out a map drawn on white undergarment fabric.

“Th-th-this is…”

Everyone looked and was shocked.

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“This is the layout of the Fox Palace and a diagram of the formation passages connecting to Mingzhao City,” Song Shiyuan said. “My attainments in the Dao of formations are limited. What I could make out is only this much.”

These were all things Song Shiyuan had deliberately observed and recorded during her seemingly aimless wandering in the Fox Palace.

During this time, she hadn’t been completely immersed in the little fox demon’s tender embrace.

She truly did enjoy being intimate with the little fox demon, but that didn’t mean she would forget her identity and purpose.

And with the female consort collar around her neck, the fox demons in the Fox Palace were almost completely unguarded around her.

“Having these things is already enough!” Lu Guan held the map, his eyes delighted. “Junior Martial Sister Song, you’ve just made a great contribution!”

“Look, everyone! With this map, we can clearly plan out a rescue route!”

“Right! Go this way!” Lu Guan pointed to a spot on the map. “The fox clan isn’t skilled at formations. There are many hidden loopholes in the Fox Palace’s formations!”

“We just need to go from this place, and we can avoid most of the formation’s restrictions! As for the small remaining portion, we just need to…”

Lu Guan spoke incessantly.

Only then did Song Shiyuan discover that this Senior Martial Brother Lu Guan, whom she had never met before, was actually a great master of formations.

“But this method still carries certain risks,” Lu Guan raised his head. “So the key to breaking the formation still rests on you.”

“Me?” Song Shiyuan was astonished.

“Yes, Junior Martial Sister Song. For this rescue plan, we still need someone familiar with the Fox Palace’s terrain to coordinate from inside and outside to break through the Fox Palace’s formation!”

“Wait… we’re really going to rescue people from inside the Fox Palace?” Song Shiyuan said in surprise. “The Fox Palace is filled with countless restrictions! And there’s also the Eighth Realm Nine-Tailed Fox Monarch present. This is too dangerous!”

“Junior Martial Sister Song need not worry! The World-Ending Fox Monarch has no way to act,” Lu Guan said.

“The World-Ending Fox Monarch won’t act? Why?” Song Shiyuan was puzzled.

“We have an extremely reliable source of information. The World-Ending Fox Monarch’s heat period has arrived early. During this time, she doesn’t dare use her cultivation casually, much less get close to or fight with sword cultivators,” Lu Guan continued. “Moreover, for this rescue, the Sect Master has also come.”

“If an Eighth Realm powerhouse truly acts, the Sect Master will intercept them for us.”

Song Shiyuan’s face showed shock once again.

She had stayed in the Fox Palace for quite some time, so she naturally understood very clearly how dangerous the heat period was for fox demons.

And that Nine-Tailed Fox Monarch’s heat period was an absolute secret concerning the entire fox clan.

Where did Lingxiao Sword Sect obtain such intelligence?

Moreover, even the Eighth Realm Sect Master Jiang had come to Mingzhao City.

This time, Lingxiao Sword Sect was truly planning something earth-shattering?

Senior Martial Brother Lu Guan saw the confusion on Song Shiyuan’s face and explained, “Junior Martial Sister Song need not worry. The source of this intelligence is absolutely classified and reliable.”

“Alright.” Even though Song Shiyuan had her doubts, seeing that the various senior brothers didn’t seem surprised by this, she knew now wasn’t the time to discuss it.

“I can act as an inside agent, but if I want to leave the Fox Palace, there’s still a problem that needs solving.”

Song Shiyuan smiled bitterly. She raised her hand to pull at her collar slightly, revealing the metal collar inside.

“This is… the Fox Palace’s female consort collar?!” A sword cultivator recognized what was around Song Shiyuan’s neck.

“The female consort collar made by the Fox Palace can’t be forcibly opened without Void Breaking stage cultivation.”

“Unless… there’s a grandmaster skilled in the Dao of crafting.”

A sword cultivator suddenly said, “Didn’t we encounter people from Lingxu Sword Sect earlier? They’re also looking for their Young Sect Master, aren’t they?”

“I remember their team has Elder Huang Shi who is a crafting grandmaster!”

“But Lingxu Sword Sect’s relationship with us is just ordinary. Will they help us?”

The various sword cultivators discussed this.

Song Shiyuan listened, her brows furrowing imperceptibly.

Lingxu Sword Sect, Lingxu Sword Sect…

She remembered that the middle-aged sword cultivator who had violated the little fox demon was from Lingxu Sword Sect.

Thinking of this, Song Shiyuan felt inexplicably oppressed in her heart.

Although she knew this emotion was wrong, one desperado’s actions couldn’t represent all of Lingxu Sword Sect, Song Shiyuan still felt displeased with this sect.

After taking several deep breaths in succession, Song Shiyuan finally sighed and said, “I might know where their Young Sect Master is.”

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“Really?” Lu Guan said. “If so, we can use this as a condition to invite the people from Lingxu Sword Sect to join us.”

“The Fox Palace trip is fraught with danger. Having another helping hand means another chance of success.”

Song Shiyuan nodded. “I’ll try my best to help them search for traces of Young Sect Master Huang.”

After that, Lu Guan pulled Song Shiyuan aside to ask many more questions and discuss rescue countermeasures.

Finally, everyone decided that Song Shiyuan would return to the Fox Palace to lie low and search for the whereabouts of the two Young Sect Masters from Lingxu Sword Sect and Lingxiao Sword Sect.

The others would find a way to unite with Lingxu Sword Sect’s forces and launch the main assault from outside.

Lu Guan handed Song Shiyuan several talismans. “These are communication talismans personally crafted by an Eighth Realm sword cultivator. They won’t be hindered by the Fox Palace’s barrier. If you find traces of the Young Sect Master, use these to make contact.”

Song Shiyuan nodded, accepted the talismans, and left first.

What Song Shiyuan didn’t know was that after she left, several Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples took out another map.

Like the map Song Shiyuan had brought, it was also a formation defense diagram of the Fox Palace.

But this map was obviously much more detailed than Song Shiyuan’s hastily sketched one.

It was almost as if it had been personally drawn by the person who had arranged the Fox Palace.

“This is the map Immortal Venerable Qingzhi gave us,” Lu Guan said.

All the disciples placed the two maps together for comparison.

“The map Song Shiyuan drew basically has no problems,” Lu Guan said.

“So Song Shiyuan definitely isn’t that traitor.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

If Song Shiyuan really had betrayed them, they would need to relocate this base.

“But then, we saw Junior Martial Sister Song and that fox demon earlier acting very intimate. What’s that about?” someone asked.

“Junior Martial Sister Song is imprisoned alone in the Fox Palace. Playing along with those fox demons must be unavoidable, right?” someone said.

“We can trust her.”

“Go contact the people from Lingxu Sword Sect.”

…

Song Shiyuan left the inn, her thoughts complicated.

That the sect would send people to rescue her so quickly was something she hadn’t expected.

If she truly could leave, what about the little fox demon?

Thinking this, another idea popped into Song Shiyuan’s mind.

“I can take her and leave together!”

“Take her away from the Fox Palace! Take her away from that place of heartbreak!”

“Take her back to Lingxiao Sword Sect and live a life that belongs to just the two of us!”

“This was what I decided to do in the first place.”

“Once I bring the little fox demon back to Lingxiao Sword Sect, we can buy a courtyard at the foot of Lingxiao Sword Sect’s mountain, buy a few serving maids, far from the mundane world, far from troubles.”

Thinking this way, Song Shiyuan was once again filled with anticipation for the future.

In her heart, she fantasized about being able to live happily together with the little fox demon.

No one could separate them, not even Lingxiao Sword Sect or the World-Ending Fox Monarch!

“Let me go find Ming Zhaoxi first.”

Song Shiyuan checked the time. It was still early; she hadn’t delayed too long.

“I wonder if Axi has finished buying her things.”

Song Shiyuan smiled bitterly and shook her head. Right now, the future she looked forward to was still just a vision. She couldn’t be so hasty.

Just as she was thinking this, Song Shiyuan’s peripheral vision swept across the distance and she suddenly noticed what seemed to be a familiar pink figure in a courtyard by Zhaoxi Lake.

“Ming Zhaoxi?!” Song Shiyuan froze. She stood by the lake gazing into the distance.

Although the distance was a bit far, a Fourth Realm cultivator’s eyesight was already quite good.

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She did indeed see a familiar silhouette.

Although she couldn’t see the front clearly, it was obviously apparent that she was wearing the pink dress Song Shiyuan had just given her. Even in her hair, the white jade hairpin was still inserted.

Song Shiyuan wouldn’t mistake it, that was what she had given to Ming Zhaoxi.

But hadn’t Ming Zhaoxi gone to buy things? How could she appear in the lakeside courtyard?

Just as she was thinking this, Song Shiyuan suddenly noticed that there was a man standing beside the little fox demon.

Song Shiyuan immediately froze.

She felt all the muscles in her body tense to the point of trembling.

That man wore moon-white sword cultivator robes. Starry eyes, sword-like brows, handsome and distinguished.

He wore a smile on his face, leaning close to the little fox demon, his manner intimate.

Song Shiyuan was also extremely familiar with this person.

“It’s… Elder Brother…”

That man was precisely the older brother Song Shiyuan had been searching for earlier.

He was also the Young Sect Master the Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples had been searching for. Song Shixuan.

Song Shixuan—how could he be here?

Wasn’t he captured by fox demons?

Even the other Lingxiao Sword Sect senior and junior martial brothers hadn’t found any information about him.

He was even together with Ming Zhaoxi?

What on earth was going on?!

Song Shiyuan’s mind was full of shock and questions.

She saw that man chat with the little fox demon for a few sentences, then walk away with his arm around her.

Song Shiyuan could confirm that Song Shixuan didn’t have anything like a female consort collar on him.

Even from this distance, she could sense the grass-and-ash-like pure yang energy emanating from Song Shixuan.

Did that man know what it meant to release pure yang energy toward a fox demon?

How could he do this?

“What… is going on?”

Song Shiyuan didn’t understand!

She didn’t even dare believe the scene she had just witnessed.

Was this an illusion?

The little fox demon, wearing the dress Song Shiyuan had given her, wearing the jade hairpin Song Shiyuan had given her, behind Song Shiyuan’s back, having a secret rendezvous by Zhaoxi Lake with Song Shiyuan’s long-missing brother?

But just half an hour ago, the little fox demon had been kissing her beneath the fox clan’s ancient tree of marriage!

Song Shiyuan felt very cold, so cold her teeth were chattering.

She hugged herself tightly, the muscles in her body twitching and tense.

She felt like her blood was gradually freezing.

She even heard a gurgling tinnitus in her ears.

She felt like she couldn’t hear any sounds, couldn’t think about anything in her mind.

Only that nightmare she had almost forgotten kept assaulting her.

Continuously tearing open her fragile heart, tearing it until blood dripped.

The pain was almost numbing.

“Ming Zhaoxi… Ming Zhaoxi…”

“Your love…”

“How can I understand it…” ¹ “如何明昭” (rúhé míngzhāo) literally means “how can I understand/illuminate,” but it also contains the same characters as the name “Ming Zhao”