Chapter Thirteen: The Celestial Fox Clan

As the saying goes, monsters dwell deep within the mountains and forests, and wherever monsters roam, there are always innocent victims. This could not be truer—for not three hundred meters from us, countless piles of bleached bones lay scattered among the woods.

Some of the remains resembled human skeletons, others those of wild beasts. The bones were so jumbled together that it was almost impossible to find a single intact skeleton. Judging from the degree of weathering, most had lain here for at least ten years, though some newer bones were also visible.

"Why are there so many bones here? Didn't you say this place was isolated from the outside world?" I couldn't help but ask Lin Weiyan.

Old Jiang interjected, "Don't underestimate these bones. None of them belonged to ordinary people—each was someone with a measure of cultivation."

Feng Zimo, standing by, nodded in agreement. "It's a long story, but about twenty years ago, a large group of cultivators broke in. They killed every monster they encountered, seemingly searching for something. In the end, they angered the Black Third Master here. Not only did they fail to find what they sought, but every one of them lost their lives."

He added, "This is only what I've heard. As for that Black Third Master, I've been here three years and have never seen him."

"So, by your account, this Black Third Master can't be much of a saint either?" I said.

Feng Zimo replied, "I can't say for sure. If you judge him solely because he killed those cultivators, I think that's unfair."

"And why is that?" I asked.

Lin Weiyan replied, "If those cultivators hadn't slaughtered monsters indiscriminately, they wouldn't have provoked Black Third Master. They deserved what came to them."

"You can't say that. Slaying monsters is a cultivator's duty," I retorted.

She replied, "Not all monsters are evil. Just as among humans, there are the good and the bad—so it is with us. If cultivators kill without distinction, how are they any different from the monsters they seek to eradicate?"

"You—"

Just as I was about to retort, Old Jiang grew impatient. "Enough! Stop squabbling and let's get moving."

No sooner had he stepped forward than a chill wind swept past, quickly rising to a howling gale.

"Everyone, be careful..." Feng Zimo warned.

The wind intensified, whistling around us until we struggled to stand our ground. Within minutes, the forest echoed with ghostly wails and wolfish howls, ceaseless and mournful.

Listening closely, I discerned an eerie phrase woven into the shrieks—a voice hollow and cold.

Straining my ears, I could just barely make out the words: "Long time no see..."

I wasn't sure if the others had heard it. I leaned toward Lin Weiyan and shouted in her ear, "Did you hear someone speaking?"

She replied she hadn't and asked what I'd heard.

"Nothing much," I said. "Just 'long time no see.'"

The gale still raged, but Feng Zimo conjured a spell, forming a protective barrier to shield us from the wind.

"Not bad—you've got some skill," Lin Weiyan praised him. "Saves me the trouble."

Feng Zimo smiled modestly. "Just a minor trick."

I had to admit, his smile was striking—if he appeared in our city, he'd surely turn countless girls' heads.

As we spoke, a shadowy figure flickered before us.

Even though the shadow stood only a short distance away, I could not make out his features—nor, it seemed, could Lin Weiyan, formidable as she was.

Old Jiang, for all his stubbornness, seemed even less formidable than Lin Weiyan. As for Feng Zimo, I'd yet to witness his true strength.

The shadow struck, shattering Feng Zimo's protective circle, though by now the wind had died.

At some point, Lin Weiyan had stepped protectively in front of me, perhaps fearing the shadow meant me harm. She had sworn to keep me safe, after all, and she'd not lied about that.

Yet as a man, I couldn't always let a woman shield me—what would people say if word got out?

So, on a sudden impulse, I pulled Lin Weiyan behind me. "Let me protect you this time," I said.

She stared at me in shock, as if at a loss for words.

Clutching my electric baton, I thought grimly that if this guy tried anything, I'd shock him to kingdom come. At the same time, I began circulating the Nine Palaces Nether Resolve within myself, ready for whatever might happen.

Old Jiang and Feng Zimo had already prepared themselves for a fight.

Yet the shadow simply stood there, unmoving. And me, I could never keep my mouth shut.

Seeing that he neither spoke nor attacked, I grew impatient and, echoing the Monkey King's words, called out, "What sort of monster are you?"

The shadow had been watching me all along, though his features remained indistinct.

At last, he spoke, his voice the same as the one I'd heard in the wind: "I thought it was him who had come, but it seems he gave you the Crimson-Eyed Demon Pupil. That makes things easier."

No sooner had he finished than I felt something clamp around my throat, lifting me off the ground in an instant.

When I realized what was happening, the shadow was holding me aloft by the neck.

Lin Weiyan tried to intervene, but the shadow flicked her aside with a wave. Old Jiang and Feng Zimo attacked as well, but they were no match for him and were swiftly cast down.

Dangling in the air, struggling to breathe, veins bulging on my forehead, I heard the shadow say, "Be good. Give me those eyes of yours."

With that, he reached toward my face, and I knew that if he gouged out my eyes, I'd be blind forever.

Desperate, I fought back, searching for any way to delay him.

"What do you want with my eyes?"

The shadow, hearing this, paused, his voice suddenly feverish. "Those eyes are a treasure. With them, I could rule over all the monster clans beneath the heavens."

Growing more excited, he hurled me to the ground, then bent close, hissing, "Will you give them to me, or must I take them by force? I should mention—I’m not gentle."

Just as I was about to shout "Never," Lin Weiyan charged in, a two-foot-long jade sword in her hand.

The shadow sneered coldly, "Out of respect for your Heavenly Fox bloodline, I was willing to let you go. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness."