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The unexpected death of Lingzheng was a heavy blow to Si Niang. She sat by Lingzheng's remains all night without uttering a word. Xing Ruyi, already feeling guilty and sorrowful, saw Si Niang's state and felt even more distressed. However, at that moment, she couldn't break down; she couldn't show more sadness than Si Niang. Tears swirled in her eyes, and Xing Ruyi took a deep breath, managing to hold back her tears.
Worried that Si Niang might not endure, she quietly prepared a herbal soup for her and coaxed her into drinking it. Once she saw Si Niang fall into a deep sleep, her tears finally flowed freely.
Lingzheng's remains were still in the carriage, merely rearranged and wrapped in a new quilt. Only half of the skull was visible. Xing Ruyi suppressed her grief and gently touched it; the coldness beneath her fingers made her shiver involuntarily. She closed her eyes, and Lingzheng's smiling face appeared in her mind.
Xing Ruyi had long understood the impermanence of life. The loss of her parents during her childhood left an indelible scar on her heart that never healed. Every time she thought of it, she felt an unbearable pain. She once believed that she would never experience such a drastic change again in her life, but in just one night, another scar had formed on her heart—fresh and bloody.
Xing Ruyi couldn't help but ask herself if everything would have been different if she hadn't insisted that Si Niang and Lingzheng accompany her to Qingqiu. They could have stayed safely in Divine Capital, living in the bustling city of Luoyang, running their tavern and selling fragrant Peach Blossom Wine. In two years, Lingzheng would meet someone she liked who also liked her—Ruyi's Husband—tall and handsome, adorned with a phoenix crown and flowing robes, having a grand wedding, followed by the birth of a lovely child. Perhaps it would be a mischievous boy or a lively girl like Lingzheng. In a few years, that toddler would chase after her calling her "Aunt."
Thinking of this, Xing Ruyi suddenly covered her mouth and knelt before Lingzheng, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yin Yuan had been waiting outside the carriage until Xing Ruyi's cries grew louder. Hesitantly, he lifted the curtain. Just one glance changed his expression drastically because at that moment, Xing Ruyi was collapsed over Lingzheng's body, her face as pale as death.
"Mother!" Yin Yuan called out as he jumped into the carriage. "Mother, what happened to you?"
Yin Yuan grasped Xing Ruyi's wrist; just one touch made his face freeze in shock.
"Li Mao!"
"Young Master!" Li Mao had just settled Si Niang when he heard Yin Yuan's voice and hurried over. Seeing Xing Ruyi's condition startled him as well; he anxiously asked, "What happened to the Shopkeeper?"
"Mother's condition is strange; you must go to Yun Village to find Father Fox," Yin Yuan instructed while slowly helping Xing Ruyi up. At this point, Xing Ruyi's complexion shifted from pale to pink and then took on a faint bluish hue.
"What happened to the Fox Demon?" Before Li Mao could leave, the fox appeared outside the carriage and entered without waiting for an answer. Seeing Xing Ruyi's state left him stunned. "What happened to your Fox Demon Mother?"
Yin Yuan shook his head: "I don't know. Just now Mother prepared calming medicine for Si Niang and coaxed her to drink it before returning to this carriage. I saw Mother looking sorrowful because of Lingzheng’s matter so I didn’t disturb her; I just waited outside the carriage. At first, Mother was quiet but then began crying louder and louder until it became unbearable. I thought after venting her emotions she'd feel better so I came in to check on her only to find her fainted beside Lingzheng." He had just checked on his mother and found that there were strange energies flowing within her body—both righteous and evil—making it truly bizarre.
The fox listened intently and also grasped Xing Ruyi's wrist. Just one touch made his expression mirror Yin Yuan’s concern.
The Fox Demon was originally human and naturally possessed pure Yang energy within its body. After crossing over to the Golden Tang Dynasty, it unexpectedly acquired Ghost Techniques from the ghost clan. Since ghosts are associated with Yin energy, using these techniques added Yin Qi within the Fox Demon’s body. This was why he had always stayed close by to watch over and protect her from any harm caused by the interplay of Yin and Yang.
Fortunately, the Fox Demon had maintained good health all along; their use of Ghost Techniques was kept within reasonable limits thanks to Deer Lady’s assistance over the past two years. However, now there were changes occurring in the Fox Demon’s body that were more severe than he had anticipated.
After a moment of contemplation, the fox signaled for Yin Yuan to help lift the Fox Demon up so he could infuse his true essence into her for adjustment.
“Father Fox, let Child handle it!” Yin Yuan stopped the fox, saying, “Father is from the Qingqiu Fox Clan, and carries the bloodline of the Ancient Divine Clan. Your true essence might be too much for Fox Demon to bear. Child is connected to Mother by blood and possesses a ghostly body; perhaps they can suppress the foreign energies within Mother.”
The fox thought for a moment, then nodded and stepped aside, but kept its eyes fixed on Fox Demon.
An hour later, Xing Ruyi's aura finally stabilized. Yin Yuan sighed in relief, supporting Fox Demon and gently returning her to the fox's embrace.
“The Evil Aura within Mother has been temporarily suppressed, but Father should know that temporary suppression does not mean there is no issue. Mother is a mortal; if this continues, it will surely harm her. Father must keep Mother's situation in mind and consider long-term solutions.”
“I understand! Bringing your Mother back to Qingqiu was already part of my plan. Her Ghost Technique has always been suspicious; if we don't uncover the truth, I won't find peace. I just didn't expect this change to happen so soon! This matter is likely still connected to that Mo Must Have.”
“If it weren't for Mother's previous restrictions on him, I would have swallowed him whole by now.” Yin Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood up. Perhaps he rose too quickly, as he swayed slightly, but the fox reached out just in time to steady him.
“Are you alright?” the fox asked with concern.
Yin Yuan smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Child is fine!”
Their eyes met, and both father and son nodded.
Though Yin Yuan called him Father Fox, and the fox acknowledged him as a son, even taking him out to hunt monsters for his health in Luoyang and teaching him various skills through combat, they rarely spoke openly. Their relationship was filled with unspoken emotions, but at this moment, all past grievances faded away.
In Yin Yuan's eyes, the fox was his father; in the fox's eyes, Yin Yuan was the child of him and Fox Demon.
“Yin Ye, young master, Mo Must Have has arrived regarding matters with the Shopkeeper.”
Li Mao stood outside the carriage, reporting.
The fox signaled to Yin Yuan, instructing him to watch over Xing Ruyi inside while he stepped out.
Mo Must Have, dressed as before, squinted as he stood less than three meters from the carriage. Upon seeing the fox, he bowed slightly and smiled: “This humble Daoist Mo Must Have greets Young Master Yin. How is Fox Demon?”
“You know something has happened to Fox Demon?”
The fox asked, holding his sword qi directed at Mo Must Have.
“Your temper is quite fierce; you seem eager to take this humble Daoist's life,” Mo Must Have shook his head. “Do you still remember what I mentioned before? Fox Demon is a descendant of Lord Yun and that White Maiden. The White Maiden hails from Qingqiu, and her soul should be that of a Spirit Serpent.”
“Spirit Serpent?” The fox knew that there was indeed a Spirit Serpent Clan in Qingqiu, with the White Snake being the most powerful and spiritual. The Black Snake was the most sinister and venomous, often causing trouble in Qingqiu. When the upheaval occurred in Qingqiu, he was forced to wander the mortal realm and encountered the Fox Demon, which was largely due to this black serpent. Therefore, when the Spirit Serpent Clan was mentioned, the fox felt a sense of disgust.
“The Poor Daoist had previously helped the young master. That White Maiden sealed her Daughter's demon bloodline with magic to protect her, hoping she could grow up safely and happily like a true mortal woman. Her Daughter did not disappoint; she grew up smoothly and married a Ruyi's Husband, continuing the bloodlines of the Yun Family and the Bai Family for generations.
The Yun Family is human, while the Bai Family is demon. This mixed heritage has its advantages, such as good looks for both males and females, as well as better health with fewer illnesses. However, with benefits come drawbacks; most descendants of the Yun and Bai families have short lifespans, with the longest living one not exceeding thirty-five years. Thus, the Fox Demon is an orphan; this is not just her fate but that of her family, destined from the moment Lord Yun married the White Maiden.
As a descendant of both families, if the Fox Demon had not met you, young master, she might have grown up peacefully like her ancestors and quietly departed this world in her thirties. Unfortunately, fate intervened and brought her to you, Young Master Yin, awakening her bloodline. Additionally, she inadvertently acquired the Ghost Technique from the ghost realm, resulting in her current unique state of being neither fully human nor demon, ghost nor god.
“So, is Master Mo here to watch a joke?”
“Why would you say that? I came here to help Fox Demon,” said Moxuyou, bowing slightly. “The reason for Fox Demon's condition stems from that Lord Yun and White Maiden. As the saying goes, to untie a bell, one must find the person who tied it. To save Fox Demon, we must locate both Yun and Bai, retrieve the Ghost Dan from within Lord Yun and the demon core from within White Maiden, then refine them with the heart's blood of a Nine-Tailed White Fox. Everything will naturally be resolved.”
The fox stared at Moxuyou, trying to discern how much of what he just said was true and how much was false.
Moxuyou noticed this and chuckled, “Young master need not doubt; everything I just said is true. Moreover, I also know where both Lord Yun and White Maiden are at this moment!”
“Where are they?”
“Lord Yun is hiding beneath that well, while White Maiden is not far away at the Yun Family Gathering.”
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