Chapter 24: Fox Shadow Follows

Nearly two hours had passed since the Old Fox entered the Imperial City and the grand battle at the palace concluded.

In the evening, Lu Jiajia stopped her meditation. As she stepped down from the bed, the rain gradually subsided, and the wooden window revealed the faint twilight.

The prolonged battle above the palace had caused strange phenomena in the heavens and earth, noticeable even to ordinary people in the Imperial City. Naturally, Lu Jiajia's experience of it was far more profound.

Ning Xiaoling brought her a basin of hot water. Looking at Lu Jiajia's face, which was slowly regaining its color, she asked in surprise, "With such severe injuries, how can Sister Lu recover so quickly? What are divine bodies made of?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "For a cultivator, their physique is their sword; it is naturally exceptionally resilient."

Ning Xiaoling nodded, seeming to understand yet not quite.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Where is your senior brother?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "Senior brother went to the Prince's residence to get medicine. I wonder if Sister Tang Yu has returned yet."

Lu Jiajia nodded slightly, not pressing about who Tang Yu was.

As night approached, a fire burned in the room. Her cheeks appeared very pale, but not the deathly pallor from before; rather, it was a delicate, snow-like blush, soft and exquisitely tender.

She re-coiled her long hair, put on her jade crown, and fastened a silver hairpin. Casually, she tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. In the faint light, her small, crystalline earlobes resembled translucent amber.

She looked at the admiring young girl and asked, "Xiaoling, could you get me some paper and a brush?"

Ning Xiaoling naturally nodded, fetched them for her, and asked, "Sister, are you writing a letter?"

Lu Jiajia imperceptibly shook her head. After dipping the brush in ink, she began writing swiftly on the paper.

Ning Xiaoling watched the continuous yet elegant and graceful strokes, asking, "What are you writing, Sister?"

Lu Jiajia asked, "Do you know how to read?"

Ning Xiaoling scratched her head, a little embarrassed. "My family wasn't well-off when I was little, and being a girl, I never had the chance to go to school. I do recognize some of Master's scribbles, but many are ancient characters and don't mean much."

Lu Jiajia continued writing without pause, but her mind seemed to drift. Her other hand unconsciously touched the delicate mole at the corner of her eye.

She said, "This is no big deal. Yu Jian Tianzong has its own school with highly learned teachers. I'll send you there when the time comes."

Ning Xiaoling wondered, "Sister Lu, you seem very confident that you can escape?"

Lu Jiajia said, "The chances aren't great, but there's at least a fifty percent possibility... Alright, I'm done writing. Keep this safe."

The woman gently blew on the ink to dry it, then rolled up the paper and handed it to the bewildered girl.

"This is the Sword Qi Cultivation method of Yu Jian Tianzong," Lu Jiajia explained, already regarding her as a future disciple. "It's both the most fundamental and the most profound; no matter how one cultivates, this method is indispensable. Once you learn to read, you can begin practicing it. However, this item is extremely precious and must never be shared. If it's discovered, it will only lead to several innocent deaths."

Ning Xiaoling somewhat vaguely accepted the rolled-up rice paper covered in writing and asked, "What about my senior brother? Should I show it to him first?"

Lu Jiajia was silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, your senior brother's aptitude is quite poor. This cultivation method requires a very strong foundation. If he were to practice it rashly, he would only harm himself without any benefit."

Ning Xiaoling pouted defiantly, "So I'd have to hide it from senior brother... That's no fun. I won't learn it either."

Lu Jiajia said, "I'm secretly writing this for you now precisely because I'm afraid he might become suspicious and cause a rift between you two siblings."

Ning Xiaoling drooped her head and nodded listlessly.

Lu Jiajia sighed, "Such is fate. Since you've arrived here, you don't need to feel guilty. This is predestined by the Great Dao. When you cultivate to the Longevity Realm in the future, you will naturally understand more."

"The Longevity Realm?" Ning Xiaoling was slightly startled. "Will I be as powerful as Sister Lu is now?"

Lu Jiajia nodded, "With diligent cultivation, it might not even take ten years."

Ning Xiaoling asked, "What about senior brother then?"

Lu Jiajia said, "Cultivation is inherently cruel. He can always be your senior brother, but he cannot be your eternal companion on this path. Your paths will inevitably diverge further and further; it's something you must experience."

Ning Xiaoling propped her chin in her hand, her expression conflicted as she looked at the scroll of rice paper imbued with sword intent.

She suddenly remembered something and asked, "Sister Lu, what is your Innate Spirit?"

Lu Jiajia paused, frowning. "I don't have an Innate Spirit... Innate Spirits are incredibly rare, perhaps one in ten thousand. Even in our sect, fewer than ten possess them. My master once regretted that if I had an Innate Spirit to complement my talent and foundation, I would likely have already entered the initial stage of the Violet Court."

Lu Jiajia did not tell her that her sword-spirit-unified body was something even rarer and more powerful than an Innate Spirit.

Ning Xiaoling nodded, seemingly a little disappointed.

Lu Jiajia found it somewhat inexplicable and asked, "Why do you ask about that?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "I heard Master mention it before, but I didn't know what it was, so I asked you, Sister Lu."

The woman nodded, not thinking much of it or pursuing the question further.

Before Ning Changjiu returned, she flicked her finger, sending the scroll containing the Sword Qi Cultivation method into Ning Xiaoling's sleeve. Ning Xiaoling was slightly startled but ultimately remained silent, quietly tucking it away.

After Ning Changjiu returned, he propped his umbrella to one side and said with a solemn expression, "The Old Demon Fox outside the Imperial Palace and Zhao Xiang'er must have had a fierce battle. I wonder who won."

Lu Jiajia pondered for a moment and speculated, "The Old Fox probably hasn't breached the palace yet, or the commotion would have been much greater."

Ning Changjiu said, "I find it a bit strange. Who exactly released this demon?"

Lu Jiajia frowned, "Could it be the assassins who came from Jin Kingdom?"

Ning Changjiu, having guessed some of the Imperial City's secrets, said, "If that's true, then they've dug their own graves."

Lu Jiajia was puzzled. "Not many people could do such a thing. Could it possibly be Zhao Xiang'er?"

Ning Changjiu asked, "Why not?"

Lu Jiajia gave a wry smile. "She creates a disaster that could destroy her own nation, puts herself in a death trap, and then struggles to fight back? How does that make sense?"

"Indeed, it doesn't make sense." Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, the image of Zhao Xiang'er arriving with her umbrella that day appearing in his mind. He asked, "Miss Lu, have you ever met her?"

Lu Jiajia said, "I've occasionally heard of her during my cultivation, but I arrived in a hurry today and haven't had the chance to meet her. Why do you ask?"

Ning Changjiu smiled, "I had the fortune to meet her once. I think she's like..."

"Like what?"

"Like a lucid madwoman," Ning Changjiu said.

Ning Xiaoling chimed in, "That sister is extremely beautiful too, but somehow, even when she's smiling, there's always a feeling that she keeps everyone at a thousand li's distance."

Although Lu Jiajia had never met her, the thought of that young girl defending the Imperial Palace alone for nearly two hours filled her with solemn respect, dispelling any notion of underestimation.

"Discussing who did it now is pointless," she said with a self-deprecating smile. "I initially thought it was just a demon phoenix in the Longevity Realm causing trouble, but I never imagined coming here would feel like standing on the edge of an abyss."

Ning Xiaoling listened to their conversation, her brows furrowed in tension.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Do you regret it?"

Lu Jiajia's expression was resolute. "Regret what?"

Ning Changjiu looked at her and said, "Miss Lu, your body seems to be in very poor condition."

Lu Jiajia's heart subtly fluttered, but she calmly asked, "Oh? What's wrong?"

Ning Changjiu explained, "Your breathing is a bit heavy, and the sword intent emanating from you is somewhat scattered. It seems that the Yunqi and Baifu acupoints connecting to your back have been shattered and ruptured. If you cannot quickly clear them, it will be a significant hidden danger for your future cultivation."

Lu Jiajia was surprised. "Have you studied medicine?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "No, I can only see where the problem lies, but I can't help you."

Lu Jiajia remained puzzled; she didn't believe an ordinary person could discern such issues with her body. She asked, "Are your eyes naturally keen?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I'm not skilled in this. I've just read some books on the subject. I observed you, Miss Lu, meditating for quite some time before I dared to draw this preliminary conclusion."

"You are truly extraordinary," Lu Jiajia praised, then asked curiously, "So, what are you skilled at?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and said, "I'm skilled at fishing."

"Fishing?" Lu Jiajia looked confused.

Ning Changjiu offered no further explanation. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Miss Lu, you were originally halfway to the Violet Court, but now you've fallen back to the mid-stage of the Longevity Realm. You might wander your whole life unable to reach your full potential. How do you feel about that?"

This time, Lu Jiajia's expression truly changed. Her voice was slightly cold. "And you said your eyesight wasn't good?"

Hearing her chilling tone, Ning Xiaoling quickly interjected, "Senior brother, what nonsense are you saying again? You just upset people."

Ning Changjiu, however, simply watched her quietly, as if still waiting for an answer.

Lu Jiajia's expression was proud. "The Longevity Realm cannot hold me, nor will the Violet Court in the future. I worry about life and death in this moment, but I don't distress over the distant future."

Ning Changjiu nodded and continued to ask, "What if, by some misfortune, Miss Lu, you were to fall from the Longevity Realm back to the Initial Realm, or even directly become a crippled person unable to cultivate? How would you feel then?"

Lu Jiajia paused. When she heard him mention falling from Longevity back to the Initial Realm, a pang of pain resonated in her heart—a pain only cultivators could truly understand.

After a long while, she finally spoke. "If I could, I would start over. However, life is only a hundred years long, and time waiting for no one is my only concern."

As she spoke, she observed the young man before her with her 'sword eyes,' yet detected no anomalies. She wondered, *Could it truly just be this young man's innate talent?*

Deep in Ning Changjiu's eyes, a flicker of pain and sorrow passed. After a moment of silence, he smiled and praised, "Miss Lu's sword heart is truly enlightened and admirable."

Lu Jiajia, who had always been aloof and detached from worldly affairs, felt a strange sensation now that she was being praised by an ordinary young man more than ten years her junior. She said, "I don't quite understand you. I can sense a noble and proud spirit within you, and though I don't know its origin, it's certainly not ordinary."

Ning Changjiu said, "There are many strange people and strange things in this world. If we can escape this time, Miss Lu, you might consider descending the mountain more often to see them."

Lu Jiajia nodded. "Although Master used to tell me that cultivators should not engage in worldly affairs, after this incident, I'm willing to try."

Ning Xiaoling listened in silence, feeling unable to interject a single word. When their conversation seemed to wind down, she grabbed Ning Changjiu's arm and said, "Senior brother, you should still tell me a story. Last time, you said you'd tell me about a poor young man who broke off his engagement. And... oh, right, the story about the little Taoist priest you told before, he didn't get married either. Is it really true that a forced melon isn't sweet?"

Lu Jiajia was slightly startled, then simply smiled faintly, her expression returning to its usual cool composure.

She had never been interested in such worldly affairs, much less the trivial matters of familial affection or romance.

Ning Changjiu, however, wore an expression of deep reflection and and said, "If that little Taoist priest could choose again, he might agree to that marriage."

Ning Xiaoling asked, "Why?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Because he had tasted over twenty years of solitude in cultivation. After observing the mundane world from afar for so long, one eventually grows weary of it."

In truth, within the memories of his previous life—whether it was the sweltering heat of summer or the biting cold of a snowy winter—on countless lonely nights of cultivation, he had indeed often wished to return to the age of sixteen and make a different choice.

At least then, he would have had one more companion.

But now, like wisps of smoke, that time had passed, and there had been no news of the girl he had never met.

Now, he had fortunately awakened in this body, but he had no idea how much time had passed.

What puzzled him most now was why, within this Imperial City, there was that elusive yet uniquely familiar aura from the Guàn Mén that seemed to appear and disappear.

Could it be his master's newly accepted closed-door disciple, who just happened to be passing through the Imperial City?

If that were true, it would be an incredible coincidence...

He also wondered how this new disciple compared to his younger self...

Ning Changjiu was lost in thought.

Listening to his words, Lu Jiajia gently shook her head.

"I don't think getting married is good at all," Ning Xiaoling mumbled. Seeing her senior brother suddenly spaced out, she waved her hand in front of his eyes.

Ning Changjiu said, "I was thinking of something else."

Ning Xiaoling wrinkled her small face and said, "Senior brother is always so mysterious..."

"Oh, right, Sister Lu, are you thirsty? I'll go make you a pot of tea."

Lu Jiajia was about to decline.

But Ning Xiaoling had already risen and walked towards the door.

Outside the Grand Preceptor's Residence, dismembered bodies lay scattered, blood flowed like a river, and the air reeked of gore.

The old Grand Preceptor, who had been in a coma for an entire day since learning of the stolen Imperial Seal yesterday, finally awoke.

His maidservant tremblingly helped him up. The old man stepped over the threshold, looked at the perpetually overcast sky, cast a divination, and his expression turned sorrowful.

He knew that the old demon from the underground palace had been released, because he could sense that the national fortune he had been bearing had shifted elsewhere. His body, on the other hand, felt as if a great mountain had been lifted from it, making him much lighter.

However, with the situation as it was, his mood grew heavier.

When he awoke, the slaughter outside the Grand Preceptor's Residence had already concluded. When the trembling guards roughly relayed what had happened outside the gates, the old man, despite having experienced so much, still couldn't help but feel shocked.

"Those people you mentioned... all dead? And their identities aren't mistaken? Even that Rainbow-Clad Specter is dead?" The Grand Preceptor felt as though he hadn't fully woken up.

The guard replied, "There's no mistake. They were reportedly killed by... a ball of flame."

"Flames..." The old man pondered for a moment, then asked, "Is the Witch Master still alive?"

The guard answered, "There's a body on the ground that's hard to identify, but it's preliminarily determined to be that of the Witch Master."

The Grand Preceptor offered a wry smile, unsure if it was self-deprecation or irony. "We've been rivals for most of our lives. Now, when he should have been rising with fortune, he's gone before me... By the way, what about the others? Are there any casualties?"

The guard replied, "Only the assassins from Jin Kingdom and the cultivators from Rong Kingdom died. Everyone else, from royalty and nobles down to common folk, is safe and sound."

The Grand Preceptor nodded, yet he couldn't feel happy at all, for he was certain that the ancient umbrella had also been consumed.

Three divine souls now...

According to ancient records, if the old demon were to integrate all four souls, its power would undergo another qualitative change. At that point, it was feared that no one in the entire Southern Continent would be able to stop this disaster.

"Xiang'er, how exactly do you intend to kill?" The old man sighed deeply, his thoughts drifting back to the great fire at Qianyu Palace a month ago.

That fire haunted him, and it was that fire that had driven many people to madness.

The old man sighed and said, "Go count the bodies, then dismantle the Grand Preceptor's Residence's grand formation. Don't waste Zhao's national fortune. Every bit we save for Xiang'er helps."

The guard bowed and left.

Outside the residence, where bodies lay strewn everywhere, the Old Demon Fox was nowhere to be seen.

The Old Fox reappeared on the fish-shaped ornament on the eaves of a tall building. This time, he had chosen the body of the man with the saber.

This was one of his divided divine souls. The remaining two had chosen the body of the female assassin and were stationed at a suitable location outside the Imperial City, silently confronting Zhao Xiang'er.

At this moment, the figure standing on the eave looked out at the gloom-shrouded city, a cruel smile on his lips.

The murderous intent suppressed in his heart for five hundred years, though it had led to the slaughter of those renowned assassins, still sought true release.

Today, in this city, everyone from outside the Zhao Kingdom must die.

And of course, the first to face his wrath would be that immortal sect woman who, after entering the Imperial City, had vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

She hid well, but...

"I've found you."

The Old Fox grinned.