Chapter 523: Fox Clan Senior

On the grassy hillside, overlooking Yaoshan City, Qiu Ben stood among the swaying blades of grass, his brows furrowed as he stared intently at the city.

Suddenly, his disciple, Zhuxin, darted out of the woods. With two swift movements, he landed beside Qiu Ben, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. "Master," he reported, "we found them. They've returned to Zhulang Pavilion."

"Returned to Zhulang Pavilion?" Qiu Ben was taken aback. He mused, "Could their so-called departure have only meant leaving Mount Shen, not this general area?" Previously, based on their check-out from Zhulang Pavilion, it seemed they were heading towards Mount Shen. What does it mean that they've now returned to Zhulang Pavilion?

The problem was, he had already exposed his identity to Mount Shen. Returning to Zhulang Pavilion to stay would be inappropriate, especially since he had already settled the matter of spiritual energy collection from Mount Shen with a personal letter from their Sect Master. How could such an important sect affair be reneged upon, just called off? Easily going back on his word would only arouse suspicion. If Mount Shen were to get involved, it could complicate matters further.

He raised a hand and ran it through his short hair, a little perplexed. It was just a matter of apprehending two younglings in the High Martial realm; why was it proving so difficult?

After much deliberation, he said, "It's not good for me to return to Zhulang Pavilion. You all make the necessary arrangements and keep a close watch on them. They'll have to come out eventually."

"Yes, Master…" Zhuxin replied, then hesitated. "Master, they wouldn't be returning to Zhulang Pavilion to use its means to escape, would they?"

Qiu Ben replied, "The people behind Zhulang Pavilion have already issued a ban; they won't interfere in our affairs. Their return to Zhulang Pavilion doesn't necessarily mean they're trying to escape. If they knew we were trying to capture them, they would have fled long ago. They wouldn't have leisurely gone to Mount Shen to enjoy the scenery."

At this moment, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang had already appeared on the top floor of Zhulang Pavilion, meeting with the proprietress, Yin Xu, under a traditional eave.

Light banter about their return was inevitable. Once they were seated, Yin Xu personally poured tea for them with her elegant hands.

Shi Chun, however, raised a hand to block the teacup, stating bluntly, "No need for tea. We've come to ask for your help, Sister Hong."

Yin Xu didn't press. She set down the teapot and smiled, "Speak freely."

Shi Chun said, "I've long heard that Sister Hong is highly skilled at getting people out. We've returned specifically to experience that. I'm just curious about your price."

Hearing this, Yin Xu's smile faltered, and she fell silent.

Tian Shen, the second steward, who was standing outside the pavilion, glanced back inside. He knew the proprietress had recently ordered a halt to that particular business.

After some thought, Yin Xu said, "To be honest with you both, I've temporarily suspended that business."

Shi Chun remarked playfully, "What a coincidence. You're not making money even when it's offered?"

Yin Xu shook her head. "It's not convenient at the moment."

Shi Chun pressed, "Is your inconvenience, Sister Hong, perhaps directed at the two of us?"

Yin Xu waved a hand. "To be frank, the timing is quite coincidental, and I'm not sure if it's directed at you two. But someone has indeed ordered me to suspend this business, and I can't defy them."

Hearing this, Shi Chun felt relieved. If the other party had readily agreed, he would have suspected a trap. It was an old habit of his; whenever a situation reached a critical point, he became intensely suspicious.

Once reassured, he directly asked, "I have a question: why did you help us before, and why did you tell us someone was tracking us?" Had it not been for that, which somewhat proved the other party was unlikely to be allied with their pursuers, he might not have sought her out for this attempt.

In response to the question, Yin Xu pondered for a moment, then counter-asked, "Don't you know my origins?"

Shi Chun paused, his mind struggling to connect the dots. He asked suspiciously, "What does that have to do with your origins?"

Yin Xu thought for a moment and decided to be more explicit. "I detected the aura of one of my fox clan elders on you. I surmised you might have some connection to my clan, which is why I gave you a suitable warning." She, too, could no longer hold back and truly wanted to clarify the matter.

"There's such a thing?" Wu Jinliang immediately looked at Shi Chun, clicking his tongue inwardly. He wondered when Shi Chun had gotten involved with another fox spirit. He didn't think Yin Xu had any reason to fabricate such a story.

Shi Chun froze. He genuinely couldn't recall any past association with a fox clan member. Could it have been from when he killed a fox clan member? Among the demon cultivators he had killed, there were certainly some from the fox clan, but he definitely couldn't say that out loud. As he racked his brain, he did recall another particularly memorable great fox. It was hard not to be deeply impressed. When he left the place of exile, he encountered a tribulation, nearly getting eaten by a great fox that tore open the void in Zhixu City. To this day, the memory still fills him with lingering fear.

Seeing that he seemed to recall something, a flicker of eagerness crossed Yin Xu's eyes. She added, "If you truly have a past connection with an elder from my clan, then for the sake of my clan's elder, I'm willing to take some risks. This favor is not impossible for me to grant." To get to the truth, she was even willing to cast out bait.

Since the other party had put it that way, Shi Chun didn't mind trying his luck. There was nothing to lose anyway. So, he carefully deliberated and said hesitantly, "I do have a close friend who is a powerful fox clan member, but she is very mysterious and never reveals her identity, nor does she allow herself to be mentioned to outsiders. I don't know if she is from your clan."

As soon as he spoke, not only Yin Xu but even Tian Shen's eyes lit up.

Yin Xu eagerly pressed for details, "What does she look like?"

Shi Chun, secretly observing their reactions, thought for a moment before slowly describing, "She's also a female fox. Whenever I meet her, she appears by tearing open a void rift with her claws. Each time she appears, there's a fragrance. Her demon body's head alone is as large as a human. Her two blood-red pupils glow with a crimson light, and her blue fur is sleek and smooth, rippling like waves. The immense demonic energy she emanates each time she appears seems capable of sweeping across heaven and earth. Although we've interacted occasionally and have a good relationship, I truly don't know if she's from your clan. I don't even know her name."

In fact, as soon as he mentioned the fragrance, the blood-red demonic eyes, and the blue, wave-like fur, Yin Xu's chest visibly began to rise and fall rapidly, seemingly with excitement. For her, it matched; it truly matched. The scent also matched. This was it! Tian Shen, outside the pavilion, had a similar reaction. For them, no further verification was even needed.

Wu Jinliang, meanwhile, stood agape, occasionally glancing at the excited reactions of the other two listeners. Inwardly, he was filled with endless admiration. "He can really spin a yarn," he thought. "Who knows where Shi Chun dug up those descriptions? He probably learned them from some book in a library. This just goes to show why he's the chief. Deceiving people requires skill, and I still have a lot to learn."

Seeing Yin Xu so excited that she had even stood up, Shi Chun tentatively asked, "Do you know who that powerful fox clan member is?"

Yin Xu tried hard to compose herself. She placed her hands on the stone table and slowly sat down, shaking her head. "She should be from my clan. Since that elder doesn't wish to reveal her identity to you, it's not my place to comment. Don't ask any more questions; even if you do, I won't tell you."

It was better that she didn't say. Shi Chun, instead, felt relieved. If she had pressed for details, he genuinely feared he might reveal a flaw in his story. He had no idea how the fox clan aura had gotten on him. He merely chose to describe the most formidable fox demon he knew. He didn't believe the scent of a fox demon he might have encountered in the place of exile all those years ago could have lingered until now. He thought it most likely came from Dazhi City, perhaps from an encounter with some fox demon there. Of course, it was also possible that the other party was merely playing along with him, and there was no such thing as a fox clan aura in the first place. However, he also felt that the other party seemed to have no need to beat around the bush. For now, he'd just wait and see how things unfolded. But the question was, would such a casually fabricated fox demon story actually work?

To his surprise, Yin Xu's attitude was now remarkably resolute. "When do you wish to leave?"

Shi Chun replied, "The exact time isn't set yet. How about you help us get out of the city first?"

"Out of the city?" Yin Xu was surprised. "You can leave the city on your own, can't you? There's no need for me to send you off, is there?"

Shi Chun explained, "The city gates might already be checking for us. We don't want anyone to know our whereabouts."

"I see…" Yin Xu hesitated for a moment, then turned to Tian Shen. "You make the arrangements. Remember, not a single word of this must leak out this time." She also feared that the Domain Lord would learn she was defying his orders.

"Understood." Tian Shen acknowledged and then left.

Yin Xu then turned back to the two brothers. "To be safe, preparations will take some time. You can rest for now."

Shi Chun asked, "Sister Hong, we haven't discussed the price yet."

Yin Xu smiled. "It's free."

Free? The two brothers exchanged glances. The situation was too good, too smooth, which made them feel wary and uneasy.

Yin Xu then added, "I don't lack money from a single transaction. You just need to do me one favor."

Shi Chun asked guardedly, "What favor?"

Yin Xu actually stuck out her small tongue to lick her lips, then bit her lip with her silver teeth, her eyes filled with nervous anticipation. "When you next see that elder from my fox clan, Elder Wang, would you kindly speak a few good words on my behalf?"

"And then?" Shi Chun didn't get an 'and then.' He only received a look of earnest anticipation from her. He couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "That's it?" As if his reaction indicated it was too simple, Yin Xu's eyes immediately lit up. She nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick, affirming, "Yes, that's it! Just a few good words on my behalf are enough. It would be enough for that elder to know that someone like me exists in the Qingqiu Fox Clan."

Shi Chun's expression grew more doubtful. "Sister Hong, is this elder's status in the fox clan very high?"

Yin Xu laughed. "Well, for me, it's very high. Please don't ask any more questions. When she's willing to tell you, you'll know naturally."

Shi Chun said, "Alright. Sister Hong, since you've helped me today, in the future, I will surely sing your praises to that elder. Who can't say pleasant words?"

He didn't care. His priority was to deal with his current situation first. As for that great fox demon, who knew if he'd ever meet her again in this lifetime? Anyway, once his affairs were settled, he'd be gone. He probably wouldn't return to Zhulang Pavilion in Yaoshan City, and the other party hadn't specified a time limit.

Yin Xu, however, seemed to have been bewitched. The joyous smile on her face was uncontrollable, beaming with delight. She quickly rose to pour tea for them. "Drink your tea, drink your tea." The tea wasn't particularly good, but the gesture was enough. Still in high spirits, Yin Xu directly arranged for the best guest rooms in Zhulang Pavilion for them, free of charge. They were truly treated as the most esteemed guests.

Shi Chun vaguely realized that the powerful fox clan member he had used as a shield might hold extraordinary significance for Yin Xu. He decided to investigate later to find out her true background.

Before they could fully emerge from their cloud of suspicion, a knock sounded at the door. Tian Shen had arrived and said that Lou Xiu was looking for them, asking if they wished to see him. It was clear from Tian Shen's demeanor and actions that he now held a deep-seated respect for both of them, even an eager desire to curry favor.

Since their whereabouts were already exposed, Shi Chun felt it would be impolite not to see him.

Soon after, Lou Xiu arrived in a hurry. Upon entering, he was first surprised by the quality of the guest room, then he turned to Wu Jinliang and asked in surprise, "Elder Gao, weren't you in a hurry to return home for something urgent?"

Wu Jinliang scoffed inwardly, thinking, "Isn't that an obvious question?" He replied casually, "I was indeed in a hurry to return, but then suddenly news came from home saying the matter had been resolved." With that, he spread his hands, indicating there was no longer any rush.

Lou Xiu uttered an "Oh," looking as if he understood. "That's good, that's good. I thought something had happened in my Yaoshan City. So, will you continue to wander around Mount Shen? I heard you hadn't seen enough. If you need to, don't be shy; it's just a short distance, and I can make the arrangements again."

Wu Jinliang chuckled to himself, already fantasizing about sneaking into Mount Shen. Politely, he replied, "Never mind. We were just on a whim. We've seen it, and that's like having a taste. Now that it's over, we're too lazy to go back. We'll just stay here for a few days and rest."