96 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

**Chapter 96: The Steel Bristle Wild Boar Demon (Deep Water Bonus)** Yan Jue stared steadily at Qi Xianqing. For some reason, perhaps it was just her imagination, Yan Jue felt that Qi Xianqing seemed a bit off today. Yan Jue wasn't someone slow to react, and she still recalled the peculiar events of that night at the palace. Did Qi Xianqing discover something when she brought her back to her room? Was she plotting her demise? Lost in her wild thoughts, Yan Jue was suddenly startled by a sound outside the door. Her hearing was particularly acute tonight, and upon hearing the noise, she immediately turned her head. In the bushes outside, a black fox stood, its presence unnoticed until now. The black fox had sharp, upright ears and glossy fur, sitting on the grass with its dark eyes fixed on her. Who knows how it even got in. Without a moment's hesitation, Yan Jue flicked Qi Xianqing’s hand away with her five large tails and jumped out of the window. The black fox tilted its head at her, making a friendly humming sound. Yan Jue responded with a friendly growl. The black fox squinted its eyes and began to joyfully dash through the icy peach orchard. Yan Jue followed closely behind, and somehow the two of them ended up playing a game of chase in the orchard. Lost in the fun, Yan Jue found herself forgetting everything else. For some strange reason, the black fox seemed to emit a scent that she really liked. She ran around joyously, and just when the black fox came to a gentle stop, nudging her with its nose—a sweet gesture of goodwill among the fox tribe, signaling friendliness—she started to hesitate if she should return the gesture. Suddenly, she heard a voice from behind. Qi Xianqing: "Little fox baby, come over here." Yan Jue snapped back to her senses and saw Qi Xianqing standing at the door, frowning at her. "Little fox baby." In the small fox’s ears, Qi Xianqing’s voice was the gentlest sound in the world, one that was hard to ignore even in the midst of playing. The little fox ran over, sat in front of Qi Xianqing, lowered its head, and glanced around without daring to meet her eyes. Qi Xianqing: "Don't go playing with other foxes for now." Huh? Why? Qi Xianqing cast a glance at the black fox, then picked up the little fox and carried it inside. Returning to the room, Qi Xianqing closed the door with a soft "thud." She handed it a rabbit chew toy, and Yan Jue began gnawing it slowly. Having spent so much time with the little fox, Qi Xianqing knew its habits well. Among the many methods she tried to stop it from causing mischief, giving it something to chew on was the most effective. The little fox laid on the ground, chewing distractedly on the rabbit, feeling an emptiness inside. Qi Xianqing watched her, lightly clapping her hands: "Come here." Yan Jue scampered over to Qi Xianqing, who sat cross-legged on the floor, gently rubbing the little fox's furry head and pulling it into her lap, idly patting the base of its tail. The room was quiet, and Qi Xianqing, fueled by patience from who knows where, continued the gentle patting for a long while. Yan Jue felt as if she was melting, momentarily forgetting the black fox outside the window, snuggling against Qi Xianqing's leg, flipping her soft underbelly over. Qi Xianqing paused, slightly taken aback. The little fox had a vivid red coat with a snow-white belly, but there was a small patch on its underside devoid of fur. Perhaps because the little fox had not fully matured, the abdominal fur wasn't yet fully grown, something unnoticed before. No wonder it's the most delicate part of her canine anatomy, the soft pink belly exposed to air, with faint purple veins visible beneath. When Qi Xianqing brushed against it, she was suddenly aware of a few small bumps. "......" Startled, Qi Xianqing withdrew her hand, but the little fox seemed displeased, persistently nudging her hand to continue petting. Qi Xianqing muttered: "Shameless." Yan Jue: "......" Realizing what was going on, Yan Jue's face turned a deep crimson as she promptly flipped over, obediently lying down on the floor. After soothing the little fox for a while, Qi Xianqing stood up and dragged a chair to the desk, opening a book. The room grew quiet, the only sound being the soft flutter of pages turning. Yan Jue was restless, whining and yelping, gnawing the rabbit for a bit before spitting it aside. Qi Xianqing lounged leisurely in the chair, one leg tucked beneath her and the other dangling, when she suddenly felt a weight on her leg. Something had latched onto her leg. Yan Jue watched Qi Xianqing's leg swaying back and forth, closing her eyes before giving in, her little black paws grasping Qi Xianqing's leg, snuggling against it comfortably, her narrow eyes squinting contentedly as she nuzzled back and forth. Having read about such behaviors, Qi Xianqing knew that spirit foxes experience a physiological phase followed by a mating season, and currently, the little fox was in such a special period, displaying mounting behavior. Which meant this action signified... Qi Xianqing's face flushed instantly; she rolled up the book and gave the little fox a gentle bop on the head. The little fox looked up with clear amber eyes, gazing at her pitifully. You're not letting me play outside. Qi Xianqing held its gaze for two seconds, considering the little fox's special situation, then sighed softly and said, "I'll excuse you this time." She figured, let it do what it wants. Qi Xianqing resumed reading, while the little fox wouldn't settle, leaping onto Qi Xianqing's lap. Its four soft little paws pressed lightly here and there. Qi Xianqing squinted at her: "What are you doing?" The little fox didn't understand and found the most comfortable spot, lying down, nestling snugly in Qi Xianqing's embrace, its five long tails wrapping around Qi Xianqing's arm over and over. Its mouth slightly opened, gently nibbling on Qi Xianqing's fingers. Yan Jue didn't care; what the little fox baby wanted to do had nothing to do with Yan Jue. Qi Xianqing's slender, pale fingers were soon covered with warm saliva. Qi Xianqing: "......" Qi Xianqing tried to lift her arm but found it firmly ensnared by the little fox's tails, unable to move. After a silent moment, Qi Xianqing set the book aside, wrapped her arms around the soft furry fox, and murmured, "I forgive you." - It was early morning, the mist yet to fully dissipate. Qi Xianqing stepped through the white fog, strolling into the Autumn Pavilion of the Shockfire Sect. Yun Zhen, dressed in a robe of blue-green silk embroidered with golden crabapple blossoms, her hair styled in an ethereal fairy bun, appeared like a celestial being as she lazily stood in the courtyard, grooming the Nine-Colored Deer. The snow-white Nine-Colored Deer blinked its eyes, its pupils a light shade of red, indicating its excellent mood today, with its tail swishing back and forth. While playing with the Nine-Colored Deer, Yun Zhen mused, "I have already told Yan Yue about my suspicions. However, the Sect Leader's cultivation is at the eighth realm; a living soul shouldn’t dissipate so easily. Could it be due to some special technique he used?" Qi Xianqing took in these words, touched by a subtle sense of gratitude, astounded that her master would trust her on a whim. Yun Zhen continued, "And how do you know this? Do you have any other evidence? It's not that I don't trust you, but such claims are too astonishing without proof." Qi Xianqing knelt down, her voice low, "I was ambushed by demons on my recent outing, which shouldn't have happened as my movements are highly confidential. No one should have known." Yun Zhen's expression darkened. This implied there was a traitor within the Five Dragon Gate, leaking Qi Xianqing's whereabouts. Yun Zhen, known for cherishing her disciples, would certainly deal with anyone who dared to oppose them. "Then I'll heed your advice," Yun Zhen decided, "and visit the Castle of All Things to borrow a soul recall banner from an old friend. It's best to stay vigilant and weed out the traitors within the Five Dragon Gate." As Yun Zhen finished speaking, something crossed her mind. "By the way, I have a sword manual here, an ancient text once thought lost. Little Yan's 'Liubing' might find it useful; you can give this to her." With a gesture from Yun Zhen, a book placed nearby flew into Qi Xianqing's hand, landing there with precision. 'Liubing,' the celestial sword, had many wonders attributed to it, inspiring numerous mighty figures to pen books about it. The book Yun Zhen mentioned, "The Heaven's Core Sword Manual," was an especially exquisite work written by the long-ascended Scarlet Rainbow Wanderer a thousand years ago. After speaking, silence fell between the two. Qi Xianqing suddenly asked, "Master, I have a question." Yun Zhen released the Nine-Colored Deer's fur, leisurely heading towards the pavilion. "Ask away." Qi Xianqing: "What should one do when a spirit pet is in heat?" Yun Zhen replied, "Put a pad on it, and it's best to have it neutered." "Spirit beasts often accompany their masters on long journeys; it's not good to leave their mating instincts unchecked. What if it brings back a litter one day?" "I have a friend in the Beast Training Pavilion who's quite skilled at neutering. My Ah Jiu was neutered there. If you're interested, I can give you her contact information." Qi Xianqing: "......" After Yan Jue returned to her human form, she still felt a deep fatigue throughout her body. It was a bright and sunny afternoon, and she sat at her desk, intending to distract herself. Reaching into her storage pouch, she pulled out a snake scale she'd acquired from the giant serpent "Fei Yi" in the Jade Xu Sea. The dark green scale shimmered with a faint luster under the sunlight, its hard and cool texture palpable with a gentle touch. This snake scale was clearly of immense value. Holding the scale, Yan Jue stepped out of her room, retrieved a bamboo bird whistle from her bag, and blew into it. Before long, a familiar figure emerged from the bushes nearby. After a few days apart, Zhu He had grown even more, transforming from a little girl of four or five into a young lady of fifteen or sixteen. She wore the blue narrow-sleeved daoist robe Qi Xianqing had given her, along with a cloak woven from withered gauze, her skin unexpectedly fair and delicate. Staring at her for a moment, Yan Jue finally recognized her as the little wild boar and couldn't help but laugh: "How did you grow so fast, like you've been on hormones." Zhu He, not understanding, approached and gestured, "Was your journey smooth?" Her human speech had become quite fluent, evidence that she hadn't slacked in language study during Yan Jue's absence. Yan Jue felt a surge of pride: "Smooth. I brought you some clothes from this trip." Zhu He's eyes lit up instantly. She was always mindful of her appearance, and as Yan Jue beckoned, she eagerly followed, "Come along, I have someplace to take you." Navigating the mountain paths, Yan Jue soon arrived at Duan Lu Xi's dormitory in the Mu Yin School. Duan Lu Xi was dressed in a light, green daoist robe, holding a folding fan as she sat in the courtyard enjoying the breeze. Sunlight shimmered through her long, black hair, all but a single strand pinned up, giving her an oddly refined yet rebellious look. Yan Jue approached with a smile, "Sister Duan." Duan Lu Xi looked momentarily surprised before smiling back: "Yan Jue, weren't you out on a Grade A mission with Senior Sister? Why are you back so soon?" Yan Jue replied, "Just returning for a temporary rest." Duan Lu Xi raised a thumb, "Truly worthy of being the third-ranked in the recent Five Dragon Peak competition, tackling a Grade A mission with such ease." Yan Jue chuckled awkwardly and placed the snake scale on the table, "Sister Duan, there's something I'd like to ask you about." The moment Duan Lu Xi saw the snake scale, her eyes widened with interest: "Is this... a Fei Yi snake scale?" Yan Jue nodded: "Yes, on our visit to the Yu Xu Sea, I happened upon and defeated a Fei Yi snake demon, acquiring its scale." "I heard these scales can be made into clothing that's extremely durable, but I'm unsure how to go about it." Duan Lu Xi, captivated by the teal scale, asked, "Are you planning to make clothes for yourself, or..." Yan Jue interrupted, "I want it for my spirit pet." She then nudged Zhu He forward, who, while munching a spiritual candle fruit, looked up cheerfully at Duan Lu Xi. Seeing this, Duan Lu Xi couldn't help but be slightly embarrassed. Despite her striking features, there was a visible air of simplicity in her eyes. Duan Lu Xi assured her, "Leave it to me." During Yan Jue’s absence, Duan Lu Xi had deeply studied artifact crafting, and altering clothing was a trivial task for her. Creating clothes from snake scales didn’t take long, so Yan Jue waited at Duan Lu Xi’s place. Duan Lu Xi rummaged through her box of odds and ends for a while before finding a dusty spinning wheel. She blew off the dust, set it above the snake scales, and pinched a spell with one hand. The spinning wheel began turning on its own. Gradually, the dark green scales transformed into a garment beneath the spinning wheel and soon took shape. Duan Lu Xi said, "Here, try it on." She handed the scale-made clothing to Zhu He. Zhu He looked at the scale fabric in surprise. It felt cold and hard, quite different from her previous attire. Yan Jue encouraged, "Try it on and see how it feels." Obligingly, Zhu He slipped into the scaly garment. Suddenly, a layer of black mist enveloped her head. Before Yan Jue could react, she noticed Duan Lu Xi's expression change as she urgently pulled Zhu He outside: "Oh no, quickly, out to the yard!" They were barely outside when the black mist around Zhu He's head thickened, her body growing larger within it... Yan Jue quirked a brow: "What did you do to those scales?" Duan Lu Xi hesitated: "I didn’t do anything! Maybe it’s a natural effect of the snake scales..." Perplexed, the two of them circled Zhu He. About a tea time later, the mist completely dispersed. What appeared before them was... A gigantic wild boar. Yan Jue was stunned; was this... Duan Lu Xi froze briefly before dashing back inside for a book. "......" Yan Jue looked up at the enormous wild boar in front of her. It gazed back with tiny eyes. Its coat was sleek and black, it boasted long, white tusks, and its bristles bristled upwards like steel spikes. Zhu He seemed equally baffled, taking a few steps forward that made the ground tremble beneath her hooves, shaking the earth around them. "This is... this is..." Duan Lu Xi returned, clutching a tattered book, shouting: "It's a Steel Bristle Wild Boar Demon!" Yan Jue stood there dumbfounded: "Steel Bristle Wild Boar Demon?" "In many books, the Steel Bristle Wild Boar Demon is documented," Duan Lu Xi explained, closing her book and giving Yan Jue a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Where did you find such a spirit pet? You've stumbled upon something precious." "It's said these boars have immense strength, capable of shaking the very mountains with a full-force strike." Zhu He glanced down at Yan Jue and snorted. She seemed a bit out of sorts. Yan Jue prompted, "Can you change back?" After a moment's pause, Zhu He began vigorously shaking her body. The snake-scaled garment slipped off with a clear "plop" as it hit the ground. With the scales removed, Zhu He returned to her previous appearance as a teenage girl. She blinked slowly, her expression somewhat blank. - Leaving Duan Lu Xi's place, Yan Jue returned to her dormitory and noticed a note on the windowside desk that hadn’t been there before. The message, unmistakably from Qi Xianqing, was characteristically succinct. "Tomorrow at the hour of Mao, Cold Pool." Yan Jue slept dreamlessly, waking early the next morning. Her first action after waking was to head to the Cold Pool. At the appointed hour of Mao, the lake was shrouded in mist. Qi Xianqing, clad in pristine white, stood by the lake and turned to look at her. Yan Jue strolled over to her slowly. Today, Yan Jue wore a soft green pleated skirt, a golden hairpin in her hair, her raven black locks cascading over her shoulders. A white scabbard was secured at her back, her features strikingly bold in the sunlight. Qi Xianqing watched her with a curious expression, wondering how this person, appearing so composed, was the same as the affectionate little fox clinging to her leg at the orchard. Yan Jue: "......" Why did Qi Xianqing’s expression seem so peculiar...? Qi Xianqing adjusted her expression, then handed Yan Jue an aged sword manual: "This is from our master for you." Yan Jue blinked in surprise. The cover of the book Qi Xianqing passed to her was worn, the pages tinged with yellow, inscribed with the words "Heaven's Core Sword Manual." Yan Jue: "Thank you." Qi Xianqing pursed her lips: "If you have questions, you can ask me." Yan Jue's heart skipped a beat: "Thank you." Qi Xianqing's gaze drifted past Yan Jue to the presence standing behind her. Behind Yan Jue stood a large wild boar, somewhat endearing in its clumsy way, its beady eyes fixed on her. Perhaps it feared Qi Xianqing’s presence, for it sat quite obediently, not daring to move. Yan Jue introduced, "This is Zhu He. I had her try on the snake scales; she really liked them." The little wild boar suddenly shook, the snake scales slipping off its body. It transformed back into a teenage girl, looking at Yan Jue: "Hungry." Yan Jue reached into her pouch and handed her two crimson spiritual candle fruits. Zhu He smiled and began eating on the spot. Listening to the crunching of fruits nearby, Yan Jue suddenly remembered something and rummaged through her pouch for a large container. Qi Xianqing pondered silently, her gaze briefly lingering on Yan Jue’s waist before snapping away. She couldn't help but recall the little fox’s gentle, furless, pink belly by the Cold Pool that night. Qi Xianqing swallowed, her hand by her side unconsciously tensing. Just as she was about to inquire if Yan Jue was feeling alright recently, a crisp sound of a collision interrupted her. Yan Jue crouched, carefully counting the spirit stones in the container: "These are the spirit stones I've earned recently, about two thousand." "I'm repaying part of what I owe you for Liubing; I'll repay the rest gradually." Qi Xianqing: "......!" [No pop-up advertisements, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)]