Chapter Twenty-Four: Ling Xue’er, the Fox Demon

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Gu Zhiheng was accustomed to being surrounded by exceptionally good-looking people, so this was truly the first time he had encountered such an ugly creature—it almost hurt to look at. As the fox demon’s tail swept toward him, Gu Zhiheng threw a fire talisman without hesitation; its ashen hue was as unsightly as the demon itself. The moment the talisman landed on the fox’s tail, flames erupted, scorching the fur clean off. This, at last, drove the fox demon into a fury.

“You actually burned my tail! I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!” the fox demon shrieked, her eyes turning blood-red.

Transformed into her true form, the fox demon was enormous, not much smaller than the white-furred ape from earlier. Judging by her three tails, she had cultivated for quite some time—strong enough to be troublesome.

“Human, you’re unlucky this time. Fox girls are known for their tempers!” someone among the onlookers commented, the words making Gu Zhiheng’s head buzz.

As expected, women are always trouble, regardless of their race!

Well, if I have to fight one, I might as well fight two. Since she hates fire, I’ll give her even more. After all, he could draw dozens of fire talismans in a single minute.

And so, as he thought, so he acted. In an instant, flames a full ten feet high rose around the fox demon—burning no one but her.

“You human, you shameless scoundrel! How can you keep burning me like this?” she wailed, devastated that her beautiful fox fur was all but gone.

“Shameless? Are you more shameless than me? You’re hideous beyond words.” Gu Zhiheng spat in disdain.

Even a nightshade demon was cuter, yet she had the gall to claim she was good-looking. If he didn’t follow the principle against killing, he would have sent her off long ago.

“My lord, please show mercy!” A gentle female voice, as melodious as a violin, called out.

“My lord, my younger sister acted rashly and offended you. I beg your forgiveness.” Thankfully, she arrived just in time; a moment later and the situation would have been disastrous.

Though all the spirits and demons privately resented the Gu family, none dared provoke them—especially the family’s head.

That reckless, ugly third daughter actually dared be rude to the lord. Wait until they were home to see how their father would deal with her.

“You’re so beautiful, miss. Do you… know me?” What a lovely young lady—prettier even than his sister or Dustbound!

“My father often speaks of you, my lord, so I suppose I do know you.” Ah, the lord was truly adorable—she wished she could take him home.

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“Well, I’m just passing through—I had no intention of causing trouble.” If he could persuade this young lady to join them, wouldn’t their group be all the merrier?

Gu Zhiheng was already scheming how to talk her into joining their company, while the fox demon was plotting how to bring Gu Zhiheng home and make him stay forever.

“My lord, please call me Xue’er. My father has sent me to invite you for some tea.” Say yes, please say yes! Xue’er was anxious, but Gu Zhiheng was lost in thought, stroking his chin, and didn’t hear her.

The crowd of chattering spirits was so noisy he couldn’t make out Xue’er’s soft voice. She mistook his silence for reluctance and was about to extend the invitation again when Mo Han and the others approached.

“Miss Xue’er, the Ninth Lord is here to gain real combat experience—he doesn’t have time for tea at your home.” Dustbound looked at Xue’er with undisguised disdain, as if she were dirty.

“Lady Dustbound, my father only wishes to offer the lord tea—it won’t take long.” Why was it this woman again? How dare she return.

She was just a little earthworm, yet she rivaled the fox spirits in seducing men.

“What, can’t you understand human speech?” Had the intelligence of the fox charm tribe declined so much they couldn’t understand plain words?

Chu Xingran stepped out from behind Mo Han and addressed Xue’er.

She loathed the fox charm tribe’s women most of all—never doing anything proper, always out trying to seduce men. A contemptible lot!

“Well, Miss Chu, long time no see. Still as unpleasant as ever.” None of them were any good, just like that wretch Dustbound.

At first, Gu Zhiheng thought there might be something entertaining amid all this, but the fox spirit’s foul mouth changed his mind.

He had assumed that a fox demon, having gained spirit and wisdom, would be easier to deal with. But not only was she hideous, she was foul-mouthed as well!

“That’s enough. Even the Gu family is not to be insulted—who gave you the nerve?” Gu Zhiheng could not tolerate anyone bullying Chu Xingran. In his heart, no one could bully her—not even speak ill of her—except himself.

“My lord, I didn’t mean it. I thought…” Had she known these two wretches were connected to the Gu family, she’d never have dared speak so carelessly.

Now she’d failed to bring him home and had made enemies instead.

“Ha, a fair-weather wretch—now you’re afraid?” She enjoyed nothing more than watching this woman squirm.

She too had once lived on Misty Brow Mountain. If not for that wretch’s slander, she wouldn’t have had to leave, nor wander the world.

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Fortunately, she had met Chu Xingran, who had taken her in and helped her reclaim her dignity!

“You… Dustbound, don’t go too far!” Ah, these two vile women—what right did they have to be so close to the head of the Gu family?

Neither as beautiful nor as powerful as she, yet they stood by his side!

“Ling Xue’er, I doubt your father wishes to see your corpse.” The fox charm tribe had grown quite arrogant in recent years!

Look at Mo Han—his words carried an authority entirely different from Gu Zhiheng’s. He spoke of life and death as if it were nothing.

Ling Xue’er was utterly unfazed by Mo Han’s words, retorting with open mockery: “Lord Black Serpent, the fox charm tribe doesn’t need your interference!”

A filthy snake dared meddle in their affairs—did he know who he was?

If the black serpent clan still lived on Misty Brow Mountain, she might show him some respect, but now he was nothing!

Mo Han wasn’t angered; he merely smiled. “Well, look at you. Grown bolder over the years, have you?”

A crisp slap landed squarely on Ling Xue’er’s cheek.

All present—human and demon alike—fell silent.

Everyone knew the Ling family of the fox charm clan was usually arrogant and domineering, unaccustomed to such humiliation. The Black Serpent Lord was powerful, but his clan had left Misty Brow Mountain three centuries ago; no one here felt obliged to defer to them any longer.

Even before, the black serpents were no match for the fox spirits. Now, with the heirs of both clans facing off, tension was inevitable.

“Did Ling Feng never teach you that the Gu family is not to be provoked?” He belatedly realized he should introduce himself—he was now part of the Gu family as well.

“Yes, yes, the three of them are with me—I brought them here!” Gu Zhiheng knew his words might sound arrogant, but it was the truth.

The three were his companions on the journey to the Northwest. They were Gu family now, and the family should protect them.

If someone looked down on the Gu family, he saw no reason to be polite.

He shoved aside the three in front of him, formed a seal with one hand and drew a talisman with the other, then sent them flying at Ling Xue’er.

If she was courting death, he would grant her wish. Why bother with such a tangled mess?