Chapter Twenty-Five: Ling Feng

With a thunderous boom, the ground where Ling Xue’er had been standing erupted into a crater. The people and spirits nearby were all blasted far away. Yet aside from Ling Xue’er, no one else was injured. Gu Zhiheng had used the most basic of spells, ensuring that while Ling Xue’er would be hurt, her life would not be in danger. This was meant as nothing more than a lesson—to let her know that the Gu family was not to be trifled with, nor were those they protected.

“I am Gu Zhiheng, the current head of the Gu family. I hope to learn from and get along with everyone here!” His tone was pleasant; there was no need to offend those who didn’t deserve it. In truth, he was never one to seek trouble, but since this matter involved Chu Xingran, he didn’t mind making things a little more complicated.

“You… you dared injure my sister? My father will never forgive you!” snarled the ugly fox, who was still recovering from being burned, baring her teeth in a menacing attempt at threat.

Gu Zhiheng merely brushed the words aside. “Go ahead. No one’s stopping you.”

It wasn’t arrogance. Ever since his sparring match with Mo Han that night, it was as though his mind had opened up—skills he once lacked now came easily, and he had even discovered some new abilities he was eager to test.

Hearing Gu Zhiheng’s unexpectedly agreeable response, the ugly fox quickly darted westward, no doubt to report what had happened. Gu Zhiheng found himself curious—what sort of fox could have raised such foolish offspring? He was also intrigued to see how the spirits of Mistbrow Mountain differed from those of the mundane world.

“Sis, do you and Sister Chen Yuan have a grudge against their family?” Gu Zhiheng whispered into Chu Xingran’s ear, itching to learn the details.

Chu Xingran was reluctant to revisit those memories, but since Gu Zhiheng had asked, she saw no reason to withhold the truth. “Her father is a rather handsome fox demon. The first time I came here, I ran into trouble, and it was he who helped me out,” she said, her expression darkening.

The story was, in fact, rather sordid. Back then, Chu Xingran had only recently begun wandering the outside world. During one attempt to escape danger, she accidentally stumbled into Mistbrow Mountain and encountered the patriarch of the fox clan—Ling Xue’er’s father, Ling Feng—who happened to be out for a stroll.

At their first meeting, Ling Feng came across as gentle and refined, even gallant. He kindly tended to her injuries and took her back to the fox clan to recuperate. At first, everything seemed aboveboard. But as Chu Xingran’s wounds healed and her thoughts turned to leaving, the situation abruptly changed.

One morning, as Chu Xingran was preparing to depart, she was blocked by Ling Xue’er and her siblings.

“My father is willing to take you as a concubine—that’s a privilege for you, and yet you dare try to run?” Ling Xue’er’s haughty words and contemptuous gaze cut deep.

In their eyes, it was an honor for Ling Feng to marry a vagrant spirit like her. Chu Xingran disagreed. After staying with the fox clan for ten days, she had learned enough of Ling Feng’s family to realize they were all twisted—none of them in their right mind.

“Miss Xue’er, I’m grateful for your hospitality, but I will not marry your father,” Chu Xingran replied, especially not as a concubine. That family certainly thought highly of themselves.

She had assumed they would let her go after she refused, but never imagined that Ling Feng would dare to drug her. As her predicament turned dire, Chen Yuan suddenly burst up from underground for reasons unknown. The three of them—a pair of spirits and a ghost—stared at each other in shock.

Ling Feng’s cunning quickly revealed itself. “Oh? Another beauty come to join the fun?” His lecherous tone was sickening.

Back then, Chen Yuan was bold and brash. Seeing a girl bullied, and even being propositioned herself, she lashed out without hesitation. But for all her spirit, she was no match for Ling Feng. Within a few moves, she was defeated.

“What a fiery little thing. Just my type,” Ling Feng sneered, shoving Chu Xingran aside and grabbing Chen Yuan.

Chu Xingran, seeing Chen Yuan’s plight, was frantic. One of them was drugged, the other outmatched—they were out of options.

“Patriarch, someone from the Mo family is here to discuss urgent matters,” came a gruff voice from outside, its gender impossible to discern.

“I’ll let the two of you off today, but mark my words—you’ll regret it,” Ling Feng spat as he stormed from the room, leaving Chu Xingran and Chen Yuan staring at each other in shock.

“Hey, here—take this antidote and I’ll help you escape,” Chen Yuan said, her face the picture of sincerity.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.” At times like these, it was best to take a chance—survival and dignity came first.

Whatever Chen Yuan gave her worked swiftly; within minutes, Chu Xingran was restored. Chen Yuan, well-acquainted with the fox clan’s territory, led her out without a hitch.

It was thanks to Chen Yuan saving her life that Chu Xingran later brought the little troublemaker back to Jinfeng Town, letting her live near the ancestral shrine to watch over Gu Zhiheng in her absence.

“Sis? Sis?” Gu Zhiheng’s heart ached as he listened to Chu Xingran’s tale. He hadn’t realized she had suffered so much, faced so much danger.

“Ah? I’m fine… just angry, that’s all.” Even now, the memory filled her with rage.

While they were still muttering to each other, the ugly fox returned with a man in tow—handsome, as rumored.

“Chu Xingran, long time no see!” His tone was flippant, his gaze lewd.

“Well, if it isn’t little Chen Yuan too! It’s been years since I’ve seen you two—quite the runners, aren’t you? But here you are, delivering yourselves to me.”

“Father, that human bullied me and my sister—look, my sister’s still lying in that pit!” The ugly fox whined, accusing Gu Zhiheng. But Ling Feng’s mind was elsewhere.

When his eyes landed on Gu Zhiheng’s familiar face, he nearly jumped out of his skin in terror. How could it be him? Wasn’t he supposed to be dead?

“S-sir, what brings you here?” How could it be Ye Zheng? Wasn’t he dragged to his doom by the Gu family?

A dead man, standing here alive as day.

“Oh? You don’t seem pleased to see me?” Sir? Was he referring to himself?

“No, no, not at all!” Sweat beaded on Ling Feng’s brow. His two foolish daughters had managed to offend the one person they shouldn’t have. If this man grew displeased, their entire fox clan could be wiped from existence.

“I hear you wanted to take Chu Xingran and Chen Yuan as concubines?” To lust after his sister—did he have a death wish?

“I… I…” Ling Feng was paralyzed with fear. How had he found out? Did that brat from the Mo family tell him? Did he think that by following this man, the Black Snake clan was above the rest?

Ling Feng was so terrified he was nearly kneeling, while Gu Zhiheng fell silent, his gaze locked on him with chilling intensity.

He guessed his two foolish daughters had thoroughly offended the wrong person. Now, the fox clan’s annihilation was all but certain.