Winter Hunt (Part 2)

The side hall of the imperial palace had its doors and windows tightly closed, but it couldn't block out the noise from the hunting grounds.

Yun Shu dismissed the palace servants under the pretext of needing to rest and recuperate, leaving only Jin Zhu and the guard with him. He gathered demonic power at his fingertips and gently brushed it across the guard's still trembling right arm. Soon, the bloody wound healed completely.

"Thank you for saving me on the high platform just now," Yun Shu said in a low voice, while also repairing the guard's chipped sword.

The other party clearly hadn't expected the fox spirit to condescend to personally heal his wounds, and now, upon hearing the thanks, he paused for a moment before immediately kneeling on one knee, placing his right fist over his heart, and respectfully saying, "Ensuring the safety of the fox spirit is my duty. I truly dare not accept your gratitude."

After a moment of silence, he said again, "It is I who should say thank you. Thank you, Fox Fairy."

Yun Shu had no choice but to help him up again and asked, "May I ask your name?"

The guard followed the fox spirit's lead and sat down, but lowered his head even further: "This humble servant is Ling Zhao, merely the Deputy Commander of the Right Wing of the Imperial Guards. I dare not accept the title 'Your Excellency' as the immortal has addressed me."

“Ling Zhao…” Yun Shu nodded. “What are your thoughts on today’s events?”

Ling Zhao pondered for a moment, then finally raised his head and expressed his opinion: "In my humble opinion, the arrow was imbued with intense demonic energy, and its force was so fierce that it could not have been wielded by ordinary demons. Furthermore, the timing of the attack was unusual. Although His Majesty had left the scene, all the close advisors and imperial guards remained to protect the camp... Forgive my intrusion. I believe that the arrow's purpose was not to take your life, but rather to seize the opportunity to disrupt the situation. Or perhaps... it was a test of you."

Yun Shu smiled – Ling Zhao's opinion was much the same as his. But this was not Ling Zhao's fault. Such a thin immortal essence, hidden so deeply, if it weren't connected to his origin, even he, a fox spirit, probably wouldn't have been able to sense it.

“Alright.” Yun Shu raised her hand again, using her faint demonic power to stabilize Ling Zhao’s inner energy. “I was frightened at the hunting grounds and am now exhausted. If anyone wants to come and visit me, I hope you will stop them. Let’s end this matter here.”

"Understood, Your Majesty!" Ling Zhao rose, sword in hand, bowed once more, and left the inner chamber. He stood guard at the palace gate, his posture upright, his eyes like those of a hawk, watching out for anything suspicious.

Jinzhu was still sobbing softly. She wet a handkerchief with warm water and continued to wipe the bloodstains from Yunshu's sleeves and lips.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Yun Shu said gently. "Were you frightened?"

The young palace maid nodded vigorously, tears welling in her eyes: "His Majesty has only just left, and someone is already trying to harm you... I... I'm afraid that evil person won't give up and will try to..."

She cried pitifully, and Yun Shu even felt a little guilty. He patted Jinzhu's hand, and a soft fox tail curled over to wipe away the tears from her cheeks and the corners of her eyes, as if to comfort her: "Don't be afraid. How could a fox spirit be easily harmed? There's some calming incense on the small table by the window, would you light it for me?"

Jinzhu, unsuspecting, walked away, stepping on the long shadows cast by the ancient trees. Yun Shu, on the other hand, moved closer to the palace gate and called out, "Commander Ling."

"Your humble servant is here. What are your orders, Fox Spirit?"

Yun Shu took out a golden bell and played with it for a moment before feigning exhaustion: "In your opinion, what do you think of me, this fox spirit? And what about Ah Jin, this emperor?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Ling Zhao said loudly, "The Fox Immortal protects all living beings and treats people with kindness. He is someone I deeply admire. His Majesty cares for the people and governs them effectively. He also treats the Fox Immortal with great respect. He is someone I am willing to serve to the death for. This is my duty and also where my heart is."

Although the words clearly stated his position, they also implied a slight inclination towards Yun Shu, the auspicious omen of suffering.

That's enough. Yun Shu didn't need Ling Zhao to betray his master, nor did she ever intend to label Murong Jin as "ungrateful" or "malicious"—that would only be used by those truly plotting rebellion to incite the people. When a wise ruler falls from grace, it is always the common people who suffer in the end.

This peaceful and prosperous era was initially established by him and Murong Jin together, and it was their shared aspiration.

Yun Shu only hoped that Murong Jin would continue to be a wise ruler for the people.

Thank you.

"You're too kind, Fox Fairy."

Just then, a rustling sound came from another window in the side hall. Yun Shu turned her head and "looked" over, only to see that the little white fox had quietly returned.

"Come."

The little white fox took a running start and leaped, instantly transforming into a wisp of light that disappeared into Yun Shu's fingertips.

He did not check on her immediately, but instead leaned weakly against the chaise longue, his face even paler, looking extremely fragile.

A series of hurried footsteps came from the palace gate, along with Ling Zhao's short and forceful "Your Majesty, may you be well."

"No need for formalities." Murong Jin's tone was anxious. "How is the fox spirit?"

Yun Shu immediately coughed violently, and called out in a daze, "Is A-Jin back?"

Murong Jin sat down on the edge of the couch, took Yun Shu's hand, and held the fox tightly in his arms, his brows furrowed.

"Xiaoxue, why are you so cold? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone for a wild beast..." As if noticing that Yunshu's hands couldn't be warmed, he ordered, "Hurry up and brew a pot of ginseng tea?"

Jinzhu hurriedly accepted the order and left, leaving only the two of them in the inner room to talk.

"Cough cough... What are you saying?" Yun Shu smiled weakly. "Ah Jin is their emperor. For things like the winter hunt... naturally you have to be with them. How can you stay by my side all the time?"

Murong Jin felt even more heartache. He took off his dragon robe and covered Yun Shu completely, disregarding his imperial dignity. He carefully massaged several acupoints on Yun Shu's body, which were burning with heat, feeling both annoyed and fearful: "It's my fault. If I hadn't brought you here, how could that beast have had the chance? Don't worry, the Imperial Guards and Secret Guards have already entered the forest to search. We must capture that demon alive! And then we'll cut him into a thousand pieces!"

And what about you? Mo Yiheng is a wicked creature who injured my eyes and deserves to be torn to pieces. You, Murong Jin, were hypocritical and stole my immortal essence; how will you deal with that?

Yun Shu smiled bitterly to himself, but a hint of relief appeared on his face, and even his trembling body relaxed slightly. He leaned against Murong Jin's shoulder dependently and said, "With A-Jin here, I feel at ease... but right now, I am indeed a little sleepy..."

Murong Jin hugged him tighter for a moment, then quickly let go. He took out the jade book, smoothed Yun Shu's disheveled hair, and then personally carried him to the bed, wrapping him up tightly. Pure dragon energy flowed into Yun Shu's body again, and Murong Jin said gently, "Alright, you should rest well. A-Jin is outside the palace. I will come back to be with you once the officials have settled down."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over Ling Zhao and Jin Zhu, who had just returned, and said in a deep voice, "Take good care of the fox spirit and forbid anyone from disturbing her. Also, Ling Zhao, the deputy commander of the right wing of the Imperial Guard, has rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor and will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Afterwards, Murong Jin left the side hall. Ling Zhao closed the door and continued standing guard.

The moment the palace doors closed, Yun Shu's fragile appearance recovered considerably, replaced by an icy coldness.

Although her five senses have deteriorated, a mere palace gate cannot block Yun Shu's hearing.

Yun Shu heard Murong Jin instructing him to strengthen the guards and guard against assassins, and heard him instruct the palace servants to send the best tonics and medicinal herbs to the Fox Fairy Palace. She also heard the anger and worry that he could not hide in his tone.

Is it just an act, or is there genuine remorse?

Ah Jin... how much of your words are true?

The palace skirt rustled as Jinzhu brought out a cup of steaming ginseng tea, a bowl of warm lily and lotus seed soup, and a small dish of poria cocos cakes.

"Fox Fairy..." Her voice was still a little nasal, "The ginseng tea is bitter, so I asked for two more snacks. If you eat some after you drink it, it might help to reduce the bitterness."

"You're so thoughtful." Yun Shu gently patted the little palace maid's soft hair. "The Poria cocos cakes can calm the nerves, why don't you have some yourself? Commander Ling is working hard outside, why don't you take a couple for him too?"

"Okay, fine..." Jinzhu wiped away her tears while holding her tail, but quickly choked up again, "Fox Fairy, you...you really don't want to call the imperial physician to take a look? Your face is even paler than this morning, and it's even starting to look ashen..."

"It's alright. Lord Fox Fairy is just tired. She'll recover after a good night's sleep," he said softly, as gently as if talking to a flower. "Don't cry, what if your eyes hurt? Your parents will be worried."

To everyone's surprise, she sniffed and laughed, "No way. I... am not Han Chinese. That winter solstice, I fell asleep in my mother's arms and heard my father say that he couldn't support me. When I woke up, I left my hometown and was taken to the palace by a nanny to become a palace maid. Fox Fairy, Jinzhu has no father or mother anymore."

Perhaps her parents only wanted their daughter to have a better place to go, but in her young eyes, it was no different from being abandoned.

Yun Shu felt even more tender-hearted and whispered, "I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

"Fox Spirit, you don't need to apologize!" Jinzhu held his hand and shook it. "I've already forgotten what they look like, I'm not sad. Fox Spirit treats me extremely well, and I'm so happy to be able to serve you personally!"

Perhaps seeing that the fox spirit was in high spirits because of her, the little palace maid started talking non-stop, clinging to Yun Shu's side and babbling on and on about palace life and appearance. In the end, she herself got sleepy from talking so much.

"Fox Fairy, you don't know, I look very different from other people..." She nodded her little head, but still managed to stuff a strand of soft hair that fell down into Yun Shu's hand. "My mother said that my hair is like a bountiful ear of wheat, golden and shiny... and my eyes are like the brightest emeralds... but the people here don't seem to like me, they are all afraid of me... Fox Fairy, if you could see me... you would hate me too, wouldn't you..."

"How could that be?" Yun Shu gently patted her back. "Although I can't see for the time being, I think you are very beautiful. Sweet dreams, Jinzhu."

If a fox spirit can even accept demons, why would it look down on a pitiful person?

He carried the half-asleep palace maid to bed and put her to sleep, while he sat by the window, sorting through the messages brought back by the little white fox.

The demonic power intertwined in her mind, outlining the scene that Yun Shu could "see".

Beneath some ancient trees deep in the dense forest, a group of mysterious figures clad in black robes gathered. They held golden cinnabar in their palms, their movements incessant, seemingly adjusting the formation. Yun Shu bypassed them, carefully searching for the "key point." Soon, the flowing imagery froze; another barrier stood before the little white fox, preventing it from entering.

Yun Shu waited patiently.

The little white fox lay there for about fifteen minutes, then the towering, withered tree disappeared, and a person in a long robe trailing on the ground and adorned with elaborate ornaments emerged. He was clearly the leader of the group of men in black, and he was holding a scepter-like magical artifact as he turned to reinforce the formation.

"Where is His Majesty?" the man asked his subordinate, and a green snake as thick as a wrist slithered out from his sleeve. The snake raised its head and hissed for a moment, then darted straight towards the palace and quickly disappeared from the little white fox's sight.

The voice... seemed somewhat familiar to Yun Shu.

A man in black robes stepped forward and replied, "His Majesty, upon hearing of the fox spirit's assassination attempt, has already returned to the palace on horseback."

"Hmm." The man walked slowly to a clearing in the forest, gazing at the chaotic scene below the high platform, his tone languid, "His Majesty's heart is softening more and more. Go and report to His Majesty that the formation must be activated before the ancestral worship ceremony in Yunhua."

"But... sir, if we activate the formation prematurely, I fear that fox spirit's life will be in danger..."

"How can the life of a demon compare to His Majesty's lifespan of ten thousand years?" Two more snake heads emerged from the man's sleeve, crawling side by side onto the magical artifact. Yun Shu immediately felt that strange fluctuation return, and her meridians throbbed with unbearable pain. "His Majesty couldn't bear to harm his dear friend, so we had to do it for him... This is all for His Majesty's sake. Do you understand?"

"……yes."

At this point, Yun Shu finally recognized who this person was.

It is none other than the one who, at today's sacrificial ceremony, respectfully invites the Emperor to draw his bow—the Imperial Preceptor, Liu Qing.

Just as the little white fox was about to approach, Liu Qing, being perceptive, caught her eye.

“What did I think it was?” he said listlessly, but then the two snakes rushed over as if to fight the fox. “It’s just a little beast.”

Fearing exposure, the white fox had no choice but to flee, leaving the Grand Preceptor and his entourage to head to their camp.

Yun Shu also withdrew her demonic power and lay half-reclined on the chaise longue, pretending to be asleep. However, her fox ears keenly detected that there were snakes crawling outside the palace.

The ins and outs of the matter are now largely clear.

Ah Jin... do you know what kind of venomous snake is lurking beside you?

With such a ruthless person and such a vicious formation... Could it be that Yun Shu truly misunderstood Heng'er that day at Wangyue Pavilion?

Right and wrong were of no concern to Yun Shu at this moment. The most urgent matter was to destroy that formation and then part ways with Murong Jin.

On the edge of the hunting grounds, atop a giant tree.

Mo Yiheng had just received the message from Mo Ying when Wu Ying and Ye Xiuluo sent him a message that deepened his hatred.

Wu Ying: "Your Majesty, according to what you said... if the fox spirit does not leave the Human Emperor soon, her days are numbered. Also, this is a new medicine for strengthening the body and restoring vitality. Taking it can restore more than 70% of one's power in a short period of time. However, the side effects are also significant. I hope Your Majesty will not take it unless absolutely necessary."

Night Asura's words were much shorter: "Your Excellency. Information on the formation."

Mo Yiheng then unfolded the booklet and read its effects in detail.

The Soul-Devouring Array uses incense and faith as a medium, supplemented with gold powder, cinnabar, and the poison of spirit snakes. It can absorb the immortal power of the worshipped and transfer it to another person's body. If handled too hastily, the one whose power is completely devoured is very likely to perish. Furthermore, once this array is formed, it cannot be stopped; it can only be broken when one party dies (or ascends to immortality through tribulation).

The demonic energy surged violently, instantly incinerating the scroll. Mo Yiheng also felt a sharp pain in his chest, which made him feel a sweet taste in his throat, forcing him to swallow the foul blood.

He struggled to catch his breath for a moment, and only when he felt better did he open his eyes again. His eyes were dark and deep, fixed on the hunting ground palace, and his anger was boundless.

"Well……"

The jade pendant on his chest suddenly bumped against him, which actually calmed him down a bit.

He then brought the jade to his lips and kissed it lightly, murmuring, "Master... Heng'er will definitely save you..."

Then, Mo Yiheng transformed into a black wind, silently attaching himself to a wild wolf, passing through the barrier, and entering the hunting grounds.

Master, wait for me.