Chapter 10

The little fox returned to Qingqiu.

Fate was kind to him; after such a terrible ordeal in the celestial realm, he almost lost everything.

Fortunately, he lost his memory.

Unaware and oblivious, they passed through what should have been the most painful period of their lives.

When he finally learned everything, he had already experienced the wonders of the world and the passage of time, yet he still cherished an endless longing for this land.

He has lived happily for three hundred years, and as long as he pretends to forget, he can continue to be happy.

If you're feeling down, don't look back, look forward.

So the little fox returned to Qingqiu, transformed into Mr. Yaoxue, and angrily accepted thirty feng shui orders, filling ten boxes.

What can relieve my worries? Only gold.

If one box isn't enough, then ten more boxes will do.

The little fox, clutching the box, dreamt of living in a golden palace, where delicious food and fine wine appeared on their own. He ate fruit while touching the gold, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Even in the deepest part of my dream, tears still soaked my pillow.

But during this time, he also noticed something unusual.

The energy of heaven and earth was in disarray, and demonic energy would occasionally seep out from between the rocks, soon polluting the most spiritually potent place.

This world is inherently a place where yin and yang complement each other, and purity and turbidity reinforce each other. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been flowing gently for tens of thousands of years, while the turbid energy has been accumulating underground for a long time.

I fear they will transform into strange creatures and spread throughout the three realms.

Although the little fox was a lazy bum, he loved the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers and the splendor of the four seasons.

If he were to speak to the Fox King in his own capacity, he would likely be drowned out by the boos of the court officials before he could even open his mouth.

Left with no other choice, he used a magical artifact to disguise himself and, posing as Mr. Yaoxue, visited the Fox King, revealing all the changes in Qingqiu.

The Fox King also looked solemn and said that he would report the matter to the Heavenly Court.

The little fox nodded. Mr. Yaoxue was skilled in feng shui. To create an image of profound mystery, erudition and elegance, the little fox wore simple clothes and a wooden hairpin, with a veil on her head and snow-white clothes.

He had the air of aloof and eccentric hermit.

Many people in the palace received guidance from Yao Xue, and even royal officials and nobles would bow respectfully when he passed by.

The little fox was extremely elegant, only nodding slightly.

Within the palace lies a clear lake, where willow branches ripple on the water, and sunlight reflects off its shimmering scales.

The little fox clearly wanted to chase the butterfly, but could only maintain a haughty demeanor, and couldn't help but feel that being a superior person was really tiring.

He was just about to return to his residence to eat peaches when he passed by the Imperial Academy and saw the teacher.

After the little fox returned from his training, he became quite lazy and idle. His teacher was always strict with him, and it was common for him to be punished by having his hands slapped and being made to stand in the corner.

Sometimes they would even stand under the eaves with two buckets of water on their heads, a place that many foxes jokingly called the "Guan Yao Corridor."

So the little fox was habitually intimidated by the other party, and when the Master stopped him, he felt even more uneasy.

However, he is no longer a fox, but a reclusive master named Yao Xue.

So he put one hand behind his back, bowed slightly in greeting, and asked, "May I ask what business you have with me, Master?"

The Master knelt down with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground: "Su Yao is utterly dull-witted, yet Master Yaoxue personally taught him the art of charm, turning a slacker into a genius and breaking through the ruthless path of the Supreme God. I feel ashamed and respectfully bow to Master Yaoxue as my master, so that I may make rapid progress in a day!"

Little fox: "..."

Sorry, but the person you're worshipping right now is that stupid, hopeless salted fish.

If the Master knew that he had bowed down to a salted fish, wouldn't he chase after him with a big stick and beat him?

The little fox felt a chill run down her spine and hurriedly helped the teacher up: "Yaoxue dares not, my knowledge of enchantment is but a rudimentary skill, I am not worthy of your great knowledge, sir. Let us discuss it again another day."

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly slipped away.

Unexpectedly, another thud came from behind: "I know that you think I am stupid, but sincerity is the key. From now on, I will kneel whenever I see you, and I only ask to be your disciple for one day and receive your guidance!"

The little fox was so startled that its heart pounded.

Good heavens, I can't afford to drop this disguise.

Having finally made it halfway through, just as we were about to cross the bamboo forest, we encountered an unexpected person.

Chongyun Immortal Lord.

The little fox couldn't help but take a slight step back.

With the complete memories, he gained a more comprehensive understanding of this immortal lord.

This person is incredibly cunning, a true shrewd strategist, perhaps he has recognized me?

Although the Azure Lotus God Lord didn't know what he had given the little fox, its spiritual power was increasing every day, almost reaching the level it had reached at the peak of its cultivation.

If Chongyun insists on fighting me head-on, relying on the advantage that Qingqiu territory can suppress outsiders' magical power by a third, I might not necessarily lose.

The little fox thought this to itself, then subtly turned the dagger in its sleeve, its expression remaining unchanged: "What advice do you have for me?"

Chongyun took a few steps this way, then suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down in front of the little fox with a thud.

Little fox: "..."

What kind of new trend is this in the Three Realms? Giving such a grand greeting to everyone they meet?

"I am Chongyun." He bowed slightly. "I only ask that Master Yaoxue accept me as her disciple so that I may learn the method to break through the ruthless path of the Azure Lotus Divine Lord."

Little fox: "..."

Strictly speaking, Chongyun was his past rival in love.

His love rival knelt before him and even asked him to teach him how to win back his ex—it's like something out of the blue!

Besides, the Azure Lotus Divine Lord's Ruthless Dao was made of thin ice, right? He didn't do anything, not even touch it with his fingertips, and it broke on its own.

Do I even need to teach this?

The little fox had none of the patience it had for the teacher; it glanced at him and then walked away.

Chongyun crawled on his knees for several steps, constantly chasing after the little fox, and later followed it all the way to the mansion.

He was indeed sincere and did not use magic to protect his knees, so blood seeped from them.

The little fox deliberately drove him away, intentionally using magic to create a rain of mud.

Even after being drenched in water and covered in mud, Chongyun remained kneeling outside, refusing to back down.

The little fox was in agony, regretting that when he shared his experience, he had said that Yao Xue had personally taught him.

He should have said that he was taught by the Azure Lotus God himself, and all his troubles would have disappeared.

The little fox wanted to leave Yaoxue's fake residence and go home, but Chongyun blocked the door.

Later, unable to bear it any longer, he looked down at him coldly and said, "I only accept those who are destined to be with me. You may leave."

Chongyun insisted, "I am sincere, and you can verify it for yourself."

The little fox really gets annoyed whenever she sees him.

This person once spoke eloquently in the Nine Heavens Palace, causing him to be tortured by lightning, wind, and rain in the Snow Prison.

Whether it was for the sake of Qinglian or to curry favor with the Jade Emperor and climb the ranks, he was a heartless and ruthless person.

He's ruthless to himself, and even more ruthless to others.

Since he came to us himself, we won't blame him for settling old scores and new grudges.

"If you can withstand the three punishments of wind, water, and thunder, I will take you as my disciple."

The little fox gently blew on the tea leaves in the cup; they were the finest Dragon Ball Tea.

"If you dare not, then leave quickly."

Chongyun remained silent for a while, then kowtowed and said, "Chongyun is willing to undergo your test, sir."

The little fox kept pinching its brow.

This person is beyond saving.

He was determined to drive the other party away, so he didn't hold back with the first lightning spell.

Then, lightning flashed like a string cleaving the sky, and the long, blue-flaming dagger lashed out at its opponent.

With a deafening roar, a charred crater appeared where Chongyun had been, and the immortal, who was usually dressed in white robes and exuded a refined air, was transformed into his true form and cleaved into a charred dumpling.

The ferret's fur was completely ignited, turning it a coal-black mass, with only the whites of its eyes remaining relatively clear.

Chongyun seemed about to speak, but coughed out a wisp of smoke.

The little fox didn't drink the tea; it spat it all out with a "poof."

This is just too ugly.

The immortal Chongyun seemed to realize his predicament and felt ashamed for a moment. He began to dig a hole with his front paws.

Before long, it actually burrowed into the soil and disappeared without a trace.

The little fox's lips were a little stiff. Was this an immortal or Tu Xingsun?

He looked at his hands, somewhat incredulous.

When did my magic become so powerful? I was even able to turn an immortal back to his original form.

It should be known that the snow ferret's immortal bones are not good. If it is forcibly cleaved back to its original form, it will drop several realms and will need to recuperate for several hundred years.

His ambition backfired, causing him to stumble into a huge pit.

It's truly both lamentable and laughable.

The little fox finally breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to return to her residence, but as soon as she stepped out the door, the prince appeared in front of her again.

Before he could speak, the other person knelt down in front of him with a thud.

Little fox: "..."

What's wrong with this world? Could it be that my name actually means "kneel down when you see me"?

So, could we make the Jade Emperor kneel down in his presence?

"Your Highness, there is no need for such a grand ceremony."

The little fox helped the other person up, looking very touched, but feeling completely numb inside.

"Even if you kneel down, I will not accept you as my disciple."

"I am not here to be a teacher or an apprentice."

The prince's ears turned slightly red, and he kowtowed sincerely, saying...

"I am asking Mr. Yaoxue to act as matchmaker."

"Su Yao was my Crown Princess before."

The prince lowered his eyes slightly.

“He was originally exceptionally talented and we were a perfect match. But after returning from his training, not only did his cultivation level drop significantly, but he also became much lazier.”

“When I was cold or verbally provoked him, Su Yao didn’t care at all.”

The prince frowned.

"I feel extremely disappointed and just wish he would turn back into the competitive little fox he used to be."

"But later, Su Yao broke through the Qinglian Divine Lord's Ruthless Dao."

The prince suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming.

"I just realized that he was actually just focusing on his cultivation, hiding his true brilliance. He is still the little fox in my heart."

“I still like him. His birthstone is Moonlight Flowing Pendant. Every year I carve one and give it to him in his most adorable form.”

There was a hint of annoyance in the crown prince's eyes.

"But I always felt he could have been better."

A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo forest.

The shadows of the trees swayed, and the flowing light resembled bubbles exhaled by koi carp, which would burst at the slightest touch.

The little fox suddenly laughed: "I think you don't like Su Yao."

"What you like is your perfect fantasy." He lowered his eyes.

"When you love someone, your eyes will deceive you, and you will no longer see any bad things about them."

"So even across a vast sea of ​​people, once eyes meet, they will involuntarily lock onto each other."

The prince suddenly stood up, his pupils red: "If Mr. Yaoxue is unwilling, then so be it. Why slander my sincerity towards Su Yao?"

He left abruptly without waiting for the little fox's reply.

The little fox rubbed its temples.

If they were meant to be together, things would have been resolved long ago.

After dealing with several people, the little fox finally had a moment to himself, transformed back into his original form, and returned to his mansion.

Unexpectedly, the Fox King visited again that evening.

His brows furrowed, and he looked somewhat weary: "Su Yao, Qingqiu is rife with demonic energy, and I'm afraid the Heavenly Court has no intention of helping us."

"Qingqiu also possesses a magical artifact for suppressing evil spirits, which can dispel some of the demonic energy."

The Fox King paused for a moment.

"But our ancestors were afraid that the royal family would squander the resources, so the mountain could only be opened to retrieve them when members of the royal blood got married. You also know that Hengzhi would never marry anyone other than you."

The little fox stared at the tea leaves floating in the cup.

His fate seemed to be completely out of his control.

"Your Majesty should know that my heart is as cold as withered wood. If it is only for the sake of a Buddhist artifact, a fake marriage is acceptable."

He said softly,

"But it's probably not possible for her to marry the Crown Prince."

The Fox King pondered for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Don't worry, Yaoyao. Qingqiu has the most open-minded people, so naturally we won't let you do things against your will. This action is only for the sake of the world and its people, nothing else."

The little fox nodded.

He just didn't expect the other party to prepare so quickly, having everything ready by the next day, even the wedding dress was ready.

Phoenix patterns and embroidered robes, scarlet robes and soaring cranes.

Dressed in fine clothes with her hair piled high, adorned with white jade tassels.

The little fox put on her wedding dress and looked at herself in the bronze mirror, momentarily lost in thought.

The person in the mirror has fair skin and a beautiful face, with stunningly gorgeous features.

It is even more dazzling than jewels and gold bracelets.

A man suddenly entered, his reflection appearing as a pair in the bronze mirror.

The little fox's heart suddenly raced. What was he doing here?

Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was the Crown Prince.

"Why do you look so disappointed?" The prince looked at his clothes and frowned. "I didn't wear anything wrong."

The little fox closed its eyes, said nothing, and only whispered, "Let's go."

He wore a string of jade lotus-patterned prayer beads on his wrist, which rustled as he walked.

The palace has arched eaves and cloud-like lintels, with green tiles and red roofs, and colorful banners fluttering all around, reaching to the sky.

The prince, leading the little fox, stood at the foot of the thousand-step jade staircase, above which was the marriage platform of Qingqiu.

The little fox looked at the winding steps that seemed to reach into the clouds and almost couldn't climb them in one breath.

Indeed, when Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility, it first tests one's physical and mental strength.

As a salted fish, he suddenly longed to return to his warm waters.

"Your Highness," the little fox said reluctantly, "could we find another way to form a bond? For example, how about swearing an oath of blood under a peach tree?"

"You two are sworn brothers."

The prince glared at him.

"I knew you were afraid of getting tired, so I was prepared."

He took out a magical artifact, a lotus-patterned ferret, and the little fox, having regained its memory, knew exactly what it was.

It was a magical artifact personally forged by Qinglian. He once took me to the highest heavens to watch the sunset melt into gold and the clouds roll and unroll.

Later, he gave it to himself, and by chance, during his amnesia, he was taken back to Qingqiu.

The little fox had hoped that Qinglian would take him on a phoenix ride to Wumeng Mountain, where the two would swear an oath on the Three Lives Stone to stay together forever.

Unexpectedly, she will now ride a phoenix together with another man to the Marriage Platform.

He shook his head, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.

During the formal ceremony, the surroundings were decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, and the moon was surrounded by rosy clouds.

His red robes fluttered in the wind as he and the prince clasped hands and sat together atop the fire phoenix.

Fireworks burst across the sky, gently forming the words "Su Yao and Du Heng's Hundred Years of Harmony".

The prince wanted to kiss him, but he turned his face away, so the kiss landed on his cheek.

Just then, a hurricane suddenly arose.

Suddenly, the little fox saw the Azure Lotus God, dressed in red, slowly approaching from the horizon.

How could that be?

The little fox not only used magical artifacts to bewitch the Azure Lotus God, but also used several high-grade spiritual artifacts to create a barrier, sealing off the courtyard where the Azure Lotus God was located.

It's estimated that it should hold him off for at least twenty days.

But even now, only ten days have passed since he left.

The little fox's heart clenched.

Just how terrifying is this person's strength?

The moment the Azure Lotus God landed, the sky suddenly changed color.

In May, a clear sky was suddenly blanketed with heavy snow.

In a short while, pure white covered all the bright red.

The courtyard is adorned with jade steps, and the forest is filled with towering jade trees.

The surrounding fields were a pristine white, while the image of the Azure Lotus God was like a blazing cinnabar in the center of the plain.

He had never worn anything so vibrant, like a blood lotus blooming amidst frost.

The little fox whispered a word to escape, but it was too late.

All around, ice peaks rose abruptly, firmly blocking the fire phoenix's path.

The Azure Lotus God, with his left eye crimson, strode through the ice and snow, leaving behind a trail of vibrant plum blossom petals.

No, those aren't plum petals.

The little fox stared intently, and there it was—

Blood dripped from the palm of the Azure Lotus God.

"Hand over Su Yao."

The Azure Lotus Divine Lord did not speak, yet his voice, like a resounding bell, struck everyone's eardrums.

"Otherwise, Qingqiu will be forever buried in ice and snow, never to see the light of day again."