Ji Xuanyuan looked dejected as she shook her head in self-reproach. “I don’t know! About his hobbies, I know nothing…”
Fang Henian couldn’t help but scratch his head. “Oh dear! If that is the case, we can only use some methods that aren’t exactly honorable!”
“Methods that aren’t exactly honorable?” Ji Xuanyuan was confused. “What do you mean?”
Fang Henian cupped his hands. “Highness, have you ever heard of ‘the hero saving the beauty’?”
Ji Xuanyuan’s phoenix eyes widened slightly. “The hero saving the beauty? Does the City Lord mean for… my friend to save his life during a crisis?”
She couldn’t help but recall her first meeting with her Junior Brother in her previous life.
At that time, Ji Xuanyuan had been embroiled in a succession struggle with her younger sister and was framed, resulting in her being stripped of her status as the Crown Prince. To protect her, the Empress Dowager arranged for her to join the Heavenly Sword Sect. From then on, Ji Xuanyuan traveled the world in disguise under the name “Li Shixue.”
Back then, her dejected eyes were filled with the sorrow of being betrayed by her own sister. She could never forget the resentful gaze in her sister’s eyes when they finally turned against each other.
‘…Highness, do you know how painful it is to live in your shadow?’
‘….Hah! You don’t know—of course you don’t!’
‘…A Crown Prince who doesn’t understand the hearts of others deserves such an end.’
Li Shixue murmured absentmindedly, ‘Do I not understand the hearts of others…’
In a daze, she had already entered the mountain forests near the Heavenly Sword Sect. The roars of spirit beasts echoed periodically. Among them was the crisp sound of clashing blades, suggesting that cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle.
Li Shixue originally did not want to mind other people’s business, until she saw a thin figure flash past in the distance. It was a handsome youth covered in blood, struggling against three spirit beasts. There were several deep wounds on his body that exposed his bones, and his tattered clothes were soaked through with blood.
However, the youth did not retreat a single step. He stood firmly in front of an injured little fox. The little fox curled up at his feet, its snow-white fur stained with blood — though it was unclear if the blood belonged to the boy or the beasts.
That figure felt familiar, causing her to experience a hallucination.
During a royal hunt years ago, her younger sister had gotten lost in the forest. She hadn’t gone to look for her, but simply waited at the exit, believing her sister would return. When her sister finally returned alone and injured, Ji Xuanyuan had offered only coldness and criticism.
‘As a descendant of the Immortal Dynasty’s royal family, how could you be injured by killing just a few spirit beasts? Sister, do you know how many more resources we receive than commoners? Our strength should naturally be greater than that of our peers…’
Perhaps it was because of such coldness that her sister felt resentment, sowing the seeds of hatred.
Now that the scene was repeating itself, she changed direction as if possessed, chasing after that figure. By the time she regained her senses, Li Shixue’s longsword was already out of its sheath.
*Whoosh!*
The sword light was like snow, decapitating a spirit beast in a single strike. The youth abruptly turned his head to look at the snowy figure, his eyes full of shock and wariness.
Li Shixue didn’t look at him, simply saying indifferently, “What are you dazed for? There are still two left.”
“Yes!”
The youth nodded blankly and hurriedly fought side by side with her.
She attacked from the left, and he blocked the right. She retreated to build up power, and he stepped forward to entangle the enemy. Li Shixue was secretly surprised by the youth’s skillful swordsmanship.
‘This kid… is quite interesting!’
When the last spirit beast fell, the youth leaned on his sword, gasping for breath. Li Shixue sheathed her sword, her gaze falling upon him. The youth was covered in wounds, and the indifference in his eyes was identical to her own.
After catching his breath for a few moments, he mechanically cupped his hands. “Thank you for saving my life, Fairy!”
His raspy voice held a hint of sincerity.
Li Shixue replied calmly, “No need.”
Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly heard a faint whimper from behind. Subconsciously turning her head, Li Shixue saw the little fox rubbing its head against the youth’s leg.
Seeing this, the coldness on the youth’s face melted into a smile like the early spring. “Don’t be afraid, it’s over now!”
He crouched down to wipe the blood off the little fox. His tone was different from his coldness toward people; it was as soft as a spring breeze.
Li Shixue’s footsteps paused. She suddenly remembered how her sister always dragged a spirit beast along with her, muttering, ‘Everything in the world has feelings. Only warmth can comfort the human heart. Governing a country is the same. If there is no warmth in one’s heart, how can one warm the world?’
Just as her thoughts were in disarray, a lazy voice came from the distance.
“My lady, you have killed all the spirit beasts I was raising!”
The woman’s voice was so seductive it felt as if it could melt one’s bones, making the hair on Li Shixue’s neck stand on end. She drew her sword, subconsciously protecting the youth behind her as she looked coldly toward the source of the voice.
Through the dense purple mist, a graceful and enchanting figure slowly stepped out. The woman wore extravagant robes, and her elegant figure and flowing eyes carried a natural charm. However, Li Shixue’s gaze fell on the nine swaying golden fox tails behind her, which looked incredibly bewitching in the morning mist.
A Nine-tailed Celestial Fox? Could she be from the Sacred Realm?
Li Shixue was uncertain, her voice as cold as ice. “The spirit beasts you raised were hunting a youth. How should we settle this debt?”
Hearing this, the Fox Venerable chuckled, her gaze shifting to the youth. “Chu Yuan, come back!”
Chu Yuan?
Li Shixue turned back in a daze and saw that the youth’s face was very pale. However, he did not move, subconsciously hiding behind her.
The Fox Venerable narrowed her eyes, radiating a cold chill. “What? Now that someone is protecting you, have you forgotten your identity?”
The youth gritted his teeth and finally spoke. “Fox Venerable… I have endured today’s trial. I killed two and a half of the three spirit beasts.”
“Half?” The Fox Venerable let out a mocking laugh. “That half was killed by the girl behind you. Without her, you would already be food in a spirit beast’s belly.”
The youth lowered his head and remained silent.
Seeing this scene, Li Shixue’s heart tightened. She experienced another hallucination. That year, after her sister returned from being lost, she had sat atop a red horse, looking down with the same superior attitude.
She slowly sheathed her sword, but her body still blocked the path to the youth. “Fox Venerable, are you… training him?”
“Training?” The Fox Venerable acted as if she had heard something hilarious. “I am letting him know that in this world, no one will protect him forever.”
Her gaze fell back onto the youth. “Chu Yuan, someone saved you today, but what about tomorrow? The day after? The next time? When I was your age, I had already hunted over 100 spirit beasts on my own.”
The youth lowered his eyes and said nothing. However, his slightly trembling shoulders revealed the emotions in his heart.
Seeing the youth like this, Li Shixue felt her chest tighten. She wanted to say something but hesitated.
Seeing that she had suppressed him enough, the Fox Venerable waved her sleeve and turned around. “Fine! Consider today’s trial passed. Come back with me!”
Seeing this, Li Shixue knew she had to do something. She stepped forward to argue. “Fox Venerable, are you trying to kill your own Holy Son?”
The Fox Venerable frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
Li Shixue spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly. “So-called training requires one to travel the world and face various troubles alone. Luck is also an important part of that. Your traveling with him goes against your original intention.”
“Furthermore, you intentionally lured monsters to force him to fight? Normal cultivators would choose to avoid a fight when encountering troublesome spirit beasts. Your arrangement is undoubtedly an intentional hardship.”
Hearing her argue on his behalf, the youth raised his head. A light flickered in his dark, gloomy eyes. For many years, other than the childhood friend who had abandoned him, it seemed that only the person in front of him had ever stood by his side and spoken up for him.
From Ji Xuanyuan’s perspective, it must have been from that moment on — a seed was quietly planted in the youth’s heart, destined to take deep root and sprout in the future.