You Su Yu looked at Li Yunxian in disbelief for a long time before finally confirming that she had not misheard.
After thinking for a while, she asked in confusion, “Why? Even if you don’t ‘catch’ him, I feel like he would proactively follow you.”
Based on Su Wenjing’s jubilant appearance over a month ago, You Su Yu was quite certain of this.
Li Yunxian smiled. “That won’t do. I must catch him.”
“He and I had already confirmed our relationship before. When I came to find him, I discovered the name he gave me was false.”
“Not only that, but he also forgot me.”
“Do you think that’s right?”
You Su Yu: “…”
You Su Yu exclaimed, “Huh?!”
There was simply too much information packed into those few short sentences.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Tribe—no, it should be said all fox-type races—were always loyal and unwavering. How was this possible?
As the matriarch of the You Su Fox Tribe of Qingqiu, You Su Yu had handled many similar matters.
However, in the past, she had always dealt with members of other races who abandoned their Nine-Tailed foxes. This was the first time someone had come to her to complain about a fox being the unfaithful one.
And… the person that guy had provoked was a Tribulation Stage expert.
“…I will go look into the situation,” You Su Yu said weakly.
***
Meanwhile, the scene on Su Wenjing’s side was completely different from Li Yunxian’s.
While Li Yunxian only had to face You Su Yu in relative peace, Su Wenjing’s side was quite lively. All the elders, except for You Su Yu, were there, talking over one another as they asked Su Wenjing for specific details.
Su Wenjing, of course, would not mention how he had been “violated.” He only complained that after Li Yunxian captured him, she had found all sorts of ways to bully him.
As Su Wenjing spoke with gritted teeth, the other elders listened in silence.
‘Are you saying that after you were forcibly taken, she didn’t subject you to any torture, didn’t interrogate you for information, and didn’t even want your valuables? Instead, she spent every day thinking of ways to bully your character?’
‘Does that sound right to you?!’
Seeing Su Wenjing’s indignant expression and his bright red ears, the worldly elders ultimately chose not to press for more details.
After some deliberation, they asked Su Wenjing, “Then, should we capture her as well?”
Su Wenjing froze upon hearing this and said dryly, “That… that isn’t really necessary…”
The elders continued to suggest, “In that case, let’s kick her out.”
Su Wenjing replied, “…She likes Qingqiu. There’s no harm in letting her play here for a while longer.”
The elders watched as Su Wenjing smoothly protected the woman. Their lips twitched. “…Then what exactly do you want?”
Su Wenjing was silent.
At that moment, Su Wenjing realized he hadn’t thought about that at all. He had planned to return to Qingqiu and ask his elders to seek justice for him, but as for what kind of justice…
Su Wenjing frowned, thinking hard. The elders looked at the conflicted and troubled expression on his face, exchanging glances and secretly shaking their heads.
‘Young people these days… their ways of flirting are becoming more and more varied.’
Confirming that nothing major was wrong, the elders relaxed and began chatting about trifles over food and drink, waiting for Su Wenjing to come up with his so-called punishment.
Fortunately, Su Wenjing didn’t make them wait too long.
After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, they noticed the troubled look between his brows vanish. He returned to his usual leisurely and casual manner seen during public gatherings.
“Have you made up your mind?” the elders asked.
For a moment, Su Wenjing didn’t even realize the elders were asking him.
Only after the elders pressed him again did Su Wenjing ask in confusion, “Decided on what? What are you all talking about?”
Always considering himself just there to make up the numbers, Su Wenjing hadn’t been listening to the elders’ conversation at all.
All the elders froze. Their expressions instantly turned serious as they asked sternly, “You don’t remember?!”
Su Wenjing was puzzled. “Remember what?”
Talking over one another, they re-explained the matter of Su Wenjing coming back to complain.
Su Wenjing looked bewildered, thinking these elders were teaming up to tease him.
“Even though I’m only at the Great Vehicle Stage, I have a Space Talent. Even if it were someone at the Tribulation Stage, they couldn’t just capture me whenever they wanted, right?”
“Besides, my cultivation level hasn’t been sealed,” Su Wenjing said, raising his hand to unfold a vast expanse of space. “I am still at the Great Vehicle Late Stage.”
The elders looked at each other.
Finally, after a series of checks, they confirmed that Su Wenjing had completely forgotten the woman he had brought back. They immediately sent this news to You Su Yu.
You Su Yu: “…”
‘No way, you really forgot?!’
You Su Yu’s head began to ache.
Briefly recounting what had happened on Su Wenjing’s side, You Su Yu suggested to Li Yunxian, “How about I take you to see Wenjing?”
Li Yunxian had no objections.
This time, You Su Yu did not use any special abilities to transport them. They still knew the basic etiquette for a Tribulation Stage expert. You Su Yu led Li Yunxian along a slow walk, introducing the scenery and architecture they passed.
At that moment, Su Wenjing looked extremely impatient. His elders’ mouths were buzzing incessantly, saying things he couldn’t understand.
‘What do they mean, “the person I like”?’
‘I’ve never liked anyone.’
‘What’s the point of all this love stuff? It’s better to focus on cultivation.’
Thinking this way, Su Wenjing perfunctorily agreed with his nagging elders while his bored gaze drifted out the window.
Suddenly, Su Wenjing’s eyes lit up. He saw a very beautiful person.
However, using “very beautiful” to describe her seemed somewhat inadequate. To be precise, when this person appeared in his sight, it felt as if the entire world had brightened.
Su Wenjing pressed his hands against the windowsill and lightly flipped over it. Ignoring the elders who were still speaking to him, he landed gracefully in front of the woman.
“Who are you? How come I haven’t seen you in Qingqiu before?” Su Wenjing asked in a lively voice, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Li Yunxian.
You Su Yu, who witnessed all of this: “…”
The elders, who were suddenly left behind: “…”
‘We remember being part of the Nine-Tailed Fox Tribe, not some Peacock Tribe, right?’
‘Who is this guy suddenly fanning out his tail?!’
Li Yunxian couldn’t help but laugh. The anger in her heart had already mostly dissipated, and seeing the memory-wiped Su Wenjing act this way, the last trace of her irritation vanished.
Li Yunxian said with a smile, “I’m the one who captured you earlier.”
Su Wenjing was stunned and immediately connected this to what the elders had told him. He said directly, “Then you must have been tricked by me.”
Su Wenjing was very confident in his talent.
Meanwhile, the fox elders present: ‘We really can’t stand this guy!!’
Li Yunxian nodded meaningfully. “Mhm, I certainly was tricked.”
Smoothly accepting the fact that he seemed to have actually lost his memory, Su Wenjing suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. He explained for himself, “There should be some reason for that…”
But as for what that reason was, Su Wenjing couldn’t answer at this moment. So, with some awkwardness, he changed the subject and asked the question he wanted to ask most.
“I don’t remember anything right now. What is your name?”
Li Yunxian looked at Su Wenjing and did not answer immediately.
Su Wenjing felt a bit flustered, sensing that he might have asked an inappropriate question.
Recalling the unbelievable things the elders had told him and looking at the person before his eyes, he strongly believed that he must have a deep relationship with her.
‘But… I actually forgot her name.’
Su Wenjing guiltily looked away, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the mark that had surfaced on the back of Li Yunxian’s hand.
That was his Forehead Seal. Members of the Nine-Tailed Fox Tribe would only leave it on their recognized partner.
Su Wenjing’s ears twitched. He felt both excitement and guilt.
‘Did I… forget the person I love?!’
Su Wenjing’s pupils shook with shock.
On Li Yunxian’s side, the reason she didn’t answer immediately wasn’t anything complicated.
Rather… back when she used the Seeking Talisman, she had called out Su Wenjing’s real name. Even when Su Wenjing arrived and saw her, he hadn’t regained his memories.
In that case, the only other possibility for Su Wenjing to regain his memory was for him to learn her name.
Li Yunxian was just uncertain if she should say it now. Considering Su Wenjing’s somewhat proud personality…
“I don’t think this is the place for us to talk,” Li Yunxian said.
Only then did Su Wenjing react, noticing the other people around them.
Su Wenjing asked unhappily, “Are you all really that idle?”
The fox elders: “…?”
‘We recall that in the beginning, this guy was the one begging us to save him.’
‘It’s one thing to burn the bridge after crossing it, but how can he turn around and blame us?!’
The fox elders were silent for a moment before they immediately began cracking their knuckles.
“Daoist, please go rest first,” the elders said politely to Li Yunxian. “We will first deal with this disrespectful junior, and then we’ll send him over to you in a bit.”
Li Yunxian: “…”
“Alright,” Li Yunxian replied obediently.
Before long, Su Wenjing returned with a bruised and swollen face. The elders had calculated the duration of his last memory loss before letting him go.
Su Wenjing looked at Li Yunxian piteously and said miserably, “It hurts so much.”
Seeing how naturally Su Wenjing acted cute to gain sympathy, Li Yunxian found it both amazing and hilarious.
She almost didn’t want Su Wenjing to remember. The memory-less Su Wenjing had given her far too many surprises.
Li Yunxian was only thinking that, of course. She walked over to Su Wenjing’s side and gently touched a wound on his face that would have healed if she had been any later.
“Then, do you want to hear my name now?” Li Yunxian asked.
Seeing Li Yunxian’s attitude, Su Wenjing vaguely sensed something. But he still nodded decisively.
“Mhm, I want to.” Su Wenjing never chose to avoid a problem.
Li Yunxian looked into Su Wenjing’s eyes and said seriously, “My name is… Li Yunxian.”
The moment the name entered his ears, Su Wenjing felt a slight daze as a flood of memories rushed into his consciousness. He remembered everything.
Su Wenjing: “…”
Su Wenjing: “!!!”
“Li! Yun! Xian!” Su Wenjing growled through gritted teeth.
‘What on earth has this person done to me while I was immersed in the Secret Realm?!’
Facing Su Wenjing’s fury, Li Yunxian was not at all guilty. She even let out a chuckle, imitating Su Wenjing’s tone as she called his name:
“You! Su! Wen! Jing!”
Su Wenjing: “…”
His anger instantly deflated.
“…Listen to my explanation.”