Among the myriad妖族 in the Hundred Demons, most did not have fixed dwellings.
All妖族 preferred to live near mountains and waters—caves, high peaks, even the deep seas and clouds all had妖 residing within.
As for how territories were divided, naturally, it was decided by strength and combat.
This was a rule passed down from ancestors, a regulation far more civilized compared to the chaotic, life-or-death battles of old times.
Nowadays, such deadly duels had become rare.
The Foxes of Mount Tu resided on Mount Qingqiu, about ten li away from the Prophecy Ancient Tree.
On ordinary days, due to Tu Shan Yunxi’s status and position, few妖 dared to tread there.
Moreover, the Empress rarely stayed at home, so the place was extremely quiet.
Even if妖 appeared, it was usually just the mother and daughter of Mount Tu, and the so-called Eleven was a rare sight.
But today, unexpectedly, four figures appeared simultaneously inside the Space Secret Realm on the main peak.
On the jade and stone bed surface, Yun Mu sat obediently.
At his feet, Tu Shan Huaizhi knelt, head lowered; her usually perked ears and swaying tail drooped limply, looking utterly dejected.
Ahead of them stood the expressionless Tu Shan Yunxi and the indistinct-faced Eleven.
“Mo-mother, how did you know I was beneath the ancient tree?”
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the girl finally couldn’t hold back and asked first.
“Of course Eleven told me. Didn’t you forget she went with you back then?”
“Mm… but I clearly asked Eleven to keep it a secret.”
She looked up at the masked woman, pouting, her eyes showing a hint of grievance.
But in the next instant, she was frightened by her mother’s sharp gaze and lowered her head again.
Seeing this, Eleven couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“You handle your child first. Call me if you need anything.”
She gently patted the fox empress, glanced at the girl poking the ground with her finger, then turned toward the space’s entrance.
Just as she was leaving, her eyes flickered toward the obediently seated youth.
Beneath the mask, those emotionless eyes rare showed a hint of significance.
When the sound of the barrier snapping shut rang out, Tu Shan Yunxi finally shifted her gaze to the silent Yun Mu and stepped forward gracefully.
She walked directly to her daughter’s side, lightly gathering the wing-like hem of her trailing robe and sat on the bed’s edge.
Her movements were gentle but caught the boy’s attention.
He instinctively moved farther away, but before he could leave, the unfamiliar woman held him in place.
The empress looked at the thin youth before her, raised her hand, and took hold of the white ribbon tied around him.
Her calm face briefly flickered with emotion as she gently pulled it loose and softly asked,
“Does it hurt?”
The ethereal voice, tinged with妖力, made Yun Mu start slightly before answering, “I don’t feel anything. I just had a dream, and when I woke up… it was over.”
“Have you felt pain all these years?”
“All these years?”
Yun Mu hadn’t expected such a question.
He first shook his head, then nodded uncertainly, unable to give a clear answer.
The physical pain was something he disregarded, but the pain in his heart had tormented him all these years.
So whether it hurt or not, he couldn’t say—at least not anymore.
He barely understood such feelings now.
Tu Shan Yunxi was not surprised by his reply.
In fact, she had sensed his changes long ago.
From outward to inward, from body to spirit, everything was clear the moment they met.
“Do you want to know why you became like this?”
“Because they took out your bones?”
“Mm… your Liuli bones carried away the soul called ‘emotion’ from your body, which is why you changed from a sentimental child to a somewhat numb person.”
Familiar words echoed in Yun Mu’s ears.
Qin Luoyi had mentioned this before, but he’d only understood it in part; such things far exceeded his comprehension.
He roughly knew it was related to cultivation—otherwise, why would he have become a subject of Shangguan Qiuyue’s bone replacement?
If his body had been truly ordinary, how else could all this have happened?
Heaven bestows great tasks upon a person, first testing their mind and will? It sounded like a joke.
Seeing the boy silent, Tu Shan Yunxi continued.
“Originally… this was a Gift of Heaven, just like your Eye of Insight that sees through many truths.”
“Unfortunately, I was born in a Mortal Family and couldn’t resist the Destiny’s Torrent, right?”
The slightly rude interruption did not anger the fox empress.
She raised her hand and lightly tapped the boy’s head, lips parting softly.
“This isn’t your fault. Fate is just nonsense; no one is born wrong. That includes you, understand?”
Such a simple sentence made the boy fall silent once again.
As the first stranger he had ever met who seemed to read minds, Tu Shan Yunxi guessed his next thought:
“My birth was a mistake.”
Her voice, mysterious and enchanting, made him involuntarily calm down, wanting to approach.
He couldn’t describe the feeling—was it resonance?
Or a kindred spirit meeting across the mountains and streams?
Unable to answer, he simply nodded lightly, only to hear a frightened scream from the girl.
“Mo-mo-mo-mother! How did you… how did you start speaking?!”
Tu Shan Huaizhi, still kneeling and reflecting on her earlier childish mistake, sprang up like a carp flipping after hearing her mother’s soft, magnetic voice.
Pointing at her mother, she stared incredulously, as if seeing a ghost, and shouted again,
“Who—who—who exactly are you!?”
“Slap!”
A heavy smack landed on her head—compared to Yun Mu’s gentle reprimand earlier, this was an entirely different treatment.
“Huaizhi, you’ve been too rude. If others knew the future empress would speak to her own mother that way, wouldn’t they mock us for lacking successors?”
“Mm… I’m sorry, Mother.”
The girl held her head with her left hand and instinctively moved closer to the boy, tugging at the corner of his clothes with her right hand.
Feeling the outward pull on his arm and the fluffy tail secretly bristling behind him, a picture of the girl begging for mercy appeared in his mind, making him smile. He spoke to help her out:
“Empress… um, Empress sister, there’s a saying among humans: family scandals should not be spread outside. Since I’m still here, you better not scold her.”
Before his words finished, another “smack” echoed.
This time, Yun Mu took the hit.
He raised a hand to the pain, looking up confusedly.
Though he couldn’t see who, his expression clearly showed his puzzlement.
“Who told you to call me sister?”
“Uh… that Empress…”
He froze slightly; the words “aunt” or “madam” wouldn’t come out.
Clearly, in his understanding, those forms of address were even more impolite.
Regardless of her real age, judging by the voice he heard, this so-called Empress was at least a young woman.
So he chose “sister,” which was polite and sounded sweeter.
“Yun Mu…”
As he pondered how to respond, Tu Shan Yunxi spoke again, her voice calm.
“Mm, I’m here.”
“From now on, just call me ‘Mother.’”
“Mm… Mo—Mother?”
He answered instinctively but immediately covered his mouth, his previously upturned lips falling back into a serious expression.
He suddenly remembered that Tu Shan Huaizhi had mentioned the Ritual of Adoption earlier.
At that time, he had been wary, even doubtful; yet just now, he had almost been ‘intoxicated’ by this gentle affection.
“Empress, forgive me, but I can’t call you that. I only have one mother, and… she has passed away.”
“I know. That’s why I intend to adopt you. That shouldn’t conflict, right?”
“In theory, no, but I don’t plan to call anyone else mother. Besides, with our human concept of adoption—taking in a son to care for in old age—I have no ability to repay you, Empress. Why would you want to adopt me?”
“Reason? You saved my Huaizhi’s life. Isn’t that enough?”
“Yes, yes, benefactor! Mother will treat you well once she adopts you, really, really! You have to believe us.”
Seeing Yun Mu still shake his head, the girl anxiously shook his arm.
“Brother Yun Mu, please say yes~”
She even called him brother.
Unfortunately, the boy still shook his head.
“Empress, please don’t trouble yourself. I’m already of little use now. My most valuable bones and eyes have been given away to repay debts. Adopting a blind human son will only bring you criticism.”
Tu Shan Yunxi seemed to understand his guarded heart.
She did not rush but picked up the fallen white ribbon from the bed and tied it back on him, this time infusing it with some妖力.
“I understand… such an unequal return is extremely unrealistic to you. I indeed saw your talent, which is why I considered adopting you.”
“But I have no talent now, right? I—”
“Shh, listen,”
she raised a hand to silence him and continued, “But that’s the least important reason. I want to adopt you because of your pure heart. I’ve been watching while you worship your master these years. In any case… think it over.”
Having said that, she stood, patted the pensive Tu Shan Huaizhi, and turned toward the door.
“Let’s go. A Guest of Lixun has arrived. We should go greet them.”
“G-guest? Is the guest more important than Brother Yun Mu?”
The girl looked at Yun Mu reluctantly but released his hand and hurried after them.
“Not more important, just that if we don’t go, it might cause some trouble.”
“Trouble!? So the guest is an enemy?”
“Mm… sort of? After all, she’s probably here to take your Brother Yun Mu.”
“What! Then I must hurry and write something!”
The little fox darted ahead excitedly.
Tu Shan Yunxi followed behind leisurely.
Near the door, she suddenly stopped, looked back at Yun Mu, and transmitted with妖力:
[I’ve infused my妖力 into your ribbon. You should be able to sense nearby objects now. It won’t be as clear as eyes, but it will help you move around.]
[Feel free to roam among the Hundred Demons. I won’t restrict your freedom. Stay safe.]
Then she left the Space Secret Realm with the girl, leaving him alone seated on the bed, gently stroking the white ribbon.