The rain had cleared, and the white clouds floated leisurely in the sky—just the right time for the fish to surface and feed.
After rainstorms, many fish-loving demons habitually gathered at the westernmost boundary river to catch fish.
But today, no demons came to this place.
Because today, two unexpected guests had arrived at the Hundred Demons’ territory.
Waiting to receive them were the elusive Qingqiu Empress, who usually appeared like a divine dragon—seen one moment, gone the next—and her daughter, Tu Shan Huaizhi.
Such a show of force would have scared away the lesser demons long ago.
As for the great demons, unless their own safety was truly threatened, they barely cared to acknowledge it.
Above the rushing river, two pairs stood facing each other.
Interestingly, standing directly opposite Tu Shan Yunxi was Princess Qin Luoyi, only seventeen years old.
And Xiao Fuzi, leaning on a cane, stood just behind her to the right, wearing a kindly and gentle smile.
As for the young Tu Shan Huaizhi, who had little worldly experience, she was already hiding behind her mother, clutching the hem of her robes with her right hand to suppress the fear she felt toward Xiao Fuzi’s seemingly kind but hidden sharpness.
Her sixth sense told her this old woman was far from simple—the strong scent of blood mixed with the essence of humans, beasts, and demons clung to her.
“Although there is no explicit rule forbidding demons from crossing borders at will between the Hundred Demons and Lixun,” Tu Shan Yunxi’s ethereal voice sounded calmly, “is it not somewhat improper for you two to barge into our territory so aggressively?”
“Or… do you have some important matter to report?”
The calmness in her expression remained as she looked at the advancing girl.
“Important matter? I do have an important matter, otherwise why would a ghost want to come to your godforsaken mountain wilderness, you damn sly fox…”
“Cough, cough.”
The elder coughed lightly twice, swallowing the words “sly fox” before they could escape her lips.
Tu Shan Yunxi grit her teeth, squinting and shooting a sharp glare at the old woman before correcting herself.
“Tu Shan Empress, I ask you—where is Xiao Yunzi?”
Her tone was still harsh.
“Xiao Yunzi? Who are you talking about?”
“Playing dumb? What’s the point of pretending? Your demons openly kidnapped someone from Lixun’s territory and even left behind a token from the Hundred Demons. And you, as the sovereign demon of this nation, are pretending not to know?”
The girl pulled out a wooden token from her bosom and hurled it at Tu Shan Yunxi without missing, aiming straight for her face.
Unfortunately, such a trick had no effect on the Empress.
She calmly watched the wooden token stop half a foot away, understanding perfectly well.
More precisely, she had always known what the other party was talking about.
But she did not admit it outright, for she needed to slowly guide them into the trap she had set.
“Hmm, this token indeed belongs only to the Hundred Demons’ personnel, but… I truly don’t know anything about the Xiao Yunzi you mentioned.”
“You!”
“Your Highness, please allow me.”
Seeing Qin Luoyi about to lose her temper again, Xiao Fuzi raised his cane and hooked her behind him, stepping forward.
He opened his narrowed eyes, first glancing at the trembling Tu Shan Huaizhi who quickly hid again, then turning his gaze toward Tu Shan Yunxi.
“Tu Shan Empress, as the ruler of the Hundred Demons, you must be well aware of the rules established between the four nations.”
“Of course I am.”
“Then you should understand that if your demons use their powers unlawfully in other nations, you are responsible even if you claim ignorance, correct?”
“That responsibility indeed falls upon me.”
“Then, now that your Hundred Demons’ demon has taken someone from our Lixun territory and brought them here, shouldn’t you grant us the right to retrieve that person?”
The logic was clear, the tone gentle but guiding.
Tu Shan Yunxi knew the Duke Grand Eunuch of Lixun was trying to gently chip away at her mental defenses.
In the past, she would have no patience to waste on such back-and-forth, but today she was more than willing.
“If this is true, then I, as Empress, may allow you to search. But you need to provide proof.”
She tossed the suspended wooden token back into Qin Luoyi’s hand, exuding authority without anger.
“I cannot accuse my people of wrongdoing based on mere words. A lost token proves nothing.”
“A lost token indeed proves nothing, but we are not speaking without evidence.”
Qin Luoyi stepped forward again, this time holding a spherical crystal of water-blue color.
Upon closer inspection, two fish-like shapes, one black and one white, swam sluggishly inside, appearing half-dead.
“This is a Huiguang Stone made from Yin-Yang Timefish and Liuguang Stone. It can reproduce events related to the object it devours within the past seven days.”
“Yin-Yang Timefish? You mean to use this thing right before my eyes?”
“Don’t worry. I retrieved this from the national treasury. It’s a treasure from ten thousand years ago. The lives of these two Timefish were frozen back then.”
The girl explained patiently, knowing that these creatures, naturally connected to the Dao of Time, were also demons living among the Hundred Demons.
By producing such a treasure, her opponent’s reaction was exactly what her status and position demanded.
Seeing Tu Shan Yunxi silent, the girl raised the wooden token again, wrapping it in spiritual energy before inserting it into the Huiguang Stone.
“Tu Shan Empress, this token should be useless now, right?”
Only when the token was half-embedded did she speak slowly, her tone teasing but faintly respectful.
“Do as you please.”
“As long as there’s no trouble.”
With that, she increased her strength, and the token was swallowed into the crystal.
The moment the token entered, the two Yin-Yang Timefish suddenly stirred, as if awakening from slumber upon spotting prey.
They joined head to tail, forming a circle that enclosed the token, then began rapidly circling around it until their movements blurred to the naked eye.
“Splash!”
A tremendous sound of rushing water erupted like a long-dry waterfall suddenly replenished, smashing fiercely onto the ground.
As the energy grew stronger, Qin Luoyi no longer supported the Huiguang Stone with her hands but lightly tossed it upward.
In the empty space between the four, scenes unfolded against the sky like a grand cinematic backdrop.
This wondrous spectacle made the usually timid Tu Shan Huaizhi unable to resist stepping out from behind her mother.
She looked up, her small mouth slightly parted in amazement.
On the screen appeared a blurry, plump, non-human figure, followed by the image of him holding a girl resembling Qin Luoyi in place, then speaking to a figure named Yun Mu.
The scenes were silent, like a shadow puppet play without sound, showing the non-human demon taking the young man away.
Finally, the image froze on the face of the plump demon—faceless yet exuding a scoundrel’s aura—then ended.
The Huiguang Stone shattered instantly after the playback, and from it, the two fish-shaped shadows swam out and ascended.
Just as the black and white spirits were about to vanish into the heavens, Tu Shan Yunxi flicked a drop of jade-like water into the air.
In an instant, she gathered the two residual souls back into her “bag.”
“Since the Huiguang Stone is broken and these two kin of mine have exhausted their strength, it’s fine to take them back, right?”
“Naturally, no problem. Isn’t that right, Xiao Fuzi?”
“Yes, Your Highness, you decide. If you change your mind, I can retrieve them again.”
“Oh? Retrieve them again?”
At these words, the previously calm Tu Shan Yunxi suddenly radiated a murderous intent, lunging straight at the two.
Simultaneously, Xiao Fuzi blocked Qin Luoyi with lightning speed, his momentum rising step by step.
The two locked eyes—the former still composed, the latter narrowing his gaze.
In that moment, the atmosphere was charged, like swords drawn and arrows ready to fly.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.