Chapter 86: Schemes

Wu Ming was still as helpless as a blind man, incapable of doing anything. The Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, too, had no mind for the strange and wondrous things of the mortal world, caring only for her husband. Crying as she spoke, she said, “Husband, Yue’er knows it all. You are him, and he is you. You have never abandoned Yue’er…” Yet no matter what she said, no one could hear her—her voice reached only herself.

…

Valley of the Fox Immortals

“Elder Sister, I am useless! I let them escape!” Yuanfeng knelt before Lingxuan, not daring to lift his head.

“Utterly worthless!” With those words, a slap sent Yuanfeng sprawling to the ground, his face streaked with blood. “Tell me, what use has there ever been in raising you all these years?”

“Elder Sister… Yuanfeng…”

“Enough! Someone, skin him and break his bones, cast his soul into the Demon-Taming Sword!” Lingxuan showed not a trace of familial affection; she sentenced Yuanfeng to death without hesitation.

Yuanfeng knelt, wailing, “Elder Sister, please spare me just this once—I do not want to become a sword spirit… Elder Sister…”

Before he could finish, two figures clad in black appeared in Lingyue’s palace—half-human, half-demon, reeking of blood. In one swift motion, they refined Yuanfeng’s body, leaving behind only a fox pelt. Yuanfeng’s soul, now a white orb, was sucked into a black sword. Though the white light struggled, in an instant it was devoured by the black threads of the sword, powerless to resist.

Lingxuan looked at the sword floating in the air and sneered coldly. “Ninety-eight foxes now—only one more fox and a catalyst, and my Demon Sword will be complete. Qingyu… heh…”

She picked up the fox pelt, muttering, “Since he was your brother, I’ll let you keep his fur as a memento. Perhaps I’ll have it made into a garment for you—how about that? Hahaha…”

“You… my Nine-Tailed Fox clan will surely…” came a chilling voice.

Lingxuan’s eyes gleamed with a violet light as she suppressed the voice. “And what will you do? Your soul is already mine; your body, too. Still, I’m in a good mood—I won’t harm you. But if you dare defy me again, I’ll slaughter every last one of the Nine-Tailed Foxes, then let those two do as they please with your body. Hahaha…”

“You…” The half-demons below stirred with excitement at her words.

“Hmph… Seal!” With a gesture, Lingxuan silenced the voice. Raising her head, she addressed the two half-demons. “You may go. Once the task is done, this beautiful body will be your plaything! Now, get to work. And—capture the young master!”

“Yes, Lady!” the two half-demons replied before vanishing from sight, leaving Lingxuan alone in the palace.

“Old fool, don’t think that your death means I can’t get the Divine Mirror of Space-Time. This time, the Mountain-Sea Mirror will be mine as well! I will conquer the Spirit Realm completely!” A wicked gleam flashed in Lingxuan’s eyes as she muttered to herself.

…

Mortal Realm, Long San’s Guesthouse

Another day had passed. Wu Ming was now unable to speak.

“Husband…” Lingyue had been weeping all morning. “Please, esteemed masters, save him!” She pleaded with Lingmei, Xiaomei, and Yin Yue.

The three were utterly perplexed. Yin Yue began to grumble, “Whether the sect master lives or dies is your business. If we had a way to save him, we wouldn’t have gone to the Spirit Realm in the first place!”

…

“Me?” Lingyue was confused.

“Yes, your blood—and also the Ghost Doctor’s apothecary…” Yin Yue recounted all that had happened before.

Lingyue’s cheeks flushed red. “Then, would you all please step outside for a moment? I…”

“No way. What if you try to harm the sect master? We must watch you heal him before you’re allowed to leave!” Yin Yue was fiercely protective of Wu Ming and did not trust the fox spirit in the least.

Lingyue saw there was no other way; Lingmei, Xiaomei, and Yin Yue were united in their resolve. She said, “Only by consummating with my husband can he be saved. But with you all here, it’s impossible…”

“What?!” Yin Yue, Lingmei, and Xiaomei exclaimed in astonishment. Was she trying to ensnare the entire One Qi Sect? Lingmei, unwilling to agree, realized there was no other option if Wu Ming was to be saved.

Lingmei steeled herself. “Xiaomei, Yin Yue, you two step outside. I’ll stay here and keep watch!”

“Sect Master Sister… you… really can do this?” Yin Yue asked.

“Just go…” Lingmei insisted, and the others reluctantly left.

“Begin, Nine-Tailed Fox Demon!” Lingmei no longer called her the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, but simply fox demon, her gaze cold and murderous.

“I… this…” Lingyue had no recourse. In this place, she had no spiritual power, and a fierce woman watched her every move. She could only comply, removing her garments one by one and consummating the marriage with Wu Ming…

Lingmei, unable to bear watching, looked away. Though she often teased Wu Ming, when it came to the real thing, she lacked the courage—her heart still belonged to another.

Wu Ming, deprived of hearing, sight, speech, and smell, had only his sense of touch to rely on. When Lingyue traced the words “love” on his hand, Wu Ming guessed what was happening. In a daze, their union was completed, though he was unaware of Lingmei’s presence—had he known, he would have been devastated.

Afterward, Wu Ming felt his entire body numb and exhausted, then lost consciousness.

“So, you were a virgin after all, Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. However…” Lingmei’s tone remained icy.

“However what? If not for my husband’s sake, I would never have done such a thing before a third party…” the Nine-Tailed Fox wept as she spoke.

“Sigh… tell me, what did you give to Song Shao last time? Was it the same? You fox demons are certainly peculiar…” Lingmei only wanted an answer, not to mock her.

“What I gave Song Shao was my original blood essence. What I gave my husband was my love…” Lingyue replied without hesitation.

“All right, take her away, lock her up, and use her to exchange for the Dragon Treasure!” Lingmei ordered Xiaomei and Yin Yue to confine Lingyue in Long San’s secret location—a place only the three of the One Qi Sect knew, not even Wu Ming.

“Understood, Sect Master Sister. But what about Sect Master Wu now?” Yin Yue asked with concern.

Lingmei shook her head. “He’s useless. One battle and he’s spent. Disappointing!” Her face flushed, leaving Yin Yue puzzled.

Only Xiaomei smiled knowingly, pulling Yin Yue aside. “Don’t ask so much. Quickly, put this fox demon into the Sealing Stone! That way, no one will know where she is!” With a spell, Yin Yue activated the Sealing Stone, and Lingyue was drawn inside.

…

“Goodness, that took a lot of spiritual energy! Xiaomei, you owe me some of your face masks, or I’ll be at a loss!” Yin Yue had learned to bargain.

“Deal!” Xiaomei agreed readily. “So what do we do now?”

“You’ll guard the Sealing Stone, Yin Yue will search for the Space-Time Hunter, and I…” Lingmei trailed off, waving them out as she left the room herself.

…

Sunlight streamed into the guest room.

“What’s this?” Wu Ming slowly opened his eyes to find himself nude in bed, bloodstains on the sheets, and the room empty.

“Was it all a dream? I can hear and see again!” he muttered to himself as he dressed, still feeling weary.

“You’re awake?” Just as Wu Ming was putting on his clothes, Lingmei entered abruptly, without so much as knocking.

“Sect Sister? What…?” Wu Ming asked, baffled.

Lingmei looked at him with disdain. “Yesterday, your Nine-Tailed Fox demon wife gave you her first time. That’s what happened, and that’s that…”

“What? With the fox demon? No…” Wu Ming covered his face, wanting to cry. He hadn’t even been with his beloved Space-Time Hunter Qingqing—or, failing her, his sect sister. And now it had been with a fox? The thought tormented him. “Sister, why weren’t you there to stop this from happening?!”

Lingmei’s disdain deepened. “I was there—the whole time. I even recorded it on my phone. Want to see? You were pathetic, spent after just one round. If it were me, I’d regret it for life!” As she spoke, she gave Wu Ming a playful slap.

“Sister? You all… sigh… Where’s Yue’er?” Wu Ming was still concerned for the woman.

“Oh? Do you want a second round?” Lingmei teased.

“No, Sister. Even so, as the saying goes, a day as husband and wife means a hundred days of grace. We’d planned to go this far, though yesterday’s events were a bit unexpected. Otherwise, everything remains within our control. It’s just hard on the Dragon Treasure,” Wu Ming said, showing a bit of conscience.

Hearing this, Lingmei grew indignant. “Hard on him? He’s a pig! If I hadn’t scoured all those records, would you have discovered that Song Shao looks just like you and had an irrelevant affair? If not for me, you’d be trading your Qingqing—our sect’s lady—for an antidote! If my acting hadn’t been so convincing, we’d never have fooled all those sentries. He’s just a pig! But don’t worry, we’ll use the Nine-Tailed Fox for the exchange. There’s nothing to worry about…”

“All right, all right, you’re a master director, Sister. Amazing! Still, you made me lose my first time! Doesn’t your leading man deserve any credit?” Wu Ming grinned as he put on his socks and shoes.

“You shameless thing, benefiting and then complaining. Still, that Nine-Tailed Fox’s figure isn’t bad—her technique, though, leaves something to be desired…” Lingmei pursed her lips.

“Sister, let’s get back to business. During the chaos at Qingqiu, I noticed something odd—the valley master seems to carry a sinister aura. Every time he approached me, I felt it.”

…