Chapter 85: I Need Him
“The Qingqiu Fox Lord?”
Ning Keās ears perked up, his face a mask of utter shock.
To put it plainly, he possessed none of the original hostās memories. He didnāt even know a place like Qingqiu Fox Mountain existed.
Moreover, in the six months he had spent in the Yao realm, he hadnāt seen a single other fox besides himself!
He never expected that after arriving ten thousand years in the past, Lou Yunxiao would actually manage to find them!
Wait…
A bold realization suddenly struck Ning Ke.
Could it be… that the original host had been him all along?
If not, how could he have traveled ten thousand years back in time? And why did he have no memories of the original host when he first transmigrated?
The thought sent a chill down his spine, making his fur stand on end.
“Are you nervous?” Lou Yunxiao noticed his agitation and reached out to stroke the little foxās back fur, comforting him. “Don’t be afraid. I only brought you here to inquire about some matters. Iām not abandoning you.”
He assumed Ning Ke was anxious about being sent back to the Fox Mountain.
As they spoke, two young attendants stepped onto the swirling mist and descended from the mountain to stand before Lou Yunxiao.
The children had lips as red as cherries and teeth as white as pearls. Their eyes were rimmed with scarlet makeup, and they wore silver-white robes. The hems of their robes were embroidered with rolling red fire patterns, edged with gold thread. Dozens of gemstones hung from their necks and waists, tinkling melodiously with every movement.
They looked… incredibly wealthy.
One child sized Lou Yunxiao up and asked, “Visitor Lou Yunxiao, what is the purpose of your journey?”
The other childās gaze fell upon Ning Ke, and his pupils constricted instantly.
Immediately, pale blue Huhuo erupted from his palm as he demanded furiously, “Why is our clanās Shengzi in your hands?!”
At his words, the other child snapped to attention.
He dropped into a combat stance. “So it was you who secretly abducted the Shengzi!”
“?” Ning Ke was completely bewildered.
Lou Yunxiao was equally confused. Two long swords unsheathed, blocking his front as he said, “Fellow Daoists, is there some misunderstanding?”
“A-You, A-Li, do not strike yet.”
A voice drifted down from the mountain.
The two children stiffened and hurriedly retracted their Huhuo.
The voice continued, “Lou Yunxiao, you may bring the Shengzi inside.”
A-You and A-Li had no choice but to suppress their hostility. They stepped aside and opened the mountain barrier, leading Lou Yunxiao and Ning Ke within.
As they moved deeper, the clouds and mist gradually dispersed.
Ning Ke saw magnificent palaces and various orange, red, and grey foxes weaving through the grounds.
Some had human bodies with fox heads, some had fully transformed into human form, and someālike Ning Keāremained in beast form. However, most had opened their spiritual wisdom and could speak the human tongue.
Seeing Lou Yunxiao enter, the foxes crowded around curiously.
When they saw Ning Ke in Lou Yunxiaoās arms, their fox eyes widened in unison.
“It really is the Shengzi!”
“The Shengzi has been missing for days, and the Fox Lord was worried sick! Now heās been brought back by a human?”
“Could it be this human who stole the Shengzi?”
“He stole the Shengzi and used him to seek the Fox Lord… could he be plotting something against our Qingqiu?”
Ning Keās internal CPU was currently fried.
He had thought he was just an ordinary white fox; how had he suddenly become the Fox Clanās Shengzi from ten thousand years ago?
“Go inside.” A-You and A-Li opened the palace doors for Lou Yunxiao.
As soon as he entered, they slammed the doors shut.
Then, they pressed their ears against the wood to eavesdrop.
Seeing this, the other foxes followed suit, piling on top of one another in a heap at the door.
After all, they were dying to know what the Fox Lord would say to this human.
…
Inside the hall, Ning Ke looked up and saw a peerless beauty reclining on a couch. He had slender willow-leaf brows, narrow phoenix eyes, a tapering face, and vermilion lips. Every movement and smile was steeped in an alluring, shifting charm.
He wore a robe of thin gauze, the collar hanging open nearly to his waist, revealing a broad expanse of fair skin.
His pectoral and abdominal muscles were faintly visible. Combined with his cascading silver-white hair, his seductive aura was dialed to the maximum.
The beauty held a dark gold pipe, took a light puff, and slowly exhaled.
Amidst the swirling smoke, the man spoke. “Come here.”
In the next instant, Ning Keās body flew out of Lou Yunxiaoās arms uncontrollably. By the time he regained his senses, he was being held by the beauty, his head pressed right against the manās abs!!!
“Fox Lord.” Lou Yunxiao suppressed the urge to snatch Ning Ke back. “I found A-Ke outside Chihe Cheng. Before I found him, I was unaware he was the Fox Clanās Shengzi. I have come today only to ask about his origins and to request the Fox Lord’s help in his transformation. I mean no offense; I hope the Fox Lord can understand.”
Lou Yunxiaoās words were perfectly polite.
This prompted Jiu Yuan to look up at him.
“Quite a handsome man.” He appraised Lou Yunxiao, recalling the dream heād had a few days ago.
Nine-Tailed Foxes were the favorites of the Heavenly Dao. Not a single one was born naturally through the Fox Clan. Instead, they were born from the heavens and earth, granted names by the Dao, and could only ascend to godhood after enduring many tribulations.
Jiu Yuan was currently the only Nine-Tailed Fox in the clan, and the next candidate for that lineage was the Shengzi in Lou Yunxiaoās armsāNing Ke.
However, this Shengzi had vanished just two days after being born.
The entire Fox Clan had been frantic.
They were about to mobilize the whole clan to search for him when Jiu Yuan had a dream about the Heavenly Dao. The old man in the dream said the Shengzi had gone to find the destined person who would save the world. He added that if the Shengzi brought back a cultivator, the Fox Clan must exert all its power to help that cultivator achieve his goals.
Jiu Yuan was naturally rebellious, but he was fairly obedient toward that old man.
Now, looking at Lou Yunxiao, he began to deliberate.
He spoke up intentionally. “I know you didn’t steal him. But now that you know he is our Shengzi, he must naturally remain in Qingqiu. As for you, now that youāve delivered him, you can turn right and head home. From now on, do not set foot in Qingqiu again.”
As Jiu Yuan spoke, his other hand pretended to be casual while he frantically rua-ed Ning Keās white fur!
“Awoo awoo awoo!”
Ning Ke was lying on a shameless naked man and having his “tofu” heartlessly eaten by a pair of iron hands. He couldn’t help but protest.
He also heard Jiu Yuanās intention to keep him in Qingqiu.
That wouldn’t do!
Thus, Ning the Fox began to struggle desperately, wiggling his butt and trying to pull his head out of Jiu Yuanās grasp.
Lou Yunxiao watched from the side, his hands clenching at his sides.
He suppressed his emotions and said as calmly as he could, “Fox Lord, I wish to keep A-Ke by my side.”
He knew he shouldn’t say such things. After all, the Fox Lord had already stated A-Ke was the Shengzi and belonged in Qingqiu.
But he still wanted to fight for it.
Jiu Yuan narrowed his eyes. “Our Fox Clan has always been proud. How can we be raised as pets by your human race?”
“Not as a pet,” Lou Yunxiao replied seriously. “But as a friend.”
“I… need him.”
A thousand words converged into those four: I need him.
Throughout his life, Lou Yunxiao had always held himself to the highest standards, yet he had never demanded anything from others.
But now, he knew he needed A-Ke. He wanted the little fox to stay with him.
Feeling the little creature in his arms freeze at Lou Yunxiaoās words, Jiu Yuan arched an eyebrow.
He continued to press. “I have heard the rumors about you, even if we live in seclusion.”
“You refuse to hide away. You fight the Mo alone to protect a city, always putting yourself in mortal danger.”
“If one day the Great Mo besiege you, have you considered how you will protect the Shengzi from their hands?”
His voice echoed in the hall.
Every word carved into Lou Yunxiaoās heart.
It was true.
He followed his motherās path to protect the masses. This was a path of no return. If such a situation arose in the future, what would he do?
A-Ke could live in peace in Qingqiu, but with him, he would never know a momentās rest.
But…
He was unwilling. He didn’t want to let go.
Once the seed of personal desire took root, it could never be fully pulled out.
After a long silence, Lou Yunxiao looked up and met Jiu Yuanās gaze.
His voice was resolute.
“I cannot predict my own fate.”
“But I can promise this.”
“Before I die, no one shall lay a finger on him.”
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