Chapter 22: How could Junior Sister possibly be a nine-tailed fox!?

‘This… is the power of the Ten Thousand Immortals.’

Song Ruoxue looked around with a hint of lingering fear. The trees were broken, and the ground was burning with a raging fire.

In an instant, all the men in black were killed.

Turned into ashes.

In the sky above, lightning still flashed and thunder roared. Amidst the immortal mist, countless eyes were like giant, glowing lanterns.

“We have fulfilled our agreement. From now on, your karma is no longer related to us.”

Song Ruoxue quickly asked, “May I ask who sent you to escort me?”

The sound of thunder paused for a moment, and then the old voice slowly came, “A nine-tailed fox.”

Song Ruoxue’s expression changed drastically. “A nine-tailed fox? Who are you talking about!?”

The dark clouds swirled, and the sound of thunder gradually faded. “That is the nine-tailed fox who is protecting you. Why would you not know who it is?”

Song Ruoxue was dazed and confused. She quickly pressed on, “I was unconscious at the time, so I really don’t know. Ten Thousand Immortals, please tell me who she is.”

“I see.” The old voice was hoarse. “We dare not touch the karma of that nine-tailed fox. As for your question, please forgive us for not being able to answer.”

“If the Ten Thousand Immortals wish to ascend and become Buddhas, my Sword Sect has the Reincarnation Pearl!” Song Ruoxue looked up at the sky anxiously.

“This…” The old voice hesitated for a moment. “Alright, we can only give you a slight reminder. She is right by your side! Alright, we dare not get involved in that fox’s affairs. You can figure out the rest on your own.”

A clap of thunder sounded in Song Ruoxue’s mind, and her body suddenly turned cold.

‘That nine-tailed fox is hiding by my side…’

‘Even the Ten Thousand Immortals say so…’

‘Without a doubt, the only nine-tailed fox in this world is probably that profiteer!’

‘But why is she lurking around me?’

‘And who is she?’

‘Since she’s by my side, I must have seen her before… In the past year, I’ve seen only a handful of people, not to mention I’ve only been to the general store twice, and that was recently…’

‘It’s a little strange.’

‘Was that nine-tailed fox lurking by my side from the very beginning?’

‘Or did she only come after I made contact with her…’

Song Ruoxue came back to her senses. “Ten Thousand Immortals, I have another question!”

In the sky above, the thunder had died down. The old voice sounded reluctant, as if unwilling. “We have already made it very clear.”

Although she was unwilling, there was nothing she could do.

Is that nine-tailed fox really that powerful? Even the Ten Thousand Immortals are afraid of her?

Song Ruoxue pursed her lips. “Then, can the Ten Thousand Immortals tell me where the Nirvana Undying Divine Herb is?”

“The secrets of heaven are hazy and uncertain. Our speculation for this lifetime… is in Sunset Glow Village.” The old voice was a bit rushed. “We don’t have much time left. We will come for the Reincarnation Pearl in the future. We’ll take our leave now!”

Song Ruoxue’s eyes flickered. “Alright, see you in the future.”

Sunset Glow Village… that’s near Flower City.

‘The opportunity is right in front of me. I’ll set off for Sunset Glow Village tomorrow to search for the whereabouts of the Nirvana Undying Herb… and cure my life origin once and for all!’

‘And get rid of that damn fox completely!’

Thinking of that annoying nine-tailed fox, Song Ruoxue’s face couldn’t help but darken.

‘Not only did that fox say it herself: I’m lurking right by Big Sister Song’s side.’

‘Even the Ten Thousand Immortals said she was by my side…’

‘This is a little scary. Why on earth is this fox lurking around me?’

‘Calm down, think calmly! For now, I’ll ignore what the nine-tailed fox said and only think based on the information provided by the Ten Thousand Immortals!’

‘The original words were: she is right by my side… which means, right now, she is also by my side. She was before, and she might be in the future.’

‘By my side?’

‘Does that mean within my reach, within my sight…’

‘But there’s no one else by my side.’

‘If I have to say, there’s only Little Li…’

‘Could it be that the nine-tailed fox is Little Li?’

Upon reaching this conclusion, Song Ruoxue’s eyes snapped open. She clenched her fists, her fingertips digging into her flesh. The pain cleared her dazed thoughts a little.

‘How is that possible?’

‘Little Li is a human girl, so cute and pure, lively and cheerful.’

‘That nine-tailed fox is a demon-kin, lecherous and treacherous, enchanting and cunning.’

‘They are not the same person at all, even their personalities are completely different… Can such a thing really happen?’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Under the shroud of the Great Dao, the Ten Thousand Immortals cannot lie.’

‘Which means… this is indeed something that could happen.’

‘Although the possibility is extremely slim, unthinkable.’

Song Ruoxue entered her bedroom and lay down on her hard bed, her thoughts in a whirl.

‘All in all, I can’t suspect Junior Sister without reason.’

‘I’ll go to Sunset Glow Village tomorrow first…’

—Coo, coo, coo.

A carrier pigeon circled in the sky for a long time. Song Ruoxue extended her delicate hand, and only then did the pigeon land on her fingertip, a letter tied to its leg.

—[Sect Master, something urgent has come up for Little Li. I won’t be able to return to the Sword Sect for the next few days. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done~ Sect Master, please take care of your health!]

Reading the contents of the letter.

Song Ruoxue’s expression grew even more complicated.

‘This is the first time Little Li has asked for leave.’

‘I have to trust her.’

‘She is a pure and kind child. She might have just been schemed against by the nine-tailed fox and the Ten Thousand Immortals!’

As the Sect Master, you should know your junior sister better than anyone else!

Song Ruoxue had a sleepless night.

****

Su Li’er slept until dawn, a rare good night’s sleep.

‘Her lifespan was secured. I have twenty days!’

‘She changed into a simple white dress and tied her hair into a ponytail. Su Li’er used her disguise art to transform into the appearance of a human junior sister… Why not transform into something else?’

Because Su Li’er felt it was unnecessary.

‘Anyway, as long as she wasn’t in her true nine-tailed fox form, what difference did it make?’

‘It’s just that she can’t go to the Sword Sect for the next few days.’ The big ice block Sect Master has also received the letter, so there shouldn’t be any problems…

‘Ok!’

Before setting off, I need to bring some flyers with me!

Su Li’er held a stack of [Lucky General Store] flyers and crushed a teleportation stone with anticipation, stepping into the space-time tunnel.

After a dizzying spin that lasted for about a few seconds.

The scene before her was already different. She was surrounded by narrow alley walls, plastered with various strange wanted posters and small cards. It was dark here, with no sunlight able to shine in.

‘Very good!’

‘Time for some promotion~’

Su Li’er began to post advertisements for the Lucky General Store, working tirelessly.

From sunrise to noon.

Drenched in sweat, Su Li’er finally finished posting all the small advertisements. Good, this way I can promote the general store’s business over a wider area~~

Hehe, I’m such a genius, a master of time management!

Flower City, as its name suggests, was an extremely prosperous town. Su Li’er walked out of the poor alleyway district, wandering around like a person with no sense of direction, and finally found the center of Flower City.

‘This is… the Cloud Sea Sword Pavilion.’

Alright, as for the map of Flower City, Su Li’er had only explored this far.

‘Now what?’

People came and went on the streets. On both sides of the road, horse-drawn carriages were parked. After some observation, Su Li’er concluded that this should be the equivalent of this world’s ride-hailing service.

So, Su Li’er found a carriage that was close to her. The old man on the carriage was still snoring away.

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Li’er spoke up.

“Hello, I need a ride.” X2.

Beside her, a tall girl with azure hair stood, with bright eyes and white teeth, and skin as white as snow. Her long, slender legs were especially eye-catching, like bamboo chopsticks.

After a second of thought, Su Li’er gave this person a shiny nickname.

—Smurfette!

“Sharing a ride?” the Smurfette girl asked.

“Um, I’m going to Sunset Glow Village. Smurfette… uh, big sister, you can go ahead first.” Su Li’er scratched her head in embarrassment.

“It’s on the way.” The Smurfette girl got into the carriage, paid a few coins, and said with some confusion, “What do you mean?”

Su Li’er nodded shamelessly. “Alright, then thank you, big sister~”

So, Su Li’er also got into the carriage.

‘Free ride, nice!’

‘It’s a good thing I don’t have any money in my pocket~~ I’m really lucky.’

The carriage rumbled along, and the scenery flew by quickly.

Su Li’er keenly sensed that something was wrong.

‘Eh?’

‘Why do I feel a familiar aura behind me, so familiar.’

‘Who’s peeking at me?’