His words sounded intimate, laced with unmistakable flirtation.
Chu Yue sheathed his blade and coldly muttered to himself, "Old demon."
Jiang Jiusi’s gaze lingered on Li Lanxiu’s mask as he replayed the phrase "ruthless beauty" in his mind. He raised his brows thoughtfully.
Li Lanxiu, still wiping his fingers with care, replied in a cold and detached tone without lifting his head. "You already deserved death. Now, you deserve it even more."
The black jiao lord burst into laughter. His voice echoed around them, omnipresent and inescapable. He laughed and said, "Very well! I want to see what you look like, to see if you’re worth dying for."
As his voice faded, the dense forest around them suddenly darkened, as though an invisible giant hand had covered the sun.
A massive black and gold ring descended from the sky, vast and imposing, enveloping them entirely.
The ring exuded thick black smoke, and the runes engraved on its surface shimmered faintly with golden light. As the black jiao lord chanted a Daoist incantation, the golden light grew brighter, and the thick black mist became impenetrable, closing in on them from all sides.
At the Dao-Questioning Plaza, the disciples held their breath and focused intently on the scene displayed in the giant mirror, breaking into murmured discussions.
"Li Lanxiu actually dared to trick the black jiao lord. Does he not know who he’s dealing with?"
"Tricking him? He even said 'you deserve to die' twice! And now the black jiao lord insists on seeing his face… Is he insane?"
"What kind of artifact is that? I’ve never seen it before. Is he planning to kill them all?"
Bai Ying kept a calm gaze fixed on the image in the mirror. Their brows furrowed slightly as they murmured, "A teleportation ring."
Elder Shen gasped in shock. "Where is the black jiao lord planning to send them?"
Li Yanbi’s expression grew tense. He gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, unable to remain composed.
In the giant mirror, the black mist had spread rapidly, forming a colossal array that completely enveloped the group.
The air grew heavy with overwhelming yao energy, as if the oppressive gaze of a great demon was upon them. The suffocating pressure chilled them to the bone, making it impossible to focus.
Chu Yue swung his blade at the runes carved into the ring. A deafening bang reverberated as his blade was deflected. The powerful recoil tore a bloody gash in his palm.
Li Lanxiu’s Coldiron Fan swirled around the black ring, but despite his efforts and those of the others—whether they were using blades, swords or spirit-powered artifacts—nothing could halt the array formed by the black ring.
The black mist grew so dense it felt like midnight had descended. Occasionally, as the mist thinned momentarily, golden runes flickered and shifted rapidly. The ground beneath their feet trembled faintly.
Li Lanxiu stopped wasting spiritual energy. He waved the hollow bones of his fan, letting the fan's spines fly back into the Coldiron Fan.
In the darkness, someone retreated to his side and lightly pressed a hand against his mask. They spoke in a low voice. "Be careful of that old demon."
Li Lanxiu scoffed softly. "Take care of yourself."
Chu Yue froze for a moment, slowly withdrew his hand and clasped his blade's hilt tightly behind his back.
Suddenly, the golden runes were extinguished. The black mist began to dissipate. Li Lanxiu heard the melodious notes of a zither, the tinkling flow of a spring, and the sweet sound of laughter, carried on waves of fragrant wind.
He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he found himself in a vast cavern. Delicate pavilions and elegant towers stood within, framed by artificial mountains and flowing water.
A small waterfall spilled into a jade-green pool at his feet.
In the pool, several boys and girls with snowy skin and delicate features played together. They wore only sheer gauze garments that barely covered their bodies, exposing pale flesh. Behind each of them, a fluffy fox tail swayed.
A female yao with fox ears swam toward him and leaned against the pool’s edge. Her foxy eyes brimmed with flirtation.
She tugged at Li Lanxiu’s robe and inhaled deeply, as though savoring his scent. "Xianzhang, you’ve come a long way. Why not rest here for a while?"
Li Lanxiu did not see his companions. He scanned the cavern and noted seven or eight entrances of varying sizes. From this, he deduced that his companions were likely facing similar situations elsewhere.
The black jiao lord had sent them into a fox maze.
Li Lanxiu bent down and lifted the fox yao’s chin with his long, pale fingers. "Where is the black jiao lord?"
The fox yao curiously studied his mask, sniffing him intently. "How could I possibly meet the lord? This is where we entertain his distinguished guests. Xianzhang, won’t you play with me for a while?"
Li Lanxiu lowered his gaze slightly and pinched the fox yao's chin between two fingers. "What fun would it be if it were just us? Go call your companions."
The fox yao's eyes widened. She swam back to the pool and called the other foxes. A cluster of heads gathered, bobbing as they whispered among themselves. Occasionally, they glanced at Li Lanxiu, their intentions unclear.
Li Lanxiu walked to the stone platform under a pavilion. A few pots of lush flowers and plants adorned the space. A boy sat there playing the zither. When he noticed Li Lanxiu approaching, he smiled brightly.
Li Lanxiu sat beside him and reached an arm around him, as if to embrace him. Instead, he lightly plucked at the zither strings. "What tune are you playing?"
The fox yao blushed and leaned closer to sniff his scent. "It’s a melody of our fox clan. Does Xianzhang like it?"
Li Lanxiu nodded. His fingers lazily plucked the strings, and as they slid over the zither, his arm naturally tightened, drawing the fox yao into his embrace.
The fox yao pressed his nose against Li Lanxiu's neck, breathing deeply. He sighed dreamily. "Xianzhang, you smell so good..."
Li Lanxiu let him be, his fingers still moving across the zither strings. Meanwhile, the other fox yao in the pool leapt onto the shore, smiling as they gathered around him.
In the Dao-Questioning Plaza of Conundrum Sect, the disciples watching the scene through the giant mirror were dumbfounded. Their chatter erupted.
"Li Lanxiu is actually indulging himself with a pile of fox yaos!"
"That’s just his nature. Him entering a fox yao den is like a mouse diving into a granary. He must be having the time of his life!"
"Those shixiong traveling with him are truly composed, completely unaffected by the fox yao's allure. He’s the only one who fell for their charm."
"What a disgrace to Peak Lord Li. Why does our sect have such a lecherous disciple?!"
On the floating island, the elders exchanged complex glances, each harboring their own thoughts.
Li Yanbi sat upright, his expression stern and icy. He declared, "My son must have his own plans."
Known for his upright and unyielding nature, Li Yanbi was a man who tolerated no nonsense. His temperament clashed with those of the other peak lords and elders. Though many inwardly mocked Li Lanxiu for succumbing to the fox yao' beauty, none dared to voice it openly and risk displeasing him.
"Of course!"
The only one who spoke was Xue Wujiu. He smiled faintly. "I’ve watched Lanxiu grow up. I trust he’s not that kind of person."
His words elicited chuckles from a few elders who were friendly with him. Whether Li Lanxiu was "that kind of person" hardly needed debate.
His shameless fawning over Su Shiyan in the past had already marked him as a lover of beauty. That he had fallen for the fox yao’s allure now came as no surprise to anyone.
The outer-sect elder looked at Jiang Jiusi in the mirror and deliberately praised, “Like teacher, like disciple. Jiusi is a true gentleman, unmoved by the allure of the yao. He truly embodies Peak Master Xue’s demeanor!”
Master Xue smiled faintly, revealing a subtle hint of pride. He gazed at Jiang Jiusi in the mirror with increasing satisfaction—except for one detail.
Jiang Jiusi still hadn’t struck to kill Li Lanxiu.
This point left him displeased.
Li Yanbi snorted coldly and stared into the mirror. “Peak Master Xue, my son does not need your trust. Whatever Lanxiu does, he must have his reasons.”
Master Xue felt an amused irritation rising, and was about to respond when a cool, clear voice interjected. “Peak Master Li is absolutely right.”
The sect elders and peak masters were all startled because these words came from Bai Ying. Ever since the observation began, Bai Ying had exchanged only a few words with Elder Shen and had otherwise spoken to no one.
Their first statement was to defend Li Lanxiu.
Master Xue felt a flicker of displeasure but, constrained by Bai Ying’s standing, said no more.
In the mirror, Jiang Jiusi shoved away the yao and drew his sword in a single fluid motion, pressing the blade against the yao’s neck. “Get out of my way!”
The yao’s seductive expression twisted instantly into a feral snarl. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits like a snake’s, her mouth tore open to reveal sharp fangs and a guttural hiss rumbled from her throat.
The other yao revealed their true forms as well. Their snow-white skin darkened to a bloody red, their fingers lengthened into razor-sharp claws and their once-luxurious tails bristled like steel needles.
Foxes were carnivores by nature. If Jiang Jiusi wouldn’t entertain them or satisfy their yao instincts, they would eat him instead.
Jiang Jiusi’s sword moved in a sudden burst. The cold glint of the blade flashed like lightning, and within a few breaths, he dispatched the yao surrounding him.
He walked out of the cave and soon encountered Chu Yue, Lian-shixiong and Chuxuan.
The group banded together to search for Li Lanxiu.
Li Lanxiu lay in the fox yao’s embrace. Whenever one of them approached him, they all wore the same expression: half-lidded, coquettish eyes, slightly parted lips, and trembling noses, as if entranced by some intoxicating poison.
He tilted his head and leaned against the bare shoulder of the fox yao playing the zither. Another fox yao sat on his lap, leaning into his hair to inhale his scent.
Two fox yao lay against his back, burying their faces into the hollows of his neck and breathing deeply. In mere moments, his entire body was covered with fox yao, leaving no space unoccupied.
The fox yao unable to find a place perched beside him. One untied his boots and removed them, while another reached out to loosen his hair, letting the ink-black strands fall smoothly through their fingers.
The fox yao around him offered fine wine and delicacies. A particularly bold one reached to lift his mask. He chuckled softly, and the yao obediently stopped their hand, instead stroking his exposed chin and lips.
Li Lanxiu’s cheeks were slender, the sharp lines of his face extending to a delicate jawline. His lips were soft and shapely like the petals of a rose in bloom, with the corners slightly upturned. Against his pale complexion, his crimson lips and pearly white teeth looked like a snow-covered rose.
The fox yao’s fingers slid across his chin and brushed his soft lips, causing a slight shiver to run through their entire body. “Xianzhang, do you also practice the art of enchantment?”
Li Lanxiu appeared puzzled. He half-closed his eyes and leaned closer to whisper, “What do you mean?”
The fox yao’s heartbeat raced. Their face turned red, and they found themself speechless.
The yao surrounding him grew even bolder. One undid his belt, their fingers gliding over his waist through the fabric, teasing and caressing his skin. Another drew close to his chest, lightly removing the protective mirror there and bringing their nose close to inhale his scent.
Li Lanxiu seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. He didn’t resist at all, leaning back to savor the wine the yao offered him. Surrounded by a nearly bare crowd of fox yao, he appeared like a hedonistic lord in a decadent scene of indulgence.
A group of people burst into the cave just in time to witness this scene.
Chu Yue’s face instantly tensed. He coldly scanned the fox yao draped over Li Lanxiu.
Disgusting fox spirits.
Jiang Jiusi stared at Li Lanxiu’s face, his gaze tracing every inch of his jaw and lips. There was a peculiar intensity in his eyes, oddly reminiscent of the fox yao clinging to Li Lanxiu.
Chuxuan, for once, didn’t wear a smile. He stepped forward and asked, “Xiao-Shidi, are you having fun?”
The fox yao, unbothered by the intruders, leaned close to Li Lanxiu’s ear and whispered something.
Li Lanxiu stroked the fluffy tail of the fox yao resting in his arms. He tilted his head to listen, then responded indulgently. “Hmm? Fine, I’ll ignore him.”
Chuxuan glared at the fox yao, his tone laced with obvious anger. “Xiao-Shidi, the black jiao lord isn’t here. We need to find a way out.”
Jiang Jiusi’s eyes flicked over Li Lanxiu’s open collar. His skin was so pale, like jade. Jiang Jiusi spoke calmly. “Li-shidi, these caves twist and turn like a maze. If we don’t find a way out, the black jiao lord will return.”
The fox yao stroking Li Lanxiu’s waist began to slip their hand beneath his robes. Before they could go further, the sharp sound of a blade echoed.
Turning, they saw a black-robed youth. Chu Yue had drawn his knife halfway from its sheath, his dark, icy eyes fixed on their hand.
Cold sweat broke out on the fox yao’s brow. Under Chu Yue’s glare, they reluctantly withdrew their hand.
At the Dao-Questioning Plaza, disciples watching the scene in the giant mirror were stunned. They erupted into chatter.
“Li Lanxiu is lying in a pile of fox yao, utterly bewitched! Does he even look like a cultivator anymore? This is humiliating!”
“What’s he doing? How can he be so lost in this? The others managed to break free, but he’s still entangled with those yao!”
“I don’t know… it almost feels like the fox yao are the ones enchanted. Look at how they’re gazing at Li-shidi—it’s as if they’re worshipping a god. Who’s really beguiling whom?”
“Hasn’t anyone noticed how perfect his jaw and lips are? How could he be ugly? He’s definitely gorgeous!”
“I can’t take it anymore. I’m changing my bet—I’m wagering he’s stunning.”
Bai Zhenchuan stared at the mirror, their fingers tapping against the armrest of their seat. Their eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flickering in their expression.
Elder Shen noticed Bai Zhenchuan’s mood and glanced at the scene in the mirror, sensing that something was amiss. He said, “Bai Zhenchuan, Li Lanxiu is still young. It’s understandable if he’s momentarily bewitched by the fox yao…”
Bai Zhenchuan cast him a sidelong glance, curled their lips into a faint smile, and said lightly, “A den of foolish foxes.”
Elder Shen didn’t understand their meaning, but once he looked back at the mirror, he quickly realized it.
In the fox den, Li Lanxiu’s smile faded. He suddenly grabbed the jaw of the fox yao who had provoked Chu Yue and demanded fiercely, “How did you manage to upset him?”
“I... I don’t know.” The fox yao’s body trembled slightly. They forced a flattering smile in an attempt to please him.
Li Lanxiu shoved them aside and stood up, straightening his sleeves. “Utterly boring.”
The fox yao grew visibly anxious, terrified that he might leave and take away the scent they craved.
One fox yao asked pitifully, “Xianzhang, are you leaving?”
Li Lanxiu remained cold. “You angered someone important to me. This place is dull. Why should I stay?”
That fox yao’s eyes brimmed with tears, but another had a sudden idea and said softly, “Xianzhang, if you’d like, I can take you to the sacred realm of spirit foxes within the fox den. It’s really fun there!”
Li Lanxiu tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking disinterestedly, “Hmm? Fun?”
“Really!”
The fox yao all chimed in at once, eagerly explaining, “Our treasures and formations are all in the sacred realm. Even the treasures of the black jiao lord are there!”
“Xianzhang, you’ll love it! I’ll lead you there!”
Li Lanxiu reluctantly nodded. “Fine. Lead the way. I’ll take a look.”
The fox yao cheered and led Li Lanxiu toward the sacred realm, completely ignoring the group standing nearby.
Chu Yue stared at Li Lanxiu’s back, surrounded by the fox yao. He turned his head slightly to avoid brushing against a passing fox yao, gripping his knife hilt tighter.
Lian-shixiong stood frozen in shock. In his three hundred years of life, he had never seen anything like this.
How could humans ever manipulate the fox clan when the foxes had always been the ones toying with people?
He stood bewildered, unable to make sense of the scene. He turned to Jiang Jiusi beside him. "What’s going on? Did Li-shidi cast some sort of spell on these foxes?"
Jiang Jiusi's state of mind was completely unsettled at that moment. He had no time to respond.
thank you for translating!
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