Chapter 48: The Fox Demon of Qingqiu

"Was that sword strike real?"

The greatest impact on Shen Shi after unleashing his move was not how much true energy he had spent, but the intent behind that sword. Ever since he gained the ability to cultivate, Shen Shi had been practicing his family's sword techniques. Of course, his aim was never simply to master the family swordplay; his purpose was always clear—sword control.

In the Strange Tales world, the most renowned sword art was the sword control technique wielded by Yan Chixia. Since he had arrived in this world, naturally he wished to learn such a stylish sword technique. Yet, he had made little progress—until just now, when he used his fingers as a sword...

How to describe it? The sensation was extraordinary. It was as if he had been practicing basic sword techniques all along, but in that instant, his swordplay had broken through, advancing to the next level. The sword was still the same sword, but the intent was entirely different.

Suddenly, Shen Shi felt the need for an actual sword. Without one, it was as if something was missing from his body.

Perhaps this was a process of quantitative change leading to qualitative transformation, he mused. Unfortunately, he had only unleashed one strike and hadn’t had time to truly comprehend it. There was no one on this boat who had suffered his sword.

...

On the other side...

"Elder sister, you must avenge me!"

Xin Baniang, who had narrowly escaped with her life, fled through the waterway to Lanruo Temple and rushed, trembling, straight into her elder sister’s chamber.

"Avenge you? What happened?" Xin Yiniang asked.

"The inheritor of Daoist arts, the inheritor has come..." Xin Baniang stammered like a startled bird.

"Baniang, don’t panic. Calm down and tell me slowly." Yiniang soothed her, helping her steady her breath.

Once her breathing was even, Xin Baniang recounted what had happened on the river.

"I only meant to teach them a lesson, so I used some water magic to scare them. Unexpectedly, there was a scholar on the boat who directly summoned a sword of energy and slashed at me. If I hadn’t quickly dived into the water, he would have cut me down. Wuwuwu..." As she finished, she burst into aggrieved tears.

"He summoned a sword of energy? Do you recall what kind of sword it was?" Xin Yiniang asked urgently.

"Sister, I was so frightened! How could I remember what kind of sword it was? Wuwu..."

"No. Baniang, do you think his sword of energy was the same as Father's?"

"Elder sister, you’re confused. Father is a demon, and he’s a Daoist. How could their swords be the same?"

Xin Baniang blinked, clearly puzzled.

"Elder sister, are you suspecting that the successor of Old Fan has arrived?"

At that moment, seven or eight beautiful women entered the chamber, each more enchanting than the last, followed by several foxes. The speaker was the second sister, Xin Erniang.

"Precisely. Father held great respect for the Ten Disciples of Xuanyuan, but their arts came from the Old Master, so profound that Father couldn’t hope to touch them. It wasn’t until Father happened upon Fan Li of Lake Pan that he managed to steal the Sword Classic from him... Back then, Father worried that a successor would come to reclaim the classic..."

This karmic thread had long weighed on the hearts of the Xin family’s eighteen foxes. After all, their father had been bold enough to steal a sword classic passed down by the Old Master himself.

"Elder sister, you’re not thinking of returning it, are you? This is our legacy, our inheritance."

The eldest spoke of past events, but none of her sisters were willing to part with their fortune.

"No, we won’t return it. As long as we gather more human spirit and talent, we’re sure to comprehend the classic and achieve immortality."

The Old Master, though terrifying in ancient times, had not intervened since the great battle of the gods. He had merely left an avatar in the heavenly court to refine elixirs, always appearing benevolent.

In the new era, the Old Master was simply the heavenly court’s chief alchemist. One pill from him could grant immediate immortality; his legacy meant anyone could ascend.

With such temptation, who could bear to let it go?

"In that case, we must make arrangements," Xin Yiniang decided.

...

"Achoo!"

A sneeze from the cabin interrupted Shen Shi’s thoughts—it was Cao Jinhua.

Shen Shi’s sword had split the waves, sparing them from disaster, yet Cao Jinhua had fallen into the water. Being a woman, the evening breeze made her chill.

"Here, let me help you," Shen Shi said, transferring some true energy to warm her body.

A surge of heat flowed from Shen Shi’s hand.

"The boat has reached the shore."

They had set out not too late, but had waited for everyone, then dawdled along, compounded by the water demon’s wrath toward Cao Jinhua. After all the delays, they finally reached the opposite bank, but the sky was already dark.

"We’d best hurry back to the city. We were held up, and it’s late now."

The boat was moored, but everyone was suddenly quite respectful. Shen Shi didn’t disembark, so no one else dared to either. At that moment, Shen Shi had no choice but to lead the way.

"Thank you, Brother Shen, for your help."

"Many thanks, Brother Shen."

Each person who stepped ashore thanked Shen Shi in turn.

Shen Shi returned their courtesy one by one.

Kong Xueli, always Shen Shi’s friend, quietly asked, "Jieyu, do you know magic?"

"Magic? What are you planning?"

"Look at me, soaked through. Cast a spell to dry me off."

Kong Xueli was a true friend, never shy about asking.

"No," Shen Shi replied decisively. "It’s not cold; you’ll dry soon enough."

"It is cold. Achoo, achoo!"

Even his fake sneezes were terribly unconvincing.

"Your sneezes could hardly be more fake," Shen Shi exposed him mercilessly.

"You’re really not much of a friend. Why help her with magic, but not me?" Kong Xueli suddenly pointed at Cao Jinhua in protest.

"Her? She fell into the river. I was worried she’d fall ill, so I gave her some true energy," Shen Shi replied.

"That’s fine, true energy works too."

Kong Xueli’s eyes lit up—true energy was even better than magic! He certainly wanted it.

Shen Shi gave him a sidelong look. "You can have it, if you jump into the river. But I don’t know if the water demon is still lurking."

Seeing that Kong Xueli was truly tempted to jump, Shen Shi added a warning.

What Shen Shi couldn’t understand was why his friend was suddenly acting so petulant—so unlike himself.

"Kong, we’d better hurry back to the city, or the gates might close soon," Gongsun Ce stepped in to help Shen Shi out.

"Right, I nearly forgot about the city gates," reminded by Gongsun Ce, the others slapped their foreheads in realization.

"Yes, yes, quick, let’s pack up and hurry back."

If they returned late, they’d have to spend the night in the wilds.

Few ancients wished to camp outdoors. First, they had no proper gear; second, wild beasts abounded, some even man-eaters. Third, as scholars, they lacked exercise, their bodies frail and in sub-health. One night outside, and who knows how many would fall ill.