The Villain Fox's Sickly Beauty Master - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Wedding is Imminent, What is Master Doing?

The feeling of dizziness from bl00d loss prevented Jiang Jinheng from opening her eyes, but apart from the initial struggle, she made no further movements.

Perhaps she had already considered herself dead in that secret realm, and these days were just clinging to life.

Just before losing consciousness completely, she thought she heard a familiar voice.

At that time, Jiang Jinheng never thought she would wake up again, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Fu Yi’s eyes, even redder than they were that day.

For a moment, she was stunned, but Fu Yi, whose fingertips were brushed by the fox’s tail, broke down and cried loudly.

“Little White, it’s all my fault for not protecting you.”

Jiang Jinheng felt like her tears were about to completely soak the fur on her body, but she couldn’t figure out how she had been rescued.

It was only after hearing the two gossiping attendants discuss it several times that a complete picture gradually formed in Jiang Jinheng’s mind.

In short, that day, Fu Yi basically searched and caused a ruckus in all the palaces of Profound Cloud Palace, starting from the smallest and moving up, until she found her and only then stopped.

No one else had seen Fu Yi care so much about anything. Perhaps Fentian was also intrigued. When a crowd of people was arguing about accountability, she did not punish Fu Yi. Instead, she ordered the situation to be contained and instructed people not to spread the news widely.

Jiang Jinheng thought Fentian might have considered the special nature of her identity. Fortunately, Mo Tong had left for Thousand Blades Sword Sect the day before and wouldn’t be back for a while, otherwise, it would be troublesome if he found out.

However, Jiang Jinheng never expected that the refuge she had chosen for herself after weighing the pros and cons would regard her so highly. Her heart immediately warmed.

The days passed peacefully like this. After a long time, Jiang Jinheng’s soul was almost fully repaired. Just as she was thinking about how to leave the spiritual fox’s body, or whether it was feasible to request Fentian to forge another immortal body for her, an accident occurred.

Fu Yi died.

Fentian told her this. She actually showed some remorse when she said it, but repeatedly emphasized that it was not what she wanted. It was the first time Jiang Jinheng saw such an expression on her face, but no matter how she told herself to be rational, she still scratched Fentian’s face.

However, this time, the woman seemed to feel guilty and did not blame her. Instead, as compensation, and as the last resort in her so-called plan, Fentian allowed Jiang Jinheng to return to her own body. She also explained that the Demon Race had recently made strange moves, which made her feel uneasy.

Jiang Jinheng was indeed no longer suitable to stay in the spiritual fox’s body. Spiritual foxes are the most attuned to emotions. Her emotions had already affected the spiritual fox’s original soul, causing it pain to the point where it had a tendency to self-harm when it gained control of the body.

But decades of getting along had already made her accustomed to Fu Yi being by her side. Regardless of where her soul returned, Jiang Jinheng was in a state of trance during that period.

Fentian’s unease was right. In the following decades, the war between Immortals and Demons continued. The Immortal Sect, led by the Azure Vast Immortal Sect, repeatedly defeated the Demon Race’s army, but the Demon Race grew stronger, and Mo Tong’s cultivation also grew strangely.

Jiang Jinheng witnessed all this, and finally, she also witnessed Fentian’s soul being hooked away by the Soul-Reaping Chain. Just like that, Jiang Jinheng regained control of this body. But at the same time, she lost her legitimate identity in the Immortal Sect, because at the same time, Mo Tong publicly announced that the Master had passed away and temporarily took over Water Cloud Peak.

The progression of events made Jiang Jinheng realize that Fentian’s words were not groundless. With the same suspicion, she carefully concealed her aura and stared at Mo Tong relentlessly. In the end, this led to a discovery that was both joyous and sorrowful.

The joy was that Fu Yi was still alive.

The sorrow was that she was living a life worse than death.

Jiang Jinheng already knew most of the subsequent events through the first cycle of the illusion.

No wonder, no wonder she always felt so close to Fu Yi, looking forward to getting closer to her, and having some strange feelings.

It turned out to be because of these sealed memories.

The last memory was the scene of her soul being scattered by Mo Tong’s attack. At that time, he had gained supreme cultivation in this world. Even the newly born Demon God had no chance to stop him. The people and demons who knew his true actions were all killed cleanly.

Just like that, he actually became the savior of this world, admired by thousands, about to become a god and ascend to the upper realm.

Jiang Jinheng guessed that the purpose of the Divine Mark fragment was this: as long as the person it was bound to could repeatedly break through the world’s boundaries, it would have the chance to become a god again.

And Mo Tong was merely a vessel for it. Their commotion was so great that it accidentally attracted the intervention of the Bureau. In the end, it was due to their own arrogance, disregarding everything.

If so, she really should be grateful that the Divine Mark fragment had such poor judgment.

After accepting the memories that belonged to her, apart from feeling more urgency and worry in her heart, Jiang Jinheng did not feel anything else.

With different times and different states of mind, these memories were certainly terrifying when she was in despair. But now that things had not reached an irreversible state and the people she cared about were still alive, there was naturally no fear in her heart.

Seeing this, 007 also breathed a sigh of relief. As a newly born system, it did not expect to witness such a major event on its first mission. Judging by the Director’s level of attention, the problem in this minor world was still very serious. If it weren’t for the regulations, she might have deployed her original body into the world herself.

However, it was precisely because of these earliest established regulations that the Divine Mark fragment could not do these things without a trace. In a way, it was both a blessing and a curse.

Having seen through everything, the so-called Dream of Fear could no longer inspire fear.

Everything in front of her was no longer blurry. One scene was clearer than the last, but Jiang Jinheng sat cross-legged in place, chanting the core mantra of her sect.

She was about to enter the third layer of the illusion. It is said that the most profound aspect of the Phantom Dream Pool is here. Whether it is a great immortal or a monk or nun with few desires, once they enter this illusion, they can still be seduced by the thing they desire most in their heart.

Jiang Jinheng treated the repeated cycles of memories with indifference. The worry for Fu Yi and the anticipation of seeing her again in her heart grew stronger instead. By the sixth cycle, the Dream of Fear finally shattered.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinheng waited for the next wave of dizziness, but only saw the surroundings change. She was standing in front of her familiar wooden house, listening to the sound of snow falling all around, remaining still for a long time.

“Little Qi?”

“I’m here.”

007 responded, but Jiang Jinheng slightly frowned. Could it be that she had already crossed into the third layer of the illusion?

Just as she was thinking, 007’s excited voice finally came from her mind.

“Host, all of Fu Yi’s monitoring data has reappeared!”

Hearing this, Jiang Jinheng’s eyes lit up.

Is this… catching up to her? But hasn’t she experienced the third dream yet?

Understanding Jiang Jinheng’s concern, 007 checked some data, but this was something that only existed in a minority of worlds, and there were not many records, so it couldn’t find a similar situation.

“It should be that besides pulling Fu Yi out of the illusion, Host, you don’t have any other desires, right?”

007 repeated the conclusion to Jiang Jinheng, but she wasn’t as worried as usual. She only asked 007 if it could find out where Fu Yi was.

“She seems to be in Profound Cloud Palace. I’ll tell you the specific room when you get there.”

It seems that in this world, she still became her disciple.

Thinking this, the corners of Jiang Jinheng’s mouth slightly curled up. She remembered the old story Fu Yi had repeatedly told. Now, even this small wooden house felt much closer.

If this illusion was truly the future she most longed for, what would it look like?

Fortunately, they had only just begun, and it was indeed possible to develop in this direction.

After reminiscing for a while, Jiang Jinheng set off for Profound Cloud Palace. This illusion did not restrict her cultivation at all, so she reached her destination in just fifteen minutes.

However, as soon as she entered this area, Jiang Jinheng saw lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere. Large red silks were hung on the eaves and gates.

What is this…?

Before she could think much, everyone passing by offered their congratulations. Jiang Jinheng hadn’t figured out what was happening when she was stopped outside the room 007 had just indicated. She saw several people guarding it, pushing her and saying strange things.

“The auspicious time has not arrived. Even if you miss her, Supreme One, you must wait. There’s no rush for this moment.”

…

Fu Yi looked at the woman who appeared before her, her expression momentarily dazed. She clearly hadn’t struggled for that long in the pool, and she had fought back those who bullied her, yet she still met her.

It seems that in such a falsehood, the things that happened to her will happen again no matter what.

However, after experiencing everything just now, Fu Yi was no longer afraid of this, nor did she feel disheartened. She looked at the woman in front of her as if looking at a stranger.

Just as Fu Yi thought this, she saw the woman walk towards her with a smile.

“This Venerable is short of a disciple. Now, I see you are quite good, little one. What do you think?”

Azure Vast Immortal Sect recruits new disciples every three years, but some cultivators are accepted as disciples by Immortal Venerables or Elders exceptionally. Just as Fu Yi thought that only things that had happened to her would occur in this new illusion, this idea was immediately overturned.

Just like that, Fu Yi did not go to the small wooden house in her memory. Instead, she followed Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu to her Profound Cloud Palace, listening as she allocated a palace closest to the main hall for her to live in, and then left a pile of marrow-cleansing and bone-purifying pills and spiritual liquids before hurriedly leaving.

Before leaving, the person also said that she was going to take care of some procedures for her and would take her to meet some of her friends when there was a chance.

All this was like a dream. Fu Yi carefully recalled her previous two experiences: one nearly drowning her in a pool, and the other trapping her in endless cycles. What kind of trick would this be?

Although Fu Yi was wary, she honestly settled down in Profound Cloud Palace. After a long time, Fu Yi not only did not feel the pain or oppression she had felt before, but her body also felt completely healthy. She only felt that this place was unusually peaceful.

She seemed to have fallen in love with this place, willing to stay here forever.

Time flew by. Soon, she reached the age of sixteen. Six years was a long time, long enough for Fu Yi to forget many things, but she still couldn’t completely forget some people and events.

As the Head Disciple of Water Cloud Peak, she naturally had to pay attention to the recruitment of new disciples. If she remembered correctly, today was the day Mo Tong was supposed to enter the sect.

Fu Yi didn’t want this person to disturb the peace she had enjoyed for years, but she knew she was powerless. While she was worried, she suddenly heard of a major event happening outside the main hall of the main peak today. The news spread widely. Many disciples who had slipped back from the scene recounted the story vividly, forming many small groups.

Even Fu Yi, who didn’t like to watch the excitement, couldn’t help but squeeze into the crowd to listen. But as she listened for a long time, she was deeply shocked.

“Does everyone remember the former Peak Master of Restful Brocade Peak?”

As soon as these words were spoken, someone immediately responded.

“Is that the Patriarch of the Mo family, whose entire clan was annihilated, right?”

Hearing this, the person smiled mysteriously: “Yes, precisely the Patriarch of the Mo family. However, after that tragic incident occurred, the Immortal Gate sent people to search and rescue, and found that the Mo family still had an orphan, a concubine’s son from a collateral branch of the Mo family’s main lineage, named Mo Tong. Originally, I heard from my Master that the Immortal Gate planned to compensate this orphan because they failed to detect the demonic seed being planted beforehand, arranging for him to enter our sect’s inner gate to be taught immortal methods and martial arts. But today, guess what was found out?”

“If you have something to say, just say it! Constantly keeping us in suspense will kill us with anxiety!”

There were many such remarks. The crowd below was chaotic. The person standing higher up waved a hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. Only after the noise subsided did he whisper: “That annihilation disaster was caused by that orphan, Mo Tong!”

“The three hundred-plus members of the Mo family died by his hand? How could such a venomous person treat his elders and kin this way?”

“It depends on the motive. What if there’s some unspeakable reason?”

“This sounds too absurd! Is it true?”

Fu Yi also had this thought, but as soon as she asked, the person standing higher up spoke excitedly: “Of course it’s true! We have to thank our Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu, who relentlessly followed a clue and finally found evidence of Mo Tong colluding with the Demon Race and planting demonic seeds in his kin. If you don’t believe it, tomorrow the Immortal Venerable will personally bring him back to the peak for detention, and everything will be clear.”

It was Master…

Fu Yi felt a sudden faintness in her head watching this scene. She fell straight down. The people who were still discussing heard a “thud” and turned their heads. Seeing that it was the Head Disciple, and that she had inexplicably fainted in this place, they immediately stopped their conversation and laughter, organizing people to carry her back to her chamber, and also summoning the physician from Pill Peak and Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu.

Actually, Fu Yi’s mental string had simply been taut for too long. Although she didn’t say it, she had been keeping this special day in her mind. Coupled with the fact that she had been cultivating and handling peak affairs for several days without closing her eyes even once, hearing this news today made the stone pressing down on her heart suddenly lift. She simply fell into a deep sleep for a moment.

But Fu Yi did not sleep peacefully. Several times after waking up and fainting again, she saw brand new scenes. Previously, she had been hopeful, wishing to wake up, but this time, she wanted to drown in this falsehood.

Since reality could not fulfill her wishes anyway, why should a person live in reality?

Fu Yi admitted that her thinking had changed a lot during these few years in the illusion. So, when she opened her eyes and saw the person with a worried expression, she was so excited that she immediately sat up and hugged the person tightly.

“Master, I’m so afraid I won’t see you again this time.”

The person being hugged found her words strange but only frowned slightly and did not speak. Instead, she gently patted Fu Yi’s back to comfort her.

Just like that, Mo Tong, whom Fu Yi had always regarded as a major threat, was actually locked up in the Discipline Prison at the bottom of Water Cloud Peak, and coincidentally, it was the same room where she had been imprisoned.

When Fu Yi had free time, she would go to watch him endure the water torture. Each time she went, her heart was filled with an unspeakable sense of satisfaction. Although she knew that Mo Tong had not done anything bad to her in this illusion, and she knew that her thoughts seemed wrong, she still became addicted to it.

Days passed. Fu Yi’s cultivation also became more refined. She accepted the inheritance of her maternal clan but did not tell anyone her true identity. She only stayed in Azure Vast Immortal Sect, on Water Cloud Peak.

After an unknown number of years, Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu suddenly submitted her resignation as Peak Master to Sect Master Xuan Mingzi, throwing the burden back onto Fu Yanqing, who had returned to the sect. She said she was going to travel the world, just like her Master, He Yun.

In the days leading up to her departure, Fu Yi couldn’t stop looking at her Master, who was extremely kind to her. She just held her hand, not wanting to let her leave at all.

On the last night, Fu Yi finally decided to reveal everything. Before the departure, she stopped her Master and said very seriously yet hesitantly: “I know I am still young and don’t understand many things, but I don’t want you to leave the sect, leave me…”

“I want to become your Dao Companion…”

Fu Yi was prepared to be scolded for defying ethical principles and for being unrealistic, but she didn’t expect her Master to indulge her as always.

“Since Yi’er doesn’t want me to leave, then I won’t go.”

“Then…”

“I promise you everything.”

The news that Immortal Venerable Luan Qiu of Azure Vast Immortal Sect was going to become Dao Companions with her only personal disciple quickly spread across the entire continent. Almost no cultivator failed to discuss this matter. Most of the comments were condemnation. Despite this, the number of powerful figures and Immortal Venerables who came to the Immortal Sect to attend the Contract Ceremony was still quite high.

Fu Yi sat in the wedding chamber, adorned with festive red decorations, wearing a large red wedding gown, but her heart felt empty.

It shouldn’t be like this…

Even though Fu Yi herself had requested all of this, she wasn’t happy at all.

Why was this?

While she was thinking, a gust of wind blew, opening the window in front of her. Fu Yi raised her head to close it. What caught her eye was a figure in a cyan robe, someone who seemed to be doing something sneaky.

Just now, an attendant told her that Master was currently discussing the seating arrangements and meal placement for the Contract Ceremony with some people in the main hall. She would soon lead her to the mountain gate to welcome the guests, and she should wait patiently. Why did she change into her casual clothes and come here?

“Master?”

Hearing this call, the person’s eyes seemed to brighten a lot, and her eyes were filled with a smile.

“Yi’er, it took me a lot of effort, but I finally found you. It’s a good thing you still remember me.”

The person spoke to herself and naturally took her hand, seeming to want to lead her away.

The hand holding hers was not as gentle as usual. Instead, it was somewhat cold, like in her memory. Fu Yi was stunned for a moment, but she still pulled her hand out of the person’s grasp.

“The wedding is imminent, what is Master doing?”

…

Listening to these people who sounded like matchmakers, Jiang Jinheng felt strange. However, she had never seen such a scene and didn’t understand what they were saying at all.

But 007 had already detected a hint. Since it hadn’t seen Fu Yi yet, it didn’t dare to say much, only offering advice to Jiang Jinheng.

“If you can’t enter through the main door, Host, you can very well try to sneak in through the window!”

That was indeed a method.

Jiang Jinheng affirmed 007 in her heart, politely cupped her hands to the people on the surface, and left gracefully.

In reality, she quickly slipped to the side to look for an unsealed window of the palace.

Having lived for so long, this was the first time she had done something so sneaky.

Thinking this, Jiang Jinheng couldn’t help but smile, only feeling novelty. She tried one window after another. Soon, she heard a “click” and knew she had found an unlocked window.

The moment she pushed open the window and climbed in, Jiang Jinheng never expected that the person she was looking for would appear right in front of her. Her expression was momentarily stunned.

The Fu Yi in front of her was much older than the little girl who had followed her a few days ago. Compared to the one in the memories she had just accepted, her appearance was even more beautiful. Her lips were dotted with vermilion, her hair was adorned with pearls and kingfisher feathers, and her finely drawn eyebrows were like a painting. She was so beautiful that Jiang Jinheng was momentarily lost in thought.

However, the most eye-catching feature was the large red wedding gown.

It was Fu Yi’s call of “Master” that brought her back to her senses. Even so, Jiang Jinheng didn’t think about anything else. She just smiled and very naturally reached out to hold her hand.

This beautiful dream was both easy and difficult to break. Everything depended on the dreamer, as it was transformed from the thing the dreamer desired most in her heart. Therefore, as long as the dreamer realized that what she was experiencing was merely an illusion and had the will to leave, the dream would naturally break.

Jiang Jinheng originally thought that everything would go smoothly after finding Fu Yi. After all, based on her understanding, this child was not rebellious and was very well-behaved. But she never expected Fu Yi’s subconscious withdrawal and the words that tumbled out of her mouth to truly stun her.

After calming down, she looked at Fu Yi’s attire again, finding it strange.

The fiery red dress, accompanied by the incomparably luxurious phoenix hairpin, Jiang Jinheng recalled the congratulations from the crowd on her way and the festive decorations all around. Then, thinking of the words Fu Yi spoke when she rejected her, although she hadn’t personally experienced it, a light bulb suddenly went off in her head.

Could it be that she is…?

Shock instantly filled Jiang Jinheng’s entire heart. Thoughts raced through her mind.

If so, who would the other person be?

It couldn’t be Mo Tong. Regardless of past or present, the two had an inseparable enmity.

Jiang Jinheng ran through a list of names in her mind. She couldn’t think of anyone in her memory who was close to Fu Yi, but she had completely forgotten herself.

However, she didn’t know how old Fu Yi was now, and in this illusion, she had not participated in her growth either.

Thinking this, a question slipped out.

“Who is that person?”

After speaking, Jiang Jinheng saw Fu Yi seem to pause, but then slowly walked a few steps closer to her.

“Who are you talking about?”

The words were already at the tip of her tongue, but Jiang Jinheng felt her throat was somewhat dry. With 007 present, she could confirm that the person in front of her was indeed the Fu Yi she knew, and not one fabricated by the illusion. But she couldn’t understand why, during the time it took her to break the first two layers of the illusion, her obedient disciple had experienced such a long period of time in the third layer, even to the point of getting married to someone.

If she truly fell for someone she might not have even met, would she still be willing to leave with her?

Thinking this, hesitation rolled in Jiang Jinheng’s eyes, but she still raised her eyes with a hint of anticipation.

After all, she needed to confirm who it was.

“Who are you going to marry?”

Hearing this, the confusion on Fu Yi’s face deepened. She slightly lowered her eyelids, took a step forward, and was the first to grasp the hand she had just rejected. It was still so cold.

Jiang Jinheng watched her not answer, but instead held her hand, cupping it in her palm, gently blowing on it, seemingly trying to warm it for her.

Yi’er must have been here for a long time. Now, her height is even the same as hers.

Soon, Jiang Jinheng’s thoughts finally shifted away from other things. She saw that the distance between the two of them was a bit too close, and their actions were too intimate. She couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Not to mention that she had never liked physical contact since childhood, even disregarding that point, their relationship shouldn’t be this close.

In terms of the word ‘love’, Jiang Jinheng was far from being as intelligent as she was in other areas, nor did she grasp it as quickly as others.

007 had felt that the wedding hall setup here was strange early on. Now, looking at Fu Yi’s attitude toward Jiang Jinheng, it suddenly had a bold guess. The warning words were about to come out, but then it saw Fu Yi make another move.

Jiang Jinheng watched a pair of jade arms slide out from the large red wedding gown, resting on her shoulders and neck. The person in front of her also leaned in closer. A human temperature spread throughout her body, completely unlike the chill she felt when walking outside just now.

The rich scent of powder rushed over Jiang Jinheng’s face. She was still maintaining the posture of asking the question earlier. At this moment, she turned her face, and their noses almost touched, their eyes locked.

This was the first time in Jiang Jinheng’s life that she had been burned by someone’s gaze. Her face and the back of her ears turned red, and her heart involuntarily raced.

She subconsciously wanted to back away, but for some reason, her mind stalled. She couldn’t move her feet, only experiencing the feeling of breath spraying on her lips. Then, she saw her usually well-behaved disciple chuckle. Her eyes shone like stars.

“I heard someone blocking you outside the door earlier, but it is customary not to meet before the wedding. I, too, was unwilling to follow it. But considering that our marriage has already broken those rules, why bother with so many trivialities? I just didn’t expect you to climb through the window to see me.”

After speaking, before Jiang Jinheng could fully process what she had said, a soft mass seemed to land on her lips. Only then did she realize she had been lightly pecked. At the same time, the weight on her shoulders disappeared, replaced by a hand wrapped around her waist and another tightly intertwined with hers.

“However, even if I don’t let you in, you are not allowed to provoke me in this way.”