Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Two maids were asked to leave Min Xiangtai’s study room. Min Changjing sat down and drank some tea. Wisps of mist floated up into the air from the Heaven Concealment Book.

Nine-tailed Fox was wearing a white skirt as she greeted graciously, “Greetings my lord. May I know what you are here for today?”

Her face was neutral but there was confusion in her eyes. However, internally, she was extremely apprehensive and guarded.

Min Changjing sighed softly as he placed down the tea cup, “There have been some changes. I sent Min Xiangtai off so I could speak to you.”

Nine-tailed Fox replied, “Lord, please speak.”

Min Changjing said, “You can’t hide in my house anymore. The West Desolate have started to notice some things linking to this Heaven Concealment Book.”

Nine-tailed Fox frowned as she looked up. There was a hint of mockery in her expression, “Lord, are you making fun of me for not having experience? The Heaven Concealment Book is the Demon Clan’s spiritual object. Even though we are in the West Desolate, how can it be detected? Moreover, with you around, it will be even easier to hide it.”

Min Changjing looked at her and said slowly, “I can explain to you but don’t take it as if I have the duty to shelter you. You have to understand that this is not the same.”

He took another sip of his tea. With a ‘pak’, he placed the cup down. Nine-tailed Fox felt a chill in her heart as the apprehension in her eyes grew.

“The Heaven Concealment will not be detected by the West Desolate. But someone knows that I have the book. The trouble that you created on that day was too much. His Majesty has ordered for you to be found. Although he is probably more concerned about his own problems at the moment, as long as he does not give up his seat, he will still be the king of the West Desolate.

“Our Min Family has had a stable position in the capital for many years. We will not allow our position to be shaken because of you. You have to leave it.”

Whether Nine-tailed Fox believed him or not, it did not matter because the truth was not the crucial point now. She looked cold, “If I leave the Heaven Concealment Book, I will be found very quickly. And like you said, the West Desolate will not let me go. Since I know this, I will not leave so easily.”

Although she did not specialize in head to head killing like the Fox Clan, she still had the confidence of a demon. While she could not figure out this seemingly ignorant Lord Min, she would not let things go so easily.

Min Changjing said slowly, “I asked you to leave but I am not asking you to die. If not, I would not have let you stay…ultimately, I still owe the Demon Clan.

“Someone from the Li Family from Parasol County is here in the capital. Although you are hidden within the Heaven Concealment, Shi Shu and Shi Qi’s essence is about to be consumed by you, and you should know this.”

Min Changjing looked at her and spoke blandly, “Of course, these are all minor things. It is normal for demons to consume people. I am not annoyed because of this. The two people from this Li Family from Parasol County were born in the Desolate Divine Area. The Li Family they are from is also connected to the one in the Desolate Divine Area.”

Nine-tailed Fox eyes lit up.

Min Changjing spoke, “Do you understand what I mean? As long as you are protected by the Li Family, you will be able to leave the West Desolate safely, and who knows, maybe something good will happen.”

Nine-tailed Fox thought about it and bowed respectfully, “Thank you Lord. But I have to confirm something. Please let me use this Heaven Concealment Book for two days.”

Min Changjing sneered, “Naughty fox. It seems like I have been too nice and you are trying to overstep your boundaries! The Heaven Concealment Book is mine. If you take it away, it will only provide you a shadow for at most two days. Think of ways yourself.”

Nine-tailed Fox smiled and bowed, “Okay, then I will do as you say.”

Very soon, there were white shadows in the Min Residence. Nine-tailed Fox reverted to her original form and disappeared. Because the Heaven Concealment Book’s shadow covered it and blocked off its aura.

Lord Min stood outside the study as he held onto the Heaven Concealment Book. The book felt like it was a lot more shabby than it was before.

Lowering his head to look at it, he sneered before his face turned calm again.

……

“Your Majesty, Marquis Chongwu’s Mansion sent a secret message.” Eunuch Wei Ming kneeled as he presented the jade slip respectfully with two hands.

Behind the bead curtains, the king’s eyes flashed, “Bring it to me.”

“Yes.”

Wei Ming walked carefully up the Nine Layers and placed the jade slip on the table.

He stood up, bowed, and left the room.

The king picked up the jade slip. Using his divine sense, he read the message. His eyes lit up in an instant and a burst of energy surged.

Pak –

The jade slip broke and looming shadows appeared in the king’s hands. His eyes turned sinister.

“That clan?” In the hall, a startled and low muffle could be heard as a young eunuch walked out from the shadows.

The king said slowly, “Marquis Chongwu’s Mansion sent it over. They said that it was some of the aura released from Li Cangzhou when he died.”

The young eunuch thought about it, “Your Majesty, you cannot easily believe it.”

The king narrowed his eyes, “I can choose not to believe it, but it is not possible to create a fake aura of that clan…things are getting interesting.”

Though he used the word interesting, his tone was filled with menace!

As he thought of the Li Family from Parasol County and the Li Family from the Desolate Divine Area…and even the Nine-tailed Fox that appeared in the capital, he felt as if there was something amiss.

Whether it was that clan or the Li Family, he was not able to deal with them now. The only one he could deal with was that Nine-tailed Fox!

Taking a deep breath, the king said, “Li Zhouqing, I will give you three days. You have to find the Nine-tailed Fox.”

It had been many years since the young eunuch was called by his real name. He paused and frowned slightly as pain flashed through his eyes. He soon looked calm as he bowed, “Yes Your Majesty.”

……

The Li Family from Parasol County stayed in their territory for many years. Hardly anyone left. But in the capital, there was a place that was as fancy as the residences for princes and dukes. When Li Zicheng arrived in the capital, he stayed in one of these residences that had been left empty for many years. The residence was immediately filled with life.

Although none of the important court ministers outrightly expressed their relationship with him, he had many guests arrive to give him gifts. The number of guests was surprising to say the least.

After all, it was the ‘Li’ in the Li Family, that had more power than the country. The Zhou Dynasty had been ongoing for several years and both parties were still completely fine. This meant a lot and there were several that were starting to hedge their bets. It was not that they were looking to gain something immediately. They just wanted to form a relationship such that it would be easier in the future.

“Young Ancestors, that woman from Marquis Chongwu’s Mansion is despicable! I will send a message to Parasol County right now and ask the two other clan members to come over. We will make her pay!”

Li Zicheng said murderously in a low voice.

Li Ge was expressionless. Ever since he left Marquis Chongwu’s residence, he had been frowning as if he was thinking about something.

Li Ruhua smiled slightly as she waved, “There is no need to go through that trouble. That woman is not easy to deal with. Let’s just not get in her way…we can let the West Desolate deal with her.”

Li Zicheng bowed, “Young Ancestors, you are magnanimous.” He spoke a few more sentences before taking his leave. After leaving the place where the two ancestors were, he looked calm.

Not only was he someone who had lived for many years, he was from the Li Family in Parasol County. He was also a peak Ruler and was just a few steps away from the King realm. He was smart and would not make such a big fuss over something so small. The reason why he did that was to show his stance to the two young people from his family.

As for that woman in Marquis Chongwu’s Mansion…she was hard to decipher! It would be best if they did not have to deal with her.

Li Ge looked in the direction that Li Zicheng left in, “Old man. If we really wanted to take action, he would be the first one to back away.”

Li Ruhua was still smiling as she looked over, but there was a seriousness in her gaze, “On the other hand, you don’t seem right. Why are you so bothered by that one statement?”

Li Ge frowned as he looked solemn, “I am fine.”

Li Ruhua nodded, “That is good. Rest well.”

Li Ge stood up to leave.

Looking at his back, Li Ruhua did not relax. She lowered her head and stretched out her fingers. She looked at the red dot in the middle of her palm.

“Go and investigate that woman from Marquis Chongwu’s residence. I want to know everything about her.”

As he returned to his residence, the sound of a sword rang out. Sword intent flowed outwards like water, encompassing the entire residence and separating it from the outside world. It was like a peaceful small world.

Li Ge sat down cross-legged. The long sword was placed across his legs. He looked down at the sword and Rourou’s words rang through his mind – sword cultivator, ultimately, you have to cultivate yourself. There is no future in relying on external help.

He had studied the sword since he was young and was naturally talented. The clan had outrightly accepted him as the Sword Immortal embryo and he had a bright future ahead. All this while, he had been focused on the thought that his sword was his life and sword cultivation was the most important thing to him.

He had to find a sword that matched with him perfectly in order to be unified with the sword and continue on the sword path. However, today someone told him that counting on external help was not the way – this was completely contradictory to what Li Ge had always believed in.

Li Ge had been born with a silver spoon and his cultivation journey had been smooth. He had never suffered many setbacks and has always been firm on his sword cultivation beliefs. He had never been shaken by what someone else said.

But that woman…the image of Rourou sitting and looking down at him condescendingly appeared in his mind. What she said…felt like…there was no reason. Yet this thought grew stronger and stronger in his mind.

Li Ge groaned as he paled. The sword on his legs started to vibrate by itself.

Humm –

He suddenly looked up. The long sword unsheathed and fell. It moved extremely fast and small cracks could be seen in the space where it had cut.

“Come out!”

A ball of white flashed from behind his bed. A mist formed and turned into a lady. Looking at her, Li Ge frowned slightly as he pointed his sword out, “Nine-tailed Fox!”

“Greetings Li Ge, Sword Immortal from the Central Desolate Divine Area. I am Su Yan from the Fox Clan.” She greeted pleasantly and respectfully.

Li Ge was emotionless, “What are you doing here?”

Nine-tailed Fox Su Yan spoke softly, “I almost completed the calamity to break through my realm in West Desolate. However, I was distracted and caused my original form to appear. I have caused some trouble and the West Desolate is now looking for me. I have approached you hoping that you will be able to save me. I will serve you in order to repay you.”

“Repay?” Li Ge was expressionless, “What gives you the right?”

Su Yan looked up, “The realm of a Nine-tailed Fox is many times more versatile than a demon.” As she spoke, her appearance changed multiple times. Her expression was icy and she looked aggressive.

“Li Ge, do you want to die?”

Li Ge fell silent for a while before he growled, “Come over!”