Chapter 38: The Fox Speaks, A Female Cultivator?

Mo Fan felt a deep sense of gloom. He never expected his luck to be this abysmal; he had barely left Black Wind Mountain when he encountered a human cultivator, the very existence regarded by demons as a grim reaper.

"There you go, brother, help yourself to a drink."

The youth poured wine into the clay bowl, looking at Mo Fan with a beaming smile. Mo Fan’s body trembled slightly. He glanced at the grease stains on the corners of the youth's mouth and forced a smile. "Do I have to drink it?"

He was genuinely worried that the wine might be poisoned.

"Of course, it’s your choice!"

Unexpectedly, the youth simply smiled, appearing unbothered, and returned to his own meal. This left Mo Fan feeling increasingly suspicious. Could it be that the wine in the bowl was not poisoned? Could it be that this human cultivator, despite his kind, had no malicious intent? Mo Fan could not be sure, so he remained cautious, never daring to actually drink the wine or even touch the roasted meat. From beginning to end, he watched the human and the fox eat with longing eyes.

The youth did not have a large appetite. Once he finished the roasted venison leg, he stopped eating. He wiped his greasy hands on his green robes quite naturally, picked up his wooden sword, and patted his stomach with satisfaction. "I’m full. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted such delicious roast meat. Thank you!"

"You, you’re too kind!" Mo Fan stammered in response.

"I’m off!"

The youth turned, waved at Mo Fan, and walked away on his own. However, after walking a few yards, he stopped and called back, "Oh, by the way, if you run into that black fox later, be careful. That creature... she bites!"

"Is that so? Thank you for the warning!"

Mo Fan feigned composure. Only when the figure had moved far away did he exhale a long, heavy breath. Looking at the retreating back, his tensed nerves finally relaxed, and he realized he had broken out in a cold sweat.

"What a terrifying human!"

Mo Fan took a deep breath, not daring to linger any longer. He lost all appetite for the roasted meat and immediately swept the meat and the bowl of wine into his pack. Little did Mo Fan know, shortly after he left, the youth in green suddenly turned back.

"Yunshang, was what you said just now true?"

Looking at the smoldering remains of the campfire, the youth asked.

"Of course it’s true. He isn't a human; he’s a demon!" The white fox on the youth’s shoulder spoke in a human voice, which sounded remarkably ethereal and pleasant.

"I didn't mean that. I know he’s a demon," the youth said, frowning slightly.

"You knew he was a demon, yet you let him go?" the white fox asked curiously.

"Does being a demon mean I must kill him?" The youth laughed suddenly, then added, "You know me—I follow my own sense of right and wrong. Besides, we enjoyed a free meal of roast meat from him!"

"That’s true. I have to admit, that toad’s roasting skills are quite good." Mentioning the meat, the white fox’s bright eyes curved into crescents, and she licked her lips with her delicate pink tongue, as if still savoring the flavor.

"A toad demon? That’s quite rare. But what did you mean when you said he might have some karmic connection with that black fox?" the youth continued to press.

"I used our clan’s divination technique on that toad just now and discovered that he shares a certain karmic bond with that black fox. It’s possible they might cross paths before long."

"If you are truly determined to hunt that fox demon, you could follow him. You might find something." The white fox spoke lazily, then added softly, "I really don't know why you are so obsessed with catching her, even chasing her all the way to these Hundred Thousand Mountains."

"She is a wicked demon who devours humans. The righteous sects have laid her debts at your feet, so naturally, I cannot ignore it. Only by capturing her can I clear your name, Yunshang," the youth said calmly.

"Those scholars are all arrogant and pompous; I don't care about their opinions!" The white fox snorted, though she couldn't help but nudge her furry head against the youth’s neck as if acting spoiled.

"You may not care, but I do!"

The youth smiled and said no more. He recited a mantra, formed a sword seal with his right hand, and lightly brushed it across his eyes. Instantly, the world in his vision changed. A faint trail of black mist drifted through the surroundings, heading off into the distance.

"Indeed, a demon!"

The youth muttered to himself and then followed the direction of the demonic aura.

...

After the encounter with the youth, Mo Fan had intended to flee straight back to Black Wind Mountain. However, he realized the youth was heading in that very direction. He dared not return the way he came and had to grit his teeth and push forward. For the rest of the journey, Mo Fan remained on high alert; he didn't even dare to light a fire, fearing he might attract more powerful human cultivators.

The further he went from Black Wind Mountain, the more nervous Mo Fan became, as it meant he was infinitely closer to human territory. After another half-day of travel, Mo Fan finally emerged from the vast dense forest. Familiar sunlight spilled through the leaves and shone upon his face, causing much of his fear toward human cultivators to dissipate. He found himself on a mountain ridge, with a massive ravine in the distance, followed by endless rolling mountains. It seemed difficult to escape this place.

"This Demon Spirit Mountain Range is just too vast! I have no idea how far I am from human territory."

Mo Fan frowned. Just as he was about to sit on a boulder to rest, he heard the roar of a beast echoing from the nearby ravine.

"Is that... the sound of a wild boar?"

Mo Fan’s heart stirred. Over the past few days, he had hunted many beasts and had become particularly sensitive to their sounds. Just by listening, he could discern a great deal of information. It sounded like the cry of a boar in agony. After a moment of hesitation, he headed down the mountain, wanting to see what was happening in the ravine.

The ravine was vast, filled with jagged rocks, towering trees, and grass taller than a man, so even from the mountaintop, Mo Fan could not see the situation clearly below. He moved cautiously, keeping his eyes and ears open, terrified of encountering another powerful human cultivator.

However, when he neared the source of the sound, he let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't as bad as he had imagined; it was just a wild boar with its leg caught in a steel trap, which was why it was screaming so loudly. Out of humanitarian spirit, Mo Fan spat out a long spear, ended the boar's life, and stored both the carcass and the trap into his internal space.

After doing this, Mo Fan’s nerves tightened again. The presence of the trap meant that he was already not far from human lands! Just then, he vaguely saw a black figure walking down from the opposite mountain in the distance. The figure seemed to be holding something in its arms and was moving rapidly toward him.

"Could it be another human cultivator?!"

Mo Fan felt a chill in his heart and immediately hid behind a large rock. Soon, the black figure drew near. Only then did Mo Fan realize it was a woman dressed in black robes.