The Old Sword Cultivator said, “That matter goes back a long time. Back then, when the second prince, Yan Xun, was still a child and hadn’t yet ascended the throne. During an autumn hunt, the Late Emperor shot a fox…”
Chen Changsheng interrupted him here, saying, “Stop. Did the second prince save that fox later, and many years later that fox came back to repay the favor?”
The Old Sword Cultivator blinked. “You calculated that?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Did I need to? Aren’t there plenty of stories like that about fox demons repaying kindness?”
The Old Sword Cultivator blinked. “I haven’t heard any.”
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Chen Changsheng clicked his tongue. Seeing the Old Sword Cultivator didn’t seem to be pretending, he then understood.
“Haven’t any Storytellers told stories like that?” Chen Changsheng asked.
Chen Changsheng opened his mouth. “Like that…”
It seemed he still didn’t know enough about this world.
The Old Sword Cultivator continued, “Speaking of Yan Xun ascending the throne, he owed a lot to that fox demon clearing many obstacles for him behind his back. Otherwise, he would have died long ago at the hands of his elder brother. Later, after he became emperor, he made her his Concubine Li. Because he never established an empress, Concord Li manages all matters in the imperial harem alone these days.”
Chen Changsheng asked, “No empress?”
“It was Concubine Li’s own request.”
The Old Sword Cultivator said, “The emperor wanted to make the fox demon his empress then, but too many ministers opposed it. Later, rumors spread that Concubine Li was a disaster-bringing demoness. Not wanting to cause trouble for the emperor, she gave up the position of empress.”
“And the emperor, furious over this, simply refused to appoint any empress at all. No one could persuade him otherwise.”
Chen Changsheng said, “From what you’ve said, this fox demon doesn’t seem so bad after all.”
The Old Sword Cultivator nodded. “Exactly. Since I met her, I haven’t found her doing anything wrong. Truly… I can’t find a reason to kill her.”
Chen Changsheng chuckled. “So why are you still here then?”
The Old Sword Cultivator let out a soft sigh. “I stayed here for a while over ten years ago. That was when I almost killed her. After letting my guard down later, I traveled around. I came back this time for another matter…”
“The fox demon is pregnant.”
Chen Changsheng frowned upon hearing this.
The Old Sword Cultivator turned his head. “It’s utterly absurd. That’s exactly what I worried about back then, so when I left, I specifically placed an Arcane Spell on Concubine Li. She should never have been able to conceive. Yet somehow, that fox demon broke the Spell. Now she’s pregnant. Heaven knows what kind of monster she’ll give birth to.”
“The union of human and demon is against the rules of nature.”
Chen Changsheng said, “But since you’re still here, you haven’t destroyed the fetus in her womb?” This update is available on NoveI[F]ire.net
The Old Sword Cultivator opened his mouth. “How could I know what exactly would be born without seeing it? Besides, the fox demon banged her head bloody before me, pleading. My heart softened; I couldn’t do it. I stayed to wait for the child’s birth. If it is evil, I’ll cut it down with one stroke of my sword.”
Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but look at the Old Sword Cultivator with higher regard.
Although this man seemed shameless, his approach to matters was quite reasonable. Anyone else would likely have slain the fox demon the moment they saw her.
“How much longer before the child in her belly is born?”
“Counting the days, it should be soon. Maybe in the next few days.”
The Old Sword Cultivator said, “You came just in time to witness it.”
Chen Changsheng became interested. “Why not take me to see her?”
The Old Sword Cultivator asked, “You want to get involved too?”
“You’ve already laid out the rights and wrongs clearly. Why would I get involved? I, Chen, am simply curious.”
The Old Sword Cultivator thought for a moment, then agreed to Chen Changsheng’s request.
Afterward, he led Chen Changsheng into the imperial harem.
The two men used a concealment technique and proceeded unimpeded to the chambers of Concubine Li.
Inside the chambers, Concubine Li, dressed in a bright red Hong Luan gown, rested on a couch with her eyes closed. Palace maids fanned her with large screens.
Feeling their presence, Concubine Li opened her eyes.
The palace maids retreated from the chamber one by one, leaving only Concubine Li inside.
As the maids opened the door, Chen Changsheng and the Old Sword Cultivator slipped into the chamber, seeing for themselves the fox demon who managed the entire imperial harem.
Concubine Li stood up and, supporting her belly, tried to curtsy.
“Don’t bother,” the Old Sword Cultivator said. “You are with child. Sit properly.”
Grateful, Concubine Li said, “Thank you, Sword Immortal.”
Her gaze fell upon the man in green robes beside the Sword Immortal.
Su Xiaoxiao felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this person, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
Chen Changsheng, noticing her strange look, said, “I am just an idle man. Don’t mind me.”
“Greetings, Immortal Elder,” Su Xiaoxiao said, bowing her head.
Su Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, continuing to look at Chen Changsheng.
She didn’t believe it was a mistake. She must have seen him somewhere. She just couldn’t recall where.
“Have I… met you before, Immortal Elder?”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng was slightly surprised. He thought for a moment, then replied, “I have never met you.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded slightly. “Perhaps I remember wrong.”
At first, Chen Changsheng also thought it must be the fox demon’s mistake. But then he reconsidered and took the question more seriously.
Chen Changsheng asked, “Why do you say you’ve seen me?”
The Old Sword Cultivator also paused, hearing Chen Changsheng pursue this.
Su Xiaoxiao said, “This humble demon feels a familiar aura from the Immortal Elder. I feel as though I know you.”
Chen Changsheng fixed his gaze on the fox demon.
In that instant, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she wanted to resist, but under that pressure of Divine Sense, she found she had no strength to fight back.
With just one look, it seemed all the secrets buried deep within her heart were laid bare.
Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze. He hadn’t found any useful information.
“Perhaps it really was a mistake,” Chen Changsheng said.
His sensitivity stemmed from certain enigmas that troubled him.
First was this Divine Sense. Second was the pure Magical Power within his hair.
These two issues constantly plagued Chen Changsheng.
He wondered if perhaps, before now, there were things he could not remember.
Su Xiaoxiao let out a sigh of relief. “The Immortal Elder seems very fixated on this matter.”
“Just seeking confirmation about something.”
Chen Changsheng said, “Don’t dwell on it too much.”
The Old Sword Cultivator glanced at Chen Changsheng. “Celestial Immortal, did you happen to check the fetus within her?”
Su Xiaoxiao tensed immediately upon hearing this. Instinctively, she shielded her belly with her hand, fearful that the two men might harm her unborn child.
Chen Changsheng said, “I happened to take a look. It’s fine.”