Chapter 4 — Ten Lifetimes of a Fox

She raised her head to cast a long, disbelieving glance at the Fox Emperor, utterly refusing to accept my words. Much like her own father, the Fox Emperor was famously devoted to his wife and children. Because the Fox Empress adored the candied hawthorns of the mortal realm, he would descend to the mortal world every three days, personally selecting the reddest and sweetest hawthorn berries before sealing them meticulously with his divine magic to bring them back. When the Fox Empress was injured during her cultivation, the Emperor had grown so frantic that he spent days and nights without closing his eyes, keeping vigil by her bedside without stepping away for even half a step. A Fox Emperor who loved her so deeply—how could he possibly have another woman? How could he possibly have Lan Chi? My mother hardly dared to believe it, yet she forced the question past her lips.

Father, is Lan Chi truly my younger sister?

The color drained entirely from the Fox Emperors face, leaving it as pale as bleached linen.

Yi, what nonsense are you spouting?

His expression had already betrayed the truth. Agony washed over my mother.

I am asking you, is Lan Chi your daughter?

An uproar swept through the grand hall. The Fox Emperor expression shifted through a flurry of colors before finally settling into a dark, grim mask.

Yi, you have suffered a shock today and your mind is clouded; I will not hold this against you. The bloodline verification stone has malfunctioned repeatedly, and the artifact is likely broken. Let us end this matter here today and discuss it another time.

With that, he flicked his sleeve, preparing to dismiss the assembly.

Father. My mother raised a hand, pointing straight at the glowing stone. If you claim the stone is broken, do you dare to test it once with Lan Chi?

Absurd! The Emperors face darkened into a scowl. You are the sovereign princess of Green Hill, yet here you are, attempting to force your own father into a bloodline test before all these witnesses. Where is your sense of propriety?

It is the truth. She truly is your daughter.

A tear finally broke free, tracing a hot path down my mother cheek. Stung by her words, the Fox Emperor flew into a rage.

Bai Yi, you are going too far. I have already told you this is impossible, yet you persist relentlessly. It seems I have spoiled you far too much; you had best return to your quarters and reflect upon your insolence.

Stunned by his harsh severity, my mother stood frozen for a moment. Before she could utter a reply, a shrill, piercing laugh rang out from behind. Lan Chi was smiling, though her eyes were glacial and devoid of warmth.

Your Highness has guessed correctly. I am indeed the daughter of the Fox Emperor.

Lan Chi!

The Emperor roared in fury, his face as white as paper. Lan Chi turned her gaze upon him.

What is the matter? Have you not always promised me that you would eventually repay everything you owe me? Why is it that now, at the very end, you do not even dare to acknowledge me?

The Fox Emperor opened his mouth, but not a single syllable came out. Seemingly provoked by his cowardly refusal to admit the truth, Lan Chi laughed again, her words driving like sharp daggers straight into my mother heart.

But do you know? Your good father knew about every single one of these things! It was he who gave his tacit approval! It was he who stood by and watched as all nine of your children died nine separate deaths!

Lies! The Fox Emperor trembled in every limb. Yi, she is lying!

Yet my mother refused to look at him, keeping her eyes locked onto Lan Chi, her voice hoarse and broken.

Why?

Why? Lan Chi tilted her head, her gaze fixed mockingly upon her. What other reason could there be? We are both his daughters, so by what right are you the exalted princess while I am nothing more than a lowly maid serving tea and water? Bai Yi, my revenge was entirely intentional. Do you have any idea how pitifully your children cried as they died? They wailed just like unweaned kittens, their tiny hands and feet kicking desperately against the void, kicking and kicking until at last they stopped moving altogether...

Silence!

Unable to bear it a moment longer, my mother unleashed a surge of golden spiritual energy that morphed into a razor-sharp blade, slashing straight toward Lan Chi. Yet that fatal strike never reached its target. Before the spiritual force could land, the Fox Emperor had thrown himself directly in the path of the blow. Staring at the sight in disbelief, my mother felt the very last shard of her hope shatter entirely.

Father, it turns out you really do hate them after all.

Stabbed by the profound disappointment shining in her eyes, the Fox Emperor scrambled to offer an excuse.

Bai Yi, I never betrayed your mother. Back then, her mother slipped a potion into my wine; you must understand my plight and forgive this single lapse in judgment.

Very well. Once again, my mother channeled her Qi, transforming her spiritual energy into a long sword that pointed directly at Lan Chi. I can understand your betrayal of my mother, but I can never forgive her for murdering my children. I am going to kill her. Step aside.

Refusing to budge, the Emperor shook his head.

Yi, she is your younger sister. You cannot kill her.

A humorless laugh burst from my mother lips.

A younger sister? My mother only ever bore one daughter, and that is me. I have no younger sisters.

Before the final word had even faded, the spiritual sword in her hand lunged forward. The Fox Emperor countenance shifted violently; with a sweep of his sleeve, he conjured a barrier of pure energy, stubbornly blocking the thrust. The shockwave of colliding spiritual powers shook the grand hall with a deep, reverberating hum, forcing the watching members of the fox clan to scramble backward in fear of being caught in the fallout.

Yi! The Fox Emperor cried out in a mixture of terror and rage. Do you truly intend to raise your blade against your own father?

My mother gave him no answer. Instead, she let her actions speak. Her second strike was even swifter than the first, far more ferocious, sweeping cleanly past the Emperor to thrust straight at the heart of Lan Chi cowering behind him.