Chapter 3 — The Nine-Tailed Fox Who Loved Sweet Potatoes

I caught the subtle resonance of an unusual sound. It was neither the bitter howl of the winter gale nor the sharp, echoing snap of fracturing ice. It was footsteps—exceptionally light, profoundly muted. Furthermore, they were advancing with absolute purpose straight toward the heart of the Frigid Ice Cavern. Everyone else had already departed; who else could possibly be coming here now? Concealing my aura completely, I seamlessly merged my physical form into the surrounding obsidian shadows. Moments later, the heavy stone gate was soundlessly eased open from the outside, revealing a narrow crack. A furtive figure slipped stealthily inside. It was Hu Mi Ji.

While Hu Mi Ji was sneaking in, I was casually leaning against the icy wall, using a tiny fragment of glacial stone to file my nails. She undoubtedly assumed I was already half-dead, frozen on the brink of demise, which made her movements remarkably cautious and her steps hyper-vigilant, terrified of disturbing whatever forces might linger here. The cavern was shrouded in deep gloom, requiring her a considerable moment for her eyes to adjust before she finally spotted “me” huddled in the far corner, shivering violently. That, of course, was not my true self. It was merely a duplicate I had conjured using a single fox hair and a touch of illusion, trembling pathetically and emitting an occasional, feeble groan. As for my real body, I remained safely concealed within a recessed crevice directly above her head, watching her theatrical performance with immense, amused interest.

I observed as Hu Mi Ji hurried over to the side of my decoy, dropping gracefully to her knees with a voice saturated in profound anguish and heart-wrenching guilt.

“Wu Wu, how are you holding up? Your elder sister has come to see you.”

The decoy offered no response, only trembling all the more intensely.

“It is all my fault, entirely my fault as your elder sister. I should never have forced you…” As she spoke, tears began to cascade down her face, striking the freezing ground in rapid succession. “But I had no alternative! The entire future of Qingqiu rests heavily upon my shoulders; I cannot afford to lose…”

Weeping bitterly, she fumbled into her bosom and withdrew a small porcelain vial. Upon removing the stopper, a dense, potent medicinal aroma instantly permeated the chill air. It was a Gathering Essence Pill, a supreme panacea for healing; rumor had it that a single pellet could restore three parts of vitality to any dying member of the beast folk. Pressing the elixir gently against the lips of my decoy, she coaxed her in a tender, soothing whisper, “Wu Wu, be a good girl and swallow this. Once it is in your stomach, the suffering will cease. Sister had to go through insurmountable hardships just to obtain this from the Clan Chief.”

Shortly after, her tone shifted subtly.

“Wu Wu, as long as you promise your elder sister to continue assisting me hereafter, I give you my solemn oath: once I ascend to the throne as the Sovereign of Qingqiu, I shall grant you the position of an elder, honored above all others and subordinate only to myself. Does that sound acceptable to you?”

She was starting to spin her grand illusions out of thin air once more. I suppressed a yawn, narrowly avoiding blowing my cover by exhaling my breath near her. The illusory version of myself continued to shiver relentlessly, firmly refusing to part its lips. Hu Mi Ji’s patience seemed to have finally worn utterly thin. The gentle, sorrowful facade she wore slowly dissolved within the dim shadows, replaced by an expression of chilling malice and creeping impatience. Casting a swift, paranoid glance around the empty cavern, her vocal cadence shifted as well, abandoning the syrupy, delicate purr for a harsh, venomous hiss resembling that of a cornered viper.

“Stop pretending you are on the deathbed, Hu Wu Wu. Do you truly believe your petty resistance will amount to anything?”

Reaching out, she violently grabbed the chin of the decoy, attempting to forcefully shove the medicinal pill past its teeth.

“Let me make this abundantly clear to you: your blood is something I am determined to extract! Consume this Gathering Essence Pill, and your spiritual core will recover far more swiftly, generating an even greater abundance of vital essence for me afterward. This is your supreme honor, so do not be so ungrateful!”

I watched the spectacle with absolute delight. Observe her true colors exposed at last. It was rather unfortunate, however, that the object she was gripping so fiercely was nothing more than molded air. At the exact fraction of a second when she prepared to exert her full strength, I made my move. Gliding effortlessly downward from my perch above, I landed softly right behind her back. Completely absorbed in her physical struggle with my phantom clone, she remained entirely oblivious to my presence. I reached out and gently tapped her firmly on the shoulder. Hu Mi Ji’s entire frame stiffened instantly, as though she had been struck squarely by a bolt of lightning. Whirling around abruptly, she found herself staring directly into a face stationed less than three inches from her own.

“Ah—!”

A piercing, blood-curdling shriek echoed wildly throughout the vast expanse of the Frigid Ice Cavern. Paralyzed by absolute terror, her hands jerked uncontrollably, causing the precious Gathering Essence Pill to fly directly out of her grasp. Quick-eyed and lightning-fast, I opened my mouth wide. The elixir traced a magnificent, soaring parabola through the air, dropping with unerring precision straight between my lips. It melted instantly upon contact, sending a sudden surge of warm current coursing through my limbs and veins. I chewed thoughtfully for a moment, smacking my lips together in appreciation.

“Mhm, the flavor is quite acceptable, though perhaps a trifle dry.”

Hu Mi Ji collapsed backward onto the icy floor, pointing a trembling finger first at me and then at the phantom clone that was slowly dissolving into nothingness in the corner, her lips quivering so violently she could barely articulate a single syllable.

“You… you…”

“What about me?” I strolled leisurely over to where she sat, squatting down to peer at her with a bright, beaming smile. “My dear elder sister, roaming about in the middle of the night instead of resting, simply to deliver a midnight snack to me—you really shouldn't have gone to such trouble.”

Her complexion transformed rapidly from a deathly pallor into a bruised, mottled purple.

“You… you have been deceiving me all along? Your cultivation level is…”

“Shh.” I pressed a single finger gently against her lips, signaling for absolute silence. “That remains our little secret.”

I could distinctly perceive the trembling of her physique, driven equally by blinding rage and profound terror. A creature she had long dismissed as utterly worthless and devoid of talent had not only survived the freezing elements unscathed but was now playing with her in the palm of its hand. The sheer magnitude of this psychological shock was quite enough to leave her choking on her own breath for quite some time.

“What… what is it that you want?” Her voice shook uncontrollably.

“Nothing of consequence.” I stood up gracefully, dusting off my hands. “I merely wished to inform you not to come disturbing my peace ever again. Otherwise, the next item falling to the ground might not be a medicinal pill.”

I glanced meaningfully toward her six prized, majestic tails.

“It might very well turn out to be… certain fluffy, white pelts instead.”

Hu Mi Ji’s pupils contracted violently to the size of pinpricks.