Chapter 80: Even Demons Know Love
A withered claw stretched forth and plucked the cigarette box from Chen Yan’s hand.
He watched as Old Madam He lowered her head to light the cigarette. Without a word, he reached into his pocket and retrieved another box, lighting one for himself. In truth, he didn’t smoke. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how, but rather that he simply didn’t like it.
Yet, in such a moment, whether one spoke or remained silent, some things still required accompaniment.
Chen Yan took a drag and exhaled slowly. “The very first day I climbed the mountain, I visited your burial site among the He Ancestral Graves. The moment I pried open your coffin, I knew you hadn’t truly died.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“There was no stench of decay.” Chen Yan spread his hands. “I counted the days. From the time of your so-called funeral to the burial after the seven-day vigil, then another ten days before the torrential rains caused a landslide… And after that came the exorcism rites and the relocation of your remains. In total, nearly a month had passed.
“Granted, it’s winter. The cold slows decomposition. But a coffin isn’t a damn icebox. A month in the earth—even with traditional embalming techniques—your body should’ve been nothing more than preserved flesh.
“And yet, the silk lining of the coffin, the burial artifacts—none of them bore the faintest trace of corpse rot.
“That’s when I suspected, Old Madam He, that you had never actually died.
“The missing corpse wasn’t stolen. It never lay there to begin with. Either you cast some illusion upon the people during your burial, or you possess some supernatural ability to escape from the coffin after being interred.”
Old Madam He let out a dry chuckle, her voice hoarse. “Before you even met me, how did you know I possessed such abilities? What if I was just an ordinary old woman?”
Chen Yan met her gaze without hesitation. “Two things.
“First—your son, Boss He, and your daughter-in-law, Sun Chen. Their birth charts align with uncanny precision.
“Second—the jade pendants they wear. They’re protective talismans, warding against malevolent energies.
“The moment I saw those artifacts, combined with their fated compatibility, I knew.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied the old woman. “Old Madam He, you are not human, are you?”
She remained silent.
Chen Yan continued, “From the start, I suspected you were either of the Demon Race or a spirit beast that had taken human form. Regardless of what manner of being you are, all demons radiate an aura that humans cannot withstand for long. Prolonged exposure to such energy weakens mortals, bringing sickness and misfortune.
“But your son, Boss He, has worn that jade pendant since childhood, keeping your influence at bay. You raised him yourself, after all.
“And your daughter-in-law, Sun Chen—she, too, wears one.
“You must care deeply for them.”
Old Madam He’s voice was as cold as the mountain wind. “I raised my son with my own hands. If I do not care for him, who will? As for my daughter-in-law… she is a good woman.”
Chen Yan cast her a knowing look, half-smiling. “Not just because she’s a good woman, I wager. More because her destiny aligns with your son’s, reinforcing his fortune. Of course, you’d want to shield her from your aura. If she were to fall ill, weakening her life’s thread, it could drag Boss He’s fate down with her.
“Isn’t that right?”
Old Madam He took another slow drag of her cigarette. “Then tell me, why have you come here tonight?”
“A few things didn’t add up,” Chen Yan replied, scratching his head. “I investigated the grudge between Sun Zhi Hui and the He family, the deaths of three village ruffians, and the destruction of your tomb. The landslide wasn’t a natural disaster—it was deliberate.
“I figured those three scoundrels met their end at your hands.”
Old Madam He shook her head. “They toppled my tomb. Though they did not harm me directly, they disturbed the ancestral graves of the He family. That cannot be forgiven.”
Chen Yan frowned slightly.
He could understand punishing Sun Zhi Hui—the instigator—but the three thugs… Their deeds were reprehensible, yes. They had done wrong. But did they truly deserve death?
Then again, that was none of his business. He had no intention of playing the righteous hero, confronting a powerful and dangerous spirit who radiated the aura of a true demon.
“So, I guessed that if you had killed the three ruffians, then Sun Zhi Hui, the mastermind, wouldn’t escape his fate either.” Chen Yan nodded. “I came here tonight to test a hunch.
“There was one thing I wasn’t entirely sure of.
“But if I was right about it, I knew I’d find you here.”
Old Madam He fell silent for a long moment. “And what was the one thing you weren’t certain about?”
Chen Yan’s gaze sharpened. “Your daughter-in-law, Sun Chen, and the deceased Sun Zhi Hui…
“They are descendants of the ancient Sun Clan, aren’t they? The same Sun Clan buried in those old ancestral graves?”
Old Madam He exhaled a plume of smoke, then answered with a question of her own. “And if they were?”
Chen Yan smirked. “So, you admit it?”
“Admit or not, what does it change?” Old Madam He’s voice was calm. “It is true. My daughter-in-law’s lineage traces back to the ancient Sun Clan that rests within those tombs.
“When I sought a wife for my son, I made sure to choose carefully. I studied her fate. I examined her ancestry.”
Chen Yan’s eyes gleamed with understanding. “Then, you didn’t choose your daughter-in-law by chance. You deliberately sought out a descendant of the Sun Clan.”
He took another drag of his cigarette, then snuffed it out with his fingers. Raising his head, he locked eyes with Old Madam He’s shadowed figure.
“The He Family’s Ancestral Tomb rests atop the mountain, possessing a dominant geomantic position. For centuries, it has been siphoning away the accumulated fortune of the Sun Family’s Ancestral Tomb! In other words, the He Family has thrived in this land for three hundred years, not by its own merit, but because the Sun Family’s fate has been feeding it!
“Through the passage of time, the destiny known as ‘The Sun Family Prospers, the He Family Thrives’ has been etched into the flow of fate itself. So, you deliberately sought out a descendant of the Sun Family—Sun Chen—and had her marry into the He Family. Her birth chart aligns perfectly with the He lineage, as if bound by the unseen threads of fate. By bringing her into the He Family, you further ensured that the Sun Family’s fortune continued to nourish your bloodline.
“This revelation struck me today as I observed the ebb and flow of ancestral energy in this ancient burial ground. And if Sun Zhi Hui is also a descendant of the Sun Family…”
Chen Yan paused, his voice slowing. “You hold the He Family in such high regard. That means you would never leave Sun Zhi Hui’s corpse to rot in the wild, would you? Even if you killed him in vengeance, you wouldn’t discard his body carelessly. To leave a man to decay in the open is to sever a family’s fate itself. That is why, since ancient times, people have insisted upon a proper burial—to return to the roots, to find peace in the earth.”
He let his words sink in, then continued, “You took Sun Zhi Hui’s life, but you must have buried him as well. And what better place than the Sun Family’s Ancestral Tomb? A practitioner of your skill could easily place his body within its sacred ground. After all, a descendant’s burial strengthens the tomb’s fate, enriching its deep reserves of fortune. A deal too profitable to pass up.
“But I visited this place earlier today, and there were no fresh graves.” Chen Yan’s eyes glinted. “That means you haven’t buried him yet. So I waited. If not tonight, then within the next few days—you would have had to come.”
Silence reigned before Old Madam He finally sighed softly.
“Sun Zhi Hui was the last one I had to kill,” she admitted, her voice carrying the weight of time. “That’s why I only came tonight to bury him. Child, you’ve guessed everything correctly. Every single thing.”
Chen Yan chuckled and cupped his hands. “Old Madam, you flatter me. I might get embarrassed.”
“You deserve the praise,” she said airily. “Go on, ask what else you want to know.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You… are not human, are you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Chen Yan coughed lightly. “Then… how did you enter the He Family?”
A raspy chuckle escaped her lips. “Haven’t you humans written plenty of stories about this? The White Serpent fell for Xu Xian, Nie Xiao Qian loved Ning Cai Chen… I, too, met my own Xu Xian or Ning Cai Chen, once upon a time.
“But alas, I was never human. Even though we spent years together, I could never bear him children. And his lifespan… was too short. I tried everything to prolong it, but fate is not so easily defied.
“When he died, I was left with guilt. He married me, but because of my nature, he had no heirs. I owed him too much. So I arranged for a successor, a child to carry on his bloodline.”
Her voice softened. “That boy was only three when he came to me. I had thought of him as nothing more than a pet at first.”
She sighed heavily. “But in the end… I never expected…”
Chen Yan’s voice was quiet. “You never expected to develop real feelings for him?”
A deep melancholy settled in her gaze. “Yes.”
Chen Yan fell silent, nodding to himself. The lengths she had gone for her son—to arrange his marriage, to craft talismanic artifacts—proved her sincerity. Though not of the same blood, motherly love had taken root in truth.
But then, the atmosphere shifted. The night air grew frigid. A low, eerie laugh echoed from Old Madam He’s lips.
The temperature plummeted, a ghostly chill wrapping around Chen Yan like unseen tendrils.
“You are clever, child. Too clever,” she murmured. “Did no one ever teach you? The smarter a child is, the harder they are to raise?”
Her presence turned ice-cold. “You have unraveled all my secrets. How could I possibly let you leave?”
Chen Yan sneered. “Old Madam He, are you trying to silence me?”
She shook her head, her voice light as drifting snow. “I cannot allow the world to know that the He Family harbored a spirit creature. Nor can I let anyone discover that my son’s mother… was never human.”
“Do not hate this old woman,” she added with an eerie gentleness. “Killing you pains me as well.”
Chen Yan, however, showed no trace of fear. He merely watched as she slowly lifted her head.
And beneath her tangled, straw-like hair—
A fox’s face emerged.
A fox demon!
Chen Yan’s heart surged with an odd, conflicted emotion. All his life, he had heard the old stories—how his own mother had been accused of being a fox spirit. And yet, in a twist of fate, she was not one.
It was Boss He’s mother who was truly a fox demon!
Under the moon’s pale glow, he faced her, a creature of both human form and vulpine visage. He would be lying if he claimed he felt no fear at first glance. But his confidence remained unshaken.
Through his Qi Observation, he could see that this fox demon’s energy shimmered like silver threads—an unmistakable sign of the Return to Origin Realm. While her Qi was more abundant than his, her level was not beyond his own.
And in his pocket rested a talisman—Mother’s Love, as Mountainous as a Blade—capable of slaying even those at the Platform Ascension Stage.
The fox demon straightened, tilting her head slightly. A crackling noise filled the air as she loosened her stiff neck, her chilling laughter echoing through the graveyard.
“Child,” she purred. “How about I bury you just outside the Sun Family’s Ancestral Tomb? You would make a fine tomb guardian spirit.”
Her eyes gleamed with eerie amusement. “I can see it—you’ve cultivated your Dao. You are in the Return to Origin Realm, aren’t you?”
“Useless. You are no match for this old woman.”
A hand stretched forward—not a human hand, but a claw, sharp as a blade, curving like a predatory talon. Without hesitation, it lunged for Chen Yan’s throat.
Yet, Chen Yan did not move.
He stood his ground, unwavering, feet rooted to the earth as though he had become part of the world itself. Coldly, he spoke a single sentence.
“Huang Shun Ying is my grandmother.”
The claw stopped short. Two steps away from Chen Yan’s neck, Old Madam He froze in place, her fox-like visage twisting in sheer disbelief.
“What… what did you say?” Her voice quivered.
“I said,” Chen Yan repeated, unbothered, “Huang Shun Ying is my grandmother.”
The fox spirit trembled. Her pupils darted frantically, betraying an inner turmoil. “Lies! You must have heard that name from somewhere! Trying to trick me, are you!?”
Chen Yan chuckled. Without another word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and swiftly opened his photo album. With a flick of his finger, he brought up an image from last summer—a snapshot of him and Huang Shun Ying, foreheads touching as they laughed into the camera.
The fox’s gaze fell upon the screen.
Thud.
She collapsed to her knees.
Wide-eyed, stunned, Old Madam He stared up at Chen Yan, horror evident in her expression.
Meanwhile, Chen Yan remained composed. Only now did his other hand relax, subtly releasing the Formless Cataclysm-Slaying Slash Talisman he had hidden in his pocket. His grandmother’s name alone had done more than any spell he could have prepared.
For more than ten seconds, the fox spirit muttered under her breath, “Impossible… this is impossible… how can this be…”
Sensing an opportunity, Chen Yan narrowed his eyes and asked deliberately, “And why is that impossible?”
Old Madam He parted her lips as if to answer but promptly shut them again.
Chen Yan, patient as ever, supplied the missing words himself. “Because… how could a Venerable One of the Domain Realm possibly have a grandson in this world?”
The fox spirit jolted, her gaze snapping to him. “You… you know of the Domain Realm? No! Are you from the Domain Realm?!”
He did not answer. He merely watched her with a calculating stare, his expression cold and unreadable, though in his mind, thoughts whirled like a raging storm.
This fox spirit knows about the Domain Realm.
That was no small revelation.
Even the ancient turtle spirit in his household—Gui Geng—knew nothing of the Domain Realm. From Gu Xiao Niang’s scattered words, Chen Yan had learned that Gui Geng’s ancestors had fled the Domain Realm many ages ago, during a great event known as the Escape of the Realm. Those who crossed into the human world then had built new lives, their memories of their origins fading with time.
Yet this fox spirit had spoken of the Domain Realm without hesitation.
More importantly, she had not questioned his use of the term Venerable One.
This was confirmation enough.
Old Madam He, still kneeling, seemed to misinterpret Chen Yan’s silence. Her brows knitted in thought, then she slowly nodded.
“Yes… yes, it makes sense. If you are from the Domain Realm, then the seal at the Realm Gate must have weakened again. The formation must have opened once more.”
She lifted her head, curiosity flickering across her features. “Fellow Daoist… you belong to the Ghost Clan, do you not? But your scent is unlike theirs.”
Chen Yan smirked. Having a powerful backing truly had its advantages.
Just moments ago, she was ready to kill him. Now, he was a Fellow Daoist.
He crouched to her level and casually offered her a cigarette.
Old Madam He hesitated before accepting it. With a flick of her fingers, a small green flame bloomed at her fingertip, lighting the cigarette with ease.
“Old Madam He,” Chen Yan spoke lightly, “Let’s not talk about me. Tell me about yourself.”
She exhaled a slow stream of smoke, her voice heavy with resignation. “What is there to say? You are the grandson of a Venerable One. I would not dare harm you. If I so much as scratched you, your fate would be tied to mine. Even if I never returned to the Domain Realm, your grandmother could calculate the karma, hunt me down, flay me alive, grind my bones to dust, and extract my very soul to forge into a Ghost Puppet. Not just me—my entire clan would be doomed.”
She shuddered visibly.
Chen Yan absorbed her words carefully.
“Return to the Domain Realm?” he echoed.
Not go to the Domain Realm.
Return.
A detail worth noting.
Calmly, he asked, “Do you wish to return to the Domain Realm?”
Silence.
The fox spirit’s aura wavered for just a moment before she slowly shook her head. “Of course I wish to return… but I cannot.”
Chen Yan almost pressed her for the reason, but instinct held him back.
No—it would be too hasty. Too suspicious.
Instead, he exhaled, feigning an air of melancholic nostalgia. With a sigh, he mused aloud, “But is returning truly worth it? Is the Domain Realm really so great?
Here, the sun is warm. The wind is gentle. When you lift your head, you can see the sky, the moon, the stars.
What is so good about returning?
In the Domain Realm, the winds atop the Hell-Suppressing Platform grind flesh to dust. The cold is enough to freeze one’s soul solid.
And there—every day, one must wield their blade, fight ceaselessly, spill blood just to remember the warmth of life.”
Old Madam He’s eyes widened in horror as she stared at Chen Yan, her voice trembling with disbelief. “The Hell-Suppressing Platform? You… how could you possibly have been there?!”
Chen Yan remained calm, his face unchanging. “I haven’t yet, but I expect I will soon. A few years of tempering there might just help me reach the Celestial realm sooner.”
Old Madam He shook her head, her voice layered with complex emotions. “You have the guidance of the Venerable One, a background as solid as a mountain. How could you even consider going to that accursed place? People like you, with strong foundations and powerful backers, are usually sent to the Bright Mirror Platform or the Dragon-Head Platform for appearances’ sake. Even if you were determined to temper yourself, places like Sword-Casket Pass or Iron-Chain Pass would be ten, no, a hundred times better than the Hell-Suppressing Platform.”
Chen Yan silently memorized these names: Bright Mirror Platform, Dragon-Head Platform, Sword-Casket Pass, Iron-Chain Pass.
Old Madam He’s fox-like eyes narrowed as she regarded him, suspicion flashing within them. “With your backing, why subject yourself to such hardship? You could live in comfort and ease.”
Then, with a deep sigh, her tone turned wistful. “The Celestial realm… Hah, what is so great about it that everyone clamors toward it with such desperation? A peaceful life in a good place—is that not enough?”
Chen Yan shook his head, adopting a deliberate air of solemnity.
“Who wouldn’t love a good place?” he murmured. “Springtime at Peach Blossom Mountain, where the wind and sun are gentle. The sunsets over Two Dragons Bay, setting the water aflame with color. The summers on the Luo River Plain, where people leap into the Celestial River to escape the heat… who wouldn’t want to stay in such places? But those who accomplish great things have always carved their way through thorns, stepping through trials of blood and fire.”
Old Madam He fell silent, lost in thought. After a long pause, she sighed again. “You are not wrong. If not for certain reasons, who would willingly forsake comfort to walk a path of peril?”
Chen Yan seized the moment to ask, “Then what about you, Old Madam He? You are a Demon Cultivator, yet you hid within the He Family, deeply attached to He Jian Bo and his son, Sun Chen. Why, then, did you fall gravely ill? Why did you fake your death and leave?”
Old Madam He let out a cold laugh. “Do you think I would have left if I had a choice?”
Her gaze shifted northward, toward the distant mountains, her expression darkening.
“Years ago, I fled from the Domain Realm to this world, my heart filled with fear and trepidation. Yet, upon arriving, I discovered that the legends were true—beyond the Boundary Between Worlds, this land was truly peaceful.
I hid within these mountains, thinking I could cultivate in quiet solitude. Every day, I practiced my demonic arts. In my idle moments, I would sit atop the cliffs, watching the sun rise and feeling the wind upon my face.”
Chen Yan, listening to her reminiscence, mused inwardly: [Why do all these Domain Realm refugees have an obsession with watching the wind and the sun?]
Old Madam He continued, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
“One winter, the village below held a grand temple fair. They even hired an opera troupe to perform, drawing in crowds from surrounding towns. The revelry was so lively that its echoes reached me even in the mountains. Curious, I took human form and slipped into the village.
That was the day I met my husband… and so, I stayed with the He Family for decades, living as a mortal.”
Chen Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is this the tale of a fox demon and her mortal husband, much like the White Serpent Legend?”
Yet, his expression turned serious. “But if that was your life, why fake your death and leave?”
Old Madam He’s gaze remained fixed on the northern slopes, her eyes carrying a chilling gleam. Her tone turned grave.
“Because I am not the only one in these mountains.”
Chen Yan’s heart tightened. “What do you mean?”
Old Madam He solemnly replied, “I was not alone when I fled the Domain Realm. There was another—a companion. We joined forces to escape pursuit, and through a great stroke of fortune, we pierced through the Boundary Between Worlds and arrived here.
Upon arrival, we selected these mountains as our refuge. The feng shui was excellent, the terrain naturally defensible, and the ancestral tombs of a great family gathered powerful energies—truly an ideal place for concealment and cultivation.”
Her voice grew colder.
“However, my so-called companion and I never saw eye to eye, even in the Domain Realm. We had only cooperated out of necessity. Once we reached safety, it developed… other ambitions.
We had both suffered severe injuries in our escape. That creature—far more vicious than I—proposed we descend upon the nearby villages, slaughter the humans, and feast upon their blood to restore our strength.
I am not fond of senseless slaughter, so I refused and sought to leave on my own. But then it turned its sights on me.
We were of equal cultivation, and it coveted my demonic essence to heal itself. It attacked, aiming to drain my primordial spirit and steal my vitality.”
She exhaled deeply.
“We fought fiercely. It was stronger than me, but its wounds were more grievous. In the end, I managed to turn the tables.
I severed one of my own tails and burned my innate divine ability, sealing it deep within the heart of the mountain. The moment I withdraw the seal, it will awaken.”
Chen Yan frowned. “If you already sealed it, why didn’t you leave?”
Old Madam He shook her head.
“Because I was gravely injured as well. The escape from the Domain Realm, the battle… I had exhausted my very primordial essence. My cultivation plummeted from the Platform Ascension Stage to the Return to Origin Stage.
This place, with its strong feng shui, was the best location for me to recover. Besides, I could not risk removing the seal and letting that monster loose. And so, I remained.”
I remember thinking at the time—since that creature had already fallen into slumber and would not awaken for a while, there was no need for haste. I chose to remain in this mountain sanctuary, using its natural geomantic blessings to gather vital energy, tending to my wounds until I could fully recover.
Thus, I cultivated in the mountain for three years, nurturing my injured body with the flowing currents of heaven and earth’s essence. As my wounds gradually healed… I encountered my husband.
Old Madam He let out a sigh.
“So you decided not to leave?” Chen Yan asked.
She shook her head. “I could not bear to.”
“You are still young, Daoist friend. You may not have experienced such matters, so you wouldn’t understand.” A gentle smile appeared on her aged face, but there was a deep sorrow in her eyes. “When you meet someone who truly captures your heart, all you wish is to remain by their side.”
She exhaled slowly, as though releasing a memory long past. “At the time, that slumbering thing in the mountains was of no concern. Even if it awakened, I still would not have left. I harbored a trace of luck in my heart, believing that my Fox Tail Divine Art could seal it away for at least a few decades—enough for me to accompany my husband through this mortal lifetime.”
Her voice grew soft, almost whispering to the night breeze. “I was greedy for the warmth of our love and delayed my departure. When he passed away, I knew it was time to leave.”
She paused before continuing, her fingers tracing unseen patterns on the wooden table. “Yet… at that moment, I wished to leave behind a trace of his lineage. And so, I remained, settling in this place, years turning into decades.”
A heavy silence lingered between them before she finally spoke again. “But several months ago, I felt my Fox Tail’s power fading. That creature is nearing its awakening. And now… I can wait no longer.”
Chen Yan furrowed his brows. “You faked your death to escape the He family… but why remain in these mountains instead of leaving entirely?”
Old Madam He chuckled twice. “I am not leaving.”
Chen Yan was still puzzled, but as he met her gaze, realization suddenly dawned upon him.
“You did not feign death to escape danger! You merely wanted to sever ties with the He family!”
His voice grew heavier. “You fear that once that thing breaks free, it will descend from the mountains and slaughter the people here to replenish its demonic essence. You have chosen to remain—to face it in a battle to the death!”
A somber sigh left the old fox’s lips. “After all, I have spent decades in this land. How could I feel nothing for it?”
She closed her eyes for a moment, as though revisiting a lifetime of memories. “If it were to harm strangers, perhaps I could harden my heart and ignore it. But the He family… they treated me with great kindness. Many of the elders were my lifelong acquaintances. How many of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have I held in my arms as infants?”
Her voice turned sharp, her gaze like steel. “More than that… how could I allow that creature to harm my son?”
A chilling resolve filled her tone. “I shall stake my entire cultivation, my very life, and drag it down with me! I cannot let it descend the mountain to annihilate my son’s bloodline!”
Even demons have hearts.
Chen Yan found himself moved. This old fox truly held unwavering affection for her son and the He family.
And yet…
Wait.
Something was off.
Why hadn’t she sought the aid of his grandmother?
If one were to count back the years, Boss He and Sun Chen’s marriage had been arranged more than twenty years ago. At that time, this old fox was already acquainted with his grandmother. Why hadn’t she asked for her help?
His thoughts churned, but he dared not inquire too deeply. Instead, he asked vaguely, “Did you ever speak of this matter with my grandmother?”
A bitter smile crossed Old Madam He’s face. “Of course I did. The Venerable One advised me to leave as soon as possible. She also told me that if an outsider from the Realm Beyond dared to act recklessly in this world, a Realm Overseer would eventually come to suppress them.”
Realm Overseer?
A new piece of information.
Chen Yan engraved the term deeply into his memory.
But why wait for this Realm Overseer to take action? If his grandmother had intervened personally, with her cultivation at the level of a Venerable, dealing with a being of the same rank as Old Madam He—a mere Origin Stage entity—would have been as simple as flicking her fingers.
As he studied the old fox’s serene expression, he realized that she, too, found it perfectly natural that his grandmother had not acted herself.
Could it be that some unspoken rule prevented Venerables from interfering? Something that every cultivator from the Realm Beyond would naturally understand?
Best not to ask too much.
Asking too many questions might expose the fact that he, despite his supposed origins, was still ignorant of the laws governing the Realm Beyond.
Old Madam He turned to him, eyes steady and filled with an unspoken plea.
“Daoist friend… since fate has led you to the He family, I dare to make a bold request.”
Chen Yan sighed, already understanding her intent. “You wish for me to watch over your son in the future?”
The old fox bowed, hands clasped. “This old woman’s only wish. My son may hold wealth and influence, but that is merely within the realm of mortals. While I lived, I could support him in the shadows. But once I am gone…”
She hesitated, then continued, “I dare not trouble you too much. But if, in the future, you could lend him a hand once or twice, even just a little… I would be endlessly grateful.”
Chen Yan nodded. “I can promise you this—if He Jian Bo ever finds himself in grave danger, he may seek my aid once. As long as it does not go against my principles, I shall help him to the best of my ability.”
A simple enough agreement.
After all, Boss He was a man of wealth and power. When he sought help, he would surely not be stingy with his gratitude.
Consider it an investment in a future benefactor.
Chen Yan stood firm, his gaze steady as the old fox spoke. “I know why you’ve come, Dao Friend. My son invited you to investigate my missing corpse. Tonight, I shall visit him in a dream and ease his heart.”
As she spoke, the old fox cast a glance toward the distant thicket. “Is your companion not hiding there, recording this entire exchange? Once I have sent my son a dream, show him just a fragment of tonight’s footage—the part where I return to my true form. That should be enough to convince him.”
With those words, the fox’s body wavered, and the sharp features of her vulpine face melted away, reshaping into the gentle countenance of an elderly woman—the very same face immortalized in the ancestral portrait hanging in the He Family Mansion.
Chen Yan’s heart clenched. “You knew my companion was there?”
Old Madam He smiled knowingly. “Your concealment technique is without flaw. However, I am of the fox clan. A mere spell is unnecessary; I need not rely on Qi observation. Even separated by dozens of meters, I can scent the presence of humans.”
[Of course. A fox is still a creature of the canine family—its nose is sharp.] Chen Yan smirked inwardly, silently acknowledging his own inexperience.
He gave a decisive nod. “Very well, we have a deal.”
In exchange for his assistance to He Jian Bo, the old lady would visit her son in his dreams. Tomorrow, Chen Yan would extract the footage of her transformation and present it to Boss He.
The case would be closed.
Payment secured—just in time for the New Year.
And yet, Chen Yan could not help but wonder: once He Jian Bo learned that his mother had not perished, his grief would surely subside. But when he also discovered that she was not truly human, but a fox spirit… that would be an emotional tempest unlike any other.
[This New Year might not be a peaceful one for him.]
With the agreement made, Old Madam He nodded and took deliberate steps forward, turning her face toward the thicket where Chu Ke Qing lay in wait. A serene smile graced her lips, ensuring the hidden recorder captured the moment with utmost clarity.
Though her gaze remained distant, she spoke in a hushed tone to Chen Yan. “Dao Friend, your Qi and blood surge in excess. Take heed, or it may bring imbalance. Sooner rather than later, you must temper your energies.”
Chen Yan’s face stiffened. [Old fox, must you strike where it hurts?]
She turned back to him, her expression solemn. “You have worked tirelessly. It would be improper for your efforts to go unrewarded. Decades ago, while recovering in the mountains, I unearthed an ancient tomb and acquired some gold and silver burial relics. Though mere mundane trinkets, they may prove useful in your worldly dealings. I shall have them delivered to you when you depart.”
Chen Yan brightened. [Now, this fox knows etiquette!]
He was relieved, though he kept his tone measured. “Those trinkets are appreciated. However, there is one more thing I wish to ask.”
The old fox regarded him with interest. “Oh?”
“I seek knowledge of a certain person. A matter of mere curiosity, but few in the Domain Realm seem to know the truth, and the elders deliberately shroud it in silence.”
The old fox chuckled, her demeanor light. “If it is rumors and secrets you wish to hear, then speak freely. If this old woman knows, you shall have your answer.”
Chen Yan inhaled deeply, lowering his voice. “Have you heard the name Chen Jue?”
Snap!
The moment the name left his lips, the old fox’s head jerked upward. Her body recoiled a step, her foot snapping a brittle twig beneath her weight.
Her gaze locked onto Chen Yan, ablaze with emotion—shock, apprehension… and fear.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation