This sensation seemed familiar. Yesterday, she thought she had felt the same thing on Xie Mucheng’s body.
A very bold guess suddenly flashed through Qin Buan’s mind.
Could it be that… Xie Mucheng was also a fox?!
Seeing her holding the fox and staring blankly, Qin Dinglan’s eyes darkened slightly. He said gently, “Xuxu, you have only just regained consciousness, so you still need plenty of rest. I have sealed the demonic aura on its body with my magic. Since you like it, just keep it as an ordinary pet.”
Hearing this, a smile spread across Qin Buan’s slightly pale little face. She happily asked the Second Elder, “Dad agreed too?”
A helpless look flashed through the Second Elder’s eyes. “When it comes to you, is there anything your father has ever disagreed with?”
Qin Dinglan became serious. “But Xuxu, this is no ordinary Nine Tailed Fox.
It may have a powerful demon backing it. If it transforms into human form one day, it will inevitably leave you.”
Qin Dinglan put it very tactfully, but Qin Buan could understand what he meant. He was reminding her that if the Nine Tailed Fox transformed and left after some time, she must not make a scene or refuse to let it go.
That was indeed very much in keeping with the original Qin Buan’s personality. Once she wanted something, she absolutely had to make it hers.
Qin Buan smiled. “I understand, Brother.”
Qin Dinglan smiled faintly. “Since that is settled, Father, let us leave first and let Sister rest properly.”
The Second Elder nodded. He lightly winked at Qin Buan and said in a relaxed tone, “Rest well. Tomorrow, Father will bring you your favorite peach pastry.”
“Okay.”
Xie Mucheng woke at the hour of Chou.
A faint fragrance filled the room. It was elegant and slightly sweet without being cloying, and after breathing it for a long time, one could not help feeling somewhat dazed.
He moved his stiff body slightly and realized that a hand was resting on his tail. The arm was fair and slender, with a red cord tied around the wrist. A tiny bell hung from the cord, but the bell did not make a sound. Instead, it was some kind of talisman.
A talisman used to restrain demons.
The girl’s soft breathing brushed against his chest, warm and gentle, bringing an unbearable itch. She was sleeping deeply, her willow brows slightly furrowed. Her palm sized face had a straight little nose and moist red lips that were unconsciously half open, occasionally letting out a soft whimper. Because she was curled up with her back slightly arched, the fair skin of her neck was exposed above her inner garment. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, scattered casually across the pillow.
Her black hair intertwined with his snow white fur, like ink splashed across white paper, forming a beautiful painting.
Just as Xie Mucheng was about to move, he suddenly realized that he was currently in the form of a Nine Tailed Fox. All the spiritual power in his body had been exhausted yesterday, so recovering his true form now was practically impossible.
Recalling the last thing Qin Buan had said yesterday, killing intent gathered once again in Xie Mucheng’s eyes. His golden pupils narrowed into slits, and his sharp fangs were partially exposed.
At this moment, all he had to do was move forward slightly, and he could easily bite through Qin Buan’s neck and make her die without making a sound.
Xie Mucheng looked at the hand resting on his tail with disgust. He restrained the urge to cut off that hand, then slowly leaned forward. His sharp fang touched her delicate skin and left a bloody mark.
Just as his fang was about to pierce her skin, the person in her sleep suddenly turned over.
She rolled across the bed while still holding him.
Qin Buan was sleeping soundly. Both her hands unconsciously rested on his tail, her five fingers slightly spread as they sank into his soft, slender fur.
Xie Mucheng froze for a moment and struggled to escape from her embrace. Contrary to what he expected, Qin Buan showed no intention of letting go. Instead, she held him even tighter.
Qin Buan buried her face against his chest and soothingly stroked his head.
“Anan, be quiet.”
Anan was the name of the blue cat she had raised.
He finally became quiet.
Satisfied, Qin Buan smoothed his fur and whispered, “Be good and go to sleep. Tomorrow I will open your favorite canned food for you.”
At this moment, Xie Mucheng had no mind to care about the fact that she had lumped him together with some completely unrelated creature.
Or perhaps he simply wanted to think about it more. The thoughts he had painstakingly pieced together gradually dissolved beneath her gentle movements.
She seemed to know exactly where to touch him to make him happy.
This was something Xie Mucheng had never experienced before. It was a strangely pleasant sensation that made his entire body feel comfortable and clear.
The darkness in Xie Mucheng’s eyes grew deeper. Looking at Qin Buan, whose movements were completely natural, he made a guess.
It should be some kind of Gu technique. Whenever she moved, it could easily control him and silently destroy him.
After the Blood Moon, his body had not yet recovered. Now he was trapped in the form of a fox and had even been controlled by her Gu technique.
Xie Mucheng wanted to kill Qin Buan more and more, but the moment his claws emerged, another gentle stroke from her made them tremble and retract.
The softness against his chest was pressed tightly against him. Behind him, the hand was still touching his fluffy tail intentionally or unintentionally.
His nine tails, meanwhile, were delighted as they moved closer, competing to brush against the back of her hand and desperately squeezing toward her palm.
Xie Mucheng felt deeply humiliated, but his spiritual power had not yet recovered. This was not the best time to take her life. Once he recovered completely, he would certainly make her regret everything she had done today.
The next day.
Qin Buan had never expected the cold winter of December to be so stiflingly hot. She felt so stuffy that she could barely breathe.
With her eyes closed, she reached up and touched the fluffy thing covering her face. Qin Buan instinctively pushed it aside, but instead of moving away, the fluffy thing came closer and wrapped tightly around her wrist, rubbing against it as though trying to please her.
The movement was gentle yet clingy, like a silent seduction.
And Qin Buan was not exactly a person with strong self control. A little unconscious temptation from him was enough to make her fall for it. She followed his tail, stroking it again and again, treating him like a perfectly sized pillow and holding him tightly in her arms.
Suddenly, an alarm rang sharply in her mind.
【Warning. The male protagonist is in grave danger. Host, please take action as soon as possible.】
After what had happened several times before, Qin Buan was much calmer this time. She crawled out of the little fox’s embrace and casually pulled a thin blanket over him.
As she moved, the system had already briefly explained what had happened to the male protagonist.
According to the sect rules, anyone who entered the Demon Realm without permission would be expelled from the sect.
By coincidence, Ye Que had violated this rule.
At present, several elders of the sect were discussing whether Ye Que should be expelled.
Qin Buan asked in confusion, “He is only being expelled from the sect. It is not as if his life is in danger.”
The system replied, 【Host, the prerequisite for expulsion is the destruction of one’s cultivation and the removal of one’s spiritual root. Most cultivators cannot survive such treatment.】
Only then did Qin Buan understand how serious the situation was. She hurriedly climbed out of bed, quickly tidied herself up, and prepared to leave.
Xie Mucheng woke up at that moment as well. He watched Qin Buan’s departing figure, leaped neatly off the bed, and followed her out.
Several elders sat high above the hall while the disciples surrounded them on both sides. Some could not bear to see what was happening, some were secretly relieved, and others were taking pleasure in his misfortune. Without exception, all eyes were fixed on the young man in white kneeling at the very center.
Shen Yihuan knelt beside him, tears filling her eyes as she quietly pleaded on his behalf.
Everyone knew that Ye Que was a sword cultivator genius rarely seen in the sect even once in a century. There were plenty of people within the sect who were jealous of him, and now they all wanted to watch him suffer.
The Second Elder glared angrily and said, “The sect has a rule forbidding anyone from setting foot in the Demon Realm. Otherwise, they will be expelled from the sect and will no longer be disciples of Xuantian Sect. Do you not know this?”
Ye Que lowered his head. “This disciple understands, but…”
“Senior Brother Ye, what are you doing?”
Qin Buan suddenly appeared and interrupted him.
When the disciples watching the scene saw her arrive, they hurriedly moved aside and opened a path, afraid of getting involved with this troublemaker.
Qin Buan ignored them completely. She lifted her chin and sneered at Ye Que, who was kneeling on the ground.
“Senior Brother Ye wants to take all the blame upon himself and play the good person, so that everyone in the sect will think I am shameless?”
Ye Que’s dark eyes were half lowered. He happened to exchange a glance with Shen Yihuan, then the two silently looked away.
The Second Elder frowned. “Xuxu, stop fooling around!”
Qin Buan acted coquettishly. “Dad, I am not fooling around. They knew perfectly well that I was the reason they were accidentally captured by the demonic cultivators. Now that we are being questioned, they refuse to say anything. Does that not mean they think I am a coward who is afraid of death and too ashamed to admit when I have done something wrong?”
What a clever way to shift the blame.
Hidden behind the door, Xie Mucheng stared intently at Qin Buan with his sharp beast eyes.
“Your daughter is absolutely not that kind of person. Besides, although this matter began because of me, it was also because their cultivation was insufficient and they were no match for the Demon Lord that they ended up in this situation.”
“Xuxu!”
Qin Dinglan reprimanded her and furrowed his sword shaped brows.
“Come here.”
Qin Buan shook her head as if she had no intention of admitting her mistake. She continued to mock them from the side.
“If several senior uncles punish Ye Que because of this matter, would that not prove that I am a coward who is afraid of death?”
Qin Buan was not exactly lying. After all, it really was the original Qin Buan who had deceived the male and female protagonists into entering the Demon Realm, and she had nearly caused their deaths.
This was the best solution she could think of in such a short time. No matter what, Qin Buan was the Second Elder’s daughter, so the several elders would certainly take his position into consideration and deal with her more leniently.
Qin Dinglan stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, “Elders, Xuxu has only just awakened after being injured, and her mind is still not completely clear. Everything she has said…”
“Enough!”
The Grand Elder seated in the center had a cold expression, unable to conceal his anger.
“Que’er, Yihuan, is what Xuxu said true?”
Ye Que nodded slightly. “It was Junior Sister who was captured by the demonic cultivators and accidentally entered the Demon Realm. The two of us entered the Demon Realm because we wanted to rescue her.”
Shen Yihuan also said, “However, Junior Sister Qin did not do it intentionally. I hope the elders will deal with her leniently.”
Qin Buan was extremely relieved that the male and female protagonists had not exposed her in front of everyone. If they had been determined to reveal how she had deceived them, then even with the Second Elder protecting her, Qin Buan was afraid that she would lose her life.
“I never asked you two to save me.”
Qin Buan looked disdainful.
“You were simply interfering in matters that had nothing to do with you.”
She acted very convincingly, and no one suspected that the Qin Buan standing before them was no longer the original Qin Buan.
Except for Xie Mucheng, who was hiding nearby with his figure concealed.
Xie Mucheng watched all of this happen as though it had nothing to do with him. He recalled the look in Qin Buan’s eyes when she had brought Ye Que and Shen Yihuan into the Demon Realm that day, when she had said she wanted to borrow someone else’s strength to kill them. The look in her eyes now was completely different.
In fact, she had already been different from that moment when she first said she wanted to surrender.
Then what exactly had caused all of this?