A sufficiently powerful adult could manipulate the senses of its enemies, confusing sight, sound, direction, and even spiritual perception.
Some cultivators could wander inside one of their illusions for days without realizing they hadn’t moved a single step.
And yet…
Yuchi Mengxing lowered her head.
This dangerous illusion-type demonic beast was currently lying beside her.
Sleeping.
Very peacefully.
She pointed at herself.
Then at the fox.
“Wait.” “You came over here by yourself?” The fox didn’t respond.
“Do you know I’m human?” Still nothing.
“Do you know humans might capture you?” The fox’s ear twitched again.
Yuchi Mengxing narrowed her eyes.
“You’re awake, aren’t you?” This time— the Scarlet Wild Illusion Fox slowly opened one eye.
One golden-red eye stared directly at her.
Then the fox lifted its head.
Yuchi Mengxing waited.
The fox looked at her.
She looked back.
A strange silence fell between them.
Then— the fox rolled its eyes.
Very clearly.
Very deliberately.
At her.
“…” Yuchi Mengxing froze.
The fox flicked its enormous tail twice.
Swish.
Swish.
A handful of flower petals went flying.
Then, as if Yuchi Mengxing was the annoying one here, it lowered its head again, curled its tail around itself, and peacefully closed its eyes.
Its attitude couldn’t have been clearer.
What’s all the fuss about?
I’m sleeping.
Stop bothering me.
Yuchi Mengxing stared at it in disbelief.
She had lived two lives.
She had seen ghosts.
She had beaten evil spirits.
She had argued with the heavens.
She had even watched supernatural creatures flee at the mere sight of her.
But this— this was the first time a demonic beast had ever rolled its eyes at her!
“What kind of attitude is that?” The fox ignored her.
“Hey.” Nothing.
“I’m talking to you.” Its tail moved.
Yuchi Mengxing immediately leaned back as the fluffy tail swept across the flowers in front of her.
“Did you just deliberately ignore me?” No response.
She stared at the fox.
The fox continued sleeping.
After several seconds, Yuchi Mengxing suddenly laughed.
“Fine.” She lay back down.
“Sleep, then.” Who was she to argue with a fox?
More importantly, if it wasn’t attacking her, she wasn’t going to start a fight for no reason.
She had come to find a divine beast, not to bully every fluffy creature she encountered.
Besides…
Yuchi Mengxing secretly glanced sideways.
It was actually pretty cute.
Especially that tail.
It looked extremely soft.
Her fingers twitched.
She really wanted to touch it.
Just once.
Maybe twice.
Yuchi Mengxing slowly extended one hand.
Her fingertips were only a few inches away from the fluffy tail when— the fox’s eyes opened.
Yuchi Mengxing’s hand froze.
The fox stared at her hand.
Then at her face.
“…” “…” Yuchi Mengxing calmly withdrew her hand and placed it behind her head.
“I was stretching.” The fox gave her another look.
Clearly, it didn’t believe a word.
But fortunately, it didn’t expose her.
It simply closed its eyes again.
Yuchi Mengxing cleared her throat.
How embarrassing.
She had nearly been caught molesting someone’s tail.
Forget it.
She should sleep.
And so, beneath the endless blue sky, one human and one fox lay side by side in the sea of flowers.
Neither bothered the other.
The wind continued blowing gently.
Petals occasionally landed on Yuchi Mengxing’s hair and clothes.
Some landed on the fox’s enormous tail.
Time passed quietly.
For once, the inner region seemed completely peaceful.
Yuchi Mengxing’s breathing gradually slowed.
She was genuinely beginning to fall asleep.
But the peace lasted for less than half an incense stick.
Suddenly— Crash!
A loud noise came from somewhere beyond the flower field.
Yuchi Mengxing’s eyes flew open.
The fox’s ears also perked up.
Then came hurried footsteps.
Rustle!
Rustle!
Rustle!
Branches snapped in the distance.
Someone was running.
No— several people were running.
“Quick!” “Don’t stop!” “It’s still behind us!” Voices.
Yuchi Mengxing immediately sat upright.
All traces of sleepiness vanished.
Her eyes rapidly scanned the surroundings.
Something was wrong.
The footsteps were approaching quickly.
Very quickly.
Judging by the noise, whoever was coming wasn’t simply passing through.
They were fleeing from something.
Yuchi Mengxing instinctively reached for her shoulder bag.
Her fingers brushed against the talismans inside.
She glanced around.
Hide?
That was her first thought.
After all, she had only just entered the inner region.
She had no idea what kind of trouble was heading her way.
There was absolutely no reason to get involved in someone else’s disaster.
Unfortunately— the flower field was wide and open.
Aside from the flowers themselves, there was almost nowhere to hide.
She looked toward the nearest trees.
Too far.
The footsteps were already upon her.
“Seriously?” Yuchi Mengxing muttered through gritted teeth.
“I just wanted to take a nap!” Beside her, the Scarlet Wild Illusion Fox lazily lifted its head.
Unlike Yuchi Mengxing, it didn’t seem nervous at all.
If anything, it looked mildly annoyed that someone had disturbed its sleep.
Then— Crash!
Three figures burst through the edge of the forest and stumbled into the flower field.
Yuchi Mengxing immediately narrowed her eyes.
They were three young men.
All three looked to be teenagers, though the oldest couldn’t have been much more than seventeen or eighteen.
Their clothes were expensive.
Or at least— they had probably been expensive before being torn, dirtied, and stained during whatever had happened to them.
One boy’s sleeve had been ripped almost completely off.
Another had a long tear across the front of his robe.
The third had leaves tangled in his hair and dirt smeared across his cheek.
All three were breathing heavily.
Clearly— they had been running for their lives.
The moment they entered the flower field, they spotted Yuchi Mengxing.
The three boys stopped.
Yuchi Mengxing stared at them.
They stared back.
Their gazes slowly moved over her small figure.
A twelve-year-old girl.
Lying in the middle of the inner region.
Surrounded by flowers.
With a Scarlet Wild Illusion Fox resting calmly beside her.
For several heartbeats— nobody spoke.
Finally, one of the boys pointed at her.
His expression was almost comical.
“You…” Yuchi Mengxing raised an eyebrow.
The boy swallowed.
“Why is there a little girl here?” Yuchi Mengxing’s expression immediately darkened.
Little girl?
She sat up straighter.
Before she could answer— ROAR—!
A deafening beast roar exploded from the forest behind the three boys.
The ground trembled.
Countless flower petals shot into the air.
The three teenagers went pale.
Yuchi Mengxing slowly turned toward the forest.
Beside her— the Scarlet Wild Illusion Fox finally stood up.
Its enormous fluffy tail rose behind it.
And for the first time since appearing— its lazy golden-red eyes sharpened.
Yuchi Mengxing stared at the dark forest ahead.
Then she looked at the three miserable teenagers.
Then back at the forest.
Her eyelid twitched.
She had a very bad feeling about this.
Very.
Very bad.
She slowly clenched her fists.
“I knew it.” Her voice was full of resentment.
“I should’ve stayed home and kept sweeping.”