0087 ———————————————-
In the “Record of the Mysterious Center,” it states, “A fox can transform into a woman after living for over 50 years, and upon reaching 100 years, it can change into a beauty or a wondrous shaman. It may also transform into a man and engage in relationships with women. A fox is capable of knowing events occurring a thousand miles away, commanding poisonous creatures and spirits, and seducing people. Upon reaching a thousand years, it transcends to become a Heavenly Fox.”
The fox is classified as a creature of the Yin and is primarily active at night. Even ordinary foxes, which have not nurtured their skills, are considered special animals with intelligence comparable to that of humans. Additionally, there is a legend in “The Investiture of the Gods” that speaks of a notorious femme fatale, who was said to have been a fox, able to draw in the essence of the sun and the moon and manipulate people using the spiritual energies of heaven and earth. Thus, it is also referred to as an evil beast. Moreover, in popular belief, fox spirits are revered as one of the five deities of wealth.
However, what truly astonished me was not this trivial information. According to the Taoist texts I learned from Master Mangnyang, a fox with nine tails could only be a Nine-Tailed Fox, which is none other than the Heavenly Fox.
The Heavenly Fox is a fox that has lived for a thousand years. This spiritual creature, adorned with golden fur and possessing nine tails, represents the highest status achievable by a fox. It is said to serve in the Solar Palace and Lunar Palace of the heavenly realm, and thus poses no threat to humans. However, if it were to do so, it would possess at least the strength of a lower deity, prompting great calamity. Moreover, among these, the Fox Ancestor was the first fox to achieve enlightenment and ascend, holding powers equivalent to those of a high deity.
If the being before me were indeed a Heavenly Nine-Tailed Fox—then with my current strength, it would be an absolutely insurmountable divine being that I could never hope to defeat!
As I swallowed hard, the Nine-Tailed Fox turned its serene gaze toward me and spoke.
[Unfortunately, I am a Nine-Tailed Fox, but not a Heavenly Fox. My fur is silver, not gold.]
“What? Could such a thing even be possible?”
[I did not ascend to the heavenly realm. I am still in the midst of my cultivation.]
Sssssss
Despite these words, the eerie power radiating from the Nine-Tailed Fox grew ever stronger, ultimately causing my body to tremble with cold. This phenomenon arose from the overwhelming supernatural energy emanating from the fox, far surpassing any creature I had previously encountered.
Even my cultivation could hardly contain the presence of the Nine-Tailed Fox. It truly was a being worthy of the title Great Demon.
The Nine-Tailed Fox seemed to chuckle.
[Ahaha, curious human! Why have you come here? What is your reason for hunting me?]
I instinctively knew I had to answer this question well. While mentally cursing Ji-yool, I maintained a calm facade and responded.
“I have come to seek the Sea Seal in Goryeo. Ji-yool said he could provide what I desired, so I agreed to help him.”
My choice was to be ‘honest.’ In this situation, discussing some high-minded notion of ‘justice’ while trying to protect the Twelve Righteous would serve no purpose. I was in a one-on-one meeting with the Nine-Tailed Fox, where my life hung in the balance—so why would I speak of such pretense? I thought it better to speak candidly.
The Nine-Tailed Fox stiffened slightly.
[The Sea Seal, you say? Where did you hear that?]
“Master Mangnyang spoke of a Sea Seal existing in the east; I came in belief of that tale.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox’s demeanor shifted from playful to serious, transforming from mere amusement to one of slight wariness and intrigue as it looked at me. It sprawled lazily on the nearby ground and said,
[What is your relationship to Master Mangnyang? He seems to hold a significant aversion toward humans, making it hard to believe he has a human acquaintance.]
“My colleague is a direct disciple of Master Mangnyang.”
[Ahaha, I see~]
There was a hint of amusement on the fox’s face. I was trying my best to respond sincerely, but the strange atmosphere made me uneasy. The fox in front of me was clearly a target to be hunted; why were we engaging in this exchange? A moment later, the Nine-Tailed Fox spoke again.
[If I were to say that I know the whereabouts of the Sea Seal, would you become my subordinate?]
“Really?”
[Hohoho… answer me first. Will you become my subordinate?]
I pondered the implications of answering ‘yes.’ What would I do if the Nine-Tailed Fox commanded me to fight against the Twelve Righteous? That would indeed be a troublesome situation, and I hesitated to reply to her question.
However, after a brief moment of sorting my thoughts, I responded.
“If your information is true, then I would do so.”
A strange glimmer appeared in the fox’s eyes.
[Indeed… you are quite a unique human. Your way of thinking is completely different from other humans. You resemble our ghostly fox spirits.]
Swoosh!
In the next moment, the Nine-Tailed Fox transformed back into a breathtaking beauty with ample curves. However, her lack of clothing accentuated her voluptuous figure in a tantalizing way. Furthermore, the undeniable allure radiating from her flushed my face. Her skin was flawlessly white, and her delicate features were striking.
Seated naked on a chair, the Nine-Tailed Fox said,
“I’m pleased. I feel I won’t get bored with you around.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly that. I will assist you in finding the Sea Seal, but until then, I wish to accompany you.”
“……?”
My expression distorted in disbelief. What kind of nonsense was this? In surprise, I raised my sword defensively and said,
“Aren’t Ji-yool and the combat squad going to arrive soon? What do you intend to do about that? If you wish to say such things, then abandon your plan to absorb the Evil Spirit!”
“Oho… don’t you wish to hear about the Sea Seal?”
“I said only if your information is true. You want me to betray the combat squad without any proof?”
[Hohohoho!!]
The Nine-Tailed Fox burst into a melodious laugh as she stepped closer.
As the naked beauty approached me, suddenly, my heart raced. My lower body grew warm and stiff, and my heart pounded fiercely, filled with all sorts of lewd thoughts. I felt an overwhelming urge to pounce on the woman in front of me. Having never been with a woman properly before, the temptation was all the more potent.
‘Damn it… focus! This is an enchantment technique!’
If I fell for this, it would be the end!
I gritted my teeth and invoked my cultivation technique to hold my ground. Thanks to the Taoist techniques of my sect, which possess the effect of revealing the truth, it was easier to resist such illusions than the martial arts of the Demon Lineage. My stiffness remained, but I managed to maintain my reason. The Nine-Tailed Fox turned provocatively, wiggling her peach-like bottom, and said,
“Ji-yool must have taken the combat squad back to the second floor. Why do you think that is?”
“……”
“That man likely grew suspicious upon witnessing the overwhelming power of my front and back demons. Even the greatest Yin-Yang Sorcerer from Dongyeong wouldn’t possess such might. And he must have sensed that I am both a Great Demon and a supernatural being.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox returned to her seat and poured herself a drink. The sight of her ample bosom swaying drew my attention involuntarily. As I stared blankly, she took a sip and continued,
“By now, you must have gauged my supernatural powers and recognized my identity. And now you are traversing the Path of Life and Death.”
I was taken aback by her words and exclaimed,
“That can’t be true!”
If that were the case, it would mean that Ji-yool intended to leave me behind while the combat squad managed to escape! If that were true, I’d have been thoroughly blind-sided. The Nine-Tailed Fox laughed softly,
“Why, isn’t that a cool and rational judgment? After all, with your current capabilities, defeating me is impossible. By sending you to me, they would buy time and escape while gathering the Twelve Righteous. In that case, I too would be at risk and would flee from this ruin.”
“……”
“Well, how about seeing it for yourself?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox subtly directed her wine cup towards the railing. It was as if she was encouraging me to go and look down. While remaining alert for any sudden move from her, I cautiously approached the railing. Activating my inner power, indeed, in the distance, I could see the Path of Life and Death and nearby, members of the Twelve Righteous were sparking as they attempted to breach it.
As I stood there, momentarily at a loss for words, the Nine-Tailed Fox chuckled from her seat.
“Of course. My power is ten times stronger than my front and back demons. Ji-yool has realized this.”
“……”
“If you want to run away even now, I will let you go. You may do as you wish.”
“Hmm…”
I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of betrayal regarding Ji-yool.
‘If that’s the case, then why didn’t he listen to me when I suggested fleeing earlier?’
However, I could somewhat guess the reason in my mind. At that moment, following my words would have compromised the pride of the combat squad and shattered their morale. But after encountering the front and back demons and experiencing their power, his perspective likely changed. It was as if they had sacrificed me as a diversion to buy time for their escape.
I decided to temporarily bury my feelings of betrayal and turned to the Nine-Tailed Fox, saying,
“I don’t understand. You don’t seem particularly interested in wiping us out. What is it that you desire?”
“Ahaha… have you discerned my true intentions?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox burst into laughter before continuing,
“That’s right. I came here for diversion. I heard that a powerful Evil Spirit lurks in Dongyeong, so I wanted to see if I could lend my strength. However, I am quite comfortable living as a queen in the Dongyeong Palace, so there’s no pressing need for me to take it.”
“Do Evil Spirits really exist?”
“They are located beneath this building. However, their power is so immense that even I have hesitated to engage with them. A powerful Evil Spirit burdened with the grievances of a fallen kingdom—a thing like that is more trouble than it’s worth.”
“More trouble than it’s worth…”
“I’ve made attempts using techniques from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, but I’m still hesitant.”
Given her words, it seemed there was truth to her claims. In this situation, there was nothing that could hinder her. Even the combat squad was in a state of disarray, terrified and fleeing, providing no reason for her to fabricate lies.
Swoosh!
The Nine-Tailed Fox, sitting cross-legged in her naked form, intertwined her legs. Each of her movements was an alluring gesture designed to entice. Unable to tear my gaze away from her voluptuous thighs, the Nine-Tailed Fox said,
“Right now, I find you more interesting than that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly that. I will teach you about the Sea Seal. In return, you must accompany me.”
“That’s the problem, though. How can I trust that you know about the Sea Seal?”
The reason I pressed her was that I had a rough idea of what the Nine-Tailed Fox was. Although she had ample power to subdue me, she chose to engage in conversation, playing with my mind. I could tell she preferred to rely on strategy and manipulation rather than brute strength. Given this approach, the likelihood of a sudden attack during our conversation seemed low.
[Hohoho… do you know about the Phoenix that appeared in Dongyeong two years ago?]
“I’ve heard of it.”
“That was a spell cast by the king of the Dan clan, emerging to dispel the power of the Evil God that appeared in Goryeo. Due to the overwhelming influence of the Sea God, humanity was on the brink of corruption, prompting our greatest spellcasters to strengthen the barrier over all of Goryeo.”
This information was sudden and unexpected. While I struggled to understand much of it due to a lack of context, I managed to grasp a portion and asked,
“What do you mean by Sea God?”
“A massive Evil God that even the divine beings and giants of the celestial realm cannot easily confront has established its domain in the Yellow Sea. Those who follow it are of the Sea God’s lineage, and they recently attempted to rise to the surface after negotiating with the local powers of Dongyeong. The guardian clan of the peninsula could not allow that to happen, thus cast the spell for the barrier.”
“Hmm…”
A thought sprang to mind. Before coming to Goryeo, I had encountered the Blood Pirate Clan, whose leaders resembled fish-like humans, clearly non-human. Moreover, the representative of the Western Palace had mentioned that they were associated with the Sea God’s lineage. Does that mean there exists an Evil God that the Sea God’s lineage worships?
“Oh… you seem to know about the Evil God.”
“That’s not important. Get to the point.”
“The Sea Seal you speak of is an incredibly powerful treasure. It plays a crucial role as a wedge in the barrier that protects this land of Goryeo. If you search for it normally, you could spend your entire life without finding it.”
“Can’t it be found at the Sea Seal Temple?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox reacted as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
“You think you can find the Sea Seal at the Sea Seal Temple? That simple idea makes me truly envious. The temple is merely a place the Sea Seal passed through; it holds not the slightest connection to its current location.”
“Then… what basis do I have to trust your words? You might just be saying this to toy with me.”
“How sad for me. To think I am not trusted this much.”
She pretended to wipe away tears, bringing her hand to her eyes, then flashed a smile.
“Do you truly not believe me?”
“……”
“If you allow me to accompany you, I promise to provide you with the best assistance. I won’t corrupt you, and I can overlook the Twelve Righteous outside just this once. I wish to enjoy a pleasant journey with you.”
Her tone was earnest.
I genuinely could not trust the Nine-Tailed Fox. My reckless actions in the past had led to numerous deaths. This life, I had resolved to live longer, and after being betrayed by Ji-yool just moments ago, my caution had only intensified.
Yet, in this situation, what choice did I have but to trust her?
‘Fighting the Nine-Tailed Fox is out of the question.’
Ji-yool had been terrified merely at the sight of her prowess, fleeing and leaving me behind. She was likely among the most formidable Great Demons in the entirety of the Central Plains, Goryeo, and Dongyeong. If the Nine-Tailed Fox set her mind to it, she could wipe out both me and the Twelve Righteous without breaking a sweat. I resolved to maintain a rational mindset, letting out a deep sigh before saying,
“… Alright, I understand.”
“Hohoho. Good thinking.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox, seemingly delighted, jumped up and grabbed my hand, her sincerity pouring forth.
“Had you not spoken such nonsense, I would have just taken everything for myself.”
“……”
I felt as if I had narrowly escaped the brink of life and death. Suddenly, the Nine-Tailed Fox performed a somersault and transformed.
Boom!
In an instant, the Nine-Tailed Fox changed from a voluptuous adult woman to a girl of my age. It was remarkable how easily she could switch appearances, showcasing her shape-shifting skills. As I stared blankly at the girl dressed in Goryeo attire, the Nine-Tailed Fox smiled brightly.
“I’ll use the name Mi-ho (美狐) from now on. I look forward to working well together.”
At that moment, an absurd companion had joined me on my quest to find the Sea Seal.
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
I am revising Chapter 87 due to strong objections. I will strive to present better content moving forward.
I would appreciate comments and suggestions!
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