Chapter Fifty: A Shaky Heart on the Path (Extra Update)

Tengu?

At those words, Lin Ze recalled the two-headed crimson hound that had once trod upon black clouds. He had only intended to unleash his most powerful killing blow, hoping to delay the enemy for a moment, never expecting to gain anything more. Judging by the demon core he had swallowed, the white fox now possessed the cultivation of a perfected Foundation Establishment, yet it was once a formidable Golden Core demon. Who knew what hidden tricks it might harbor?

Still, if the white fox’s strength was comparable to Zhao Jing’s, and his own role was only to hold it off for a short while, things should not go awry. As for intervening personally in the duel, unless Qin Hongxiu failed to arrive, he would rather leave that to his junior aunt.

In the forest, the fox’s body was taut, its gaze fixed upon the horizon, never once considering the woods around it. The Tengu was so arrogant that even in the face of the Inner Sect elders of Mount East Peak, it would not bow its head—why would it hide now? Thus, it was only a Golden Core demon; the Tengu, however, ranked among the top ten demon kings.

After a long time, the fox shrieked, demanding, “Why don’t you show yourself?”

“Your pup should call me godmother, and this is how you treat me?”

“Come out!!”

The fox shouted until its voice was hoarse, yet it refused to flee. If their pursuer were an East Peak cultivator, it would have turned and fled without hesitation, at least leading them elsewhere. But the Tengu knew precisely why its strength had fallen so sharply.

It could not leave…

Though trembling with fear, a gleam of ferocity flashed in its eyes.

Just then, the black flames on the ground quietly dissipated. From the sky came a lazy voice: “Alright, I’m coming, what’s the rush?”

Qin Hongxiu sat atop her heavy sword, entirely unbothered with high-borne airs, drifting down from the heavens. She eyed the white fox with amusement: “Little fox, it seems your courage has grown in the two months since we last met. Daring to provoke me now?”

The white fox nearly choked on its own anger. It had unmistakably sensed the Tengu’s aura—so why was it this demon slayer who descended? So this was the real reason that wretched hound did not appear?

It failed to notice that the very instant the black sword appeared, the quiet figure perched in the trees had slipped away.

“Enough. Stop looking so aggrieved.” Qin Hongxiu curled her lip. “I’ve been stifled up on that mountain for so long, you’ll serve as my sparring partner. Be fiercer—otherwise, what fun is there in a fight?”

The white fox bared its fangs, but its limbs involuntarily weakened, its face filled with helplessness.

It let out a couple of symbolic growls, but there was little force behind them.

“Hm?” Qin Hongxiu glanced at it, displeased with its lackluster state.

Seeing this, the white fox timidly protested, “You once promised that if I did not harm anyone, you’d spare my life.”

“Did I now?” Qin Hongxiu clicked her tongue, pondering how to go back on her word, when suddenly her gaze flicked to a certain spot.

…

Lin Ze bent down, peering calmly into a pile of dead grass.

He saw the cub staring wide-eyed, fixed on the direction of the white fox, using its spiritual sense to probe the distance, though still unskilled at it. Suddenly, a slender hand entered its field of vision. The fox cub instinctively tried to shrink away, but was instead plucked up.

Their eyes met.

The little fox dangled in the air, swaying twice, bewildered as it gazed at the Daoist before it. Its small body, covered in soft fur, began to tremble.

In that moment, it caught a faint red glimmer in Lin Ze’s pupils—so subtle that one could easily overlook it. Closing its eyes, it sniffed a familiar scent.

Instinctively, it burrowed toward the Daoist’s chest, cooing in its childish voice, “A-le… A-le…”

Lin Ze frowned slightly. Was this little demon suddenly seeing him as someone it could rely on? What was it calling him?

Gradually, the cub’s words became clearer: “A-le… Father…”

Lin Ze’s expression turned odd, his hand at the fox’s nape momentarily pausing. He seemed to realize what had happened.

It was the demon core causing mischief again.

There could not be two identical Golden Core auras in the world, unless the white fox had perished and he had swallowed its demon core. Yet the cub, sensing through its spiritual sense that its mother still lived, found the same scent—albeit faint—on the Daoist before it, granting it an immense sense of safety.

“Sorry, but I am not your father.”

Lin Ze shook his head, his fingers finding the cub’s throat. The touch was warm; he could feel the blood flowing beneath the fur.

Though possessing the cultivation of an early Foundation Establishment, the creature was utterly defenseless before him.

Things suddenly seemed much simpler.

The blue-robed Daoist gripped the fox cub’s neck, his face expressionless and still. Were it not for the little creature ceaselessly climbing up his wrist, he’d have looked more like a statue.

After a while, Lin Ze slowly closed his eyes.

He felt utterly exhausted, as if he’d just survived a great battle.

Ever since his arrival in this world, he had been cast into mortal peril. From that day forth, he had strived to learn the rules of this realm and blend in. This was not the cold yet reassuring small town of his previous life, but the brutal world of cultivation.

One had to be decisive and ruthless to survive to the end.

Cut the grass, root and all, and leave no future threats.

Mercy was a grave mistake.

Old Master Lin had been a good man all his life, and what was his reward? Expelled from his sect, wandering the world in misery, finally dying a wretched death at a demon’s fangs.

Yet… things should have reason.

It was the mother fox who’d harmed Xiao Bao—what connection did the cub have to the crime?

Wipe out the entire family to sever all threats? Efficient, perhaps, but lacking in justice.

Even wandering knights knew not to implicate the innocent.

Should he simply let it go? The problem was, it wasn’t human—it was a demon.

Any other cultivator would have acted without hesitation; even without a grudge, humans were meant to slay demons.

But Lin Ze wanted to act in accordance with his conscience.

“Father?”

Perhaps tired of playing, the little fox drooped its large ears, cocking its head to study the Daoist with gem-like eyes.

Lin Ze calmly met its gaze, the white glow slipping from his sleeve into his palm, pressing against the fox cub’s belly.

A demon fox could not be spared.

But a common fox, stripped of all hope for revenge, would simply live out its two hundred years in peace.

If he could not reconcile his thoughts, then for the sake of preserving his Dao heart, both sides would yield a step.

He understood this was a hypocritical act, but for now, he could think of no better solution.

At that moment, a tense, low whine arose behind him.

For some reason, Lin Ze felt a sudden sense of relief.

Turning slowly, he saw Qin Hongxiu watching him with a bright smile, Xiao Bao and the white fox in tow.

The black-robed sword immortal raised her eyes slightly, looking deeply at Lin Ze, and laughed softly: “You are far more ruthless than your master ever was.”

With a trace of emotion, she lowered her head and added, “And stronger than I, as well.”