chapter 2
I escaped, but the unease in my chest refused to leave.
More than ten days later, I learned that I had been right to worry.
At last, I understood what that wretched Xiao Fu meant by “double yolks.”
I was pregnant—with twins.
The world swayed. I wanted to die.
“Are all Fertility Systems like this?”
Xiao Fu missed every trace of resentment in my voice and answered proudly, “Impressive, isn’t it? I could make a rock carry babies. Hee-hee-hee.”
“My fetal-protection function is amazing, too. As long as you stay alive, Host, the babies will be perfectly safe!”
I nearly blacked out.
I hid in a mortal town and pretended to be human while fretting endlessly over the children.
One day, the town erupted into commotion. Demons were causing trouble beyond the walls.
I squeezed through the crowd to watch.
Well, would you look at that.
A white-robed figure hovered in midair. He casually released several arcs of sword qi, and the arrogant demons from moments before crumbled into scraps.
What skill. What style.
And that face—handsome!
Wait. Ling Jue?
My mind emptied. I almost dropped to my knees.
Why had someone of his stature personally come down the mountain to slay a few demons? It made no sense.
I decided to use the crowd as cover and slip away.
I had barely taken two steps when a tangible stare bored into my back.
My heart pounded, and every hair on my body stood on end. I prayed desperately that he had not recognized me.
In my panic, one foot caught the other. I fell flat on my face with a splat, scattering the hot roasted chestnuts I had just bought across the road.
An icy presence descended over me the next instant.
“It’s you.”
Two words, without explanation—but I knew exactly what he meant.
I was finished. Utterly finished.
The fox did not die.
“Why did Martial Uncle bring someone back? Whoa, a fox spirit!”
Death might have been kinder.
How humiliating.
My ears and tail had popped out from fear, and I could not make them disappear.
A hundred years of dignity, ruined. I would never steal fruit again.
“What did he do to make Martial Uncle capture him personally?”
“He’s gorgeous. That’s a fox spirit for you…”
“Shh. Don’t gossip about Martial Uncle’s affairs. But yes, he is gorgeous.”
I wore the expression of a fox who had lost all desire to live. Xiao Fu, meanwhile, celebrated as if it were New Year.
“Make the most of this, Host. This man is top quality. Top quality! I never lie.”
Many thanks, but I only wanted to survive.
I followed Ling Jue until we reached some unfamiliar place. When he stopped, I huddled in a corner like a frightened quail.
By then I was almost past being afraid. Strictly speaking, I was the one who had suffered a loss.
Not that I dared say so aloud.
He sighed softly, deliberated, and finally said, “You don’t need to be afraid. I only…”
His expression abruptly changed.
A clear surge of spiritual power and bitter cold rolled from his body, dropping the room’s temperature in an instant. He knitted his brows, evidently fighting terrible pain.
Strangely, the same unnatural heat I had felt in the frigid pool flared through me again.
Ling Jue pinned me against the wall. His gaze had lost its focus.
So had mine.
His pale, thin lips suddenly looked unbearably kissable.
…
When my senses returned, Ling Jue and I were naked and still joined, my tail looped around his waist as if reluctant to let go.
Beauty had led me astray.
Gritting my teeth, I began to inch forward. Ling Jue woke.
He seemed startled and pulled away at once. An indescribable sound escaped me.
For one suspended moment, both of us panicked.
At last, Ling Jue hurried into his clothes and fled outside.
I released a long breath, curled up on the bed, and wished shame would swallow me whole.
We had barely exchanged a proper sentence, yet we already knew each other inside and out. What sort of cursed fate was this?
Enough. I had to stop thinking about it.
After dressing, I shuffled outside.
A sword flashed across my path.
I blanched. “Don’t kill me!”
The blade trembled. Then its owner gripped it by the steel and pushed the hilt into my hand.
“Forgive me. I wronged you. You may kill or punish me as you see fit.”
I stared at him.
Well. No wonder this man had forged a sword heart. He was certainly reasonable.
I had no intention of killing him, though. If I did, the entire cultivation world would come to skin me.
Better to preserve my life. Besides, it was not as if I had felt nothing…
I lowered the sword and cleared my throat with exaggerated dignity.
“Ahem. I am a magnanimous fox. We’ll call the matter settled.”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Time to run. Quickly.
“Wait,” Ling Jue said.