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With enemies before them, she didn't waste words with Yino. After briefly outlining their strategy, she transformed into a blood-red shadow—

"That sword strike should have seriously wounded Xumo."

"Next, I'll use illusions to hold off that old hag while you finish Xumo!"

Leaving these words behind, Jinyue whooshed away.

Yino looked puzzled – Jinyue had spoken so loudly, who announces their battle strategy publicly? Find more chapters on empire

At the other end, Yuebai clicked her tongue, sensing killing intent rushing toward her.

But unlike the free-moving Jinyue, she couldn't leave her position yet – Xumo behind her was severely wounded, still recovering from that unexpected glacial sword technique.

"Jinyue, you've finally shown your fox tail."

"It was bad enough you never properly executed your missions before, but now you openly defy destiny. When this Azure Forest secret realm ends, I'll definitely report your crimes!"

Qiu Yuebai watched the dizzying red fox illusions, her threats cold and merciless despite the cold sweat breaking out on her back.

She knew Jinyue's talents all too well.

Ever since the Celestial Master brought that little red fox cub back from the Western Region, Yuebai had felt her position severely threatened.

Once this innate charm-bodied fox grew into nine tails, the Celestial Master would surely no longer need Yuebai as her illusion master!

Losing her core value meant no longer being needed by the Celestial Master.

And if the Celestial Master didn't need her...

Yuebai would lose her right to destiny's protection!

"However, since she betrayed first, this is actually an opportunity for me."

"I'll legitimately kill Jinyue today, then tell the Celestial Master she turned traitor – a fitting death!"

Thinking this, Qiu Yuebai's lips curved in a slight smile.

She took the pipe she usually played with from her waist, twirling it gracefully. A blade emerged – that normally smooth pipe had become a delicate but deadly sword.

"Old hag, take this!"

Amidst the swirling blood-colored illusions, the girl's smug voice suddenly came from the side.

Qiu Yuebai sneered slightly, gently swaying her nine fox tails, which transformed into white spikes attacking Jinyue's illusory copies from all directions simultaneously.

As most copies were destroyed, Qiu Yuebai spun around, naturally facing the several red fox girls hidden in her blind spot.

"Child's play!"

The white foxgirl smiled coldly.

In terms of illusion talent, she might not match Jinyue.

But in actual combat, Yuebai could not only see through Jinyue's tricks, but even if she made a mistake, her cultivation level could withstand several rounds of Jinyue's attacks.

As long as Yuebai could destroy most copies, even if she couldn't block all the remaining ones, reinforcing her body meant she could take Jinyue's sword strikes head-on without issue.

So Yuebai deliberately left a few copies, creating an apparent opportunity for Jinyue to backstab her.

Shing—!

Yuebai targeted one red fox figure, sweeping her pipe-sword.

But the blade passed through the red fox girl's face, meeting nothing but air.

Another copy attacked; Yuebai quickly ducked and raised her leg, counter-attacking with her heel claw.

Another illusion.

"Two left..."

Yuebai steadied herself after several backflips, seeing Jinyue's copies surrounding her on both sides.

Theoretically, she couldn't defend against both now.

So Yuebai feigned anger and frustration at being outmaneuvered, watching as both red fox shadows thrust their blades toward her chest.

"Heh..."

Qiu Yuebai's physical body took the seven blades, her nine tails ready to strike the real body.

But just as her lips curved upward thinking she'd caught the bait, neither of Jinyue's copies' thrusts caused any pain.

Squelch!!

Suddenly, the sound of seven blades piercing flesh came behind Yuebai.

Following that, blood sprayed from the side, staining the white fox girl's clean white silk stockings embroidered with faint gold patterns.

"—?"

Yuebai's eyes widened as she turned back to see a dagger buried in Xumo's neck – the same Xumo who had just stood up to face Yino with his sword.

For a moment, not just Xumo and Yuebai were stunned – even Yino standing opposite Xumo looked confused.

"Old hag, you really believed that strategy I announced to Yino?"

The red foxgirl stroked her seven blades while turning back to Yuebai, her lips curving in a cold smile.

As Xumo tried to turn and counter-attack, Jinyue nimbly leaped aside, transforming into blood-colored peach blossoms before everyone's eyes and vanishing.

"Argh—!"

With a spray of blood, Xumo cried out in agony, clutching his neck as he fell to one knee.

Jinyue hadn't stabbed him again – she'd simply pulled out the dagger from his neck before leaving.

As the Pleasure Demon who roamed the Western Region, Jinyue might have lower cultivation than Yuebai, but she knew how to maximize damage from an inferior position.

Heart, head, dantian...

Cultivators usually heavily protected these vital organs.

When unable to strike vital points directly, cutting crucial arteries was often most effective.

"What a brilliant feint!"

Yuebai raised her hand, manifesting several demon tails.

She first scattered Yino and Jinyue, while sheltering Xumo behind her. She secretly slipped a spirit pill from her sleeve to Xumo's hand. He quickly swallowed it, temporarily stopping the bleeding from his neck wound.

"Xumo, stay here within three steps of your master."

Yuebai spoke coldly, her nine tails forming a cage-like barrier protecting Xumo from all directions.

She felt the stalemate - despite her superior combat strength, Jinyue's elusive illusions rendered it useless. Yuebai could retreat and directly kill Yino, ignoring Jinyue.

But she dared not gamble, as Jinyue could use illusions to ambush the already heavily wounded Xumo.

Yino was just a dead man walking, bound to be executed by the Celestial Master...

While Xumo was the future Child of Prophecy.

No matter how she calculated, this exchange wasn't worth it.

Moreover, killing Yino was just a side mission from the Celestial Master - protecting the prophesied child Xumo was Yuebai's true priority!

"Come at me, old hag!" Jinyue taunted with a cold laugh.

Yuebai was furious but wouldn't fall for Jinyue's tricks again.

The two-versus-two situation reached a deadlock.

Yuebai guarded Xumo while Jinyue and Yino dared not attack directly.

Conversely, Qiu Yuebai was restricted to Xumo's side, unable to take initiative.

"Master... I was just caught off guard by that sneak attack. In a one-on-one fight, I can definitely beat Yino!"

Xumo steadied himself and volunteered eagerly.

But the white fox girl guarding him gave no response--

"Jinyue, haven't you always wanted to know who prophesied that year's [Demon Calamity]?"

"Hand over Yino now, and I promise to tell you the truth from thirty years ago."

Seeing no point in dragging this out, Yuebai made her cold proposal.

As her words fell, Yino's heart trembled - though he couldn't understand what Yuebai meant, he noticed Jinyue beside him widening her eyes as if triggered by something crucial.

Clearly, this was another hidden plot Yino had never heard in the game.

Not knowing the secret, he naturally felt uncertain about Jinyue's upcoming reaction.

At some point, Yino quietly stepped back, deliberately distancing himself from the silent Jinyue.

But before he could move a step, the foxgirl suddenly grabbed him.

Yino startled, thinking Jinyue had been turned by the enemy, but she merely held his arm, her delicate body trembling as if afraid he'd run away.

"That old business from thirty years ago - what difference does it make knowing who's really responsible?"

Jinyue smiled faintly, speaking dismissively while holding Yino's arm even tighter.

Yino could feel the foxgirl's body trembling.

Yet he couldn't guess if she trembled from fear or anger, not knowing her hidden circumstances.

"Jinyue, can't you stop being so willful?"

"Think it through - even if you protect Yino today, you'll eventually have to leave Azure Forest. Do you think the Celestial Master will let you stay in the Wuji Sect then?"

"Choose betrayal today, and once the Celestial Master knows, you'll be thrown in the celestial prison."

"When you're locked up in solitary, the Celestial Master will just send others to kill Yino - what difference does it make? Do you think you alone can fight the whole world for Yino?"

Yuebai was enraged again, coldly persuading while secretly sweating anxiously.

She wasn't lying - with the Celestial Master's vast resources, Yino was doomed even if she failed today.

But the problem was...

Why should Yuebai fail?

This achievement should rightfully be hers.

The target was right before her - with her and Xumo's cultivation, killing Yino should be effortless!

But Jinyue's interference made her powerful cultivation useless!

Moreover, what baffled Yuebai most was that Jinyue should have been on her side, should have helped her trap Yino. Yuebai couldn't understand who Jinyue was fighting or what logic drove her to protect Yino. Had she fallen for him?

A fox demon willing to risk everything for a human lover?

At this thought, Yuebai laughed coldly again:

"Jinyue, I thought you had some cunning, but your childishness makes me laugh."

"Even if you've fallen for this human, why choose someone destiny has marked for death?"

"Can you protect him forever?"

"Even if you won't yield today, when you're in celestial prison, I'll personally bring his head to visit you!"

She grew more animated as she spoke, gesturing with raised shoulders, her red lips curving up as if already seeing the near future.

On the other side, Jinyue's expression gradually frosted over with Yuebai's words.

Jinyue parted her lips several times to argue but found no words against Yuebai's description. In fact, she had been imprisoned in the celestial prison before for causing trouble. She knew the taste of being thrown in that void space, where days felt like years...

But Jinyue had already come this far.

No matter what she chose, Yuebai wouldn't let her go.

Moreover...

If Yino died, Jinyue's last hope would be gone.

"I don't care about any of that!"

"As long as I, Jinyue, stand here, no one touches a hair on his head!"

As she weighed the pros and cons, Jinyue bit her red lips, her enchanting eyes showing both defiance and determination.

She held Yino's arm, and though her body trembled with fear, she was willing to bet her entire future on him.

For a moment, Yino was stunned.

Though he couldn't understand what the two foxes were saying, nor knew which villain boss the Celestial Master was in the game, just from Jinyue's trembling voice and determination to protect him to the death, Yino was deeply moved, sensing an inexplicable atmosphere of life and death separation.

"Won't shed tears until seeing the Yellow River!!!"

Seeing Jinyue's stubborn defiance, Yuebai was speechlessly angry for a long while.

Since she couldn't understand Jinyue's neurotic logic, Yuebai simply turned her enchanting eyes to the red-robed Holy Maiden in the distance--

"Liuli! What are you spacing out for again!"

"Hasn't your Full Moon Cult been hunting Children of Prophecy?"

"Liuli, help me kill Yino today, and I'll naturally tell you the birth coordinates of several future Children of Prophecy!"