Jiang Ke’er turned away, sitting on the ground, looking helplessly at the Fox-Slaying Venerable, who was just inches away.
“I’ve known all along,” the Fox-Slaying Venerable said with a smile, one that clearly carried malicious intent.
“Please, don’t kill me,” Jiang Ke’er pleaded, her hands and feet ice-cold, as if plunged into a frozen abyss.
“Kill you? Why would I kill you?” The Venerable Fox-Slayer, however, feigned a puzzled expression.
“I’m here to slay fox demons. What does that have to do with a little dog demon like you?”
“…”
Jiang Ke’er stared at him in a daze, thinking to herself that this man was truly despicable, toying with her despite knowing the truth.
“That’s right! I’ve seen through you from the start!” the Venerable Fox-Slayer barked.
“Though you tried to hide your appearance and deliberately hunched your shoulders and puffed out your belly to conceal your figure while walking… your bone structure doesn’t lie!”
He reached out, swallowed hard, and wiped the mud from Jiang Ke’er’s face, grinning wickedly.
“As expected… I’ve seen countless women, and when it comes to spotting an unparalleled beauty, no one in this world can match me!”
“???”
Jiang Ke’er couldn’t quite grasp the Venerable Fox-Slayer’s intentions.
“You’re poisoned by the venom of the Frost Spirit Viper, and your life hangs by a thread. But that’s not a big issue,” he continued.
“Once I slay that dragon demon, I’ll take you to Nanzhan Buzhou to cure the poison. With your stunning beauty and your canine lineage, so similar to a fox, you’re perfect to pass off as a fox demon.”
The Venerable Fox-Slayer’s wrinkled face twisted with cunning.
“After that, I’ll spread word to the world that you’re a lone fox demon, driving up your value to the extreme, then sell you to the native nobles of Nanzhan Buzhou… Remember, from today onward, you’re a fox demon! Not a dog demon!”
“Huh?”
Jiang Ke’er was a bit confused but quickly nodded.
“Yes, yes, I’m a fox demon, truly a fox demon!”
“This way, I save your life, you help me earn money and fame, and you get to enjoy the wealth and splendor of nobility in Nanzhan Buzhou… As long as your identity isn’t exposed and you diligently practice the Cauldron Art to cultivate your charm, this plan will never be uncovered!”
The Venerable Fox-Slayer’s aged face brimmed with sly satisfaction.
He glanced at Jiang Ke’er with disdain.
“This is your only way to survive—a win-win for both of us. You better cooperate fully. Even if you don’t, I have plenty of ways to make you.”
“I’ll cooperate, absolutely cooperate!” J
Jiang Ke’er forced a bright smile, raising her head as if already envisioning a glorious future.
“The Venerable Fox-Slayer is truly wise! No wonder you’ve reached the realm of a Venerable. This little fox demon admires you so much… I’m already imagining a wonderful life in Nanzhan Buzhou!”
“Smart girl,” the Venerable Fox-Slayer said, clearly pleased.
“Stay here and wait quietly. Don’t let this slip—it’s our little secret. If you happen to encounter outsiders during the battle later, act as a fox demon and get into character… Understood?”
“Understood, understood!” Jiang Ke’er patted her small chest enthusiastically, fervently promising, “You’re truly sharp-eyed to see the fox in me! I swear, no demon in this world is better suited to pass as a fox than me! No one will ever see through my disguise!”
“Hmm~” The Venerable Fox-Slayer, flattered by Jiang Ke’er’s words and delighted by the plan’s smooth progress, nodded with satisfaction.
“Good. For being so clever and charming, I’ll take you under my wing from today onward! Until you become a noble in Nanzhan Buzhou, I’ll ensure your safety!”
“Deal!” Jiang Ke’er’s smile bloomed like spring flowers as she gave a thumbs-up.
“Venerable Fox-Slayer, you’re the absolute best!”
The Fox-Slaying Venerable, never having been praised by such a beautiful woman, felt a rush of delight, his heart swaying with joy.
He thought to himself that this little dog demon was truly a bewitching creature.
Despite her youthful appearance of only thirteen or fourteen, she already exuded such captivating charm—absolutely the perfect candidate to pose as a fox demon!
Filled with the joy of double blessings and the elation of being flattered to the skies, the Fox-Slaying Venerable left the underground palace, this time truly heading off to set up the formation.
After sending the Fox-Slaying Venerable off with a radiant, sunny smile, Jiang Ke’er covered her mouth and stomach, chuckling “Hoo hoo hoo” for quite a while before finally calming down.
The Fox-Slaying Venerable, terrifying indeed!
Calling a dog a fox and a fox a dog—brilliant!
After all that, this guy didn’t even know what a real fox looked like.
The whole “Fox-Slaying” shtick was just a bluff to scare people.
It was hard to believe that the Gossip Venerable could stoop so low.
Though she understood the struggles of rogue cultivators, Jiang Ke’er secretly vowed that even if she became one herself, she would never resort to such disgraceful scams.
It was just too embarrassing.
With a weight lifted from her heart, Jiang Ke’er hurriedly continued drawing the Blood Pact Formation.
The wound on her fingertip had already slightly healed, and the blood flow was far from enough.
Gritting her teeth, she made another cut over the original wound, turning it into an X-shape.
Not long after—
“OK, done!”
The Blood Pact Formation was finally complete.
Without hesitation, Jiang Ke’er began binding the sect’s treasured artifacts.
The stones were a set, twenty-one small ones in total, which could be bound all at once.
As she placed the stones into the formation, its patterns visibly dimmed at a rapid pace.
She quickly cut a larger gash on her wrist, letting the blood drip into a small square—the formation’s blood-replenishing zone.
Surprisingly, the stones didn’t consume much of her blood.
They soon stopped absorbing her life force, and Jiang Ke’er established a mental connection with them.
Now, she could control the stones with her mind, making them float, which she found quite amusing.
But she had no time to play around and quickly moved on to the next item—the True Martial Myriad Talisman Box.
After binding the small box, Jiang Ke’er’s vision darkened, her chest felt tight, and she could barely walk without staggering…
She knew she had reached her limit.
If she greedily tried to bind a third item, she might die right in front of the formation.
Two should be enough.
She’d done her best!