Chapter 58: Hehe, you can’t catch me!

The body felt weightless, falling through the air.

Su Mumu slowly spread her arms, forming a large “X” shape.

The wind whistled past.

It felt like her entire being was relaxing.

In her mind, the voice that had appeared in her dream earlier sounded again.

[Little one, why put on this act? You could have just jumped directly.]

If I didn’t do this, Jiang Mengxin would never give up.

Only by performing a feeling of utter despair, by committing suicide by jumping off a cliff, would she completely abandon her pursuit of me.

[Is that so? The little one does have some cunning.]

Of course. Later, I’ll just hide my fox identity properly. Over time, Jiang Mengxin will slowly forget about catching the fox.

[Not bad.]

Good turtle, you’re smart, you have high IQ, sharp insight… so I’ll use that against you!

Create the illusion of my own fake death!

Su Mumu truly admired her own intelligence!

Actually, just moments ago when she was cornered at the cliff’s edge, the so-called “Auntie Clan” leader in her head had been calling to her.

Saying something about just jumping down, that below was the Auntie Clan’s palace.

[It’s the Moon God Clan! How many times must I say it for you to understand?!]

Uh, okay, okay, I get it.

[You’d better retract that previous thought.]

Huh?

[Your IQ isn’t high at all.]

It’s not high? My brilliant escape plan isn’t awesome?

[What does ‘awesome’ mean?]

Uh, it means amazing, incredible.

[It’s not incredible at all.]

It’s not amazing? Are you just picking a fight?

[You didn’t succeed! That Jiang Mengmeng has caught up.]

It’s Jiang Mengxin!

[Fine, Jiang Mengxin.]

Jiang Mengxin!!!

[Okay, Jiang Mengxin.]

Yeah, that’s right… Wait! What did you say about catching up?

[Jiang Mengxin.]

No!!!

Damn it, this isn’t right!

[Did I call it wrong again? Is it Jiang Mengxin?]

The aged voice slowly echoed in her mind.

Su Mumu forced her eyes open against the strong wind. Among the rapidly receding scenery, at the farthest edge of her vision, she saw someone else falling alongside her.

Jiang Mengxin.

???

She really chased me down!?

[Yes! Jiang Mengxin chased you down! I told you earlier.]

It’s Jiang Mengxin!

[Awesome.]

No, what are you saying ‘awesome’ for?

Is that how you use it?

[Wrong again? The culture of the new era is truly difficult to understand.]

Stop chit-chatting! Think of something quick!

Su Mumu was getting anxious.

[What do you mean?]

Get me to land safely! We’re almost at the ground!

[Oh, oh, right. I shall intervene.]

Help Jiang Mengxin land safely too!

[Help her as well?]

Of course! It’s so high up. If you don’t help her, how will she land safely?

[But isn’t she trying to kill you?]

That’s true… Ugh, don’t ask so many questions. Help her land too, or I won’t inherit that whatever Auntie Clan legacy!

[It’s the Moon God Clan!]

Fine, fine, the Moon God Clan. Hurry up and act! Help both of us land safely.

[A strange thought, wanting to help an enemy. I do not understand.]

The aged voice was full of confusion.

Then, Su Mumu felt a warm sensation envelop her whole body, and her falling speed gradually slowed.

It was as if she was lying on cotton.

At the same time, the same thing happened to Jiang Mengxin. A look of obvious bewilderment appeared on her face.

It made Su Mumu chuckle despite herself.

Hahaha, silly turtle is confused.

[What turtle? An ancient dragon turtle?]

It’s turtle!

[What turtle?]

Jiang Mengxin! She’s my good turtle! That’s why I have to save her.

[Jiang Mengxin is a dragon turtle? Truly? Then little one, you must hold on tight!

The legendary dragon turtle clan is extraordinary, said to be even more powerful than the flood dragon clan! It would be best to use their bloodline to produce offspring…Never mind. I cannot explain this to you.]

They landed safely.

Beneath their feet were cold stone tiles covered in dust, with not a trace of snow in sight.

Above them was the sky, with the evening sun shining brightly.

Su Mumu had been here before.

In her previous dream, she had come here.

Surrounding them were stone walls, carved with birds, beasts, the sun, moon, and stars. An ancient aura permeated the air, the scent of musk mixing with dust.

[Please proceed forward.]

What’s ahead?

Su Mumu stared down the pitch-black path ahead.

[I am at the end, waiting for you.]

Su Mumu felt a bit conflicted.

Well, there was no time for her to be conflicted, because Jiang Mengxin had also landed safely.

“Here… there’s actually an ancient ruin hidden here?!” Jiang Mengxin murmured as if in a dream, surveying her surroundings.

After a brief moment of shock, she calmed down.

Her gaze sharpened, locking onto Su Mumu.

“Little fox, what is going on?”

“I don’t know!” Su Mumu immediately tried to flee, running towards the end of the path. “I don’t know anything! Stop chasing me!”

“Explain yourself properly!” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Stop chasing, stop chasing! I really don’t know anything…”

Su Mumu was exasperated.

Jiang Mengxin was still chasing.

It was really like cat and mouse, just chasing relentlessly.

At the end of the path was a hidden world.

A lush wild grassland, with torches burning brightly on either side. In the very center of the grassland stood an enormous, dense ancient tree, so thick that even a dozen people linking hands couldn’t encircle its trunk.

[Little one, go around the ancient tree and come over. I am behind it.]

But, big sister… Jiang Mengxin is chasing me relentlessly! I can’t run anymore…

Su Mumu was genuinely tired. Damn it, she’d been running all day!

[I shall temporarily restrain her for you.]

Hey… wait, don’t!

[Do not worry. I will certainly not harm your little woman. I will merely ensure she does not disturb us for a while.]

Oh, okay then… Wait, she’s not my ‘little woman’!

[Is that so? How can a descendant of our noble Fox Clan be the submissive one?]

Damn it… I can’t explain this to you.

Black lines seemed to appear on Su Mumu’s forehead.

While she was distracted, suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder. The grip was firm, firmly seizing her.

She was caught.

She struggled.

“I’ve caught you,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“Yes, you have,” Su Mumu admitted helplessly. “Congratulations, you win.”

“Come back with me.” Jiang Mengxin sounded urgent, likely because the strange environment had put her on guard.

“Well, about that…” Su Mumu gave a mysterious smile.

“What are you smiling about?” Jiang Mengxin frowned, suddenly feeling that something was wrong.

The next moment, the ground split open. A vine shot out, quickly wrapping around Jiang Mengxin’s waist, lifting her up until her feet were slightly off the ground, suspended in the low air.

“What… what is this?” Jiang Mengxin was stunned. “A vine? My sword, come!… Strange, I can’t channel my energy? Why?”

“Hehe~ Can’t catch me now!”

Su Mumu’s fox tail wagged excitedly. She tilted her head up slightly, looking rather pleased with herself, her fox ears perking up instantly.

“So it was you causing trouble after all… What on earth is going on? How can there be an ancient ruin in the trial world? You, you…” Jiang Mengxin was flustered, trying to break free.

But then, another vine burst from the ground, accurately binding her hands together.

This time, she completely lost the ability to struggle.

“Oh my…” Su Mumu covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she looked Jiang Mengxin up and down, bound by the vines. “Sister Jiang looks so… risqué.”

Jiang Mengxin’s expression darkened, her breath slightly panicked. “Let me go.”

Su Mumu pondered seriously, as if engaged in an internal struggle, nodding one moment and shaking her head the next.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally reached a conclusion.

She said with a beaming smile, “Such a rare opportunity shouldn’t be wasted, right? Don’t you agree, Sis~ter~ Jiang~?”