Su Mumu’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. She wanted nothing more than to turn around and leave on the spot.
[Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.] The Stone Statue’s tone was cool and detached. [Fate is a mysterious thing. I have divined for a long time and am now certain that only you are the most suitable.]
Hearing it put it that way.
Su Mumu felt a little better inside.
See, that’s more like it!
What was all that nonsense earlier!
“So, is this a cheat for me? Can you be more specific?” Su Mumu asked.
[To be most accurate, the secret of the Moon God race lies in love. The power born from love is our race’s most potent talent. You will naturally understand this in time.]
Su Mumu hesitated, thought for a moment, and said softly, “Actually… I still want to become human again.”
The Stone Statue fell silent.
An eerie quiet descended.
The surrounding stone walls, adorned with patterns of birds and beasts, glowed with faint streams of light, as if some power was spreading.
“Can you hear me?” Su Mumu furrowed her delicate brows. “I don’t want to become some fox.”
[Little one, are you sure?]
“Of course!” Su Mumu’s tone held a hint of complaint. “At this point, I’ve already hidden too much from Xin Xin, far beyond what she could ever forgive… Whether it’s Xin Xin or the Changsheng Immortal Sect, they both represent immense danger to me. I can’t face them anymore.”
[That is indeed true…] The Stone Statue seemed to be pondering.
“So! Help me turn back into a human, okay?” Su Mumu asked tentatively.
The Stone Statue fell silent once more.
Su Mumu’s heart couldn’t help but grow slightly tense.
After a moment, a hoarse, weary response came—
[Since that is your wish, then I shall erase all memories and causality related to the fox demon and reshape you into human form!]
“Great! Great!” Su Mumu quickly agreed, but then she immediately asked, “Erase memories? Apple? What’s that?”
[It’s causality!] The Stone Statue sounded somewhat exasperated. [The fact that you became a fox demon will be completely wiped away.]
Completely wiped away?
Su Mumu’s beautiful eyes widened slightly.
[Jiang Mengxin will forget you.]
An expression of fear surfaced on Su Mumu’s face. “Xin Xin will forget me?”
[Yes.] The Stone Statue’s voice was cold and distant.
It felt like a cutting, icy wind sweeping past Su Mumu’s hair.
Her fox ears curled up slightly.
She didn’t understand. Why must there be forgetting?
To be utterly forgotten by Jiang Mengxin… Just dreaming about it would make her cry!
How could she possibly accept that?
[What say you?] the Stone Statue asked.
“You’re tricking me.” Su Mumu’s eyes darkened.
[Little one, why would I trick you?] The Stone Statue scoffed. [I have waited too long, grown too weary. If you are unwilling, then so be it. The Moon God race is fated not to endure and shall perish here!]
Its voice boomed.
The air trembled faintly.
Even the water flowing around Su Mumu’s ankles rippled.
“I don’t understand. Why must she forget me? Can’t you just make Jiang Mengxin forget about the fox demon incident?” Su Mumu’s voice was a bit hoarse.
[The matter of the fox demon was not my arrangement, but destined by fate’s unseen hand. I can only completely erase Jiang Mengxin’s memories of you. Any other method is beyond my power.]
“How could this be…” Su Mumu murmured.
[I shall heed your opinion, little one. Choose!]
“I…” Su Mumu’s face scrunched up like a steamed bun, utterly conflicted.
“I don’t want to be a fox demon. Ever since becoming one, my life has been thrown into chaos. I live in constant fear every day. The Changsheng Immortal Sect won’t allow my existence, and Jiang Mengxin hates me too…”
[That is also true. It seems I have caused you trouble. Very well then….
“I don’t get it! Why does it have to be me? Can’t it be someone else!” Su Mumu sounded somewhat self-destructive.
The Stone Statue fell silent again.
Due to her overly agitated emotions, Su Mumu’s tail puffed up.
[Because you were born with a certain amount of fox spirit bloodline.]
“Stop fooling me! What fox spirit bloodline could I possibly have? I grew up in the Immortal Sect’s orphanage. Even though I don’t know who my parents are or my own racial lineage, wouldn’t the Immortal Sect know?” Su Mumu argued.
[That is a matter for you to investigate yourself.]
“You just keep spinning tales!” Su Mumu was not happy.
[I swear a great dao oath, these are not lies!] The Stone Statue’s voice thundered.
The next moment, lightning flashed across the sky, and light snowflakes began to drift down, beautiful yet desolate.
Su Mumu reached out her hand. A snowflake passed right through her palm, falling straight to the ground and disappearing without a trace.
[The great dao contract is formed.]
Su Mumu stared blankly at her own palm.
Her whole body suddenly felt very cold.
Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Her heart felt like something was missing, hollow and deeply unsettling.
Her memories of childhood were already mostly forgotten.
The earliest memory she could recall was Jiang Mengxin holding her hand, escaping the dark, cold orphanage into the sunlight.
The sunlight was blinding.
Back then, Jiang Mengxin’s hand was so strong, holding hers too tightly.
Really… so annoying.
If she could hold her hand now, it would surely be so warm, so comforting.
Damn this whatever Moon God race.
How could I possibly bear to abandon Xin Xin…
[It seems you have made your decision.]
Su Mumu’s expression was somewhat dejected. “I don’t care about anything else. I don’t want Xin Xin to forget me. It’s that simple.”
[Such touching true affection! I… envy it.]
After these words fell in her mind—
Amidst a rumbling sound, the Stone Statue began to crumble bit by bit.
Fine fragments of stone fell into the pool water, creating a ding-dong sound.
Su Mumu opened her eyes and saw her own reflection in the clear water’s surface.
She was stunned.
In the pool’s reflection, behind her, there were now nine fluffy, pure white fox tails, swaying gently and harmoniously.
She had nine tails, just like the fox in the Stone Statue.
A strange new sensation inexplicably filled her body. She felt light as a swallow. The previous fatigue, the soreness in her calves—all of it vanished.
Her spirit felt incredibly refreshed, as if she had just woken up to the sound of birdsong at dawn.
A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her.
Su Mumu rubbed her eyes, sniffling.
Well, this really cemented her identity as a fox demon…
[Little one, I have imparted a wisp of saintly power to you. Take your little woman and leave this Holy Land!] The ancient voice grew faint, drifting farther and farther away.
Harboring complex and sorrowful emotions.
Su Mumu returned to the area with the ancient tree’s roots.
The vines binding Jiang Mengxin gradually withered, and her toes slowly touched the ground.
The two looked at each other again.
Jiang Mengxin was utterly astonished. “A nine-tailed heavenly fox?”
Su Mumu shot her an annoyed look. “For your sake, I’ve turned into a werewolf!”
Jiang Mengxin was confused, pausing for a moment. “What?”
“Heh, don’t you dare hit me. I’m taking you out of this damned place.” Su Mumu walked over, not looking very happy.
Under Jiang Mengxin’s shocked gaze.
A small, snow-white, delicate hand reached out.
Jiang Mengxin swiftly dodged this abrupt attempt to hold hands.
“What are you dodging for?” Su Mumu said. “I’m taking you out of here!”
Jiang Mengxin frowned. “Is that so? Fine.”
Then, she reached her own hand toward the nine fluffy fox tails and firmly grabbed hold of one of them.
“Eek!” Su Mumu’s back instantly straightened.
Seriously, sister? You have hands, but instead of holding one, you choose to grab a tail?!