69novels Chapter 826 Duel
Chapter 826 Duel
Xiao Li suddenly remembered something, looked up at her mother, and asked with a serious look in her eyes: "Mother, has something happened in the clan? Otherwise, why would you suddenly come to see me? In previous years, you always said that the clan was busy with affairs and that you rarely came even during the New Year."
Xiao Li's mother smiled gently, reaching out to brush a stray hair from her daughter's forehead, her fingertips carrying a familiar warmth: "Silly child, what could possibly happen in the tribe? I just missed you, so I found some time to come and see you. I'm relieved to see you here, eating well and sleeping soundly. Don't worry too much."
She kept her thoughts to herself—although the demon and human races had outwardly signed a peace treaty, undercurrents were swirling beneath the surface, and border skirmishes were frequent. Just a few days ago, a young member of her race had even gone missing while on patrol, and the elders were anxiously discussing countermeasures. Her visit was partly out of longing for her daughter and a desire to see how she was doing, but also to use the pretext of a family visit to secretly observe the human settlements and assess their true strength. But why should her daughter, living a peaceful life, know about these conflicts and dangers? It would only add to her worries.
The sunset outside the window painted half the sky red, like a huge red silk ribbon spread out, making the room feel warm and cozy. Little Fox nestled beside her mother, smelling the familiar scent of herbs on her, and felt very at ease, as if she had found the safest harbor, completely unaware of the heaviness and worry hidden behind her mother's smile.
Xiao Li was always wary of what others said, even familiar elders in the clan; she would always think twice before speaking to them. But she completely believed her mother's words. Every word her mother spoke weighed heavily in her heart, like a warning etched into her bones.
The mother and daughter talked for a long time inside the house, sharing their innermost thoughts. They talked about who in the tribe had given birth to a litter of fox cubs, how Little Fox had learned to use the stove to boil water in the human world, and even how tempting He Yuzhu's sweet and sour pork ribs were. Before they knew it, the sky outside the window darkened, the sunset faded to a pale purple, and finally, even the last rays of light were swallowed by the night. Little Fox looked at her mother, her fluffy tail gently brushing the ground behind her, her eyes full of reluctance: "Mother, why don't you stay here too? Although it's not as carefree as the tribe with its mountains and rivers, it's peaceful. I can groom you every day and watch the moon with you in the human world."
Little Fox's mother shook her head, her fingertips gently brushing against her daughter's fluffy ear tips, the downy fur as soft as a cloud. Her tone carried a hint of helplessness: "That won't do. The clan's barrier has been unstable lately, and the wolf clan from the west is causing trouble again. There are still many things waiting for me to go back and make decisions, so I really can't leave."
Xiao Li had been thinking of secretly leading her mother to find the Evil Wolf later—that guy had been loitering around the area lately, his eyes gloomy, and she had been wanting to find out more about him. But before she could speak, her mother looked out the window, her brows furrowed, and her nose twitched slightly: "Forget it, human cultivators are hunting down demons everywhere right now. I've smelled several magical artifacts. Staying here any longer might cause trouble. It's better to go back sooner rather than later."
Xiao Li's heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed her mother's hand, her palm burning hot: "Then you must be careful, take the path behind the mountain, and don't let anyone see you." After saying that, she didn't say anything more, but the worry in her eyes was so deep that it couldn't be dissolved, like cotton soaked in water.
Little Fox's mother ruffled her hair, then turned and gently pushed open the courtyard gate. The evening breeze rustled her clothes, and her figure quickly blended into the inky night, her footsteps as light as a falling leaf. But she had only walked three alleys when several human cultivators dressed in Taoist robes suddenly sprang out from the alley entrance, their peach wood swords gleaming coldly, blocking her path. The leader, with his triangular eyes, curled a greedy smile at the corner of his mouth: "I didn't expect there to be demons hiding in this place. This saves us a lot of trouble. Interesting."
Xiao Li's mother's heart sank, and she tightened her grip on her sleeve—she hadn't expected to be targeted the moment she stepped out; it must be the demonic aura emanating from her that had attracted them. However, she remained calm on the surface and said in a low voice, "Although I am a demon, I have never harmed any human. I came out this time merely to see my daughter; I have no ill intentions."
The human cultivators refused to believe it, their eyes gleaming with covetousness, like hungry wolves eyeing a piece of meat. To them, any demon, regardless of strength or morality, could be useful once captured. If they were docile, they could be tamed as mounts or servants, and shown off during festivals; even if they were fierce and unruly, since the demon had already cultivated human form, they must have condensed a demon core within their bodies, a treasure for enhancing cultivation, more effective than any elixir, something they dreamed of possessing.
The leading cultivator took a step forward, the tip of his peach wood sword almost touching her collar, his tone firm and unyielding: "Whether you've done anything wrong isn't up to you to decide. You have to come with us for a thorough examination. We'll skin you alive to check your bones before we can prove your innocence."
Xiao Li's mother knew perfectly well that these people weren't investigating her innocence; they clearly had ill intentions. If she went with them, she would likely face certain death, her demon core ripped out while she was still alive, and her remains thrown to wild dogs. Therefore, finding a way to escape was the most important thing right now.
She looked up at the cultivators, the gentleness in her eyes gradually fading. Her tone remained calm, but carried a hint of coldness: "I've already said, I haven't done anything, there's no need for me to go with you."
The cultivators had been ordered to search for traces of dragons, but after three days and three nights, they hadn't even caught a glimpse of a dragon's scales. They were worried about how to report back. Their superiors were pressing them, and returning empty-handed would likely result in severe punishment. Now, encountering a demon was like finding a lifeline—even if they couldn't capture a dragon, bringing back a demon would at least be some gain, enough to appease their superiors' pressure. Besides, they knew perfectly well that with their rudimentary skills, encountering a dragon would only mean certain death; they dared not even dream of catching one.
The leading cultivator's face darkened, and he abruptly drew his magic weapon from his waist. The peach wood sword trembled with a "hum": "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup! You only have two choices now: either come with us obediently, or... die here and let us personally rip out your demon core!"
Little Fox's mother gripped the sharp claws hidden in her sleeves tightly, her nails digging into her palms until they bled, her eyes turning completely cold. She naturally wouldn't go with them; after all, it would be a dead end. Night deepened, the wind in the alley carried a chill, swirling fallen leaves, and a conflict seemed imminent, the air thick with the stench of blood.