Chapter 175: Wu Yin The Fox Queen
In the lush Hidden Land, where verdant forests intermingle with tranquil lakes and ethereal mists, Wu Yin emerged, alive against all odds after days of absence. She stood amidst this natural splendor, her figure statuesque and commanding attention. Sunlight danced through her hair, casting a subtle purple hue that added to her ethereal beauty.
Beside her trotted a fox, modest in size compared to the other formidable creatures of this realm. Its sleek, black fur shimmered like satin under the light, and its wings, emitting a dark, fluid radiance, marked it as a being of the skies. The fox’s eyes, deep and lustrous like polished obsidian, radiated a keen intelligence.
This unusual pairing, with Wu Yin’s striking beauty and the fox’s enigmatic presence, naturally ignited the imaginations of onlookers. Her reluctance to be in this companionship, however, was palpable. The fox, imitating Wu Yin’s walk with an almost deliberate mimicry, suggested an eerie attempt at human-like behavior.
Wu Yin’s own strides, though not an intentional catwalk, were a dance of elegance. Her long, slender legs moved with a grace that added a rhythmic sway to her steps. Together, they appeared almost like two ethereal fox spirits, one grand and the other quaint, weaving their way through the mystical land.
“Stop copying my walk. I want to go home!” Wu Yin’s voice broke the silence, her eyes bright with a blend of stubborn resolve and a longing for the familiar comforts of home. The prospect of a solitary life in the Hidden Land, amidst unknown beasts and away from human civilization, filled her with an overwhelming sense of loneliness and trepidation.
Amidst the lush greenery and sparkling lakes of the Hidden Land, Wu Yin, missing for many days, reappeared in a setting of transcendent beauty. The sunlight caught her hair, lending it a subtle hint of purple luminescence. By her side was a unique fox, modest in size compared to other transcendent beasts, its black fur shimmering like satin. Notably, it bore wings that glinted with a dark sheen, suggesting its ability to soar the skies.
Wu Yin's graceful figure, complemented by her delicate, fair face, and the presence of the extraordinary fox, naturally stirred up misconceptions among onlookers. Their paired walk through the perilous Hidden Land only intensified these suspicions. Wu Yin, however, seemed reluctant, as if being led against her will by the black fox, which intriguingly mimicked her gait.
Longing for the familiar skyscrapers and spacecraft of New World, Wu Yin yearned for the comfort of her known universe and the people she cherished. The black fox, displaying an unexpected gentleness in its tone, seemed to be trying to console her. Its search for disciples had brought several young people from the forest, a surprising behavior for a creature of the Hidden Land, where most beasts would attack humans on sight.
Observing from a distance, Wang Xuan assessed the fox's capabilities. While intelligent and relatively newly transcendent, it didn't appear particularly threatening, likely owing its savvy more to its unique lineage than to raw power.
As the black fox prepared to lead Wu Yin deeper into the Hidden Land, her resistance grew. She vehemently refused to continue the journey, aware that the fox intended to leave the outer region of the Hidden Land with her. Silently, Wang Xuan approached, swift as lightning, placing himself protectively in front of Wu Yin. He was prepared to confront the black fox, knowing that if it took flight with Wu Yin, he might lose her forever.
Recognizing the familiar silhouette, Wu Yin's eyes widened in disbelief. The presence felt unmistakably like Wang Xuan's. The black fox, agile and quick, skillfully dodged Wang Xuan's initial assault. With elegant, cat-like steps, it tilted its head, eyeing him curiously.
"Are you here to become my disciple?" it asked through its spiritual realm, its voice resonating in the air.
Undeterred, Wang Xuan readied himself for another strike.
"You're just a mortal, your breath devoid of the dense transcendental essence, no match for me. To become a disciple in the Fox Immortal Cave, you must pass my test," the fox declared with evident narcissism, strutting around Wang Xuan with feline grace.
Unfazed, Wang Xuan launched a powerful punch, shattering the surrounding vegetation with its devastating force. The black fox, its face betraying alarm, vanished in a flash of dark light, swiftly evading the strike.
"Xiao Wang, stop attacking! It's a transcendent fox spirit!" Wu Yin cautioned urgently. She knew all too well the fox’s deceptively amiable demeanor, recalling its ruthless and merciless defeat of a transcendent serpent in the great canyon.
It was only then that Wang Xuan turned to face Wu Yin. His gaze met her fair, joyous visage, momentarily freezing before her expression shifted dramatically. Her voice rose in surprise and recognition, "It's you, Wang Xuan, Old Wang!"
Wang Xuan was taken aback, his emotions mingling with a sense of irony. He couldn't help but feel slightly aggrieved at the stark contrast in her reaction. Despite his efforts to save her, she mistook him for another.
Indeed, Wu Yin, observing his silhouette, had mistaken him for the Grandmaster Wang Xiao from the Old World. Admittedly, their profiles were strikingly similar, given they were the same person, though Wang Xuan had previously donned shoulder pads that altered his appearance slightly.
Yet, Wu Yin's preconceived notions led her to immediately identify him as Grandmaster Wang Xiao, her reaction revealing her belief in his identity.
Wang Xuan found himself at a loss for words, grappling with Wu Yin's apparent disdain for his true self. It was perplexing that his alter ego was affectionately referred to as "Xiao Wang," while his real identity received such lukewarm acknowledgment. Despite being the same person who had come to her rescue, the disparity in treatment was both baffling and frustrating.
Wu Yin's expressions fluctuated as she processed her complicated feelings toward Wang Xuan. Her encounters with him in the Old World had left an indelibly negative impression. Their first meeting had been marred by his diagnosis of her physiological issues, an experience that had left her feeling humiliated and frustrated, almost bursting out of her evening gown.
In their subsequent encounters, her irritation only deepened, especially when Wang Xuan had unceremoniously kicked her into a lake, an act that inflamed her temper to its breaking point.
Yet, it was this very man who had saved her from the jaws of a monstrous serpent on her first day in the Hidden Land, albeit in a manner that was difficult for her to accept. Once again, he had kicked her, propelling her away from danger, an act that was as mortifying as it was lifesaving.
Wu Yin, who had never been treated with such disrespect, especially since her adolescence, seethed at the memory of being kicked twice in the same spot. The recollection caused her ample chest to heave with indignation, straining against her clothing.
Despite her anger, Wu Yin managed to regain her composure and, albeit begrudgingly, thanked Wang Xuan. After all, he had twice come to her aid, and she was not one to ignore the merit in his actions. However, her initial negative perception, coupled with her close relationship with Wang Xuan's ex-girlfriend Ling Wei, had ingrained a deep-seated aversion towards him.
Beneath her conscious resistance, however, lay a nagging suspicion and recognition, which she hesitated to confront. The more she observed Wang Xuan, the more she found his demeanor and aura reminiscent of Grandmaster Wang Xiao. This subconscious realization had instinctively prompted her to address him as such, despite his altered appearance. The essence of his character, particularly evident in the heat of battle, remained unchanged.
In a low voice, Wu Yin urged Wang Xuan to leave, fearing that provoking the black fox might spell disaster. She reassured him that her life was not in danger, as the fox merely intended to guide her in her cultivation at a celestial immortal's cave dwelling. Though she longed for the modern world and its familiar faces, she was not prepared to risk Wang Xuan's life for her own sake.
"Nothing to worry about, it's just a little fox. I'll take you away from here, ensuring you won't be cut off from human society, secluded in some remote mountain forest," Wang Xuan said, turning his back to Wu Yin, his posture a shield before her. His words, brimming with confidence and resolution, ignited a warmth in Wu Yin's heart. The prospect of a lonely life amid desolate mountains, in the company of beasts, was a dreadful thought she couldn't bear.
Feeling a surge of gratitude and reassurance, Wu Yin's perception of Wang Xuan softened significantly, especially as she considered the possibility that he might indeed be Xiao Wang. Her emotions were a tangle of complexities.
Suddenly, Wu Yin rushed forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Wang Xuan, her arms spread wide towards the black fox. This unexpected gesture took Wang Xuan by surprise.
Wu Yin, convinced that Wang Xuan stood no chance against the transcendent creature, was ready to sacrifice her freedom to appease the fox's anger. "Hurry, go!" she urged him, her voice laden with resolve to follow the black fox into the depths of the Hidden Land, thus quelling its rage.
"It's too late," the black fox spoke, its spiritual vibrations clearly conveying its annoyance. "This human has repeatedly disrespected me and even dared to attack. He must be taught a lesson." Its small vulpine face, no larger than a palm, radiated hostility, its slender eyes gleaming with a cold light.
"There's no need to worry. This fox is just bluffing. What 'transcendent fox'? All I see is a show-off parading around," Wang Xuan remarked dismissively, moving in front of Wu Yin and gesturing for her to step back.
Wu Yin, anxious and feeling powerless to alter the situation, glared at the black fox. She was irked by its imitation of her walk, exaggerated for effect.
The black fox, with a twist of its waist and a leisurely step, suddenly unleashed its spiritual domain, attempting to hypnotize Wang Xuan. Its knowledge of the intricate arts of the spiritual realm was indeed not to be underestimated.
Feigning susceptibility to the hypnotic assault, Wang Xuan stood motionless, feigning dazed vulnerability. The black fox, with a swish of its lustrous tail and an air of disdain, approached him. "Stupid man, dare to be arrogant before me? Now you can't even move, can you? And you dared to call me vain. I only mimicked Wu Yin!" it said with a haughty tilt of its chin.
Wu Yin was both anxious and indignant at the fox's blatant imitation, feeling unfairly caricatured. The black fox, with its elegant gait, drew closer to Wang Xuan, examining him with a tilt of its head before turning to Wu Yin. "He's not your partner, is he?" it asked.
"No!" Wu Yin replied swiftly, her voice tinged with embarrassment and annoyance.
The fox shook its head, remarking, "I knew there was something between you two. But in the path of cultivation, detachment is key. Let me help you sever this connection."
Upon hearing these words, Wang Xuan's patience snapped. How dare this fox, sashaying around and spewing venomous words, threaten to 'sever' him? "You can't harm him!" Wu Yin cried out, rushing forward to intervene.
But Wang Xuan acted too, seizing the moment as the fox sauntered into reach. With a swift motion, he grabbed and immobilized the black fox, his arms locking it in place. Despite the fox's struggles and its use of spiritual domain attacks, it proved futile against Wang Xuan's hold.
The moment the fox released a bolt of lightning, Wang Xuan slapped its palm-sized face, sternly warning, "Dare to electrocute again, and I'll smash your head into pulp!"
Enraged yet impotent in Wang Xuan's grip, the black fox flailed desperately. Incredulous at its own helplessness against what it perceived as a mere mortal, it shrieked, "What kind of monster are you? Not yet transcendent, how can you..."
Wu Yin stood petrified, witnessing a scene that defied her understanding. In her mind, the black fox was a formidable creature, capable of tearing apart ferocious beasts and slaying transcendent serpents, its battles causing the earth to quake and cliffs to crumble. Never had she imagined a human standing a chance against such a fearsome being.
Wang Xuan effortlessly subdued the black fox, searching for something to bind it with. He found a two-meter-long, crystalline filament – a remarkably tough fishing line, once belonging to the mysterious angler on the moon and stronger than even the sun gold. It had once ensnared the stone slab, now serving as a trophy of Wang Xuan's victory.
With swift and efficient movements, he bound the black fox tightly, rendering the once-mighty creature powerless. The fox, whose ancestors had served alongside the legendary immortals, guarding their sanctums and hailed as a divine beast, was now helplessly trussed by a mere mortal. It was a humiliation too profound to bear.
The black fox screeched in fury, writhing and rolling on the ground in its bindings, unable to accept this turn of events.
"See? It's just an ordinary little fox. You were fooled by its bluster. It's nothing special; I could subdue it with one hand," Wang Xuan said, smiling radiantly, instilling a sense of ease in Wu Yin.
But Wu Yin quickly realized the absurdity of his words. This was no ordinary fox; it was a powerful and cunning spirit, capable of communicating with humans through its spiritual essence.
"You better stop screaming, or I'll throw you into the Hidden Land!" Wang Xuan threatened the fox.
"Don't! I've only just come of age, so beautiful and young, how can you be so heartless to take me away? I want to go home!" the black fox wailed.
Wang Xuan was taken aback by these nonsensical pleas.
Nearby, Wu Yin blushed with embarrassment. The black fox was imitating her tone perfectly, but she had never uttered such words!
Regaining her composure, Wu Yin approached Wang Xuan, scrutinizing him closely, and then leaned in to catch his scent. With a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, she asked, "Who are you, really?"
Wu Yin's gaze was deep and probing as she stared intently at Wang Xuan.
"Who do you think I am?" Wang Xuan countered her question.
Wu Yin, with her tall and elegant figure and beautiful face, initially wore no expression. But soon, her eyes began to sparkle as she scrutinized him closely, her gaze drifting to his hands. She remembered vividly the night of the torrential rain, the battle where Wang Xuan's (known to her as Wang Xiao) nails had been torn off, and she had helped bandage his hands.
Suddenly, she grabbed one of Wang Xuan's hands and bit down hard, exclaiming, "You liar, you two are the same person!"
Wang Xuan wasn't so much worried about the pain as he was about injuring her. His current cultivation of the scripture had rendered his body far tougher than any ordinary flesh. Hastily, he withdrew his spiritual power to avoid any harm to her delicate teeth.
As he tried to retract his arm, Wu Yin stumbled forward, still biting his hand, and collided against him.
Wang Xuan stepped back, attempting to disengage. Wu Yin, off-balance, leaned against him. In that moment, Wang Xuan was certain Wu Yin wasn't wearing any protective gear like Zhou Qing, making her more vulnerable to physical contact.
Flushing red, Wu Yin felt a tightness in her chest from the awkward contact.
Meanwhile, the black fox, pinned under Wang Xuan's foot, yowled in frustration and anger. Despite its claims about Wu Yin and Wang Xuan not being involved, their current entanglement suggested otherwise. "Watch where you're stepping!" it cried out indignantly, aggrieved at being squashed underfoot.
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