Whispers of Mist, Secrets Persist
The crimson mist swept through the academy, finally reaching Zi Qian's room. It seeped under the door, morphing into Xing Xing. The imposter smirked, toying with her hair, and called out, "Brother Qian?" Silence greeted her. She strolled across the room, persistently calling, "Brother Qian, are you here?" With a push, she opened the curtain.
In disbelief, she sighed, contemplating, "Pretending to be human makes me seem pathetic," rebuking herself for adopting such human-like behavior. Reverting to a crimson mist, she elegantly danced by the window of Zi Qian's room, seamlessly merging with the night sky that enveloped the academy. Her ethereal journey brought her to the cold spring, where Zi Qian sat by the lake, engrossed in playful water antics. Finding a perch on a branch of the frost-kissed tree, she watched him with a mesmerizing intensity, captivated by every nuance of his actions under the moonlit night.
Shifting back into Xing Xing's form, she whispered from her perch on the branch, "He is so childish!" The imposter let out a cute, silent laugh. "Ah! I'm so brave and courageous, otherwise, a scaredy-cat like me wouldn't dare to speak to the great Harbinger of Doom eye to eye," she exclaimed.
"In reality, a shiver runs down my spine at the mere thought of him, but the mischievous joy in messing with him is undeniable. However, now I have to complete my mission," she admitted, swaying on the branches, causing a creaking sound.The imposter's laughter ceased abruptly, her gaze fixated on the weakening branch. "NO! NO! NO!" she yelled desperately as the branch gradually creaked, betraying her and sending her into an unexpected descent towards the ground.
Zi Qian swiftly turned around and rushed to her side. "Ah, my butt!" the imposter cried out as she descended to the ground, landing unceremoniously on her backside. "Ah! Xing Xing! Are you okay?" Zi Qian asked, concern evident in his voice as he held her hand and assisted her back onto her feet. "Ah, my butt! My back! It's broken! Ah!" the imposter exclaimed dramatically, perhaps exaggerating the situation. He gently seated her on the rocky edge of the cold spring, and the imposter Xing Xing began to rub her sore butt, with Zi Qian chuckling at the spectacle. "Who are you laughing at?" the fake Xing Xing retorted, slapping Zi Qian on the arm in irritation and pouting.
"Ah, nothing, it's just that I didn't expect a thousand-year-old fox to whine like humans," Zi Qian remarked as he observed her. The imposter started to defend herself, "So what! Foxes also feel pain and—" but suddenly cut off, realizing Zi Qian knew about her true identity. "Wait a second? How do you know about me?" she questioned with surprise. "Your fur, left unintentionally on me, gave you away," Zi Qian admitted. The fox smirked, extending her claws. "Ah! Now that you know, I might as well devour you," she proclaimed with a wicked laugh. "You seem quite delectable, and your spirit essence will be truly beneficial."
Despite the menacing display of claws by the fox, Zi Qian continued to smile with an air of tranquility. "You don't appear to be a genuinely malevolent fox. My intuition tells me you're merely feigning ruthlessness, and I'd wager you've never taken a life. So, ease up. I'm here for a conversation," he calmly expressed, extending his hand in a gesture of peace.
"Feigning?" the fox echoed incredulously. "Are you serious right now? I killed your best friend, and you want to talk with me? But I'm sorry, I have no time to waste," she declared with a cold tone. Zi Qian, genuinely concerned, gently grasped the fox's hands. "Please, tell me where Xing Xing is. I'm willing to do anything for you," he implored, his touch tender yet determined. "I understand that you're here for me," Zi Qian murmured, his gaze reflecting a mix of earnestness and curiosity. The fox gracefully shifted back to her original form, delicately removing her hand from Zi Qian's grasp. A subtle smirk played on her lips as she observed him. "Anything?" she queried, her eyes taking on a crimson hue. Zi Qian, undeterred, nodded with sincerity. "Yes, anything for Xing Xing," he vowed, his determination etched on his face.
"The friend he's so concerned about is dying, and I suspect she's already departed since I extracted her spirit essence. She happened to be the first person I've ended in my thousand years of existence," the fox pondered, grappling with the internal struggle of potentially betraying Zi Qian. "After completing my task, I shall discreetly depart from this place," the fox contemplated in the recesses of her thoughts, plotting the intricate betrayal plan. "So, let's weave an accord. Offer me what I desire, and in exchange, I'll weave the threads to reunite you with your friend," the fox proposed, her smirk carrying a hint of intrigue. "Alright, deal. Now, what is it that you want from me? I'm certain it's not my life; otherwise, you would have taken it on the first day we met," Zi Qian reasoned, seeking to unravel the mystery of the fox's intentions.
"Your life holds little value in what I seek. What I desire is this," she declared, pointing a finger at Zi Qian's chest. "Remove your clothes," the fox demanded, attempting to strip him herself as she held onto his garments. Zi Qian, covering his body with both hands, spoke in a childlike manner. "I'm still innocent," he said innocuously. The fox, exasperated, clarified, "Oh no, dumbass, I'm not here to strip away your dignity, for God's sake," the fox retorted with a hint of exasperation.
"Move it, kid. Time's running out," the fox snarled impatiently, forcefully attempting to remove Zi Qian's clothes. Undeterred, Zi Qian resisted, grappling to keep his garments in place. Frustration escalating, the fox scratched Zi Qian's arm with her claw, baring her fox teeth to instill fear. To her surprise, Zi Qian mirrored her actions, reversing the power dynamic and leaving the fox momentarily flustered by the unexpected turn of events.
Zi Qian defiantly pulled the two braids hanging in front of the fox's face and yelled emphatically, "I'll give you anything, but I'll never strip in front of a woman, be it human or animal!" The fox, refusing to relent, tried to wrest his clothes away. "AN ANIMAL! YOU FREAKING JUST CALLED ME AN ANIMAL, YOU PATHETIC HUMAN!" the fox fumed, anger escalating as she retaliated by tugging on Zi Qian's hair. Unfazed, Zi Qian retorted, "So what? Aren't foxes animals..." The intense scuffle caught the attention of passing guards, who, noting the fox's demeanor, realized she was no ordinary student but something more ominous. Suspecting her to be a demon, they cautiously approached, bows and arrows drawn, preparing to intervene. Ignoring the guards, engrossed in their skirmish, Zi Qian and the fox remained oblivious to the imminent danger. One guard, reaching for a vial of green liquid, swiftly applied it to his arrow, taking aim at the distracted fox. The arrow was released, soaring through the air with a sense of impending resolution.
The arrow soared through the air, finding its mark with majestic precision as it pierced the back of the fox and lodged into her chest. The intense pain forced the fox to immediately release her grip on Zi Qian's hair. Zi Qian stared at her in horror as blood spilled from her mouth, her red eyes returning to normal, and her claws reverting to their original form. Her heart palpitated intensely, and soon her eyes closed as she fell onto Zi Qian's shoulder, her blood staining his clothes. "Young Master Xue! Get away from her!" the guards yelled urgently, rushing towards the fallen fox.
As the sky swiftly turned dark, ominous clouds blanketed the once-clear heavens. A mysterious green gas began to snake its way across the academy grounds, enveloping everything in its path. The noxious fumes surrounded the three guards, especially thick around Zi Qian, emitting a pungent and choking poison that proved unbearable. Zi Qian coughed relentlessly, eventually dropping to the ground, overcome by the toxic atmosphere. The guards succumbed as well, falling into unconsciousness.
Amidst the swirling gas, the atmosphere shifted, and two figures cloaked in black attire emerged. Despite their youthful appearance, it was evident that time had not touched them for a thousand years. One of the men, with a gloved hand, stooped over the injured fox. He ruthlessly extracted the arrow with a scoff, " This is what is expected from a helpless fox," disdain evident as he discarded the weapon. Scooping up the wounded fox after checking her pulse, he remarked, "She's still alive. Let's take her for treatment."
" As you command deputy leader!" The other man said.
The other man bent down to examine Zi Qian. "Is he the one we've been looking for?"
"Yes, it seems to be," came the affirmative response as the man effortlessly lifted Zi Qian. Suddenly, a mystical portal materialized, a shimmering gateway to an unknown destination. Carrying both Zi Qian and the injured fox, the two men stepped into the portal, which promptly sealed behind them, vanishing along with the toxic gas that had engulfed the scene.