My uncle, his stance protective like a father shielding his young, spoke with unwavering courage. His fear was not of the demon leader before him, but for our safety. Such a protective uncle, how could I not respect and revere him?
"Insolent! How dare you speak to me in such a tone?" Hu Jiu roared. The pain of losing his son had already ignited his rage. Now, having finally found the killer, only to learn his son had brought it upon himself, he had nowhere to vent his fury and had lost face. To be rebuked by this old Taoist further stripped him of dignity, and he sought an outlet for his anger.
But before his words even finished, the fox elder in the center let out a low growl, "Hu Jiu, *you* are the one being insolent." She glared at Hu Jiu's side. Though no demonic energy was released, the authority of Hu San Tai Nai, the pressure of a millennium-old fox demon, filled the air. That aura instantly cowed Hu Jiu into submission. The fox demons from the Pursuit Moon Cave of the Two Lakes Mountain recoiled, fearing to incur the wrath of this great demon.
Hu Jiu trembled, then with a "thump," he knelt. "Third Aunt, I… I-I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have been presumptuous. It's just… the pain of losing my son still weighs heavily on me." Hu Jiu confessed his transgression publicly.
Seeing this, a flicker of sorrow crossed Hu San Tai Nai's eyes. Perhaps she recalled something, maybe the parents of Xiao Mei. After a long pause, she spoke, "Alright, Xiao Jiu. It has happened. You must accept reality. This may be a test of karma. Do not let inner demons disrupt your Dao heart. For us beasts, cultivation is already difficult. I, myself, spent a thousand years to attain human form. Your path ahead is still long. Listen to your aunt: the death of the little yellow fox was his own doing; no one else is to blame. Even if Qin and Mo hadn't killed him, heaven would have, perhaps even implicating your entire fox tribe from the Pursuit Moon Cave. Go, think it over carefully!"
Hearing this, Hu Jiu turned to look at me and Old Mo, his eyes still holding a hatred, an undeniable emotion – the deep-seated loathing a father feels for his son's killer. We met his gaze without fear. My uncle stood guard nearby, prepared for any eventuality.
After several seconds, Hu Jiu averted his gaze and said, "Third Aunt, Xiao Jiu knows his mistake. After the sacrifice, Xiao Jiu will return to the Pursuit Moon Cave to go into seclusion, hoping to resolve the resentment in his heart…" This old fox, clearly in pain, agreed readily. On the surface, the matter was settled.
Hu San Tai Nai nodded. "Good! Rise."
Hu Jiu then stood. As he rose, he looked at me and took a deep breath, a stern, imposing look on his face. Then, he spoke, "An old fox keeps his word. My son was wicked, and I, as his father, failed to discipline him. I will forfeit a hundred years of my cultivation." With that, he raised his hand and struck his own chest powerfully.
With a "bang," the blow landed directly on his chest. Hu Jiu spat out a mouthful of blood, followed by a wisp of green qi…
"True essence…" Seeing this, I was stunned. Old Mo and my uncle were also surprised. This fox was truly a man of his word. A century of cultivation, gone with a single blow. We had initially dismissed his words as a joke. Even with the truth revealed, we would never have allowed the old fox to cripple himself by a century of cultivation here. A hundred years of cultivation was precious. Many beasts didn't live that long. Their lifespan was directly tied to their cultivation. Only demons with profound cultivation had the right to continue living. By forfeiting a century of his cultivation, he had not only lost strength and power but also his very lifespan. It was possible that by crippling himself today, his lifespan would expire tomorrow… Yet, this old demon had kept his word. In that respect, I had to admire him.
"Leader!"
"Patriarch!"
"…"
The foxes of the Two Lakes Mountain rushed forward to support him. It happened so suddenly that no one had time to intervene. My uncle, seeing this, narrowed his eyes and said, "Old Immortal, you are a person of your word. This humble Taoist admires you." He then bowed to Hu Jiu.
Hu Jiu said nothing more. He merely spoke hoarsely to the fox demons behind him, "Let's go!" With that, they transformed into their fox forms and began to flee towards the mountain's edge.
Seeing the foxes depart, Hu San Tai Nai sighed, "Alas! Daoist Tiger Roar, you have seen our embarrassment. Please, come into the cave! Brother Chang Long, it has been a long time since we last met; please join us for a drink." She gestured for us to enter.
My uncle, not daring to be presumptuous, quickly gestured, "Fox Elder, please, please…"
Chang Long didn't reply but looked at me. I nodded respectfully and said, "Brother Chen Long, Elder Fox is an old acquaintance of yours, so it's only natural to catch up. By the way, please invite Sister Si Snake too!"
Chen Long's face lit up at my suggestion. "Thank you, Young Master Qin." He then called out towards the Violet Bone Vine, "My dear wife! Come out and meet Sister Hu San."
Snake patterns flashed on the Violet Bone Vine. Sister Si Snake appeared instantly, her demeanor gentle and dignified. She bowed to Hu San Tai Nai. Elder Fox San Tai Nai chuckled, repeatedly saying how wonderful it was. She expressed her surprise at seeing Chen Long and his wife in her lifetime.
Following Elder Fox San Tai Nai, we entered the mountain cave. My mind, however, was occupied with Hu Jiu. I wondered if he had truly let go of his grievances, and if this would bring further trouble in the future.
We then arrived at the Fox Immortal Cave. The cave was not vast, but it was cool and clean inside. A large grotto in the center was illuminated by the glow of demon source crystal lamps. Stone tables and chairs were arranged, and a feast of mountain delicacies was already prepared. Fox elders sat alongside. My uncle was seated as the honored guest, and Old Mo and I took our places accordingly.
Once everyone was seated, Hu San Tai Nai said, "For two hundred years, Daoist Tiger Roar and Young Masters Qin and Mo are the only human guests of honor at Fox Mountain. We shall not rest until we are drunk today!" My uncle and we felt greatly honored and respected. However, we had come empty-handed. My uncle instructed us to rise and offer wine. Then, my uncle spoke, "Fox Elder, we, your three disciples, are overwhelmed by your hospitality. On behalf of us three, we offer three toasts." We drank the three cups in succession. The wine was exceptionally potent, and after three cups, we began to feel its effects. The fox clan chuckled and clapped their hands.
After finishing his drink, my uncle wasted no time: "Fox Elder, we three have come on behalf of the Dao Alliance, hoping to form an alliance with your Ba Mountain Fox Tribe to resist evil, save all living beings, and together, create a new world."
Elder Fox nodded. "I am aware of the matter. Our fox tribe has long intended to ally with the Dao Alliance, but a suitable opportunity was lacking. Now that you, Qin, and others are involved, our fox tribe will surely give our full support. However, I have one humble request, which I hope Daoist Tiger Roar can convey to the Dao Alliance. I only hope that once this matter is settled, the mountains of this world will have a place for our fox tribe. A place where we are not bullied, oppressed, killed, or harmed. That is all we ask for the fox tribes of the world. As long as the Dao Alliance agrees, I am willing to sign a covenant with the Dao Alliance immediately…"