The Fox Spirit Raised by the Villain Wants to Defect - Chapter 33

“What does Sword Venerable mean by this? No matter who said it, it was all done for the sake of the sect,” Qiu Hong frowned, looking back at Lian Qiao.

Lian Qiao then spoke: “I heard Young Ying mention this inadvertently. Considering that the Pure Fox Clan possesses powers of enchantment, I was worried that Sword Venerable might be misled, and that is why…”

Wen Yu placed his jade flute aside with a crisp pa-da sound. The hearts of the three people trembled with the sound.

“Duanmu Ying told you about this matter?” Wen Yu lowered his eyes, looking at the hand he had once used to shield Xiaoyu from the puppet threads.

Lian Qiao was about to speak when she heard Wen Yu say: “How is it that I did not know she is a core member of the Pure Fox Clan, yet you three somehow know?”

The expressions of the three immediately stiffened. Qiu Hong and Qi Zhuolun both looked at Lian Qiao, who flashed a moment of annoyance before quickly changing it to confusion.

“This… Perhaps the demon beast deliberately concealed it but inadvertently revealed a tell in front of Young Ying.”

Qiu Hong and Qi Zhuolun immediately tried to smooth things over for Lian Qiao: “Yes, demon beasts are naturally cunning. Sword Venerable must be extremely careful not to be seduced by this fox demon.”

“She holds a high position within the Pure Fox Clan. If we do not kill her but instead use her to threaten the Demon Race, those demon beasts will certainly show up for her. When that happens, we can make demands,” Qiu Hong thought carefully, feeling his idea was excellent. “The Grand Competition is imminent, we cannot afford any mishaps.”

Qiu Hong’s statement was overheard by Xiaoyu as she walked towards the door.

Xiaoyu looked, seeing Qiu Hong and Qi Zhuolun in the front. Her gaze fell upon the woman behind them and recognized Lian Qiao.

Hadn’t this matter been cleared up? Why had these three run back again?

“Yes, that is a good idea. Use that demon beast to threaten the Demon Race—”

“You truly think highly of me.”

Xiaoyu did not want to listen anymore and walked into the room. The original character was merely cannon fodder; where did she get such a powerful background?

The three turned their heads, looking at her simultaneously.

Lian Qiao turned around and beckoned to Xiaoyu: “We mean no harm, but given your identity, Miss, it is truly inappropriate for you to remain in the Yuehui Sect.”

She smiled at Xiaoyu, a smile that seemed pasted onto her face, devoid of any genuine warmth.

Hearing her words, Qiu Hong remained still, but Qi Zhuolun walked toward Xiaoyu, posturing as if to arrest her.

“I knew this demon beast had ill intentions. Hiding behind the door to eavesdrop, were you?” He went to grab Xiaoyu’s wrist, but a cold flash appeared suddenly, pointing at his neck.

The Sword in the Flute appeared, and Qi Zhuolun immediately wilted, no longer daring to touch Xiaoyu. His eyes were fixed on the sword tip as he retreated little by little.

Qiu Hong rushed to turn back and ask Wen Yu: “What do you mean by this, Sword Venerable? Brother Qi was merely anxious, worried that this demon beast would pose a threat to the Yuehui Sect. Why must Sword Venerable draw his sword against him?”

“She was brought back by me. Her life and death are not for you to decide,” Wen Yu lowered his eyes, mentally commanding the Sword in the Flute to back Qi Zhuolun away step by step, keeping him distant from Xiaoyu.

This move instantly gave Xiaoyu a profound sense of security.

She walked toward Wen Yu, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Wen Yu received her look, paused, and shifted his gaze to Lian Qiao, his tone subtle: “Duanmu Ying told you she is from the Pure Fox Clan?”

At the time, Xiaoyu had only mentioned that the Pure Fox Clan was behind the assassination attempt on him, but she never said she herself was a core member of the Pure Fox Clan.

It was impossible for Duanmu Ying to know Xiaoyu’s identity and then inform them in such a short time.

“Young Ying mentioned it in passing. Perhaps I misremembered,” Lian Qiao suddenly changed her story: “Young Ying must have only said she was from the Pure Fox Clan, not mentioning her position within it.”

“Young Ying meant well,” Qiu Hong gritted his teeth, continuing to state his purpose for coming: “The Grand Competition is imminent. The Yuehui Sect cannot afford any mistakes. Even if the Sword Venerable is guarding this demon beast, there is no guarantee that she won’t bring other demon beasts in.”

“I earnestly ask the Sword Venerable to hand her over to us for confinement. She can be released once the competition is over.”

Xiaoyu’s intuition told her that someone was deliberately targeting her.

And they were using her as an excuse to target Wen Yu.

However, she currently had no way to change these people’s perception of her.

Wen Yu did not reply but recalled the Sword in the Flute.

“You, this demon, have such nerve! You painstakingly approached the Sword Venerable with the sole intention of infiltrating the Yuehui Sect to relay intelligence for your Demon Race, correct?”

Qiu Hong squinted as he scrutinized Xiaoyu. He also wanted to seize her, just like Qi Zhuolun, but with Wen Yu present, he couldn’t act rashly.

The demonic energy on this demon beast was almost undetectable. If they hadn’t listened to the message and set up the Demon Detection Array beforehand, Wen Yu could have brought this demon back, and no one would have known she was a demon until the competition began!

Xiaoyu’s only purpose in approaching Wen Yu was survival. As for relaying intelligence for the Demon Race to harm the Yuehui Sect, she couldn’t be bothered.

Her meal ticket was right beside her. Who would run off to be a horse and ox, working themselves to death, only to be executed by a disgruntled leader?

She turned her head to Wen Yu. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, she cleared her throat and began to mislead them. Whether they believed her was their business, but her stance had to be made clear.

She didn’t want to be constantly troubled in the future.

“Everyone, my strength is very weak, and I pose no threat to you,” Xiaoyu rushed to speak before the two men could interject, deliberately raising her voice.

“You may not believe my words, but do you also not believe Wen Yu?” She sped up her pace, giving the two no chance to interrupt: “You just said that you were entrusted with such an important task as this competition because you have Wen Yu’s presence.”

“Wen Yu’s name rings throughout the Three Realms. If you disregard Wen Yu’s opinion twice in a row, insisting on taking me away, are you not afraid that word will spread, and you will be condemned for disrespecting the Sword Venerable?”

Xiaoyu spoke a long stream of words, her focus entirely on confronting the two men, completely missing the look Wen Yu gave her.

It was a look of surprise, approval, and a quickly suppressed sense of possessiveness.

As the girl spoke those words, defending him, she seemed to glow. Her vibrant essence deeply attracted him.

But with outsiders present, he couldn’t approach her.

“But we are doing this for the safety of the Yuehui Sect,” Qiu Hong repeated the same line. “Unless you are eliminated, I cannot account for this to the sect, nor to the cultivators of the world who trust our sect!”

Xiaoyu truly wanted to roll her eyes at them but held back.

“I have no connection to your Yuehui Sect, nor do I have any interest in harming you.” Xiaoyu saw Qi Zhuolun open his mouth to speak and quickly sped up her speech to block him: “Besides, Wen Yu and I are bound by a contract. Even if you don’t trust me, you must surely trust the contract, right?”

Xiaoyu felt a little guilty saying this, as she and Wen Yu had no contract. But since Wen Yu had acknowledged it to Qiu Hong earlier, she could only use this to silence them.

At this point, Lian Qiao stepped in to mediate: “With the Sword Venerable and the contract binding her, she will be found out even if she attempts any tricks.”

“Furthermore, the Sword Venerable has resided in the Yuehui Sect for many years and possesses profound cultivation; he would not be misled by a mere fox demon.” After she spoke, Qiu Hong seemed mollified, but Qi Zhuolun’s objective had not been achieved.

“…”

Xiaoyu felt disgusted by the phrase “a mere fox demon”; it made her deeply uncomfortable.

But seeing their attitude soften, she took a slight step back and stopped talking.

The rest was up to Wen Yu.

Just as she retreated, Wen Yu’s voice timely rang out: “Since she was brought back by me, I will naturally watch over her. There is no need for any of you to worry.”

Simultaneously, the Sword in the Flute disintegrated into fragments, hovering over the heads of the three, putting pressure on them.

They were unwilling to completely fall out with Wen Yu over a single demon. They had no choice but to drop the matter.

“Oh, Sword Venerable, you misunderstand! We were merely anxious, worried about your safety,” Qiu Hong quickly twisted his initial intention with a snap of his tongue.

Xiaoyu listened, inwardly scoffing.

He’s really trying to praise himself.

“Yes, if we weren’t worried that the Sword Venerable might be misled by this demon beast, we wouldn’t have rushed over so quickly, only to be chastised for our efforts,” Qi Zhuolun interjected. Qiu Hong gave him a meaningful look, signaling him to be silent.

Wen Yu shot a fierce look at Qi Zhuolun and coldly stated: “That is not for you to worry about. My cultivation, even at its worst, would not allow me to be misled.”

Qi Zhuolun’s face stiffened. He chuckled awkwardly, retreating and pushing Qiu Hong to the front.

He cursed inwardly but dared not show it on his face.

After all, Wen Yu had helped the Human Race achieve victory in the great war between the two races a century ago. If he went against Wen Yu, the people who revered him could drown Qi Zhuolun in their spit alone.

The matter was almost concluded.

“Then, we will no longer disturb the Sword Venerable.” Qiu Hong said this but did not leave. “May I ask if the Sword Venerable requires me to prepare a new room for her to stay in?”

Wen Yu immediately refused: “Keep her by my side. If she makes any move, I will know.”

Xiaoyu almost couldn’t hold back a cheer.

Well done, Daozhang! He let them pressure him, and now they’ve been successfully rebuffed.

Qiu Hong had no choice. He subtly glanced back at Lian Qiao. Seeing no reaction from her, he compromised.

“Then we trouble the Sword Venerable to keep a close watch on this demon beast.” Qiu Hong cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Qi Zhuolun merely nodded at Wen Yu, following Qiu Hong out with his hands behind his back.

Only Lian Qiao remained, looking at Wen Yu, expressing concern: “Young Ying told me that the Sword Venerable was injured by puppet threads. Last night, you cultivated behind closed doors, and I dared not disturb you. Now that I have the chance, let me check your injury to see if there is anything I can help with.”

Xiaoyu felt there was something strange about her words.

Why didn’t she offer to check his injuries yesterday when they met? Why didn’t she come this morning when Nan Chenghui showed up? Why now?

The two men who had not yet walked out overheard this and their eyes flashed with calculation.

Both immediately stopped and turned back.

“Sword Venerable is injured? We had no idea!” Qiu Hong exclaimed, rushing back. “Quickly, let Lian Qiao take a look. If it weren’t for saving my sister-in-law, how would you have been hurt?”

Qi Zhuolun echoed him while glancing at Wen Yu.

“Sect Master Qiu is right.”

Xiaoyu stared only at the three of them. If even she could figure out their intentions, it was impossible for Wen Yu not to see them.

Yet, he still agreed.

“Then I trouble the Deputy Sect Master,” he said. As soon as he finished, Lian Qiao walked toward him.

Wen Yu’s ink-black eyes were calm, clearly having anticipated this.

But he had not expected Xiaoyu to coordinate with him so seamlessly, her every word closely matching his thoughts.

Seeing Wen Yu agree, Xiaoyu was worried but chose to hold back.

Since he agreed, he must have been prepared.

Watching Lian Qiao inject her spiritual power into Wen Yu’s body, and then glancing at the other two men who were leaning closer, Xiaoyu suddenly realized that Wen Yu’s situation was far from the easy one described in the book.

When she read the book, he was the highly respected, prestigious Sword Venerable.

Now, he was being targeted and restricted everywhere.

So why did Wen Yu choose to remain in the Yuehui Sect in the first place?

While her thoughts were distracted, Lian Qiao had already finished the diagnosis.

“Sword Venerable’s power is exceptional. The injuries from the puppet threads have healed so quickly. It seems I am not needed,” Lian Qiao looked relieved that Wen Yu’s injuries were recovering. She backed away, stating she had other matters to attend to, and left first.

The remaining two, seeing this, also quickly left.

Soon, the bustling room fell quiet.

Wen Yu raised his hand to set up a barrier, then suddenly slumped.

Xiaoyu was startled and immediately spread her arms to catch him.

His chin landed on her shoulder, and his cold breath puffed onto her skin, causing a slight tickle.

Wen Yu struggled to maintain consciousness. The moment he leaned close to Xiaoyu, he caught the faint, subtle fragrance emanating from her.