The Fox Spirit Raised by the Villain Wants to Defect - Chapter 49

The bracelet rapidly split and reformed into a dagger, instantly severing the object tangled around Xiao Yu’s ankle.

Xiao Yu reacted immediately, grasping the spiritual thread that Wen Yu had thrown. Her body spun, and the thread pulled her back, straight into Wen Yu’s embrace.

The scent of cold air filled her senses, and the tremor in Xiao Yu’s heart settled down.

Immediately afterward, her entire body was lifted into the air as Wen Yu held her tightly, retreating several feet.

A violent noise erupted from the pit. The water that had condensed and crashed down gathered, transforming into a transparent aquatic demonic beast.

Xiao Yu saw the spiritual thread fling Lian Qiao aside, narrowly avoiding the attack.

It was only at this moment that she truly saw the culprit responsible for the murder of the participating disciples.

The Dream Nightmare Beast, its body a riot of dazzling colors, stood upon the back of the transparent demonic beast, its eyes fixed on them with a savage glare.

That transparent demonic beast looked as if it were made entirely of water; if it remained still, it was nearly invisible.

“That is the Dream Nightmare Beast’s companion beast,” Wen Yu said, setting Xiao Yu down. With a flick of his finger, the Flute-Sword fragmented, ready for action.

“The Dream Nightmare Beast uses illusion arts to confuse people, and the companion beast takes the opportunity to strangle those who are caught in the spell. They usually operate together.” Wen Yu didn’t pay much attention to the two demonic beasts, turning his gaze instead toward Lian Qiao.

“What is the meaning of this, Sword Venerable? Shouldn’t your artifact be pointed at the demonic beasts?” Lian Qiao stood up, her eyes glancing at the fragments aimed at her, her face filled with anger.

Xiao Yu was only puzzled for a moment before she quickly understood why Wen Yu had done this.

He suspected Lian Qiao, just as she did.

The spiritual thread wrapped around a severed length of fine thread and presented it before Lian Qiao’s eyes.

The cut thread was less than an inch long, yet Xiao Yu found it familiar.

She had seen a thread of this material in the Demon Realm of Sand. After soaking up blood, it would turn red; she had also found some near Nan Chenghui’s head earlier in the Southern City.

Xiao Yu abruptly looked over at Lian Qiao.

“Could it be that she is—”

Before she could finish her sentence, the Dream Nightmare Beast and its companion beast unleashed their power simultaneously.

The Dream Nightmare Beast opened its mouth. Its maw, which looked no bigger than a fist, began to grow larger and larger, slowly devouring the companion beast until it was entirely swallowed.

Xiao Yu and Wen Yu immediately focused on the Dream Nightmare Beast. Its body swelled continuously, eventually filling the entire pit.

At the same time, Lian Qiao formed a hand seal with incredible speed. Countless fine threads spread out, batting the fragments away and then focusing on Nan Chenghui.

Soon, countless fine threads swarmed toward Nan Chenghui, controlling his head, hands, and feet.

A terrifying burst of demonic energy exploded, engulfing the area.

Nan Chenghui opened his eyes, locked onto Xiao Yu, and charged straight at her.

Wen Yu recalled his fragments to sever the puppet threads controlling Nan Chenghui, while keeping a portion of his attention on the Dream Nightmare Beast.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu tightened her grip on the dagger, channeling her demonic energy. She cooperated with Wen Yu to block Nan Chenghui’s attacks, her gaze locked on Lian Qiao, who was completely encased in fine threads.

It really is her!

“Be careful. These are puppet threads. If they pierce your body, you will lose your consciousness and be controlled by her,” Wen Yu warned. No sooner had he spoken than several puppet threads shot out from the ground, aiming viciously at the tops of their feet.

Xiao Yu activated her demonic energy, and the dagger left her palm, sweeping fiercely to cut the puppet threads.

Suddenly, a deafening roar assailed their ears. The sound startled Xiao Yu so much she nearly dropped the dagger.

The Dream Nightmare Beast opened its enormous, blood-red eyes, which were nearly the size of a human head.

It locked onto the three figures on the ground, and immense demonic energy erupted from its body, rushing skyward and spreading out, quickly covering the entire secret realm.

The once bright sky was instantly replaced by dark clouds and dense fog, as if the apocalypse had arrived.

“This Dream Nightmare Beast’s cultivation speed in the secret realm is ten times faster than outside. It will not be easy to deal with.”

Wen Yu glanced at the cocoon of puppet threads, which he could not break open for the moment. Just as he was about to make his move, Xiao Yu grabbed his arm.

“Leave the Dream Nightmare Beast to me.” She cast a look of eager anticipation at Wen Yu. “As a fellow demonic beast, its method of attack is somewhat similar to my innate divine ability.”

With that, she already started walking towards the Dream Nightmare Beast. “Lend me your sword for a moment.”

The dagger immediately joined with the fragments to form the sword, which impatiently settled into Xiao Yu’s palm.

“You go and catch Lian Qiao.”

If the incidents in the secret realm and the events in the Demon Realm of Sand were all Lian Qiao’s doing, then Lian Qiao was definitely one of the people in the original book who exposed the identities of Nan Chenghui and Yan Ziqiong and fanned the flames in the cultivation world.

Her goal was certainly not as simple as merely exposing their identities and driving Wen Yu out of the Yuehui Sect.

Xiao Yu had no time to ponder. Sword in hand, she met the Dream Nightmare Beast’s attack.

But she struck thin air.

The Dream Nightmare Beast’s attack seemed intangible. Her sword strike only hit emptiness.

Just as she was feeling surprised, she suddenly felt a damp, slimy sensation gradually enveloping her. Painful memories from her past uncontrollably resurfaced in her mind.

Xiao Yu’s body became rigid, as if her hands were being controlled by invisible threads. She raised the hand holding the Flute-Sword and aimed it at her own chest and lungs.

Seeing this, Wen Yu immediately ran toward Xiao Yu but was blocked by countless puppet threads.

Lian Qiao’s voice came from within the puppet threads: “I never thought the Sword Venerable would take a fancy to a demonic beast, disregarding the animosity between the human and demon races.”

Wen Yu frowned. The Flute-Sword was not with him, making it difficult to deal with the puppet threads.

He dodged the attacks of the puppet threads while also trying to figure out how to rescue the controlled Nan Chenghui. For a time, he was at a disadvantage.

“She will die soon. Sword Venerable, a demonic beast without any value does not deserve to live.” Lian Qiao sneered, her eyes filled with a desire completely different from her usual appearance.

Wen Yu ignored her. The un-severable puppet threads suddenly shot out from behind him, now less than an arm’s length from the back of his neck.

At the same time, Nan Chenghui rushed up to intercept Wen Yu. Demonic energy surged out, nearly hitting him.

Wen Yu had to turn sideways to dodge. By the time he noticed the puppet threads attacking him from behind, it was too late.

The puppet thread plunged directly into the back of his neck, instantly turning scarlet.

Wen Yu’s entire body went stiff. His spiritual power ceased, and he became a puppet without self-awareness.

Nan Chenghui, who was being controlled, stopped.

Lian Qiao clearly looked stunned. She hadn’t expected Wen Yu to be controlled by her so easily.

Cautiously using a puppet thread to probe him, she ordered Wen Yu to sever his own arm. The puppet controlled by the thread actually followed the command.

Lian Qiao finally believed it. The outermost puppet threads around her body dissipated, but her guard had not completely dropped. She walked over carefully.

Just as she was about to use a puppet thread to force Wen Yu to sever his other arm, she heard Xiao Yu’s sharp cry.

“Stop—”

Lian Qiao paused, turning her head with a smile toward Xiao Yu, who was trapped by the Dream Nightmare Beast.

“You want me to stop?”

Xiao Yu nodded repeatedly, trying to break free of her restraints, but she was completely unable to struggle free.

She could only watch as Wen Yu, controlled by the puppet threads, severed his arm again.

Lian Qiao watched the miserably weeping Xiao Yu while observing the successfully controlled Wen Yu, a sudden feeling of delight swelling in her heart.

“Who would have thought, Wen Yu, after all these years, I can finally tear off your hypocritical facade. You, too, have a time when you can be trampled by me at will.”

Lian Qiao completely relaxed, her smile gradually becoming malevolent, her eyes brimming with hatred.

“If you hadn’t gone to such extremes back then, why would I have resorted to this measure, taking such a massive risk?” Lian Qiao composed herself, raising her smile again. “But now I have succeeded.”

She laughed, plunging several puppet threads into Wen Yu’s body, as if venting her hatred. She riddled his body with holes, and the scarlet puppet threads absorbed his fresh blood, turning deep red, almost black.

After venting her hatred, she used the puppet threads to control Wen Yu and Nan Chenghui to walk towards the Dream Nightmare Beast.

She spread her fingers, intending to use the puppet threads she had already laid within the Dream Nightmare Beast to control it to withdraw its demonic power.

However, there was no reaction.

Beneath the gray-black sky, the Dream Nightmare Beast and the fox demon it had trapped remained motionless, like a painting suspended in mid-air.

Lian Qiao’s face changed dramatically. She immediately looked at Wen Yu.

However, the person who should have been under her control had turned into a paper cutout, and so had that demon!

Lian Qiao’s mind buzzed. Realizing what had happened, she immediately used puppet threads to attack the surroundings.

An invisible force simultaneously severed all the attacking puppet threads, and powder scattered everywhere.

Immediately afterward, the fragments revealed themselves, directly slicing the most critical meridian on Lian Qiao’s body, blocking her spiritual power output. The puppet threads all lost their spiritual support and fell to the ground.

Lian Qiao covered her wrist with one hand, her stunned pupils reflecting Xiao Yu’s gaze.

“Didn’t expect it, did you? I’m the one dealing with you.”

Xiao Yu caught the Flute-Sword, landing handsomely on the ground.

Seeing Lian Qiao look like she had seen a ghost, Xiao Yu felt a strong sense of accomplishment.

“How… how did you do it?” Lian Qiao turned her head, realizing that the Dream Nightmare Beast was not under her control, and Nan Chenghui was still entangled with Wen Yu.

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

She had just managed to control Wen Yu; how could this have happened?

“Are you asking how I escaped the Dream Nightmare Beast’s control, or how I cut your puppet threads?” Xiao Yu reached out, showing the Dream Nightmare Beast she had captured. “Or is it the illusion you just saw?”

Lian Qiao’s face turned deathly pale.

“Now, am I considered valuable?”

“You—”

Xiao Yu held the sword against Lian Qiao’s neck, not moving too close to her.

Watching this scene, she suddenly recalled the time when Duanmu Ying had pointed a sword at her.

“You found out long ago?” Lian Qiao’s voice was hoarse, and her eyes were filled with venom as she looked at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu shook her head. “We didn’t find out about you—”

Her sentence was interrupted by Lian Qiao’s cold laugh. “Hmph, if you hadn’t found out about me, why would you set a trap to lure me in?”

Xiao Yu froze, let go of the hand holding the Flute-Sword, and wanted to laugh.

The Flute-Sword watched Lian Qiao by itself, keeping a close eye on her every move.

Lifting the Dream Nightmare Beast, Xiao Yu pointed to the listless creature. She started to think Lian Qiao had overestimated her.

Or perhaps, Lian Qiao hadn’t gotten the true information about her from Duanmu Ying and thought that anyone who could stay by Wen Yu’s side must be a formidable demonic beast.

Before she was entangled by the puppet threads and thrown aside, she had already fought the Dream Nightmare Beast back and forth.

Coincidentally, her innate divine ability was somewhat similar to the Dream Nightmare Beast’s innate divine ability. However, coupled with her bloodline suppression and control over demonic energy, the Dream Nightmare Beast was no match for her and was captured.

Short on time, she didn’t elaborate to Wen Yu. She directly had the Dream Nightmare Beast create an illusion to confuse Lian Qiao, and she seized the opportunity to use the Flute-Sword to relay her plan to Wen Yu.

The two coordinated perfectly, successfully deceiving Lian Qiao and making her reveal her frenzied actions.

Perhaps Lian Qiao thought her scheme would succeed quickly, lowering her guard. She was then infiltrated by the Dream Nightmare Beast and fell into the illusion.

“It was just a small test. We didn’t know you truly harbored such intentions.” Xiao Yu had only guessed, and she hadn’t expected Lian Qiao to expose herself.

Lian Qiao sneered, showing no fear. “Do you think you can escape just by dealing with this one Dream Nightmare Beast?”

Xiao Yu naturally knew that Lian Qiao must have another trick up her sleeve, but she could only adapt to the situation as it developed.

The person who dared to kill four participating disciples openly in the secret realm, under everyone’s watchful eyes, definitely had more help than just one Dream Nightmare Beast!

At this moment, Wen Yu had subdued Nan Chenghui and brought him back.

The spiritual thread controlled Nan Chenghui’s body. Wen Yu bypassed Lian Qiao and looked directly at Xiao Yu. The worry and admiration in his eyes overflowed, making Xiao Yu feel a little embarrassed.

“Sorry, I didn’t tell you in time,” Xiao Yu scratched her head, her confidence from a moment ago slightly diminished.

Wen Yu shook his head. His palm paused before finally resting on Xiao Yu’s head, gently rubbing it.

“You did very well.”

Receiving the praise, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but smile.

She also thought she had done well.

She offered the Dream Nightmare Beast to Wen Yu to look at. “It’s this guy. Lian Qiao controlled it.”

Although she learned from the illusion that the Dream Nightmare Beast killed the participating disciples because it was controlled by Lian Qiao’s puppet threads, Xiao Yu didn’t consider letting the Dream Nightmare Beast off.

It was better for others to decide what should be done.

Lian Qiao watched from the side, sneering repeatedly. “Wen Yu, you should really be grateful that you have a demonic beast like this to help you.”

Wen Yu nodded, acknowledging. “I should indeed thank her.”

Xiao Yu felt a little shy upon hearing this. She quickly adjusted her mood and told Wen Yu what she had seen in the illusion.

After hearing it, Wen Yu turned his gaze to Lian Qiao.

The Flute-Sword dutifully guarded Lian Qiao, giving her no chance to escape.

With her meridian severed, she could no longer manipulate the puppet threads to attack.

Now that the situation was reversed, Lian Qiao had become the one being controlled.

“Besides this Dream Nightmare Beast, which other demonic beasts did you control in the secret realm?”

When Wen Yu entered, he had already investigated. Apart from the three of them and the remaining participating disciples, there were no other human presences.

Therefore, the only ones who could be collaborating with Lian Qiao here were demonic beasts.

Xiao Yu also asked the Dream Nightmare Beast but did not get any useful information.

“Why don’t you directly search my soul? Wen Yu, are you afraid?” Lian Qiao seemed to know she would not die immediately. Her words were provocative, completely disregarding Wen Yu.

Xiao Yu heard this and looked at Wen Yu, but saw him shake his head.

“She has a restriction in her body. If I forcibly search her soul, the person who placed the restriction will know she is in danger and kill her directly. It will be even harder to investigate then.”

Xiao Yu regretted again that she hadn’t finished reading the entire book!

“What good will capturing me do? Do you think I’m the only one opposing you?” Lian Qiao believed she wouldn’t walk out alive, so she just said the most unpleasant things. “I’ve seen many false people like you. I was deceived by your seemingly pure surface, but in reality, you are a complete hypocrite!”

Wen Yu didn’t even frown upon hearing this.

Xiao Yu’s first reaction was that Lian Qiao was desperate and talking nonsense.

Although she had only read the first half of the novel, she had learned a bit about Wen Yu’s character during their time together.

No matter how strange he might be, he was better than the conniving Lian Qiao.

Xiao Yu sighed, really wanting to pour that truth serum-like potion down her throat.

To save her from being so stubborn.

“What’s wrong, are you speechless?” Lian Qiao was quite proud. Even though her hand wound was still bleeding, she showed no guilt or fear about being caught.

Xiao Yu was angry. She was just like Duanmu Ying; everything she said was thorny, and even when she was wrong, she wouldn’t put herself at a disadvantage.

“Xiao Yu.”

Wen Yu called her name.

“Yes, what is it?” Xiao Yu was still glaring at Lian Qiao, trying to kill her with her eyes.

“I need you to watch her here. I will continue to investigate.” Wen Yu took in her actions, his eyes holding a hint of a smile.

Such a lively person easily captured all his attention.

“Ah?” Xiao Yu looked at Lian Qiao, thought for a moment, and agreed. “Go quickly, and leave the Flute-Sword with me. I’ll watch her here.”

Xiao Yu held the Flute-Sword, pointing it at Lian Qiao’s neck, maintaining vigilance.

Wen Yu gave a soft ‘Mmm’ and looked over at Lian Qiao.

Lian Qiao made no attempt to hide her scrutiny of him and Xiao Yu, her face showing a mocking smile.

Just as she was about to speak, her expression changed, and she reached toward Xiao Yu.

Her hand was aimed at Xiao Yu’s neck, as if intending to strangle her.

Behind her, a demonic beast charged out from the ground, its sharp pincer-like hand aimed at Lian Qiao’s back.

Xiao Yu’s heart jumped. She instinctively attacked, channeling her demonic energy. In that instant, Lian Qiao unexpectedly turned her body, leaning straight toward the Flute-Sword.

Immediately afterward, the ground shook, and a shout of alarm rang out.

“Aunt—”

By the time Xiao Yu saw the scene before her, her mind couldn’t quite process it.

The Flute-Sword had severed the suddenly appearing demonic beast, but for some unknown reason, it was stained with Lian Qiao’s blood.

Lian Qiao’s eyes were wide, and blood spurted from her neck. Her hand was still reaching toward Xiao Yu before it finally drooped down.

Duanmu Ying flew over, catching Lian Qiao’s falling body, her eyes full of sorrow and resentment.

She violently looked up, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Xiao Yu, and she cried out in pain: “Why did you kill my Aunt!”

Xiao Yu looked at the Flute-Sword in her hand, then at Lian Qiao, who had already stopped breathing, and took a deep breath.

To be able to frame me even at a moment like this, sacrificing your own life, Lian Qiao, you are truly relentless.

Xiao Yu was so angry she couldn’t speak. She swung the Flute-Sword, killing all the demonic beasts that had appeared behind her.

“You demons are indeed all deserving of death! There truly isn’t a single one who can sincerely treat us humans!”

Nan Chenghui, regaining consciousness, heard the latter half of the sentence. He stared blankly at Duanmu Ying holding Lian Qiao, his mind clouded. He didn’t know what had happened.

Where am I?

Wasn’t Duanmu Ying in the final competition in the secret realm?

This string of questions was only answered when more participating disciples arrived.

“Sword Venerable, you are here! That’s great! We can finally get out.”

Four disciples arrived in succession. Bai Yingxue was overjoyed when she saw Wen Yu.

She covered the wound on her abdomen to staunch the blood and quickly said, “After we passed the fifth level’s illusion test, we couldn’t leave the secret realm. Did something happen here?”

They hadn’t seen the water mirror and didn’t know what had happened to the others. When they all searched together, only the five of them were left.

Before they could react, Duanmu Ying ran away first.

The remaining three all stared at the person Duanmu Ying was holding, vaguely guessing what had happened in the secret realm.

Xiao Yu turned her head and saw that the surviving few were all formerly top disciples, and they were all wounded.

“She killed my aunt!”

Duanmu Ying cried out recklessly, not noticing Nan Chenghui nearby.

Holding the corpse that was already growing cold, she felt increasingly isolated and helpless.

She scanned the surroundings, seeing that the following participating disciples were all standing far away, and no one seemed inclined to help her.

Even Nan Chenghui just stood there, looking bewildered.

Duanmu Ying stood up, drew her sword, and charged toward Xiao Yu.

She was weak before and couldn’t protect her mother. Now that she had become stronger, her close relative had been killed by a demonic beast again. How could she possibly endure this!

But she was still too weak to take revenge.

Wen Yu waved his hand, knocking Duanmu Ying away.

She tried to attack again but was bound by a spiritual thread and thrown to Nan Chenghui.

“Sword Venerable, why are you treating Senior Sister Duanmu this way? What happened here? Where are the others?” Bai Yingxue turned her head and, seeing that the others did not intend to speak up, decided to ask herself.

Wen Yu frowned, staring at Lian Qiao’s corpse for a long time, unable to glean any information.

Lian Qiao was dead, and she had destroyed all discoverable information.

Thus, one part of the clue trail was broken.

Wen Yu withdrew his gaze and saw Xiao Yu looking at him, her expression slowly growing doubtful.

He sighed softly and gently stroked her head to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid. If it wasn’t your doing, you certainly won’t be framed.”

Xiao Yu nodded vigorously, exhaling a breath.

The Flute-Sword rubbed against her palm.

Xiao Yu gripped it and turned to look at Lian Qiao.

It was now certain that Lian Qiao had sought her own death, firstly to prevent Wen Yu from finding the person hiding behind her, and secondly, to create the false impression that she had killed Lian Qiao, witnessed by Duanmu Ying.

This further suggested that their every move was being monitored. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be such a coincidence that Duanmu Ying would arrive just as Lian Qiao threw herself onto the sword, along with those demonic beasts that spurred the events.

It was a chain of events, killing two birds with one stone.

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel afraid.

The person who was plotting against them in the shadows was simply terrifying.

“Please wait a moment, everyone. I need to handle something first.”

For the remaining few, Wen Yu’s presence gave them reassurance.

This kind of trust in one person could sometimes be advantageous, but it could also create difficult-to-contain consequences.

Wen Yu left, leaving the Flute-Sword behind.

Xiao Yu didn’t want to look at Lian Qiao’s corpse anymore and found a place to stand.

Duanmu Ying was still struggling. Nan Chenghui held her, preventing her from breaking free.

“Nan Chenghui, are you going to oppose me, too?” Duanmu Ying’s voice was hoarse from shouting. Her eyes were fixed tightly on Xiao Yu, her hatred almost tangible.

Nan Chenghui remained silent. He knew he couldn’t let go.

“She killed my aunt! That was my aunt!” Duanmu Ying cried hysterically, her grief-stricken shouts attracting the attention of others.

However, only Bai Yingxue and Duanmu Ying were Yuehui Sect disciples, but Bai Yingxue dared not ask.

She and Duanmu Ying were taught by different Masters and had no interaction. Moreover, since Lian Qiao was Duanmu Ying’s aunt, it was even harder for her to inquire.

Soon, Wen Yu returned.

Bai Yingxue and the others immediately gathered around Wen Yu.

“Now, you can crush your tokens and leave the secret realm.”

Bai Yingxue hesitated, asking, “In that case, how will the rankings be calculated?”

They had painstakingly participated in the Grand Competition to vie for the top spot.

Wen Yu merely said, “The rankings will naturally be compiled based on the time you passed the fifth-level trial.”

After he spoke, the remaining people couldn’t wait to leave.

Xiao Yu then walked over, pointed at Duanmu Ying, and asked anxiously, “And her…”

Wen Yu’s furrowed brow deepened.

“Let’s go out first.”

Wen Yu took Lian Qiao’s corpse and motioned for Nan Chenghui to crush Duanmu Ying’s token.

Duanmu Ying was still shouting insults. Nan Chenghui crushed the token, and the two left.

Xiao Yu was led by Wen Yu, and they left the illusion together.

As soon as Lian Qiao’s corpse appeared, Qiu Hong’s eyes widened.

“She’s dead?”

The four disciples present had not yet left. The leaders of the respective sects hurried to check on the injuries of their disciples when Duanmu Ying’s voice suddenly erupted:

“She is a demonic beast!”

“She killed my aunt—”

The entire hall was shocked.