They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Southern Ze Kingdom

Leng Licí’s gaze was fixed on the person on the platform, watching Yun Qingwu skillfully complete every step of the sacrifice, accepting the attention of all the people, as if he belonged here from the beginning, as if he were Meng Huang, the King of this place.

When the sacred fire, representing endless life, was lit by Yun Qingwu’s hand, a burst of cheers erupted from the surrounding crowds. They naturally took the hands of those beside them and began to dance.

The men further away beat the drums in their hands, and the women blew into their crescent-shaped musical instruments. Hope and happiness overflowed on everyone’s faces.

Amidst the celebratory music and singing, Yun Qingwu stepped down from the platform and merged into the crowd. Wherever he walked, the citizens nearby would pluck the embroidered flowers woven into their clothing and place them on Yun Qingwu’s cloak, as a sign of respect and affection.

Leng Licí watched Yun Qingwu walk towards him. He struggled slightly, allowing his iconic eight tails to fan out, hoping that Yun Qingwu would recognize him.

This realm was generated by Meng Huang’s soul and resentment. To break it, he had to find a key within this memory; otherwise, even if he killed everyone, he would not be able to resolve the situation.

And only Yun Qingwu possessed this memory.

This action successfully drew Yun Qingwu’s attention. Leng Licí could feel Yun Qingwu’s gaze fall upon him.

“Bai—”

“Shimu (Master’s wife), is that a fox you’re holding? It actually has eight tails?”

Leng Licí: “…”

Leng Licí’s eyes darkened instantly. His gaze, fixed on Yun Qingwu, seemed to want to execute the man on the spot. However, the one being stared at showed no sign of receiving the signal, maintaining his usual innocent expression.

Innocent to the point of being foolish.

“We found it yesterday at the market. Being so rare, it must be a spirit beast!” Liu Dongxue explained, her eyes also a little excited.

As soon as she said this, Leng Licí could clearly sense that this Yun Qingwu was more interested in him. He bent down and brought his face closer.

Leng Licí seized the opportunity, abruptly leaping up and pouncing towards the repulsive face before him, with a force intended to disfigure the target.

“Oh, you’re quite expressive.”

His claws missed. Amidst the jingle of ornaments, his attack failed, and he was instead confined in his prey’s arms.

Yun Qingwu patted the fox’s head and said gently, “Good boy, be obedient.”

If he were in human form right now, Leng Licí would probably have swung a sword, but unfortunately, he was just a fox.

Leng Licí shifted his fox body, his pair of golden vertical pupils staring at Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu did not shy away, meeting the gaze frankly. Although there was a bit more innocence, the characteristic sharp edge in his eyes was still visible.

This was Yun Qingwu’s unique gaze, and it was the gaze Leng Licí loathed.

Even though the man before him no longer had white hair and his blue eyes had turned black, he could confirm that this person was undoubtedly Yun Qingwu.

“It seems to really like Your Majesty. How about I offer it to Your Majesty as a gift for the Sacrificial Ze Festival?” Qŭ Yè smiled, looking at Yun Qingwu with anticipation.

Who is a gift?!

Leng Licí aimed an indignant tail swipe at Yun Qingwu’s face, wanting to forcefully prove his status.

Yun Qingwu didn’t dodge. Instead, he affectionately rubbed the fox, smiling as he looked at Qŭ Yè: “Are you really giving it to me?”

Qŭ Yè nodded vigorously: “Your Majesty, you will take good care of the little fox, won’t you?”

“Of course. Then I accept this gift.” Yun Qingwu stroked Qŭ Yè’s head, then bounced the restless fox in his hands.

The fox, forced to experience the treatment of a child, glared fiercely at the perpetrator’s neck.

His teeth were itching. He really wanted to bite down, hard enough to draw blood, and if it put an end to this life, even better.

Yun Qingwu naturally didn’t realize the killing intent in that look. He simply assumed the fox, which had finally quieted down, had agreed to go back with him.

“Let’s give you a name.” Yun Qingwu, holding the fox, flipped onto his horse and pondered with a frown.

After a moment, his eyes lit up: “How about Little Flame (Xiăohuŏ)?”

Leng Licí: “…”

Endure. Now was not the time to beat someone up.

Leng Licí closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Mm, it matches your fur color very well. From now on, you are Little Flame.” Yun Qingwu bounced him again, chanting: “Little Flame, Little Flame.”

He can’t endure this at all!

Leng Licí opened his eyes.

A large tail slapped his face again.

Yun Qingwu dodged with a smile: “No need to be so enthusiastic. I know you like the name too.”

Leng Licí: “…”

He retracted his tail. He shouldn’t argue with this person whose mind was clearly malfunctioning.

Now that Yun Qingwu, the key figure, had lost his memory, he needed to carefully think about how to break the situation.

After the ceremony, the group returned to the palace in a grand procession. Yun Qingwu handed the fox to a servant: “A-Ge, please make a bed for Little Flame in the west room. I’m going to change and report to A-Die and A-Niang.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

But Leng Licí had no intention of cooperating. Taking advantage of the handoff, he hopped onto the ground with a thump and shook his fur.

He wanted to shake off the obnoxious scent all over him.

Yun Qingwu paused, then squatted down and grinned again: “You want to walk by yourself?”

The fox didn’t speak, only flicked its tail.

“You really are a spirit beast!” Yun Qingwu raised an eyebrow, pointing back at A-Ge: “Then follow him. He’ll take you to your new home.”

Leng Licí walked side-by-side with A-Ge, subtly observing the surroundings. Aside from the differences in terrain and layout, the interior decor of this palace was almost identical to the one in the Ze Kingdom.

That Meng Huang really went to great lengths.

He followed A-Ge to the west room. The west room was not large, but it was a proper bedroom. A-Ge placed a set of bedding inside a wooden box and beckoned to Leng Licí.

He knew foxes liked to live in caves. Although there was no cave here, the wooden box could have a similar effect.

Leng Licí merely glanced at the bed, rolled his eyes, and turned to leap directly onto the bed, closing his eyes.

A-Ge looked on with curiosity for a moment but didn’t stop him, turning and leaving the room.

Once the door was completely silent, the bone sword hidden on his body finally spoke: “This demon creature is truly relentless. Do you have any clue how to restore Yun Qingwu’s memory?”

“None of your business.” Leng Licí kept his eyes closed.

The bone sword didn’t mind, stating knowingly: “Oh, it looks like you do.”

Leng Licí was too lazy to answer. Everything would become clear once he explored Yun Qingwu’s sea of consciousness tonight.

“Jingle—Jingle-ling—Jingle—”

Amidst the familiar sound of the silver bell marking the second watch, a fox quietly left the room. His overly vibrant red fur was exceptionally conspicuous in the darkness, but fortunately, there were no dedicated guards on duty here, allowing the fox to stroll freely.

The temporary cohabitation contract between the two was still in effect. The path to Yun Qingwu’s room appeared to Leng Licí like a pre-written route map, allowing him to reach his destination effortlessly.

So utterly defenseless. It is perfectly reasonable that the Southern Ze Kingdom perished.

A hint of sarcasm flashed in the pair of fox eyes.

Leng Licí pushed the door open. The room was pitch black, but it didn’t prevent him from seeing the layout. As the King’s bedchamber, it was only slightly wider than an ordinary bedroom, not at all luxurious.

The person on the bed was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the movement in the room.

Leng Licí lightened his footsteps, walking to the bedside. He twitched his left ear. The half of the twin-lotus flower emitted a faint white light, as if sensing its other half.

The red fox leaped onto the bed. The paw pads made a faint rubbing sound on the silk quilt. The person under the quilt’s eyelashes trembled, subconsciously adjusting his sleeping position.

Leng Licí looked at the person sleeping on his side, his eyes narrowed.

His front paws slowly moved forward until they rested steadily in the gap between Yun Qingwu’s hand and chest.

Yun Qingwu was usually meticulous, and even while sleeping, his clothes were tightly buttoned. If the twin-lotus flower were to merge, the collar that firmly covered his collarbone was particularly annoying.

The fox slightly lowered his head and sniffed.

Should I just rip it open?

The distance between the man and the fox was extremely close. From afar, it looked as if the fox was nestled against the man’s chest, intimately close.

Warm breath and body heat seeped into the fox’s somewhat cool fur. Leng Licí was unaccustomed to such proximity. His ears twitched uncomfortably.

I might as well just bite through it.

He opened his mouth and lowered his head to bite.

“Who?” A low, slightly hoarse voice, not yet cleared of sleep, suddenly rang out.

The next second, Leng Licí felt his head fur being yanked.

He really should just die!

He swiped a claw.

Yun Qingwu instinctively grabbed him, then looked at the fox’s eyes, which had suddenly elongated due to his fur being pulled. He let out a burst of laughter, and the anger from being woken up dissipated considerably.

“Little Flame? How did you find your way here?”

Leng Licí snorted coldly.

Feeling the restricting force loosen, the red fox leaped up, pinning Yun Qingwu to the bed. At the same time, he used both his mouth and claws to tear at Yun Qingwu’s clothes.

“Hey, hey—don’t rub! It tickles!”

Yun Qingwu thought he was playing and let the fox on his body do as it pleased, only dodging symbolically.

Too noisy!

A black and red tail surged up and hit Yun Qingwu’s face with a slap, simultaneously precisely aligning his left ear with the twin-lotus flower that was now exposed to the light.

Thump. The twin-lotus flowers merged, a white light appeared, and the lotus leaves trembled.

The man who was just laughing fell back into sleep.