They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: The Treasure

After their playful spat, the two began to seriously examine the small courtyard. The layout was no different from the neighboring houses, except that it was clearly neglected and had a touch of desolation.

The most unique feature was the large fox den that occupied nearly two-thirds of the courtyard space. The den was enclosed by a wooden fence, filled with thick blankets, and combined with the roof, it resembled a cozy cave. In addition, there was a stone trough outside, filled with food. The comfort level looked comparable to that of a human dwelling.

Yun Qingwu did a quick count of the foxes: there were fifteen, and all of them were white.

“Based on the reactions of Liu Yu and the others, I think this Fourth Father God’s memory state must be set after your mother left.”

Leng Licí looked at Cuī Yóu and Liu Yu, who were still circling the foxes, and said calmly, “He’s an idiot. Let’s just take him away directly.”

Logically, this would be the fastest way, but Yun Qingwu had a hunch it wouldn’t be that simple.

Soon after, Jì Lín and the Fourth Yún Chuān returned. The Fourth Yún Chuān held two rabbits in his hands and carried several wild chickens on his back.

Liu Yu clicked his tongue in amazement. “His mind may not be very clear, but his self-sufficiency is flawless. Truly worthy of us.”

Jì Lín, who had witnessed the entire hunt, also said, “His skill is, in my opinion, no less than any of ours.”

Leng Licí stared at the Fourth Yún Chuān, his right hand moving toward his bone sword. “I’d like to see how capable he really is.”

“Who are you people? Why are you in my house?”

Just as Leng Licí gripped the sword hilt and before he could make a move, the Fourth Yún Chuān seemed to suddenly notice their presence and looked at them with a puzzled expression.

Seeing this, Yun Qingwu stepped in front of Leng Licí, who was still intent on forcibly abducting him, and tentatively explained, “We were visiting relatives in Yànlín City, but we were robbed on the way. All our money was stolen, and we couldn’t afford to stay at an inn. Passing by here, we wondered if you could allow us to rest for a few days?”

He then looked at the foxes still circling Cuī Yóu and Liu Yu. “We are skilled at raising foxes. We could help take care of these foxes as payment during our stay.”

Upon hearing the second half, the Fourth Yún Chuān’s vigilance subsided. He took down the game from his body one by one. “I don’t need your help taking care of the foxes, but since you also like foxes, I suppose you can’t be too bad.”

He pointed to an empty room nearby. “Suit yourselves.”

With that, the Fourth Yún Chuān headed toward the back kitchen, intending to prepare food for the foxes.

“What is your name?” Yun Qingwu immediately asked, introducing everyone else in turn.

“What name? No name.” The Fourth Yún Chuān tossed out the words and continued walking, showing no interest in further conversation.

Yun Qingwu looked at Leng Licí. “It seems we need to stay here for a few days.”

Leng Licí frowned, looking around the place that, apart from the fox den, looked like a derelict house. Yun Qingwu cast a cleansing spell, and the once cluttered courtyard instantly became spotless.

He smiled at Leng Licí. “Isn’t it clean now?”

Leng Licí said nothing but cast the spell on the empty rooms as well. The dust’s disappearance made him grudgingly accept the living conditions.

“Crazy Old Man! Did you steal our chicken again! I’m telling you, don’t think you can run rampant here just because you’re crazy!” Just as Leng Licí and Yun Qingwu were about to go inside and tidy up further, a peasant woman standing by the gate roared angrily.

Everyone turned to look. The woman then noticed the other people inside the courtyard and immediately became wary. “Who are you? Where’s the Crazy Old Man?”

Liu Yu pointed with his fan toward the back kitchen and walked calmly toward the woman. “We are guests staying here. The owner is cooking in the back kitchen. When we asked his name, he wouldn’t say. So, he’s called the Crazy Old Man?”

The woman glanced at the surrounding white foxes and Little Dāo, who was petting a fox. Her guard lowered slightly. “Crazy Old Man is the name we gave him. The man is confused, spends all day around these foxes, and often steals chickens. We neighbors are all victims. He’s such a nuisance.”

Yun Qingwu: “How long has he lived here?”

Woman: “At least ten years. We took pity on him and helped him build this house, but who knew he’d bite the hand that feeds him!”

As she said this, the woman grew angry again. She put one hand on her hip and pointed toward the back kitchen. “You old fool! Either return the chicken or pay! All day long, he’s either raising these smelly foxes or muttering about looking for something! We really let a wolf into the house! No good deed goes unpunished!”

The language was unpleasant. Since they were still the same person, Liu Yu frowned upon hearing it. Jì Lín and Cuī Yóu walked straight up to the woman.

Jì Lín: “What do you mean ‘smelly foxes’? Foxes clearly smell nice! That’s pure slander!”

Cuī Yóu: “Exactly! How much money does he owe you?”

Cuī Yóu pointed to Yun Qingwu. “Ask him for it.”

Yun Qingwu intended to pay, but his motion to take out the money paused. It seems A-Cí’s righteous indignation isn’t entirely unfounded.

The woman looked at Yun Qingwu doubtfully. “Two taels of silver. Are you really going to pay for the Crazy Old Man?”

Yun Qingwu nodded, handing the two taels of silver to the woman. “Please also inform the other households that anyone whose chicken was taken by the Crazy Old Man can come find me.”

The woman’s face finally softened upon receiving the money. She carefully put the silver away and advised, “The Crazy Old Man is not in his right mind. You should leave as soon as possible, lest he drag you down.”

Yun Qingwu didn’t want to elaborate. “Thank you. We have our own plans.”

The woman had said her piece and didn’t linger, leaving the small courtyard.

“He’s looking for something? What is he looking for?” Liu Yu noticed the key information in the woman’s words.

Leng Licí walked directly toward the back kitchen. “Hey, what are you looking for?”

The Crazy Old Man stopped plucking the feathers. “Yes, I’m looking for something. Something very important to me.”

Then, he dropped his work and began pacing back and forth in the courtyard. “I’m looking for something. What am I looking for? What is it?”

He grabbed Yun Qingwu’s hand, his tone urgent. “Can you help me find my thing? I lost something very important.”

Yun Qingwu: “Can you provide more clues? We will do our best to help you find it.”

“What thing? What is it?” The Crazy Old Man didn’t listen. He released Yun Qingwu’s hand, muttering to himself, and returned to the kitchen to mechanically process the food.

Yun Qingwu motioned for Leng Licí to come over. The group randomly selected an empty room and sat down.

Regarding the important item, everyone was in agreement: it must be something related to You Su Xiǎozhú.

Yun Qingwu looked at Leng Licí. “How about we try using the jade crown your mother left you?”

Leng Licí didn’t object. “I gave it to you. How you handle it is your business.”

So, they decided to return to the inn first to fetch the item and bring Yang Yuanli along.

…

Yang Yuanli walked into the small courtyard and glanced at the Crazy Old Man. Perhaps the difference was so great that he felt a touch of pity. But his reason still prevailed. No matter what, he had to take these four fragments to the Heavenly Realm before Yun Qingwu and have a proper talk with the Scarlet Flame God Lord, rather than letting Yun Qingwu act recklessly.

Yun Qingwu handed the jade crown and hairpin to the Crazy Old Man. “Look, is this what you are looking for?”

The Crazy Old Man glanced at the brocade box and continued to busy himself with feeding the foxes.

Yun Qingwu sighed softly. “It seems it’s not this.”

Liu Yu tapped his chin with his fan, a thought flashing through his mind. “Then could it be Little Cí? Look, the child is a piece of his mother’s flesh. How could he not be precious?”

Leng Licí, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up straight, staring intently at Liu Yu.

Liu Yu coughed a few times. “Why are you looking at me?”

Cuī Yóu and Jì Lín both agreed that this made sense.

Cuī Yóu: “I think it’s worth a try.”

Jì Lín: “Little Cí, you are indeed a precious treasure to me and your mother.”

Leng Licí scoffed, looking at the three so-called fathers like they were idiots. “Has this Lord appeared less in front of him?”

Yun Qingwu looked at Leng Licí. “Perhaps your true form?”

Leng Licí turned to look at Yun Qingwu in silence.

Yun Qingwu raised an eyebrow, looking at him expectantly. “Try it?”

…

In the evening, after the Crazy Old Man had fed the foxes, he walked out of the fox den. What came into his view was a massive, eight-tailed red fox, but the fox’s brow was tightly furrowed, its eyes fierce, and its demeanor was that of looking at an enemy.

Yun Qingwu saw the Crazy Old Man stop in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Leng Licí. Sensing hope, he urged in a low voice, “A-Cí, be a little more amiable.”

Leng Licí directly turned his head away.

Yun Qingwu: “…”

Forget it. This should be enough.

Yun Qingwu looked at the Crazy Old Man and tentatively asked, “Is this what you were looking for?”

The Crazy Old Man walked up and reached out to touch the fox’s ear. The first time, Leng Licí dodged him, but the second time, under Leng Licí’s forced endurance, he finally succeeded in petting it.

His movements were gentle, stroking the fox’s fur one stroke at a time.

A hint of joy flashed in everyone’s eyes.

Crazy Old Man: “You’re here? Did you see my lost treasure? My treasure is missing.”

Hearing this, Leng Licí angrily shook off the Crazy Old Man’s hand and said coldly, “No!”

The Crazy Old Man’s hand remained suspended in the air. He was not surprised that the fox suddenly spoke. He made a regretful “Oh” sound, turned around, and walked back into the house. “Where is it? Where is it? What exactly did I lose?”

With a bang, the door was closed.

Yun Qingwu looked helpless. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Liu Yu fanned himself and walked toward one of the empty rooms. “That’s all we can do.”

Cuī Yóu and Jì Lín nodded and also returned to their respective rooms.

Leng Licí transformed back into his human form and walked up to Yun Qingwu. “I think you should try too.”

Yun Qingwu picked up Little Dāo and shook his head. “I only exist in Father God’s present memory. His past does not include me.”

Leng Licí looked at the closed door, where the light was already extinguished. “His past has nothing to do with me either.”

The two walked toward the remaining empty room. Little Dāo wriggled her body, still wanting to look at the foxes. A flash of gold light appeared from around her neck.

Yun Qingwu adjusted his posture and only then noticed that Little Dāo was wearing a small gold medallion around her neck. He took the medallion out. It was carved with a fox and a Baize. A small child lay on the two beasts, holding a jade ruyi.

He took the medallion off and handed it to Leng Licí. “Your mother must have given this to her.”

Leng Licí took the medallion, lowering his gaze to trace the image of the family of three with his thumb. Little Dāo was already somewhat displeased. “Mine! Grandma gave it to Little Dāo!”

Leng Licí scoffed and rehung the medallion around Little Dāo’s neck. “No worldly experience.”

Yun Qingwu looked at the medallion, lost in thought. “Do you think this medallion might be what the Crazy Old Man is looking for?”

Leng Licí pushed the door open. “We’ll try tomorrow.”