Chapter 213 That Well-Behaved and Quiet Child…

Chapter 213 That Gentle, Quiet Child...

Demon Realm, Whitecrest Mountain.

In a cave halfway up the mountain, a massive white tiger lay sound asleep, its snores echoing far and wide, making the tiger cubs on the mountain tremble in fear.

The slumbering white tiger felt an itch on its nose. It swiped a paw, but the irritation persisted. With an impatient roar, it lifted its eyelids.

A graceful figure appeared in its line of sight.

It froze, then blinked several times to confirm it wasn’t imagining things.

"How unusual. What brings you here?" The white tiger crossed its front paws, resting its head on them as it spoke in human tongue.

The Fox King, who had brought her own chair into another Demon King’s lair, continued trimming her nails, not bothering to look up at the question. "I need your help."

"No. Your visits never bode well."

A phantom slap struck the white tiger’s head, tousling the fur atop its crown.

The tiger yawned widely, flicking its tail, utterly unmoved.

"This time, it’s different."

The tiger turned its head away, refusing to look at the Fox King. "That's what you always say when you lie."

After all these years, it couldn't even count the number of times it had been deceived. No wonder human tales often portrayed fox spirits as untrustworthy—on this point, it sided with the humans.

The Fox King walked over, grabbed the tiger's muzzle, her tone earnest. "I promise, this time it’s true."

The tiger closed its eyes, feigning ignorance.

"Don’t you want Flowing End Mountain?"

Those demons who had lived through the era of the Demon Empire knew only that Flowing End Mountain was the Demon Emperor’s residence, unaware it had once been the ancestral land of the White Tiger clan.

After the Demon Emperor’s sudden rise, he chose Flowing End Mountain, forcing the white tigers to surrender the land.

"Flowing End Mountain?" The tiger’s eyes snapped open. "Didn't someone else take that place?"

Then it grumbled resentfully, "This is your fault for stopping me from reclaiming it back then. Now look—the palace of the Demon Emperor you revered so much is occupied by a half-demon."

The Fox King ignored its sarcasm. "Enough talk. Do you want it or not?"

The tiger scrutinized her, hesitation in its voice. "What’s wrong with you?"

Cutting to the chase, the Fox King said, "Xi Jing has fallen. You must have sensed it, right?"

The heavenly signs accompanying a breakthrough to the Fifth Realm were identical to those at death. The tiger had indeed noticed. When Xi Jing broke through, the thunder had kept it awake half the night. The thunder at his death was just as deafening.

The tiger gave a low grunt.

Xi Jing had frequented Whitecrest Mountain in the past. Among its many cubs, a fox cub often mingled, getting the dimwits into trouble while it mopped up after them.

In a way, Xi Jing had grown up under its watch.

Yet before we knew it, the cub had grown—and then vanished.

"The Demon Emperor did this."

"Hmph."

The tiger showed no surprise. The Demon Emperor’s death was a taboo in the demon race, but they all knew Xi Jing was involved.

Back then, the elders had been intimidated by the Demon Emperor—only Xi Jing had the nerve and cleverness to move.

No doubt the Demon Emperor had set traps for him before death.

The Fox King’s tone grew calmer. "He’s dead, and his two children followed him in death. They didn’t survive either."

The tiger looked at her as she continued, "Lately, I’ve been thinking of him often. Wondering... if I had helped him back then, maybe he’d still be alive?"

The tiger turned away. "It’s in the past."

It hadn’t helped either.

The Fox King exhaled. "He’s dead. His daughter is dead. Yet the Demon Emperor’s daughter lives in splendor at Flowing End Mountain, even fostering a half-blood of the Fifth Realm to challenge us."

The tiger narrowed its eyes. "She's a force to reckon with. What’s your plan?"

"I’ve done nothing for Xi Jing as a mother. All that remains is to send all the Demon Emperor’s descendants after him." The Fox King smiled. "The Demon Emperor has been lonely all these years underground. It’s time he enjoyed some family company."

The tiger nodded. "Not a bad plan. But that half-demon is trouble. Need my help?"

The Fox King shook her head. "He’s no concern. I have my ways. I only worry the other elders will interfere."

Her words struck the tiger as odd. Before this, she had been like those "old fools," clinging to loyalty for the Demon Emperor, restricting actions left and right. Now her sudden ruthlessness was oddly refreshing.

"That’s easy." The tiger stretched its sturdy limbs, shaking its fur. "The Azure Luan and Vermilion Ape will gladly help. They’ve been itching for the Demon Emperor’s line to perish. Just say when, and I’ll have them stand guard."

Years ago, the Vermilion Ape clan had nearly been wiped out for opposing the Demon Emperor and still hadn’t recovered. The Azure Luan King’s daughters, skilled in music, had been seized by the Suan Yu and offered to the Demon Emperor. They entered the Palace of Eternity—and never left.

Demon politics were complex, each King’s stance unclear. Even with the Demon Emperor dead, moving against his heirs would stir up trouble. Each had their reservations—even it did.

But with the Fox King leading the charge, things were different. Once she resolved to eliminate the Demon Emperor’s line, none would refuse.

"A week from today. Tell them to prepare—no mistakes."

"Done. I’ll go rally them now." The tiger paused, then nudged its massive head closer. "Can you really handle that half-blood?"

The Fox King smacked its nose. "Spare me your doubts. Just focus on reclaiming Flowing End Mountain."

The tiger bared its teeth in a predatory smile.

Lately, several Demon Kings had grown unusually active, visiting one another. By the time this news reached Flowing End Mountain, six days had passed.

Though Ji Heng matched those kings in cultivation, as a half-demon with a questionable status, none had sought his acquaintance since his breakthrough. Thus, his sources were limited.

The news reached Flowing End Mountain only because the Kui Ox King, who had shown Princess Xue Yao favor, sent word.

The visitor was the Kui Ox King’s grandson, young but much indulged. Upon meeting Princess Xue Yao, he failed to bow, merely stating, "Grandfather invites you to our clan for a visit. Would you honor us?"

Princess Xue Yao noted the Little Kui Ox’s polite yet disrespectful tone, rankling her.

Even the Kui Ox King wouldn’t treat her so lightly.

After a pause, she asked, "Why the invitation? Is there a celebration in your clan?"

The Little Kui Ox replied stiffly, "The Fox King and Tiger King have come to our clan—regarding the death of the Fox King’s sixth son."

Upon hearing the words of the Little Kui Ox, Princess Xue Yao's expression shifted slightly.

Back then, when the eldest son of the Fox King, Xi Jing, killed her father, not a single demon king in the entire demonkind dared to challenge him. Even though she knew the Fox King had always stood by her father's side, she couldn't help but feel resentment.

The death of the Fox King's sixth son was done with her blessing. At the time, the Fox Spirit had already been exiled from Qingyu Mountain, and after its death, the Fox King showed no reaction. She thought the matter was over, so why was it suddenly brought up again today?

Princess Xue Yao straightened up, her voice edged: "What exactly did your grandfather say? Tell me truthfully."

"My grandfather asked me to inform you, Princess, that he has already placated the Fox King. However, this matter may require your direct involvement. He took the liberty of keeping the Fox King in our clan and asked me to invite you for a meeting."

Princess Xue Yao pondered for a moment before asking, "Just me?"

The Little Kui Ox replied, "The Fox King and the Tiger King have both brought their younger kin to our clan. My grandfather specifically instructed that you may bring your children along, but it would be best if your husband does not accompany you."

Hearing that Ji Heng was not to come, Princess Xue Yao frowned and said to the Little Kui Ox, "I need to consider this. Wait a moment."

The Little Kui Ox nodded without pressing further.

After speaking with the Little Kui Ox, Princess Xue Yao turned and went to find Ji Heng.

Ji Heng was in the study, teaching their youngest daughter how to write. He was patient, but the student seemed disinterested, having written only a few characters before tossing crumpled papers all over the floor.

Entering the study, Princess Xue Yao immediately noticed her daughter's pout.

Seeing her mother, the little girl finally saw her chance and rushed into her arms, complaining, "Mother, Father insists I learn human writing. It's so hard! I don’t want to."

Princess Xue Yao stroked her daughter's head gently. "If you can’t even recognize human characters, how will you deal with humans in the future?"

The little girl sniffed, "Why deal with humans at all? If I’m stronger than them, they’ll naturally kowtow to me."

She then looked at Ji Heng with admiration. "I want to be like Father, reaching the Fifth Realm in cultivation. Then, who would dare disobey me?"

Both Ji Heng and Princess Xue Yao laughed. The princess bopped her daughter’s forehead. "Alright, go play outside. I need to talk to your father."

Once the girl left, Ji Heng approached and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Princess Xue Yao explained, "The Fox King, for some reason, has suddenly taken issue with the death of her sixth son. She and the Tiger King of White Peak Mountain are now at the Kui Ox clan. The Kui Ox Demon King sent someone to request my presence."

Ji Heng immediately said, "I’ll go with you."

Princess Xue Yao’s voice carried clear irritation. "He specifically instructed through his descendant that I bring the children but not you. They think you’re young and an easy target. If my father were still alive, who would dare speak to me like this?"

Unlike the princess, Ji Heng remained calm. "It’s fine. Don’t dwell on such trivial matters. They’ll come crawling eventually."

The demon race placed great importance on bloodline. Since his ascension differed from the other demon kings, their exclusion was expected. Ji Heng wasn’t about to get worked up by something so minor.

"Do you want to go?" he asked.

Princess Xue Yao nodded. "The Fox King respected my father, but she’s not someone to trifle with. With the Kui Ox Demon King mediating, I must make an appearance."

"Just them?"

"The Tiger King is there too."

Seeing Ji Heng’s deepening frown, Princess Xue Yao reassured him, "Don’t worry. Even for my father’s sake, they wouldn’t dare harm me. Doing so would invite collective outrage."

She wasn’t worried about her safety but knew she’d have to eat some humble pie this time.

"Let me escort you," Ji Heng offered.

Princess Xue Yao refused. "If you come, they’ll detect your presence. I’ll take the children. It’s good for them to mingle with others of their station—it’ll be useful in the future."

She knew her talent was limited; she’d likely never advance beyond the Fourth Realm. But as the Demon Emperor’s descendant, with his blood in her veins and a Fifth Realm father, her children might one day dominate the demon race and rebuild the demon kingdom.

These thoughts, however, she kept to herself.

Seeing Ji Heng’s silence, Princess Xue Yao smiled. "Really, it’s fine. I’ll leave Xiao Wu here with you. Later, my subordinate returning from Great Xia will bring news—likely good news."

As expected, this diverted Ji Heng’s attention. "What news?"

"The Ji family’s misfortune stemmed from me. They were once your kin. If possible, we should preserve their bloodline. So, I sent someone to make inquiries and make arrangements."

Though Ji Heng had said to let the Ji family go, she hadn’t entirely abandoned them. Only Ji Chan posed a threat to her children. The others, if she could help, she would.

A glimmer of feeling passed through Ji Heng’s eyes. "You’re always like this."

Princess Xue Yao smiled. "Time grows short. I should go. If all goes well, I’ll be back by nightfall."

Ji Heng escorted her out of the study, adding softly, "Take care."

"Have no fear."

Princess Xue Yao left Flowing End Mountain with several guards and four children, following the Little Kui Ox. After their departure, the Eternal Palace felt strangely empty.

Ji Heng no longer pressed his youngest daughter to practice writing. Sitting in his chair, he picked up the unfinished page, observing the lopsided characters and smudged ink with a weary shake of his head.

As he gazed at the paper, his thoughts drifted to Ji Chan. During her first-year ceremony, she had reached for a brush. Lin Shi had privately sworn to raise their daughter into a talented scholar.

He had joked then, promising to guard the marquisate gates to ward off would-be suitors.

All these years had passed since then.

He wondered what had become of that gentle, quiet child.