Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

The room was quiet. The wind rustled the bamboo leaves outside the window. The orchid on the table swayed gently, its shadow flickering on the wall.

Lu Xueqi stood, while Xiaobai sat. The two looked at each other, neither speaking.

Lu Xueqi's face was very pale, as white as paper. Her lips were pressed tightly together, forming a straight line.

Her eyes were wide open, staring intently at Xiaobai, as if trying to pierce through her. Her gaze held fire, ice, anger, fear, and a kind of... panic she herself didn't want to admit.

Xiao Bai stared at her for a long time. Then she smiled.

It wasn't the playful laugh from before; it was a different kind of laugh. Very faint, very deep, tinged with a hint of reminiscence, a hint of…envy?

"Jealous?" Xiaobai repeated the two words, her voice softening, like a feather brushing against the heart. "Lu Xueqi, do you know, in my past life... I envied you."

Lu Xueqi's eyelashes trembled slightly. But she didn't move, still staring at her.

"I envy those hundreds of years when you were shameless," Xiaobai continued, her voice very soft, as if she were talking about a dream.

"I envy that he can hold you while you sleep, I envy that he cooks for you, I envy that he teaches your children swordsmanship, I envy that you... can stand together openly and tell everyone that you are husband and wife."

She paused, her gaze drifting as if looking into the distance: "At that time, I thought, forget it. You two have such a good relationship, I won't bother you. I'll just watch from afar, and as long as he's doing well, that's enough."

She withdrew her gaze and looked at Lu Xueqi again, her eyes curving into a smile, but without any real laughter: "But things are different now. In this life, nothing has happened between you two. He's still that silly little Chuan Chuan, knowing nothing and understanding nothing. There's nothing between you two."

Lu Xueqi's fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve. Her nails dug deeply into her palms, causing her great pain.

But she didn't feel any pain; instead, she felt a fire burning up inside her, making her throat dry.

"In my past life..." she began, her voice a little hoarse but steady, "He had amnesia. Even when he remembered nothing, you didn't take him away."

Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow.

"It's the same in this life." Lu Xueqi stared at her, saying each word clearly, "You can't take it away from me."

The room fell silent again. Only the sound of their breathing, one deep and one shallow, could be heard. The wind outside the window picked up, rustling the bamboo leaves.

Xiao Bai looked at Lu Xueqi for a while, then suddenly laughed. This time it was a genuine laugh, his eyes squinting like a fox that had stolen a chicken.

"Whether we can steal it or not, we'll only know by trying," she said, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. "Anyway, I have plenty of time. We've waited for thousands of years, what's a few more?"

She paused, looked Lu Xueqi up and down, her gaze sweeping over her slender body before settling on her face, her eyes holding something indescribable.

"But you, Lu Xueqi," Xiaobai said slowly, drawing out her voice, "with such talent, you're already at the eighth level of the Jade Purity Realm, right? In a few more years, you might even reach the Upper Purity Realm, or even higher. Isn't it a pity to waste such talent on one person?"

She leaned forward, getting closer to Lu Xueqi, and whispered, "You should focus on your cultivation, become a pillar of the Qingyun Sect, a leader of the righteous path, and... the best in the world. Instead of spending all your time worrying about how to protect a little kid, guarding against this and that. It's exhausting."

Lu Xueqi looked at her face so close to hers, at those unfathomable eyes, at the light within them that she couldn't understand. She didn't speak, but simply pursed her lips.

"Look at me," Xiaobai leaned back against the bedpost, her posture languid, "I've lived for so many years, what haven't I seen? Love and affection, it's all the same. A fleeting novelty, then it's gone. Only cultivation, only strength, truly belongs to you. You…"

"I don't need you to teach me." Lu Xueqi interrupted her, her voice cold, as if frozen. "How I live is my business."

Xiao Bai wasn't angry at being interrupted; instead, her smile deepened. She looked at Lu Xueqi for a long time, then sighed softly.

"Okay," she said, standing up and walking to the window to look at the bamboo forest outside.

"You're right, how I live is my business. If I want to steal, that's my business too."

She turned around, looked at Lu Xueqi, and her eyes suddenly became very serious: "Lu Xueqi, I won't let go. In this life, I don't want to watch from afar anymore. I want him, I want to stand openly by his side, I want... to live a shameless life with him."

She spoke so directly and frankly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Lu Xueqi's face turned even paler, almost transparently white.

She looked at Xiaobai, at that breathtakingly beautiful face, at the undisguised possessiveness and... determination in those eyes.

She suddenly remembered her past life. She remembered Jiang Xiaochuan holding her and whispering in her ear, "Xueqi, I only love you." She remembered him holding her hand, walking across the Rainbow Bridge, across the Moon-Viewing Terrace, across every inch of Qiyun Peak. She remembered him smiling and calling her "wife," and her blushing as she glared at him.

Those images, like knives, ripped at her heart again and again. She had waited a lifetime, suffered a lifetime, and finally waited for him. In this life, she would never allow anyone to take him away.

no way.

"No one can take him away from me." Lu Xueqi said softly, but every word was like a nail driven into the ground.

No one can.

After she finished speaking, she turned around, walked to the bedside, and picked up Xiaobai, who was still sitting there.

No, it was Little White who had just transformed into her fox form. The movements were a bit rough, but Little White didn't struggle and let her hug her.

Lu Xueqi carried Xiaobai out of the room, descended Xiaozhu Peak, and flew towards Dazhu Peak on her sword.

She didn't speak the whole way, and neither did Xiaobai. Only the wind howled in their ears, like a sob.

They landed on Dazhu Peak, in front of Jiang Xiaochuan's house. Lu Xueqi pushed open the door, went inside, and placed Xiaobai on the bed. Then she turned around and looked at Xiaobai.

Little White lay on the bed, looking up at her with dark, bright eyes.

"Stay away from him," Lu Xueqi said, her voice cold and hard. "Otherwise, I won't be polite."

Little White stared at her for a long time, then meowed, buried its head under its paws, and stopped moving.

Lu Xueqi stared at it, took one last look, then turned around, walked out of the house, and rode away on her sword.

She flew very fast, as if fleeing something. The wind was cold on her face, but her heart was even colder.

She knew that those words were less a warning to Xiaobai and more a message to herself.

She was afraid. Afraid that Xiaobai would really take Jiang Xiaochuan away. Afraid that in this life, she would still lose him.

No. She wouldn't. She gripped the Heavenly Jade tightly, her knuckles turning white. In this life, she would never let go.

Half a month later, at Qingyun Mountain, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.

There were many people. Dao Xuan Zhenren sat at the head of the table, flanked by the heads of various sects. Two groups of people sat opposite him.

One group consisted of monks, all bald and wearing kasayas. The leader was an old monk with white eyebrows reaching his shoulders and a compassionate face—Master Puhong of Tianyin Temple.

The other group consisted of Taoist priests, dressed in red with flame patterns embroidered on their cuffs. The leader was a middle-aged man with a stern face and sharp eyes—Shangguan Ce from Burning Incense Valley.

The atmosphere was heavy. There was a sense of tension in the air, like a fully drawn bowstring.

"Master Puhong," Daoxuan spoke, his voice deep and slow, "The matter of Junior Brother Puzhi is due to the lax discipline of my Qingyun Sect, which resulted in a rebellious figure like Cangsong. I hereby apologize to Tianyin Temple."

Master Puhong clasped his hands together and lowered his brows: "Amitabha. The world is impermanent, it is not the sect leader's fault. It's just that my junior brother's injuries are severe, his cultivation is completely destroyed, I'm afraid this life is... alas."

He sighed and said nothing more. But everyone in the hall could hear the heaviness in that sigh.

One of the four great monks of Tianyin Temple is crippled. This is not just the loss of a master, but also the loss of face for Tianyin Temple.

Dao Xuan's expression darkened further. He turned to the group from Burning Incense Valley on the other side.

"Fellow Daoist Shangguan," he spoke, his tone colder than before, "regarding the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, I wonder what Fenxiang Valley has to say?"

Shangguan Ce's expression was already unpleasant, and upon hearing this, it darkened even further. He looked up at Dao Xuan, his eyes filled with suppressed anger.

"What does Sect Leader Daoxuan mean by this?" His voice was harsh.

"The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox has escaped, and my Burning Incense Valley is also a victim! The Mysterious Fire Altar has been destroyed, disciples have been injured or killed, and our sect's treasure, the Mysterious Fire Mirror, has been lost! This is a disgrace to my Burning Incense Valley!"

"Is that so?" Tian Buyi snorted from the side. His voice wasn't loud, but the hall was quiet, and everyone heard it.

"Then why did the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, after escaping its predicament, not go anywhere else but instead come to Qingyun Mountain? It even rescued the villagers of Grass Temple Village and seems quite familiar with the Ghost King Sect?"

His question was very tricky. It pointed out the unusual appearance of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, and also implied that Fenxiang Valley might be involved with the Demonic Sect.

Shangguan Ce jumped to his feet, his face ashen: "Tian Buyi! What do you mean?!"

"The literal meaning." Tian Buyi also stood up, his chubby face expressionless, but his eyes were sharp.

"The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox has been imprisoned by your Incense Valley for over three hundred years. How could it just run away like that? The Mysterious Fire Mirror is your sect's most prized treasure. How could it just be lost like that? Furthermore, why did that demonic fox specifically come to Qingyun Mountain? Fellow Daoist Shangguan, shouldn't you give the righteous path of the world an explanation for all of this?"

"You!" Shangguan Ce was so angry that his beard stood on end, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and he was about to explode.

"Enough," Dao Xuan said, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

He glanced at Tian Buyi, who snorted and sat down. He then looked at Shangguan Ce.

"Fellow Daoist Shangguan, Junior Brother Tian's words may be harsh, but they are not entirely without reason," Dao Xuan said slowly.

"The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox has escaped, and the Xuanhuojian is lost. This matter is of great importance. That demonic fox's strength is unfathomable, and she seems to be colluding with the Ghost King Sect. If she joins forces with the Demonic Sect, the world will surely be thrown into chaos. Burning Incense Valley is guarding the Southern Frontier, and it is its duty. Now that such a blunder has occurred, shouldn't... we provide an explanation?"

He spoke very politely, but his meaning was very clear—you Incense Valley messed things up, don't try to shift the blame to our Qingyun Sect.

Shangguan Ce's expression shifted, his chest heaving violently. He stared at Dao Xuan, then glanced at the others in the hall. Everyone was looking at him, their eyes filled with scrutiny, suspicion, and hostility.

He knew that Incense Valley couldn't avoid what had happened today. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had escaped, and the Mysterious Fire Mirror was lost—these were undeniable facts.

The Qingyun Sect has seized a handle against him, and the Tianyin Temple is watching from the sidelines. If he doesn't give an explanation, the reputation of the Burning Incense Valley will be ruined.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and sat down again.

"The destruction of the Xuanhuo Altar was due to collusion from within," he said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

"Our Incense Valley... has a traitor within. We are currently investigating. As for the loss of the Mysterious Fire Mirror... that was also the work of that traitor. Once the truth is revealed, our Incense Valley will clean house and give the righteous path of the world an explanation!"

He paused, then looked at Dao Xuan, his eyes darkening: "But the appearance of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox at the foot of Qingyun Mountain is quite strange. Sect Leader Dao Xuan, does your sect really know nothing about this? That fox demon saved the villagers of Grass Temple Village, yet it allied itself with the Ghost King Sect. Is there... no hidden story behind this?"

He started to bite back.

Dao Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly stated, "Our Qingyun Sect is also investigating this matter. That fox spirit acts strangely; she saved the villagers but then colluded with the Demonic Sect, her motives are unclear. But regardless, it is a fact that she escaped from Burning Incense Valley."

He paused, then emphasized, "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, the most urgent task is to find the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox and retrieve the Xuanhuo Mirror. As for the matter of the traitor within your sect... I hope you will investigate it as soon as possible to prevent further trouble."

The meaning is quite clear – you, the Incense Valley, should handle your own mess, but don't try to drag us into it.

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox escaped from your area, so you're definitely to blame for this.

Shangguan Ce's face was ashen, but he couldn't speak. He gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Alright." He squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth, "My Incense Valley... will handle it itself."

The atmosphere in the hall eased slightly, but remained tense. Each of the three parties harbored their own thoughts, maintaining polite facades while secretly scheming.

There are no winners in this accountability struggle.

Tianyin Temple lost a divine monk, Fenxiang Valley lost face, and Qingyun Sect gained a powerful enemy. Meanwhile, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox and the Ghost King Sect are still lurking in the shadows, plotting something unknown.