Volume 5 Chapter 53
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 53: A Change of Direction
“Right now, the fox royal family is finished! Hahahahaha!”
The conductor of the Flying Swallow burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.
Xia Yi realized that a tremendous upheaval was unfolding within Fox Hills.
This was bad. The little fox was in danger.
“What exactly is going on? Speak at once!” Xia Yi demanded.
“Why should I tell you?” the conductor retorted. “You filthy outsiders have no right to command me!”
“You cultist, are you going to talk or not?!”
Elly grabbed the conductor by the collar and hauled him up.
“If you don’t speak, I’ll give you a taste of what that means right now.”
“Trying to threaten me? It’s useless! I have received the Fox God’s blessing!” the conductor shouted. “The Bishop said that even if we fail this mission and are killed by the dragons, after death we will ascend to heaven and receive eternal happiness. That is the grace promised to us by the Fox God! Why would we fear mere death?!”
“You…”
Elly stared at him as if he were a complete fool, speechless.
The other dragons also believed he had clearly been poisoned too deeply by the White Night Sect, how could anyone believe such nonsense?
This was brainwashing, nothing more. He had been reduced to a disposable tool, to be cast aside at any moment by the Lord of the White Night.
“Your so-called fearlessness of death,” Xia Yi said coldly, “exists only because you have never truly experienced it. Those words are not born of courage, but of ignorance.”
“You filthy outsider, you cannot comprehend the greatness of the Fox God! With the holy water He has bestowed upon us, we are freed from the suffering of this mortal world. We believe that the Fox God will guide us after death, ”
“Idiot.”
Xia Yi seized the conductor from Elly’s grasp and, with a casual flick of her wrist, hurled him out of the carriage.
Beneath him lay the land of Fox Hills. From such a height, the fall would be unquestionably fatal. Survival was impossible.
He plummeted downward, watching the train in the night sky grow farther and farther away, his mind going blank.
Moments ago, he had spoken confidently of the Fox God’s blessing, proclaiming that his faith would never waver.
But as his body fell, his thoughts shattered into emptiness.
He imagined himself striking the ground in a gruesome heap.
Fear surged upward, flooding his heart.
After death… would he even continue to exist?
That thought flashed through his mind.
And his spirit collapsed entirely.
He could not overcome death.
“Ahhh! No, I don’t want to die! Help! Help me!!”
He screamed and flailed wildly in midair.
Overwhelming regret consumed him. Why had he been so arrogant just moments ago? To live, he would do anything.
Suddenly, his descent stopped. An icy chain had wrapped around his body, its other end fastened to the carriage of the Flying Swallow.
Xia Yi snorted and reeled him back in, dragging him up before tossing him to the floor like a clown.
“Ever tried bungee jumping without a rope?” she asked coolly, dismissing the icy chain.
“N-no… I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”
The conductor’s face was drained of all colors. None of his earlier bravado remained, he was nothing more than a trembling coward.
After all, he had just stared genuine death in the face. He knew full well he could not afford to provoke the Silver Dragon Princess who held his life in her hands.
“What is happening to the fox royal family right now?” Xia Yi asked.
“I, I’m not entirely sure…”
“Not sure?!” Xia Yi shot him a sharp glare.
“I really don’t know much! My position within the White Night Sect isn’t high!”
He shrank back, too frightened to even breathe loudly.
“All I know is that the Lord planned to act on the eve of the Fox God Festival. He would go to the capital of Fox Hills and confront the royal family directly… I heard he has an extraordinary plan. If it succeeds, the Sect’s wish to restore Lord Azure Fox God will be fulfilled. For that goal, the White Night Sect has been preparing for many years!”
Xia Yi pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed. It felt as though he had said nothing of substance at all.
After further questioning, she confirmed two crucial pieces of intelligence: the White Night Sect had spent many years infiltrating the fox royal palace, and the Lord of the White Night himself was a Nine-Tailed Fox.
If that were true, then the fox royal family was indeed in grave danger.
“You can let me go now, right? I’ve told you everything…” the conductor pleaded.
“Elly. Bring those drinks here. Make him drink every last drop,” Xia Yi ordered.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Elly immediately went to retrieve the beverages from the earlier carriage.
“No! Don’t!” the conductor cried. “Those drinks are poisoned!!”
“Yes. Reap what you sow, bastard,” Xia Yi said disdainfully.
Though he struggled, how could his strength compare to that of dragons? He was forcibly made to swallow the poisoned drinks and soon lost consciousness.
“Your Highness, what should we do next?” Elly asked. “The foxfolk’s internal strife has nothing to do with us dragons.”
“That’s right, Your Highness,” a member of the dragon delegation added. “For safety’s sake, we should return to the Dragon Kingdom and report back to Her Majesty the Queen. Even if something happens to the fox royal family, it has nothing to do with us!”
“……”
Xia Yi gazed out at the night sky beyond the window and fell into thought.
They were not wrong. Her mission to Fox Hills had been purely diplomatic. Now that it was complete, she ought to return and report to Xia Lulu.
As for the foxfolk’s civil strife, it truly had nothing to do with the dragons. The two races had no formal diplomatic ties, much less an alliance.
The little princess looked at the bright moon hanging in the sky and closed her eyes.
She thought of the little fox.
If she did nothing… then in this upheaval, the little fox would likely…
The Flying Swallow’s whistle echoed once more. The direction of the icy railway shifted. The train racing through the night sky changed course, heading straight toward the capital of Fox Hills.
“We cannot return. This is an important opportunity. The mission’s objective has changed, we are going to assist the fox royal family,” Xia Yi declared.
“What?!”
The dragons present were stunned.
Members of the delegation turned to Karami, hoping the respected minister would persuade their princess to reconsider.
Karami’s eyes widened. His body trembled. His breathing grew rapid.
It’s real. It’s true.
Her Highness truly intends to seize this opportunity, under the righteous banner of aiding the fox royal family, to conquer Fox Hills and fulfill her grand ambition.
Could it be… that this had been part of Her Highness’s plan all along?
Recalling previous conversations and subtle details, Karami felt cold sweat soak his back.
“Lord Karami, please persuade Her Highness not to interfere in the foxfolk’s internal affairs…”
“Insolence!!”
Karami roared, startling everyone into silence.
“Her Highness’s decision is not for you to question!”
The esteemed minister then bowed deeply to Xia Yi.
“Your Highness, I shall pledge my life in support of your decision. We should proceed at once to the capital of Fox Hills and assist the fox royal family in resolving this crisis of rebellion.”
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