Volume 5 Chapter 55
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 55: The Fugitive Yue Liu
“Congratulations, Lord Bishop! Congratulations indeed!”
Senluo stood before the leader of the White Night Sect, wearing a fawning smile as he bowed repeatedly.
“Congratulations for what?” the White Night Sect Leader asked.
“Why, for the fact that our White Night Sect has become the state religion of Fox Hills! Now that Lord Azure Fox God has reclaimed His rightful divine throne and the false god has been cast down from the altar, the future of our Sect shines brilliantly!” Senluo explained eagerly. “Look, even the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor has become your puppet, to be used at your will!”
The White Night Sect Leader shifted his gaze toward the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor.
Once the sovereign who ruled all of Fox Hills, he now sat upon the imperial throne like a lifeless marionette, waiting for the White Night Sect to issue its commands.
All of this had been made possible by Bai Lian’s Fox God Eyes.
During that great battle, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor could have chosen to save himself. Yet, in order to protect his daughter Yue Liu and allow her to escape, he had fought desperately against the White Night Sect led by its Bishop, battling until he collapsed from exhaustion.
At the moment when his spirit was at its most fragile, Bai Lian used the Fox God Eyes, casting him into an illusion and reducing him to a controllable puppet, thus fulfilling the Bishop’s objective.
“Lord Bishop, Fox Hills is already in your grasp. If you so wished, even the throne of the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor could be yours.”
Senluo made his suggestion.
“You could first continue using the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor to expand your influence. Once the time is right and you have replaced his authority, have him issue a formal abdication in the name of the royal family and pass the throne to you. In that way, you would become the ruler of Fox Hills!”
No one could remain unmoved by the position of emperor.
It was the pinnacle of power.
The White Night Sect Leader merely smiled faintly. “Senluo, I have no interest in the throne.”
“You… have no interest?” Senluo was visibly surprised.
“That’s right. From the very beginning, I have never cared for power. I only wish to spread the will of Lord Fox God and restore the future of the fox race!”
The Bishop’s expression grew solemn.
“Although the current situation is greatly in our favor, it is also greatly unfavorable.”
“Lord Bishop, what do you mean by that?”
“Though the White Night Sect has become the state religion, within Fox Hills there are still many foxfolk who believe in the false god and reject our Sect. These people are enemies of the fox race. Compared to those filthy outsiders, these internal enemies will pose an even greater obstacle to our future progress!”
“Lord Bishop, what do you intend to do?”
“We shall create a world of happiness upon this land of Fox Hills! To achieve that goal, we must first eliminate our internal enemies. Only when they are eradicated can our fox race unite as one. A united fox race will possess boundless strength, so great that even foreign races will no longer be feared.”
The Bishop’s eyes turned cold.
“First, we must vigorously expand our ranks and bring more people into the White Night Sect. As for those who deny the Sect and resist faith in the Azure Fox God, they shall all be deemed heretics, arrested, stripped of all property and authority, and punished.”
“Good! Excellent! Lord Bishop, you truly think deeply for the future of the fox race. I fully support your decision!” Senluo expressed his wholehearted approval.
Senluo’s family had risen through the secret support of the White Night Sect.
From an obscure clan to one now holding high office, their fate had long since become intertwined with the Sect’s.
That was why he had chosen to betray the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor and stand at the Sect’s side.
“To the devout believers of Lord Azure Fox God, we shall grant holy water. Under its influence, they will become valiant warriors, invincible in every battle, clearing away all obstacles for the true Fox God.”
As he spoke, the Bishop looked toward the Nine-Tailed Fox shrine maiden.
“Bai Lian, do you have any suggestions regarding my proposal?”
“I have no particular suggestions, Father. I fully support your decision. Matters of governance are beyond me,” Bai Lian replied calmly. “However, there is one matter I must remind you of.”
“What matters?”
“The other Nine-Tailed Fox shrine maiden, Yue Liu. She is the shrine maiden of the false god and is currently missing. We should capture her as soon as possible and bring her under control. After all, she would make the most suitable sacrifice for Lord Fox God.”
“Mm, of course I am aware. No one will offer her shelter anymore. It is only a matter of time before she falls into our hands. When that happens, we shall offer her as a living sacrifice to Lord Fox God.”
Suddenly, the Bishop recalled something.
“Is there still no word from Wu Tong? It has been some time since the Flying Swallow, carrying the dragon delegation, departed from Greenfield City.”
“Father, there has been no news from Wu Tong yet. It is possible that some dragons escaped and he is pursuing them. You know his temperament, he dislikes reporting midway and prefers to return only after completing the task one hundred percent,” Bai Lian explained.
“Mm, that is true. Then let us trust Wu Tong. He should be able to slaughter those filthy outsiders.”
The Bishop nodded.
He rose and slowly walked out of the palace, gazing up at the sky with a smile.
“The era belonging to the fox race is about to descend.”
…
…
Covered in dirt and dust, Yue Liu walked back through the forest, carrying firewood in her arms.
The fox princess, once pampered and noble, now looked disheveled, no longer radiant and refined.
Yet she had never been an ordinary princess. In the past, to cultivate her swordsmanship under her master Bai Yang, she had endured harsh training and even survived in the wilderness.
Thus, she could still bear such hardship.
“It’s going to rain tonight. I must use this wood to build a temporary shelter as quickly as possible…”
When Yue Liu returned to her hiding place, she found it in complete disarray. Food had been thrown to the ground, and footprints were scattered everywhere.
Someone had been here.
Not good!
“The shrine maiden of the false god has appeared, capture her!!”
A large number of White Night Sect followers, who had been lying in ambush, emerged from concealment with weapons in hand.
Yue Liu immediately dropped the firewood and turned to flee. She had not gone far when she sensed arrows flying toward her from ahead.
She drew her weapon, deflecting the arrows, and rushed forward, preparing to cut down her attackers.
But when she saw who they were, she froze.
They were foxfolk commoners.
“Shrine maiden of the false god… surrender yourself…!” one of the commoners cried, his face pale and trembling. “D-don’t resist any longer!”
Yue Liu’s hand, gripping her katana, began to shake.
These were the same foxfolk who had once adored and respected her. Why were they attacking her now?
The fox royal palace had fallen to the White Night Sect. Her master had been controlled. Her father had fallen into the enemy’s hands. She was now wanted across the nation, and abandoned by her own people…
How could she, all alone, possibly change such an utterly hopeless situation?
At the thought, Yue Liu felt her nose sting.
“Damn it…”
The little fox forced back her tears, activated her footwork technique, and fled the area, disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Thanks for the chapter