Volume 5 Chapter 46
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 46: The Great Upheaval of The Fox Clan Imperial Palace
“How are the preparations coming along?”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor questioned his subordinates.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the venue has been fully arranged, all personnel are in position, and Her Highness the Princess is already waiting at the shrine,” an official of the Fox Clan Imperial Palace replied respectfully. “At your command, we may begin the rehearsal of the Fox God Festival at any time.”
Today was the official rehearsal for the Fox God Festival.
The Fox God Festival was the most important celebration within the Fox Clan. Not the slightest error or mishap could be tolerated. Thus, before the official ceremony began, a full rehearsal had to be conducted under the supervision of the royal family, to walk through the entire process and ensure that no flaws remained, lest any accident occur during the true festival.
“Notify everyone. The rehearsal will begin precisely in one hour. No delays,” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor ordered.
“Understood, Your Majesty. I shall see to it at once. Please rest assured, the rehearsal will commence on time.” The palace official bowed deeply.
“Mm.”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor nodded in satisfaction and departed.
The palace official slowly straightened, watching the emperor’s retreating figure with a meaningful gleam in his eyes. He murmured softly, “Today… will be the hour of transformation. The Fox Clan’s royal family shall repay everything.”
…
“Chief Priestess, would you like something to drink?”
Within the shrine of the Fox God, a shrine attendant gently reminded Yue Liu.
“From the beginning of the rehearsal until its end, you must neither drink water nor eat. You must endure throughout.”
Yue Liu was both a princess of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan and the shrine maiden of the Fox God.
Within the shrine dedicated to the Fox God, she was the leader of all shrine officials, serving in the position of Chief Priestess.
“I know…”
Yue Liu replied softly.
She stared at the cup of water before her, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Now dressed in a custom-made pink-and-white shrine maiden robe, her long pink hair tied into a high ponytail cascading down her back, her face adorned with light makeup, her peerless beauty carried an added air of sanctity and dignity beyond her usual loveliness.
Yet her condition was unusual, at such a critical moment, she seemed weighed down by unease.
The shrine attendants were puzzled.
“Chief Priestess, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” one asked anxiously. “Or has something happened?”
“… ”
Ever since changing into her shrine maiden attire, Yue Liu had felt troubled. She had an ominous sense that something was about to occur.
She had even secretly performed a divination herself. The result,
Great misfortune.
She hesitated. Should she inform her father and halt the rehearsal of the Fox God Festival?
Yet since she assumed the role of shrine maiden, and even before her tenure, the festival rehearsal had never once been interrupted.
If it were halted merely because of her personal fortune, and something were to go wrong during the actual festival, would that not be a grave disrespect to the Fox God?
“Chief Priestess, an official from the imperial palace has come urging you to proceed to the festival grounds. Preparations there are complete, everyone is waiting for you,” another attendant hurried in to report.
“…Forget it. I won’t dwell on it.”
Yue Liu took a deep breath, casting aside her distracting thoughts.
“Begin the rehearsal of the Fox God Festival.”
…
“This rehearsal is even more impressive than previous ones.”
Seated beneath the imperial dais, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor gazed over the grand ceremonial grounds and spoke with quiet admiration.
All important figures within the Fox Clan had arrived and taken their proper seats. Moreover, palace officials had even arranged for a group of people to act as commoners, simulating the lively presence of the populace.
“Your Majesty, this rehearsal will surely be a great success,” said the minister seated beside him with a smile.
His name was Senluo, a figure of considerable status within the Fox Clan, worthy of sitting at the emperor’s side.
“Let us hope so,” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor replied.
Recalling something, he asked,
“Senluo, I have heard that Fox Hill has been somewhat unsettled recently. Certain extremists have been causing disturbances as the festival approaches.”
“…Is that so?”
A flicker passed through Senluo’s eyes, though he concealed it swiftly.
“Your Majesty, they are, but insignificant vermin. Under your rule, Fox Hill remains peaceful. With the festival near, such rumors may well be the work of foreign reactionary forces infiltrating our lands, attempting to sow discord through public sentiment. We must not fall for such tricks and become a laughingstock to outsiders.”
The emperor was about to respond when another minister exclaimed excitedly, “Her Highness the Princess has arrived!”
Nearly every gaze turned toward Yue Liu, clad in shrine maiden robes.
The pink-clad shrine maiden of the Fox God entered with elegance, leading the shrine attendants step by step to the center of the ceremonial grounds.
The attendants, dressed in sacred garments with white veils covering their faces, bore a magnificent palanquin. Upon it rested the statue of the Fox God, ordinarily enshrined within the temple.
The statue’s imposing form radiated majesty. Nine grand red tails fanned behind it, lifelike and awe-inspiring, as though the Fox God had descended in person.
Once the statue was placed at the center of the altar, the entire venue fell silent.
Next would be the Chief Priestess’s invocation, chanting sacred hymns to the Fox God, followed by the shrine maiden’s ritual dance, conveying the Fox Clan’s prayers to the deity.
Since Yue Liu was both Chief Priestess and shrine maiden, the duties rested entirely upon her.
She knelt before the statue, closed her eyes, and invoked her magic. A faint glow enveloped her as she chanted holy verses. Rising gracefully, she began the ritual dance.
Not a single step faltered. The process was flawless, perfection beyond reproach. Yue Liu’s composure and talent were breathtaking.
“Excellent. As expected of my daughter.” The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor smiled, deeply gratified.
The ritual dance continued, her movements mesmerizing. All present were captivated, losing track of time and space, as though the world itself revolved solely around Yue Liu’s dance.
Then…
Someone rose from their seat and walked toward the center of the ceremonial grounds.
Such an act was a blatant disruption of the sacred ritual.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor stood angrily, yet when he saw the man’s face, he froze.
The elder who had stepped forward was none other than Bai Yang, the Fox Clan’s great swordsman, and Yue Liu’s own sword master.
Under normal circumstances, Bai Yang should have been elsewhere in Fox Hill, suppressing unrest.
Why had he returned without notice, and why disrupt the festival rehearsal?
“Master?”
Seeing him, Yue Liu was at a loss.
“…Yue Liu, do not move,” Bai Yang said.
“What is happening?”
“The pain will last only an instant.”
His cryptic words chilled her heart.
His hand fell upon the hilt of his blade,
The very opening stance of the drawing technique he had taught her.
In a flash, his katana left its sheath, becoming a streak of blazing white light aimed at Yue Liu’s vital point, so swift no one could react.
Slash!
The altar split apart, offerings scattered across the ground.
Fortunately, Yue Liu had already leapt aside. Any other would have been decapitated, but as Bai Yang’s disciple, she recognized the killing intent and predicted the strike.
“Bai Yang, stop!!”
The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor ignited a talisman.
“Art, Binding of Yin Spirits!”
The burning talisman unleashed immense magic, transforming into invisible restraints that bound Bai Yang.
“Master… Why attack me?” Yue Liu asked, bewildered.
From childhood, Bai Yang had treated her like his own granddaughter. Why now turn his blade upon her?
“Bai Yang, have you lost your mind?!” the emperor demanded.
Bai Yang replied coldly, “Hypocritical royal family. I have come to purge you. Having learned the truth, I now believe in the true Fox God and sever all ties with you who worship a false deity.”
“What true god? What false god? Do you even understand what you’re doing?!”
Then…
A bolt of lightning descended, shattering the emperor’s spell and freeing Bai Yang.
“Greetings, Sect Master.”
Bai Yang bowed to a fox clansman who had appeared.
The emperor’s pupils trembled. “A Nine-Tailed Fox…?”
“Greetings, Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor.”
The leader of the White Night Sect smiled pleasantly.
“You likely have many questions. But surely you know of the Azure Fox God?”
“Azure Fox God?!”
“Yes. The White Night Sect worships the Azure Fox God.”
He gestured toward the statue of the Red Fox God.
“Originally, it was Lord Azure Fox who should have been enshrined here. But through the betrayal of the false Red Fox, the true god lost everything, authority, status, divinity. The ignoble pretender enjoys incense and faith, while the true deity languishes forgotten. How tragic… I can almost feel Lord Azure Fox’s sorrow.”
“Father, what is he saying? Azure Fox? Red Fox? Why do I know nothing of this?” Yue Liu asked.
“Behold the royal family’s sin! Deceiving the Fox Clan for countless ages! The false god and its accomplices must face punishment!”
The emperor turned to the guards,
But the soldiers stood idle, now wearing the robes of the White Night Sect. Others had joined them.
Including Senluo.
In that instant, the emperor understood.
The White Night Sect had infiltrated the palace.
“Yue Liu, stand behind me.”
His anger crystallized into killing intent.
“Art, Yin-Yang Shattered Bloom!”
Black and white energies spiraled together like a magatama, then exploded outward in annihilating force,
“Art, Rashomon.”
The White Night Sect Master summoned a massive demonic gate.
The collision shook the palace to its foundations, walls collapsing, earth splitting, yet the gate held firm.
The emperor realized…
His opponent was also a sixth-tier King of the Higher Species. Perhaps even stronger.
…
Coughing blood, gravely wounded, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor could barely stand.
Surrounded by traitors and facing a superior foe, despair loomed,
Yet he fought with his life, carving a path of escape with Yue Liu from the imperial palace.
“Father… are you alright?” she cried.
Soon, the Master of White Night Sect pursued them.
“…Yue Liu. Go. I will hold them off.”
“But…”
“No buts. Go! Leave!”
Suddenly he remembered someone.
“Seek… the Silver Dragon Princess! That is an order!”
Tears streaming, Yue Liu turned and fled.
The White Night Sect Master approached, eyes cold.
“The Fox Clan’s royal family… Prepare to atone before the true Fox God.”
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