Volume 5 Chapter 54

Volume 5 + Chapter 54: The White Night Sect Revealed To The Public

Fox Hills, the capital.

“Wasn’t today supposed to be the Fox God Festival?”

“This is so strange. Why would His Majesty the Fox Emperor issue such an order?”

“Isn’t this a violation of our foxfolk traditions?”

The foxfolk within the capital gathered together, murmuring anxiously among themselves.

Something truly shocking happened today. A notice had been issued from the fox royal palace. The Fox God Festival had been called off, by direct decree of the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor himself.

Upon learning this news, the entire fox race was utterly bewildered. Such a situation had never occurred in all of history.

Even if a great calamity were to strike on the very day of the Fox God Festival, this ancient tradition would never be interrupted.

So why, at such a crucial moment, had the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor halted the festival instead? Was this not a desecration of Lord Fox God?

“His Majesty the Fox Emperor has arrived!!”

The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor, now at the center of a storm of public opinion, made his appearance.

He walked at the very front. Behind him followed the ministers of the fox royal palace, and members clad in mysterious white robes.

This scene immediately sparked speculation among the foxfolk. They were intensely curious about the identities of those dressed in white.

They certainly did not resemble shrine priests.

Everyone waited for the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor to explain everything.

There was not a trace of light in his eyes. They were murky and lifeless, like those of a corpse, no different from the fox clan’s great swordmaster, Bai Yang, standing beside him.

Senluo stepped to the Fox Emperor’s side and softly reminded him, “Your Majesty, it is time for you to address them. The people are still awaiting your explanation.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor stepped forward, standing where all eyes converged.

“My people, I have summoned you here today to announce something, the truth of history! For countless ages, the fox royal family has used the so-called Fox God to deceive the entire fox race!”

“The truth of history?”

“What does he mean?”

“Deception? What about Lord Fox God?”

The foxfolk below stirred in agitation.

“The Red Fox God, long worshipped in Fox Hills, is in truth a vile usurper!!”

The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor raised his hand, directing everyone’s gaze toward the most prominent statue in the square, the statue of the Red Fox God.

“In the distant past, the one who should have inherited divine authority, the Azure Fox God, was betrayed. He was deceived by an evil and despicable red fox, who stole both his divine power and his position. Stripped of everything, the treacherous red fox thus became a false god!!”

“To secure his throne, the false god concealed the truth and endlessly glorified himself. The fox royal family, in order to preserve its own rule, assisted the false god, enshrining the Red Fox as a deity, rewriting history, and deceiving all foxfolk until this very day!”

The Fox Emperor’s speech left the square in stunned silence. Every fox stared wide-eyed, unable to utter a word.

From childhood to adulthood, every fox had been immersed in stories of Lord Fox God. Through subtle influence and education tied to faith, they had come to believe that the Fox God was the sole deity of Fox Hills.

Yet now, as the representative of the fox royal house, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor had overturned that very understanding and denied the god they had worshipped.

“However, what the false god never anticipated was that Lord Azure Fox God did not perish. He survived in silence and, in order to pass down the truth, founded the White Night Sect.”

“The White Night Sect has endured in secrecy within Fox Hills, developing quietly all these years, awaiting the day when the truth could be revealed to all foxfolk and the true Fox God restored to rightful orthodoxy.”

“Not long ago, I finally learned the truth of history. I felt remorse, regret, shame… and anger. Now I have awakened. It is time to pull the false god down from his divine throne and restore the true Fox God to his rightful place, so that he may receive our faith once more. That is why I halted the Fox God Festival.”

As he spoke with mounting emotion, the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor broke down in tears.

His display of genuine grief did not seem like mockery or manipulation, it appeared he truly meant every word.

Then, before everyone’s eyes, he struck and destroyed the statue of the Red Fox God.

Such an act left the foxfolk utterly at a loss.

“This is a mistake committed by our entire race. We must all atone before Lord Fox God. From this day forward, Lord Azure Fox God shall be the sole deity of Fox Hills, and the White Night Sect shall become its state religion!”

As soon as his words fell, the followers of the White Night Sect carried forth a statue of the Azure Fox God and placed it before the crowd.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor respectfully bowed to a distinguished fox man standing behind him.

“Lord Bishop, is this sinner’s proposal to your satisfaction?”

The White Night Sect’s leader stepped forward and quickly helped the Fox Emperor to his feet. “Your Majesty, you speak too harshly of yourself. Since you possess repentance in your heart and have chosen to join the White Night Sect and believe in the true Fox God, then you are no sinner. Rather, you are a righteous believer who has set chaos right, your merit is immeasurable.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Bai Lian, dressed in shrine maiden robes, stepping forward as well. “Hold your head high and take pride in your actions.”

“I just heard the voice of Lord Fox God. He is most pleased.”

“Is that so… That is truly… wonderful…” The Fox Emperor was deeply moved.

The Bishop of the White Night Sect and Bai Lian, both Nine-Tailed Foxes yet not members of the royal family, were appearing before the public for the first time, delivering a powerful shock to the crowd.

Their presence seemed to further validate the Fox Emperor’s claims.

A considerable portion of the populace had already begun to waver.

Yet among them were still steadfast believers in the Red Fox God. Unable to accept the White Night Sect, they risked everything and rushed forward.

“Your Majesty, please do not be deceived! Withdraw your order! We have never even heard of this White Night Sect. Do not believe their one-sided words! This so-called Azure Fox God is heresy and evil doctrine, our faith is only in one true god!!”

The impassioned fox pleaded.

“Please resume the Fox God Festival…”

Swish!

A flash of white light cut through the air. The fox’s impassioned speech ended abruptly, his upper and lower body severed cleanly apart.

“To dare insult the true Fox God, this is your fate,” the Bishop of the White Night Sect said coldly, blood still staining his hand.

“Ahhh!!”

Panic erupted at the sight of the Bishop killing someone openly.

At that moment, White Night Sect followers surged in from all directions, suppressing the crowd and preventing anyone from fleeing.

“From this moment forward, no one may insult the Azure Fox God. Under the will of Lord Fox God, I shall purge all heretics who believe in the false god!” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor commanded. “Any who defy this order, regardless of status, shall be executed without mercy!!”

“Wise and just, Your Majesty!!”

Senluo quickly led a group of fox ministers in bowing deeply, expressing their complete approval.

Out of fear of death, the foxfolk present no longer dared oppose the White Night Sect.

Seeing that even the highest ranks of the fox leadership had submitted, despair spread rapidly among the people.

“Any heretic who believes in the false god must not be spared, even if it is… my own daughter, who has already betrayed Fox Hills,” the Nine-Tailed Fox Emperor declared mercilessly. “Issue a warrant for the false god’s shrine maiden, Yue Liu · Gitusezhuoya. No matter the cost, she must be captured and punished!”

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