Daji

Yu Xian did not draw the sword. After gripping it for a moment, he let go. He turned and walked slowly toward the little fox frozen in midair. "Do you know where this sword's master is right now?" "I'm not telling you where Master is!" The little fox stiffened its neck, speaking defiantly. However, its voice was so babyish and squeaky that it utterly failed to convey any solemn defiance in the face of death. Instead, it sounded as if it were throwing a cute tantrum. "Master? So you're Zhang Buyao's pet? Or her summoned beast?" Yu Xian chuckled upon hearing that. Baby-voiced or not, the little fox certainly hadn't held back in its attack. Had the nine yarn balls clutched in Yu Xian's left hand struck an ordinary Transcendent, the victim would have likely dropped dead on the spot. This little creature possessed strength at least in the Void Realm. Combined with its impulsive temperament, it was no wonder the Qingqiu Jade Gate had become a Rank 10 danger ruin. "You know Master?" The little fox looked at Yu Xian, its eyes lighting up. Yu Xian nodded. "Of course I know her. Yaoyao and I are friends. Now can you tell me where your master is?" "I don't know. Master told me to guard this place and be good while waiting for someone to come, and then she left." The little fox hesitated for a moment before answering reluctantly. Yu Xian frowned and pressed, "Did she say who you were waiting for?" "Yes, she said to wait for a Big Salty Fish named Yu Xian," the little fox answered. Yu Xian was left utterly speechless. Zhang Buyao had clearly foreseen that he would come. After a brief silence, he sighed helplessly. "I am Yu Xian. Speak—what does your master want me to do?" "You're Yu Xian?" The little fox wore a look of suspicion, finding Yu Xian vastly different from what it had imagined. Annoyed, Yu Xian retorted, "What? Don't I look like him?" "But you don't smell like salty fish at all," the little fox muttered under its breath. Yu Xian roared in exasperation, "Who told you I smell like salty fish? Your master?" "Because Master said you're a Big Salty Fish! Shouldn't a salty fish smell like salty fish?" the little fox argued in a tiny voice. Yu Xian took a deep breath. At any rate, he was now a Mighty One, and a Mighty One possessed mighty magnanimity. He decided not to stoop to the little fox's naive notions for the moment. He looked at the little creature and asked, "So, what does Yaoyao want me to do?" "Under that sword is a bad guy sealed away. Master couldn't bring herself to kill her, so Master sealed her up and hopes you can lock her inside the Everlasting Silence Prison Tower," the little fox replied. Yu Xian looked toward the sword and frowned. "If this sword is drawn, this world will inevitably collapse. What about you?" "I don't know," the little fox said blankly. All... right then! She wanted him to clean up her mess and babysit her pet on top of that. Still, this was very Zhang Buyao. In truth, when it came to being a salty fish, she was not one bit inferior to him. "Until we find Yaoyao, you can just follow me," Yu Xian sighed helplessly, looking at the little fox. The little fox nodded foolishly. After all, it had nowhere else to go. Following Yu Xian gave it a chance to find Zhang Buyao; if left to search on its own, it wouldn't even know where to begin. Having sorted out the little fox's situation, Yu Xian turned his attention to the sword planted in the center of the jade platform. "Do you know who is sealed beneath it?" he asked. The little fox nodded. "Yes. The one sealed inside is Daji. When Master traveled the myriad heavens, she happened to meet her. Feeling sorry for her tragic fate, Master decided to bring her along on her travels. "But behind Master's back, she secretly practiced demonic arts from the Myriad Demons Sect. Even after Master caught her, she showed no remorse whatsoever, so Master sealed her away." "..." Yu Xian was at a loss for words. That, too, was very Zhang Buyao. "If she merely practiced demonic arts from the Myriad Demons Sect, that shouldn't warrant being locked in the Everlasting Silence Prison Tower, should it?" Yu Xian pondered for a moment before looking at the little fox. The little fox sighed and explained, "By cultivating those demonic arts, Daji formed the Myriad Demons Charm Body. Any living creature that feels desire for her becomes her puppet, and all their strength and essence are drained by her. "Master visited many worlds, and Daji brought disaster to just as many. If Master hadn't forgotten Xiao Fu in the Peach Blossom Realm once and turned back to look for him, who knows how many more worlds would have been ruined." "Your master was certainly careless. Someone was secretly cultivating demonic arts right under her nose, and she didn't even notice," Yu Xian couldn't resist remarking dryly. The little fox defended Zhang Buyao, saying, "That was because Daji already possessed the Heavenly Fox Charm Body! Master gave her a treasure to conceal her aura out of goodwill, but Daji ended up using that treasure against Master instead. She's simply too wicked!" "Pfft, that actually makes sense." Yu Xian nearly burst out laughing. He could easily imagine how devastated Zhang Buyao's expression must have been when she learned the truth. Having grasped the circumstances, he already had a plan in mind. Zhang Buyao couldn't bring herself to strike likely because she had genuinely regarded Daji as a friend. Even after Daji committed heinous atrocities behind her back, she still couldn't bring herself to kill her outright. However, Zhang Buyao wasn't the kind of soft-hearted person who ignored right and wrong. Thus, she sealed Daji away, and once Yu Xian arrived, she hoped he would throw Daji into the Everlasting Silence Prison Tower. In truth, that was even harsher than simply killing Daji. After all, once imprisoned in the Everlasting Silence Prison Tower, there was virtually no hope of ever coming out. Holding the little fox, Yu Xian returned to the jade platform. Reaching out to grasp the sword's hilt, he asked, "As soon as I draw this sword, she'll break through the seal?" "Mhm, mhm." The little fox nodded. Yu Xian grinned. "You're not going to turn into Daji then, are you? Or maybe you're actually the sealed Daji, and the moment I pull the sword, you'll regain your strength and launch a sneak attack on me?" "..." The little fox stared at Yu Xian speechlessly. Yu Xian stared right back, the two of them locking eyes in a staring contest until the little fox finally snapped, "You're overthinking it! My name is Xiao Hua, not Daji! And I have three younger sisters and two younger brothers—they can all testify for me!" "Then tell me, what are the names of your three sisters, and what are the names of your brothers?" Yu Xian pressed quickly. "My three younger sisters are Xiao Zhao, Xiao Xing, and Xiao Fu, and my two younger brothers are Xiao Fu and Xiao An!" Xiao Hua answered without missing a beat. Seeing that it could answer so quickly, Yu Xian smiled. "Mm, looks like you didn't lie." Even as he spoke, he drew the sword in one clean motion. Xiao Hua's eyes flew wide. Before it could even react, Yu Xian had already pulled the blade free. The very next moment, a surge of black mist erupted from the jade platform, accompanied by a chorus of giggles rising from beneath the stone. Daji's voice drifted up with an eerie charm: "Heeheehee... You must be Yaoyao's little lover, aren't you?" The voice was laden with mesmerizing allure. Had an ordinary person heard it, they likely would have succumbed on the spot. Yu Xian merely furrowed his brows slightly. This Daji... truly didn't know what was good for her. Zhang Buyao had reenacted the tale of the Farmer and the Viper; she had helped the wrong person entirely.