This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 501 - 499: The Fox Woman’s Fate [With Plot Illustration Following]
"UGH!"
Chun Luan’s first regained strength was spent on dry retching.
Witnessing this, Wu Wang slightly raised his eyebrows. How many months? He even thought about jokingly asking. However, with so many members of the Celestial Fox Tribe present, Wu Wang knew he could not behave so frivolously.
He tossed the snuff bottle to General Meng at his side and, after whispering a few words to his Senior Sister, walked over to the High Priest to express Luili Realm’s condolences.
The High Priest looked at Hu Tianlan, who was once again pressed to the ground. Although her eyes showed pain, she still spoke in a low voice, "Lord, Hu Tianlan has violated ancestral teachings, incited chaos in our lands, and sought to harm the Envoy. In your opinion, how should he be punished?"
"Death penalty," Wu Wang responded firmly.
The High Priest slowly closed her eyes, a trace of pain in their depths.
"Then we shall follow your orders, my lord. Guards!"
"Wait, High Priest. This matter does not solely concern the Celestial Fox Tribe; it also involves me, the Envoy from Liuli City. He’s also accused of ambushing the patrol team," Wu Wang said indifferently. "Considering the current chaotic situation of the Celestial Fox Tribe, it is appropriate to escort Hu Tianlan to Liuli City."
"Lord," the High Priest’s eyes held a hint of inquiry.
But Wu Wang just shook his head slightly, indicating that he could not help.
She wanted to ask if there was another way to spare Hu Tianlan’s life, and the answer Wu Wang gave was, of course, negative.
This Hu Tianlan is nothing more than a spoiled brat. As a ’second-generation’ myself, I truly look down on this fellow. He lacks any manly fortitude. Since he had the gall to commit such sins, he should be prepared to bear the consequences.
"SIGH..." The High Priest said softly, "We will do as you, the Envoy, dictate regarding today’s events. I truly do not know how to apologize."
"No need," Wu Wang said. "It’s best to deal with this sooner rather than later. Please, High Priest, make preparations. As soon as it is light, we will depart from here and go to Liuli City together. Any issues can be addressed directly with the Shrine Institute in Liuli City. You must trust me now, High Priest."
"Lord, you are the Envoy of the Liuli god," the High Priest offered a smile. "Your word is law in the Luili Realm; how could we not trust you? Please rest for a moment, my lord. I will start arranging for those who will travel to Liuli City."
Wu Wang said, "I’ll take the two Generals and wait for you outside the forest. Hu Tianlan will be taken by us for now."
"We will follow the Lord’s arrangements."
"I’ll only wait until dawn. It’s up to the High Priest and the Elders to decide the Celestial Fox Tribe’s future."
After speaking, Wu Wang cupped his hands and gave Meng Xianglin a glance. The latter leaped over to Hu Tianlan and, under the gaze of the Celestial Fox Tribe, lifted him by the neck like a chick and drifted towards the gate.
Wu Wang stepped forward to support his Senior Sister and followed them.
"Envoy!"
The fox girl Lu’er called from the side, hurrying after them. Her eyes, like Stars and diamonds, were as gentle as ever.
She asked, "When it’s light, I’ll still be able to see you, right?"
"Of course." Wu Wang smiled and said warmly, "My word is my bond. Do you want to say anything to your brother?"
Lu’er looked towards Hu Tianlan, who had been knocked unconscious by Meng Xianglin. She sighed softly, a hint of worry on her face, and shook her head slightly. "See you tomorrow," she whispered.
Wu Wang turned and departed, his retreating figure quite dashing. The fox girl followed them to the palace gate, watching their departing backs, her fingers interlaced before her chest as if in prayer.
Inside the grand hall, those Elders who had participated in the rebellion but had not actually managed to accomplish much were now in a miserable state. They bore the wrath of the High Priest, Elders, and commanding officers who had been previously poisoned. Hu Tianlan’s several hundred warriors were promptly executed, and the rebellious Elders were crippled and thrown into the dungeon to await further punishment. Indeed, no power shows mercy when dealing with rebels.
「An hour later.」
At the edge of the Celestial Fox Tribe’s forest, Wu Wang and Chun Luan rested on the branches of a towering broadleaf tree, leaning against its trunk on either side. Wu Wang gazed at the brightly lit military camp in the distance, while Chun Luan surveyed the somewhat bustling forest.
Meng Xianglin had, of course, taken Hu Tianlan back, also informing the other Generals about the events that had transpired in the Celestial Fox Tribe’s lands. Wu Wang had made an excuse to stay and guard against any further disturbances from the Celestial Fox Tribe. In truth, I just couldn’t be bothered to go back and waste my breath.
RUSTLE. RUSTLE. Sounds emerged from the other side of the tree trunk.
Senior Sister Chun Luan had loosened her armor and was now wearing a loose, soft undershirt, her long hair undone. As she raised her head to gaze at the bright moon, the facade of her martial strength inadvertently slipped, revealing a woman’s tenderness.
"Qing Shan?"
"What is it, Senior Sister?"
"The mysterious expert who took action in Dragon Valley... that was you, wasn’t it?"
"It was me," Wu Wang said. "I encountered the Martial God in town, and the Martial God bestowed many gifts upon me."
Chun Luan was taken aback and murmured, "The Martial God? Wasn’t it the Liuli god?"
"The Liuli god is a subordinate god who follows the Martial God," Wu Wang smiled. "It seems the Liuli god doesn’t practice Martial Arts but inherently possesses great power."
"Is that so?" Chun Luan leaned against the tree trunk, slightly lost in thought.
"Do you feel better now, Senior Sister?" Wu Wang asked out of routine concern.
"It’s nothing much now. I plan to meditate here until dawn," Chun Luan murmured. "The matter of the Celestial Fox Tribe was resolved so easily. I had thought this battle would cause at least tens of thousands of casualties."
Wu Wang thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Senior Sister, you find it simple, but it’s actually because the authority of the Liuli god undermined the Shrine Institute of the Luili Realm’s control. I have sufficient authority to make promises to the Celestial Fox Tribe without consulting the Shrine Institute. The Shrine Institute likely considered letting the Celestial Fox Tribe burn the forest for cultivation, but they ultimately chose to expel them. That is the crux of the problem."
After some thought, Chun Luan asked, "If that’s the case, then the root cause of the Celestial Fox Tribe’s problem lies with the Shrine Institute, and Hu Tianlan’s guilt doesn’t seem so great."
"You’re wrong again, Senior Sister." Wu Wang smiled. "That Hu Tianlan can be said to be guilty of heinous crimes."
"Why?"
"Firstly, he attacked the border patrol team and initiated tonight’s rebellion. This alone is a crime deserving death, regardless of his motives." Wu Wang’s voice grew softer. It was as if siblings were chatting after dinner about trivial matters unrelated to their lives.
Wu Wang continued, "Furthermore, Senior Sister, consider Hu Tianlan’s motives. Was he really thinking of his fellow tribe members? His actions were merely to satisfy his own inner desires, to become a hero to his people, lost in vanity and fantasy, unable to extricate himself. It’s common for young people to want to prove themselves. But in reality? This Hu Tianlan is far less sensible than his sister. He’s overambitious despite his meager talents, utterly shortsighted, and used his own tribe as a stage for his absurd ambitions. With such motives, how could his crimes not be considered heinous?"
Chun Luan pondered thoughtfully and wondered, "Qing Shan, your tone... it sounds rather mature. ’Young people wanting to prove themselves’... Aren’t you young?"
"Ah, I’m just more mature-minded. Children from poor families mature early, um, yes, children from poor families have to take on responsibilities early!"
"PFFT! HAHAHA!" Chun Luan couldn’t help but laugh, her clear voice echoing through the woods.
Wu Wang gave a sheepish smile and said, "Senior Sister, I’m going to meditate and recover my Spiritual Power."
"Rest up. I’ll keep watch for you," Chun Luan replied with a wave of her hand. She stood up in her loose undergarment, stretched, and then stood on the tree branch, gazing at the forest. I wonder how many of the Celestial Fox Tribe can sleep tonight, she thought.
Wu Wang smiled without speaking and closed his eyes to concentrate. Most of his Spiritual mind returned to his original body, leaving just a fraction in his avatar for vigilance.
Just as his consciousness returned to his original body, Wu Wang heard two bell chimes. Zhong Ling, the little bell spirit, still in the guise of a playful girl, sprang out from the depths of Wu Wang’s heart, speaking in a thick ’local accent,’ "Master Silver!"
"Speak properly!"
"HEE HEE! Master! I have two pieces of news about the Outer Sky. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Wu Wang smiled. "No distinction between good news and bad news?"
"Nope!" Zhong Ling giggled, raising her left hand. "Look, what’s this?"
"A hairless paw."
"It’s a little hand, silly!" Zhong Ling drew closer to Wu Wang, her fingers slowly curling into a small fist. "Everything’s under control!"
"Just out with it," Wu Wang scolded with a laugh.
"The first matter is about Emperor Shun and Candle Dragon," Zhong Ling whispered. "Emperor Shun can’t consume Candle Dragon’s Divine Soul, but it seems Candle Dragon might have been persuaded by Emperor Shun. They’re likely to join forces and then start meddling with the worlds of the Outer Sky."
Wu Wang was puzzled. "Meddling with the worlds of the Outer Sky?"
"To plunder power, they might do some... rather extreme things." Zhong Ling pondered for a moment. "Based on my calculations, starting from the current point, about two-thirds of the future scenarios involve Candle Dragon and Emperor Shun collaborating to destroy the Outer Sky worlds, seizing the Power of Chaos and the Power of Destruction in an attempt to contend with the Heavenly Dao."
Although Wu Wang had anticipated this, hearing Zhong Ling say it aloud still made him want to curse. There are so many beings in the Outer Sky!
"Are the Innate Gods aware of this?"
"Those Innate Gods are probably also on the list to be consumed by Emperor Shun and Candle Dragon," Zhong Ling said. "The Dao of Yin Invasion, the Dao of Chaos, and the Dao of time cannot be ignored either."
Wu Wang hummed softly and asked, "How long do they need to prepare?"
"At least four to five hundred years," Zhong Ling said. "Emperor Shun, by merging with the residual spirit of Elder Fu Xi from ages past, has gained remarkable accomplishments in Formations. They are already preparing to refine a grand Formation, using the Outer Sky worlds as a furnace."
Wu Wang sat amidst the Heavenly Dao and began to ponder. I need to stop them. Moreover, I have to do it without revealing my identity as the Eastern Emperor Taiyi. This makes the Martial God a crucial link. This task is, at least, much simpler than the situation I faced when I first arrived at the Heaven Palace; I don’t need to find a point of balance and then maintain it.
Wu Wang looked up and asked, "What’s the second matter?"
Zhong Ling shifted her gaze to the side, muttering softly, "It’s nothing much. The Goddess of Fortune has taken notice of you."
"Oh?" Wu Wang raised an eyebrow slightly. "Could it be that the Goddess of Fortune has sensed the existence of the Heavenly Dao nail?"
"That’s not it," Zhong Ling whispered. "At this moment, the Heavenly Dao has already exceeded the comprehension limits of the Innate Gods."
Zhong Ling continued quietly, "During the affair concerning the Celestial Fox Tribe, the Martial God suddenly went to boast to the Water God, saying things like ’Look at my precious disciple!’ This exposed you to the Goddess of Fortune. At that time, the Goddess of Fortune was discussing matters concerning Lord Cang Xue with the Water God. The Martial God thought you performed exceptionally well, but the Goddess of Fortune felt you were a bit too conspicuous. Since the two gods enjoy bickering, they started arguing... In the end, the Goddess of Fortune made a bet with the Martial God and is now preparing to come and test you. She believes you might be the reincarnation of some old monster."
"The reincarnation of an old monster?" Wu Wang laughed. "It feels like whether they’re Divine Spirits or living beings, none can escape your watchful eye. Do they have no privacy at all?"
"AIYA! Master, don’t talk nonsense. I would never pry into their privacy," Zhong Ling giggled. "Anyway, the Goddess of Fortune has a great figure, just your type."
"Nonsense!" Wu Wang said seriously. "Be serious. I already have my Little Life, my Fairy Immortal, and Little MSG! Besides... I’ve been cursing the Goddess of Fortune for so long; it really wouldn’t be good to get too close to her."
"Is there any logical connection here?" Zhong Ling countered. "The one who cursed you, preventing you from interacting with women in your early years, was the future Mistress Xiaolan. Strictly speaking, there’s absolutely no connection between you and the Goddess of Fortune now. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know her."
Wu Wang said, "Precisely because of that, if Xiaolan is destined to take over the Great Dao of the Goddess of Fortune, how could..."
"The future is not unchangeable," Zhong Ling said. "Although my ability to flow upstream, along with Mistress Xiaolan’s curse on you, has formed the foundation of this world line—you can simply think of it as two points determining a straight line. But we can use certain methods to jump from this world line to another. After all, all world lines converge at a fixed point: my birth. It’s possible to execute a world line jump at the moment of my birth and thereby achieve the most satisfying ending for you! Preserving a Goddess of Fortune, or having the Goddess of Fortune and Mistress Xiaolan jointly preside over a Great Dao, is quite simple."
"Now that you mention it..." Wu Wang brooded for a moment, then abruptly sensed a menacing aura. Looking up, he saw Zhong Ling, who had somehow floated in front of him, gazing down at him with the look one reserves for a beast.
"Indeed! You’re tempted! Are you being fair to the three and a half women back home?"
Wu Wang silently took out the design drafts for the Eastern Emperor’s Bell.
Zhong Ling’s legs trembled, and she promptly prostrated before Wu Wang, clapping her little hands together in supplication. "Master, I was wrong! I won’t act up again!"
"HUMPH. You think I can’t handle you?" Wu Wang calmly pocketed the sketches, his eyes brimming with contemplation.
The Goddess of Fortune making a bet with the Martial God to test me is indeed an urgent matter. How will she test me? By unleashing a wave of romantic encounters on me? No, that can’t be. Surely gods from the Outer Sky wouldn’t be so crude; they would definitely employ more profound strategies. I really need to think this through carefully to avoid falling into her trap.
「Meanwhile, atop a white cloud high in the Outer Sky.」
The Goddess of Fortune, after much deliberation, finally took out her Staff and, from a thousand miles away, pointed a beam of pink light towards ’Qing Shan.’
A fate of romantic entanglements, with fortunes mixed.
「Dawn was breaking.」
Wu Wang’s Spiritual mind returned to his Outer Sky incarnation. He slowly opened his eyes to the sight of the bustling military camp, where preparations for breakfast were already underway.
The adjacent tree branch was empty. After searching for a bit, Wu Wang found his Senior Sister strolling through the forest. She seemed preoccupied, her long spear resting horizontally on her shoulder, her soft arms draped over either side of it. The armor on her body was slightly tight, likely because her chest bindings weren’t wrapped very securely.
"Senior Sister!"
Just as Wu Wang called out, a deep horn blast suddenly echoed through the forest.
A gust of wind swept over the treetops, and a hundred-zhang-long Heavenly Fox soared slowly into view, carrying a few figures. It was followed by a long convoy racing above the forest canopy. Below these chariots, Wu Wang saw the ethereal forms of five-tailed and six-tailed Heavenly Foxes.
Quite the spectacle, Wu Wang thought.
Chun Luan also noticed the disturbance in the forest and leaped back to Wu Wang’s side, asking in a low voice, "Qing Shan, what’s our next move?"
Wu Wang couldn’t help but glance at his Senior Sister’s chest. Even in armor, it jiggles... Impressive. Hmm? Why would such a frivolous thought cross my mind?
He immediately averted his gaze, calmly had the Heavenly Dao examine this avatar, and then said, "They are hurrying to Liuli City."
"Mhm," Chun Luan nodded lightly. "Are you going back too?"
"Senior Sister, you should return with me," Wu Wang said. "This matter will likely be handled properly. When it comes to rewarding contributions, you shouldn’t be left out."
"I don’t really mind..." After a moment of thought, Chun Luan said, "Alright. Mo Feng and Fu Er have both entered the Earth Class. As their teacher, I should go and see them."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Wang gestured for her to leap out of the forest with him and wait ahead.
The massive Heavenly Fox slowly descended, and the figures on its back gracefully flew down. The Celestial Fox Tribe’s High Priest, several aged Elders, and the fox girl Lu’er—these were the ’main characters’ for this trip to Liuli City.
Lu’er’s attire today also made Wu Wang’s eyes light up. Yesterday, Lu’er had been focused on pleasing Wu Wang, primarily wearing thin gauze dresses with the smallest possible undergarments. Today, however, she had completely changed her style. She wore a gradient grass-green, floor-length dress and white over-the-knee boots. Although the bodice of the long dress still hugged her perfect curves, the emphasis was on elegance rather than allure. Her exposed shoulders and the Crystal necklace around her neck complemented each other, and the pair of snow-white fox ears atop her head made her look even cuter, a sight that would catch anyone’s eye.
"Envoy, my lord," the High Priest, looking somewhat frail, managed a smile. "We are all prepared."
Wu Wang nodded. "My entourage is waiting at the military camp ahead. We’ll join up later and proceed to Liuli City."
"Thank you, my lord Envoy." The High Priest sighed, appearing decades older than the day before.
At her side, Lu’er softly said, "My lord, may I spend some time alone with you? I have a few questions for which I’d like to seek your guidance."
"Certainly. Let’s go for a walk outside the camp." Wu Wang pointed to a hillside near the camp. The fox girl nodded in agreement, her delicate hands nervously intertwined before her as she lowered her head and followed behind Wu Wang.
Seeing this, Chun Luan curled her lip slightly, but having witnessed Wu Wang’s impressive display of power the previous day, she wasn’t too worried at the moment.
A short while later, the two of them reached a lush, green, grassy slope overlooking the camp. From there, they could see the prison cart in the center of the camp, where Hu Tianlan was bound like a rice dumpling, with two bone-piercing nails now in his collarbones.
Lu’er raised a hand to smooth her windblown hair, her eyes thoughtful.
Wu Wang stopped on a flat patch of grass and asked, "What did you want to ask?"
"My lord," Lu’er almost bit her lip raw, "if I were to say... that I wish to become your concubine, would you be averse to the idea?"
So direct, right off the bat? Wu Wang turned to size her up.
I do have a fox-spirit maiden from Qingqiu. Having fallen on hard times, she learned all the arts of pleasing men in a brothel, and she can never quite shake off that inherent allure. But the fox girl before me possesses a rare sense of grace. She’s absolutely beautiful, flawless in both looks and figure. Her eyes are remarkably clear, and her slender, willowy waist looks as if it couldn’t withstand even a gentle grip. If I were to sit idly embracing her, it would probably be quite comfortable.
As such a thought unexpectedly surfaced in Wu Wang’s mind, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
I’ve already figured it out; it seems I’ve been struck by ’peach blossom luck.’ Indeed, the Goddess of Fortune chose the crudest of tactics! This so-called peach blossom luck isn’t some kind of charm potion, but an elusive type of fortune. Once afflicted by it, chance encounters with the opposite sex might lead to them making advances, and one’s own heart might become slightly agitated, easily leading to... romantic developments. If a bachelor were struck by peach blossom luck, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But for a married man like myself—and for my avatar at that—to be struck by it, well, that’s far too problematic.
"My lord, I... I think I know the answer," Lu’er responded despondently.
Wu Wang said, "Forget about being a concubine. You shouldn’t harbor any such thoughts about me. I’m just a simple Martial Artist and haven’t considered these matters yet. Being friends, however, wouldn’t be a bad idea."
Wu Wang cupped his hands. "Martial Artist Qing Shan."
Lu’er paused, then lightly bit her lip, her tongue briefly flicking across it. She then properly returned the salute. "Priestess Wenlu."
"Let’s wait here for a bit." Wu Wang looked down at the camp. The carriages of the Celestial Fox Tribe, arriving from the sky, were merging with his own Envoy’s convoy, while large, snow-white Heavenly Foxes circled continuously overhead.
"Lu’er, what do you believe is the purpose of a living being’s existence?"
"My lord, I don’t understand such grand concepts. That question probably has no single answer, as each living being’s purpose is different."
"And yours?"
"To become strong enough to protect my tribe whenever needed, and to pursue the life I desire... I suppose that’s it."
"Not bad at all."
