Chapter 38: A Chaotic Dance of Demons 31

Lord Xu led his wife and child away, and even the servants in the courtyard dispersed, leaving the surroundings in utter silence.

Shen Xiao raised his head to gaze at the sky, where a full moon was slowly climbing above the treetops.

His expression was grave as water, and he murmured in a low voice, “When the moon is full, the demonic energy is at its peak.”

By his side, Lin Yuan heard and also looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

They both knew in their hearts that fox spirits were difficult to deal with, and on the night of the full moon, they would be even more formidable.

The two waited quietly outside the house, one hidden in a tree, the other concealed behind the building, ready to strike the moment the fox spirit appeared and catch it off guard.

Time slipped by, and before they knew it, midnight was approaching. A wind began to stir around them.

A patch of dark cloud covered the moon, rendering the sky as black as frozen ink. Apart from the light in Xu Xiangyun’s chamber, there was no trace of brightness anywhere.

Faintly, from afar, there came the sound of music…

Festive drums and piercing suona horns—yet who would play such rousing music in the dead of night?

Shen Xiao said quietly, “Be careful, it’s an illusion.”

Since it was an illusion, it could not be real music, but a false sound that could only be heard inside the array.

Lin Yuan knew the fox spirit was coming; his whole body tensed, eyes unwavering, fixed on the moon gate in the courtyard wall. Then he saw a flash of red emerging from the darkness—

The color grew nearer, clearer, swaying as it came. It was a bridal sedan chair! And carrying it were eight upright-walking foxes!

The scene before his eyes was too vivid; for a moment, Lin Yuan could not tell whether these foxes were part of the illusion or lesser demons commanded by the fox spirit.

But one thing he knew for sure: the true fox spirit had not appeared!

Only the sedan chair and the eight foxes had arrived!

The foxes set the bright red sedan chair down in the courtyard, waiting for the bride to emerge.

Lin Yuan saw Shen Xiao in the shadows shake his head at him.

The true demon had yet to show itself—they could not startle it before the time was right.

The jubilant music persisted. Though there were no instruments in sight, nor any musicians, the music pierced through everything, forcing its way into their ears.

Inside, Shi Xianyu had also heard the sound.

She was about to peer through the crack in the door to see what was happening outside when she saw Xu Xiangyun, who had been hiding behind the screen, step out!

Xu Xiangyun, as if sleepwalking, walked toward the door!

As she was about to grasp the door bolt, Shi Xianyu’s heart leapt in fright. She hurried forward to pull her back, whispering, “What’s wrong with you?”

Xu Xiangyun seemed to wake from a dream, stood dazed for a long moment, then looked at her own position and finally understood what had happened. Her face changed dramatically. “I don’t know… I heard the sound outside, and I couldn’t control myself…”

“You mustn’t go out—if you do, the fox spirit will take you away!” Shi Xianyu seized her hand, pulled her behind the screen, lifted her skirt, and hurriedly untied the rope she’d fastened around her own leg.

She tied Xu Xiangyun up!

The music outside grew louder and louder, and Xu Xiangyun’s expression became ever more vacant, as if hypnotized. If Shi Xianyu hadn’t tied her, she would likely have already dashed out.

With the rope gone, her little props scattered all over the floor. The urgent music from outside left her no time to gather them. She hastily stuffed a few items into the inner pocket of her sleeve, tidied her hair and clothes, and finally summoned the courage to open the door and step out—

Even with all her mental preparation, the sight of eight foxes carrying the sedan chair still gave her a tremendous shock!

Heavens.

Now it was little foxes carrying the chair; would a giant fox come to lift the bridal veil later?

What should she do now?

Should she enter the sedan chair?

Well… it appeared that if she didn’t, there would be no way to meet the fox spirit.

Shi Xianyu gritted her teeth, nerves taut, and walked over step by step, her heart pounding, uncertain whether these foxes would recognize her as an impostor.

But they all stared straight ahead, standing rigidly, showing no reaction to her approach.

Perhaps they were only responsible for carrying the sedan and nothing else?

Her mind was in chaos, thoughts running wild, but she braced herself and sat in the sedan chair.

As soon as she sat down, she felt the sedan rise into the air, turn, and fly swiftly away from the Xu residence!

Inside, she was jostled dizzy from side to side. She lifted the side curtain for a look: outside was a dense, pitch-black forest—nothing could be seen!

Looking forward, she saw the foxes carrying the chair were moving at lightning speed, yet not touching the ground, the entire sedan floating through the air. Around them flickered several balls of fox-fire, making it all seem ghostly.

Shi Xianyu dared not look any longer. She let the curtain fall, clutched her chest with both hands, her heart about to leap out.

She had no idea when the chair would stop, nor where she would be taken. The more she thought, the more anxious and terrified she became. She nervously pulled out a talisman hidden in her collar, clutching it in her palm for comfort.

Suddenly, with a loud bang!

The sedan chair hit the ground!

The jolt was so abrupt, she was thrown forward by the momentum, tumbling out of the chair and nearly falling flat.

At the critical moment, Lin Yuan appeared and caught her in his arms!

Shi Xianyu was stunned, looking around in bewilderment. The foxes that had carried the sedan had all turned into ordinary foxes, scattering in all directions and vanishing in an instant!

“Where’s the fox spirit?” she asked in surprise.

“We’ve been tricked!” Shen Xiao drew his sword, his face grim. “Xu Xiangyun is in danger. We must hurry back and save her!”

With that, he leapt away, his feet skimming over the treetops as he sped off.

Shi Xianyu, flustered and anxious, pushed at Lin Yuan. “Go help Brother Shen!”

Lin Yuan frowned, glancing in Shen Xiao’s direction, then looked at her, torn.

She immediately understood his hesitation and said urgently, “Saving her is more important! The fox spirit is so cunning—Brother Shen is in danger alone! Go, quickly!”

Caught between choices, Lin Yuan suddenly embraced Shi Xianyu, pressing a firm kiss to her forehead!

She was stunned.

He let her go and explained hastily, “The forest is dangerous. You need my scent on you.”

As soon as he finished, he swiftly planted two kisses on her lips, then turned and rushed into the dense woods, disappearing after Shen Xiao into the darkness.

Shi Xianyu, utterly shocked, lifted a finger to her lips, murmuring in disbelief, “My first kiss… my wish list…”

Came true!

……

Shen Xiao and Lin Yuan had barely reached the Xu residence when they saw another sedan chair hastily leaving it!

Another bright red sedan, another eight foxes carrying it!

The fox spirit had used a diversion! But how did it know the bride had been switched? Was there a traitor within the Xu household?

The thought that he’d been outwitted by a demon filled Shen Xiao with rage. He hurled his sword toward the leading foxes, shouting, “Stop!”

Two foxes were pierced by the blade and instantly turned to black smoke!

The sedan slowed, but before Shen Xiao and Lin Yuan could catch up, the blue fox-fires around them suddenly swelled, tearing into two terrifying faces—

One weeping, one laughing—both blocking their path!