As Liang Lu’s words fell, the atmosphere in the basin froze abruptly.
The two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Yu Ling Sect almost simultaneously released their divine sense, frantically sweeping the surrounding mountain forest. However, no matter how they searched, they could not detect any trace of the hidden person.
Precisely because they could not sense anything, they grew even more wary.
To silently kill two late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators right under their noses, and to conceal one’s aura so perfectly that even Foundation Establishment cultivators’ divine sense could not detect it—the one hiding in the shadows was either a same-stage expert highly skilled in concealment, or…
Their cultivation far surpassed the two of them.
Cold sweat beaded on the sinister cultivator’s forehead. He exchanged a glance with the lean cultivator, and both saw the intention to retreat in each other’s eyes.
However, before he could make a decision—
A vast, profound demon qi, carrying the majestic authority of a mountain forest king, suddenly surged forth. It was as if an ancient beast that had been slumbering for ages had slowly opened its eyes. The aura rose steadily from the depths of the dark bushes on the eastern side.
The demon qi did not erupt violently. It simply spread calmly outward, yet it was enough to make every Yu Ling Sect disciple present feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
Fourth-tier.
Moreover, it was a fourth-tier great demon with extremely pure bloodline, only one step away from fifth-tier transformation.
Within that demon qi was a faint, awe-inspiring pressure reminiscent of a tiger roaring through the forest, along with the unfathomable, deep killing intent of a still pool.
It did not attack.
It merely calmly and unhurriedly announced its presence.
As if saying: I am here. Do you dare make a move?
The sinister cultivator’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
He no longer hesitated. Retracting his divine sense sharply, he let out a low shout.
“Leave!”
He did not even bother to count heads or check on the two Qi Condensation disciples whose fates were unknown. Turning around, he transformed into a streak of escape light and shot away in the direction they had come from without looking back.
The lean cultivator followed closely behind, escaping just as decisively.
The surviving black-robed Qi Condensation disciples finally snapped out of their daze. Scrambling and stumbling, they followed their Foundation Establishment seniors and fled in panic into the mountain forest.
In mere moments, the basin fell completely silent.
All that remained was a mess of debris and the red fox, still bound by chains and breathing with difficulty.
Liang Lu stood in place, watching the Yu Ling Sect group flee in a sorry state. He unhurriedly put away his folding fan, his voice carrying genuine admiration.
“Truly imposing.”
He turned toward the dark bushes on the eastern side, his smile gentle.
“May I know which Mountain Lord senior happened to be passing by? On behalf of this red fox, I thank you for saving her life.”
The bushes remained silent.
A moment later, a slender white figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the branches and leaves.
It was a pure snow-white fox. Its fur was as clean as freshly fallen snow, glowing with a soft, lustrous sheen under the sparse sunlight filtering through the canopy.
Its steps were light and graceful, as if the one who had just released that fourth-tier pressure and frightened away the entire Yu Ling Sect group had not been it at all.
Bai Heng ignored Liang Lu’s compliment and walked straight toward the red fox lying on the ground.
The red fox laboriously lifted her head, watching the white fox approach step by step. Her eyes, somewhat unfocused from prolonged suffering, slowly filled with fresh tears.
Bai Heng crouched down beside her and carefully examined her injuries with her divine sense.
Moments later, the tuft of white fur at her brow emitted a very faint reddish glow. A warm, gentle stream of power—carrying the cool essence of moonlight and vibrant life force—slowly flowed into the red fox’s tattered meridians.
The red fox trembled all over, letting out a soft whimper from her throat. Whether from pain or from this warm, familiar kindness coming from one of her own kind, it was hard to say.
“Don’t move.”
Bai Heng’s voice was soft, carrying a slight awkwardness, yet somehow reassuring.
“Your injuries are severe, but they can be healed.”
Using her spiritual sense to control several jade bottles taken from her knowledge sea, she evenly applied the prepared antidote and flesh-regenerating medicinal liquid onto the rope marks on the red fox’s limbs. She then channeled a purer strand of moonlight power to protect the red fox’s nearly exhausted heart meridian.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the red fox’s breathing gradually stabilized, and some luster returned to her eyes. Bai Heng located the locking mechanism on the heavy chains binding her neck and limbs.
With a soft click.
The restraints were gone.
The red fox collapsed weakly to the ground, panting heavily as she savored her newfound freedom.
She struggled, using her still-trembling legs to slowly but determinedly stand up.
Then, she faced Bai Heng and solemnly lowered her front body, head bowed low.
Turning toward Liang Lu, who stood to the side with his hands behind his back, she performed the same deep bow.
“Hong Jin thanks Young Master Liang and this elder sister of the same race… for saving my life.”
Her voice was still hoarse, but her words were clear, carrying the choked sincerity of one who had survived a great calamity.
So her name was Hong Jin.
Bai Heng nodded slightly without saying much.
Liang Lu, however, waved his hand with a light, carefree smile.
“No need for such formality. I merely said a few words while passing by. The one who truly frightened them off was this—”
He paused, his gaze shifting to Bai Heng with clear amusement in his eyes.
“—Mountain Lord senior’s pressure. Truly the might of a tiger, awe-inspiring and admirable. I never expected that from such a powerful and majestic mountain lord aura would emerge such a delicate and petite fox immortal.”
He looked Bai Heng up and down, praising her sincerely.
“The contrast is so great that it has truly opened my eyes.”
Bai Heng did not respond, nor did she even glance at him.
She simply stood quietly beside Hong Jin, like a silent snow-white statue.
Liang Lu waited for a moment. Seeing no reply, he was not annoyed. He merely shook his head to himself, the smile on his lips deepening.
Hong Jin glanced at Liang Lu, then at Bai Heng, too timid to speak.
After a while, Bai Heng finally spoke. She ignored Liang Lu and turned her head slightly toward Hong Jin, her voice very soft.
“My name is Bai Heng.”
Hong Jin nodded quickly, committing it to memory.
Bai Heng thought for a moment, then leaned closer to Hong Jin’s ear and spoke in a low voice that only the two demons could hear.
“In the future, if someone tries to use the debt of saving your life to pressure you into repaying them with your body—”
She paused, her tone calm and serious.
“Do not believe him.”
“There are many ways to repay a kindness. Repaying a debt of gratitude is simply repaying gratitude. It has nothing to do with your body, your heart, or romantic affection.”
“Never demean yourself.”
Hong Jin was stunned.
She stared blankly at Bai Heng. In her tear-stained eyes, confusion appeared first, followed by a surge of complicated emotions.
There was gratitude, sudden understanding, and a hint of belated vigilance that she herself might not have fully realized.
Earlier, when facing that blue-robed young master, a subtle ripple had indeed stirred in her heart.
That gentle, composed man who had protected her against superior numbers, that bright blue robe, that soft smile…
Only when Bai Heng pointed it out so directly did she suddenly realize how reasonable yet dangerous that flutter of emotion had been.
Hong Jin lowered her head, her voice barely audible.
“Hong Jin… will remember.”
Liang Lu stood with his hands behind his back three zhang away, his expression open and honest, showing no awareness of “eavesdropping.”
Only after Bai Heng finished did he speak unhurriedly.
“I heard everything Miss Bai Heng said just now.”
His tone was calm, without the slightest displeasure.
“Well said. A life-saving grace should not be mixed with matters of romantic affection. Too many storybooks and legends in this world portray ‘demon immortals repaying kindness’ as charming and romantic, not realizing that in reality, it is often nothing more than the wishful thinking of those lusting after beauty and pleasure.”
He looked at Hong Jin, his expression gentle yet serious.
“Miss Hong Jin, I saved you only because the opportunity presented itself—it was merely a small effort on my part. I have no ulterior motives. You need not take it to heart, nor feel any burden because of it.”
He paused, the corners of his lips curving into a relaxed smile.
“If you truly feel indebted, then once you achieve success in your cultivation, simply refrain from committing evil or harming others. That would be the best repayment to me.”
His words were open and sincere, gently brushing aside the delicate budding affection that had barely formed and that even Hong Jin herself had not fully understood.
Hong Jin lowered her head and let out a soft “Mm.”
Bai Heng glanced at Liang Lu but said nothing.
She had deliberately lowered her voice earlier. With her current cultivation, condensing sound into a line was still somewhat difficult, so it was expected that a Foundation Establishment cultivator would overhear.
She had said those words precisely for him to hear.
And his response, at least on the surface, was appropriate.
Appropriate as it might be.
Bai Heng still had no intention of getting too involved with him.
She turned to Hong Jin, her tone calm.
“Your injuries are quite serious. Although your life is not in danger, you will need several months of quiet recuperation. This place is not safe to stay for long. The people from Yu Ling Sect may return.”
Hong Jin nodded repeatedly, then looked lost.
“Then… where should I go?”
She had cultivated in the mountains since childhood and had never left her homeland. After being hunted by Yu Ling Sect and fleeing in panic all the way here, she had long since lost her way.
Bai Heng pondered for a moment.
“Go north.”
She used her demon power to sketch a few simple lines on the ground, outlining the general direction of the mountain ranges and rivers.
“From here heading north, in about seven or eight days’ journey, there is a mountain called Qixia. On that mountain lives a white tiger lady named Mu Xuejun. She has a kind temperament and often looks after those of the same race.”
“You can go seek shelter with her. Tell her… that Bai Heng referred you.”
Hong Jin listened attentively, committing every word to memory.
“Qixia Mountain… Senior Mu Xuejun… referred by Sister Bai Heng…”
She repeated it silently a few times and nodded heavily.
“Hong Jin has remembered it. Thank you, Sister Bai Heng.”
She bowed solemnly once more, then turned to Liang Lu and bowed to him as well.
“Thank you, Young Master Liang.”
Liang Lu smiled and nodded.
Hong Jin stood up. She looked back at Bai Heng with reluctance, as if wanting to say something more, but in the end only whispered softly.
“Sister Bai Heng… take care.”
Then, taking a deep breath, she walked with still-weak steps toward the northern mountain forest with firm determination.
Her fiery red figure gradually moved into the distance until it disappeared into the layered greenery.
In the basin, only Bai Heng and Liang Lu remained.
After a moment of silence.
Liang Lu suddenly spoke, his tone filled with unconcealed curiosity.
“Miss Bai Heng can clearly speak, and your voice is pleasant. Your name is also exceptionally nice—why, the last time in the deep mountains north of Lan Province, no matter what I said, you didn’t utter a single word from beginning to end?”
Bai Heng originally did not want to respond to him.
But she still spoke.
“Because I don’t want to get involved with someone whose identity is unclear and who keeps changing his name.”
Her tone was flat, as if stating the simplest fact.
“I am a demon. I am not tolerated by the righteous path of the human race. Getting too involved with someone like you brings me no benefit.”
She paused, then added.
“Thank you for helping today. But that is all.”
With that, she no longer looked at Liang Lu and turned to leave.
A soft chuckle came from behind her.
“Miss Bai Heng is right.”
There was no anger in that voice, only a touch of sincere agreement.
“My identity is indeed somewhat complicated, and I do change names frequently. Sometimes even I forget which one I should be using at the moment.”
“It is correct for you to be cautious.”
Bai Heng did not stop. With a few leaps, her white figure disappeared into the depths of the mountain forest.
Liang Lu stood in place with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction she had vanished. The smile on his lips was faint.
After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and looked down at the gold-speckled folding fan in his palm.
“Bai Heng…”
He whispered the name softly, lost in thought.
Then, he put away the folding fan and turned to leave in the opposite direction from Bai Heng, departing at a leisurely pace.
The forest clearing returned to silence.
Only the gentle breeze remained, lightly scattering the last traces of the Yu Ling Sect disciples’ bloody scent. Up P
Knew there was no way they didn’t reference the “fox borrowing a tiger’s might” story here. Also what’s with these two, they keep going in opposite directions and then meeting anyway. Well, I guess the earth is round after all.