Chapter 454: I’m Just an Honest Fox
Chapter 454: I’m Just an Honest Fox
Judging by her changing expressions, the nine-tailed fox had initially been surprised by Shōki’s death, but quickly remembered something that made her accept it.
Was Shōki’s death connected to Tamamo-no-Mae?
Fang Cheng pondered, then suddenly recalled the nine-tailed fox saying she’d hidden in this cave for sixteen years.
Sixteen years ago, Shōki had also been gravely injured while seizing an entrance pass and returning to the Iron Fortress.
This lined up with Uka Mirai’s current age of sixteen.
A guess formed in Fang Cheng’s heart: Had Tamamo-no-Mae been injured fighting Shōki over the entrance pass?
But the nine-tailed fox claimed to have been close to Shōki.
If she’d truly hurt him, he wouldn’t have casually mentioned their relationship to Fang Cheng.
Perhaps they’d teamed up, but what enemy could’ve wounded both so severely?
Seeing no point in guessing, Fang Cheng asked directly, “How were you injured so badly that you needed a doppelganger to escape and hid here for sixteen years?”
The nine-tailed fox studied him before smiling. “You think I’m involved in Shōki’s death?”
Sharp as expected of an ancient monster.
Fang Cheng didn’t deny it. “He died recently from old wounds sustained sixteen years ago. Who injured him?”
“The same one who hurt me.” Her calm expression flickered with fury. “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Heard of them?”
Fang Cheng nodded. Kamikawa Takumi had mentioned them once.
Even in this religion-dominated world, they were considered fanatics. They hunted anyone labeled Satan’s incarnation—ally or enemy.
“The War Horseman attacked me,” she continued. “Sixteen years ago, he came to Area 11 declaring I was Satan’s incarnation…”
Back then, she’d lived as Tamamo-no-Mae, avoiding conflicts like Shōki’s Iron Fortress wars. She’d disguised herself as a human woman, savoring Tokyo’s modern comforts until an accident exposed her identity.
Soon after fleeing Tokyo, the War Horseman found her. Despite her protests, they fought, ending with her escaping via doppelganger. This nine-tailed fox fled to Hokkaido’s Hidaka Mountains, hiding in the cave ever since.
For sixteen years, she’d controlled the Bone Woman to hunt monsters for their life essence. The Bone Woman showed remarkable potential, reaching Hazard Level A under her training. To avoid detection, hunting was restricted to the Hidaka Mountains—until local monsters grew scarce, forcing the Bone Woman to target passing travelers like Qingxue.
Fang Cheng frowned. “How does this connect to Shōki?”
The fox tilted her head. “Didn’t you say we were both injured sixteen years ago?”
The nine-tailed fox chuckled, “Back then in Area 11, no monster could’ve hurt him. The War Horseman was right there in Area 11 at the time – who else could be the murderer besides him?”
Fang Cheng had thought she possessed real evidence, but it turned out to be mere guesswork.
“But I heard Shōki got injured during the fight for the entrance pass to become Lord of All Monsters.”
“Wouldn’t know about that.”
The fox shrugged her pale shoulders, causing noticeable movement under her clothes. “I’m just a doppelganger, and I’ve been out of touch for over ten years anyway.”
Her swollen face had healed completely now. Every smile and glance radiated irresistible charm, reigniting restless heat in Fang Cheng’s chest.
But Fang Cheng remained focused on puzzling through the inconsistencies, barely affected by her antics.
He felt her story didn’t add up – she was clearly hiding crucial details.
However, with the events being fifteen years old and the fox being the only living witness, Fang Cheng had no way to disprove her lies.
Noticing his continued contemplation, the fox changed subjects: “So why did you capture me anyway? Planning to avenge Shōki? You’ve got the wrong target.”
Fang Cheng snapped out of his thoughts. The decade-old mystery hardly concerned him anyway.
“You’re exactly who I wanted.”
He explained Kanzaki Rin’s situation, including her parents’ story.
The nine-tailed fox batted her eyelashes dramatically. “Must’ve been another doppelganger! Besides, you can’t blame me for her parents’ deaths, right?”
Objectively speaking, Tamamo-no-Mae wasn’t responsible. After being imprisoned underground, she’d merely tried escaping trouble. The real culprits were the bureaucrats who covered their mistakes and the Nest of Life’s inhuman practices.
Kanzaki Rin knew this too – her revenge targets were the Nest and bureaucrats, not Tamamo-no-Mae.
“You’ve got a point there.”
Fang Cheng raised his Thunder Hammer. “But what about the Killing Stone? It’s inside her body causing constant pain, slowly killing her.”
The fox rolled her eyes. “I lost the Killing Stone during my fight with War Horseman! I was fleeing for my life – why would I deliberately hurt your girlfriend? Pure coincidence.”
“Convenient excuses,” Fang Cheng scoffed.
“It’s the truth!” She puffed her cheeks in mock outrage. “Everyone blames me when I’m just a good girl minding my own business!”
“A thousand-year-old monster calling herself ‘good’?” Fang Cheng snorted. “That’s the biggest lie yet.”
“Wrong again~” Her smile turned playful. “I’ve only existed sixteen years despite having original’s memories. Technically, I’m a sweet sixteen!”
Her lively demeanor did feel youthful – all coquettish charm without ancient cunning.
Fang Cheng cut to the chase: “Can you remove the Killing Stone or not?”
“Well, killing the host would work…”
She hastily added when he gripped the hammer tighter: “I could try removing it. No promises though.”
“Try isn’t good enough.” Fang Cheng’s voice hardened. “You will succeed.”
If she failed, he’d gain more from killing her and looting the corpse anyway.
The nine-tailed fox didn’t expect Fang Cheng to act so domineeringly. “What if we fail?”
Fang Cheng glanced at the fox pelt wrapped around her. “I could use another fox skin for clothes.”
The nine-tailed fox fell silent.
She fully believed this face-punching man would follow through on his threat.
After capturing the nine-tailed fox, Fang Cheng abandoned his monster hunting in the wilderness. He departed next morning with two cats and their prisoner. Though the Thunder Hammer’s sealing power didn’t last long, its paralyzing effect kept the fox spirit immobilized for hours.
To prevent tricks during travel, Fang Cheng battered her head with the hammer until bumps formed. The nine-tailed fox burned with silent rage, helpless to retaliate yet vowing future vengeance.
Choosing speed over stealth, Fang Cheng rode the Blood Eagle back to Mechanical City from Hidaka Mountains in under half a day. He landed in an isolated area near the city outskirts – entering openly on the crimson raptor would attract unwanted attention.
Since Mechanical City’s coup, Area 11 Government had flooded the city with spies. Though Fang Cheng’s companions hid their identities (Kanzaki Rin even wore disguises), investigators still uncovered traces. Authorities now confirmed Fang Cheng’s associates resided in Mechanical City, though they couldn’t verify if he or Kamikawa Takumi remained present.
Both men kept low profiles to avoid provoking Area 11’s retaliation. After landing, Fang Cheng pulled on human skin disguise while forcing Qingxue’s clothes onto the nine-tailed fox.
“A bit snug,” the fox spirit remarked, adjusting the garment over her chest and hips.
Qingxue maintained her frosty composure. Though the girl possessed an admirable figure for her age, she couldn’t match the fox spirit’s dangerous curves. The nine-tailed fox’s body blended teenage vitality with womanly ripeness – a peach ready for picking. Only Fang Cheng’s willpower resisted her allure; lesser men would’ve become her slaves.
Tsukikage Chuxia reacted instead of Qingxue. The fat cat glared at her own flat chest. “Hmph! Just useless fat!”
The nine-tailed fox cupped her bosom. “Fat’s value depends on placement.” She smiled while plotting privately: *This spoiled cat leans on her master’s power. Let her stumble into my clutches someday – I’ll make her run in a cage till her paws bleed.*