Chapter 453: A Decision Against Ancestral DNA
Chapter 453: A Decision Against Ancestral DNA
The legend of cats having nine lives actually originated from the belief that foxes possess nine lives.
According to legends, fox demons cultivate by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. Each additional Tail they grow grants another life, with the maximum being Kujo Tails bestowing nine lives.
This applies to all fox demons regardless of species.
As the most iconic nine-tailed fox, Tamamo-no-Mae naturally possessed this ability.
Her Kujo Tails not only provided nine lives but could also split off to form doppelgangers identical to her main body.
Even if the main body perished, she wouldn’t truly die as long as one doppelganger survived.
This secret explained how Tamamo-no-Mae had remained undefeated through the centuries.
Fang Cheng showed surprise and frowned, “So are you Tamamo-no-Mae or just her doppelganger now?”
The nine-tailed fox chuckled, “That’s why my earlier answer was ambiguous. Since I sense the main body and other doppelgangers still exist, I’m currently just a doppelganger.”
Her words carried an unspoken threat – killing her now wouldn’t bring true Death.
Fang Cheng kept his face blank, skepticism lingering in his heart.
Noticing his doubt, the fox demon smiled. “Very well, I’ll show you evidence. Try not to get bewitched.”
Her golden fur rippled and fell away as she transformed into a long-haired woman.
Waterfall-like hair framed a face with snow-white skin and starlit eyes that pulled attention like a black hole.
Fang Cheng’s mind flooded with four-character idioms at the sight of her perfection – arched brows like mountains, autumn-water eyes, flame-red lips, beauty to topple kingdoms.
Though he’d seen Iyaya’s divine beauty, this nine-tailed fox’s allure proved equally supernatural, her mesmerizing eyes outshining even her flawless features.
No wonder she reigned as Area 11’s legendary beauty, captivating generations.
Her nude form draped only in fur exposed pale shoulders, delicate collarbones, and half-revealed curves that made Fang Cheng’s mouth water.
Thud!
Tsukikage Chuxia’s half-eaten chicken wing fell forgotten as she gaped.
Even Qingxue stared transfixed, the fox’s beauty transcending gender to wield Enchantment-like power.
Though born with charm ability, she needed none now – her mere appearance enchanted.
Yet the nine-tailed fox frowned. Fang Cheng showed only appreciative lust, no true Enchantment.
Only two cats fell under her spell – poor consolation.
Her human form transformation had been another attempt to charm Fang Cheng, but failed.
“Well?”
She rallied with a smile that sent shivers from scalp to toes. “Convinced of my identity now?”
Qingxue’s cold body flushed hot, reminiscent of being tainted by the Love Flame Ghost’s power – aching for gentle hands to soothe her.
Tsukikage Chuxia’s cheeks flushed crimson, her body burning with heat as her eyes misted over.
Even Fang Cheng felt an itch deep in his heart, as if clawed by a cat. Had his willpower been weaker, he might’ve embarrassingly stiffened on the spot.
He realized continuing this conversation would wear down even the toughest resolve.
Yet this confirmed the nine-tailed fox’s identity – such overwhelming enchantment and peerless beauty could only belong to Tamamo-no-Mae.
In matters of seduction, Uka Qingxue and Tsukikage Hoshi couldn’t hold a candle to her.
If this mere doppelganger possessed such power, wouldn’t the true Tamamo-no-Mae’s charm spell certain death?
“Enough!”
Fang Cheng forced down his rising agitation. “Speak to me in fox form.”
The nine-tailed fox’s lips curled slightly. Her enchantment was affecting this mortal after all.
She leaned forward, letting her fur wrap slip dangerously low. “But I lack the power to transform back.”
“You insist on human form?”
Her pitiful nod accompanied a coy whisper: “Does that displease you?”
She was certain more exposure to her charm would break him – her allure worked on all orientations.
Fang Cheng’s gaze flickered between her flawless face and tempting figure, inner conflict evident.
The fox pressed her advantage: “I won’t resist… whatever you desire.”
Her honeyed words shattered Fang Cheng’s restraint. After fierce internal debate, he made a choice defying his very biology.
“Fine. Remain human.”
“Gratitude-”
Her victory smile died as a fist filled her vision.
CRACK!
The punch snapped her head backward into the tree trunk. “Why hit mmmph-?”
Her protest drowned under a barrage of blows. The meaty thuds and pained yelps startled Qingxue and Tsukikage Chuxia from their daze.
The sisters exchanged shocked looks, bewildered by Fang Cheng’s sudden violence.
When the fifteen-second assault ended, Fang Cheng retrieved his cup and Thunder Hammer. His custom combo – “The Mother-Unrecognizing Beatdown” – had left the nine-tailed fox’s face swollen like a bruised melon, Area 11’s legendary beauty now grotesquely distorted.
Surveying his handiwork, Fang Cheng nodded. “Now we can talk properly.”
“I fuck your mother!”
So the legendary Tamamo-no-Mae of Area 11 cursed just like any lowlife.
After her outburst, Fang Cheng raised the Thunder Hammer. “Finished?”
The nine-tailed fox promptly shut up. This bastard had already dared to ruin her beauty—he’d absolutely crush her fox head without hesitation.
Seeing her compliance, Fang Cheng asked, “Eleven years ago, were you captured by the Area 11 Government and locked in the underground prison?”
“Eleven years ago?” The fox blinked. “Wasn’t me. I’ve hidden in this cave for sixteen years.”
Fang Cheng pressed the hammer against her head. “Don’t lie.”
The nine-tailed fox seethed. She was Tamamo-no-Mae’s doppelganger—a legendary monster! Yet this brute showed no respect, even humiliating her.
But trapped under his power, she swallowed her rage. “Why lie? Ask Bone Woman—she’s served me sixteen years. I’ve never left.”
She didn’t know Bone Woman had been taken out by two cats.
Fang Cheng studied her. The fox spoke confidently—no fear of exposure.
Had the government captured Tamamo-no-Mae’s true form or another doppelganger?
“Must’ve been another doppelganger,” the fox added. “Can’t blame me.”
“Why not the real you?”
She snorted, her swollen face twisting comically. “My true self is one of the three great monsters. Humans could never catch her. Even if a doppelganger got caught, it’d be to sneak into prison and heal—not real capture. Get it?”
“Proud of being good at running?”
The fox feigned helplessness. “What can a weak girl like me do except escape?”
Fang Cheng fought the urge to smash her skull. A thought struck him. “Did your true body get badly wounded? Forced to make healing doppelgangers?”
The fox’s prison story matched her hiding in deep mountains for years—eating cave monsters, needing Bone Woman to hunt. This doppelganger was clearly recovering too. If even copies were healing, the original must be worse off.
“Spot on,” the fox admitted. “True body’s gravely injured. Made us doppelgangers to survive.”
She suddenly tilted her head. “You use Pure demon flames and the Thunder Hammer… What’s your link to Shōki?”
Shōki—the Rashomon Demon, famous in demon clan legends. Often paired with Shōki in tales. Stories tell how he posed as a beauty to trick Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s retainer Watanabe no Tsuna, only to lose an arm to the sword Hizakiri (later called Demon Slayer). Might’ve been a cross-dressing fiend.
Fang Cheng shook his head. “Never met Shōki.”
“Really?” The fox stared. “He’s Iron Fortress’s Ghost Lord. Those two cats behind you—they’re from there, right?”
Fang Cheng whirled to face Qingxue and Tsukikage Chuxia. The cat sisters showed no shock—they’d known.
Qingxue explained, “The last Ghost Lord was Shōki. But after becoming ruler, Iron Fortress stopped using that name.”
Fang Cheng nodded—that explained Shōki’s absence from palace gossip. Subjects feared speaking their lord’s true name.
He turned back to the fox. “Shōki’s dead. Your ‘connection’ means nothing.”
“Dead?” The nine-tailed fox’s shock flashed briefly before vanishing. Though fleeting, Fang Cheng caught it all.