Book 6: Chapter 16: The Word Is Acquiring
I might have settled for a simple no if I was dealing with that awful woman youve got yourself mixed up with. Frankly, Im surprised that Feng Ming was willing to tolerate it, said Laughing River.
Awful woman? asked Li Yi Nuo.
It doesnt matter, said Sen.
Wait! Feng Ming! You mean those stories are true, too?
Laughing River turned to look at Li Yi Nuo with her own face, then there was another brief flicker of light and a copy of Sen stood in place of the fox. The false-Sen gave Li Yi Nuo a decidedly predatory grin.
Oh, you sweet, sweet innocent child. Sen, did you know I was coming? Did you bring her along as a present for me?
Sigh rolled his eyes. No, shes not a present.
Pity, said Laughing River.
Li Yi Nuo looked like she wasnt quite sure if she should be offended or appalled at the exchange between Sen and his fox copy. Before she could decide, the fox turned a look of smoldering intensity on her that Sen was sure had never adorned his face. Li Yi Nuo froze in place as the full weight of that gaze settled on her.
Girl, you should assume that every story you hear about, he started to point at his own chest before swinging the finger at Sen, him is true. The more outlandish and impossible-sounding the tale, the more likely it is to have actually happened. Honestly, as a fox, I find it simply delicious that people think the lies about him are true and the truths about him are lies. The only annoying part is that hes done on accident what I have work to accomplish. Still, you cant have everything, so I choose to focus on the deliciousness of it all.
Sen saw Li Yi Nuo open her mouth to speak and hurriedly cut her off before she made things worse. As delightful as this banter is, I suppose we should get to the part about the favor.
Li Yi Nuo shot him an annoyed glare, and Laughing River sighed dramatically.
Oh, very well, I suppose we should get to the boring business part. Simply put, I need your help to acquire a long-lost treasure of mine. Its a minor thing, but should nicely balance the scales between us.
A long-lost treasure of yours? asked a skeptical Sen.
Oh, dont get hung up on the minor details. If it makes you feel any better, you wont be helping me acquire it from a living, breathing human being who will miss it.
Sen frowned at that description. It was both oddly specific and profoundly vague. It was the sort of phrasing that could cover a multitude of sins and scenarios that Sen was confident he didnt fully understand. Not that it really mattered whether the fox was telling him nothing but lies or the complete truth. Either way, he was going to go along with this scheme. Even if he found out he hated every single part of the plan once he discovered all of the details, he was still going to go along with it because he was not going to make an enemy of a spirit fox.
In that case, said Sen as he turned to Li Yi Nuo, it seems that this is where we part ways.
Oh no, said Laughing River in a hard, unforgiving voice. Bring her along. In fact, I insist. She saw fit to intrude on the affairs of a fox after being warned to stay away. Now, she will help.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
Thats the one. Its wrong, and we know that Id never encourage you to do something wrong.
We do? asked Sen.
Of course we do, said a gleeful Laughing River. If I encouraged you to do something wrong, Caihong would be ever so cross with me. Im a fox, not a moron. Im not going to make that woman angry without an exceedingly good reason and probably someone blackmailing me. Fortunately, doing stupidly dangerous things is just part of being a cultivator. So, were all good.
Stupidly dangerous, repeated Li Yi Nuo.
Who said anything about stupidly dangerous? asked Laughing River with a completely straight face. Youre just going to carry the luggage, remember? Now, come along children. Weve got a long way to go.
There was another flicker of light and Laughing River resumed his fox form. There was a merry twinkle in the foxs eyes that left Sen positively filled with dread and uncertainty about what came next. Then, the fox bounded off the road and into the forest, his many tails flickering in and out of sight. Sen could feel Li Yi Nuo staring at the side of his head. He turned to meet her gaze with a wan smile. She looked a little aggravated but mostly she looked very unsettled and afraid. That struck Sen as a sensible reaction to everything that was happening. He did feel a little bad that shed got caught up in whatever it was the fox had planned, but that sympathy was largely tempered by the knowledge that shed had ample opportunities to distance herself from him. Beyond that, he had warned her.
You could have told me it was a fox, she complained.
Sen lifted an eyebrow. Youre an adult. Youve seen me in action. Youve heard the stories about the kinds of things I get involved in. Did you think I was just trying to keep secrets? Prevent you from learning about something?
She looked away, her expression transforming into one of embarrassment. I might have thought something like that.
Well, for future reference, I dont warn people off for idle reasons or my own amusement.
Li Yi Nuo stared out into the forest in the direction that Laughing River had gone. That fox is going to get us killed, isnt he?
Sen put on a thoughtful expression and rubbed at his chin with a knuckle. A little bit of the foxs attitude had infected him.
Ill probably be fine. Hes got a vested interest in keeping me alive. As for you, he gave her a mournful look, well, theres always the next life.
What?!
Sen laughed and only narrowly dodged the punch that almost took him on the chin. Im joking.
That was not funny!
It was a little funny. Besides, I figure theres a good chance well both die. So, I have to get my jokes in while I can.
Before Li Yi Nuo could take another swing at him, Sen activated his qinggong technique and took off after the fox. He yelled over his shoulder.
Dont fall behind!
