Fox Demon Training

Fox Demon Training

After leaving the Bureau of Military Affairs, Xia Fan arrived once more at the part he knew best—renting a house.

The reception officer had not lied. Not far east of the Bureau of Military Affairs lay another walled-off district, and one had to present a bronze badge to enter.

The houses inside were much the same, all single-story homes with courtyards. At a glance, there were nearly a hundred of them. Judging by the empty dirt roads, occupancy here was not high. Clearly, any sorcerer with even a little standing would not live here, instead choosing a better district in Jinxia City.

After all, the sea was also to the east of the city. The closer one got to this side, the stronger the smell of firewood became in the air.

Still, the houses were indeed cheap. A room cost only one tael of silver for three months, gods knew how much cheaper that was than the black-hearted inn in Qingshan Town.

By the standards of later generations, this could even be considered a countryside villa district.

Xia Fan quickly picked out a residence he liked—a house at the edge of the walls, at the end of the dirt road. It was still a spot where coming and going would not easily draw attention, and where he could quickly climb over the wall if necessary. Since he had decided to bring along the Fox Demon, he had to sacrifice some convenience. It never hurt to keep an extra eye open.

Wei Wushuang chose a house right beside Xia Fan's. With his family's wealth, he could clearly have stayed at an inn rather than come to a place where he had to handle food and lodging himself.

Yet when he saw Li intending to enter the same house, his expression became extraordinarily colorful.

"You... aren't living separately? These residences only have one bedroom..."

"Ah, is there a problem?" Xia Fan put on a perfectly matter-of-fact expression. "She and I are fellow disciples. Back when we wandered about, we often squeezed under the same blanket. Senior brothers and junior sisters are all like that. Besides, the bedroom can easily fit another bed."

Wei Wushuang opened his mouth several times. In the end, all that came out was, "Brother Xia... I, I envy you so much!"

Once inside, Xia Fan blinked at the Fox Demon. "Ahem, that was necessary cover."

"Then do you really want to?" she suddenly asked.

"What?" He froze slightly.

"You did save my life in the end... Aside from my ears and tail, my body is no different from a human's. If you do not mind, it is not impossible." As she spoke, she turned back toward him, the corners of her eyes lifting slightly. "I remember you said my ears were not ugly, didn't you...?"

Though she did not make many expressions, that sidelong glance was devastatingly seductive. Unlike the affected flirtation of others, there was no desire in her low murmur, yet it seemed to pierce straight into his heart, each word plucking at his heartstrings.

What was going on here?

Was it really okay to start driving before night had even fallen?!

Xia Fan felt a vast flood of information rush into his mind. In that brief instant, the battle between heaven and man escalated from a clash of words to a fist-to-fist brawl.

Would refusing now be too hypocritical?

He kept saying demons and humans should be treated equally. Was this not the moment to prove it—

As for being worse than a beast, he did not consider himself that sort of person.

Taking ten thousand steps back, this was also a rare opportunity to explore a demon's bodily structure.

In those few seconds, it felt as though he had pondered for an entire century. Yet within the first few years of that century, the struggle in his mind had already become a one-sided beating.

"Since you've put it that way, then I..." Xia Fan got halfway through before his eyes suddenly caught a glint of danger. He seemed to see the Fox Demon's fingertips lengthening like sharp weapons. The cold light reflected from those blades made him instantly swallow the rest of his words. "Then how could I take advantage of someone in distress? I'll sleep outside tonight."

"Not bad. Your will has potential, though it lacks tempering." Li nodded and withdrew her hands. In an instant, the rippling allure in her eyes and her yielding manner vanished, as though everything just now had been an illusion.

Xia Fan realized something was not quite right. "Just now... was I mistaken?"

"Not entirely. You were affected by my technique."

He could not help recalling that dream in Qingshan Town.

"An illusion technique..."

"This is also the Fox Demon's Innate Technique. It can be cast at any time without relying on external objects."

So that was it. What a convenient ability—no, Xia Fan abruptly realized this was not the time to study techniques. "Wait, why did you suddenly use it on me?"

"Because you have become an official sorcerer." Li suddenly became serious. "Since you intend to help me investigate my master's whereabouts, sooner or later you will deal with high-ranking sorcerers. Their methods are nothing like those candidates from Qingshan Town. Once you arouse their suspicion, the most direct method is to use unfathomable Kan Techniques to lead you into revealing the truth."

"Moreover, attacks on one's will are also a commonly used tactic when sorcerers fight. After all, all Sorcery Arts must begin from what one thinks. Disrupting one's train of thought or distracting one's attention can obstruct a technique. If your will is not firm, you will fall into a disadvantage from the start of a confrontation."

It was only an investigation. How had it suddenly turned into actual combat? He had come to the Bureau of Military Affairs to better understand Sorcery Arts and unravel the mysteries of the world. He had no intention of doing anything that dangerous!

Even so, Xia Fan still could not help asking, "But did you not deliberately leave a flaw just now, allowing me to notice something was wrong?"

"The fact that you noticed that while under the technique already counts as passing." Li nodded. "You should know that Kan Techniques focused on illusions are not without weaknesses. While your opponent plots against you, she naturally exposes some flaws as well. Of course, the sooner you spot those flaws, the better. If you want to do that, you will need a great deal of practice."

"Practice...?"

"Yes. From now on, I will do this from time to time, until your will is as firm as a rock."

Pfft! Xia Fan nearly spat out blood. Who could endure that? He was not some peerless high monk. Being forcibly helped to cultivate was far too tormenting!

"Uh... have you not considered that if something goes wrong, would that not put both of us in danger?"

"Do not worry, I will control the degree. If you are completely controlled by the technique, I will naturally dispel it." Li did not think much of it. "The technique will interfere with your mind and make you mistakenly believe I am gentle and bewitchingly beautiful. Once it is dispelled, those fantasies will vanish, and my demonic traits will reappear. What danger could there be? You did say my ears were not ugly and such... but I can still tell the difference between words of comfort and the truth."

Xia Fan was left speechless.

Clearly, in that "illusion" just now, the Fox Demon's features had not been concealed. Or rather, not only had they not been concealed, they had become even more distinct!

But in this atmosphere, he found it difficult to speak the truth instead.

When Li had been severely injured and muddleheaded, she would not have taken anything he said to heart. But things were different now. If he braved social pressure and spoke against the current, he would probably be treated as a pervert.

He would just take it as a twist on the road ahead.

"Oh, right. It would be better if you slept in the inner room." Li's voice suddenly became a little sluggish as well. "After all, laying bedding on the floor in the main hall is... strange. It might invite unnecessary suspicion from others. As you said, there is enough room inside for two beds."

Xia Fan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

After settling dinner that night with the remaining dry rations in their bundles, it was time once again for the Azure Blade disciple's private lesson.

"Did your master ever tell you about the structure of the Bureau of Military Affairs?" He had now joined the Shenzhou Bureau of Military Affairs, yet knew nothing about the organization's structure. Asking the reception officer would seem too presumptuous, making Li the best person to ask. "For instance, whom the bureaus in each province answer to, and what important figures there generally are."

Li pondered for a moment. "She did not speak much of it, and most of what she said concerned the Capital Region. Ever since the Bureau of Military Affairs became independent, it has no longer been under the jurisdiction of the Six Ministries. Other than the emperor, no one may interfere in its affairs."

"From what I know, local Bureaus of Military Affairs are mostly divided into four departments: the Command Department, Ministry of Education, Finance Department, and Record Department. Their main duties are respectively handling Evil Spirit incidents, teaching sorcerers, coordinating supplies, and recording documents and secret orders. The ranks of the chief sorcerers in each region differ, but Shangyuan City is generally the highest."

It seemed the overall framework of the Bureau of Military Affairs had borrowed from the court's Six Ministries, though the difference in their foundations was obvious from the names alone.

"If I want to investigate your master's whereabouts, it seems I should seek connections in the Record Department?"

"No, first you have to climb upward." Li rejected the idea. "Forget secret documents—even ordinary paperwork is not open for an eighth-rank sorcerer to inspect. If you ask now, you will only be walking into a trap."

"How high do I need to climb?" Xia Fan asked.

She held up three fingers. "At the very least, third rank—a regional Sentinel."

"You mean... I have to rise as high as the person who defeated you?"

"Only then will you be qualified to know all the secrets of a local Bureau of Military Affairs and submit an inquiry request to the Shangyuan Bureau of Military Affairs."

Xia Fan could not help clicking his tongue. "Would that not take more than ten years?"

"Do you think opposing the Bureau of Military Affairs is child's play?!" Li's voice suddenly rose, and even her tail stood straight up. "If it can be accomplished in ten-odd years, that would already be exceedingly smooth! Even if it takes decades... even if Master may no longer be alive by then, I will never forget this enmity!"

So he had still been thinking too simply.

From the moment she agreed to cooperate, had she already prepared herself to devote half her life to it...?

Xia Fan's usual relaxed expression vanished. "I understand."

Seeing this, the Fox Demon calmed down as well. "Sorry... I should not have become so agitated. Then let us continue discussing the Bureau of Military Affairs."

"Mm."

They spoke for more than an hour. Not long after the second-watch clapper sounded, a shrill scream suddenly tore through the stillness of the night.

The two looked at each other and fell silent in unspoken accord.

Soon, more miserable cries drifted over.

Mixed among them were footsteps and curses.

The sounds drew closer and closer. For a moment, they seemed to be coming from just outside the walls.

Yet they came quickly and left just as quickly. The chaotic noise rapidly faded away, disappearing toward the east.

"What happened outside?" Xia Fan frowned.

"I'll go see what is going on." The Fox Demon stood, put her outer robe back on, and donned her bamboo hat.

"Watch your wound, and..." He paused. "Come back quickly."

Li glanced at him, then turned and walked out of the main hall, disappearing into the darkness.

A thread of unease unexpectedly rose in Xia Fan's heart.

That departing figure looked far too much like a flag for never returning.

Should he go with her?

But she was a demon, experienced in moving at night, while he was not skilled at leaping across roofs and walls. Even if he went, he would probably struggle to keep up with her.

Sitting around waiting would only make him overthink. He might as well boil a pot of tea first and distract himself.

Xia Fan went into the kitchen and rummaged around for a while. He found a relatively clean porcelain jar, but the instant he stepped out, he saw an additional shadow in the main hall!

His hand trembled, and the jar nearly fell to the floor.

"You..."

The shadow turned around. It was Li, with her bamboo hat removed. "I'm back. Why do you look as though you've seen a ghost?"

"That was way too fast!"

"Didn't you tell me to come back quickly?" Li rolled her eyes. "As expected, humans are fickle."

Xia Fan decided to stand there and take the blow. "Then... what exactly happened outside?"

"Nothing." Li's gaze suddenly became somewhat unfocused. Only after a moment did she reply without much interest, "It was merely the thing you humans love doing most—slaughtering your own kind."