Chapter 108: The Twin Divine Mirrors

I inscribed the words "Sea Wolf Tribe" on a Flying Immortal Talisman and used celestial magic to embed the secret message Jiang Ye had given me. This marked the tenth independent tribe I had brought under my command across the nine provinces and four seas in the past five centuries. Each of them would heed the orders carried by my Flying Immortal Talisman.

There were too many suspicions surrounding Xue Shan, so I planned to visit my eldest senior brother to gather more information. Just as I was about to depart, Chunfeng received an invitation to the coronation of the new Holy Maiden of Qingqiu.

The Qingqiu Fox Clan is the most devoted to marriage among the Five Hills and Eight Marshes. The entire clan regards harmonious unions as their highest priority. Yet, the Holy Maiden of Qingqiu must remain solitary, sacrificing her own chance at marriage in exchange for the clan’s happiness. Should she attempt to reclaim her own union, she must endure the punishments of heavenly thunder and earthly fire. If she survives, she may abdicate, to be succeeded by a nine-tailed fox maiden from the inner chambers who is willing to forsake marriage for life; no other foxes qualify. Nine-tailed foxes are exceedingly rare among celestial foxes, and those who sacrifice their marital prospects are as rare as phoenix feathers. Because of the Holy Maiden’s magnificent sacrifice, the entire clan reveres her as an emperor, following her commands without question.

My master had great favors to the Qingqiu Fox Clan. After the southeastern flood disaster born of calamity years ago, the clan was ravaged by plague. In Qingqiu, eight or nine out of every ten were infected, more than half perished; every family mourned lost kin, every household wept, some clans were wiped out entirely. The flesh of nine-tailed foxes could cure the poison; the entire nine-tailed fox clan sacrificed their flesh to feed the afflicted foxes and combat the plague, yet it was like a drop in the ocean. Appeals to the Celestial Palace yielded no solutions.

Thus, master led me and the fourteenth senior brother to Qingqiu to treat the plague. He said it was a war, no different than charging into battle. Day and night, we tended to the sick and studied cures. Even the fourteenth senior brother and I contracted the disease one after the other. Master insisted on using his poison-immune blood to resist the plague.

“If all the infected are treated with master’s blood, he would bleed dry and still not cure them all. I’m willing to test the medicine on myself,” the fourteenth senior brother told master.

“Fourteenth brother, you have been ill for many days and your blood is poisoned; if untreated, you may not survive. Fei’er just contracted it. I will volunteer to try the medicine,” I said.

Master hesitated a moment, then said to me, “If the pain becomes unbearable, I will draw your blood to treat you.”

Throughout the illness, I carefully documented my symptoms, changes, and the effects of treatments.

“Fei’er, do you find the pain intolerable?” master asked.

“Pain is indeed difficult to bear...” I could not hide my feelings from master. In the later stages, I detailed every sensation to him.

He then prepared to draw my blood to detoxify me.

“I don’t want all previous efforts to be in vain... let’s try once more,” I said with difficulty.

Master closed his eyes and took my pulse for a long time before prescribing a potent poison antidote.

“Fei’er, this formula is the ‘Tiger Wolf’ recipe; its medicinal properties are fierce and may prove miraculous.”

“Very well,” I replied.

Master’s medicine was indeed potent, more agonizing than Chunfeng’s Dawn Spring Palm technique. Every inch of my skin felt as if sliced by blades. I curled up, enduring the torment, carefully noting the sensations and effects, and which herbs could alleviate the pain, so I could record them once I improved.

“Junior brother, are you alright?” The fourteenth senior brother asked tenderly upon seeing my silence, trying to comfort me.

“Chu Fang! Don’t touch her!” master scolded sharply.

Startled, the fourteenth senior brother stepped aside immediately, afraid to move. Had he touched me again, I might have fainted from the pain.

“Chu Fang, you should rest; there are many patients to tend to tomorrow,” he said before leaving. Master stayed by my side throughout the night.

After one night, my condition improved but I was nearly exhausted, as if I had fought a fierce battle. Based on my experiences, I added several herbs to master’s formula to ease the pain, creating the Five Detox Six Spirit Decoction.

At last, the Qingqiu plague was brought under control. The foxes slowly recovered, deeply grateful to master, sending him many offerings. My illness soon healed, and master ordered me to rest in the tent, forbidding any labor. Under their meticulous care, I even gained some weight, while master’s culinary skills improved. Upon returning to Jade Pure Realm, other senior brothers asked if I had just gone out to enjoy master’s offerings without working, as master and the fourteenth senior brother looked worn and gaunt, yet I was lively and plump.

However, despite master saving the fox clan, the Qingqiu Holy Maiden did not grow closer to Jade Pure Realm, nor did the great snowfall four centuries prior—which had resolved the Five Hills’ drought and was hailed as aid from the nine provinces—bring Qingqiu closer to the mainland.

The accession of the new Holy Maiden was a prime opportunity. If I could persuade this queen, it would open the breakthrough long held by Tiande into the Five Hills and Eight Marshes! Moreover, Qingqiu’s proximity to the Leixia Marsh made it a superb strategic position. I decided to replace Chunfeng’s celestial envoy and pay my respects, while also seeking my eldest senior brother’s envoy there to inquire about Xue Shan’s situation. Chunfeng insisted on coming along, setting aside her divine status.

“Chunfeng, please stay home to protect Little White and Mountains and Rivers; I trust you. Keke also needs company lately,” I said.

“You may be at ease, but I’m not! Don’t revert to Yu Fei so easily,” Chunfeng replied.

“Don’t worry, no one would recognize me even if I transformed back,” I smiled.

The entire Qingqiu was immersed in celebration. With congratulatory letters from Hundred Flowers Island, I smoothly checked into the post house, which also housed envoys from other celestial realms. I was scheduled to meet on the second day.

“Has the envoy from Central Divine Province arrived?” I asked an attendant.

“Yes, celestial envoy, they have,” he replied.

I wished to meet my eldest senior brother’s envoy to learn about Xue Shan, so I went to pay my respects. I knocked on the door a few times, but there was no answer. I left the post house and wandered the street, thinking of selecting a small Qingqiu toy for Little White to bring back.

The streets bustled with joy as the multi-day inauguration celebrations continued. Fox clans lined the roads, bearing celestial flowers and fresh fruits, eager to present their treasures to the new empress’s carriage.

A newly made carriage drawn by four qilin beasts approached. The foxes cheered, “Holy Maiden! Holy Maiden!” scattering flowers before the carriage. Seated inside was a woman with a pale complexion, phoenix-like eyes, and graceful brows. Though slender, her aura was lofty and aloof.

“Princess Changyang!” I was taken aback.

Princess Changyang glanced my way; our eyes met. I appeared as a withered white-haired old woman, and she did not recognize me. Yet my unusual appearance and demeanor aroused her sharp suspicion.

She waved her hand, halting the carriage. The guards ordered me questioned. I thought, better now than waiting for tomorrow’s pretense as Chunfeng’s envoy.

“Tell her ‘Heartguard Scale,’” I instructed the guards. After they relayed it, Princess Changyang suddenly straightened in her seat.

I noticed a small fox immortal nearby, bowing low while holding a plate of celestial peaches. I cast a spell to transfer the fruit plate into my hands and slipped a golden leaf into his palm.

I stepped forward, smiling at Princess Changyang. “Holy Maiden, today this little immortal brings you a plate of perfect celestial peaches!”

She scrutinized me from head to toe, and I smiled back.

“Come up!” she reached out and pulled me into the carriage.

She remained as straightforward and decisive as ever.

As the carriage moved on, the little fox immortal joyfully discovered the golden leaf in his hand, exclaiming, “The Holy Maiden accepted my peaches! I will have a blessed union!”

“Grandmother, who are you? How do you know of Heartguard Scale? Why did you give me peaches?” Princess Changyang inquired.

“Five centuries have passed, princess. You have become the Holy Maiden, and I have become grandmother,” I replied.

“You are Yu Fei!” Princess Changyang exclaimed in shock.

“Yes, princess. Let us speak in your chamber,” I said.

Once we reached Changyang’s abode, she dismissed everyone. I transformed back into Yu Fei.

“Little disciple, why have you taken on such a frosted appearance? I hardly recognized you! Didn’t you leap into the Celestial River?” Princess Changyang asked.

“Yes, I leapt once but fell onto a tree. How did you become the Holy Maiden?” I asked.

Princess Changyang shifted form, revealing her nine-tailed blue fox true form.

“I am the adopted daughter of the Heavenly Consort, truly a nine-tailed fox,” she said.

It turned out that after becoming Qingqiu empress, her mother had fallen in love with a nine-tailed fox man. Though she did not abdicate, she married him and bore Changyang. Violating the heavenly pact, the entire clan was cursed; many unions were broken, and love among the foxes was filled with sorrow and heartbreak. Changyang’s parents, burdened by guilt, committed suicide. The Heavenly Consort took pity and adopted Changyang. After master’s spirit was shattered, Princess Changyang wandered the lands. When the Qingqiu queen abdicated with no heir, Changyang took up the mantle of Holy Maiden. Being a royal aunt, she was called “Holy Aunt.”

I thought to myself, “I merely gave Mountains and Rivers a bit of beauty. But Princess Changyang is decisive and resolute, leaving no room for retreat. With master gone, she took on the Holy Maiden role and sacrificed her own union for others.”

“Little disciple, have you come to terms now?” Changyang asked.

“Have you come to terms, Holy Aunt?” I questioned.

She gave a cold smile. “Me? When have I ever ‘come to terms’? I have always been clear-headed. My grievances with him are over. Whether he lives or dies no longer concerns me.”

“He was murdered by a conspiracy between Tiande and the Netherworld. Can you truly come to terms?” I said, hoping to pierce her heart.

“What did you say?” Changyang’s cold gaze sharpened like a sword.

I recounted what Jiang Ye told me: how Tiande secretly sent a divine artifact to the Netherworld through Leixia Marsh, betraying battle secrets and surrendering border cities, colluding with the Netherworld to murder master.

“Those wretched couple!” Changyang smashed the stone table in front of us in two.

“I sacrificed my entire happiness just to protect this important star! And they treated him so!” she ground her teeth.

“Princess, will you tell me more about this?” I asked.

She recounted the events as the Western Sea God Guier had told me, matching his account perfectly.

“Two stars suddenly shone; Yunxiao is the incarnation of the important star. He cannot be the Red Flame Demon Star; he will not allow the world to doubt him. It must be Lu Xue. When the Red Flame is born, the important star fades; when Lu Xue is born, Yunxiao vanishes. If the Red Flame Demon Star matures, heaven and earth will be forged anew. The task given to me by the Celestial Palace—I must complete it, whether I wish to or not,” Changyang said.

“Could it be a fleeting fiery meteor mistakenly identified by the star officials?” I asked.

“I doubted that too, but now I am sure it is not,” she replied decisively.

“Why?” I questioned.

“When the Red Flame is born, the important star fades. Five centuries ago, Yunxiao’s soul scattered; because Lu Xue was reborn then, that fierce star reappeared,” Changyang explained.

“Lu Xue reborn?” I was startled.

“Thirty-three Heavens, Mount Sumeru, beside Han Qing’s crystal coffin,” Changyang said.

“How do you know she is truly Lu Xue?” I asked.

“She is. I have the Two Lives Mirror to see the original soul’s appearance,” Changyang said confidently.

“But master said she was not Lu Xue,” I said.

“Han Qing is about to go to the battlefield and cannot protect Lu Xue. Do you think he would admit it? This ‘ruthless’ woman is still alive; would he let Lu Xue die twice? He just pretends not to recognize her,” Changyang sneered.

My heart grew troubled again... Could it be master deliberately concealed Lu Xue’s identity to protect me? Since Lu Xue has returned, and he’s been so devoted to her... then why did he care for me so deeply, why did he hold onto my Heart Feather unwillingly?

“What is the Two Lives Mirror?” I asked.

“It reveals the primordial spirit’s true form. All spells and medicines are exposed before this mirror. My father and mother vowed to become it upon their deaths. To atone for breaking the heavenly pact and the disasters it wrought, it allows fated lovers who failed to meet in past lives to meet in this one and forge good unions,” Changyang explained, summoning a bronze yin-yang mirror.

“Little disciple, I looked into you with this when we first met in the Celestial Palace.”

She placed the mirror before me. On the yang side appeared Yu Fei’s image, her attire matching mine, vibrant and black-haired.

“This is your primordial spirit’s true form. Now look at your past life. The primordial spirit’s appearance seldom changes, though its identity may.”

Changyang flipped the mirror to the yin side; Yu Fei’s image remained, now dressed as a disciple of Jade Pure Realm.

Changyang gasped.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“You and him share such deep fate! In your past life, you were his disciple,” Changyang mused, then her eyes brightened. “Only the tenth disciple has passed on. You were his tenth disciple—and a female disciple at that!”

The revelation hung between us, heavy with unspoken truths and the weight of intertwined destinies.