Young Master Bai — Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Tutoring the Grandson on Homework…
What so-called swordsmen love at night is enjoying the moon in the forest and feeling the breeze on the roof. Li Wuming also developed this strange habit; every night he would go alone to the roof to meditate for two hours, ignoring everyone, and even his Dao companion Bai Chen couldn’t call him back to the room.
The Sword Immortal’s cultivation methods were beyond the Nine-tailed White Fox’s understanding. Left alone in an empty room was boring, so he called Chenzui over to teach the younger generation their lessons.
During the day Chenzui had to deal with ambushes from the Demon Sect, and at night he was still watched by the Ancestor and made to write policy essays. Naturally, he was miserable. But their yao physique was so robust that sleeping just two hours a day left him full of energy, without even an excuse to pretend to be sick or lazy. The Six-tailed Red Fox could only wear a long face and continue studying those human texts that seemed like heavenly scripture.
Foxes are creatures active at night. In ancient times they hunted at dusk and returned home at dawn. Even after Bai Chen transformed into human form, his instincts remained, and he felt more energetic at night. Since he didn’t have his Dao companion to spend his excess energy with, he took the little fox cub and tormented him, adding another lamp for Chenzui before asking lightly: “I’ve had you write so many essays. What is your understanding of my recent decisions?”
Chenzui feared nothing more than the Ancestor’s sudden concern. Seeing Bai Chen checking in again, he racked his brain to recall what he’d learned recently and cautiously answered: “The Demon Sect and the Great Snow Mountain are far apart. Since there’s no threat, it also means that when the Great Snow Mountain faces disaster, they won’t be able to help. And the Demon Sect’s territory is mostly barren mountains and rivers, while the Heaven’s Way Alliance controls the vast fertile lands of Chang’an and Jiangnan. On the surface, the Demon Sect and the Heaven’s Way Alliance are evenly matched, but actually the difference in foundation is huge. If they fought seriously, the Demon Sect would be no match. Therefore, Ancestor would rather maintain good relations with the Hidden Wisdom Sect than ally with the struggling Demon Sect.”
Foxes are clever by nature. Once Chenzui calmed down, he learned quickly. Bai Chen nodded inwardly at his answer but outwardly remained expressionless and asked, “Since the gap in strength is so obvious, why does the Heaven’s Way Alliance still open another front and give the Demon Sect a chance to rise?”
This was something Bai Chen hadn’t taught yet. Chenzui froze, bit his pen, thought for a moment, and tentatively said: “Because their previous alliance leader Fu Hongye was infatuated with the former Demon Sect headmaster?”
[The story of Fu Hongye and his love interest You Jiang, the Demon Leader, is told in the novel Former Sweetheart (老江湖) by the same author.]
“I already told you to stop reading those romantic storybooks. You even believe the storytellers’ gossip?”
Naturally, this earned him a glare from the Ancestor. Seeing him bow his head obediently under scolding, Bai Chen secretly smiled and continued: “Do you know what the criteria is for selecting the leader of the Demon Sect?”
“Profound cultivation?” Chenzui cautiously guessed.
“It’s the talent to destroy the world.”
This answer made the little fox’s eyes widen. Bai Chen tapped the desk with his fingers, reminiscing and speaking with feeling:
“The Demon Sect has had four headmasters so far. The first, Demon Venerable, halved the world’s population in just a few years. The second, Demon Lord, had a life technique Land of Filth that easily destroyed an entire mountain’s spiritual veins. Even after five hundred years, no creatures can survive there. Even the third, Demon Leader, who negotiated peace with the Heaven’s Way Alliance, if pushed, could release hundreds of heart demons that would make all cultivators suffer.
[Demon Leader You Jiang, Second Enforcer of the Demon Sect under He Huan in the novel Fake Demon Lord (伪魔头) by the same author. Also the main character of another novel Former Sweetheart (老江湖) by the same author.]
“This current Demon Sect headmaster, Cun Jie, is the same. He is the most skilled with poison in the world. The Heaven’s Way Alliance could indeed destroy the Demon Sect, but a mad Demon Sect headmaster could drag the entire mortal world down with him.
“That’s why the Heaven’s Way Alliance doesn’t dare to push the Demon Sect too hard. They have to give them a fair duel opportunity on the surface, so the Demon cultivators refrain from resorting to insidious methods.”
This was the real reason why the righteous and demonic sects had been at a standoff for so long. The Demon cultivators feared crossing the Heaven’s Way Alliance’s bottom line, and the righteous path feared the Demon cultivators hiding and harming the common people. Neither side wanted to pay too heavy a price. As long as life could go on peacefully, they just played at war on the battlefield.
Having been taught by Bai Chen, Chenzui’s mind had become much more agile. At this moment he finally understood: “Ancestor means we also need to have a trump card that the Heaven’s Way Alliance fears. That way they won’t attack the Great Snow Mountain lightly?”
“The Heaven’s Way Alliance is afraid the Demon Sect will go all out, so they don’t dare act recklessly. But the Demon cultivators won’t risk their lives for the Great Snow Mountain, so I don’t treat them as life-and-death allies either. Remember, there is nothing more reliable in this world than one’s own strength.”
This child, who used to be completely clueless, had finally learned to think for himself. Bai Chen silently sighed that raising a cub wasn’t easy. Facing the younger one, however, he calmly threw out another question: “Do you know why I chose the Hidden Wisdom Sect over the Myriad Treasures Hall?”
When Bai Chen announced the alliance, Chenzui had already guessed the Ancestor would use it to test him. He had secretly sounded out Li Wuming beforehand, so now he confidently answered: “The Myriad Treasures Hall are businessmen. They’re polite to us because they want to acquire yao materials at the lowest cost, but that’s only because they’re unsure of Ancestor’s strength. If hunting yao becomes cheaper than buying, the Myriad Treasures Hall won’t stand by us anymore. Allies who come for profit are unreliable. The Hidden Wisdom Sect, who have already faithfully upheld the alliance, are more trustworthy.”
“Not bad, you’ve improved.”
“It’s all thanks to Ancestor’s guidance.”
Reading people’s expressions and minds was indeed a fox’s strong suit. Even a young fox fresh out of the mountains knew how to leverage others. But unfortunately, Li Wuming had sold him out early on. Seeing this nephew so pleased with himself, Bai Chen just chuckled softly: “You still have a long way to go in judging people. Do you believe whatever a man tells you? Li Wuming is unfathomable. Even when speaking to me, he only reveals seventy percent, let alone to you. He also omitted the Yao King’s treasury.”
Chenzui hadn’t expected the seemingly generous and easy-going son-in-law to be a schemer. Stunned, he blurted: “We don’t have that!”
“You’re a Bai family descendant, so of course you know the Great Snow Mountain didn’t inherit anything from the Yao King. But humans don’t know that.”
This child was still too honest. Bai Chen helplessly shook his head and reminded him: “We took the Yao King’s surname and accepted the most warlike Heavenly Wolf clan under him. To humans it looks like the Yao King protected the Great Snow Mountain before dying. They will always have suspicions. Humans now live very comfortably, and the Heaven’s Way Alliance can’t afford to lose. So they’ll probe first, and before confirming our true strength, they won’t act rashly.”
After all, the Sword Immortal was just one man. If the Heaven’s Way Alliance really committed, a few Wandering Immortals could keep him occupied. Would Bai Sword Immortal really fight the entire human race for the Yao King’s descendants? That suspicion was the Great Snow Mountain’s current shield. Until they figured out the yao’s true strength, cultivators didn’t dare make a move.
Chenzui hadn’t thought of this and grew nervous: “Then should Ancestor still trade with the Myriad Treasures Hall? Once human cultivators can freely enter the Great Snow Mountain, sooner or later they’ll see through us!”
Of course Bai Chen knew that opening to the outside world also meant removing the veil of mystery. Cultivators would soon discover that the powerful yao in the texts were nothing special, and overall were far behind humans. Then, with no more scruples, the Great Snow Mountain would become the best hunting ground.
Even so, Bai Chen still decided to open the mountain. At this moment he only said firmly: “That’s why we must turn our weakness into strength before they figure us out.”
This was an extremely risky decision. If the yao could rise quickly, they would be able to rest easy. But if they were even a step late, they would lose everything. Just listening made Chenzui terrified. Knowing they had no time to waste, he straightened and asked seriously: “Ancestor, what should we do next?”
Since Bai Chen had already made his move, he naturally had a backup plan. He gently stroked the younger one’s cheek and calmly said: “Back then, when the Hidden Wisdom Sect was challenged, Yunce was in seclusion undergoing a tribulation. Matters of the Great Snow Mountain were decided jointly by the three clan leaders. The honest Great Bear clan wanted to help as agreed, but your Red Fox clan leader didn’t dare interfere in the Heaven’s Way Alliance’s internal strife and stopped them. Since it was your father’s doing, tomorrow you shall take your original form and go before the headmaster of the Hidden Wisdom Sect to offer an apology.”
Now the Great Snow Mountain had to steady this ally. This was indeed the Red Fox clan’s fault. Chenzui didn’t mind bowing his head for the greater good, but when he thought of Bu Tiange’s cold reputation, he instinctively shivered: “Can’t I go in human form? He hates yao so much. What if he really kills me?”
With Bu Tiange’s personality, if he saw a seductive beauty, he’d probably kick them out before they even entered. Only a trembling little fox wouldn’t trigger his defenses.
Thanks to Li Wuming, Bai Chen was now experienced in dealing with such cold men. He patted Chenzui’s face and solemnly instructed:
“Use your Six-tailed Red Fox form. Put away all your young master airs. Look pitiful like now, wag your tail at him, and make sure he sees you’re truly scared. Don’t worry, Bu Tiange is not a cruel man. He won’t mistreat a shivering little creature.”
These words left Chenzui a little dazed. He stared at his fiery tail for a long time without seeing anything alluring, and could only think to himself, ‘Do humans nowadays really prefer fluffy foxes over beauties?’
Anyway, what Ancestor said was always right. Though he didn’t fully understand, he still admired: “Ancestor really knows how to handle men. No wonder even the Sword Immortal on the Emotionless path was won over!”
Speaking of that man who chose to sit on the roof blowing in the wind instead of sleeping with his Dao companion at night, Bai Chen felt his head hurt worse than dealing with ten Heaven’s Way Alliances. To prevent the next fox king from walking his same path, he earnestly admonished:
“Remember, fox yao are physically weak and no match for beasts, nor do we have powerful combat techniques. Our only asset is this heart-stealing art. Since we aren’t strong, we charm the strong and make them ours. For countless millennia, we’ve survived this way. If you lose your heart before seizing theirs, you lose.”
This was the Nine-tailed White Fox’s hard-won wisdom. Chenzui, who hadn’t yet experienced matters of love, still didn’t quite get it and blankly asked: “Is son-in-law the strong one Ancestor chose?”
This question not only stunned Bai Chen, but even the Sword Immortal on the roof, who had quietly pried up a tile to eavesdrop, held his breath to listen. Bai Chen didn’t realize someone had leaked the question and was spying on the exam site. He silently recalled the past, glanced down at the sesame meat jerky Li Wuming had sent today, and in the end couldn’t lie. He could only sigh helplessly: “I am the fox yao who lost to a man, unable to even ask my beloved for anything. Don’t follow my example.”
A fox yao who couldn’t control a man was truly the shame of the clan. Bai Chen said this with melancholy, but Chenzui just tilted his head and blinked at the window — he seemed to have just seen son-in-law fall from the roof. Should he tell Ancestor?
No. How could there be anything Ancestor didn’t know? With the Nine-tailed White Fox’s cultivation, he must have long since noticed the son-in-law holding his breath. Everything was within the Ancestor’s plan. Since it was just their private fun, he’d better obediently keep writing and not speak out of turn.
~ Chapter End ~
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