Young Master Bai — Chapter 53
Chapter 53: The Little Fox Claims the Throne
While Li Wuming was being beaten by his master, Bai Chen and Yunce concluded their discussion. Bai Chen returned to the Great Snow Mountain, first to prepare the trade goods for welcoming Mountain God Luo, and second to select suitable yao to send to the Unknown Truth Sect for bloodline research.
The yao had long grown used to orderly, predictable days. Whether it was handing over yao bones or cooperating with humans in bloodline inheritance research, both caused them panic. Bai Chen knew that Yunce, the Fox King, could not hold them down. It had to be him who came forward.
Bai Chen and Yunce discussed matters, with Chenzui listening and recording attentively. Soon everything was arranged in detail. After reviewing the itinerary and confirming no problems, Bai Chen asked Yunce another question:
“All those years I was dead, you accompanied Fox Immortal Grandfather. Did he ever mention anything about the descendants of the Yao King?”
The Fox Immortal who had adopted Bai Chen was the only son of the Yao King known to the world. Unfortunately, he had passed away before Bai Chen awoke. Now, Bai Chen could only investigate through Bai Yunce, who had long served at his side.
Yunce also knew that the matter of the Yao King’s descendants was of great importance. He thought seriously, then recalled a clue.
“Ancestor rarely reminisced about the past, and he never spoke of the Yao King’s old affairs. But before he fell, he left behind a piece of calligraphy, which is hanging above your bed, Little Uncle.”
So it was true that a new piece of calligraphy had appeared in the Silent Pavilion. Bai Chen had thought it was something Li Wuming had bought as decoration. To his surprise, it was written by Fox Immortal himself. He could see it every time he sat up in bed. Hearing this, he recalled the words written there:
“Dare not speak aloud, for fear of startling those above in Heaven.”
It was a line of poetry with no obvious meaning. Not only could Bai Chen not make sense of it, even Chenzui — who always kept a little notebook to record the Ancestor’s every word and action — was puzzled.
“What could Ancestor have meant by this?”
Chenzui studied Bai Chen diligently. Even the way the Ancestor smoothed his hair could be interpreted three different ways. Hearing such words, of course he paid them great attention. By contrast, Yunce was careless and did not think much, answering casually:
“How would I know? Maybe he just wanted to leave you a keepsake?”
“If it’s a keepsake, wouldn’t it be a famous saying or words of guidance? What’s special about this line?”
Chenzui still wasn’t convinced. Yunce thought again and found the objection reasonable. He frowned and guessed, “Maybe Ancestor was warning us not to speak loudly in the Silent Pavilion?”
At that time, however, the Silent Pavilion contained only Bai Chen’s corpse. Such a reminder was unnecessary. Bai Chen also could not figure it out, but he trusted that Fox Immortal Grandfather had left those words with intent. Thinking on it, he gazed through the window at the snowbound peak rising high into the clouds, so lofty it seemed to touch the heavens. Suddenly a thought struck him.
“I remember — the Silent Pavilion was once the Yao King’s residence, wasn’t it?”
When Bai Yunce succeeded to his position, he was young and held little real power, so he had little involvement in major affairs. Fortunately, he was broad-minded. Though it was difficult balancing the factions over the years, he endured it patiently and entertained himself with spectacles on the side. Because of this, he was quite familiar with such tidbits.
“That’s what people say. Before the Yao King raised troops in the far north, he lived there. Some old yao even claim it was the first building ever to appear on the Great Snow Mountain. And because remnants of his yao power linger, even now the grass and trees there look the same as they did a thousand years ago.”
At this, Yunce suddenly recalled something. “I remember — I once asked Ancestor why the Bai family bore enmity with the Sword Immortal. At first, he refused to say. I pestered him for a whole month, until he couldn’t hold out anymore. Finally, he gave me a strange answer.”
This Fox King truly lived up to his reputation for being scatterbrained — forgetting something so important! Bai Chen’s expression grew solemn. “What did Fox Immortal Grandfather say?”
“Love has its limits, but hatred never ends. If you cannot be the treasure held in someone’s heart, then become the thorn buried within it. Even after thousands or tens of thousands of years, the pain will still make them remember you.”
Yunce had never understood affairs of love. His tone was flat as he repeated the words. But it did not lessen the chill that crept into Bai Chen’s heart, making his hands and feet go cold.
To fail at being cherished, yet insist on becoming a source of eternal hatred — what kind of obsession was that? It was like refusing to let a bird fly free, gripping it so tightly in your claws that it suffocated. Madness, twisted beyond reason.
Bai Chen did not know why these words shook him so deeply. Even the normally careless Yunce noticed his odd reaction. Concerned, he asked:
“Little Uncle, what’s wrong? You suddenly shivered.”
Bai Chen also knew his reaction was strange. Not wanting the two juniors to worry, he shook his head. “Nothing. Perhaps I’m not used to the cold after being out so long.”
“Then take my tail to warm you?”
That was reason enough for Yunce. At once, the eight-tailed Black Fox conjured his tails, black with white tips, and draped them over his Little Uncle. Only after doing so did he realize a serious problem.
“Wait — you have your own tail, and one more than mine… Little Uncle, you tricked me!”
This current Fox King was even less reliable than Chenzui. Bai Chen, distracted by his antics, forgot his chill and was about to tease him when a loud thud came from outside. Something had slammed hard into the snow, shaking the roof and sending snow cascading down.
“What was that?”
“Let’s go see!”
Foxes had the keenest hearing. Both the simple-minded Yunce and the disdainful Chenzui perked their ears, alert, and escorted their Ancestor to investigate.
When they arrived, they found a familiar figure in black lying in the snow — Li Wuming, flung out by a stroke of his master’s sword qi.
Even the snowflakes split in midair by the strike had yet to fall. Bai Chen instantly recognized the work of Sword Immortal Bai. Afraid for Li Wuming, he rushed forward and threw himself into his man’s arms.
“What happened?”
His face was full of worry. Li Wuming only smiled. “Nothing. I’ve been thrown out by my master more than once or twice. A small matter.”
But Sword Immortal Bai was known for merciless strikes. Bai Chen’s heart tightened. “You went to see Sword Immortal Bai?”
“I had some questions, so I dug him out of the snow.” Li Wuming’s casual tone made unearthing a legendary Sword Immortal sound no harder than digging up potatoes.
“Then… can I see him too?”
Bai Chen had not expected Sword Immortal Bai to be so easy to find, and he was a little stunned. Li Wuming, however, stood up calmly, helped the dazed little fox to his feet, and shook his head.
“Not yet. My master knows nothing of mercy. He has always hated the Nine-tailed White Fox. If you went, his sword qi would skewer you instantly.”
Bai Chen glanced at the lingering sword qi in the air and had to agree. Li Wuming could withstand that strike — he could not. He abandoned the dangerous idea, but still asked, puzzled:
“What did you say to anger him so much?”
“Only some questions about the Yao King. My master always flares up at the mention of foxes. It’s nothing.”
Since the yao valued bloodlines above all else, and Yunce and Chenzui were present, Li Wuming could not reveal the truth about the Nine-tailed Fox bloodline. He left it vague, then, brimming with confidence, patted Bai Chen’s cheek.
“Don’t worry. Whether or not we retrieve your yao core, I’ll find a way to keep you alive.”
Li Wuming had always been easygoing. His master’s grave words left him entirely unfazed. The only thing he cared about was the possibility that Nine-tailed Foxes could be artificially created — that was good news. As for methods? His master spent his life buried in snow, pretending to be a rock. If once didn’t work, he would try twice; if twice failed, there would be a third time. Sooner or later, he would wear down an answer.
Of course, now was not the time to share such good news. Seeing Li Wuming unharmed, Bai Chen was reassured, but still couldn’t help confirming:
“You’re really alright? Not hurt anywhere?”
Li Wuming, unafraid of his master’s sword qi, also enjoyed Bai Chen’s deep concern. He smiled softly.
“I’m fine. Alive and kicking. Don’t worry about me. Focus on the Great Snow Mountain’s affairs.”
He truly didn’t look injured. Bai Chen relaxed slightly. Instead of returning to the main hall, he simply turned to Yunce and instructed:
“Carry out what we discussed. Send word to the three clan chiefs that you will abdicate.”
This journey to learn was the yao’s only chance for resurgence. The Great Snow Mountain had to be united as one, and leadership could only rest with Bai Chen. From the very start, Bai Yunce had not wanted to be king. Hearing he could abdicate, he nearly wanted to set off fireworks. Yet he also knew the cause of Bai Chen’s death. His joy was tempered by worry.
“But Little Uncle, without your yao core… won’t it be too dangerous for you to be Fox King now?”
“Time waits for no one. Nothing in this world comes with a guarantee. I’ve fought hard to win this opportunity for the Great Snow Mountain. No matter the risk, I must seize it.”
Bai Chen knew well how difficult it would be for a Nine-tailed White Fox without a yao core to secure the throne. At first, he hadn’t wanted the burden. But now, with the Yao King’s descendants lurking inside the mountain, and humans outside waiting to watch them tear each other apart, Yunce lacked the scheming mind, and Chenzui was too young to match wily old foxes. Only he could lead the Great Snow Mountain forward.
He did not care why Bai Wei had chosen to become Yao King a thousand years ago, nor did he concern himself with the old grudges of the Nine-tailed White Fox. He knew only this: the Great Snow Mountain was his one and only home. To protect this land, to let the young foxes grow freely beneath the sun, Bai Chen willingly became king.
At that moment, the little fox who always nestled in Li Wuming’s arms lifted his head. Though he still wore the appearance of a fragile youth, his words carried the presence of a ruler who reigned over the world.
“Inform all the higher-ranked yao of the Great Snow Mountain. At midnight tonight, the new Yao King, Bai Chen, summons them to the Silent Pavilion for council.”
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