Young Master Bai — Chapter 57

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Chapter 57: The Yao King and His Consort Kissed Again

The news of Bai Chen proclaiming himself king and breaking with the Heavenly Wolf clan sent shockwaves through the yao tribes. From all corners of the Great Snow Mountain came endless debates, with many clans voicing dissatisfaction at such a self-destructive decision. Even the elders of the Bai family repeatedly came forward to persuade Bai Chen to withdraw the expulsion order. However, no matter how loud the opposition grew, Bai Chen ignored it all, even dismissing those elders directly.

As a Nine-tailed White Fox, he was never bound by rules. Now that he had reached an understanding with the Red Fox clan and the Great Bear clan leaders, the other yao, even if they could not comprehend it, could only obey and spread the news layer by layer.

At this season, most of the Great Bear clan was hibernating, and the foxes were no match for the Heavenly Wolf clan in open battle. Starbreaker naturally felt no pressure. As Bai Chen had predicted, even after three days, the Heavenly Wolf clan still lingered leisurely in their territory, showing no sign of retreat. Other yao also stayed in place, waiting to see what would happen.

If the very first decree after ascending to power could not be enforced, Bai Chen would be reduced to a laughingstock of a Yao King. Since Starbreaker intended to embarrass him, Bai Chen saw no need for courtesy—if the foxes could not drive out the wolves, someone else would wield the sword on his behalf. At sunrise, as the deadline expired, Li Wuming warmed a flask of wine and set up a grill, preparing seasonings early in the morning as he sat on a green stone outside the Heavenly Wolf clan’s camp.

He had only himself and a sword, yet carried the air of a carefree man drinking wine and admiring the snow. The wolves who spotted him, however, immediately grew wary, and Starbreaker, as their leader, came at once with vigilance.

Though Li Wuming lit a fire and raised a grill, there was nothing placed upon it. He had brought no ingredients—clearly intending to forage on the spot. Should any wolf yao stubbornly refuse to vacate his little fox’s territory today, he would see them roasted upon it.

His every action brimmed with provocation, yet his face remained relaxed. Hearing Starbreaker’s approach, he even raised his wine cup in greeting: “My little fox has a frail body. As his Dao companion, I’ll send you all on your way.”

Bai Chen had just taken the throne and was under intense scrutiny. Li Wuming had left the Supreme Emperor Sword with his little fox for protection, and in his own hand carried only a small carving knife—no different from what one could buy at a blacksmith’s in Chang’an for a couple of taels of silver, with a discount if you gave his name. Yet even such a utensil, in the grip of a Sword Immortal, became the deadliest weapon under heaven.

Starbreaker looked far more tense before Li Wuming than before Bai Chen. He took a wary step back, forcing calm as he said, “A dignified heir to the Sword Immortal, bewitched by a mere fox yao—your master can truly stomach this?”

What the Heavenly Wolf clan feared most was the Sword Immortal Bai, who had singlehandedly defeated the yao armies. Starbreaker could not believe that Bai Chen’s existence would be tolerated by him. His words carried testing intent. Yet though his guess was close to truth, Li Wuming lied without blinking: “My master adores foxes, especially those with nine tails.”

Such fearless confidence made it impossible for Starbreaker to gauge the truth. But he dared not touch the only heir of that dreaded Sword Immortal. He could only sneer: “Let us hope Sword Immortal Bai truly can accept you.”

Li Wuming rarely invoked his master’s name, but the Sword Immortal’s legendary feats were too fearsome. Every yao who encountered him thought first of that shadow, forgetting that Li Wuming himself was now a Sword Immortal, his cultivation no less than his master’s a thousand years ago.

Alas, was it his fault he lived too comfortably, giving no impression of strength?

If Starbreaker had known the man toying with a little knife was entertaining such thoughts, he would have vomited blood on the spot.

Fortunately, Li Wuming did not give him the chance, but instead provoked with words: “My master’s magnanimity is beyond your imagination. But I do have a question. Since ancient times, the stronger the beast, the keener it is to avoid danger. Even ordinary animals know not to provoke foes stronger than themselves. Has the Heavenly Wolf clan forgotten such a basic rule of the hunt?”

His earnest expression made it seem he truly could not fathom how Starbreaker dared to speak to him at all. That sincerity only made his opponent’s fury boil over. The gray wolf’s face darkened, his voice carrying a growl of threat: “Do you truly believe the Sword Immortal lineage invincible?”

Any ordinary cultivator, under the gaze of an enraged Heavenly Wolf, would have been drenched in cold sweat. Li Wuming merely drank another cup of wine, thought a moment, then answered honestly: “Sorry—whether earth or sky, I seem able to do as I please.”

Such natural arrogance had no equal in the world. Yet the Heavenly Wolf clan truly could not afford to provoke him. Starbreaker clenched and unclenched his fists, and in the end had no choice but to endure, grinding out the order: “Pass down my command—strike the camp!”

The clan leader’s word was law. The Heavenly Wolf clan finally moved. Li Wuming’s grill went unused; he could only sigh and spear an ear of corn from the kitchen, roasting it instead. The sweet fragrance of roasted corn made the wolves retreat even faster, as though pursued by death. Li Wuming popped a few kernels into his mouth and spoke to his right hand: “So hard to be believed when I finally tell the truth. Master, isn’t this world laughable?”

He chuckled outright. The great yao observing in secret shuddered and fled, unwilling to remain. The Sword Immortal’s heir acted as though he sensed nothing, patting the wisp of his master’s lingering divine sense as he spoke softly, “The Nine Heavens are so cold. You are about to pass the duty of guarding the Nine Provinces to me. Surely bringing a little fox up there to keep warm isn’t too much?”

A thousand years had buried too much. Even the humans had forgotten some of their own ancient heritage. For example, the Supreme Emperor Sword was the first weapon ever forged by mankind. And from the beginning, it was borne by the strongest chief of the Chang’an tribe. With this sword, the first men drove back countless primordial beasts, securing the human realm. Its materials, however, came from beyond the Ninth Heaven.

The master of the Supreme Emperor Sword could only be the supreme ruler of mankind.

The Sword Immortal’s name held absolute deterrence among the yao. Li Wuming only needed to stroll the mountains for the great yao who refused to move to withdraw as promised. Having lifted Bai Chen’s immediate crisis, he naturally sought a reward from his little fox. Returning to the Silent Pavilion, he lifted the curtain and set down a freshly bought roast chicken on Bai Chen’s desk, smiling: “I’ve driven away all the troublesome guests. Hurry and send your fox cubs to reclaim the territory.”

This man truly knew how to live. After reshaping the balance of the yao world, he still found time to stroll down the mountain and even queued to buy Yinrong’s famed plum-scented roast chicken. Now he sat directly on the desk, snatching the book Bai Chen was reading, tearing off a piece of meat to press to his little fox’s lips. “This chicken is first simmered in plum-soaked snow water, then wrapped in lotus leaves and roasted over coals—fragrant but not greasy, quite unique. Try it.”

A fox without tails felt incomplete. Since Li Wuming liked them, Bai Chen kept his fox ears and tails in half-human, half-yao form on the Great Snow Mountain. Li Wuming could idly toy with his fox’s tails, and Bai Chen found it comfortable. Yet this form had drawbacks: for example, when he smelled food, his ears perked up with joy, betraying his inner thoughts.

It was Bai Chen’s first time as king. He had been reading human histories of emperors as last-minute study, but when his book was snatched, he had meant to glare—only for the chicken’s aroma to overwhelm him. He instinctively opened his mouth, swallowing, and even licked Li Wuming’s fingers. His gaze softened, and instead of reproaching Li Wuming’s impertinence, he only murmured gratefully: “Thank Heaven, at least I no longer have to hear the old codgers nagging in my ears.”

Li Wuming wished Bai Chen every success but had no interest in seeing his little fox put on imperial airs, much less bowing as a subject. With just one roast chicken, Bai Chen forgot all kingly dignity. The man secretly rejoiced as he fed him, chuckling: “They’ve grown used to treating the Heavenly Wolf clan as the outer wall of the Great Snow Mountain. Now you’ve torn it down in three days—no wonder they’re uneasy.”

The Nine-tailed White Fox loved cleanliness, and Bai Chen was glad not to soil his hands with grease, tail sweeping the floor happily as he ate. Yet when his gaze fell on the stack of remonstrance letters Li Wuming sat upon, he sighed: “They’ve lived in comfort too long, forgetting they once fought alone.”

Five centuries out of politics, and now he had to rally every yao of the Great Snow Mountain—what a daunting task. Li Wuming had no wish to see his little fox fretting himself bald like Yunce, so he simply crumpled all the protest letters and tossed them aside. “I know—you’re following Feng Shiqi’s hint before he left.”

Some men might seem frivolous, but they were true confidants. Over these three days, every yao had come to argue pros and cons, urging Bai Chen to ease tensions and wait until the mountain grew strong before dealing with the Heavenly Wolf clan. Outsiders feared a cold-blooded new king, and the Bai family resented Bai Chen’s boldness. Only Li Wuming supported him fully from start to finish, and now had laid bare the true reason.

There was no bloodless revolution. — Such had been Feng Shiqi’s parting words at the Hidden Wisdom Sect, seemingly casual, yet secretly warning Bai Chen of humanity’s bottom line.

At last, Bai Chen sighed helplessly: “The Heavenly Wolf clan went too far a thousand years ago. The records alone mention thirteen human cities massacred, with not a soul spared. As for the countless nameless villages, no one knows how many. The wall in Yuncheng still bears the names of the dead, never fading in a thousand years. Humans remember. Whoever shelters the Heavenly Wolf clan must inherit this endless grudge. Feng Shiqi was telling me he can give the yao a chance at renewed glory—but only if this blood debt is repaid first.”

Feng Shiqi’s stance was simple: those yao who had not participated in the war against humanity would not bear his wrath. But the Heavenly Wolf clan, stained with blood, would never be forgiven by the Heaven’s Way Alliance.

The yao could not yet accept the fact that if humanity united, they could exterminate them. Bai Chen could not tell the others of this fear. No matter the doubt he faced, he could only endure.

Seeing his furrowed brows, Li Wuming quickly, tenderly offered him a chicken leg, proving with words that Bai Chen had not chosen wrongly: “In recent years, more voices in the Heaven’s Way Alliance call for war with the Great Snow Mountain. Yes, interest plays a role, but the existence of the Heavenly Wolf clan is also a factor. The mountain was never meant to be dragged into these disputes. By cutting ties now, future negotiations with humanity will be far easier.”

Though annoyed, Bai Chen had no regrets. With Starbreaker gone, he felt even more relieved. Taking the chicken leg from Li Wuming, his mood brightened: “If the Heavenly Wolf clan had been loyal, it might be different. But restless troublemakers? Let that so-called heir of the Yao King take them. My Great Snow Mountain need only pursue the secrets of yao bloodlines and the path to ascendancy.”

A new king’s foundation is fragile. Yet Li Wuming, seeing his eyes firm with resolve, felt reassured: “What should be cast off, cast off. Exchanging a disobedient Heavenly Wolf clan for human alliance, and even redirecting humanity’s hatred onto your rival Yao King heir—that’s pure profit.”

“But in the eyes of the other yao, it makes me look like a king eager to betray the moment I ascended,” Bai Chen muttered, though he knew his move had been clever. Still, thinking of the dissent within his clan, he could not help but complain.

Li Wuming, seasoned by experience, scooped up a handful of snow, letting it melt in his palm until it washed away the grease from his fingers. He held up his now-clean hand for Bai Chen to see. “The masses are fickle. Today they resent you as ruthless, tomorrow they’ll forget once your policies benefit them. Give them greater ease than they had before, and history will sing your praises.”

Li Jiuzhou had spilled countless lives on the battlefield, yet history never recorded it. Feng Shiqi acted unreasonably, yet humanity never objected—indeed, they admired his authenticity. In the end, it all came down to interests.

Li Wuming had once failed to see this truth, but now he did. He instructed Bai Chen earnestly: “Remember this. Common folk are not censors in court. To them, rules and traditions are hollow. A thousand codes cannot compare to a bowl of rice. Feed them, and grievances vanish. Let them prosper, and history will honor you. Among cultivators and yao, it’s the same—every decision must prize practical benefit. Never let reputation weigh you down.”

Such words Bai Chen had never read in books, running counter to the benevolence human scholars upheld. Yet when he pondered them, they rang true. He realized Li Wuming was teaching him, and silently stored away every word. When he looked up again, he only whispered: “These aren’t words a virtuous minister should say.”

Li Wuming trusted his little fox’s cleverness. Seeing that, he did not press further, only smiled: “I’m no general of yours. As a treacherous subject, I’ll only spout insolent nonsense.”

This man already held the Yao King in his arms, rubbing his belly—truly the height of insolence. Bai Chen realized he had no dignity before him at all, and finally gave him a sidelong glance: “By race, I ought to be the disastrous consort. Yet you’ve stolen my role and live more carefree than I do.”

Though he said so, the tail hidden under the chair swayed gently, showing how satisfied he was with his “disastrous consort.” The roast chicken brought by his consort also deeply pleased the king. Li Wuming noticed it all, and pulled the Yao King into his arms again, teasing his ears: “This seat as king’s husband is indeed comfortable. But what pleases me most is that you no longer hide your ears and tail from me.”

Bai Chen did not mind his Dao companion’s impertinence—or rather, if Li Wuming ever refused to touch him, the little fox would truly fall into depression. Yet, glancing at his reflection, he wondered—by human standards, a man with fox tails looked too unnatural, while by yao standards he wasn't even showing full fur. What charm could Li Wuming possibly find in this half-human, half-fox form? He asked in doubt: “Does this half-human, half-fox look really look good to you?”

Li Wuming only rubbed the tip of his ear, nodding with satisfaction: “It’s perfect. Not hiding proves you see me as no different from kin.”

Fox yao only flaunted their tails before kin. Hiding them meant distance. That Bai Chen naturally showed his yao form before Li Wuming was the true mark of trust.

Bai Chen had not realized even such tiny details did not escape Li Wuming’s eyes. He sighed inwardly at how this man pretended to be a fool, yet was sharp as a blade. Then another question rose within him: “Then… am I good-looking in your eyes?”

The little fox had long tried to seduce Li Wuming to no avail, suspecting his face held no attraction. He asked earnestly now. Under that gaze, Li Wuming actually lost composure, quickly coaxing: “You underestimate me. I’m extremely picky. Your face looks as though carved straight from my dreams—flawless in every way. Were it not so, why would I have guarded against your seduction back then?” [A careful reader will remember that a yao's appearence draws from human minds, and Bai Chen has had his since a very young age... Implying?]

That was the truth. On the emotionless path, one lived in purity. If Bai Chen’s looks had meant nothing to him, the young Sword Immortal could have sat untouched without vigilance. The very fact he had been cautious was proof he had already been moved.

Realizing this, Bai Chen’s doubts melted. Even Li Wuming’s evasions now looked like flirtation. For the first time in ages, he felt the urge to seduce him anew.

The little fox was never shy in this regard. He pulled Li Wuming’s finger to his lips, eyes glimmering with feigned innocence, and asked: “Do these please you as well?”

His lips were soft, still damp from tea, as if begging to be tasted. Li Wuming traced their delicate line with his thumb, eyes darkening beyond control. “Perfect.”

What Bai Chen had always longed to see was Li Wuming losing control over him. Seeing it, he burrowed into his arms, voice as soft as the tip of his tail, tickling the heart: “Fox yao adorn themselves only for those they love. I don’t know if these lips are beautiful—but why don’t you test them yourself?”

No man could remain calm when his beloved Dao companion nestled against him so. Li Wuming finally lost restraint. The little fox had only just flicked his tail when the kiss claimed him, even the divine sense of his master desperately trying to intervene crushed aside.

The taste was truly peerless. He kissed again and again, until Bai Chen could not breathe, ears drooping as he secretly begged for mercy. Only then did Li Wuming release him. Were it not indecent before his master’s divine sense, he would have shown with deeds the price of seduction. Reason barely held him back.

Out of control, Li Wuming shed all his usual ease, brimming with the dominance of a Sword Immortal. Bai Chen felt clearly that before him, he was but a little fox to be toyed with, powerless against him. If Li Wuming chose not to be gentle, his only fate was to be utterly consumed.

This was not like the spring palace paintings at all. Where was the tender union of loving husband and yielding wife?

Facing such a fiercely assertive man for the first time, the little fox suddenly faltered. He turned into his original form and dove beneath the covers, pitifully waving his fluffy tail in surrender.

What could Li Wuming do then but let him go, sighing at his own hand: Master, do you know meddling in romance will get you kicked by a horse?

~ Chapter End ~

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