Capítulo 14: Please Act Like A Human
Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Fang Zhou initially thought that a major incident had occurred, but upon asking, he learned that all the livestock of the Wang family had been killed overnight. The horse that Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou rode was also killed, along with several servants responsible for feeding the livestock.
Fang Zhou himself didn't care, thinking that he could just buy another horse. However, Ling Xiaoyue's horse, named Crescent Moon, was a treasured steed that had been with her for a long time, almost like a family member. Its death was a significant loss.
This was indeed a serious matter, and Fang Zhou couldn't imagine what the usually carefree Ling Xiaoyue would look like when angry.
He rushed to Ling Xiaoyue's room and knocked on the door urgently, "Knock, knock, knock! Wake up quickly, something has happened!"
The door was opened swiftly, and a yawning Ling Xiaoyue appeared before Fang Zhou, complaining, "What's the matter? Why are you creating such a fuss early in the morning?"
"It's you who's creating a fuss," Fang Zhou frowned, "Your horse is dead."
Ling Xiaoyue was stunned for a moment, then she angrily grabbed Fang Zhou's collar, spluttering, "You disrespectful thing! I am your master, like a mother to you, and you dare to curse me? That is utterly unfilial!"
Fang Zhou struggled, "Who's cursing at you? I said your horse is dead!"
Ling Xiaoyue became even angrier and pinched Fang Zhou's ear. "You cannot curse at my mother either! I'm your master, equivalent to your mother, and my mother is like your grandmother. How dare you wish death upon her? Are you forcing me to punish you?"
Fangzhou stomped his feet in frustration, "Are you insane, or just brainless? I am talking about your horse! Your horse is dead!"
"You're still cursing!"
"Damn it, your mother is dead!"
Finally, Ling Xiaoyue understood that it was her horse, not her mother, that had died.
She went to the stable to take a look and then came back fuming, "That little fox from last night is seeking revenge. It dared to kill my horse; it's asking for death."
Fang Zhou wanted to comfort Ling Xiaoyue, considering that the treasured horse was like family to her.
But before he could speak, Ling Xiaoyue called the steward and asked, "Can we sell the horse meat?"
The steward nodded. "A butcher I know will buy it, but the price..."
Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand to interrupt. "This is a celestial horse; its meat can prolong one's life. How can it be comparable to ordinary horse meat?"
The steward's eyes lit up, "I understand. Please allow me to handle this celestial horse for you, ensuring everything will be done perfectly."
Fang Zhou suspected that the steward might secretly keep some of the celestial horse meat for herself.
Ling Xiaoyue didn't care, as long as she could exchange it for money.
After the steward left in a hurry, Ling Xiaoyue noticed Fang Zhou's bewildered look. "What's that look for?"
Fang Zhou, (눈_눈)
What happened to treating the treasured horse like family? Is this how you treat your family?
Ling Xiaoyue seemed to understand Fang Zhou's thoughts, and she sighed nostalgically, "Crescent Moon used to tell me that it wanted to contribute to the world even after death. I'm fulfilling its wish. Its death pain me, but we can't let that stop us from moving forward. It will surely be waiting for us ahead. Do you understand?"
Fang Zhou, "希望のはな繋いだ绊が..." (The bond of hope we connected…)
Ling Xiaoyue curiously asked, "What are you singing?"
Fang Zhou shook his head. "I don't know. I just started singing unconsciously."
Ling Xiaoyue, "But you understand what I said, right?"
I understand nothing! Please, act like a human being. This treasured horse was really unlucky to have followed you. Ridden by you in life and sold by you in death.
..
Wang Fulai was still in high spirits the next day, and being force-fed a stomach full of water the night before hadn't affected her in any way.
Upon learning that all the livestock had been killed overnight, Wang Fulai hid in her room and was silent for a long time. Eventually, she instructed the steward to bring several large plates of gold ingots, which she personally presented to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou.
"Yesterday, I was blind and treated both of you masters disrespectfully," she said. "Whether you want to scold or punish me, I will have no complaints. I beg you to save my family."
Wang Fulai bowed deeply to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou, almost to the point of kneeling, and her tone was unprecedentedly sincere.
First, she now realized that Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou were genuinely skilled individuals, different from the other frauds that had deceived her family, and therefore deserved to be treated with respect.
Second, Wang Fulai had come to the understanding that the demon fox had been thoroughly angered the previous night, leading it to kill the servants and livestock in its rage. If Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou decided to abandon this matter now, her entire family would truly be in mortal danger.
Ling Xiaoyue glanced at the several plates of gold ingots. With her discerning eye, she saw that they amounted to a total of five hundred taels of gold.
Although Wang Fulai was wealthy, five hundred taels of gold would drain nearly half of her family's savings. She was suffering inside, but money was an external matter; it could be earned again, whereas if a person's life was lost, it would be the end.
Despite a loss that made it almost hard for her to breathe, Wang Fulai wore a sincere smile on her face, hoping that the two masters would be able to feel her sincerity.
Ling Xiaoyue indeed felt her sincerity. With a wave of her hand, her long sleeve swept over the gold, and the plates of gold ingots disappeared instantly.
This scene shocked everyone in the Wang family, including Fang Zhou.
Was this the legendary "sleeve dimension" technique?
I want to learn! I want to learn this !
Ling Xiaoyue showed a satisfied smile and asked Wang Fulai, "After being haunted by that little fox for so long, haven't you thought about reporting it to the authorities?"
In those days, with demons rampant, the government had established a demon suppression department, recruiting and training many unusual talents specifically responsible for exorcising demons and capturing monsters.
For a large city like Qingde City with a population of a hundred thousand, there should at least be a demon suppression team capable of easily handling a small fox demon.
Wang Fulai showed a bitter smile, "We have reported it, but the local demon suppression department was dispatched a month ago to deal with a demon in Lianyun Mountain that was attacking travelers. They won't return for several months, and my family can't wait that long."
"Well, you are really unlucky then," Ling Xiaoyue commented.
While Qingde City was protected by a City God, this deity mainly dealt with ghosts and evil spirits, not demons. Even if the City God wanted to intervene, it would be ineffective against demonic creatures.
Ling Xiaoyue stood up. "Let's go. Don't you have a son who almost lost his life? Let's go see him."
Wang Fulai, who had been somewhat anxious, fearing that Ling Xiaoyue might take the money and not help, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly said, "Please, follow me, masters."
Fang Zhou intentionally lagged behind and secretly asked the steward, "Has the celestial horse been taken care of?"
The steward answered, "It has been handled, master. Is there something you would like to order?"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Fang Zhou whispered, "My horse is also an celestial horse."
The steward looked at him in surprise.
Fang Zhou gave an embarrassed smile.
He thought to himself: The money can't all go to that woman, right?
..
The group arrived at a quaint and elegant courtyard. Wang Fulai dismissed a few servants and led Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou into a room.
Inside the room, incense was burning, and there was a faint scent of medicine in the air that wasn't very pleasant.
A very thin young man lay in bed, nearly skin and bones. His skin was pale, and his eyes were deeply sunken.
Seeing that his mother had brought two strangers into the room, Wang Minghong lacked the strength to avoid them and could only lower his eyelids. A shy blush emerged on his pale face.
If a young girl had made such a gesture, it would likely have evoked pity. But for a grown man to act this shy and coy naturally failed to elicit any sympathy from Fang Zhou.
Ling Xiaoyue only glanced at Wang Minghong before concluding, "This is a case of depleted Yang energy. Your son has been overly exploited by that little fox demon. If this continues, he won't last much longer."
Wang Fulai gasped, looking worriedly at his son, pleading with Ling Xiaoyue, "What should we do, Master? Please save my son."
"My reputation is excellent; you can trust me to get the job done."
Ling Xiaoyue assured Wang Fulai. "After I eliminate that little fox, I'll create a 'Yang Reviving Pill' for your son. With one pill, I guarantee he will be as vigorous as a dragon and strong as a tiger, exceeding the vitality of any immortal."
Upon hearing this, Wang Fulai's face broke into a delighted smile, feeling that the money was well spent.
Ling Xiaoyue then said to Fang Zhou, "Ask young master Wang about the intimate encounters he had with that little fox..."
Under Fang Zhou's stern gaze, Ling Xiaoyue finally swallowed the rest of her sentence and changed her words, "Ask for the details. It will allow us to gauge the fox demon's strength. Knowing its strength will help us estimate its range of activity and hiding locations. Learn from this, my apprentice."
Only then did Fang zhou nod and ask, "And then?"
"Then? If the little fox doesn't dare come tonight, I will personally go and turn it into a scarf. Would you like that?" Ling Xiaoyue replied.
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