Chapter 92: 81. Final Encounter (3.3K words - Requesting Subscription) The Cold Pool Valley Market had already turned into a battlefield, full of pits and hollows, hilltops cut down, and hillsides blown up, with rubble and broken wood everywhere, and the air mixed with a trace of pungent blood scent. Whether it was cultivators or fox demons, they both suffered heavy casualties... The demon shadow of the Old Granny Fox had disappeared, replaced instead by a hunchbacked, panting three-tailed white fox. This white fox was barely over half a person tall, standing upright at this moment on a lone cliff at dusk. "Huff..." "Huff..." "Huff..." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖 Old Granny Fox looked fiercely and unwillingly at the distance. After this desperate battle, seventy to eighty percent of its fox cubs had perished, and it was unknown how long it would take to cultivate a new batch. The Multi-tailed Fox Race excelled in Illusion Techniques, the most suitable enemy tactic being a slow infiltration, sowing discord, and cutting flesh with a blunt knife. Such aggressive assaults were entirely inappropriate. Old Granny Fox knew this, but... it never expected that cunning little thief to be so hard to find! Initially, it thought it was Stone Seat Elder. After an ambush, it would be caught easily. Then, it assumed it might be Song Yan. Song Yan, such a big cultivator, was in the Cold Pool Valley Market; how could it not find him? But the reality far exceeded its expectations. The ambush turned into a siege battle. But when the great battle ended, with heavy losses and its own injuries, it nearly turned the entire Cold Pool Valley Market upside down, glancing at nearly every cultivator there, yet still did not find that little thief. With its eyes, if it saw that little thief, it would certainly recognize them. But it truly couldn’t find them! At this moment, it could almost confirm that "Song Yan is the little thief who stole the Changwang Tiger Race Essence Blood," otherwise it wouldn’t be so hard to find. The sunset was like blood, inch by inch churning. Old Granny Fox clutched its left shoulder wound, which was injured by the Evil Land Ghost Cultivator earlier, especially severe, needing to suppress it with Profound Qi at all times, or else the curse would immediately spread. ’First return to the Wei Kingdom Imperial Capital, somewhat tidy up my collection, quickly deal with that Changwang Tiger, and then... I should flee.’ ’As long as the Changwang Tiger disappears, even if the Fox and Wolf Races follow, they won’t be able to confirm that I stole the last seedling of the Changwang Tiger Race in a short time.’ ’I still have an ancient map, with an Ancient Teleportation Array on it... although I don’t know where it will transport me, it’s better than staying here.’ ’The Fox and Wolf Races will eventually discover the truth, but by then... I won’t be on this continent anymore.’ Having failed to retrieve the "Changwang Tiger Essence Blood," Old Granny Fox instantly had the idea to escape. Once the thought settled, it immediately swallowed an elixir for a bit of recovery, then proceeded rapidly north. Along the way, it stopped and started, constantly using divine sense to explore the happenings ahead. Confirming safety, it would then continue forward. After all... at this point, it truly was at the end of its strength. If it encountered Gu Huangzi, Elder, or others returning to kill, it would be over. Divine Sense and perception are different. Perception relies only on body organs, but Divine Sense relies on Profound Qi, exclusive to those at the Crimson Palace Level... With the spread of Profound Qi, distant scenes can unfold before one’s eyes. But typically, if your spread Divine Sense touches an existence of the same realm, they too will feel you. So... this is actually a dilemma. If you don’t use Divine Sense, you cannot ascertain the surrounding environment; yet using it, should you encounter a great enemy, they would instantly discover you and understand you are of Crimson Palace Realm... At that point, you wouldn’t even be able to hide. If it could be avoided, Old Granny Fox certainly would not want to use it, but at this time, it had to, because its appearance was too distinct, and if Gu Huangzi, Elder, and others used Divine Sense to observe, it would be noticed instantly. Yet, no matter how cautiously Old Granny Fox proceeded, half an hour later, while passing through a mountain forest, its expression suddenly changed... In the distance, an elder of the Nanwu Sword Sect, flying with Sword Control and full-fledged Divine Sense, suddenly stopped and uttered an odd "Hmm?" sound, then fully covered the area with Divine Sense. Old Granny Fox knew it was identified and no longer pretended, turning around and fleeing desperately. In its current state, it was too bedraggled to even put up a facade. That elder hastily pulled out a Communication Stone and reported, "I’ve found that old demonic fox!" On the other end of the Communication Stone, the voice of the Nanwu Sword Sect Grand Elder gritted, "This time, don’t let it come and go as it pleases." Along the way, he and Gu Huangzi had already understood the situation in the Cold Pool Valley Market. Also, they realized Old Granny Fox might be returning north. Therefore, the two coordinated, sending out troops themselves to Cold Pool Valley, but set up a vast network along the path north of Cold Pool Valley. This net was widespread and expanding, with many cultivators embedded at various points, ready to respond immediately to any attack. However, what pained the Grand Elder was... the Cold Pool Valley Market battle caused significant loss to the Nanwu Sword Sect, whereas the Puppet Sect also lost many disciples, but far fewer than them. Obviously, though the Righteous Dao has some who lack courage, most instinctively stand up against demons because their usual "education" demands them to do so. Even if panic-stricken, the first response is to slay demons, not abandon comrades and flee. The Demon Sect is different. The Grand Elder’s heart was bleeding... The Fox Stabbing Alliance was first to fall, followed by the Cold Pool Valley Market; it truly was a disaster upon disaster. ... ... Clop clop clop... Song Yan rode a fast horse, swiftly escaping Cold Pool Valley. He quickly dealt with the fox demon hanging on him, temporarily tossing the body into a spare Storage Bag, while he surveyed his surroundings. This was a desolate mountain area, with no village in front and no shop behind. Song Yan found a patch of grass to tie his horse but did not light a bonfire, instead resting against an old tree temporarily. In Jianghu, it’s those who ride horses; so... riding by day, a most secure way to travel. Yet traveling by night remained too conspicuous. It’s still close to Cold Pool Valley here, who knows how many cultivators and demonic foxes are nearby. Song Yan adjusted his clothes. Though the spring night was cold, it couldn’t make him feel the slightest chill. Never mind that, even if he were thrown into an icy cave or placed in a furnace, he would be fine. Chirp chirp... Hiss hiss... Insect and bird calls occasionally echoed from the surroundings, and occasionally there were distant howls from wild animals, the sounds spreading far through the moist earth-scented forest air. The moonlight gradually rose up high, casting down, while the shadows of trees danced in the spring night’s breeze with incessant rustling. Song Yan fed some grass to his horse, watching it chomp on the wild grass with a "crunch crunch," and his heart gradually relaxed. ’So many things happened today.’ ’And after today, I’m afraid I might be wanted by the Elder of the Multi-tailed Fox Race, Puppet Sect, and Nanwu Sword Sect.’ ’The Wei Kingdom is definitely out of the question; not only is there conflict between Wei and Jin, but also the fox demon and cultivators... it’s too chaotic.’ ’Shu Kingdom is indeed a good place, but if someone with the intention investigates a little, they’ll know Hua Rong is problematic; if I go there, I’m afraid I’ll be ambushed.’ ’Then go to Wu Kingdom, find a village on the outskirts, preferably find a place to settle down in a butcher’s shop, and live a few years before speaking further.’ Song Yan thought for a while and then slightly checked his surroundings, confirming nothing was wrong before wrapping himself in his clothes, slightly closing his eyes, and resting. ... ... For several days, Song Yan continued traveling south. On this day, while passing a wide river, its currents relentless, he began searching for a ferry crossing. As the sky darkened, he temporarily settled in the wilderness again. During this time, he also saw some cultivators. But those cultivators merely glanced at him from afar or from the sky before moving on. What was there to care about with just another common Jianghu wanderer? In the middle of the night, he gradually fell asleep, dazed. As he distanced himself from the Puppet Sect and Cold Pool Valley, his heart began to relax, feeling as if shackles had snapped apart, making the sky and sea open wide. But suddenly, he heard sounds in the distance. The sound of a petite woman walking, heavy at times, light at others, stepping through the muddy wild ground, seemingly limping, maybe injured. In Jianghu, such situations aren’t common, but they aren’t surprising given how common vendettas and assassinations are. Song Yan briefly opened his eyes, looking into the distance through gaps in the trees. There, a woman quickly appeared on the riverside path. The woman’s body was almost entirely drenched in blood, her head hung low, her long hair falling and covering her face. Her left foot dangled, while her right elbow propped an unsheathed sword like a crutch. In the moonlight, blood still dripped from her temples and chin, drop by drop, into the dusty yellow earth below. It seemed as if she had just killed someone... Or perhaps... she herself was injured. Song Yan quickly deduced the woman must have killed. Because that wide and long sword wasn’t suited for such a petite woman. That petite woman had killed someone and taken the sword. Song Yan couldn’t help but feel some sentiment. In such a cruel world, such a cold spring night, a woman in such a sorry state easily evoked sympathy, making one wonder what had happened to her. Was she in need of help now? Song Yan was a normal person, and he couldn’t help but start thinking, even considering... if it wasn’t too troublesome, maybe he could lend a hand, boil some hot water with hollow rocks, hunt some wild game, and boost her strength. He was far from cultivators and demons here. He was... in Jianghu. Song Yan’s thoughts passed, and he considered getting up to lend a hand, to help. But suddenly... he stopped. An indescribable, peculiar feeling rose within his heart. That woman on the muddy riverside path evoked an inexplicable sense of familiarity and... danger. Song Yan was always someone who trusted his instincts. Even though he had reached the Crimson Palace Realm, meaningless and unpredictable conflicts were something he avoided if they didn’t actively provoke him. He began to retreat. And at that moment, the small woman on the path, using the sword as support, seemed to notice him. She slightly turned her head, revealing in the moonlight the "source of the blood." It wasn’t from her temples, but from her mouth! That small woman’s mouth was actually chewing on a finger. The blood was dripping from the finger! In Song Yan’s eyes, the small woman’s beautiful face began to blur, and her eyes turned fierce. This small woman had seen Song Yan many times through Soul Search. Song Yan’s shape, movements, habits—every tiny detail was deeply engraved in its mind. Blocked from heading north, chased relentlessly, gravely injured, it had given up plans to return to the Imperial Capital, detouring south, planning to escape... On the way, when hungry, it would transform into a beauty in the wild, merely flickering in front of people to have men come forward, providing it with food. Tonight, it had just eaten a man, thinking about when to cross the river, when it suddenly sensed an indescribable peculiar feeling. Just tens of feet away... Their gazes met in mid-air. This meeting was inseparable! Grinding teeth sounds echoed... "Song Yan..." "Elder..."