43. The Nine-Tailed Fox
The people of the Lizard Clan have never seen a dragon in their lives.
They have heard legends of the Dragon Clan, knowing how powerful these supreme beings living in the Dragon Kingdom are, and that they wouldn't even glance at a weaker race like the Lizard Clan.
Gudan never expected that the dragons would actually help Hei Ya.
But the fox girl called Yue Liu, whom Gudan referred to, didn't show much surprise. It was as if she had seen dragons before, unfazed, she slowly sheathed her sword and then bent down.
A pink… fox?
Xia Yi was surprised when she saw Yue Liu; it was her first time seeing someone from the Fox Clan.
She didn't understand the meaning behind the girl's action. Was it fear upon seeing her…
"Princess, this member of the Fox Clan is somewhat dangerous," Lucia warned from the side.
"It's okay, Lucia, you don't need to take action, just watch from the side."
Xia Yi blinked in surprise, only to find that the pink fox… had disappeared?
No, not disappeared!
She heard the sound of the wind changing.
Shallow footprints kept appearing on the ground, someone was moving at high speed, it was the fox girl from before.
Xia Yi tried to catch Yue Liu's position with her eyes, but every time she looked, she could only see a blurred afterimage.
"Divine Speed · Iaido Slash!"
Xia Yi's body moved faster than her thoughts, transferring the ice magic shield she had cast on Hei Ya to herself.
Then the sound of a blade being drawn echoed, and the silver sword light slashed on her magic shield, tearing it apart.
Xia Yi quickly retreated, using her movement technique to avoid the aftermath of the sword qi.
"Oh no, to think that my Iaido Slash was blocked, Xia Yi, worthy of being you, my fated nemesis!"
Yue Liu spoke as if she knew Xia Yi.
But Xia Yi had no recollection of her.
During her years with the Dragon Clan, she was a pure homebody dragon, never venturing out, and had hardly seen any foreigners.
Especially the Fox Clan, this was a first.
Xia Yi looked at Lucia, confused.
Lucia shook her head, indicating she also didn't know this person.
"I am the Silver Dragon Princess, Xia Yi·Christie, who exactly are you?"
Following etiquette, Xia Yi introduced herself and couldn't help but ask.
"Soon, you will know," Yue Liu's smile was very mysterious.
"Why does the Fox Clan interfere with the Lizard Clan's affairs? Blackstone Kingdom is a vassal state of the Dragon Kingdom."
"Once Gudan takes control of Blackstone Kingdom, it will no longer belong to your Dragon Kingdom!"
Xia Yi sensed something fishy. Could it be that Gudan's forces and the Fox Clan had some secret collusion?
Perhaps they had struck a deal, with the Fox Clan supporting Gudan in the shadows, and once Gudan took power, they would break away from the Dragon Kingdom's vassalage and choose to side with the Fox Clan's forces.
If Xia Yi remembered correctly, Blackstone Kingdom also bordered the Fox Clan's territory.
"Fox Clan, stop your sneaky moves. If you continue to assist Gudan, I won't mind defeating you and stepping on you."
"Miss Yue Liu, don't forget the promise we made to your Fox Clan!" Gudan roared, "Dragon Clan, this is an internal affair of Blackstone Kingdom, you don't have the right to interfere!"
Yue Liu seemed unfazed by the threat, readying herself for battle.
"Dragons are still as arrogant as ever, no change even after all these years, but your arrogance ends here, Xia Yi!"
"Princess, do you need my assistance?" Lucia seemed ready to step in for Xia Yi, but was stopped.
"No need, Lucia, you go and seal off the Cold Wind Valley, don't let anyone leave. I will defeat everyone, you just need to witness my power."
"As you command, Princess."
Lucia transformed back into her true dragon form, a red behemoth, and soared into the sky, leaving Xia Yi alone.
The others chose to watch, anticipating the duel between the dragon and the fox.
Xia Yi summoned her Rose Staff, with its aid, her casting speed would be much faster.
"Blizzard!"
A piercing blizzard descended upon Cold Wind Valley, the snow and wind aimed at Yue Liu, attempting to freeze her.
Yue Liu, however, leapt into the air, dodging the torrent of snow.
"In mid-air, you're just a sitting duck."
Xia Yi raised her Rose Staff, channeling her magic, aiming at the fox girl in the sky.
"Icefall!"
Above Yue Liu, ice spikes formed, targeting her. Unable to dodge in mid-air, the ten ice spikes could easily skewer her.
"How could such a level of magic defeat me? Full Moon, bloom!"
Yue Liu executed a graceful sword technique, spinning her body in a dance-like motion, her sword light flickering like a rising full moon, shattering the ice spikes, then she landed in front of Xia Yi.
Not only had Yue Liu defended against Xia Yi's magic, but she had also closed the distance.
Xia Yi pondered whether to brace or dodge, or perhaps to cast a Thorns Aura on herself. The pink-haired fox was fast, but she seemed frail; maybe the shock would disorient her…
While the little princess was contemplating, Yue Liu sheathed her sword, a sly smile on her face, and began to chant a mysterious fox spell. Her weapon resonated with her soul, and a mystical surge erupted from the blade, engulfing everything around.
This familiar sensation immediately made Xia Yi realize that Yue Liu's weapon was no ordinary item, but a legendary holy weapon, just like her own Holy Sword.
Xia Yi's vision blurred, the space around her seemed to melt away, and after a moment, she regained clarity to find everything had changed dramatically.
Except for herself and Yue Liu, everyone else was gone.
They were no longer in Cold Wind Valley but in a world Xia Yi had never stepped foot in. A sea of cherry trees swayed in the wind, petals blowing into the sky, and Yue Liu stood on the roof of a shrine, backed by a full moon.
In the wind, the fox girl's tails, now nine in number, and her pink hair glowed faintly, as beautiful as the cherry blossoms, like a breathtaking fox princess.
"Seeing my true form, do you remember who I am now, Xia Yi?"
Xia Yi looked at Yue Liu, silent.
"Silver Dragon Princess, back then, you humiliated me in front of everyone, causing me to lose face and unable to lift my head in public! Now, I will wash away the shame of the past, I will make sure to bully you until you cry, completing my revenge!"
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