Chapter 225 - Mu Yue (1)
Chapter 225 – Mu Yue (1)
Su Daji could sense that her brother was upset about something. However, she wasn't certain whether it was because of her or the fact that she had almost lost her life three nights ago. She wouldn't be able to fault Jiang Mo if he felt that she had been reckless during that time, but what else could she do but run?
Jiang Mo's silence made her uncomfortable. Even after she apologized, he still remained quiet in his seat. The longer he remained like this, the more Su Daji felt unsettled because of it. He was looking at her with hesitation on his face as if he wasn't sure if he should be here at all, anyway.
"You've met the ninth prince that night, am I right?" Jiang Mo spoke, breaking the silence between them.
Su Daji was startled at that. So, he knew… but how?
Seeing his serious expression, she knew that she couldn't really hide the truth from him. It's just that Su Daji thought that there was no need for Jiang Mo to know about the proposition the ninth prince was trying to impose on her. Su Daji knew how he would react if he knew that she was being used as a bargaining chip in this war.
"E-en. I didn't tell you because I'm worried that you would do something reckless. You just came back, and you were injured at that time," she said in a low voice, refusing to meet his cold gaze.
"You should have told me. Regardless of whether I was injured or not, you shouldn't have kept your meeting with him a secret." He chastised her. "Did he say something to you?"
Su Daji shivered at getting scolded, but she shook her head.
"He knew who I was, but he said that… there was no need for him to take me away by then." She bit her lip as her heart painfully thumped in her chest. "I didn't know he placed a mark on me."
"So, you knew, and yet you still didn't tell me?" Jiang Mo frowned.
She used to tell him everything when they were younger. They had only been separated from each other for over a year, and yet Su Daji had changed. It was so much that Jiang Mo felt like he was starting to lose her.
"You were gone when I woke up!" Su Daji countered. "Also, it was the great fox that told me about it. How would I know that the ninth prince cursed me during our first encounter?"
She was trembling in fear back then, and her mind was muddled because of their proximity. Also, she was nothing but a simple human who didn't have any idea about black magic. How was she supposed to know that she was under such influence?
"Good thing that the fox had managed to remove it from you. You might be able to survive from the bandits, but you would have lost your life due to the curse he cast on you."
Jiang Mo felt intense hatred towards Xuan Yanrui. For the ninth prince to actually dare to lay a hand on their Daji, he was really seeking death, then. The next time Jiang Mo encountered the man, he would make sure to arrest Xuan Yanrui for daring to harm Su Daji.
Anyway, before that… he would need to make sure of her safety.
"Daji, perhaps you should return home now. I wouldn't be at peace, knowing that the ninth prince has found you," he told his sister.
Su Daji fell silent at that. She knew what he said was right, but a part of her wasn't willing to leave him just yet. Still, how could she stay, knowing that she would only cause a distraction to her brother and his mission? She had been here for over three weeks now, and she obviously overstayed her welcome.
"Alright. I'll instruct my maidservants to prepare our journey home, then," she said with a slight smile, forcing herself not to get upset with Jiang Mo's words.
Jiang Mo nodded and left her tent, giving her one last look.
When the fox returned, the strong scent of tears assaulted her senses. She soon found the young lady crying in silence. Of course, the fox heard the conversation between the two, considering that she hadn't really gone that far.
The moment Su Daji spotted the fox, she immediately dried her tears.
"Forgive this one, great fox. Don't worry, you will be returning home soon. That is… if you are still willing to accompany this one, after all the troubles she has caused you." She smiled warmly at the white fox.
'I'll return with you,' the fox replied. She also needed to send a message to her older brother. Perhaps it was also time for her to gain a human body, for her to be able to move freely amongst the humans.
Alas, finding a perfect vessel wouldn't be easy. Actually, during her stay at Su Daji's courtyard, she had tried to enchant herself into one of the young lady's maidservants. It was the one she found trying to poison Daji, but the body couldn't contain her spiritual form. The maidservant died in an instant.
'I actually want to seek your assistance,' she then told Su Daji.
Su Daji straightened her back and faced the huge white fox. If there was something she could do to repay the favors she owed the fox, then she wouldn't mind… so long as she would be able to handle it.
"If it's something within my capability, then sure. What is it, Great Fox?"
"Stop calling me 'great fox'," the fox said with annoyance.
"What should I call you, then? Didn't you say that the name of the demons is as important as their lives?"
"That's not it. For a human to call out our name means being bound to follow them. For arrogant creatures like us… obviously, we aren't willing to be on a human's servitude."
"Then, what should I call you if I'm not allowed to say your name?"
The fox fell silent and stared at Su Daji's face. Actually, there was a workaround to forbid the other humans to know her name and stop Su Daji from saying it. She only needed to place a rule on Su Daji… that every time she would dare to utter the fox's name, only unintelligible noises would come out from her lips.
"I suppose you may know my name," the fox said after so much deliberation.
Su Daji's eyes widened in surprise. She had always respected this amazing creature, and she would never dare to use the sacred name against the fox.
"Are you certain? Wouldn't it be dangerous for you?" She asked, making sure that the fox wouldn't regret it. For the fox to allow her to know its name, did this mean that it trusted her, too?
The fox scoffed and sat on its hind legs.
"What is there to worry about? I'm going to place a curse on you. Every time you dare to speak my name, only gibberish words would be heard by others. With this, they would think that you are losing your mind and speaking nonsense."
As the fox said this, Su Daji noticed the mischievous glint in its amber eyes.
"Oh, my, I didn't know I was being accompanied by such a wicked and playful fox all this time." She giggled. "It's a pity that it took me years to be able to talk to you like this."
The fox hummed and raised her head arrogantly.
"You don't mind that I would curse you?"
"Should I be worried? I don't think you mean me any harm. There are many chances for you to slash my throat while I sleep, many encounters where you may leave and not be bothered by me anymore. Still, you remain next to me." Su Daji smiled this time. She really felt safe being in the fox's company.
"You may curse me, Great Fox. Not only for your peace of mind, but also mine."
"Fine. Then, you must also know that… once you die, your soul will also forget my name. Even if you are reborn, you will have no memories of me."
"This one understands." She had no reason to betray the fox, anyway.
It was only by then was Su Daji's whole body engulfed by the golden light. However, it only lasted for a split second, making her wonder if it was there in the first place.
"What just happened?" She questioned the white fox.
"I just left a part of my magic inside you to make sure you wouldn't be able to utter my name in front of another human."
"Then, your name is…?"
"Mu Yue," the fox replied. Immediately, Su Daji's eyes flashed red, a sure sign that the fox magic was now activated.
"Mu Yue… what a fitting name for you.. Doesn't that mean 'admire the moon'?" The young lady beamed a wide smile, pleased that she now felt closer with the great white fox.
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