The air was thick with tension as the moment still lingered. Yu Yongtian's hand was still resting lightly against Shen YiJun's back. There was no words said but they seemed to understand the unspoken words in between the silence.
The sudden violent force that had nearly struck Shen Yijun moments ago had dissipated into the wind, but danger had not passed.
A piercing snarl shattered the queitness, breaking off their reunion. In a blur, a creature lunged foward towards them.
Yu Yongtian and Shen Yijun reacted instinctively, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization as they split apart in opposite directions. Yu Yongtian's black and crimson robes billowed as he took a graceful step back, his deep-red fan flicking open before his face. His gaze darkened with mild irritation, the crescent of his lips tilting downward. He loathed interruptions.
Shen Yijun, in contrast, landed soundlessly, his pristine white robes untouched by the dust that swirled in the wake of their movement. His sword gleamed under the afternoon sun, raised in an unwavering grip. Without hesitation, he met Yu Yongtian's gaze for the briefest moment, a blank look plastered on his face, before turning his attention to the enemy before him.
There, was a magnificent fox of snow-white fur and flowing tails. Its eyes was blazed with a deep crimson, an eerie contrast against its pure form. Its slender body twisted in midair, muscles coiling with controlled ferocity as it charged and surged toward Shen Yijun.
Shen Yijun did not retreat and rather pointed his sword forward, his aura shifting ever so slightly, like an invisible weight pressing upon the air. The fox veered sharply, just barely evading the tip of the blade, and they passed each other like specters in the night. Neither hesitated, both pushing themselves off into another clash, the tension between them thick.
The flicker of steel met the gleam of claws. Shen Yijun's movements were near undetectable, each strike precise and planned, and each parry a stroke of effortless grace. The fox's speed was monstrous, its form blurring like an illusion, yet every time its claws sought flesh, Shen Yijun met it with a masterful deflection.
A large number onlookers had gathered outside the wine house, drawn by the spectacle. Their whispers rose like a tide, some murmuring in awe, others in fear. Shadows shifted across their faces as their gazes darted between the battling figures, though stood a distance away.
Then, in a final motion too fast for the human eye to follow, Shen Yijun's sword sliced downward.
The nine-tailed fox let out a guttural cry as it landed on the ground with a heavy thud. Dust scattered around it, and the once fearsome creature was now lying down, injured. But instead of retreating, it trembled, its form flickering. And then, in the next breath, the fox was gone and a young lady took place.
She was draped in scarlet robes torn from the battle, her long, silken hair cascaded over her shoulders in disarray. Her head remained bowed, concealing her face. Her breaths were shallow and uneven, either from the blow or anger.
Then, slowly, she raised her head. Gasps erupted from the gathered villagers.
"Miss Jiu Lian…?"
The name rippled through the crowd in a wave of shock. Disbelief was painted on their faces, some recoiling in horror. Miss Jiu Lian was the owner of wine house, and she was quite famous in Mingxiang. Not just because she owned the place, it was due to her excellent skills in medicine. She was the sole physician in Mingxiang.
"A demonic fox…?" One voice trembled in realization.
"So, she's the one behind the recent strange disappearances?" Another murmured in horror.
"And we all thought it was... the fanning menace."
Yu YongTian who was silently watching felt his blood rush. His eyes dangerously scanned at the group of villagers, looking for the one who said that... fanning menace thing. He knew whom they were referring to, as his eyes shifted to his fan. Yes, it was him. Since his name was a taboo, many gave him all kind of nicknames: Crimson Shadow, The Abyss Sovereign, Calamity of the Mortal relam... but what he hated the most was... the fanning menace. He had once asked someone why they called him that and the person said—
"All he does is wave his fan and cause trouble." And from then on, he had sent his subordinates to announce that whoever referred to him as the fanning menace would feel his wrath. He had almost forgotten that name only to hear it again.
Back to the nine-tailed, Jiu Lian's ruby-red eyes gleamed, screaming danger. She stood with a slow, deliberate grace, her elongated claws curling at her sides. A bitter smile curled upon her lips as she tilted her head at Shen YiJun.
"You… You will regret this," she whispered, her voice laced with simmering fury, glaring at Shen YiJun. Her hate for him clearly visible like daylight.
In a swift, fluid motion, she leaped to the rooftops, her crimson silhouette flying away.
But that was not the end because the next moment, Shen YiJun followed behind, his sword tightly grasp in his hand.
Yu YongTian who was still dissolving his anger, blinked in mild surprise, his fan still hovering near his lips.
"Hey—" He called out, watching the chase unfold. "You're leaving me behind?"
Shen YiJun did not so much as glance his way. His focus was absolute, his body nothing but a white streak against the daylight.
Yu YongTian let out a slow, exaggerated chuckle. Then, he stomped his foot in mock frustration. "Hah. What happened to the years of pursuit? Have you finally given up?" He muttered to himself, almost, almost furious.
Then, with a casual flick of his fan, he moved, his figure following the path of the two before him, effortlessly.
Meanwhile, left standing in the middle of the bewildered crowd, Ling You scowled. His glowing blue eyes darted between the empty rooftops and the astonished villagers now shifting their gaze onto him.
"Oi, what are you all looking at?" He grumbled, tail twitching.
"A weasel?" someone muttered.
Ling You bristled. "Who are you calling a weasel?"
Another villager suddenly pointed. "Catch it! Maybe it's also a demon!"
"…What?"
The sudden shift in hostility sent a chill through Ling You's fur. Then, without a moment's pause, he turned on his heel and bolted.
A chorus of shouts rose as villagers lunged to grab him, but Ling You was fast—faster than any of these slow, clumsy mortals. He darted between their legs, expertly weaving through obstacles as if he had done this a thousand times before. Which he had.
"I hate humans—I hate humans—I hate humans," Ling You grumbled under his breath as he vanished, the cries of the villagers fading behind him.
_______________
End Note
"Not all hunts begin with a chase, and not all pursuers wish to catch their prey."