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RM 54: The Tailless Fox (II)
🕑 Added 2025-04-25 05:39:04 +0000 UTC“I’ll bet on Wang Yang…” Muchen looked at Elder Ling in the eye and smiled. “…placing first in the trial.”
The air in the hall halted for a moment after Muchen’s proclamation.
“You said it didn’t bother you.” Elder Ling said, almost breaking into a smile.
“It doesn’t. It’s my confidence in the disciple I taught.” Muchen shrugged.
“How much are you betting?” Elder Ling asked, nodding in understanding.
“Spirit stones and such wouldn’t do much to show my trust. I can already see you don’t take the bet seriously.” Muchen sat down.
“If you look at it realistically, no one can take this seriously.”
Every elder agreed to Elder Ling’s statement. How could they think that a kid only at the 6th layer of Qi refinement could place first in a competition full of Foundation Building disciples?
However, this wasn’t a martial tournament, but treasure hunting. Treasures would determine the ranking. And, the treasure that Wang Yang found during the trial before regression, made even Muchen jealous. So, he had planned to use this situation to his advantage, knowing the outcome.
“If Wang Yang doesn’t place first, I will do one thing you want. What do you think of that, Elder Ling?” Muchen dangled the juicy bait in front of his enemy, himself.
“Hmm, interesting bet. But are you sure? I could ask for land on your peak or for a branch in that chain of diners you have? Would that be off limits?” Elder Ling spoke in a joking tone to keep his intentions hidden. He wanted to see how he could push Muchen now that he had the chance.
Muchen stayed passive as a Peak Master till now because he never had anything personal at stake. So, he could also leap over trouble and conflicts of interest. However, he has to come out in the open for his disciple and his reputation now.
“If it’s not confirmed for anything else, then I’ll give it to you. But, if I win, I’ll have you do one thing I ask.” Muchen smirked. “Don’t worry, though, I won’t ask for anything too big.”
“Hahaha, I see you have great confidence in your disciple!” Elder Ling gaffed and wrote down the bet on paper himself. “I hope he doesn’t let you down.”
“He never did.” With Muchen’s elegant smile, the incident came to a close.
The mood in the hall lifted after the rocky atmosphere passed. Huang Bai, Li Xianquan, and Liu Zhi stayed out of the conversation and tried to understand the sudden initiative from their elusive senior brother.
“Senior Brother, you know that Elder Ling is plotting something against you again, right?” Huang Bai didn’t like to participate in sect politics like Muchen. Didn’t mean she wasn’t up-to-date on the hidden power struggle.
“He’s been doing that since I became the Peak Master.” Muchen poured himself another cup of steaming tea. “I know he felt wronged for not getting the Peak Master position. Even I thought he should’ve gotten it after he did so much for the sect, but I can’t change Master’s decision, so I tried to be understanding. But, he is crossing the line now.”
“See? I told you he changed after getting disciples.” Liu Zhi pointed to others in excitement. “Still, brother, if you lose, he will try to take the land with the major Qi vein for sure.”
“That won’t happen.” Muchen smiled.
“We can put pressure on Elder Ling since the vein is valuable. But the elders on his side would moan about it for years, you know?” Liu Zhi clicked her tongue.
“It won’t come to that, Sister Liu,” Xianquan answered in Muchen’s stead. “Senior brother said that Elder can take any land as long as it hasn’t been confirmed for any projects.”
“Senior Brother confirmed his Qi vein for a sect project before Elder Ling came in.” Huang Bai smiled. “Even with his authority and connections, he can’t take the land used for the sect’s development.”
“Damn… Brother did do that. So, he also planned the entire thing from the start to get Elder Ling in the open.” Liu Zhi hugged herself when Hua Mei showed a triumphant smile. “Sometimes I feel scared of you, brother.”
“And, you still keep your bad habits going?” Muchen raised a brow.
“I know you won’t do anything to your lovely junior sister, right?” Liu Zhi appealed with her innocent, green eyes.
“…” However, Muchen sipped on his tea.
“You won’t, right?!” Liu Zhi leaned forward.
“Well, it’s not because we confirmed the project for something. Things won’t even come to that.” Muchen answered Huang Bai.
“Why do you think so, Senior brother?” Huang Bai tilted her head.
“Hey, you guys, don’t ignore me!”
Liu Zhi’s protests fell on deaf ears again.
“Wang Yang will place first. I know for sure.” Muchen smiled.
“Hm, I wasn’t sure when Xianquan pushed for Senior brother taking disciples because of your…… training methods.” Huang Bai caressed her chin, and a smile broke out on her lips. “But seeing you now, I am glad you accepted some.”
“I do feel a little bad for brother’s disciples, but I am happy he changed.” Xianquan smiled too.
“Hey, my training methods are completely normal.” Muchen protested.
“Like hell they are. Only someone power hungry or masochistic would stick with them. Others would run away in one week.” Liu Zhi chuckled.
“Among us, only Senior Brother Hua tried to keep up with your regime. Even he gave up in the end.” Huang Bai sighed.
“Well… I adjust my methods based on the disciples, so don’t worry.”
Muchen couldn’t refute that he went too far when training. Since he lacked talent compared to others, he worked three to four times harder to keep pace. It seemed like lunacy to others, but he couldn’t compromise what he had control over. No matter what he did, he couldn’t change his talents. So, he invested everything to train harder than anyone else.
The light-hearted banter would have continued, but trouble came knocking.
“Senior Brother, there’s been a problem.” Xianquan received the news first, and his smile turned to a frown. “Wang Yang has gone missing.”
“What?!” Hua Mei’s jaw dropped.
“Give me the details.” Muchen said, unperturbed.
“The accident happened during translocation. His team members and badge arrived at the designated place, but he didn’t.” Xianquan expanded the map and changed the tracking system from badges to disciple tokens. “I can’t locate his disciple token in the outer or inner area either.”
“Voice transmission isn’t working either,” Muchen added. “The formation uses the Qi veins to send people around the place using that flow of Qi… If something happened, it must be a distortion of space during the transit.”
“But that only happens in the core area of Heaven Rending Valley. He’d be lucky if he didn’t lose any limbs because of the distortion.” Huang Bai’s brow crumpled.
“If something like that was in the outer area, I would’ve known. I mapped the entire area and turned every stone there.” Xianquan shook his head. “And, if something happened in the core area, Master would’ve contacted us by now.”
“Must be a sealed area that changes location within the Outer area, then. Tracking him will be nigh impossible.” Muchen concluded.
“Do you need help in searching for him, Senior Brother?” Huang Bai asked, ready to leave at that moment. Even Liu Zhi started to pack her snacks and wines.
“No, I can’t leave this place now. Not when things are like this.” Muchen saw an elder from Lotus Peak whispering with Elder Ling. And a moment later, the old man showed a crooked smile.
“He’ll make a big deal out of this if we intervene with the trial.” Liu Zhi muttered, resetting her snacks on the wooden table beside her. “Guess we’ll watch, if that’s what you decided.”
“I suppose so.” Huang Bai shrugged, brewing another pot of tea.
Li Muchen, Huang Bai, Liu Zhi, and even Li Xianquan moved on from the topic like nothing had happened. But Hua Mei wasn’t as calm as they were.
Uncle Li, we have to save Wang Yang! He may be stupid, but he is good! Hua Mei spoke with Xianquan telepathically because she knew she couldn’t change Muchen’s mind now that he had made the decision.
We don’t need to. Xianquan answered.
What? Why?
Look at how calm your uncle is. If he panicked, I would’ve considered it. Xianquan said. But he’s calm, so everything is within his expectations.
…Really? Hua Mei saw Muchen sipping his tea with a hint of worry.
Ah… You don’t know Big Brother’s history, do you? Well, only the elders and people close to his age know of that nickname. Xianquan chuckled.
Nickname?
Yeah. Everyone in his generation had a nickname, they were famous across the world after all. Your father was called the Asura of Flames. Moon Goddess, Gu Yue. Ruler of Frost, Han Yue. Devil’s Whisper, Mei Ling. Titles that paid homage to the geniuses who only emerged once in centuries. Xianquan said. Brother’s title was The Tailless Fox.
That sounds like an insult. Hua Mei’s brow furrowed.
It was actually. But also a nod to what he could’ve been with enough talent. A nine-tailed fox that could destroy an entire continent alone. Xianquan looked at his calm senior brother. However, Brother took that insulting nickname and turned it into a symbol of fear for many.
Xianquan didn’t know what Muchen had planned so far. But he remembered what his brother had said to him after hearing the nickname for the first time.
Even a tailless fox is a fox. Xianquan showed Hua Mei how unbothered Huang Bai and Liu Zhi were. We know that better than anyone, that’s why we can sit here without worries when he has plans.
Li Muchen had plans, Xianquan had guessed that correct. He went through them in his head, over and over again. Contemplating the next steps depending on which route things go.
Wang Yang spent about two weeks in that distortion. That came to about 4 hours and 4 minutes. I pushed him to carry enough food and pills to last two months in case of problems. If he explores that cave like last time, he’ll be out in no time. But if something happens before I pinpoint the distorted space…… Muchen exhaled his bated breath. Even if he had covered all bases, things could still go wrong. Even with a perfect plan. The distortion of space and time made that possibility more likely. And, he stood corrected.
However, the problem didn’t crop up from Li Muchen’s oversight or his methods. He had prepared everything to ensure Wang Yang’s success and erase all negative rumors about him, and at the same time rope in Elder Ling for the next big step. He had played the role of the perfect Master till now.
That’s where the problem was.
Before regression, when he first started teaching Wang Yang, Li Muchen was a strict teacher in every regard. Understanding, yes, but stern. He taught his disciple the way to survive so Wang Yang would imitate his actions to get out of trouble like he did. But this time around, he had become a much more involved teacher than last time. He gave out too many rewards and looked after his disciples a bit too much.
He did it because of the bond they had cultivated over 200 years. 200 years that don’t exist any longer, but it did to him. His more relaxed and reliable image had grown larger by the day in Wang Yang’s mind.
So much so that rather than exploring the cave to find a way out on his own, Wang Yang found shelter and waited for Muchen to rescue him. That’s why he got stuck in the cave for two months.
And now faced a danger well beyond his current physical capabilities.
***
Back in the cave, Wang Yang shielded his face from the wave of dust and stones kicked up by the spider’s crash. Unhurt, the overgrown insect’s eyes stayed focused on him. The hairs on its spiny legs rose in excitement.
For the first time in its life, the beast could feast on a human.
Shivers climbed up Wang Yang’s spine. He turned and ran. Tearing through the formation cloth, he took a left turn. However, the beast tore through the cave wall like paper. Its mangy mouth salivating at the scent of fear.
“Gaahgh!” Struck on the head with a stray stone, Wang Yang fell. The cold water washed over his fear. He gained a moment of clarity and rolled back.
I have to run. He knew instinctively. Like a rat in front of a cat.
The fire qi in his body rose in response. The cold water clinging to his body evaporated. He ran in the opposite direction, the best he could. Yes, the best he could. The words his master said made sense to him. Sometimes the best one can do was run away. It took courage to face that weakness.
But Wang Yang never thought that deep. If his master had said it, it was the right thing to do. Somehow, someway, the reliable image he had of Li Muchen helped him in that moment.
—Aiieeekkkkk!
Even then, the beast he faced was at the Peak of Foundation Building. He couldn’t win even now. And, even if speed wasn’t the beast’s strong suit, it had plenty to catch up with ease.
“Come and get me, you dumb beast!” Wang Yang’s screamed bounced off the deary cave walls.
He threw out thirty red balls onto the spider. The balls exploded on impact. The spider brushed it all off like tickles. But Wang Yang expected that. He only wanted to make noise. Enough noise to attract all the flesh hungry cretin in the place.
—kieek!!!
Hundreds of large bats rushed over like crazed dogs. Their eyes red. They rushed the biggest target there, the spider. Wang Yang heard the bat’s claws scratching the spider’s body. Almost like metal on metal. But he didn’t stop running. He sped up through the snake-like cave, filled with turns and twists. And, the large thumps made from the spider’s legs started to vanish.
In the cave filled with the cries of thousands of bats, Wang Yang reached the end of the cave. A dead end. However, he didn’t lose hope. Pouring in from a crack in the dead end was light.
But the joy disappeared as it appeared. A sudden cold washed over his body. No, even his soul felt the shivers.
How the hell… His body moved before his mind could.
The spider reached him without a sound. The beast’s innate technique, maybe? That didn’t matter in the moment. He couldn’t see any bats. Not alive at least. The ones that tried to tear into the beast had broken claws. The ones who bit at the hairy exoskeleton writhed in pain as their lives slipped away.
The same spider, still attacked by a hundred bats, moved forward unbothered. Like an elephant with a few ants crawling over it. It paid them no mind and thrust his foreleg towards Wang Yang.
Like a spear, the leg’s pointed end aimed to kill. It pierced the bats in the way like a sword through paper. The bloodied leg first met with Wang Yang’s sword. It broke through and reached the cloak. The cloak dampened the blow to an extent, but gave way.
Shield start! In desperation, he activated the last defensive tool Li Muchen gave him.
The leg clashed with a white barrier. Like a reliable shield, it withstood the attack. The sparks flew, so did Wang Yang. The shield may have stopped the attack. But his lower body wasn’t strong enough to stay upright in the face of impact. The shock hurled him through the cave’s dead end.
The shock alone sent him to the edge. His consciousness blinking. Blood rushing down his forehead and neck. Eyes teetering on the edge of light and darkness. However, the Spider didn’t move another step. No, it couldn’t place a step in the area illuminated by the light.
“Even you… are scared of something, huh?” Wang Yang gasped to catch his breath. But only laughter came in that state of lightheadedness. “Everyone is scared of something.”
His eyes landed on the source of light in that dark cave. A lustrous silver sword. Stuck in an altar in the deary corner of the cave, yet it shined so bright it could burn people’s eyes. But Wang Yang could only feel a soft, embracing light that coddled him. It calmed his heart like the arms of a mother. The raging Qi in his body fizzled out. And along with it, any semblance of fear.
“Master said… that I should run away… even if it is the best I can do…” Wang Yang stumbled over to the sword. He felt it calling, whispering in the dead calm of the cave.
He grasped the slender, cold hilt. The sword slid out of the circular, inscribed stone like a hot knife from butter. Wang Yang pointed the curved, single edged blade at the cowering spider.
“But he didn’t want me to run, so I could save myself. He didn’t want me to live in fear of those stronger than me.” In the all-encompassing calm, he finally figured it out. The true meaning of Li Muchen’s words. “He wanted me to live so I can fight another day. So, I can get stronger and conquer that fear.”
The sword responded to his words and brightened. The spider whimpered under the strong pressure emanating from the sword. It scuttered away in the darkness along with the bats.
“Hey! Where are you… going?” Wang Yang collapsed to the ground. The sword had zapped his qi reserves in that short 5 seconds. “I’ll get that bastard… another day.”
His vision darkened under the light of this sword. He fought against it, he tried to. If he passed out in a cave filled with beasts, he would become food.
“The world still has kids like these, huh?”
Master…? Hearing those words, his consciousness slipped away in the dark cave.
...
This is Wednesday's chapter. It is a big one too because I didn't want to leave you all on the same cliff twice, so I concluded Wang Yang's cave adventure in this chapter.
I took Thursday off cause of work. And, I'll see you again in an hour or two with today's chapter.
Another thing if you are from Royal Road, i'd like to ask a favor from you.
If you enjoyed the novel, please leave a Rating, and drop a Review—it helps a ton on RR. It'll make my day even more if it's an advanced one, I haven't gotten any of those so far.
And, i'd like hear your thoughts down in the comments and hear your take on the chapter quality and updates.
Thank you.
