The Fox King

Chapter 12: Not What You Think

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Meanwhile, in the Cloud Temple…

The grandmaster reclined upon a couch, gently savoring the aroma of a cup of tea. He was a portrait of leisure, seemingly paying no heed to whatever Wu Shan was trying to tell him. When the report had been concluded, the grandmaster finally made comment.

“The squabbles of the folk of Tiancheng are no concern of ours. Wu Shan, if it’s not our business, let’s just stay out of it, lest we bring calamity upon ourselves. Do you see what I mean?”

It was a reasonable sentiment. The events happening over there had no connection to Lavender Mountain. It was none of their affair.

Wu Shan nodded slowly. Then, remembering something else, he was overcome with the urge to ask why that fox demon was being allowed to remain among them… but the words wouldn’t come out.

Sensing his hesitation, Nan Lingye offered him a smile. “Anything else?”

The disciple was silent just a moment longer, then shook his head slightly. “No, nothing. Please excuse me.”

Out the temple and down the corridor a short way, his restless eyes caught sight of a familiar form, clad in yellow. A young woman sat upon the stone steps, flicking a whip idly back and forth, leaving lash marks across the floor.

Wu Shan grimaced faintly. Reaching out, he easily caught hold of her whip.

Zhe Huo glanced back at him, wordlessly withdrew her whip, and sprang to her feet. Seeing the sober tranquility of his mood, she reconsidered the words she’d wanted to say. Chewing upon a vivid red lower lip, she looked up at him and asked, “Wu Shan, were you talking to the grandmaster about Luo Qinghan?”

Wu Shan regarded her somberly for a moment. His jet-black eyes blinked once, and he sighed faintly. “What do you think?”

Hearing this, Zhe Huo railed in consternation, “What do you have against a mere child like him?”

Wu Shan quietly averted his eyes, and continued past her down the steps. He was uncharacteristically cold, and Zhe Huo couldn’t help but cry out, “Wu Shan!”

This caused Wu Shan to pause briefly, but he didn’t look back. “That wasn’t why I met with the grandmaster.”

Taken aback, Zhe Huo realized she’d blundered, and hurried to apologize. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you!”

Wu Shan considered the pretty young woman before him. Those eyes, typically alight with playful cunning, were now clouded over with worry. He sighed in exasperation. “Zhe Huo, it’s not that I want to pick on a little kid, but you don’t know that much about him. He’s not what you think.”

Zhe Huo sucked in her lip, her expression one of obvious disagreement. “What more could there be to know about him? You haven’t seen what a good kid he is, cooking and cleaning for me every day. He—”

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“You don’t find that suspicious?” Wu Shan cut in. “Have you ever heard of a child performing such feats?”

Zhe Huo winced, to be rebuffed so, and pouted. “And what’s wrong with it? Hasn’t Fei Zhao told you about what a hard life he’s lived, how he’s lost his parents? So what if he’s more capable than most children? Isn’t that a good thing?”

This caused Wu Shan’s expression to darken severely.

Zhe Huo could sense his sharp intake of breath, as though he’d just suppressed a sudden outburst.

As she was thinking about what to say in order to ease the tension a little, Wu Shan spoke again, his tone flat and even once more. “Alright, do as you like.”