Chapter 66

  Little Phoenix Maiden lay alone on the bed playing with that bead, the bead was still invisible, she didn't need it to appear and attract envy from others.

  "Master, why won't you let me take action?"

  "Stay hidden and don't show up unless absolutely necessary." You're going to use my own merits to atone for your sins if you commit murder, which seems like a very bad deal.

  "Master, Xiao Ling can now return to her true form." Xiao Ling reported the good news to her master.

  "Barrette?"

  "Yes."

  "Let me see."

  As soon as the words fell, the invisible hairpin in her hand turned into a pure white jade pin with five carved pear flowers on its head, which looked very delicate.

  "Pear flower?"

  "The host used to love pear blossoms."

  "I don't dislike it now either."

  "Shall I help my master treat his wounds?"

  "Do you still have this function?"

  "Yes."

  Lu Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment, "Will this consume your own spiritual energy?"

  "It's okay."

  "So after consuming your spiritual energy, are you going to consume my merits to recover?" Little Phoenix Maiden felt that this was clearly a case of "the sheep's wool being taken from the sheep itself", and that this pearl was really taking advantage of people!

  Xiao Ling's voice suddenly became somewhat timid, "No, Master, I can already resume my original form and cultivate on my own."

  That's about right!

  Otherwise, she would be angry even if she were a civilized person. Why can others use this pearl as a treasure, but she loses money when she takes it home? It's simply the rhythm that even gods would explode with anger.

  "If you were to materialize, would there be a possibility of losing you again?"

  The little spirit remained silent for a while before speaking again: "Master, I can merge with your body, so I won't be lost or stolen by anyone." The master was its ultimate belonging, this was its destiny, and the little spirit had suddenly realized this truth.

  "Huh?"

  "Blend in?"

  "Yes, it becomes a mark on the master's body once again and becomes a part of the master."

  Lu Xiaofeng suddenly had an epiphany, could it be that she traveled through time and space because of Xiao Ling? Does she need to re-absorb it as a part of herself in order to achieve complete merit?

  Karmic retribution, initially she lost the little spirit and it became a tool for others to kill countless people, so the retribution is still borne by her herself, using her own merits to offset and resolve?

  Is this what Buddhists mean by cause and effect?

  "I have merged with the master's body, and no one else can summon me away."

  "That's great."

  Suddenly a ray of spiritual light entered into Lu Xiaofeng's brow, forming a pear flower mark, which gradually faded away and finally returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

  "Little spirit?"

  "Master." A voice immediately echoed in Lu Xiaofeng's mind.

  Then she found that she no longer needed to talk to Xiaoling, and she could already communicate with Xiaoling through her consciousness. Xiaoling had indeed become a part of her body.

  "Can you still help me treat my injury like this now?"

  "Alright, Master just needs to think of it and Xiao Ling will take care of it."

  This feature is great, it's like having a cheat code on.

  "The wound hasn't fully healed yet, it's too eye-catching, tone it down a bit."

  "Yes."

  Lu Xiaofeng finally put down the worry about Xiao Ling, no longer having to constantly worry about it. A part of his own body, in any case, was safe and sound.

  Xiao Ling didn't tell her that it would once again merge into her body, and with the passage of time, gradually fuse with her soul to become a single entity, disappearing in this world.

  There is cause, there is effect, and the cycle of cause and effect - this is the Way of Heaven.

  That night, Little Phoenix slept restlessly, with chaotic scenes flashing in her dreams, seemingly real yet unreal, but when she woke up, she had forgotten everything.

  Lying on the bed, Lu Xiao Feng was bewildered for a while, as if she had gained something but also as if nothing had happened.

  Is it because of Xiao Ling's fusion?

  Forget it, don't think about it anymore. Lu Xiaofeng rubbed his temples and got out of bed to get dressed.

  For several days in a row, neither Zhang Shao nor Bei Xiaobei returned.

  Lu Xiaofeng didn't think much of it and continued to go to the county government office to review old case files.

  But she didn't expect the nine-tailed fox to come again and kidnap her.

  When the nine-tailed fox threw her into a mountain cave without any hesitation, Lu Xiaofeng heard a familiar voice.

  "Lu Niang——" Even at a moment like this, Zhan Zhao still considered their relationship and didn't want the nine-tailed fox to know, so he used a more distant term of address for her.

  Lu Xiaofeng supported his own neck and sat up from the ground, only to see Zhan You and Bei Xiao, Ouyang Chun were all in this cave, they were locked by iron chains on two stone pillars.

  "What's wrong with you?"

  Bei Xia Ouyang Chun's face revealed a bitter smile, "Accidentally poisoned."

  Zhan Zhao then said to the nine-tailed fox standing at the iron rail entrance of the cave: "What did you catch her for?"

  The nine-tailed fox smiled coquettishly, covering her mouth with her sleeve and said: "This girl is indeed different for Zhan Daxia, tormenting Zhan Daxia himself must be far less than tormenting her to make Zhan Daxia aware of the taste of suffering."

  Lu Xiaofeng thought to himself "got it", Ni Mei, so you're using yourself to provoke Xian Xiaomao, that nine-tailed fox with a short lifespan.

  "Have a good night's rest, for tomorrow," the nine-tailed fox paused, "your days won't be so easy anymore."

  Lu Xiaofeng watched the beautiful, seductive and calamitous fox leave, but didn't hurry to get up. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the ground, one hand covering the wound on his neck, while slightly tilting his head to glance at the imperial cat tied up in a crucifixion-like pose.

  The young man was puzzled by her expression and asked: "Miss, what are you looking at?"

  Lu Xiaofeng cleared his throat and put on a serious face.

  Zhan Zhao suddenly felt that she probably didn't have anything serious to say.

  As expected, Little Phoenix said, "Does this nine-tailed fox like you, Xiao Mao?"

  Zhan Zhao: "......"

  Ouyang Chun: "......"

  Ignoring the little cat's black line, Little Phoenix continued to reason and analyze, saying: "She wanted to torture you, but instead caught me and said she would use torturing me to torture you, what kind of ghostly logic is this?"

  Zhan Zhao: "......" Haven't you been messed with by others for the past few days?

  Ouyang Chun: How come this girl doesn't look afraid at all? Not only is she not afraid, but she also looks particularly carefree. After coming in and seeing Zhan Zhao's appearance, she didn't lose her composure, but instead rushed up with tears in her eyes to express her concern, and seemed to be very interested in watching Zhan Zhao's current downfall.

  Bei Xia suddenly had a great curiosity about this current Emperor's daughter-in-law.

  "She's so gentle and considerate to leave you a night to adjust your mood, in order to welcome her next abusive game. Let me explain, it's abuse for me to enjoy. What kind of brain structure does this fox have? I'm really curious now."

  "Ah...cough...cough..." Zhan Zhao coughed lightly twice due to his injuries.

  Lu Xiaofeng finally stood up from the ground, walked to the front of Xian Xiao's body which was tied up in a very artistic way, circled around him and asked: "You said how I can spend the night better tonight?"

  "Ouyang and I have both been poisoned, and it's not convenient for us to move. The more profound our internal skills are, the more severe the poison will break out. You're probably unable to take both of us away."

  Ouyang Chun was somewhat surprised, but said nothing and chose to wait and see what would happen next.

  Lu Xiaofeng was somewhat entangled, "But if I go alone, I may not be able to get away, and it would also seem a bit unfeeling and unjust."

  Zhan Zhao said: "If you don't leave and stay here, it will be even more dangerous."

  "I don't know if it'll work, but you have to try things out to see if they're feasible." Lu Xiaofeng said as he pulled a long needle from his hair bun.

  Ouyang Chun's eyes suddenly widened.

  Lian Zhanzhao was also shocked by what he saw.

  "Zhan Zhao, you actually dare to drag me down to this point. My father won't let you off, and neither will I. No need to wait until tomorrow, tonight I'll take the place of that fox spirit to torment you." Lu Xiao Feng's attitude and expression suddenly changed, and in the blink of an eye, the long needle was quickly replaced with a long hairpin from his sleeve, which stabbed into Zhan Zhao's chest.

  "Haha... I never thought that the great Southern Hero would have a day where he'd be treated like this." Sha Qianli's voice came from inside.

  Zhan Zhao let out a sigh of relief in his heart, he was just afraid that she didn't receive his hint and someone would appear behind her.

  Ouyang Chun also broke a sweat for them, as Sha Qianli appeared silently and suddenly, without giving them any warning. Fortunately, the tacit understanding between Zhan Zhao and his companions was sufficient.

  Sha Qianli sneered with malice, gazing at the person locked behind the iron bars. "Zhan Zhao, I suppose you won't be lonely tonight. Tomorrow, I'll come again to savor your miserable state." With that, he walked away with a self-satisfied smile.

  Zhan Zhao spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Ouyang Chun's heart tightened, was that hairpin stabbed too deeply?

  "It's all right?"

  Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "It feels okay."

  Ouyang Chun could only shake his head.

  Then Little Phoenix did something that left Beixia stunned.

  She was seen to lift her long skirt, untying a needle case from her calf. When she unfolded it, a row of shiny gold and silver needles were revealed inside.

  Then, Bei Xiaoyang Chun saw Lu Xiaofeng insert a needle into Zhan Zhao's body like inserting rice seedlings - was this revenge?

  It's really true that you shouldn't offend women; in front of me is a nine-tailed fox and behind me is a phoenix maiden.

  The needlework was finished, and Little Phoenix gathered up all the needles and tied them back onto her own leg.

  Zhan Zhao had already vomited several mouthfuls of black blood.

  "How are you feeling now?"

  Zhan Zhao said: "A little better." However, the internal force gathering was still unable to last.

  Lu Xiaofeng nodded and then reached into his skirt, pulling out a dagger.

  Ouyang Chun: "......"

  The dagger flashed out of its sheath, shining with a cold light, cutting through gold and jade, and in the time it took to raise his hand and drop the knife, he had severed the iron chains on Zhan Zhao's body.

  Then, Xiaofeng cut off the iron chain on Ouyang Chun's body again. Finally, she hid the dagger back in her skirt.

  When Lu Xiaofeng pulled out the dagger, Ouyang Chun already understood why he saw her being caught by Jiutai Fox, but Zhan Zhao didn't have much worry, this Feng girl was indeed not someone who could be inferred with common sense.

  "Xiao Feng, help Ouyang brother with acupuncture, we don't have much time to spare."

  "Good." Lu Xiaofeng knew that the Golden Needle had already taken effect, so he dared to make a move on Beifang Xiong Ouyang Chun.

  It was said earlier that Zhan Zhao was used as a test product, which is also what Zhan Zhao himself meant. They would not let Ouyang Chun be the test product instead.

  The duel ended, and the two heroes from the south and north retrieved their swords and then cut open the iron railing, taking Lu Xiaofeng away from this place.

  At this time they just wanted to escape, because the effect of Jinzhen's gathering internal force was unknown how long it could last, and they couldn't waste any more time.

  As for the nine-tailed fox and Sha Qianli, that's a story for later.

  They won't be able to escape for much longer before being chased from behind by the Nine-Tailed Fox.

  "It seems that the nine-tailed fox has a deep affection for you, to have chased after you so quickly." Little Phoenix Maiden couldn't help but tease.

  Zhan Zhao: "......"

  Ouyang Chun: "......"

  "I didn't think you'd actually be able to escape from the cave, but your journey ends here."

  The nine-tailed fox looked at Lu Xiaofeng, with a somewhat strange expression. "I didn't expect that you, a seemingly useless woman, could actually help them escape. It seems I underestimated you."

  Lu Xiaofeng said: "It doesn't matter, I don't mind you continuing to ignore me."

  Jiǔwěihú bù lǐ zhǎn zhāo, ōuyáng chūn èr rén, jìngzhí xiàng Lù Xiǎofèng fā zhāoyì yù qín tā.

  English Translation:

  The Nine-Tailed Fox and Ou Yang Chun rushed straight at Lu Xiaofeng with the intention of capturing her.

  Zhan and Ouyang Chun naturally couldn't let her achieve her goal, they simultaneously covered up, blocking Lu Xiaofeng behind them, directly meeting the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack.

  When Zhan Xiang and Ou Yang Chun were fighting against Jiu Wei Hu, Sha Qian Li also appeared without anyone knowing when she had arrived.

  Unfortunately, just as he was about to catch Lu Xiaofeng, he fell down!

  Lu Xiaofeng lowered his left arm, bowed his head and took the wooden sword from Sha Qianli's hand, directly placing it on his neck. "Sister Fox, don't you really care about your junior brother?"

  This is divine development!

  The nine-tailed fox looked at the girl with a bright smile, holding a knife to her junior brother's neck, in utter disbelief.

  "Sister Fox Spirit, the wind and water are circulating, today it's at my house, how about we have an exchange?"

  This scene is so familiar!

  "Really?"

  Little Phoenix Maiden's knife rose and fell, and immediately saw that Sha Qianli's leg was bleeding after being knocked down.

  "Now?" Lu Xiaofeng had one hand pinching the artery on Sha Qianli's neck, and the other hand raised a wooden knife, ready to strike at any moment to give Sha Qianli another kick.

  "You're ruthless!" The nine-tailed fox gritted her teeth.

  "It's too kind of you to say that, I also learned from you, Fox Sister. The wound on my neck still hurts."

  "What do you want?"

  "Antidote."

  "No way, if I give you the antidote, my junior brother and I will be in even greater danger."

  "You give one, so we don't have extra energy to chase you, and you can't hurt us either. Temporarily balanced with each other."

  "Alright." The nine-tailed fox, worried about his junior brother, threw an antidote to Zhan Zhao.

  Zhan Zhao handed the medicine over to Ouyang Chun.

  "Ouyang Da Xia, I'm counting on you." Lu Xiao Feng understood Zhan Zhao's intention and spoke directly to Ouyang Chun.

  Ouyang Chun heard her say so, hesitated for a moment and then swallowed the medicine.

  "Let go of my junior brother."

  Lu Xiaofeng's knife fell, cutting off another leg of Sha Qianli.

  "You——"

  "You've returned the person, but you've robbed me twice. This is a great humiliation for me. I have always had a narrow temper, how can this be? If we don't cripple one of you, the situation will still be unfavorable to us."

  The nine-tailed fox carried its junior brother on its back and cast a resentful glance at Lu Xiaofeng before leaving.

  "What does she mean?"

  Zhan Zhao said: "Why did you provoke her so much?"

  Lu Xiaofeng glared, "This is the most secure method. If we don't cripple one of them, they'll turn against us when the time comes. With our current injuries and weaknesses, we're no match for them. If I hadn't caught Sand Thousand Miles off guard, I wouldn't have been able to capture him either." If she hadn't given people a weak impression earlier, making them not take precautions, who knows what would happen now?

  Zhan Zhao fell silent, he also knew what she said was true, but...

  Ouyang Chun didn't say anything, this girl's ability to make decisions was beyond ordinary people.