DIZION 7 The Tigerfox From Gaodi Hill

Eight years ago, back when Mu Feng wasn't enthroned yet at fifteen years old, she would wander around her country, the DongTian Kingdom that ruled the east. At first, it was so she could learn the lives of her future people; but it turned out to be a journey full of helping random people, meeting fellows of different characters, crossing the borders, offending officials, fighting ghosts and evils, and fortuitous discoveries of other kingdoms' ghastly secrets.

Mu Gongzhu had usually stayed in the Royal Palace when growing up or come along with her father when he went to fulfill his duties. Oftentimes, if she's away, she'd be at Mt. ZhuXintai to study under their kingdom's greatest and oldest sect- Yi Sect. The youths whom she studied with and haven't talked to saw her as an unapproachable person. She's often trained seriously, moved in a dignified demeanor, and most importantly, they were all intimidated by her peerless beauty. As a matter of fact, it kind of made her feel awful. She grew up with no friends, and therefore, poured her heart into cultivation instead. The only ones by her side were her father, her right hand Cheng Qiu whom she grew up with, and the phoenix she tamed when she was ten.

On her fifteenth birthday, the king gave her permission to roam around the kingdom along with Cheng Qiu. It had been two months, and she seemed to have no plan to stop. This start of spring, her destination was to the south, to the village known for their luscious fruits and plentiful fresh crops.

In Gaodi Hill, villagers lived quite a peaceful life away from Golden Capital full of aristocrats, away from the oppression of rich people. This highland was located near the border across the JingHai Kingdom in the south. Precisely, it was because of that, that n.o.body could distinguish if a monarch or an influential person came into the village.

When Mu Feng and Cheng Qiu arrived, few people had witnessed them slay a ghost on the lakeside. Because of this, they've been called the Daoist couple by the villagers. And they've been asked to solve supernatural occurrences ever since.

The day had reached twilight, they arrived at the central vicinity of Gaodi Hill Village. Strange atmosphere has enveloped the whole rural area as soon as the sun began to set. When they were roaming in daylight, people were lively and seemed to be living a carefree life. But now, they were all in a rush to close the establishments, markets, and their own houses. As if a monster comes out every night to hunt humans who linger late on the outside.

Standing in the middle of the street, one red-clad young woman and one black-clad young man with their robes fluttering against the wind caught the attention of an old man pa.s.sing by.

"Young Daos.h.i.+, Young Daos.h.i.+!"

Mu Feng spared him a glance, "What is it?"

The old man was full of hopes, "Young Daos.h.i.+, are you here to slay the Human-slaying TigerFox?"

Her eyes sparkled in excitement, Another demon-slaying task!!

But Mu Feng didn't know what he's referring to. They've slain quiet a few ghosts on some parts of the area, but they hadn't come across something like a tigerfox.

"Human-slaying TigerFox?"

The old man frowned, "Didn't you come here to slay the TigerFox and save us from fiends? Aren't you Daoist priests?"

Cheng Qiu was annoyed by the tone of the old man's voice. He gripped his collar and demanded, "ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF US? TIGER? FOX? …. TIGERFOX? WHAT THE EFFING HECK IS THAT? JUST TELL US WHAT IT DOES!!"

With such menacing eyes that can make anyone's soul escape their body and a voice so cold that it can freeze an entire ocean, the old man was petrified. He stutteringly responded, "Uh... The TigerFox... We weren't sure what it did.."

Mu Feng slapped her brow in disappointment. Old man, how can you be so a.s.sertive and timid at the same time?

It vexed Cheng Qiu even more. He raised his left eyebrow, "How are you so sure it was a fiend?"

The old man lowered his head, "Some people saw it wandering in the middle of the night covered in blood. They thought it devoured a human… We're just trying to be safe.."

Mu Feng crossed her arms and spoke in an investigative tone, "If it was covered in blood, then it wasn't the one to be harming anyone. More like, it was harmed by something else… "

As they talked, the sun had already set. A cold breeze brushed against their skin, moon bright enough for them to see their own shadows, not a single human could be seen around except for the three of them. An indiscernible white figure came advancing towards their spot. Its silhouette gets clearer as it comes closer, it was the blood-bathed cub.

It was a bloodied white cub with black stripes on its thick fur, snowy-white seven tails and fox ears. Mu Feng knew it. It was a hybrid of tiger and fox. It didn't even look aggressive, nor hostile. n.o.body among them had his guard up because it wasn't emitting a killing intent in the first place. The more Mu Feng looked at it, the more certain she becomes that it was the one awfully beaten to a pulp. Meanwhile, the old man was scared out of its wits hiding behind the two. "Daos.h.i.+, young Daos.h.i.+… That, that is the TigerFox. Quick, quick, kill it. Or we'll be dead!!!"

Mu Feng glanced at him scornfully, "Don't panic, it's not going to hurt us."

The three waited until the beast reached them. When it was finally in front of her, Cheng Qiu tried to seize it, but it dodged quickly. As if it used its last remaining strength to avoid him. Mu Feng grinned, "Cheng-ge, be a little tender. Now, it doesn't like you anymore."

She walked closer to the cub. As their eyes met, she gazed at it gently, she crouched down and patted its head. The two behind her were dumbfounded. The old man still couldn't discern what she's about to do, "Young Daos.h.i.+, what are you doing?!!!!! "

Cheng Qiu exclaimed, "It's going to bite you!"

Mu Feng stroked its head to its back and turned to the astonished ones behind her, "It said it didn't kill anyone."

Cheng Qiu, "Your High… Ah-Feng, it said something? You can understand it?"

Mu Feng nodded, "My father and laos.h.i.+ used to make me tame little beasts before. Right now it's cultivation is low, so it was having a hard time healing itself."

She took out a piece of white cloth and wrapped it around the cub's body then placed her palm on its back and started pa.s.sing spiritual powers into it.

The old man got inquisitive, "Young Daos.h.i.+, what are you planning to do with that?"

Mu Feng took the beast and held it in her arms, "I'm taking it."

Cheng Qiu extended his arms, "Ah-Feng, I'm gonna hold it for you."

Mu Feng waved her hand, "It's alright Cheng-ge. You haven't tamed a beast before, have you?"

Cheng Qiu took a step back, " I haven't."