Staring at the old woman before me, my face was filled with shock and disbelief.
I hadn't expected to see the Fox Matriarch again, not here.
Hearing her speak with a smile,
I responded with equal surprise,
"Grandmother Fox..."
The Fox Matriarch cast a glance at me.
Her fox-like eyes seemed to see right through me.
Yet, I could not see through her.
In fact, I couldn't sense even a shred of demonic energy from her.
The Fox Matriarch smiled and said,
"Heh heh, young man!
In just a few months, you've cultivated such profound Taoist abilities.
Congratulations!"
Upon hearing the Fox Matriarch speak, I hastily cupped my hands and said,
"It's all thanks to the fox paw you gave me back then. Otherwise, I might not have even made it out of the ghost temple that night!"
Lao Mo, standing behind me, was utterly astonished to see me conversing with the Fox Matriarch.
He knew a thing or two about the fox paw on my person.
I had also told him that it was a gift from a highly cultivated fox spirit in the mountains.
At this moment, Lao Mo looked at the Fox Matriarch with great surprise.
Simultaneously, he relaxed his guard.
The Fox Matriarch waved her hand after listening to me,
"No, it was you who helped me, Grandmother.
If you hadn't bestowed a title upon me.
My cultivation would not have been able to break through!
I never expected we would meet here.
However, this place is not peaceful.
A nine-lived corpse cat has escaped here.
You should leave quickly!"
The Fox Matriarch said with a smile.
But upon hearing the words "nine-lived corpse cat," both Lao Mo and I exchanged glances and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Grandmother Fox, to be honest, the cat demon that was here has already been killed. The rotten flesh around here belongs to it."
I said calmly.
But as soon as I finished speaking,
The Fox Matriarch and the white fox beside her both showed surprise.
They simultaneously looked at the surrounding corpses and rotten flesh.
The white fox even ran to the nearby rotten flesh and sniffed it.
Finally, it let out a few soft cries to the Fox Matriarch.
The Fox Matriarch responded with an "Mm," and nodded,
"Understood!"
Then, she looked at me again and said,
"Young man, did the two of you kill that corpse cat?"
Both Lao Mo and I shook our heads.
At the same time, I replied,
"No, it was a friend of mine who killed it."
Upon hearing me mention a friend, the Fox Matriarch sniffed the air with her nose.
Finally, she spoke with a half-smile,
"Your friend, was it Qing Feng who
always followed you that night?"
Facing such an ancient mountain immortal, I had nothing to hide.
Moreover, when the Fox Matriarch had sought a title from me previously,
Qing Dai's reminder had echoed in my ears.
It was likely normal that the Fox Matriarch knew of Qing Dai's existence.
I didn't answer verbally but simply nodded.
Seeing me nod, the Fox Matriarch
also let out an "Mm," and chuckled,
"Young man, you've helped me once again!
This nine-lived corpse cat possesses nine lives.
It holds a deep enmity towards me.
I have already killed it seven times, and this was the eighth.
One more kill, and it will be finished."
Hearing this, both Lao Mo and I felt a jolt.
I instinctively blurted out,
"This cat demon has nine lives and is still alive?"
The Fox Matriarch, seeing my astonished expression, nodded slightly,
"Otherwise, why would it be called a nine-lived corpse cat?
This demonic cat practices the evil arts of the corpse method and delves into the path of the deceased.
It has injured countless of my kin in the mountains and cultivated nine lives.
I had wounded it long ago, and it fled here.
I didn't expect you, kid, to run into it and deprive it of its eighth life.
This is perfect, I don't have to bother anymore.
I can return to my mountain dwelling first.
And when there are any further clues about that corpse cat, I will come out of the mountain to destroy it!"
Hearing this, I finally understood
how fortunate Lao Mo and I were.
It turned out the cat demon we encountered was severely injured and had fled here.
Our meeting it was indeed a blessing in disguise.
To cultivate nine lives was enough to show the cat demon's power.
If it had been at its peak, I might not have even had a chance to act before meeting my end.
A lingering fear, a narrow escape from death.
At the same time, my understanding of the Fox Matriarch deepened.
Being hailed as the matriarch of the fox tribe was truly not an exaggeration.
Upon emerging from the mountain, she was accompanied by hundreds of foxes...
But besides the corpse cat, I suddenly recalled something else.
So, I quickly spoke,
"Oh, Grandmother Fox, do you know a weasel named Huang Jiu Niang?"
The Fox Matriarch, hearing my sudden question, frowned slightly and looked at me,
"You know Huang Jiu Niang?"
"I do. I killed her a few days ago. Her soul was also destroyed by me.
But I heard her say that she seemed to know you.
And that she had a feud with you..."
I spoke truthfully, wanting to find out more about Huang Jiu Niang's background from the Fox Matriarch.
After all, weasels hold grudges for generations.
Before Huang Jiu Niang died, she mentioned having eight elder siblings.
I presumed they were all ill-natured.
Since I had offended one,
I didn't mind catching them all.
By ascertaining their background,
If I were to encounter them in the future, I would be prepared...
However, after hearing my words, the Fox Matriarch seemed surprised again.
She looked at me with great astonishment,
"You kid, you actually eliminated Huang Jiu Niang?"
I nodded,
"Yes! She caused trouble in our village, killing several villagers.
She even demanded that our village provide living people to serve as a son-in-law for her daughter.
When I saw this, I went to her逍遥楼 (Xiaoyao Lou).
And killed her entire family..."
Hearing this, the Fox Matriarch took a deep breath,
"Good boy, I didn't expect our fate to still be intertwined.
Upon meeting again, you've already helped me with two major favors.
This Huang Jiu Niang is the ninth daughter of the Huang family of Bashan.
Above her are two elder sisters and three elder brothers.
This family specializes in harming people and stealing souls.
From top to bottom, they have harmed countless individuals.
And they have caused the demise of hundreds of fox spirits from my Hu family.
I have been searching for their whereabouts all along.
To think that Huang Jiu Niang fell into your hands.
Fate!"
The Fox Matriarch looked very pleased, her eyes narrowing into slits.
I gave an awkward smile.
But the Fox Matriarch continued to speak to me, gripping her walking stick,
"Hahaha!
You kid, you've helped me immensely, one after another.
Last time I gave you a fox paw.
This time, I'll give you two, one floral-and-herb pill for each of you!"