Chapter 50 — The Mystic Fire Mirror

Looking closely, it was the young woman in the water-green dress who had stood by all this while—at some point she had cut off her retreat. The blossoms filled the sky like snow, and now they slowly gathered, swirling to her side, and in the cold, clear moonlight slowly condensed into one lovely little flower, held between her beautiful fingers.

Behind her, footsteps sounded. She turned and saw Zhang Qingyue and Shi Tou had already come up, forming a pincer and enclosing her in the middle.

The lesser demons from before had all vanished without a trace, and she alone remained, standing silently amid this ring of humans, seeming a little forlorn.

She parted her lips slightly, as if with some regret, but said nothing. Even at this moment, her soft, alluring face still held a peerless gentleness and beauty, not diminished in the least.

She looked at Bili, then at Shi Tou, but at last her gaze—that gentle, water-like gaze—still fell upon Zhang Qingyue's face.

Zhang Qingyue stood on guard, every sense alert.

Yet she stirred not at all, only asked again, soft and gentle, "Young man, back there in the well, what did you truly see? Won't you tell me?"

Everyone was taken aback. None had imagined what this demon creature could possibly want, that she should show such interest in whatever Zhang Qingyue had seen or glimpsed in the well. Before Zhang Qingyue could speak, Shi Tou was already shouting from the side, "Brother Zhang, don't fall for her tricks!"

Zhang Qingyue nodded in assent and kept his silence. His right hand lifted, and he made as if to charge forward.

The three-tailed demon fox watched him, and of a sudden gave a soft sigh.

A sudden haze of bewilderment came over Zhang Qingyue's heart.

Moonlight, like water, shone gently down.

The woman lowered her head and gazed at her own shadow, her fine lashes veiling her soft, alluring eyes.

Those watery glances rippled and brimmed.

Then she raised her head, reached a hand into her bosom, and slowly drew something out.

All eyes fixed upon it.

It was an object half the size of a palm, round in shape, its outer edge a ring of jade of emerald green, so fresh and vivid it seemed about to drip, clearly no ordinary thing at a glance; and set in the center of the jade ring was a small, thin, crimson sliver that was like a mirror and yet not one, carved with an archaic flame totem.

The jade ring took up most of the whole object, and on either side of the ring hung a red silken tassel, fastened to the ring.

Zhou Yixuan was dumbstruck, truly and utterly dumbstruck. Xiaowan could tell that her grandfather had never in his life been like this, motionless as a block of wood.

A little frightened, she stealthily tugged at Zhou Yixuan's sleeve and said, "Grandfather, what's the matter with you?"

"How can this be, how can this be?" Zhou Yixuan stared blankly at the scene, his eyes fixed on that strange magic treasure in the three-tailed demon fox's hand, and his voice seemed to come out in a groan. "This is plainly the crowning treasure of the Fenzia Valley, the Mystic Fire Mirror! That treasure is the most yang and most rigid thing in the world, and for a thousand years it has been the Fenzia Valley line's supreme weapon for subduing demons and vanquishing fiends. How—how could it be in this demon fox's hands?"

Xiaowan was startled, and could not help stealing several more glances at the Mystic Fire Mirror. "Is that treasure really so formidable?"

Zhou Yixuan suddenly let out a long breath and muttered, "The world has truly changed. The disciples of the orthodox sects carry objects of evil omen that reek of baleful air; while in the demon creature's hand is a supreme divine artifact!"

"Hah, and here I thought you were sighing over something profound!" Xiaowan snorted in contempt.

Zhou Yixuan said angrily, "What did you say?"

Xiaowan said, "Such moldy old talk, and you can say it without even blushing. What era are we living in, and you're still fretting over the old divide between the orthodox and the heterodox!"

Zhou Yixuan was struck speechless, and for a time could find no words.