Chapter 430: 405 Doubt

Tang Zhao's heart stirred. He scrutinized the white fox and asked, "Return—to Baiyujing?"

The white fox nodded. Her voice, having softened, was quite pleasant; it was slightly deep for a woman, but unexpectedly possessed an ethereal charm: "Yes, I escaped from Baiyujing and have been drifting outside for many years. Now, I am going back."

Tang Zhao mused, "Could it be that you escaped during that catastrophe? That was over a hundred years ago."

To be precise, two sixty-year cycles—one hundred and twenty years.

Enough for two lifetimes from birth to death, or six generations growing up.

However, for a Sword Hero, a hundred-plus years is merely a portion of a life, perhaps half a lifetime.

That is, provided what she said is true.

The white fox's gaze turned distant. "That's right, over a hundred years. You know quite a lot. Did you hear it from that nonsensical song, or did that arrogant brat tell you?"

The arrogant brat was Meng Huazhou, and the nonsensical String Song was naturally the "Cloud Song" left behind by the Xu family. Tang Zhao said, "I have heard the song, but the precise timing was told to me by Meng Huazhou. Is that song truly nonsense? I think it feels quite real. Did that Xu Congsheng not ascend to the Xiancheng? Is it entirely fabricated?"

The white fox glared in anger: "It is precisely because he ascended that he could fabricate such outrageous things! Bah, disgusting! That wild boy was lucky enough to enter the Xiancheng. Her Highness treated him with such grace, and we were so friendly toward him, yet he knew no gratitude. He was full of crooked thoughts and evil intentions. What did he take Her Highness for? It was a waste of his face! At such a critical moment, Her Highness even went out of her way to send him out, yet he actually turned that experience into a story to tell everyone. At first, it was somewhat truthful, describing only the scenery and the people, but later he added oil and vinegar, becoming more and more untethered from reality. He actually wrote Her Highness's chance encounter as an act of active favor, and even claimed we all admired him, throwing ourselves at him one by one... Bah! He should look in a mirror; is he worthy?"

Tang Zhao shook his head inwardly. It turned out that not only did Meng Yun dream, but Xu Congsheng had dreamed long before him—and a lewd dream at that. No wonder his story couldn't bear close scrutiny; it was full of cliché, melodramatic romance. Toward the end, it did indeed have the makings of being surrounded by beauties and held in high esteem, though to highlight the protagonist as a righteous man of feeling, he hadn't fully embraced them all. He thought again: hearing her speak of that Highness with such respect, could it be that Her Highness is a Sword Guest of the Ruyi Sword?

Is the Cloud Sword's formal name the Ruyi Sword?

Hmm... not a very elegant name.

However, Tang Zhao had no need to rush to verify this with the white fox; as soon as he stepped into that Xiancheng, the Sword Manual would tell him.

He merely asked out of curiosity: "You are a Sword Hero, and he was a mere Mortal. If you disliked his nonsense, why didn't you stop him directly?"

Saying "stop" was putting it lightly; for a Sword Hero, making an ordinary person shut up forever was very easy.

The white fox said: "How do you know I didn't stop him? It's just that Her Highness said not to harm him. Sigh, Her Highness did not know how he was spouting nonsense after he left, but since Her Highness had spoken, I could not move against him. But his song was never to be spread to anyone; the audience couldn't remember it after hearing it, let alone let it spread further. Only he passed it to his own descendants, which I could not interfere with. It was passed down through a single line for over a hundred years, and finally, it was lost."

Tang Zhao realized. No wonder this set of songs was generally considered above average; despite the melodrama, it had many clever ideas compared to some vulgar plots. Yet, it never spread. If Lao Xiazi hadn't accidentally inherited it, the song would truly have been lost. It turned out the white fox had been meddling.

But what did "couldn't remember it after hearing it" mean? Was it the white fox's Sword Art? Something that makes people forget the stories they hear?

Yet... not everyone forgot, did they?

At least the Meng family ancestor, Meng Yun, hadn't forgotten. Not only did he not forget, but he even created a sequel and published a book! And there were quite a few readers, too; Black Widow was one of them.

It was evident that the white fox's Sword Art likely had loopholes.

The white fox seemed unaware of the existence of novels. Not wanting to dwell on it further, it said: "That is all in the past. I do not wish to stay in the Human World anymore. There are no good people here. I want to go back. You take me back."

Tang Zhao countered: "Since it is your home and you came down from there, and you are a high-level Sword Hero, why must you have me take you back?"

The white fox sighed and said: "When Her Highness let me down, she never intended for me to return. She was afraid I would return to my death. I have some restrictions on me and cannot return by my own power. At that time, Baiyujing was indeed dangerous. I knew Her Highness's good intentions and stayed here as she wished."

Tang Zhao pressed: "Then is it not a dead end now?"

The white fox pondered for a moment and said frankly: "I do not know. But I want to go back. If I think of the best, so many years have passed, and the most dangerous time has long gone; it should be better now. If I think of the worst, perhaps it is still a death trap. But if I can sleep on the clouds of my hometown, I will be content even if I die."

Tang Zhao exclaimed: "Aren't you afraid I'll back out if you say that?"

The white fox sneered: "Would you? If you people sought stability, why would you chase a story from over a hundred years ago into the deep mountains? It is nothing more than 'seeking wealth in danger.' Even if I drove you away, you wouldn't leave, so how could you be scared off by a few words? Perhaps the more dangerous I say it is, the more you want to go up and see."

Its eyes turned slightly, and it said: "However, to show my sincerity, if you take me up, I will not only show you the way but also give you a gift I have treasured for many years. If you have any requests in Baiyujing, I can also guide you, provided they are not excessive."

Tang Zhao said simply: "Fine."

The white fox was taken aback: "You agreed? You are quite straightforward. You haven't even heard what the gift is. Aren't you going to haggle over the price?"

Tang Zhao said: "Why wouldn't I agree? It's just a small effort; it doesn't matter if there is a gift or not. Meng Huazhou also said he would take me up. You also promised to take me up. What's wrong with having an extra guide?"

In any case, he didn't trust either of them. Meng Huazhou was openly trying to harm them, and as for the white fox... appearing halfway with such certainty, every move was full of suspicion. He had to be on guard against it as well. Words could be spoken freely; it was all about what was actually done.

Even if it were a sword from the Sword Manual, that wouldn't prove its stance; the Sword Manual didn't care about good or evil.

The white fox said disdainfully: "That arrogant brat? What qualifications does he have to lead the way? And what qualifications does he have to make a Sword Guest like you help him? I don't think you are his subordinate; did he bribe you? Does he think he is the next Master of the Xiancheng and has already started promising benefits? In reality, every blade of grass and every tree in the Xiancheng has an owner; his promises are worth nothing."

Tang Zhao hadn't believed Meng Huazhou either, thinking: He makes wild promises, but can your promises be taken as truth?

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered something and probed slightly: "He promised me that once I reach the Xiancheng, he would let my Sword Heart advance further, and I would soon become a Sword Hero."

The white fox said casually: "He knows quite a lot. He even knows about Zizai Tower."

Tang Zhao was shocked to hear this: Does such a miraculous place really exist?

On the Xiancheng, there is actually a magical place that can help cultivate the Sword Heart?!

This... this is not Sword Law!

Tang Zhao had originally only wanted to help Black Widow. Although he was sincere, he had left himself a way out, so he hadn't felt nervous. If he could get the sword, great; if the situation turned bad, he would just take Black Widow and leave. The sword could always be found later; everyone's safety was the most important thing.

Now, various characters were appearing one after another—Sword Guests of unknown origin and Sword Heroes who had appeared out of nowhere. His mindset had been primarily to fight and think, and to retreat if things didn't work out. But hearing the white fox confirm the legend of the Sword Heart in such a nonchalant tone, a surge of excitement welled up in Tang Zhao's heart.

It really felt like "seeking wealth in danger"!

Just the prospect of promoting Sword Heart cultivation was enough to make Sword Guests from all over the world flock there, not to mention that, according to the white fox, cultivating the Sword Heart seemed to be only a part of it.

The Xiancheng is truly "immortal."

The white fox continued: "The place exists, but he is not qualified to promise it. He uses other people's things to draw a pie; does he think we are all dead? I can also speak plainly: Zizai Tower was useful before, but it should be unusable now. The situation in the Xiancheng is unclear, and Her Highness's situation is also unclear. If you can awaken Her Highness and the Xiancheng, the merit will be immense. Not just Zizai Tower, you can enter and use any of the Shier Lou Wucheng. I can even recommend you to attach yourself to my Highness, becoming a member under her seat, and rank alongside me."

Tang Zhao gave a dry laugh. He didn't really need that.

Although he wasn't sure of the specific meaning of "attach," he could guess it was nothing more than acknowledging a boss. He could accept having a boss at most, but he didn't need a "Master."

The white fox saw his perfunctory attitude and was slightly displeased, but it didn't mention it again. It said: "I am not like that kind of person who only draws pies without delivering. I have something to give you now. Go in through that door." It pointed with its claw.

Tang Zhao looked where its claw pointed, but only saw the bare stone wall of the cave.

"Where is the door here?"

The white fox said firmly: "It is there. Look carefully; there is a door on the wall."

Tang Zhao stared at the stone wall, eyes wide, trying to distinguish if there really was a door, or if it was just hard to see because the colors were similar. He looked for a long time.

Seeing that he still couldn't see it, the white fox jumped up onto his shoulder and whispered in his ear: "It is indeed there. Look again, there, right there."

With it reminding him again and again, Tang Zhao grew suspicious, thinking: Could there really be a door?

As soon as he felt that doubt, a door appeared on the stone wall before his eyes.

"Huh? There really is a door?"

Moreover, this was not a stone door integrated with the rock, but a proper wooden door. Its color and texture were completely different from the stone wall; he should have seen it the moment he opened his eyes. Yet, he had only just seen it now.

"Could it be an illusion?"

Tang Zhao himself also played with illusions; he could achieve the effect from just a moment ago, which was merely peeling away a layer of light screen, but he always felt the key to this illusion was different from his own.

His illusions were tricks of light; whether they were hidden or revealed was entirely in his own hands, but Tang Zhao vaguely felt this illusion was related to his own perception. The white fox only kept reminding him that there was a door there.

It seemed that only if he believed there was a door there would the door appear.

"This door wouldn't just be something I imagined, would it?" Tang Zhao remained cautious and reached out to touch the door.

The white fox jumped down to the ground and said, "The door has always been there; it is just that you could not see it. Because you did not want to see it." It pushed the door open first and slipped inside.

Seeing this fox enter the door without any obstacles, Tang Zhao felt slightly more at ease and followed it inside.

As soon as he entered the door, he felt a whiteness before his eyes; inside was a small room, with a snowy white expanse right in the center.

"Another fox?"

In the center of the Inner cave was, startlingly, another white fox, with a slender body, a fluffy tail, and fur as snowy white as clouds in the sky; it was eighty percent like a fox and twenty percent like a white dog...

A white dog?

Tang Zhao was puzzled, and when he looked closely, he immediately realized that the white fox was motionless; although it was indeed lifelike, with every single hair appearing real, it was just a statue. He could not tell what material it was made of.

"Could this be..."

Tang Zhao looked at the white fox; was the thing hidden in such a concealed place actually his own statue?

The white fox came to the side of the white fox statue, and the two instantly seemed to overlap, only the statue was a circle larger, "This is the shell His Highness sent me down with. It is also your ladder to the heavens."