Chapter 431: 406 Hobbies

Unknowingly, the night passed quietly.

This night was a night of chaos, and also a night of cold detachment.

Speaking of chaos, the seven people were divided into four groups, and all four directions of this mountain peak were in battle; various Fierce Beasts were chased and scurried about everywhere. After one night passed, who knows how many Fierce Beasts and even ordinary wild animals on the mountain had been killed.

Speaking of cold detachment, these battles were separated by a great distance, and there was no communication among the group. So much so that the participants of the battles, apart from themselves, did not know how the others were faring.

Was the battle situation chaotic, and was there anyone fishing in troubled waters?

The next morning, on the hillside agreed upon for the gathering, people slowly began to wait.

The first to arrive at the meeting point were two people; one was a petite woman with large eyes, and beside her was a youth dressed in colorful clothes like a peacock.

The two were in good condition when they arrived, not looking like they had spent a tiring night, and stood side by side by a large rock, scanning the various paths coming and going.

"You say—will everyone be able to come today?"

Xu Siyao peered around to see no one was there and spoke first to ask. Although her tone was steady, there was more or less a sense of anticipation in it.

Yu Sichen went "Ah?" and said, "What? Why wouldn't everyone come?"

Seeing that he was a bit distracted, Xu Siyao reminded him, "I mean, with the situation last night, pitch black and no one could see anyone, it was the most suitable for making a move... If someone made a move, regardless of whether it succeeded or not, wouldn't it mean not everyone would come?"

Yu Sichen realized, and immediately added, "That shouldn't happen."

Regardless of Xu Siyao's disappointment, he took the initiative to explain, "First, we haven't seen the Xiancheng yet, so Young Master Meng is the most useful; no one would make a move against him. There is no logic in tearing down the bridge before crossing the river. Second, Black Widow will not separate from her helper no matter what. As long as they are cautious enough, they are both safe."

Xu Siyao remembered Tang Zhao's skills and nodded, saying, "Ordinary people can't touch that man surnamed Tang, but what if that Sword Guest Shangguan makes a move? Although they have no grudges, Meng Huazhou could beg him to act."

Yu Sichen lowered his voice and said, "I don't know if you noticed, but that Sword Guest and Young Master Meng... are not particularly close. I always feel he wouldn't act for Young Master Meng."

Xu Siyao nodded, then shook her head. She had also seen it long ago; that Sword Guest Shangguan said nothing and drifted outside the team. It did indeed seem like he was not familiar with Meng Huazhou, but being unfamiliar did not mean he wouldn't act. It might even be because they were unfamiliar that he would accept Meng Huazhou's employment to help him clear obstacles in exchange for the opportunity to board the Xiancheng.

But she was also unsure and could only say she hoped so. She couldn't say the hope out loud, otherwise, it would only invite trouble, so she said, "What about Yue Lai?"

Yu Sichen said, "Yue Lai? He won't have any trouble either."

Because Meng Huazhou didn't contact me.

Yu Sichen said in his heart.

Just as Xu Siyao was about to press further, she saw a thin, long shadow walk over; it was indeed Yue Lai.

He was indeed fine, just looking very exhausted, the sword in his hand hanging obliquely as if dragging a tail.

This was also understandable; he was alone and could not rest all night, having to be on guard at all times. Of course, he could not have the leisure of two people taking turns resting.

Yue Lai did not greet Xu Siyao, but sat directly opposite them, leaning against a large rock to close his eyes and rest his mind.

This was the first time Xu Siyao had seen him so listless; presumably, he hadn't slept all night?

Did he also know he was in danger?

After a while, another lonely figure walked over; it was Meng Huazhou. He looked spirited, as if he hadn't fought last night but had instead had a great sleep.

Now... except for the elusive Sword Guest Shangguan, whom no one could control, only two people were left to arrive.

After waiting a while longer, two people came from afar: a beautiful woman in white and a plain-looking youth. They were the last two missing, Black Widow and Tang Zhao. Both of them were also physically sound, missing no arms or legs.

Xu Siyao sighed silently—everyone really did arrive. It was a pity that with such a good opportunity last night, not a single person had disappeared.

Meng Huazhou said with a kind expression, "Senior Sister Yin, you are late."

Black Widow was also in very good spirits and said, "Oh, it's my fault, I got up late. I was tired from traveling yesterday, so I found a place to sleep. It was Little Tang who kept watch. He was afraid I would be tired and didn't take the initiative to wake me up. I slept until the sun was high; I ask everyone to forgive me." After speaking, she gave a graceful bow.

Meng Huazhou said, "It's no matter. It is best that Senior Sister had the fortune to rest. Thank you for your hard work, Brother Little Tang."

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "That's nothing." As he spoke, he pressed his shoulder, seemingly rubbing his own shoulder, and asked, "Can I speak?"

Meng Huazhou was startled and said, "Speak about what?"

At this time, the snow-white fox that had been lying on Tang Zhao's shoulder spoke up: "I can speak, they can't hear me. You just talk less."

Tang Zhao scanned the crowd, only to see that not one of them looked at his shoulder, and no one was surprised that he had returned after a night with such a large white fox lying on his shoulder.

And when the white fox spoke in public, not a single person was surprised that a fox could make human sounds.

So they really couldn't see or hear it?

A bit magical.

But thinking about it carefully, it wasn't that magical.

At least Tang Zhao didn't think it was that magical; he was someone who had worn Glasses.

Besides the Glasses that made everyone turn a blind eye, at least he had encountered that "Disappearance" Sword back then which had such a function.

However, the world of swords is the most wondrous; although the effects are similar, the essence of the Sword Technique seems to have some differences.

Tang Zhao didn't know why the Glasses couldn't be seen, but the Sword Intent of the Disappearance Sword was "Neglect."

The fox's disappearance seems to be related to "deception" and "hiding."

The two are not without commonalities, but the fox's hiding can be artificially undone.

It seems... if someone suspected that Tang Zhao had a fox on his shoulder, and firmly believed so, they could really see this fox.

But if not prompted, no one would suspect there was a fox for no reason, just as no one would suspect there was a duck on their head for no reason. So its hiding is almost perfect.

Tang Zhao's hand, resting on his shoulder, could still touch the smooth fox fur. He smiled at Meng Huazhou and said, "Please speak. You gathered us here; surely you have something to say?"

Meng Huazhou did not doubt him and said, "We must wait a moment. Senior Shangguan has not arrived yet."

Tang Zhao went with the flow and stopped explaining, sitting aside with Black Widow.

Just after sitting down, the white fox asked impatiently, "Who is that young man opposite? He looks quite delicate; I like him."

Tang Zhao took a look and felt she might be referring to Yue Lai, but since everyone was looking at him, he couldn't just recite Yue Lai's resume out of thin air. Just as he was thinking about how to hide his words, he heard the white fox say, "His temperament is so gloomy, his killing intent is too heavy, and his heart is not pure. Sigh, not the type I like."

Huh? Not liking him anymore?

Is the liking so short-lived?

The white fox added, "Your companion is better. It's a pity she is also very vicious... but she is truly a great beauty. It doesn't matter if a beauty has some flaws."

Tang Zhao was speechless—just purely looking at faces?

The white fox suddenly sighed, "If only you looked like that person opposite, or at least looked like him, otherwise I can't like you. It's a pity your talent and temperament are both very good. But I like beauties. It would be best if a beauty were beautiful both inside and out. It's a pity there isn't that much perfection in the world—except for my Highness, there is no such perfection."

Tang Zhao took another look at Yue Lai; it wasn't that he was narcissistic—compared to his own true appearance, could Yue Lai really be called good-looking?

However, he had no need to prove anything to a chatterbox fox he had never met before; who cared if it liked him or not?

In any case, he couldn't speak freely, so he would just let it talk.

Tang Zhao had originally thought that if he didn't respond, the white fox would shut up. But the white fox had likely been unable to communicate with people for over a hundred years, had an extremely strong desire to express itself, and was accustomed to monologuing; it continued to ramble on, starting by commenting on the appearances of everyone present, then moving on to discuss the merits and flaws of beauties it had encountered in West Mountain City, then talking about its own journey of searching and countless regrets over the years, and finally saying that its hundred years were like drawing water with a bamboo basket, ending up with nothing.

Tang Zhao roughly sorted out the white fox's experiences over the past hundred-plus years: aside from trying every possible way to find the road back and erasing the memories of those who had heard the song, it was just searching for beauties that caught its eye.

There were, after all, many beauties in this world, and the white fox had found many over these hundred-plus years. However, every time it looked at those beauties from afar with anticipation, it would quickly perceive various flaws in their appearances and inner selves, and they would rapidly lose their charm. Before their beauty could fade, its "love would wane," and it would walk away disappointed.

The more beautiful a person was, the more it could ignore their flaws and the longer it could persist, but there was always a limit to its tolerance, and in the end, it would always turn and leave.

Repeating this cycle many times, the white fox could already see through a person's character hidden beneath their skin at a glance; some beauties of only ordinary levels could not stay in its heart for even a moment, just like that Yue Lai from before, who was seen through at a single glance.

It sighed incessantly that Hongchen had polluted the hearts of beauties, and there was no longer any pure beauty; nothing in the Human World could be kept, and it only wanted to return to the Xiancheng.

Hmm...

What could Tang Zhao say? Pursuing perfection was inherently unrealistic, not to mention that it was such a strong appearance-obsessed person; narrowing the selection range to an extremely narrow scope made it normal not to find a flawless person. If one could not accept flaws, it would only increase one's suffering.

If it were an ordinary person, following and stalking beauties everywhere, it would at least be labeled a "pervert." But it was a Sword Hero; encountering beauties, it only watched from afar, and no matter how disappointed it was, it only walked away quietly, which could actually be considered self-restraint. Tang Zhao couldn't blame it for being too focused on looks; interests and hobbies were a personal matter.

That said, why hasn't that Sword Guest come yet?

Just as the white fox was recounting its hundred-year experience, suddenly, movement came from afar.

A massive white object rose from a nearby mountain hollow, flew over the mountain peak, and flew bit by bit toward the blue void above.

That streak of white seemed like a Great Ship setting sail, or like a giant whale surfacing from the sea, but it most resembled a large white cloud that had fallen to the ground and was returning to the sky.

The few people present were all caught off guard, only focused on following the rising white cloud with their eyes, except for Meng Huazhou, who jumped up, pale with shock:

"Not good, he... how did he find it?"