2

  Alive, Once More

  In this world, in all the Three Realms and Four Seas, there is none more ruthless, cunning, cut-throat, shameless and evil then Gu Mingyu, and in the end, anyone came across him would pray to the heavens they have the skills to fight him off or run with their life intact.

  “Gu Mingyu! You dare to cripple my Shixiong2, I, Wuyong3, shall make sure you become nothing more than a useless piece of trash and shatter your core in revenge!”

  Gu Mingyu had been confused as to why this battle seemed to be familiar, and how he was capable of seeing, let alone feeling everything around him. And with much instinct, he dodged the sword strike and in doing so caused Wuyong to end up crashing right into the bamboo and slowly sliding to the ground before landing onto the floor and collapsing backwards.

  “Ershixiong4 has been defeated! Run for your life!”

  And now that he thought about it, it seemed like he was alive again. Did this what Zhao Yuwen meant when he said he was going to fix everything? Sending him back to live a third life and yet—

  “Zhuren5, I don’t think it’s a wise idea of going to Yinghua6 City.” A voice said, “The City Lord of Yinghua City is known for being ruthless and without a single hint of mercy. And you wish to dare ask for medicine from her personal collection? I can only assume she might try and kill us without mercy.”

  “Oh.” Such a cold tone spoke in response, “Such a ruthless and feared person even makes you, Zhong Quan7 become frightful and cowering in fear, they must be powerful indeed.”

  “Zhuren, that’s not what I meant! You shouldn’t fight against them! You have no cultivation and even worse if anything else happened to you, Madam would have my head….”

  Gu Mingyu had decided to transform into the original form of the body he was possessing for two lifetimes now, which was that of a fluffy black furred fox who now decided to hide his other eight tails and make it seem like he only had one. Running over to the carriage and decided to hop on top of Zhong Quan’s head to see who was inside.

  “Ah! Where did such a Huli8 come from?” Zhong Quan cried out, “What are you doing in my head? Get off, I am not something to rest on, especially with you being so fat.”

  Fat! He dares to be calling Benzun9 Fat! Benzun would gut out your insides and make sure there is nothing left of you to be had!

  “Stop smacking me! I didn’t even know you could understand me! Stop smacking me with your paws, you are going to scratch me to death!”

  “Zhong Quan, I didn’t expect you to be so weak to be bullied by a Xiao Huli10 like this. It seems like such a cute thing, it would be better to be held within my hands.”

  “Zhuren…”

  Gu Mingyu hopped off Zhong Quan’s head and hopped inside the carriage and realized the one who was speaking was—Zhao Yuwen. In fact, it made sense considering that Zhao Yuwen was originally written like this.

  In the Original Novel, (The Cold Cunning Lord and Docile Madien) Zhao Yuwen was described to be a beautiful handsome (narssatic selfish) man whose beauty was compared to the paintings of the Heavens (The Heavens are blind!) instead. Who was cold, cunning and without a single hint of a heart to form in the first place. It wasn’t until he encountered Su Qingqing and then became a loyal airheaded dog that he knew Zhao Yuwen to be for the last five centuries.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Oh, you are indeed something unique.” Zhao Yuwen picked up Gu Mingyu to inspect him, “Especially your eyes, such beautiful red eyes. And indeed, you are a bit fat, but I think the fluff hides it all.”

  Gu Mingyu glared right at him. “Oh, can you even understand me? Such an intelligent thing like you, it would be a shame if you were left outside especially as it is bound to get colder and colder, and even especially with you being wounded as you are.”

  When did he get wounded? Wait a minute, did he get wounded when he was fighting against those idiots? Or maybe the original owner did before he ended up here, memories are so confusing for someone like him—

  “Stay still.” Zhao Yuwen commanded, “Otherwise I will struggle further to put the medicine on, such expensive things being wasted on you. You better are grateful, you understand?”

  Hmph! Benzun wouldn’t be grateful if he died a third time! You shameless airheaded moron, you are nothing more than a loyal dog! If Benzun didn’t wish to become playful, do you think someone like you would be able to see Benzun’s true form?

  Gu Mingyu gave a little nip of Zhao Yuwen’s finger, and with that he felt himself compelled to lick the blood and noticed that with said blood it was helping him heal. And even more noticed how bait worthy Zhao Yuwen would be if others discovered such a secret.

  No wonder so many demons, ghosts and even the most moral spirits had been coveting him all this time, it hadn’t just been for his body, his physique in aiding cultivation but also his blood.

  “You dare even covet my blood?” Zhao Yuwen remarked, “Such a teasing thing like you? How did you manage to survive as long as you have? It seems like in the future, I will have to keep an eye on you, otherwise you might even cause more trouble.”

  Gu Mingyu rolled himself over, and continued to lay on Zhao Yuwen’s lap, and despite the feeling of his fur being patted, he didn’t feel at ease, not at all!

  “So, well, behaved now.” Zhao Yuwen said, “Very Good, I shall reward you once we find a place to settle, you can take a nap now. Such a thing like you even needs some sleep, you understand?”

  He didn’t understand a single bit but chose to nap by his own decisions and nothing more. This airhead couldn’t command him even if his life depended on it.

  Zhao Yuwen kept petting the fluffy, slightly fat black fox who slept on his lap as the carriage continued being pulled forward, as Zhong Quan had smuggled himself inside to sit on the right side of Zhao Yuwen.

  “Zhuren.”

  “If you have something to say, speak now or be quiet until we arrive inside the city’s walls.”

  “He.” Zhong Quan said with some slight hesitation in his voice, “Is likely a fox spirit, if worse might be a fox demon.”

  “Is there a difference?”

  “Fox Spirits usually resided within the boundaries of Lingshan11 and are mischievous in nature but rather moral. Oftentimes residing in places of pleasure, maybe on the occasion become a human's pet or lover but as for a Fox Demon…”

  “Go on.”

  “Fox Demons are notorious for seducing and devouring humans, specifically those with—otherworldly beauty. Shape-shifting, and sweet on the words. The more tails they have, the older they are. They are born as Foxes and cultivate to gaining human form much like Spirits, but there is one Fox Demon who is rather notorious, but I doubt Zhuren would encounter it, especially considering his…. reputation.”

  “Oh, and how exactly is this particular fox demon notorious?”

  “This Fox Demon is acclaimed for having the specific technique of devouring one’s cultivation, along with the usual means.” Zhong Quan explained, “Considered one of the most beautiful demons in all of the Demon Realm, he is considered ruthless, cut-throat, shameless, sharp-tonged and merciless without comparison. Rumored to have once sliced down an entire sect for daring to disturb where he was napping, not even the most renowned elders of the Orthodox Sects dare to cross him.”

  “Sounds rather interesting to meet in person.” Zhao Yuwen kept stroking the fox in his lap, “Though even if this Xiao Huli is a fox demon, with only one tail, I can’t imagine how much of a threat he truly is.”

  “Indeed, Zhuren, Your Servant has spoken too much.”

  “No, you’ve spoken enough.” Zhao Yuwen formed a small smile on his face, “The world is far more interesting than I originally thought.”

  Especially, Zhao Yuwen thought, with such an adorable thing in my lap.