I saw the demonic energy of the Nine-Tailed Fox rampaging, knowing that Huang Xian'er and Huang Jiu had already unlocked the seals.
However, I wasn't sure if it was Huang Jiu who devoured it, or Huang Xian'er.
After watching for a few seconds, I closed my Spirit Eyes.
Everything in the room returned to normal.
I walked to Huang Xian'er's door again, hesitating for a few seconds, then raised my hand to knock. Just as I was about to, the door opened, and Huang Xian'er appeared holding a copper mirror, her brows furrowed as if she was about to step out.
I was lucky to quickly withdraw my hand, or else knocking on the door would have turned into a knock on her head—awkward.
Huang Xian'er froze when she saw me standing there.
I turned to see Huang Jiu following behind her, and my anxious heart finally relaxed. I asked, "What's going on? Are you in trouble?"
Huang Xian'er nodded and said, "I can suppress the three-tailed fox demon, but the Demon Slayer left nine seals. I've only broken four; there are still five I can't break."
As she spoke, she handed the mirror to me.
The originally dull copper mirror had become bright, as if carefully polished.
But there were five cracks on the mirror's surface.
My heart skipped a beat. It seemed that after breaking the seal, the copper mirror would not survive intact.
It was fortunate I hadn't spoken too soon; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to explain it to Director Qian.
How could I compensate?
With the combined money of my second uncle and me, it probably wouldn't be enough.
It seemed I would have to be more careful in the future. Otherwise, it would either be risking my life or losing money.
If one unlucky day came, I might end up penniless with just a blink of my eyes.
Losing luck would make it difficult to earn that much money again.
After all, rich people don't have accidents every day.
I observed the five cracks on the mirror, each one likely representing a broken seal.
If all nine seals were broken, the cracks would form the character "诛" (to exterminate) on the mirror surface.
From the cracks, it seemed the copper mirror wouldn't be destroyed but would leave behind marks.
I wanted to see the seals inside the mirror, but I'd need to leave my body and enter the world within it with my soul.
For now, I could only see the manifestation of the Nine-Tailed Fox in the mirror. Its massive fox face was divided by the five cracks, appearing somewhat eerie.
When I observed it with my Spirit Eyes, it stared back at me with blood-red eyes.
With spiritual roots and wisdom, the demon soul was essentially a spiritual entity.
At its peak, the Nine-Tailed Fox could easily destroy a human city, causing immense suffering.
However, in its prime, the world was full of strong beings, and it dared not act recklessly.
I closed my Spirit Eyes and said, "The neighborhood is densely populated, and the demonic energy leaking out will affect ordinary people. We need to find a place with no one around."
Huang Xian'er nodded, though she only looked at me.
I realized that since coming to the city, she hadn't familiarized herself with the surrounding mountains.
I thought of a place—the abandoned village where I first witnessed bloodshed.
Huang Jiu looked worried, speaking less than usual. I didn't dare ask why in front of Huang Xian'er.
He knew the place, and when I asked, he absentmindedly agreed.
Without delay, I knocked on Su Yimei's room door.
I reminded her that we were going out, and if she and Tingting felt unsafe staying at home, she should call second uncle.
I told her not to open the door to strangers, and to stay inside until after dawn.
Aunt Su understood second uncle and supported him in doing his own thing.
But there was a hint of panic in her eyes, more out of helplessness and weariness, showing she didn't want to live this way.
Everyone has a different way of life, so I didn't say anything more. I went back to the master bedroom to get Xiao Cui a coat.
Su Yimei asked, seeing this, "Are you taking Xiao Cui with you?"
I nodded.
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains were a prime target, and since Huang Xian'er wasn't home, I certainly wouldn't leave Xiao Cui behind.
Su Yimei's lips twitched, as if she wanted to say something but eventually didn't.
I put the coat on Xiao Cui, grabbed the blood dagger, and we left.
Huang Xian'er was skilled with her hands, and although she didn't have a license, she could already drive the car proficiently.
On the road, Huang Jiu suddenly said, "I feel something's wrong!"
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Huang Jiu replied, "I've seen the three-tailed fox before, and its aura isn't as strong as the one in the mirror."
When he mentioned seeing the three-tailed fox, Huang Xian'er snorted, clearly jealous.
It seemed the three-tailed fox Huang Jiu had seen was from the family in the East that she often mentioned.
From Huang Xian'er's reaction, it appeared that Huang Jiu and that fox had some unspoken connection.
But that was their business, and I didn't want to get involved.
After analyzing Huang Jiu's words, I said, "What you saw was a fox demon that had cultivated over time. But the one in the mirror is a Nine-Tailed Great Demon, with pure demonic energy. Even if its cultivation has fallen to three tails, it's still not the same as an ordinary three-tailed fox demon!"
Huang Jiu took out the copper mirror and placed it in front of me, saying, "After the seal was broken, I felt its ethereal tails beginning to solidify. And this time, it feels completely different from when I first encountered it."
I thought carefully, and it seemed he was right.
The first time we saw the fox demon in the mirror, just a glance was enough for both me and Huang Jiu to be too scared to stay in the museum and leave immediately.
It wasn't because we were scared, but its aura was overwhelmingly terrifying.
I turned to Huang Jiu and asked, "You mean it's deliberately hiding its strength?"
Huang Jiu nodded.
I said, "But Shishi…" I had just said her name when Huang Jiu interrupted, "Don't trust the ghost's words!"
"Think about it, they've been in the mirror together for a hundred years. Do you really think one would stay in a corner while the other remains sealed?"
I let out a long breath.
It seemed Huang Jiu was right.
Shishi had been lying all along, likely helping the Nine-Tailed Fox deceive us.
After all, the day we saw the Nine-Tailed Fox, it saw both me and Huang Jiu. It probably calculated that Huang Jiu would not miss the chance to devour its demon soul, and set a trap for us.
I silently sucked in a cold breath, but didn't speak, instead focusing on rapidly recovering my inner Dao energy.
Just as the car exited the highway and passed through a desolate area, I had Huang Xian'er stop the car. I drew out the blood dagger and released Shishi.
When Shishi saw us, her face instantly showed fear, and she curled up on the ground.
I held the blood dagger, staring at her and asking, "Are you sure the Nine-Tailed Fox in the mirror only has three solid tails and six ethereal ones?"
Shishi nodded timidly.
Her expression didn't reveal any signs of lying.
Huang Xian'er snorted coldly, releasing demonic energy that made Shishi tremble in fear.
After the intimidation, Huang Xian'er said, "You better tell the truth, or I'll make your soul scatter and never be reincarnated."
Shishi, hearing this, began to cry pitifully, saying, "I swear, everything I said was the truth."
She then looked at me and asked, "Master Li, you said you wouldn't harm me. Are you going to go back on your word?"
As the saying goes, ghosts speak many lies, and one who's good at disguising themselves makes it hard to tell the truth from the falsehood.
But unless we get to the bottom of things, once the five seals are broken, we'll all be doomed.