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“What? Is that really possible?”

According to the Record of the Mysterious Center, foxes can transform into beautiful women after living for over fifty years. When they reach a hundred years, they can become a stunning lady or a mysterious sorceress. There’s even a chance they might change into a man and have relations with women. Not only can they comprehend events far off, but they can also command pests and ghosts, bewildering humans in the process. By the age of a thousand, they connect with the heavens and become a Heavenly Fox.

Foxes are classified as dark-siders, mainly operating at night. Even the average, untrained fox is regarded as a special creature with intelligence matching that of humans. Rumor has it that the legendary beauty, Daji, from the Investiture of the Gods was also a fox. After absorbing the energies of the sun and moon, they are said to manipulate people effortlessly, earning the title of evil beast. On a side note, in folklore, these creatures are often worshipped as “Fox Immortals,” one of the Five Deities of Wealth.

What surprised me wasn’t all that trivial stuff. From the Taoist texts I learned in Mangnyang, only the nine-tailed fox is classified as the Gumiho, which is essentially the Heavenly Fox.

A Heavenly Fox is a fox that has lived for a millennium. This spirit beast, with its golden fur and nine tails, represents the pinnacle of what a fox can achieve. It’s said to serve in the heavenly palaces of the Sun and Moon, causing no harm to humans—unless it does, in which case it possesses at least the power of a lesser deity. Moreover, the Fox Ancestor is the first Heavenly Fox that attained enlightenment, rivaling the power of higher deities.

If the creature before me was indeed a Heavenly Gumiho, then right now, with my current strength, I could never defeat such a godly being!

As I swallowed hard, the fox gazed calmly at me and spoke.

[Unfortunately, I may be a Gumiho, but I am not a Heavenly Fox. My fur color is silver, not gold.]

“What? Is that possible?”

[I haven’t ascended to the heavens. I’m still in training.]

But despite those words, the eerie power radiating from the Gumiho only grew, eventually causing my body to shiver. This was due to the overwhelming demonic energy pouring forth from her, a strength unlike anything I had encountered before.

Even my internal energy struggled to contain her presence. Truly, she embodied the essence of a Great Demon.

The Gumiho chuckled.

[Hehehe, strange human. What brings you here? Are you here to hunt me down?]

I sensed I had to answer this question carefully. While inwardly cursing Ji-yul for this entire mess, I controlled my expression and replied.

“I came to find Haein in Goryeo. Ji-yul said he could help me, so I decided to assist him.”

My choice was to be ‘honest’. Trying to wrap it in a cloak of ‘justice’ amidst a life-or-death encounter would be pointless. It seemed smarter to simply speak truthfully.

The Gumiho flinched slightly.

[Haein? Where did you hear that?]

“Master Mangnyang mentioned that Haein is in the East, and I decided to trust that and search for it.”

Up until now, the Gumiho had exuded a whimsical vibe, but it shifted dramatically. No longer playful, her demeanor now held a mix of wariness and curiosity.

She sprawled out on the ground, resting with her belly down, and spoke.

[What is your relationship with Master Mangnyang? It’s hard to believe he’d have a human acquaintance given his disdain for your kind.]

“He’s my companion’s master.”

[Ahaha, I see~]

Her laughter felt oddly cheerful. Though I tried to respond earnestly, a hint of nervousness crept over me. The creature that stood before me was supposed to be prey, yet here I was, exchanging idle chatter? Moments later, the Gumiho outlined a proposition.

[If I were to know the whereabouts of Haein, would you consider becoming my subordinate?]

“Really?”

[Hehe… Answer first. Will you become my subordinate?]

I thought about the situation if I said ‘yes’. If the Gumiho commanded me to fight against Ji-yul, what would I do? That would truly complicate matters, so I hesitated in replying to her question.

But after mulling it over for a brief moment, I gathered my thoughts and replied.

“If your information is true, then I will.”

A gleam of interest sparkled in her eyes.

[Indeed… You’re quite a unique human. Your mindset is different from others by leaps and bounds. You seem more like one of us, a spirit beast.]

Suddenly, the Gumiho transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman, voluptuous and completely bare. Her breasts bounced alluringly, exuding an intense charm that made my face flush.

As the Gumiho sat naked in the chair, she said, “I like you. With you around, I won’t get bored.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it. I want to help you find Haein, but until then, I wish for us to travel together.”

“……?”

My expression twisted in confusion. What on earth is she talking about? I was dumbfounded enough to raise my sword in protest.

“Ji-yul and the subjugation squad will be here shortly. What are you suggesting? If you want to say something like that, abandon your plan to absorb the evil spirit!”

“Oh? Don’t you want to hear about Haein?”

“I said I would if your information was valid. You want me to betray the subjugation squad without any proof?”

“Hahaha!!”

With a melodious laugh, the Gumiho took a step forward.

The sight of the naked beauty approaching made my heart race. Suddenly, I felt an intense arousal, and my mind filled with all kinds of lustful thoughts. I had never been with a woman before, so this temptation was unbearable.

‘Damn it… Get a grip! This is enchantment!’

If I got caught in this, it would be the end! I clenched my teeth and summoned my internal power to resist. The Wudang Sect’s techniques have the effect of counteracting such illusions, thus making it easier to withstand than that of the Thunder God Lineage. While I couldn’t calm my growing arousal, I managed to keep my sanity intact. In a teasing manner, the Gumiho turned around, wiggling her peach-like rear end, and said.

“Ji-yul has just returned with the subjugation squad from the second floor. What do you think the reason is?”

“……”

“He probably became suspicious after witnessing my powerful aura techniques, Front and Back Demon. Even the greatest Yin-Yang Sorcerer from Dongyoung couldn’t wield such force. He likely sensed my presence as a Great Demon and celestial being.”

The Gumiho sat back down and sipped from her cup, her ample breasts swaying, stealing my gaze. As I stared blankly, she added, “By now, you probably grasp my abilities and have recognized my identity. And at this moment, you’re piercing through the Naseng Gate.”

I was startled into shouting, “That can’t be true!”

If that were the case, it would mean Ji-yul was planning to abandon me and the subjugation squad. I felt like I had just been blindsided. The Gumiho chuckled softly.

“Why? Doesn’t that seem like a rational and reasonable conclusion? After all, with your current capabilities, defeating me is impossible. Sending you to me would buy time while the others escape, likely calling on the likes of the Twelve Joules. In that scenario, I too would be in a precarious situation and would dash away from this ruin.”

“……”

“So, how about you check for yourself?”

The Gumiho casually directed her cup toward the railing. It seemed she wanted me to look down from there. I approached the railing, still wary of any sudden attack. And when I focused my energy, I indeed saw the Naseng Gate far below, flanked by the Twelve Joules warriors, sparks flying as they attempted to unlock it.

At a loss for words, the Gumiho chuckled from her seat.

“Of course. My power surpasses that of the Front and Back Demons by at least tenfold. Ji-yul must have caught on.”

“……”

“If you wish to run now, I’ll let you. Feel free.”

“Hmmm…”

I battled with the sense of betrayal I felt towards Ji-yul. ‘If that’s the case, why didn’t he heed my advice to leave earlier?’

But I could also understand the reasoning—if they had listened to me in that situation, it would have diminished the squad’s pride and morale. However, after encountering the Front and Back Demon, their mindset had shifted. They must have decided to sacrifice me while buying time to escape.

With a heavy heart, I buried my feelings of betrayal and turned to the Gumiho. “I don’t get it. You don’t seem that interested in annihilating us. What do you truly want?”

“Ahaha… Have you caught onto my intentions?”

The Gumiho released a delicate giggle and continued.

“Yes. I came here just to alleviate my boredom. I heard there was a powerful evil spirit in Dongyoung and was curious to see if I could be of help. But since I’ve been living comfortably as the Empress in the Dongyoung Imperial Palace, I don’t need to pursue it desperately.”

“Is there really such a thing as an evil spirit?”

“It’s hiding beneath this building. But its power is so overwhelming that even I find it challenging to handle. An evil spirit belonging to a powerful warrior monk that bears the grudge of a fallen kingdom is something I’d rather avoid.”

“Avoiding it, huh…”

“I did attempt to use the sorcery techniques from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, but even now, I’m hesitating.”

Hearing her say it that way gave it a sense of authenticity. In this situation, there was no reason for her to fabricate the truth. With the subjugation squad already fleeing in panic, she certainly had no reason to spin a web of lies.

Swirling my thoughts together, the Gumiho crossed her legs, each movement designed to tempt. My eyes were captivated by her voluptuous thighs as she spoke.

“Right now, I’m more interested in you than that.”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean exactly that. I’ll teach you everything I know about Haein. But in return, you’ll have to accompany me.”

“But that’s the issue. How could I trust that you actually know anything about Haein?”

I pushed for clarity, understanding that the creature before me possessed tremendous power despite her willingness to engage in conversation. She seemed more fond of using intellect and cunning than brute force. It was apparent that if I continued to converse, a sudden attack was unlikely.

[Hehehe… Are you aware of the Phoenix that appeared in this area two years ago?]

“I’ve heard of it.”

“It surfaced to counter the evil of the Evil God that emerged in Goryeo. The Sea God’s immense power prompted the greatest sorcerers of humanity to reinforce boundaries throughout Goryeo.”

This sudden influx of information left me baffled. With a lack of understanding, I strained to grasp snippets of it and asked what was on my mind.

“What are you saying? Sea God?”

“A looming evil god resides in the Yellow Sea, one that even celestial beings and great sages wouldn’t dare approach. The followers of this entity are the Sea God’s kin who recently attempted to breach land by negotiating with the powers of the Western Capital. The guardians of the peninsula couldn’t allow that sight to unfold, so they enacted forbidding spells.”

“Hmm…”

I pieced together the bits in my head. The pirate group I had encountered before arriving in Goryeo, the Blood Blade Group had leaders resembling fish-like humans clearly indicating they were of non-human origin. And the Lord of Seogung had mentioned they were related to the Sea God’s kin. Was there truly a malevolent entity worshipped by them?

“Oh… You seem knowledgeable about the evil god.”

“That part isn’t important. Get to the point.”

“What you call Haein is an incredibly powerful artifact, serving as a key element in the protective barrier of this Goryeo land. Normally, you’d search a lifetime and still never find it.”

“Can’t we find it at Haeinsa?”

The Gumiho chuckled as if my question was absurd.

“Do you really think you could find Haein at Haeinsa? It’s but a mere stop where Haein once passed; it̵s no longer connected in any way.”

“So how can I believe you? You’re probably just trying to mess with me.”

“How sad. To be such a mistrusted individual.”

Feigning tears, the Gumiho’s grin returned.

“Do you truly not trust me?”

“……”

“If you permit me to accompany you, I promise to offer you my utmost support. I won’t corrupt you, and I won’t betray you to the Twelve Joules outside. I only wish to enjoy this journey with you.”

Her tone was earnest. I genuinely couldn’t bring myself to trust the Gumiho. I had faced countless deaths from my reckless actions in the past. After coming to the decision to survive this life, and just having been betrayed by Ji-yul, I grew increasingly cautious.

Yet, what other options did I have?

‘Fighting the Gumiho is utterly out of the question.’

The mere sight of Ji-yul flinching against her would send him bolting in panic. She was likely one of the most powerful Great Demons across Central Plains, Goryeo, and Dongyoung. If the Gumiho wanted, she could obliterate not just me but the entire Twelve Joules as well. Coming to my conclusion, I took a deep breath and thought to myself.

“… Alright, fine.”

[Hoohoo, that’s a wise choice.]

The Gumiho gleefully grabbed my hand, her joy evident.

“Had you said something foolish, I would have devoured you instead.”

“……”

It felt like I had narrowly averted death. Suddenly, the Gumiho flipped through the air, transforming once more.

Boom!

Just like that, the Gumiho morphed from a voluptuous woman into a girl around my age. Her talent in transformation was astonishing, able to switch appearances at will. As I gawking at the girl in traditional Goryeo attire, she flashed an enchanting smile.

“I’ll call myself Miho from now on. Let’s work well together.”

Thus began an utterly ridiculous journey to find Haein, with the most peculiar companion looking to tag along.

 

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