Chapter 384: Chapter 303: The Person in the Mirror

The climate on this mountain has always remained a warm spring season, yet Jiuyue suddenly felt an icy chill in her hands and feet, unwittingly breaking out in goosebumps.

Seeing this, her elderly father also stopped the act of cutting chicken pieces and, seeing Jiuyue’s reaction as genuine, said, "Before I left, I had instructed the elder to act as clan leader in my stead, to raise you until you grew up, and I also warned him not to let you run around at the foot of the mountain."

This was because Universe Company had unsurprisingly left something up its sleeve in the contract.

They only promised not to interfere with the internal affairs of the Fox Demon clan, but if Jiuyue were to sneak out from the mountain and into human society, the "protection clause" in the contract would no longer be in effect.

"Tell me more about Ah Jing, what did she say to you?"

"She said that she had received your kindness in her early years and that it was you who entrusted her to come and take special care of me."

Jiuyue’s thoughts were somewhat chaotic.

During her days on Blue Star, she only had two people she was close to, one was Mr. Mingyuan and the other was Ah Jing, who had been by her side since she was a child. Although the two often enjoyed bickering, they had long become intimate, confidantes.

No matter when, Ah Jing was always by her side, which brought her great comfort and a sense of security.

But now, she heard from her father that everything about Ah Jing was a lie.

"Is this her name?"

The elderly father pondered for a moment before asking.

"This is the name I gave her, as she has always stayed inside a mirror and never come out."

At this point, Jiuyue reflected on all the time she spent with Ah Jing, all the warm memories from the past now turned into a chill at the bottom of her heart.

If her parents had never entrusted Ah Jing, what then was her purpose for getting close to her?

It must be a significant conspiracy to have Ah Jing stay by her side for over a decade.

Her elderly father did not rush to respond; he patiently listened as Jiuyue began to narrate her encounter with Ah Jing, which happened after she had defied the elder’s obstruction and escaped the mountain alone. At that time, the Royal Hunting Court had not yet fallen, and the Hunters, having noticed her Ruihu bloodline, secretly reached a deal with the Department of Life Sciences, intending to send her off to their Eco-Ship as merchandise.

It was also during that time that she encountered the first benefactor of her life in Yunlong City.

Although she didn’t interact much with Duan Mingyuan at that time, the latter defied the company’s threats. He not only let the captured merchandise escape but also crashed the Hover Car into the company building, causing a sensational news event on Blue Star. After that, Jiuyue realized the untrustworthiness of humans and wandered around Yunlong City, where she met Ah Jing.

Ah Jing not only taught her many ways to survive in human society but also guided her in harnessing the power of the disaster Fox Demon.

For the young Jiuyue, Ah Jing was both a mentor and friend.

It was then that Ah Jing told her many things about the Extraterrestrials, including how they blackmailed her parents using the Fox Demon clan.

Hearing this, her elderly father furrowed his brows.

In Jiuyue’s memory, those were precious and warm recollections; however, to him, they seemed otherwise.

To avoid his daughter getting involved with the company, he repeatedly instructed the elder to conceal their affairs, only telling Jiuyue that they were traveling abroad, not wanting his daughter to embark on the path of vengeance.

Because that was a path that would surely end in failure.

However, the girl known as Ah Jing not only led Jiuyue to master the power of the disaster Fox Demon but also planted the seed of vengeance against the Extraterrestrials in her young heart.

Many of Jiuyue’s subsequent actions were based on this purpose.

With the destruction of the Royal Hunting Court, an opportunity presented itself to Jiuyue.

Ah Jing persuaded Jiuyue to return to the Royal Hunting Court with a new identity and participate in the Companion Demon Plan, which was an excellent chance to infiltrate the organization and gather information related to the Department of Life Sciences.

However, some complications arose during the execution of the plan.

Jiuyue found a familiar name on the list.

Thus, there was that night when she encountered Duan Mingyuan after work.

The thought made the old father shudder with fear when he followed this train of thought.

For Ah Jing, Jiuyue’s meeting with Duan Mingyuan was also accidental, according to her original plan, Jiuyue’s real long-term partner was supposed to be Wangxu, an organization that advocates extremism, but Ah Jing apparently concealed the risks involved.

If she had understood the operations of Universe Company well enough, she would have clearly realized that it was a plan akin to sending oneself to the slaughter.

Bai Kou, when attending meetings in Yunlong City, would surely have one or more Long Branch Guards by her side.

With the strength of Jiuyue and Wangxu, an assassination attempt on Bai Kou was doomed to fail.

Jiuyue, who possessed both Ruihu and Fox Demon bloodlines, could save her own life, and by that time, the company would certainly pack her off back to the Eco-Ship, followed by a prolonged house arrest.

Although their movements were not restricted on this mountain and the department tried to meet their requests as much as possible, they were also not allowed to take a single step away.

And then...

The old father couldn’t predict Ah Jing’s next move.

But anyhow, this was not a situation he wished to see.

In truth, the friendship between Ah Jing and Jiuyue didn’t seem as solid as she had imagined.

A good friend would never treat the other as a guinea pig and deliver them into the company’s hands.

Just then, Jiuyue suddenly spoke up, "I can’t find her anymore."

In the past, whenever she wanted to find Ah Jing, the latter would be waiting for her in the Conscious Space.

The method to manipulate the Conscious Space had also been taught to her by Ah Jing, but now, the Conscious Space was completely closed off.

...............

Meanwhile, Fu Ling, back in her room, faced the mirror, cupping water in her hands and burying her face in it.

Today, far too much had happened.

The myriad troubles of the Saintfield family were not yet settled, and the Ashen Church had become entangled as well.

As expected, the Judges’ flagships were already en route.

A Hunter had died on the Eco-Ship, the cause of death being the long-lost Art of Curse Killing; upon learning this news, the Ashen Church acted immediately, said to be under the direct command of the current Archbishop.

But the worst part was that a Wizard had infiltrated the department’s Eco-Ship.

Even though He Ya claimed they weren’t madmen who killed on sight, Fu Ling didn’t doubt for a second that the Wizards, in their hatred for the Ashen Church, would drag unrelated people into their conflict.

Moreover, in the Wizards’ eyes, they were also part of the company, hardly unrelated.

Fu Ling’s thoughts were myriad, and she didn’t notice the anomaly in the mirror at all.

The reflection showed her not bending down to immerse her face in the water; she stood in place, emotionless, while the pool on the other side of the mirror quickly filled up.

Finally, a mocking smile appeared on the reflected Fu Ling’s face.

She slowly bent down, burying her face deeply into the water of the pool.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read