Chapter 268: Friends

The impact of the second outbreak of Evil Demons is rapidly fading due to the combined efforts of the four nations in the Ancient Spirit Realm and the Fairy Island.

Vilyric did not eradicate all Evil Demons and related powers from the entire continent; instead, she merely weakened them to a point where they couldn’t cause much chaos, although some remnants still lingered.

Having wiped away the decayed wood and severed the connection between the End and the Ancient Spirit Realm, the Evil Demons lost their endless source of breeding. However, that doesn’t mean they will suddenly vanish completely; after all, the twisted laws haven’t fully restored yet.

Though it could be forcibly removed, doing so excessively could lead to harm, much like when one falls ill. The force of “Destruction” has resided in the Ancient Spirit Realm for a thousand years; if the Priestess were to use a strong remedy to uproot it completely, it would instead harm the land.

So, preserving it moderately and allowing time and future generations to gradually pacify it is the best choice.

Additionally, the principle of keeping your enemies close applies to the current Ancient Spirit Realm situation.

The Eastern Yuan Holy Monarch Shangguan Qiuming is an ambitious ruler, and the three other nations each have their own situations. If the Evil Demons were to disappear completely, the four nations of the Ancient Spirit Realm would find it hard to maintain their current stability without a common enemy.

It could even threaten the peace of Lingyin Fairy Island, even though they do not intend to become rulers.

“Ah… if that’s the case, it seems that the memories and powers left behind by Ming Xi really are affecting me to some extent, right? I wasn’t this despicable before~”

Miss God rolled her eyes while discussing the current situation with Vilyric. A silvery-white tail extended from behind her, skillfully turning off the buzzing coffee machine, and with a snap of her fingers, the freshly boiled liquid flew out, filling the cups in front of the two ladies.

Taking a sip of the brown fragrant drink, cultivated on the island and said to be impossible to find in the mortal realm, Miss Xiao Kong lazily exhaled and casually responded.

“In any case, the next step is to closely monitor those fleeing Evil Demons and related chaotic powers and guide the mortals to handle it slowly themselves. Since Hen wants to maintain the restrictions of the Ancient Spirit Realm, after this group of selected individuals leaves from Fairy Island, we can reseal the Mirror Valley. Everything will return to how it was, don’t you think?”

Sitting cross-legged, Miss Vilyric propped her head up and said lightly with a smile.

“You can decide; anyway, with our invincible God Fox here, those little rascals can’t stir up any trouble~”

“What strange things are you saying…”

Hearing her teasing, the Fox Princess couldn’t help but blush lightly and playfully punched the slightly flat surface of a certain someone, but within her beauty, which resembled that of Vilyric’s memory yet had its own flavor, a hint of melancholy gradually seeped through.

She had already sensed the hidden meaning behind those words.

“Are you leaving so soon?”

“Yes, I trust Hen’s judgment. She surely has her reasons for wanting me to return to the original place quickly, and… I really can’t relax about some companions left behind there.”

“You’ve gained new bonds, huh…”

After a moment of hesitation, Miss Xiao Kong put down her cup and gazed into the silver-blue eyes of the black-haired girl, which sparkled like gemstones devoid of any impurities, quietly murmuring.

“Vilyric, I know that for you, those past memories feel more like a long story that exists only in the past, a life belonging to someone else. You have taken on the duties of the Spiritual Fox Priestess but don’t intend to become her completely.”

“Perhaps in your heart, I’m not as important as those genuine friends belonging to ‘Vilyric.’ I also understand that imposing everything from Xī onto you is unreasonable and shouldn’t be done. But even so, I…”

Lightly pressing her white fingertip against the gentle, soft lips of the Nine-Tails girl, she interrupted what she wanted to say.

Vilyric smiled helplessly.

“Xiao Kong, you are too sensitive. You really don’t need to forcefully distinguish me from Ming Xi. Having come this far, I no longer plan to deny my past identity. My closeness to you isn’t merely because of the Spiritual Fox Priestess title.”

“Even if I’m not Ming Xi, we are still friends who walked out of Cangyun Mountain together. Even in the identity of Vilyric, you are still an important friend to me, just like Hen… There’s no need to think of me as making a sacrifice or that you owe me something.”

Pulling her finger away from that delightful warmth, the black-haired girl maintained her smile.

“Be it humans or gods, we can’t stay forever in the past. The past, present, and future—both you and I are changing. Obsessing over things isn’t a good habit~”

“Changing… huh.”

After a long silence, the girl revered as the “God Fox” finally spoke again. Her divine eyes, filled with authority, seemed somewhat unfocused as she softly murmured, resembling someone lost in thought.

“Vilyric, did you know? I… have always been very lonely, always… afraid of loneliness. Even after tens of thousands of years, that hasn’t changed at all.”

“I was born with supreme divine power and authority, but aside from that throne in the heavens, I have virtually nothing.”

“It was Xī who stepped into my lonely, long life. In an incredible way, she forged a bond with me, as if she could see through the nightmares I feared the most, using all her strength to struggle and climb her way to my side, giving me the warmth known as companionship…”

“Although nominally she is my Priestess and servant, in reality, I have been dependent on her.”

“She is a very charming and empathetic girl, who attracts those who admire her like the sun, bestowing warmth and protection. The so-called God Fox… is probably just one of those aspects.”

“I did a lot for her. To help her, I even chose to separate my divine spark, becoming two independent consciousnesses. But compared to what I gained from Xī, this is just a drop in the ocean.”

“Because she is my only friend, the only one who calls me ‘Kong Hen,’ not ‘God Fox,’ ‘Nine-Tails,’ or ‘God of Space.'”

The girl lifted her head, extending a palm toward Vilyric, her gaze slightly evasive. It didn’t resemble the gaze of a deity; it resembled a timid little cat, summoning the courage to reach out, yet shrinking back in fear of being hurt.

“You are right; we can’t forever dwell in the past, indulging in the beauty and warmth of what once was. So… would you like to become my new friend?”

“Not as Xī, but as ‘Vilyric,’ the second friend in ‘Kong Hen’s’ life.”

“…”

She quietly gazed at the silver fox girl, whose cheeks had been stained with a blush at some unknown time. The triangular, slightly curled ears that appeared nervous at this moment looked so cute and tender that one couldn’t help but reach out to gently comfort them.

For some reason, a certain corner of Miss Priestess’s heart also trembled with strange emotions.

Perhaps it stemmed from the depths of her heart, from the “Spiritual Fox Priestess,” a gaze from another self.

Compassion, sadness, intimacy, helplessness, and a heartfelt joy for the girl’s courage and determination to move forward.

That was an emotion already faded away, a passionate feeling nurtured from the life that did not belong to Vilyric.

But coming back to her senses, she realized…

This was her true self, Vilyric’s genuine thoughts, without any external interference or influence, because the girl before her was a friend she had walked alongside, understanding and forging bonds through each step.

Her… companion.

Thus, a long-accumulated thought sprung forth at that moment unconsciously.

So cute ~ That cat outfit really suits her!

   

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