Chapter 111: Submit, or Die

Cang Ling’s expression remained unchanged, as if she had anticipated this all along. She nodded slightly and said, "Little princess, continue."

Hu Mo was captivated by her composure. A princess of the Divine Beast clan was being interrogated under duress, yet Cang Ling remained so indifferent. Such dominance was surely unrivaled across the Continent of War.

Hu Mei bit her lip, her eyes reddening. Having lived for over a thousand years, she had never suffered such humiliation. She glared at Hu Mo, leaving him feeling bewildered and entirely innocent.

"I come from the Wild Fox Marsh of the Black Demon Forest. During my first attempt to disperse my cultivation, I fell into a human ambush, was captured, and locked in a cage. I approached that lecherous man only because his aura was pleasing to me, and he seemed decent enough when we first met. I never expected him to be such a person! I must have been blind!" Hu Mei said resentfully. Hu Mo wore a pained expression, looking like a thoroughly bitter gourd. He truly regretted the conscience-pricking words he had spoken earlier; he was absolutely certain of his own purity, as that was beyond dispute.

Lin Nan cast a sidelong glance at Hu Mo, seemingly in complete agreement with Hu Mei’s assessment.

"Since that is the case, I am sorry to tell you that you will be staying here for the rest of your life," Cang Ling said coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.

Hu Mei’s eyes widened as she shouted, "Why? What exactly do you want? I haven't even provoked you!"

Hu Mo looked at Cang Ling in confusion. This statement had shocked him as well. They had no real connection to this Nine-Tailed Fox princess; was such overbearing behavior necessary?

"You haven't provoked me, but you have learned things you should not have, so you must be prepared for the consequences. I give you two choices: first, submit and become a Guardian War Beast, enter into a master-servant pact, and never betray me; second, be exterminated immediately—your beast soul incinerated, your beast body destroyed, never to rise again!" Cang Ling let out a cold shout. A powerful pressure surged, pinning Hu Mei to the ground, rendering her unable to move an inch.

Hu Mo did not understand the reason. He only felt an incredibly terrifying killing intent radiating from Cang Ling—an icy, murderous aura as if she truly intended to slaughter the fox before them. Such intense malice from Cang Ling was highly abnormal.

Hu Mei struggled to lift her head. The moment her gaze met Cang Ling’s, her mind went into a tailspin, as if struck by a lightning bolt. She suddenly vomited blood, her aura wilting significantly, and she could barely support her own body.

There was no doubt that Cang Ling intended to kill! Sensing the increasingly oppressive soul pressure, everyone in the Hu manor paced about uneasily, as if their hearts were being clawed at.

A flicker of pity stirred in Hu Mo’s heart; that scream seemed to resonate from the very depths of his soul. He could not bear to watch Hu Mei die before his eyes.

However, just as he prepared to intervene, Cang Ling’s urgent voice echoed in his mind: "If you don't understand, don't interfere! Do you want others, especially the Divine Beast clan, to know your secret? Do you know the consequences? Stop being foolish. Remember, there are many in this world who would harm you, but I will never be one of them!"

Cang Ling’s words struck Hu Mo’s heart like a heavy hammer. His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and he made no further move.

Lin Nan remained indifferent throughout. In her mind, only Cang Ling’s decisions were correct; there was no room for doubt. Even if Cang Ling ordered her to destroy all living things, she would likely carry it out without hesitation.

In an uncharacteristic move, Hu Mei chose to resist. She clutched her head, writhing on the ground in agony. Her nine tails manifested, and her beautiful face twisted in pain.

If any normal man witnessed such a scene, he would likely rush forward to protect her with his life. To be this ruthless toward such beauty was something only Cang Ling could do.

"Still not submitting? Do you think you can endure this? Heh, let me tell you the truth: I am a very kind person. I do not want to kill, nor am I inclined to. However, aside from killing, I am quite indifferent to other matters. Do not force me to extract your beast soul; it is exhausting and very painful," Cang Ling said with a casual tone, as if they were merely chatting.

Hu Mo’s eyes widened. A "kind person"? This kindness was truly moving.

Hu Mei bit her lip hard and spat out each word coldly: "Do as you please. The dignity of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan cannot be trampled upon, not even by gods. Just kill me!"

Even Cang Ling’s expression shifted slightly at these words. Yet, she could not soften; otherwise, when real trouble arrived, regret would be useless.

"Fine. Since you say so, I will grant your wish!" Cang Ling said through gritted teeth. She grabbed the writhing Hu Mei and pressed a hand firmly onto her head.

At that moment, another hand placed itself over Cang Ling’s. Hu Mo looked at her with a bitter expression, shaking his head slightly.

"That is enough. She is innocent; why take it that far?" Hu Mo said softly, his tone laced with pity.

Cang Ling’s expression changed. She glared at Hu Mo and said coldly, "I don't need you to manage my affairs. Remember, everything I do is for you. This world is like this: if you want to live happily, someone else must live unhappily. All happiness is built upon the unhappiness of others, so... let go!"

"If this happiness is predicated on bullying the weak, then I would rather not have it!" Hu Mo’s tone suddenly hardened, carrying a sense of deathly stillness.

"Sigh, foolish," Cang Ling sighed lightly. With a slight vibration, she shook Hu Mo’s hand away.

She raised her hand, and complex hand seals appeared. Simultaneously, strange characters drifted into the air, all surging into Hu Mei’s head.

Cang Ling did not hold back. That seemingly simple vibration sent Hu Mo flying ten yards away. Had his body not been crazily tempered by the Three Treasures, this single blow would have shattered every bone in his hand.

Hu Mo did not give up; he immediately rushed over again, attempting to stop Cang Ling. But it seemed too late—Hu Mei’s body went limp, as if she had lost her soul.

Hu Mo rose in anger, opening his mouth to shout, but was stopped by a sharp reprimand from Cang Ling.

"What are you yelling about? She isn't dead; I have only sealed her consciousness and power," Cang Ling said impatiently.

"That's good, that's good. You should have said so earlier! I knew you weren't a heartless person, Master," Hu Mo immediately reacted, seizing the chance to flatter her.

"Don't embarrass yourself here. I cannot afford such shame. Hu Mo, I am telling you the truth: if your secret is discovered by others, you can expect endless battles. Let me tell you one more thing: I cannot protect you for a lifetime. A man cannot always hide behind a woman; it is disgusting and contemptible. She is yours now; handle her however you see fit. Your training is cancelled for now; relying on me too much will only be your undoing." Cang Ling pulled Lin Nan along, and with a flash, they vanished before Hu Mo’s eyes.

Hu Mo was left bewildered and muttered to himself, "What is going on? Why is everyone acting so mysterious? How is one supposed to live like this!"

Hu Mo let out a groan and collapsed to the floor. It felt as if thousands of ants were crawling inside him, causing an unbearable, itchy pain.

What followed was simple: Hu Mo carried Hu Mei back to the room and laid her on the bed. Hu Mei seemed to be in a deep sleep, her haggard face evoking pity. Blood still stained the corner of her lips; it had to be said that Cang Ling had been truly ruthless.

"Why? Was it because of the Three Treasures?" Hu Mo muttered, sitting down by the bedside. His hand had just begun to recover, but it still felt stiff.

He extended his soul energy, merging it into Hu Mei’s body. Guided by the Three Treasures, his energy easily entered her core. However, just as he neared her innate consciousness, an invisible barrier emerged. A powerful rebounding force surged forth, throwing his soul energy back and leaving him dizzy and on the verge of collapse.

"Damn it, that was unnecessary," Hu Mo cursed, struggling to calm his roiling blood. This seemingly simple collision had caused him minor injuries.

He stood up, feeling deeply frustrated, and slowly turned around. Just then, he saw a familiar face smiling at him.

"Brother Hu, I've finally escaped from the cage!" Zhu Xinyue laughed, skipping toward him.