"Huai Zhu, when on earth will I be able to see you!" Wangquan Baye's voice was steady. It seemed that time had long since smoothed out his grief, making him calm about that incident.
Wangquan Baye flicked his right hand lightly, picked up a pot of wine from the ground, and gulped it down in several mouthfuls. He continued to stare at the tombstone in front of him, recalling the way Huai Zhu had been by his side on the first day. It seemed as if she were right in front of him at this moment, smiling at him.
"Huai Zhu..." Wangquan Baye picked up the wine pot and took another big gulp. It seemed that alcohol no longer had any effect on him. No matter how much he drank, he still couldn't get himself drunk. The reality was still right in front of his eyes, and the past events were vivid in his mind.
His expression was solemn, and he seemed like a walking corpse.
The maid led Wangquan Fugui and came from behind him.
Wangquan Fugui had grown a bit. He was wearing the gift that Wangquan Baye had given to Huai Zhu on the first day, that little suit of clothes. It was still sewn stitch by stitch by Wangquan Baye himself back then, and it fit him perfectly now.
Wangquan Fugui waved the small wooden sword in his hand. His little expression on his face was very calm, looking quite like a big shot.
He followed beside the maid. From afar, the big one and the small one looked very harmonious. His little figure just reached above the maid's calf.
At his age, most kids might still be playing with a bunch of toys. But Wangquan Fugui was burdened with the heavy responsibility of being a Taoist soldier. Since he was born, he had been different from others. Since he learned to walk, he had started practicing swordsmanship day after day.
The maid led Wangquan Fugui to Wangquan Baye's side.
Wangquan Fugui stared at Wangquan Baye with his two little eyes for a long time without saying a word. There was no smile that a child should have on his face. He always had a cold face, seemingly inheriting half of Wangquan Baye's character.
"Master, I've brought the young master here!" the maid said softly and bowed slightly towards Wangquan Baye.
Wangquan Baye turned around. "Gui'er, come here and kowtow to your mother." Wangquan Baye looked like a strict old father.
Wangquan Fugui obediently knelt down beside his father. His little body slowly bent down. Although his movements were not very professional or good-looking, his sensible behavior made people feel heart - ache. He had to bear so much at such a young age.
"Let's go!" Wangquan Baye slowly stood up, put down the wine pot in his hand, and pulled Wangquan Fugui beside him. The father - son duo walked in the back garden, leaving a beautiful figure.
"Hold the sword horizontally, keep your body straight. You're not putting enough strength into your strikes. It should be like this!" Wangquan Baye stared at Wangquan Fugui practicing swordsmanship beside him. He taught him all his sword - fighting skills and constantly corrected him day after day, year after year.
More than a decade later, Wangquan Fugui had grown into an adult, looking like a handsome young gentleman. His swordsmanship had also become very refined, already showing the same spirit as Wangquan Baye had in those days.
Apart from the old master in Wangquan Manor, no one could be his opponent. And Wangquan Baye, as the master, no longer had the vigor of his youth. His wrinkled face and graying hair showed the toll that time had taken on him.
"Father! I'd like to borrow the Wangquan Sword!" Wangquan Fugui knelt in front of Wangquan Baye very sincerely.
"You? What do you want to borrow the Wangquan Sword for? It's the precious treasure that guards our Wangquan family. It can't be used to slaughter living beings casually. Do you understand?" Wangquan Baye said earnestly as an old father.
"I know! It's precisely because of the importance of the Wangquan Sword that I want to try it out!" Wangquan Fugui's tone was firm, looking like he was determined to take the Wangquan Sword.
Seeing his son's tone and determined look, Wangquan Baye knew he was destined not to be able to avoid this.
"Gui'er, then go and take it. It's enshrined in the middle of the main hall. Remember, never do anything immoral!" Wangquan Baye admonished him repeatedly.
Hearing his father's words, Wangquan Fugui came to the front of the hall and took the Wangquan Sword. The moment he touched it, he felt a powerful force inside the sword merging with his body, as if the sword was about to recognize him as its master.
"Sure enough, it's a great sword!" Wangquan Fugui picked up the sword and couldn't help waving it a few times. The lamp candles in the distance were split by the invisible force.
Wangquan Fugui set off for the Edge of the World where his father had failed. He had also heard about the horror of that world and knew that there were some forces there that ordinary people couldn't defeat.
But he just had to give it a try, just as domineering and impetuous as his father had been in those days.
"This is the place!" Wangquan Fugui stepped on the Wangquan Sword and hovered in mid - air. Looking at the crack that his father had split out back then, which was still there, he didn't even think twice and flew in.
Sure enough, he saw that the black fog was billowing there, and the black fox was hiding inside. Seeing someone rush in, it started to launch a crazy attack.
Wangquan Fugui dodged nimbly, and not a single attack hit him. The black fox got angry all of a sudden and accelerated its attack speed.
"It's my turn!" Wangquan Fugui held the Wangquan Sword and struck at the black fox moving rapidly in the air several times. Although a few of his strikes missed, the black fox still got injured.
He watched for the right moment, leaped forward, and the Wangquan Sword slashed down, cutting off one of the black fox's legs. The black fox was covered in wounds and no longer posed a threat to Wangquan Fugui.
After a fierce battle, Wangquan Fugui carried the black fox in his hand and flew back to Wangquan Manor on his sword.
"Father, I'm back!" Wangquan Fugui shouted in the yard.
Hearing the sound, Wangquan Baye walked out of the main hall. Seeing what his son was holding in his hand, his hands were trembling. He never thought such a day would come.
Wangquan Fugui held the Wangquan Sword and pierced the black fox through the heart with a single strike. The sword went three inches into the wall, and the black fox was just nailed to the wall.
Seeing this scene, Wangquan Baye suddenly felt that his sword - heart had returned. Tears couldn't stop flowing from his eyes, and he was in floods of tears.
"Hahaha..." Wangquan Baye laughed loudly with tears still on his face. The hatred that had been lingering for many years was finally avenged.
At this moment, Huai Zhu felt as if she had fallen into an unknown place. Various pictures flashed before her eyes like photos in a rapid succession.
She slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on a hospital bed.
The plot of *Fox Demon* was playing on the computer. Her grief deepened, and she was sick for three days.
When she was getting an IV drip in the hospital, she passed by a doctor wearing a mask. Just as she was about to go and pay the bill.
"Huai Zhu, did you lose something?" the doctor called out to her.
Qin Huai Zhu was very confused. She didn't think she had lost anything. Moreover, how did he know her name?
She didn't think much about it, shook her head, and was about to leave.