Chapter Fifty-Six: Beneath the Valley of Ruthlessness

Early the next morning, Hua Feng was woken up by Nangong Li, who insisted on setting out at once. She said they needed to treat the arrival of Panda Mozart with proper formality and prepare for the trial from the Celestial Fox clan. To do so, they had to hurry to the camp they used for training before. Their task was to set up a formation that could gather spiritual energy—and Mozart’s treasures could all be put to good use in the process. Hua Feng had no objections; after packing up some essentials, the two of them set out.

“Sister Li, why do you think the elder panda is called Mozart? Does he have a particular passion for music?” Hua Feng couldn’t help but start rambling with questions as they traveled on the wind.

“That name? His father gave it to him more than a thousand years ago, quite casually. Who could have known that, centuries later, there’d be a musician called Mozart?” Nangong Li replied.

That day, she wore hot pants with a tight white tank top and a long, pure white coat. A lightweight sun hat perched on her head, lending her an air of youthful charm and vitality—one would never guess she was a fox spirit who had lived for a thousand years.

Sometimes, Hua Feng wondered if he had imagined it all. She looked so much like a young woman in her prime. After all, it had been over a year since he last saw Nangong Li’s true form, the nine-tailed celestial fox.

Yet the memory of her graceful dances among the treetops and the traces of imperial energy she sometimes let slip reminded Hua Feng that the girl before him was anything but ordinary. Whenever she released her aura, it was as though her true form—a pure white fox with nine tails—was gazing at him.

Silencing his restless thoughts, Hua Feng followed Nangong Li deep into the forest. About twenty kilometers from where they lived, they alighted softly in a secluded valley. By a jade-green pool stood the little wooden cabin they had built on a whim during their last stay.

“Who would have thought a year would pass so quickly!” Hua Feng sighed, unfastening a camouflage backpack before stepping into the cabin to set it down.

“Yes, the days slip by so fast I hardly notice. A thousand years pass as though in a dream. In the Demon Realm, days and years blur together in endless cultivation—it’s all so tedious. Sometimes I wonder what the point of all this is,” Nangong Li said, drifting to sit by the bed.

“Shen Qiu once mentioned that before becoming Hall Master, he often came here. He named the valley Heartless Gorge, and the pool Dragon’s Leap. It was his place to talk to himself. I suppose everyone’s path to maturity is much the same, even if the starting point is different. Growing up is a process of losing and gaining, isn’t it?” Hua Feng opened a bottle of spring water and handed it to her.

“Thank you.” Nangong Li took the water, lost in reminiscence. “But not everyone’s path is like that, is it? Some people live happily, never forced to cultivate so hard. Their days are ordinary but full of simple joys. That, to me, is what life should be.”

“The Celestial Fox clan must be powerful, right? If you’re already so strong, why work so hard at cultivation? Can’t you choose your life?” Hua Feng asked.

“If only it were that easy. Who wouldn’t want to choose their own life? But it feels as though life chose me. The Nangong family is born as nine-tailed celestial foxes. In the Demon Realm, we’re not the strongest, but we’re in the top ten. From a young age, our elders would tell us the world respects only strength—the weak are prey. As long as you live, you cannot escape this truth.

“You may not want to harm others, but others might want to harm you. You might wish for a quiet, peaceful life, but someone will always find you. They might chase you for centuries just for a demon core of emperor rank. Eventually, the elders decided we would hide no longer. The whole clan settled in a mountain range and called it Celestial Fox Mountain. We devoted ourselves to the path of cultivation and drove every invader away, ensuring that anyone who dared to move against the Celestial Foxes would remember the rivers stained with blood.” Nangong Li spoke her heart openly, perhaps for the first time to a human, and found it strange herself.

Is it simply because I like him, even a little? What’s happening to me?

Hua Feng simply listened. He knew that sometimes, listening was enough—especially when someone needed to unburden themselves.

“Sorry, I think I’ve said too much about irrelevant things. We should get to work. I’ll prepare the formation; you make a delicious meal for us and remember, don’t slack off on your cultivation!” Without waiting for Hua Feng’s reply, she dashed outside. “Thank you for listening,” her melodious voice floated back as the door swung shut.

Hua Feng looked at the open door and murmured, “It’s nothing. Honestly, I’d like to share my thoughts with someone too, but you always rush out before I can. Oh well—such is life.”

Outside, thousands of meters in the air without his knowledge, a young man in fitted attire stood shoulder to shoulder with Nangong Li.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your conversation?” the young man asked, his tone carrying a hint of jealousy.

“Mozart, when did you become so sour in your words?” Nangong Li retorted.

“But... you know how I feel about you—” Panda Mozart’s words were cut off.

“No buts. I told you the first time we met in the Demon Realm, five hundred years ago—we can only be friends, not companions,” Nangong Li said firmly.

“Then why tell him we’ve only just met? We’ve known each other for five hundred years—why hide that? And anyway, how am I any worse than him? I’m handsome!” Mozart protested.

“Haha... You’re as narcissistic as ever. You’re wonderful, but you’re just not my type. I don’t want a panda as my partner,” Nangong Li replied decisively, cutting off all hope. She didn’t want to get entangled in this at such a critical time.

“Fine, let’s get to work. For you, I’ve even smuggled a lot of our family’s treasured items, just to help that kid level up! Sigh!” Realizing she’d be upset if he pressed further, Mozart dropped the subject and moved on to the business at hand.

“That’s the little panda I know. Thank you for your hard work! Let’s go down.”

It doesn’t matter. I can wait. Even if I can only be by your side as a friend all my life, I’m willing.

As they descended into Heartless Gorge, Mozart thought this to himself.

Hua Feng, oblivious to all of this inside the cabin, quietly finished preparing the ingredients. In just over half an hour, a table covered in fragrant, mouthwatering dishes was ready. This should be enough for three people, he thought as he carefully arranged the last dish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, wondering absentmindedly about the panda elder’s tastes.