Chapter 126: Blood Jade

The next day, Yin once again transformed into a white fox. Following Yin’s plan, Li Su concealed the distinctive aura of the Li family and released another side of himself—the side that belonged to a mighty expert.

Emerging from the dense forest with the white fox in his arms, Li Su appeared before the guardians of the Four Great Families.

“Who are you?!”

Two men carrying long swords walked over, fierce intent showing between their brows.

Li Su remained composed. He gave them a faint smile, then carefully bowed while holding the white fox.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, gentlemen. I came here because this little fox in my arms, which possesses an extraordinary spirituality, has suffered severe injuries. For some reason, I haven’t been able to heal it. I wish to seek the help of the reclusive Li family. Would you be willing to make an exception and let me pass?”

“Hmph! You expect the Li family to help you over a little fox? What wishful thinking!”

The man on the left looked at Li Su with disdain. The young man was dressed plainly, and at most was merely an unaffiliated cultivator. He clearly had neither status nor backing and was nothing to fear.

Li Su quietly observed their reactions. It seemed they truly would not let him pass easily. But this was all within Yin’s expectations. If things had gone too smoothly, that would have been strange. The Four Great Families’ defenses were not so easy to slip through.

Yin’s plan was indeed flawless. All he had to do was follow it.

“Please don’t put it that way, sir. A little fox is still a living creature. Besides, this one is no ordinary animal—it is extraordinarily intelligent and can understand human speech! If I hadn’t happened to meet an adventurer who examined the fox and gave me a Blood Jade, telling me to seek the reclusive Li family, I wouldn’t have dared come here!”

Li Su made himself sound utterly pitiful.

At that moment, the little fox poked its head out of Li Su’s arms and timidly glanced at each of the two men. Its eyes held both fear and curiosity, displaying an unmistakable intelligence. Its appearance was exceedingly adorable.

“Your friend? A Blood Jade? Please explain yourself clearly.”

The guard who had remained silent until then spoke with a slight frown. His attitude was far gentler than that of his companion.

Sure enough, when the rude guard saw how courteously his companion was treating Li Su, a strange expression appeared between his brows. He could not understand why his partner would be so amiable toward some unknown youth who had appeared from nowhere. He held the young man in complete contempt.

Li Su could not be bothered to concern himself with the man’s attitude. He was nothing but a clown. Turning to the guard who had questioned him, he smiled warmly.

“It was like this, sir. I once happened to meet someone by chance. After seeing the little fox’s condition, he became extremely curious and offered to treat its wounds. Unfortunately, the fox’s body is extraordinarily unusual, and he was unable to do anything with his strength alone.”

“After thinking it over, he gave me a Blood Jade and told me to seek the people of the reclusive Li family. He said that once the Li family saw the Blood Jade, they would be willing to heal the little fox. At first, I also wondered why the reclusive Li family would agree to treat a little fox. But my friend was utterly convinced and insisted that I come. I had no other choice but to try my luck.”

After finishing, Li Su added a touch of helplessness to his expression, as though he had been driven to this point by circumstances beyond his control. Trusting his friend and caring deeply for the little fox, he had no choice but to try.

“Where is the Blood Jade?”

The guard frowned. Although he already believed Li Su’s story, he could not simply let him enter. The reclusive Li family was no ordinary clan. If something went wrong, he would be unable to bear the consequences.

Hearing this, Li Su rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. He quickly took out a Blood Jade from his clothes. Holding the white fox beneath his right arm, he presented the jade with both hands.

His courtesy was impeccable.

The guard examined the Blood Jade. In truth, he could not identify it. He merely wanted to see whether the young man had been lying. Judging from his expression, however, the man did not seem to be telling a falsehood. Perhaps the person who had given him the jade was a member of the Li family currently training abroad.

“How about this? Wait here for a moment. I’ll take the Blood Jade to the Li family. If you haven’t lied, I will certainly bring someone from the Li family to escort you inside. Is that acceptable?”

The guard who accepted the jade gave Li Su a comparatively warm smile.

Li Su was immensely relieved that at least one of the guards possessed some common sense. If they had all been like the other man—relying on their position to bully others—entering the Li family would not have been so easy.

“Then I’ll trouble you.”

Li Su hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed in thanks.

“Hmph!”

The guard who remained behind raised his chin, his expression unbearably arrogant. He could not understand why his companion had rushed off to the Li family over a small piece of Blood Jade. Although he felt that the jade was not ordinary, that did not mean he had any respect for this young man.

He was nothing more than an unaffiliated cultivator.

Seeing that the other guard had left, Li Su no longer felt any need to keep up appearances. He had no intention of dealing with such a snobbish man. He was only a minor guard, yet he acted as though he were some exalted figure. It was truly laughable.

The little fox in his arms shifted. Li Su held it more securely and carefully let its head emerge. Looking into those bright, shining eyes, who could have imagined that by nightfall, this exquisitely intelligent white fox would transform into a beautiful woman of formidable strength?

Yin, in the form of a white fox, looked around. Though she was no longer in human form, that did not mean everything she possessed had vanished. She gradually released her spiritual awareness. At present, she was merely a fox, and no one would suspect her. Besides, she had complete confidence in her own strength.

There were quite a few people stationed nearby, moving about in pairs and patrolling the area. The security was truly exceptionally tight.

The reclusive Li family could be described as a place few people ever visited—or as a place many people wished to visit. Curiosity drew some, while others feared the power of the Four Great Families.

When the arrogant guard noticed that the man carrying the fox continued to ignore him, dissatisfaction began to swell in his heart. The young man had been so humble before his companion, so why did he refuse to pay him any attention? Could it be that he looked down on him?

How utterly insolent.

If he caught the young man making even the slightest mistake, he would make sure to teach him a proper lesson.

“Yin, how are things around us?”

Li Su and Yin were connected heart to heart, allowing them to communicate directly through their minds.

“It is much as we imagined. There are many people stationed around us. For now, no one here is stronger than I am, but if we truly had to face so many people at once, it would consume a great deal of physical strength and spiritual power.”

Yin’s gentle voice echoed in his mind as she described everything she had observed.

“Yin, hearing you say that makes me even more curious about your strength. Is it really still not the right time to tell me? I’ve wanted to know for so long! I always feel that you’re incredibly powerful, but I don’t dare draw any rash conclusions.”

Li Su sounded both curious and helpless. Clearly, he truly wished to know how strong Yin was.

“Hehe, don’t be impatient, Li Su. As you said, the time really hasn’t come yet. Once the moment is right, you’ll be the first person I tell. But I can tell you this much—you’re not as powerful as I am.”

Yin’s relaxed, slightly mischievous voice rang out. It was as pleasant as music.

Li Su gently shook his head. As expected, Yin was still unwilling to reveal her true strength. Unfortunately, he could not see through her cultivation level at all. He had no idea how powerful she truly was.

She had said that she was stronger than him. At present, Li Su had already firmly entered the early stage of the Void Emperor Realm, and he believed it would not be long before he reached the middle stage.

He truly wondered how powerful this mysterious woman named Yin was now—and how much more effort he would have to make before he could stand beside her as an equal.

After a considerable amount of time passed, Yin sensed one familiar aura and three unfamiliar ones approaching. She guessed that the guard from earlier had returned with people from the Li family.

Sure enough, the Blood Jade was a token.

“They’re here. Follow the plan.”

“Understood.”

Li Su replied within his heart. As expected, his strength was inferior to hers.

“Young man, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting! This is the Third Elder of the Li family, along with two other members of the clan. After seeing the Blood Jade you gave me, they immediately ordered me to bring them here to meet you. It seems you truly weren’t lying.”

The guard laughed heartily. He had not expected the Blood Jade to carry such great significance.

“Young man, are you the one who brought this Blood Jade?”

The white-haired Third Elder stepped forward and looked at Li Su.

“Yes, Third Elder. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Li Su once again assumed a humble demeanor.

“Very well. You, your little fox, and I will go together.”

The Third Elder cast a slightly suspicious glance at the fox in Li Su’s arms. He hesitated briefly, but ultimately allowed Li Su and Yin to enter.

“Thank you, Third Elder.”

Li Su hurriedly bowed with a grateful smile, then followed the Third Elder and the two unfamiliar men inside while holding the white fox.

“Young man, can you tell me who gave you this Blood Jade?”

For some reason, a trace of sorrow colored the Third Elder’s voice.

Li Su felt puzzled, but he did not reveal it. He merely smiled mysteriously.

“Third Elder, I’m sorry, but I’m not in a position to tell you at present.”

The young man deliberately glanced at the two juniors walking behind the Third Elder. Understanding his implication, the Third Elder smiled. It seemed this young man still concealed quite a few secrets.

“Very well. In a moment, you two may return to your respective rooms.”

The Third Elder turned back and spoke indifferently to the two juniors.

It seemed he was not warm toward everyone after all. This made Li Su even more suspicious about the secret behind the Blood Jade his father had given him.

The only thing he could confirm was that the Blood Jade was far from ordinary.

It seemed his father had concealed quite a few matters from him.

But it did not matter. Li Su would rely on his own efforts to investigate everything and uncover the truth.