Chapter 131: The Truth

There was indeed a man at the end of the corridor, but what surprised Yin Yao and Ji Xuanyu was that he was sitting in a wheelchair. Despite being confined to the chair, he possessed an imposing aura that was impossible to ignore. Several crisscrossing scars marred his face, lending him a rugged, formidable appearance.

Suppressing her curiosity about the man, Yin Yao waited for Mei to make the introductions.

"Uncle Qiang, these are the friends I brought with me. They are members of the White Fox clan." Mei paused pointedly when he mentioned the White Fox clan.

As expected, Uncle Qiang looked at them with disbelief. He could hardly believe that Mei would bring members of the White Fox clan into the territory of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan! Moreover, why would ordinary members of the White Fox clan be granted entry into the Nine-Tailed Fox territory? And why would Mei be willing to bring common White Fox clansmen to meet him?

The man called Uncle Qiang pondered for a moment before speaking, "Greetings, young ones. Come with me."

Yin Yao and Ji Xuanyu exchanged a glance and nodded. "We trouble you to lead the way, Senior."

After passing through another corridor, Uncle Qiang propelled his wheelchair to the lead. The path ended before a large black door.

Uncle Qiang approached the door and tapped on it in a rhythmic sequence. A moment later, the door creaked open. "Enter, friends from the White Fox clan." Uncle Qiang gestured for Yin Yao and Ji Xuanyu to proceed.

Without much hesitation, Yin Yao stepped through the black door first. In the middle-aged man’s eyes, she had glimpsed a look akin to longing—a gaze that seemed to hold something called hope. Ji Xuanyu followed close behind. Mei shook his head in confusion, but followed them inside; to be honest, this was his first time in this place as well.

Uncle Qiang pushed his wheelchair inside, and as he entered, the black door slowly closed behind him. Only then did Yin Yao and the others notice several spots in the room emitting a soft, gentle glow, gradually illuminating the space.

Looking around, she realized they were night-luminescent pearls. No wonder they hadn't noticed these hidden pearls when the door first opened and light flooded the room.

"Sit," Uncle Qiang said, moving past the three young people who were surveying the room to the back, where a table and chairs were arranged.

The trio retracted their gazes and walked toward Uncle Qiang. After a brief observation, they realized this room was far from simple. For starters, the soundproofing was exceptionally effective. Furthermore, while it appeared harmless, there were hidden mechanisms everywhere.

"Greetings, Senior. I am Yin Yao of the White Fox clan. This is my friend, Ji Xuanyu." Yin Yao cupped her hands in a salute to Uncle Qiang and introduced Ji Xuanyu with a gesture, though she kept the details of his identity vague, as it was not convenient to reveal too much.

"Greetings, Senior," Ji Xuanyu added, following Yin Yao’s lead with a salute.

Mei was impressed by Yin Yao’s proactive approach; he hadn't expected to be relieved of the duty of introducing them. Although Yin Yao hadn't mentioned a word about her own background, her name alone carried immense weight.

Upon hearing her name, Uncle Qiang looked as if he wanted to stand up in surprise, but the scars of a past civil war had left him permanently disabled. He struggled to rise from the chair only to fall back down. He shook his head with a bitter smile, his lips pressed into a thin line, revealing his inner pain.

"Yin Yao? Are you the next Spirit Maiden?" Uncle Qiang masked the bitterness of his inability to stand and asked as if nothing had happened.

"I believe so. My name was given to me by my mother." Yin Yao nodded. She knew that those carrying the surname "Yin" were destined to be the Spirit Maidens of the Spirit Fox clan, but the clan no longer existed. She dared not speak too freely, especially since her aunt, Bai Ling, had never mentioned her status as the successor.

Uncle Qiang tapped his right hand gently on the table. "Who is your mother?"

"Yin Hu."

*Bang!* With a thunderous sound, the table under Uncle Qiang’s hand split apart at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He shook his hand and offered an apologetic smile, but the three of them returned it with calm expressions. They all understood the significance of the name "Yin Hu."

"My apologies, I’ve made a spectacle of myself."

"Not at all. Uncle Qiang, feel free to ask anything you wish. I am here for the future of the Spirit Fox clan! You can rest assured of that," Yin Yao stated firmly.

Hearing her declaration, Uncle Qiang smiled from the heart. "Forgive me. I was wary of you before, but since you have spoken so plainly, I shall not stand on ceremony either."

"Please, do not," Yin Yao said, shaking her head with a smile.

"Why did your mother, Yin Hu, not appear on the battlefield during the civil war?" Uncle Qiang’s tone suddenly turned harsh. He stared at Yin Yao, wanting to see how this young girl would explain it.

"Heh! For that question, I think you should ask the leader of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, Uncle Qiang!" At the mention of Yin Hu, Yin Yao’s tone lost its previous warmth, and she let out a cold laugh.

There was no expected argument; instead, Uncle Qiang simply shook his head and remained silent. Yin Yao thought to herself that he clearly knew more than he let on.

Mei alone was left in the dark. He looked at the three people communicating through glances, completely bewildered. "Yin Yao, what do you mean? I don't understand!"

"Mei, it’s not that you don't understand; it’s that you don't want to believe it," Yin Yao said with a hint of sorrow.

"Mei! You’ve always wanted to know, haven't you? Then let Uncle Qiang tell you today! It wasn't that the Spirit Maiden Yin Hu refused to appear, nor was it that she abandoned her people for personal love. It was your mother! While she searched for Yin Hu’s whereabouts, she spread rumors that the Spirit Fox clan did not accept Qin Mo, while simultaneously blocking news, ensuring Yin Hu never learned that the Spirit Fox clan was embroiled in a civil war!" Uncle Qiang’s voice was indifferent, but everyone present could feel the suppressed fury beneath it.

Mei hung his head, falling silent.

"That is indeed the truth! I didn't expect you to know it, Senior," Yin Yao said with a faint, detached smile.

"Yes, but what use is it for me to know alone? If it had helped, we wouldn't be in this situation today!" Uncle Qiang’s voice was filled with boundless grief.

"I wonder, Uncle Qiang, are you curious about where my mother is now?" Yin Yao suddenly posed a question.

"You know? Ah, of course—you are her daughter. Tell me, how is Yin Hu?" His tone returned to normal; he seemed able to move past those memories quickly after all these years.

"My mother fled to the Barren Continent, as you may have heard. She gave birth to me there, but my father did not follow her. To draw the attention of those hunting them, he separated from her and was eventually captured; his whereabouts remain unknown. Three years ago, due to an accident, my mother was discovered by people from the Void Continent and taken back. But to this day, I do not know who those people were."

"Surprised? Uncle Qiang, the reason I came to the Nine-Tailed Fox territory was twofold: first for the future of the Spirit Fox clan, and second to search for news of my mother." Yin Yao revealed another of her motives.

"You suspect the Nine-Tailed Fox clan captured your mother?" Uncle Qiang looked puzzled. If it had been the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, he would have received word of it, yet he had heard nothing.

Sensing his skepticism, Yin Yao smiled. "Uncle Qiang, please don't misunderstand. It is only a guess, but I believe it is correct."

"Hmm," Uncle Qiang responded with a deep grunt.

After a long silence, he spoke again. "You must be Bai Yao. It seems Bai Ling has acknowledged you, and so shall I. I hope you will not disappoint me. Tell me, what do you need us to do? What help do you require?"

"Thank you, Uncle Qiang. Since you have offered, I will speak plainly. I need you to forge an identity for me so I can infiltrate the residence of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan leader." Yin Yao had temporarily abandoned her plan to find the elusive leads; she could not pass up such a golden opportunity, so she chose to remain within the territory.

Uncle Qiang looked at her with astonishment. He hadn't expected this young girl to be so bold—to infiltrate the very heart of the Nine-Tailed Fox leader's inner circle! It was no easy feat. If her identity were exposed, she would implicate far more than just herself.

"Although your request is difficult, I can manage it. But I must warn you: you must succeed; failure is not an option. If you fail, you bear the consequences alone. You must not implicate a single person on my side." After reflecting, Uncle Qiang agreed to the perilous request.

Yin Yao understood his stance. It was not easy for his group to remain hidden; there was no need for them to take risks for her sake. She was grateful he had agreed at all. Once she infiltrated the leader’s side, she would take full responsibility for whatever followed.

"Of course, please rest assured, Uncle Qiang. I am not a naive child; I understand the stakes," Yin Yao said with a serious expression.

"Very well," Uncle Qiang smiled.

"No!" Ji Xuanyu, who had been silent until now, suddenly interjected.

Yin Yao looked at him in surprise, full of confusion. Why was he causing trouble now? Uncle Qiang looked at Ji Xuanyu closely. Having focused entirely on Yin Yao, he had overlooked the young man. Seeing the way Ji Xuanyu looked at Yin Yao, Uncle Qiang suddenly understood and offered a knowing smile.

"You intend to go as well?" Uncle Qiang asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes. I ask for your help, Uncle Qiang," Ji Xuanyu said, ignoring Yin Yao’s expression and looking at Uncle Qiang with resolute eyes.

"Helping one is the same as helping two," Uncle Qiang agreed with a laugh.

Yin Yao finally processed the situation. She lowered her head, and for a moment, no one knew what she was thinking or feeling.