Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 71: Zopyra — XII

Hu Lijing froze. His entire body seizing as his heart skipped a beat or two upon hearing that disembodied voice ringing inside the depth of his mind, rising above the darkness, it crooned at him.

Tears fell, the shock did nothing in particular to stop the liquid grief raining down his blood stained cheeks.

His hair — tangled and messy with blood — clung to his cheek as he snapped his head to look around himself, for a moment, as he pondered upon the voice, he could not help but wonder—

—Had he finally gone crazy?

"None of that, you pathetic excuse of a fox." The voice grumbled darkly, the undercurrents of mirth stark in it. "It is I who wishes to speak to you, nine-tailed fox. Hear my call and answer, would you want to make a trade?"

Hu Lijing stiffened as the disembodied voice sounded once more, something about the cadence of it set him off, it was a discomforting feeling he could not hope to put in words with his currently meddled mind.

His lips pursed, blood smearing together as his claws tightened around the blooded tissue torn off his mentor’s cadaver.

The voice was grating against his already taut nerves, the throbbing of his temples increased as it spoke. He had a lot to say in regards to the trade the voice proposed, but not quite the right words.

A trade for what? Vengeance.

It sounded like a deal with the demon residing in the deepest pits of hell. Usually, Hu Lijing would make sure to steer clear of things like this, preferring to not put himself in harm’s way.

But that was usually. Right at that moment, nothing about Hu Lijing’s situation was usual, much less normal.

The smell of decaying corpses cling to his body, the gloom of death accompanied his each laboured breath.

"Ten-tailed fox..." He growled, immediately recognising the fallen god of foxes as he looked up at him. "I believe we had sealed you off for good."

"Oh dear, oh dear," the voice chuckled, rattling, grating, the cadence of it chilling his heart. "I would not be so sure of it, you useless fox. For good? Do not make me laugh, little child."

The ten-tailed fox’s laugh turned louder and louder with every word he spoke and every second that passed. "Look around yourself, take a careful look and then ask yourself— ’Had I been around, would our clan have been reduced to nothing but piles of corpses?’ HahahaHAHA—"

Hu Lijing’s heart dropped to his feet, his claws dug past the layers of muscles of his mentors body, strings of it snapped as he clenched his hand in a valiant effort to restrain his temper.

"Enough!" He snarled at the air, not quite sure where the voice sourced from. With his lips pulled into a sneer, rows of sharp fangs gritted as his face contorted into a look of complete rage. "Cease your mockery, you bastard." He growled.

"Oh, but I am quite enjoying myself! You know there is no greater joy than finding amusement in the misery of a defeated man! Hah!"

Hu Lijing snapped his teeth, a low snarl rumbling in his chest as more and more blood of his mentor seeped into his hands, painting a gruesome picture of crimson all over his form.

"Now, now, no need to be so indignant, useless fox. I am a benevolent lord! I will be magnanimous and extend my hand of aid towards you. Taking it or not, it is all up to you, nine-tailed fox." the ten-tailed fox jeered, ill-concealed malice riding the underlying waves of his voice. "The choice is yours. If you desire to remain a jester of heaven, puppet to their whims, you’re very welcome to be one. AHAHA—"

"I said ENOUGH!" Hu Lijing all but screamed, his clawed hands flying to his ears as he forcefully covered his ears, trying so desperately to block out the voice that egged him on. His tears fell, saline drops falling out of those magnificent yet bloodshot amber eyes like little gems. "Enough..."

His voice trailed off, hoarse and weak as he shook his head, sobs dying in his throat as his body trembled.

Of course, would the fallen fox deity truly be a fallen one if he were to listen to him so easily?

No. By all means.

"Oh, poor, poor dear..." it cooed as though speaking to a mere babe. "What happened, fox? Your delicate ears, your oh so gentle heart couldn’t handle the utmost truth?"

Hu Lijing hunched forward, his spine curving more and more as he all but curled up to himself, as though he wanted to turn into a ball.

The tatters of his mentor’s body, the remains of his flesh smeared on his person as his hair swept and traced aimless trails, the blood, the grime, the issue, the nerves, stuck to him, like the indelible mark he would never be able to wash away.

The ten-tailed fox observed him, relishing in the agony he inflicted upon the nine-tailed fox with sadistic glee. His long tongue flickered out, tracing over his sharpened fangs as he raised his paw and licked it with a pleased growl, his ten tails swished around, their grim shadows on the floor dancing around.

His red eyes gleamed with pleasure as he shifted on the cold, freezing and darkened floor of his imprisonment.

As he watched the nine-tailed fox struggle with his malice, watched him war between his desire for vengeance and his goodness. He laughed to himself, the sound of it rattling and guttural as it bounced off the suffocating walls.

His crimson eyes gazed at the scene of Hu Lijing’s body curling tighter and tighter as he trembled, teeth clamping down on the supple flesh of his lips until he drew blood, the warm liquid flowing down. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

The sight of the crimson fluid made him purr, his empty stomach growling with growing voracity. He swallowed.

All in due time. There was nothing more pleasing than watching a good man break. There was nothing more pleasing than shattering the spirit of that man and pushing him deeper into the abyss of despair.

Truly, there was nothing more pleasurable than this.

Another laugh left him, another thrum of detached amusement trailed down his humongous, canine body, graceful yet menacing greyed fur rustling as he shifted, causing the chains of his restraints to clink against one another.

Accompanied by gasps and whimpers of Hu Lijing’s torment, the ten-tailed fox growled, his crimson eyes falling onto the chains as his mouth pulled into a sneer, tongue slithering out to run over it.

All in due time.

"I grow tired of your pathetic display, useless fox." He hummed.

Lies. He could never be more entertained.

"Prove your worth, give me your words. I’ve been gracious enough to give you a sliver of my time. Do not waste it."

Lies, again. He was sealed here. He had a lot of time. He was bored.

"Say, do you wish to make a trade?"

Like the enticing whispers of the devil at the end of the abyss, the ten-tailed fox’s voice beckoned Hu Lijing towards damnation.