Chapter 126: Tao Yaoyao, the Demon Catcher

From afar, a giant eight-tailed fox could be seen sprinting frantically across the fissured earth, carrying a person on its back. Behind it, an invisible spirit named Lian followed, striving to cover their tracks.

The fox’s speed had reached its absolute limit, yet it could not outrun the crumbling ground. Fate, it seemed, was determined to toy with them; the earth on both sides of the fox’s path split open into deep ravines, radiating scorching heat from below.

The fox looked down into the abyss, then felt the warmth of the small creature on its back. "This time," it whispered, "let Brother Bawei protect you..."

The massive eight-tailed heavenly fox stood firm in the center of the forest. Even as its feet sank deep into the fractured earth, it did not falter.

"Awoo!"

The fox’s howl echoed across the forest. Lian hovered in mid-air, using her spiritual power to help the fox resist the intense geothermal heat. However, it was like a drop of water in the ocean, failing to make the slightest difference. The heat began to creep up to the fox’s belly. "Lady Goddess, could you please help me move Yaoyao to the top of my head?"

Lian reacted instantly, using her spiritual power to shift Tao Yaoyao’s position. Bawei looked content. "Thank you, Lady Goddess."

It was clear that Bawei had already resigned himself to sacrifice, but Lian felt there was still a chance to save him. "Bawei, don't you want the first thing Yaoyao sees when she wakes up to be her Brother Bawei, rather than a spirit?"

Bawei was struck speechless.

"Bawei, hold on! Yaoyao is still waiting for you! Without her permission, you are not allowed to die!"

A hot tear rolled from the corner of the fox's eye, only to be instantly evaporated by the geothermal heat. In that critical moment, no one noticed that Tao Yaoyao’s butterfly-like eyelashes fluttered slightly. A tear traced a path down her cheek, and her previously relaxed hands curled into tight fists.

"Bawei! Don't you want to continue watching Yaoyao grow up? Are you going to abandon her?"

"No! I don't want that! How could I ever wish for such a thing? I yearn to be with her!"

Provoked by Lian’s words, Bawei finally regained his will to live. Lian let out a breath of relief.

The heat had reached the fox's neck. Hovering in the air, even as a soul, Lian could feel the oppressive dryness of the atmosphere; she could only imagine the agony Bawei was enduring. The heat continued to spread. As a spirit, there was little she could do, so she channeled every ounce of her strength to shield the pair. "I beg of you, Heaven, give them a chance. Is even just a single chance too much to ask...?"

Lian prayed silently. As the reincarnation of a Goddess, she lacked the power to turn the tides or quench the geothermal fire. What could she do? She could only plead—sincerely and desperately.

"Boom!"

Thunder?

Lian looked up at the sky. At some point, a vast expanse of dark clouds had gathered, flickering with hidden lightning. A single raindrop landed on her forehead, and a smile broke across her face. "Thank you. Thank you."

Following those words, a torrential downpour cascaded down. The rain collided with the geothermal heat, instantly extinguishing it. The resulting steam created a temperature so extreme it was nearly unbearable, but they had survived.

As the rain continued, the deep fissures in the ground gradually ceased their tremors. Bawei used his final bit of demonic energy to safely lower Tao Yaoyao to the ground before shrinking into a small, frail fox. He lay motionless on the rain-soaked grass. Lian’s own spiritual energy felt completely drained; her soul-form, painstakingly solidified by pills, was now no more substantial than a pile of loose bones. Fortunately, Xiao Jianjian had plenty of medicine.

Lian summoned Xiao Jianjian to feed the medicine to Bawei. Without physical form, she could not touch the material world. Xiao Jianjian hurriedly tossed blood-activating, pain-relieving, bone-mending, and vitality-restoring pills into Bawei’s mouth, leaving the rest to the fox's own strength of will.

A soft moan came from nearby. Lian and Xiao Jianjian exchanged a glance and approached Tao Yaoyao. [Master, she seems to be waking up.]

"Yes, I see."

Tao Yaoyao’s clenched fists had relaxed, her fingers twitching involuntarily. Her mouth moved, and her eyes darted restlessly beneath her lids. "Brother... Bawei..."

Lian curled her lip. "Great. One 'Brother Bawei,' one 'Yaoyao, Yaoyao'—it has absolutely nothing to do with me. I worked myself to the bone, and for what? Sigh!"

Xiao Jianjian rubbed against Lian’s shoulder. [Beautiful Master, you have me! And Little Ling, Sister Yan, and Lord Chongli! We will always be with you!]

Lian felt comforted, though only for a fleeting moment. "I’d rather not talk about Chongli. Every time I think of him, I want to give him a good thumping. Just now, I felt like my soul was about to shatter into dust..."

The geothermal attack had been ferocious. To keep a sliver of hope alive, Lian had pushed herself to the limit, but her spiritual energy had dissipated too quickly. At one point, she had felt death drawing near, but fortunately, the Way of Heaven had been on her side.

Lian secretly gestured a bow of gratitude toward the sky. She knew this was a favor granted by the Way of Heaven to Chong Lian, her past life. She understood.

"Sister Lian... where is Brother Bawei?"

Lian gestured toward the fox with her chin. Regardless of her own condition, Tao Yaoyao scrambled over to Bawei’s side. Lian drifted along behind her.

"Brother Bawei..."

Tao Yaoyao stared at the scabs forming on Bawei’s body. His once vibrant fur had lost its luster—he had always been so proud of that coat...

Tears began to fall like broken beads. Even Lian felt her heart ache. "Bawei, wake up, please. Yaoyao is crying."

...

Yaoyao!

Yaoyao!

Yaoyao is crying?

Don't cry, Yaoyao, Brother Bawei is here!

"Yao... yao..."

The weak voice reached Lian’s ears and struck straight into Tao Yaoyao’s heart.

Tao Yaoyao was overcome with joy. "Brother Bawei! I'm here! Yaoyao is here! I’m right here!"

The fox lifted a paw, wanting to stroke Tao Yaoyao’s cheek, but realized he was not in his human form, so he lowered it again. "Don't... cry..."

Tao Yaoyao grabbed his lowered paw and pressed it firmly against her face. "I won't cry, I won't cry anymore. Brother Bawei, you must be alright!"

Bawei struggled to retract his sharp claws; he could not bear the thought of scratching the little one’s face.

"Yaoyao... Brother is so tired... Brother wants to take a nap..."

With that, the fox’s eyes, which had barely opened, slowly drifted shut.

Tao Yaoyao couldn't believe it. "Brother Bawei! You are not allowed to sleep! You are not allowed! Wah! Sister Lian! Save him! Please, save Brother Bawei!"

Lian’s brows were furrowed in deep worry. This shouldn't be! The rain had come just in time, she had protected his heart-pulse with her own energy, and Xiao Jianjian had fed him precious medicine—there was no way he should be heading to the King of Hell!

"Xiao Jianjian, go check on him. I cannot solidify my soul enough to feel his pulse."

Lian was anxious, even calling Xiao Jianjian by her full name. Xiao Jianjian hurried to check Bawei’s pulse. Tao Yaoyao watched anxiously as the tiny white mouse placed a paw less than half the size of her thumb onto Bawei’s wrist, as tense as if she were the one lying on the ground. "How is it? How is Brother Bawei? Lord Mouse God, please, say something!"