Chapter 1225: Chapter 52: Competing as a Substitute
At noon, the scorching sun hung high, and the poor Bo Bo was bound, wings tied, hanging upside down outside Elder Liuâs mansion.
Its wings drooped, its mouth stuffed with a piece of rag, looking utterly miserable.
Upon seeing its owner, black beans streamed down from its eyes like waterfalls.
Elder Liu and his granddaughter Liu Xueyu stood rigidly to the side, with several deep scars on Elder Liuâs face.
The grandfather and granddaughter had kidnapped Bo Bo and Little Yingying; logically, they should be very pleased, yet Yun Sheng noticed that both had ashen complexions and heavy dark circles under their eyes.
Seeing Yun Sheng come boldly alone, their expressions were quite different.
Elder Liu squinted his old eyes, his expression inscrutable, secretly sizing up Yun Sheng, while Liu Xueyu, with gritted teeth, almost ground them to dust out of hatred.
Yun Shengâs anger surged as she saw Bo Bo bullied to even this extent.
"Elder Liu, Iâve come. Release my Demon Beast and Medicine Gathering Boy first."
"Release it, sure, but you must ensure this damned thing keeps quiet," Elder Liuâs temples throbbed at the mention of Bo Bo.
Elder Liu is a purebred Heavenly Fox from the Eight Desolates continent; heâs encountered various Demon Beasts on the continent.
Before meeting Bo Bo, he believed only those large Witch Beasts from the barbaric roamed lands were the most troublesome. Yet after capturing this Demon Beast, he realized his prior viewpoint was utterly wrong!
Last night, Elder Liu captured the sheep and the Medicine Gathering Boy, intending to extract more information about Yun Sheng from Bo Bo.
After all, Qin Yue knew little of Yun Shengâs background, so Elder Liu had to ascertain Yun Shengâs connection to Cangdu.
Little did he know that this unknown damned thing, though restricted by Witch Gu Talisman, wailed and screamed the entire night.
To describe the sound as brainwashing with demonic music was lenient.
That dreadful sound disturbed everyone from top to bottom at Elder Liuâs Mansionâyoung dreamt nightmares, old couldnât sleep; throughout the night, none at the Liu Residence, from people to livestock, had a momentâs rest.
And this damned beast, its Qi Power was astonishing; although it couldnât move, anyone approaching faced its flying spit and slew of vulgarities.
It wasnât until dawn that Elder Liu, with several Sky Fox Soldiers, managed to seal Bo Boâs mouth for some peace.
Seeing the grandfather and granddaughterâs expressions, worse than losing their parents, Yun Sheng, knowing Bo Boâs temper, twitched a smile, suppressing an urge to laugh.
"Bo Bo, Iâm here. No one will bully you anymore. Stop crying," Yun Sheng nodded towards Bo Bo.
Only then did Elder Liu hesitantly remove the rag from Bo Boâs mouth.
"Whimper, dear master! That old tortoise and tortoise granddaughter kidnapped Bo Bo and Little Yingying. Theyâve hidden Little Yingying!" Though Bo Bo could now speak, the strange talisman papers still bound it, preventing normal flight, only held by Elder Liu.
It beat its wings ceaselessly, cursing the old tortoise a thousand times over in its heart.
Yun Shengâs brow furrowed, grasping Elder Liuâs clear threat. They purposely hid Little Yingying to keep Yun Sheng hesitant.
"Elder Liu, release them both, or donât blame me for being rude," Yun Sheng grew internally furious, feeling too eager for success; she focused solely on learning Sky Fox Inheritance, neglecting Bo Bo and Yingyingâs safety.
"Release her? Thatâs too generous for you. You crippled Xueyuâs hand; I should kill you for revenge," Elder Liu retorted angrily.
"However, Iâm not a petty person. We each make a concession: if you promise to replace Fengdu and participate in this Saintess Candidate ceremony, and successfully become the Saintess during selection, I will spare this pair," Elder Liu previously assumed Yun Sheng was Cangduâs candidate Saintess.
It wasnât until collaboration with Qin Yue did he learn from her that Yun Sheng wasnât competing as Cangduâs candidate Saintess.
Her true identity was merely a Medical Woman sent by Canghai with the army.
Elder Liu was cunning and sly; his granddaughter Liu Xueyu had her hand disabled and could no longer compete in the Saintess selection ceremony.
For a time, Elder Liu struggled to find an appropriate replacement for Liu Xueyu.
Elder Liu then had the idea to let Yun Sheng replace Liu Xueyu in the Saintess Candidate ceremony.
"Grandfather, do you want her to replace me in the Saintess selection?" Upon hearing, Liu Xueyu nearly fainted.
Is grandfather senile? This isnât revenge; this mongrel replacing her in the Heavenly Fox Saintess candidate!
"Xueyu, Grandfather has his arrangements. Youâre hurt now, and Fengdu needs a replacement among its three candidate Saintesses to maintain the situation," Elder Liu explained reluctantly,
Though entitled as an elder from Fengdu, he must consider Fengduâs interests.
Although Fengduâs Heavenly Fox Candidate Saintess included the rare Ice Fox lineage, Lu Yunshuang, that girl was aloof, ignoring his orders.
Such a person, even if becoming the Heavenly Fox Saintess, wouldnât benefit Elder Liu.
Thus, he preferred someone he could control.
The Medical Woman before him had a handle on her he wasnât worried about her noncompliance.
"I absolutely refuse to let her replace me," Liu Xueyu stomped in anger, running off.
Elder Liu sighed; Xueyuâs temper was spoiled.
Yun Sheng was utterly bewildered. She couldnât replace Liu Xueyu, having no interest in becoming any Heavenly Fox Saintess.
Moreover, her face alone would cause chaos if seen by the Sky Fox Tribe.
She merely came to deliver ashes, yet ended caught in so much turmoil.
Yet Yun Sheng knew she was deeply involved now, not easily freeing herself.
However, if Elder Liu thought he could manipulate her, he was gravely mistaken.
"Elder Liu, I detest threats. Iâm uninterested and will not participate as Fengduâs representative in the Heavenly Fox Saintess selection," Yun Sheng decisively refused Elder Liu.
"Wonât you care about your Demon Beast and that little girlâs life?" Elder Liu sneered, though he hadnât laughed long.
Suddenly, Yun Shengâs figure flashed, swift as lightning, stood before him.