My Husband’s Ascension C26 (Part 1)
Chapter 26.1 Engulf
The hall fell into silence, and the first to react was Li Feng.
He immediately pressed a hand to his chest, checking if his heart had been affected by Zhao Zhao, but the sharp stabbing sensation did not appear.
He searched over his body carefully, still feeling nothing unusual.
Looking up at Zhao Zhao, the young woman at the center of the crowd’s stunned or bewildered gazes, Li Feng noted that her expression remained calm, her eyes steadily fixed on the face before her.
Candidly, it was an extraordinarily beautiful face.
The fox yaos of Tushan, both male and female, were famed for their beauty, yet no matter how exquisite the features, they were ultimately just a pair of eyes and a mouth; without presence or aura, the appearance was hollow.
But the fox before them had somehow achieved more than mere replication. With a single glance, he had not only perfectly copied the visage, but also captured a majority of the original’s aura.
The man’s black hair flowed like silk, long lashes drooping over eyes half-hidden behind a delicate, rippling smile.
Flickering lamplight danced across him as he sat poised, exuding the gentle, restrained radiance of polished jade, a luminous, serene glow that seemed almost tangible.
Among the assembled female cultivators, some had long resided in Jimo Sea and had never glimpsed Dao Lord Tianshu’s true appearance; others, like Tushan Long, had seen him in person decades ago when he came to Jimo Sea to handle clan matters.
Anyone who had once laid eyes on him, no matter how many years had passed, would remember his features clearly, just as they were now before them.
Zhao Zhao leaned in slightly, lifting a hand to touch the face before her, blinking once as she murmured appreciatively, “Tushan Clan’s arts are truly impressive, this imitation is remarkably close.”
She then turned toward Tushan Long, her gaze shining as though she had found a treasure. “No wonder Miss Immortal Tushan is so proud. In that case, I shall graciously accept this generous gift from you. When time permits, I sincerely hope you will visit Beaconlight Mountain.”
Li Feng stared in disbelief at Zhao Zhao, whose smile remained perfectly composed.
Is she all right?
Excessive courtesy from someone harmless can sometimes be deceit, but for Tushan Long to dare offer and for Zhao Zhao to dare accept was bold, indeed.
“…Of course,” Tushan Long said, her stiff expression forcing out a small smile, though her eyes kept flicking back to the face of the arctic fox, her mind already a storm of surprise and apprehension.
The arctic fox’s illusion was so convincing that it proved the Head of Beaconlight Mountain knew Dao Lord Tianshu far more intimately than a mere fleeting glance.
How familiar must one be with a person to replicate every detail of their appearance flawlessly, without a single error?
From Tushan Long’s perspective, aside from minor differences in hair color and aura, the moment she saw it, she nearly mistook the figure for Dao Lord Tianshu himself.
“If I’m not mistaken, it seems the appearance favored by the Head of Beaconlight Mountain is Dao Lord Tianshu of Immortal Realm of Kunwu?” Someone at the table tentatively asked.
Zhao Zhao tilted her head and asked in return, “Why not? Do you think this face is unattractive?”
“…”
It was indeed beautiful.
But such beauty, paired with Dao Lord Tianshu’s status and reputation, was clearly meant not for personal admiration, but for the awe of the world.
Even in this black-haired form, draped in soft muslin, seated here, he was unlike the other paramours, whose purpose was to display beauty for others.
Just looking at him inspired reverence, not closeness.
Tushan Long suddenly spoke, “So, Miss Immortal, you are acquainted with Dao Lord Tianshu?”
“Our acquaintance is limited to a single encounter.” Zhao Zhao’s eyes curved into a gentle smile, as if she placed no weight on the matter at all.
If she were to make a grand display of her connection with Dao Lord Tianshu, it might not have been as intimidating, but her casual dismissal of the topic only stoked Tushan Long’s unease.
Did this woman intervene in the affairs of the Zhongli Clan under Dao Lord Tianshu’s guidance?
Tushan Long lowered her eyelids, suppressing her swirling thoughts, and when she looked up again, her expression returned to the charming, beguiling smile.
“Today’s banquet is merely to celebrate Beaconlight Mountain welcoming its new master, and the addition of another sect in Jimo Sea. I will not hide the truth from you, Miss Immortal: Jimo Sea’s terrain is peculiar, bordering the Demon and Ghost Realm, and truly requires a powerful presence to maintain order. Since you are acquainted with Dao Lord Tianshu, should unrest arise here in the future, might it be possible for us to seek your guidance in inviting him to assist?”
Even Li Feng, who rarely engaged in subtle thought, sensed the probing nature behind Tushan Long’s words.
She was testing the depth of Zhao Zhao’s connection with Dao Lord Tianshu, whether he would come at a mere call from her.
“The Zhongli Clan is here. As its head, he would come should danger arise,” Zhao Zhao deflected with a deft, light touch, then added, “However, Dao Lord Tianshu is currently in closed-door cultivation. Even if he were to aid, it would have to wait until he emerges.”
Upon hearing this, Tushan Long’s expression stiffened.
She even knew that Dao Lord Tianshu was in closed-door cultivation—clearly, she was a close acquaintance of his!
Tushan Long could not have guessed that this information had merely been eavesdropped by Zhongli Shun, who had been hiding behind the clan elders’ windows.
The banquet, rife with covert exchanges and silent probing, finally drew to a close.
“…You actually used Dao Lord Tianshu’s name to bolster your own influence. Tsk tsk tsk, that’s not like you, Xie Tanzhao,” Li Feng remarked with a knowing smirk on the way back.
“Not like me?” Zhao Zhao tilted her head.
Li Feng pondered for a moment, “Previously, when you mentioned Dao Lord Tianshu, you wore that look, three parts sorrow and seven parts grievance, claiming you would have nothing more to do with him, but secretly your heart ached to death. And now, you calmly leverage his influence. That’s quite the change.”
Though Li Feng’s words were somewhat exaggerated, Zhao Zhao mulled over it and realized he wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Perhaps this is the benefit of severing the threads of attachment,” she murmured, pressing her palm over her heart.
“If I hadn’t severed my threads of attachment, with my petty pride, I probably would have rather died than mention him in public. But now I think, if Dao Lord Tianshu can use a mortal woman to navigate his tribulation, why can’t I leverage him to navigate mine?”
To obsess too much, to desire complete separation, can itself be another form of lingering attachment.
“Besides, this is trouble brought about by the Zhongli Clan in the first place.”
Zhao Zhao turned her gaze to the arctic fox trailing behind them, riding the wind.
The fox still bore Xie Lanshu’s features, smiling faintly, eyes brimming with gentle affection.
Zhao Zhao’s expression remained calm, unwavering.
By the time they reached Beaconlight Mountain, she spotted Daoist Ming Jue dozing against a pillar at the gate from afar.
“…We clearly said we’d be late today. Why are you waiting here, Master?” Zhao Zhao stepped forward and gently roused him.
Daoist Ming Jue, still bleary-eyed, relaxed only when he saw Zhao Zhao and Li Feng had returned safely.
“It’s a relief you’re back, a relief…These brittle bones can finally—Huh?”
His eyes widened, sleep forgotten, as he caught sight of the figure behind Li Feng. He pointed at the arctic fox in shock, “Isn’t that—”
“It’s a fox from the Tushan Clan.”
Zhao Zhao recounted the events of today’s banquet in brief.
Though Daoist Ming Jue now understood the full context and the impossibility of her refusal at the time, even he felt a shiver run through him upon seeing that face.
“So, how do you intend to handle him?”
An obvious spy like this was neither easy to kill nor safe to truly keep nearby—a veritable hot potato.
The arctic fox slipped past Li Feng and approached Zhao Zhao with measured steps.
The fox’s gait was singularly graceful, each movement neither overly delicate nor weak, yet every step seemed deliberately composed, utterly captivating.
“The night is already deep.” The fox, elegant and poised, hooked a finger on the chain ornament of Zhao Zhao’s clothing and blinked. “Miss Immortal, however you wish to place this servant, this servant will follow your command.”
Li Feng was completely dumbfounded beside them.
No wait.
Could a man with human sensibilities truly make such an expression?
Zhao Zhao met the gaze with a radiant smile. “Alright then, simply do as he did in the past.”
The arctic fox’s eyes flickered between annoyance and delight. Clearly, his comprehension of the task differed from Zhao Zhao’s instructions.
It wasn’t until he was led to a barren patch of land and handed a hoe by Zhao Zhao that the realization finally struck him.
“Now get to work.”
The arctic fox: “……”
He had wanted to hear those words—but not in this context.
“I intend to use this patch of the spirit garden for planting some celestial herbs and spiritual fruits. The seedlings are ready, but the land is far too large, and no one is willing to work it. Fortunately, you’re here. Without you, I wouldn’t even know what to do.”
The arctic fox adopted a look of carefully crafted distress. “But… This servant came to serve you, Miss Immortal. My hands have never done farm work. If they get injured or calloused, how can I serve you then…”
“Within three days, you turn this land over—that will be serving me.” Zhao Zhao smiled brightly, patting his shoulder. “And truth be told, I rather enjoy watching a man sweat under the sun in the fields. There’s a certain charm to it.”
“……”
The arctic fox believed she was talking nonsense.
“Not inclined to act?” Zhao Zhao tilted her head. “Very well, then I shall not compel you. You were sent as a gift from Miss Immortal Tushan; in that case, I shall have no choice but to return you intact—”
“Miss Immortal’s command…this servant naturally dare not disobey.”
The arctic fox gritted his teeth, resolving to swallow his pride.
Patience brings calm; retreat grants perspective. After all, the task entrusted by the clan leader was far more important.
Zhao Zhao nodded, evidently pleased.
…
Beneath the silvery glow of the moon, the rhythmic thud of the hoe striking earth echoed through the night.
The arctic fox shed the cumbersome, intricate muslin robes and rolled up his sleeves, revealing forearms corded with faint veins.
Such a physique was strikingly at odds with his delicate exterior.
Perched upon a tree branch, Zhao Zhao studied his face for a long moment before remarking, “Perhaps it would be better to return to your original form.”
The arctic fox looked up, puzzled. “This face this servant wears is fashioned to please you, Miss Immortal. Does Miss Immortal find it lacking?”
“...No.”
All the more so because the scene itself mirrored a setting so similar. Yet the closer the resemblance, the more she noticed the slight distinctions, each one accentuating Xie Lanshu’s singularity.
“I prefer your true countenance,” Zhao Zhao said, plucking a fruit from the branch and tossing it to him. “Do not ape another; your own face is already handsome.”
The arctic fox started, caught off guard. Among the Tushan foxes who cultivate seduction arts, pride lies in perfect imitation. Never before had he heard praise for his original looks.
—and she had even said she liked them.
The arctic fox, versed in the arts of seduction, had only ever heard others’ hearts race, never had he experienced the quickening of his own.
White mist gathered and dispersed as he shed his disguise, revealing a pair of limpid, enticing peach-blossom eyes.
He lifted his gaze hesitantly, voice small as a reed, “Miss Immortal, between his visage and mine... which do you prefer?”
Zhao Zhao lied with a straight face and a steady heart: “You, certainly you. If you plough this field well tonight, you will be all the more beloved.”
The arctic fox knew full well she was indulging him with flattery.
Yet the young woman’s beauty was such that even lies spoken in that earnest, radiant manner were a balm to the heart.
He covered his lips and let out a soft laugh, “Miss Immortal, if you were but a Tushan fox, your talent would surely be unmatched, and all men beneath heaven would fall at the hem of your robes.”
“Is that so?” Zhao Zhao wiped the fruit she had plucked on her robe and bit into it. The faintly tart sweetness spread across her lips and teeth. “Some have expressed a desire to part ways with me eternally, and that our paths should never cross again.”
The arctic fox paid her words no mind. “Men are countless beneath the heavens; there will always be a few who fail to appreciate you. Why should you bind yourself to a single crooked tree, Miss Immortal?”
Zhao Zhao, perched in the tree, swung her legs lightly. She laughed. “You speak wisely… I shall reward you by letting you plough only half the field tonight.”
The arctic fox: "..."
That’s still far too much!!
