Xu Weiyuan smiled at Lu Fengmian's words, lips curving as his eyes also lightened. "Throughout all these years, I've heard that from many. Well, A-Shan and I have known each other for well over ten years now, it is only normal for our relationship to be so deep."

Hearing this, Lu Fengmian smiled gently in turn. Tang Qingshan, one that was less than ten years old. How had he look like then?

"How did you meet?" How did fate bring them together? Lu Fengmian wanted to know. His fingers carefully picked up a black piece and placed it onto the board.

Xu Weiyuan looked at the board, holding a white stone in his fingers as he replied, "I met him back in Suzhou, in the Naying residence, a place filled with the peach blossom trees. That was our very first meeting, and while it was merely a glance, he remained on my mind. It was later on during the day while I was walking the streets filled with vendors that I bumped into him. Without knowing, we had gotten closer then." There was a soft look on his face as he said this, carefully setting down the white stone.

Lu Fengmian looked at Xu Weiyuan. They really did match each other... Lu Fengmian studied the board, a chaotic storm running through his heart. "When did you get married then? Knowing Qingshan, he must've been in a rush." There was a sour feeling in his heart, a bitterness that arose upon his tongue as these words escaped.

Xu Weiyuan cracked a smile, a bright smile that made his face glow and he let out a bright laugh. "He was. We haven't been married for long though, only eight months have passed." His eyes looked up at Lu Fengmian with genuine kindness.

Under the table, Lu Fengmian let go of his clenched fist, as if the feelings within his heart was being let go. There was a lighter feeling in his heart. Xu Weiyuan was a great person, his heart was truly kind. This person was perfect for Tang Qingshan in every way.

"Ah, A-Shan told me that you have an older sister. I wanted to ask, that if you would want, I have a small residence not far from here. It's mostly empty, filled with servants to watch over the residence. If you like it, you can live there with your sister. Think of it as a gift from me, for everything you've done to help A-Shan." Xu Weiyuan brought up.

Lu Fengmian couldn't help but freeze before he refuted at once, "No, that is your own residence. My sister and I have enough money to buy our own residence, there is no need for such a gift." He gently shook his head.

Xu Weiyuan carefully scanned his face, brows knitting softly before he let it go. "Alright then, but I do hope you stay for a while longer. A-Shan is usually busy. If there are no wars, then he will stay for a while, but nevertheless, he still has to go away to watch his troops."

Although unintended, these words served as a reminder that Lu Fengmian did not know Tang Qingshan as well as he thought he did. There a slight pain from the bottom of his heart. It was time to move, to get away from this manor. Staying here will only hurt him more...

The round of chess continued for a long time as the two exchanged a few words every now and then. At the end, it was Xu Weiyuan who got called away. He had some matters to finish and left first.

As Lu Fengmian looked down at the board, the chaotically placed pieces of stone seemed to resemble his heart. All he knew was that, it would be time to move out now. While he still loved Tang Qingshan, staying here would only bring more pain. His eyes looked down at the board, tears residing on his lashes, hanging off the edge. He laid his arms on the table, gently placing his head on it.

As the moon shone through the window, Lu Fengmian's pale face was illuminated. There was a deep sorrow, heartache, and pain that appeared on his face, but his tears did not drop. The restlessness continued to grow in his heart.

Suddenly, Lu Fengmian stood up. Looking out the window, he furrowed his brows. Lu Yingyue, he had felt her presence around the manor. Looking out, Lu Fengmian saw that no one was out. And so, he quickly morphed into his fox form, a figure of white jumping out the window, dashing out the gates into the deep forest that laid ahead.

-

Xu Weiyuan walked away, his smile wiped away. There was a look of unease on his face, his lips suddenly pale.

"A-Li, get my elder brother to come. I don't know, but it seems that things have changed while I was away." His voice was precise and stern.

Standing to the side, A-Li furrowed his brow, asking, "Right now? Leader, Master Xu is most likely resting already."

But Xu Weiyuan stubbornly shook his head, "No, this is urgent. I wasn't expecting the Tang Manor to have invited in a demon." His hands clenched to the side.

A-Li's eyes widened, "Really? How come I didn't feel anything? Although I may not compare to you, I can still sense any demon."

To this, Xu Weiyuan's eyes grew colder. "No, this demon is good at hiding, also very powerful." Xu Weiyuan took out a letter and handed it to A-Li. "Here, pass this to my brother. Also, call An Xu to replace your position."

A-Li accepted the letter, "Alright, Leader. Then I will take my leave."

With that, A-Li's figure flickered as it disappeared, popping out the window.

Xu Weiyuan stood, biting his lips. His fists were clenched tightly. What to do? How would he able to tell Tang Qingshan, when his enmity towards these demons were so high?

-

Standing in the forest, Lu Yingyue had her back rested on a bamboo. It was a bamboo forest, flourishing in the moonlight. Her face was cold and uncaring, arms crossed. Noticing the familiar presence, she looked up.

Lu Fengmian found Lu Yingyue, stopping before her as he turned back into his human form.

"Sister, what are you doing here?" Lu Fengmian asked furrowing his brow.

Lu Yingyue looked at Lu Fengmian, scanning him before her eyes suddenly widened. "You, who did you meet?" Such a smell, it evoked danger for her. Her skin couldn't help but feel pricked.

"Someone that Tang Qingshan knew came back." Lu Fengmian didn't go into details. But his eyes couldn't help but become downcasted.

Right away, Lu Yingyue's eyes widened. She knew what he was speaking of, it explained why his heart was so chaotic.

"Feng'er, we have to leave."

Li Fengmian looked at her in surprise. "Why?" It was so sudden, everything that was happening was too quickly for him to comprehend it.

"Feng'er, you've just met a Taoist Priest."

Lu Fengmian's eyes widened in shock. Was it... was it Xu Weiyuan?

Lu Yingyue's face grew cold, a hint of cruelty in her eyes. "Feng'er, we have to leave. Now. He may have already called in some other people to help him. After all, you are one of the stronger fox demons, even if you have never used your powers yet." Lu Yingyue walked towards Lu Fengmian, her fingers were gently placed onto Lu Fengmian's forehead.

Lu Fengmian felt a warm current pass through his body, a surge of power. His heart was truly worried now, knowing that from here on, Tang Qingshan and his roads would forever be severed.

"I have unsealed your powers. Feng'er, sooner or later, we would have had to leave. I... have been hiding something truly bad from you." Lu Yingyue's eyes were gently glazed as she softly caressed Lu Fengmian's face.

Lu Fengmian's face morphed into pain, something stabbing deeply into his heart. He was already wary, scared of whatever this was. But even so, he leaned into Lu Yingyue's gentle touches.

"I... I knew Tang Qingshan's Father. Feng'er, I killed his father." Lu Yingyue's cold eyes revealed a rare look of pain within them.

Lu Fengmian's eyes widened at this news, a look of shock.

Lu Yingyue smiled sadly, "Feng'er, Tang Qingshan would have known that I was the one who killed his father sooner or later. Shan Mingxia has been keeping spies on both you and me, she has never trusted you. Not to mention, our fate is tied so deeply with their's. I carry the weight of killing Tang Shouxin, and no matter what, neither Shan Mingxia nor Tang Qingshan will ever forgive the fox demons for my sins. Shan Mingxia has already begun suspecting your ties to the death of her husband, I have already dragged you into my problems."

"Why? Why did you do it?" Lu Fengmian's voice cracked. His eyes revealed pain and heartache, so much that it made Lu Yingyue freeze.

"I loved him, I loved Tang Shouxin more than anything in my life. I loved him so much, even when I knew that he would never love me, I used my power to bewitch him, hoping that he will become mine. Maybe it was my cursed fate, but he was able to break from my spell and he tried to kill me. I didn't want to. Back then, I lived with a friend of mine. My friend, she killed Tang Shouxin. And I, I took away his draining life force. I met you not long later and you became my escape from the sins I committed." Lui Yingyue stifled a cry, a look of vulnerability on her face.

Hearing this, Lu Fengmian closed his eyes in pain, recollecting his thoughts. Was this a sign that Tang Qingshan and him were never meant to be?

Lu Fengmian recalled the past him, the one who had not cared for anyone, seeking for only his pleasures, and doing what he wished at the consequences of other's. Was it time to return to that? Was it time to become cruel? To complete his mission of protecting Lu Yingyue, and give up this lifetime's love?

Should Lu Fengmian embrace his identity, the him that he had tried hiding? Tang Qingshan hates him, he who was a fox demon.

Lu Fengmian let out a deep breath. He opened up his eyes, a cold look in them. He needed to protect Lu Yingyue, to do so, he would have to turn against Tang Qingshan and Shan Mingxia, who would try to hunt her down. This was the mission that the original soul had begged for him to complete.

"Sister, let's go. It is time for me to embrace my identity." Lu Fengmian's face became strikingly cold, the gentleness on his face vanquished.

Seeing this, Lu Yingyue couldn't help but smile, it was a smile of relief. "Sooner or later, you would have to come clean with who you truly are. Feng'er, even if you stayed, Tang Qingshan would find out about your identity and he would hate you. Even if it was my fault, the humans will hate all fox demons. Let's go, my friend has already opened an association for the fox demons to mingle into. It is a secret network, running under the Second Prince."

Lu Fengmian clenched his hand tightly. This time, he was really turning his back against Tang Qingshan. No matter what, he needed to protect Lu Yingyue. It was time to return back to the cold him, the evil him, the one that he had shed for Tang Qingshan. Not to mention, he would even be helping their enemy, Mo Shen.

As soon as Lu Fengmian thought this, there was a change felt in his body. Lu Fengmian felt a strong power settling into his heart, a wave of delight and evil filled his heart. He raised his hands and noticed a blue mark imprinted onto his palm.

Lu Yingyue suddenly gasped. She watched as before her, Lu Fengmian's long black hair turned a pure white. A bright blue mark appeared between his brows, and his features were glazed over by ice. Before, he was a beautiful and gentle man but now reflected in Lu Yingyue's eyes, it was a man now cold and aloof, a man who appeared even more bewitching as his features have fully opened up with his awakening. His brown eyes were now glowing blue, bringing about a whole new person within them.

Suddenly, a bright smile came onto her face. This was the right decision for both of them. No matter what, they were fox demons, power was what they sought.

"Sister?" Lu Fengmian felt the change, he could even tell that his voice had changed. His gentle and calm voice was gone, replaced with a chilly tone capable of bewitchment.

"It's alright, you have just awakened. I have unsealed your powers. Every demon goes through this when they awaken. Some experience changes in appearance or their power. For you, you are a demon born with the highest power and the change is bigger." Lu Yingyue explained, "It means that you have much more power than I do."

Lu Fengmian looked at the blue mark imprinted onto his right palm, and softly clenched his hand. Turning his head to look back at the distant lights, his eyes looked long and silently. Finally, he turned away, fully throwing away his own heart.

"Let's go, sister."

From this moment on, his road and Tang Qingshan's would forever diverge.

From this moment on, they will no longer meet in kind, but only as enemies.

Lu Fengmian was throwing away his own heart and his love. He was going to throw away everything and stand by Lu Yingyue's side to complete his mission.

After all, this was what Fei Shang had warned him of.

After everything Lu Yingyue said, it was enough for him to understand that Xu Weiyuan would tell Tang Qingshan his identity, and Tang Qingshan would grow to hate him. Not to mention, Shan Mingxia had never trusted him either.

Lu Fengmian let go of his clenched hand, his blue eyes gazing at Lu Yingyue.

Lu Yingyue smiled. It was only like this that Lu Fengmian would never be hurt. This was a sign that his heart has been stoned.

Lu Yingyue reached for Lu Fengmian, raising a hand in the air, waving her hand in an enchanting matter as a black dust formed around them, surrounding them.

As the black dust dissipated, their figures were now gone.

Left on the ground, a small jade pendant was broken in half.

Seemingly, it resembled a heart that had fully broken itself up...

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