Chapter 18: Would It Be Better to Let Dongfang Ji Bai Die on the Road?

The fragment of Ji Ci’s amnesia involved Dongfang Jibai, yet she retained no memory loss concerning Xue Jing.

That despicable man had captured her and even hurt her!

She bit fiercely into Xue Jing’s wrist and seized the chance to slip from his grasp. Before disappearing into the shadows of the palace walls, she turned back to make a mocking face.

Ji Ci crawled out through a dog hole beneath the palace wall, her four paws flying as she sprinted wildly toward the palace gate.

In the darkness, Dongfang Jibai’s figure appeared like a ghost, catching her securely in his arms.

Ji Ci’s fur bristled suddenly but relaxed slowly as she caught his familiar scent.

She sprawled comfortably in the man’s embrace, wagging her ears proudly. “Dongfang Jibai, today I earned so much money for you! I’m going to raise an army for you. Since the emperor distrusts you, why not just make you the emperor yourself? That way, you won’t have to be anyone’s possession or fall into darkness!”

Under the moonlight, Ji Ci’s fox ears twitched in the air, and her little head bobbed adorably.

A smile played on Dongfang Jibai’s lips as he gently brushed her trembling ear tips.

He did not understand why he so despised the princess, yet in the end, he would become her captive.

But the path the little fox had devised was undoubtedly the best one.

If he became emperor, none of the ensuing troubles would have occurred.

Back at the manor, Dongfang Jibai arranged everything overnight.

Ji Ci lay on the bed, her small belly rising and falling as if asleep.

Her consciousness sank into her space, where she gazed at the abundant supplies, her eyes shining with delight.

Nothing made her happier than the zero-cost purchases.

She hummed as she soaked seeds in the spirit spring, which could accelerate germination and increase yield.

Ji Ci assigned tasks to the system, leaving all the farming to it.

When she left the space, she saw Dongfang Jibai gathering everyone in the courtyard, carefully instructing them on matters to attend to after his departure.

“Zhao Bo, the master and madam will arrive soon. Take good care of them and don’t let them worry.”

The steward Zhao Bo looked up, shock flashing in his eyes.

He knew Dongfang Jibai valued family above all else; now that the family was returning, unrest in the palace was inevitable.

“Your old servant will guard the master and madam with his life.”

“Good. Tomorrow’s deployment is rushed; prepare only some rations for the journey. Send eighty percent of Jiangnan’s assets to the border. The emperor eyes the Dongfang family greedily; I feel safer keeping the assets close.”

Ji Ci peeked from the window, paws gripping the sill and ears twitching. She muttered, “Sent to me? No one will ever find them.”

Dongfang Jibai raised an eyebrow at this. He had heard that cultivators often carried a space pouch and guessed the little fox must have such a treasure.

Once they reached the border, he would entrust all the treasures to her safekeeping.

---

Ji Ci watched the household bustling busily, her little head turning with them.

At first, she was excitedly peeking about, but soon wilted like pickled vegetables and began causing trouble for the system.

“System, forced transformation punishments don’t work—they just waste time. If you erase my memories again, I’m quitting.”

She lounged on the soft couch, crossing one leg over the other. A bunch of grapes rested on the small table; she picked one with her fox mouth at a leisurely pace.

[Master, I cannot set this punishment.]

“You can’t? Fine, then I’m running away. Didn’t you say A Qing turned into a dog? I’ll find A Qing and live on the streets with him.”

She jumped to the floor, clearly refusing to cooperate.

The system relented: [How about three minutes of electric shock?]

Ji Ci nodded; electric shocks were fine—she could endure anything. It was just a shock, no big deal.

“Also, my fur color’s wrong. Red hair is terrifying! Change it for me.”

[Master, you can exchange points for hair color—one hundred points.]

Ji Ci pouted. So expensive!

“Hurry up and give me a mission—I want to earn money.”

System: [Mission issued: Help Dongfang Jibai avoid assassination. Reward: 100 points. Transformation progress: 105/1000.]

Her eyes brightened. Since she could now endure shocks to aid her transformation, and the mission wasn’t urgent, it seemed manageable.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Change my hair color to black.”

[Exchange successful. Hair color: black.]

Ji Ci wanted to try transforming but was overloaded with energy tonight and couldn’t shift into human form just yet.

Outside the door, Dongfang Jibai overheard Ji Ci bargaining with the system and smiled so broadly it threatened to spill over.

His little fox was simply too adorable.

She even noticed her hair color was off; he had always assumed that all cultivators in her fairy realm had hair of that shade.

He pushed open the door and entered, scooping the little fox into his arms.

“Time for bed.”

---

The next day.

At dawn, Dongfang Jibai donned armor and gripped his sword, carrying the still half-asleep Ji Ci as he strode toward the training grounds.

Troops were inspected and aligned.

The glint of iron armor reflected the morning frost; the army stood ready and solemn.

---

Outside the capital, the common folk knelt, sending the troops off with cries of “General Dongfang must return victorious!”

Dongfang Jibai sat tall on horseback, his expression stern, save for his fingertips which absentmindedly stroked the soft fur of the fox cradled in his arms, betraying a trace of tenderness.

From the city tower, the emperor watched Dongfang Jibai’s esteemed reputation among the people with growing apprehension. His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, teeth grinding.

“Father, why not let Dongfang Jibai die on the road?” the crown prince Xue Wang approached, lowering his voice with a sinister gleam in his eyes.

The emperor sneered, “If he dies, who will shield the Great Zhou from the northern barbarians’ cavalry?”

“Father, Dongfang Jibai is a fierce tiger. Now that he leaves the capital, it’s like releasing a beast back into the wild—endless trouble awaits!” Xue Yingxue’s fingers dug into her palm as she stared fixedly at the retreating figure. “Once he’s gone, it’ll be much harder to control him.”

The emperor knew this well, but the nation needed Dongfang Jibai.

“I have already made arrangements,” he said, flicking his sleeve as the dragon robe billowed like storm clouds.

---

In Dongfang Jibai’s arms, Ji Ci poked her little head out, curiously looking around.

Wow, this is the view from horseback—so amazing!

Her fox ears twitched as she stretched out a paw beside her, spreading it to feel the wind passing through.

Dongfang Jibai gently ruffled her small head. “Sit tight. We’re setting off.”

The horses galloped, kicking up a cloud of dust.

From the capital to the border, marching with the army would take at least two months. Ji Ci thought it was a picnic and chattered nonstop along the way.

Half a month later.

Ji Ci’s head drooped; her fur lost its luster, looking like a stray dog.

Her coat was even tangled.

Dongfang Jibai was no better.

His beard was unkempt and graying.

A strong smell of sweat clung to him, and Ji Ci no longer wished to stay close.

The troops had not properly rested for a long time; every day was just eating and marching, leaving everyone listless.

“Stop and rest for a day. We depart the day after tomorrow.”

Dongfang Jibai found a mountain hollow and ordered the army to rest there.

Hearing the word “rest,” Ji Ci’s four legs shot forward as she dashed to a nearby pool and plunged her whole body in.

Dongfang Jibai also came to the pool, just as he began to remove his armor, Ji Ci chirped excitedly and ran up to him.