"Then why didn’t you leave after confining it back then?"
"Because I was also severely injured at the time." Mrs. He shook her head: "Escaping the Domain Realm and battling it took a serious toll on my Primordial Qi, even affecting my Primordial Spirit. My Realm dropped from Ascension Realm to Guiyuan Realm. This place has good feng shui and the fortune suppresses ill fate.
The Primordial Qi in your world is thin, making cultivation difficult. If I went elsewhere, it would be hard to find such a good place to recuperate.
At the time, I thought since that creature had already fallen asleep and wouldn’t wake up anytime soon, there was no rush to leave. I could stay here, use the land’s natural advantages and the accumulated Primordial Qi to heal. Then, I would leave once my injuries were healed.
I practiced every day in this mountain, nourishing my wounds, and stayed here for three years. Later, my wounds gradually healed... but then I met my husband..."
Chen Yan sighed: "So you didn’t want to leave?"
"I was reluctant to leave." Mrs. He shook her head: "Friend, you’re young and likely haven’t gone through such things—you wouldn’t understand. When you meet someone who captures your heart, you just want to stay with them always.
Even if that creature was still asleep in the mountain, even if it woke up, I wouldn’t want to leave.
Back then, I harbored hope that my Fox Tail Divine Techniques could trap it for decades, enough for me to stay with my husband for his lifetime.
I was so attached to my feelings for my husband that I couldn’t bring myself to leave. After his death, I knew I should go.
But... at that time, I wanted to leave incense for him, so I stayed longer. I’ve been here for decades now.
Only a few months ago, I sensed my Fox Tail growing weaker, indicating that creature was about to wake up. I knew... I couldn’t wait any longer."
Chen Yan frowned upon hearing this: "You feigned death to leave the He Family... but why did you stay in this mountain instead of leaving completely?"
Mrs. He laughed softly: "Not leaving..."
Chen Yan, initially puzzled, suddenly understood upon looking at Mrs. He’s eyes!
"You faked your death not to escape this place but to leave the He Family!
You feared that creature would break free and come down the mountain to kill people for blood sustenance! So you planned to stay here and fight it to the death when it wakes up?"
Mrs. He sighed deeply and said quietly: "After all, I’ve spent decades here. How could I not form attachments?
When it wakes up, it’ll surely harm people—if it were harming others, I might steel my heart and ignore it. But the He Family has treated me exceptionally well; numerous elders have known me all their lives, and many younger generations were held by me as children.
Besides... how could I let that creature harm my son!!
I’ll use my entire cultivation, my life, to perish with it! I cannot allow it to come down the mountain and destroy my son’s entire family!"
Even demons have feelings!
Chen Yan was moved; this old fox lady truly cared deeply for He Jianbo and the He Family!
Wait? That doesn’t seem right.
Why didn’t she ask my grandma for help?
Considering He Jianbo and Sun Chen’s marriage over twenty years ago,
The old fox must’ve known my grandma then. So why didn’t she seek her help?
Chen Yan pondered but dared not inquire too much; he vaguely asked: "Did you mention this to my grandma back then?"
Mrs. He smiled wryly: "Of course I did. The Lord Venerable advised me to leave quickly, saying there would be Inspectors from the Domain Realm to suppress any misdeeds."
Hmm, that’s a new piece of information... Chen Yan noted it down.
But why would grandma need to wait for an Inspector? If she acted herself, given her Venerable Realm, dealing with a Guiyuan Realm creature old fox holding would be just a finger snap to death!
Chen Yan noticed Mrs. He’s calm expression; she seemed to take it for granted that grandma wouldn’t personally intervene.
Could there be some special reason, a reason naturally understood by people from the Domain Realm?
Then, he shouldn’t inquire further! Asking too much might break his image as someone familiar with Domain Realm norms.
"Friend," the old fox addressed Chen Yan. "Since you’ve come to the He Family, you are destined to be connected with them. I have a small, presumptuous request to make."
Chen Yan thought for a moment and sighed: "I understand, you want me to take care of your son in the future?"
"That’s my little intention; I knew it couldn’t be hidden from you, friend." The old fox bowed: "My son has some wealth and power, but it’s just within mundane society. While I’m here, I can secretly assist him a bit. Once I leave...
I don’t dare trouble you too much; if you could just care for him a bit in the future, it would be enough."
Chen Yan nodded: "I can agree to help him once if He Jianbo faces trouble, as long as it doesn’t break my rules."
Chen Yan answered willingly. After all, Boss He is a wealthy man; he wouldn’t be stingy in return, right?
It’s like gaining a potential client.