That night was particularly lively, not because of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but because the princess was missing.
Gray Fox watched the chaos from afar, with the roar of people, until something happened. He sniffed the faint scent remaining in the wind and ran all the way to the Central Plains. Until the breath became thinner and thinner, and after passing two streams of water, he couldn't smell anything anymore. He was very tired, and there were blood blisters on his paws, but they didn't hurt at all. He just wanted to know where the princess was. But he couldn't walk, he just lay on his back, his body heaving violently as he panted.
Several eagles hovering in the night sky finally landed on the ground and surrounded him. He wanted to try to stand up. If you continue to lie here, you will definitely be eaten by these guys.
But they have no intention of attacking. One of the eagles raised its wings and pointed in a direction.
The gray fox forced himself to stand up. He raised his hand and moved his front paws, turning into slender human fingers. For the first time, he ran on the grassland in a human form. His body felt so light that it almost melted into the night. Several eagles flew into the sky and led him in the air. The wind chased him from behind, lifting him up and making his steps light. Many fireflies in the grass also guided him. After an unknown amount of time, the familiar scent became stronger and mixed with something that made him uneasy.
The taste of blood.
What he saw was a stomach-churning sight. The worst, darkest, filthiest, and filthiest things about human nature are all vividly displayed in this poor little girl.
He never expected this to happen.
It was so cold during the Mid-Autumn Festival, really. He rushed over, but fell to his knees on the ground beside her, unable to stand up. The clothes she didn't have were taken away. He wanted to hug her to keep her warm, but he didn't dare. She was so fragile, it seemed like she would turn into dust and fly away with the wind at the slightest touch.
"You, you are here..."
She reached out her hand tremblingly and touched his face gently. The fingertips are very cold and light, like snow in winter. He was surprised, and with a trembling tone in his voice, he asked her if she... knew who she was.
Her hands moved higher, touching his furry, soft ears. Only then did he realize that he had accidentally revealed his prototype. He had no intention of maintaining his human appearance, and just said in a trembling voice:
"I, you... look at me, I can become a human, I can... I, I have become powerful, just wait for me to give you luck, you will be fine, you can go home... I'll take you away, I'll take you home..."
He was confused and didn't know what to do. But before he could think of a way, the princess slowly stretched out her other hand and held the bracelet tightly in her hand. He reached out his hand and took it, holding it carefully.
"Take it back," she said softly, "Take it home... I don't want to go to the Central Plains anymore, I also want to... also want to go home. But..."
"I'll take you back," he screamed, "I'll take you! You must be fine, I'll help right now..."
Her hands relaxed and she lost all strength.
He was confused, as if he had lost his soul, tightly clutching the bracelet that his mother had left for her. By the time he found the group again, it was almost dawn.
He was immersed in great grief along the way and had no idea how to tell those people. When he came to the familiar tent that he often shuttled between, he murmured cursedly:
"Those, those Central Plains people..."
When the guard saw him, he shouted in surprise:
"Princess Princess!"
He was in a daze and didn't know why he said that.
Hearing the guard's voice, everyone looked over. They all looked surprised and gathered around, crying and laughing, shouting loudly that the princess was back.
He looked at the bracelet on his hand blankly, wondering why they said that.
Almost everyone was immersed in the great joy of finding something, and they rushed to tell each other, but he felt baffled. His grief was so insignificant that it was drowned in the noise of the crowd, like a drop of ink scattered into a rushing river.
Some people kept asking him where he was and how he was doing, and some people stopped them. He stuttered a little and didn't know what to say. He just kept cursing the three businessmen in a low voice. At this point, they seemed to understand something and did not dare to ask any more questions. Someone fetched him a basin of water and wiped his face clean. In the end, everyone dispersed and stayed outside the camp to let him be alone, saying that they were waiting for the clan leader who went out to find the princess to come back.
He stared blankly into the basin, waiting for the tiny ripples to calm down.
It dawned on him.
The face that appeared in the water turned out to be the young face of the princess.
He put his hand on his face and touched it in surprise, and even he was startled. Perhaps because he missed her too much, or perhaps because of the influence of the aura on the bracelet, he, who was not proficient in the art of transformation, unknowingly turned into her. Just when he was surprised, the retired patriarch rushed into the tent and stared at him with mixed emotions.
Then, he hugged his "daughter" tightly. The hug almost left her breathless.
"Dad thought, dad thought even you wanted to..."
what to do.
As for the princess's body, he took advantage of the next night and ran back. At that time, eagles and many animals gathered around the body. Foxes, wolves, eagles, rabbits, sheep...many animals that were natural enemies protected her peacefully. It wasn't until he rushed over that they gave way to him one by one. He cremated her with fox fire and quietly collected some of her ashes and placed them in a jar.
Since then, Gray Fox has been living like a princess.
This is the story of Tartar.
The Tartar girl in front of her is not the princess, the princess has died long ago.
"If you want me to tell you why I live like this until now...I don't know. I just follow the example of those little girls of the same age, and every once in a while, I make myself look taller and older. Although it's a bit troublesome, But it won’t reveal anything.”
"If what you said is true," Mu Wan paused, "I hope... it's false."
"I've been thinking about when these days will end. Human life is so short, maybe I don't have to act for too long at all. As far as the demon is concerned, this is just a moment of fun. What am I doing to comfort you? Is her family still comforting themselves? I can't say that. When I think about my long life, it's just killing time."
The fox demon had been practicing for an unknown number of years when he was young, but Tartar has truly grown up to now, and this period of time may be more real.
He continued: "It's just that I met you all in this short period of time... Of course, I didn't expect that someone would suddenly break this balance. It's not a bad thing, it's just that I didn't expect it. I didn't expect that it would happen again." There are foreigners who have such peaceful contact with us. After all, they will never look good on you again after that."
The tribesmen didn't know exactly what happened that day, but they probably guessed a thing or two by not mentioning it and avoiding Tartar. In terms of extent, it is naturally not as miserable as the dead princess, but in nature it is equally bad.
They were very happy that their princess could be restored to what she is now.
However, only he knew that she would never come back.
"...Even so, I'm sorry." Shanhai looked at him, "It is indeed my long-cherished wish for humans and monsters to coexist harmoniously. But deep down in your heart, you still have strong hostility towards the entire human race. I cannot sit idly by. "
"Don't worry about it, Shanhai." Aluan pulled him, "Isn't this good?"
Mu Wan was a little hesitant, not knowing what to say. Emotionally speaking, she naturally hopes that Tartar will continue to disguise herself as the princess and live peacefully with her people. But from a rational point of view, she clearly knew that Shan Hai's statement was correct. Leaving such monsters behind and living in such an exclusive group would indeed lead to endless troubles.
"I know your concerns," he said quietly, "I am also grateful that you are willing to listen to me telling this boring story. I don't want to fight with you, so I have already thought about it...if I really meet you. Such a traveler, I think, I am willing to leave.”
Shi Wuqi, who had been silent all this time, spoke.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know. It can be anywhere, maybe the green water and green mountains elsewhere, maybe the Central Plains... I think she is still yearning for that colorful place. I want to see it for her."
Tartar put on her beautiful little hat again. She stood up and walked out the door.
"Are you leaving now? This is so sudden. It's the first day I met you."
Aluan was a little reluctant. That story touched her too much, but she couldn't say anything.
"My child, don't be sad. This world is just a place where people come and go, and everyone is just a passer-by."
They followed him outside, many of the guards outside still asleep. He walked calmly, occasionally looking up at the moon in the sky, and occasionally looking back at them. He smiled one last time and walked silently without looking back, until the little figure with its four tails dancing completely blended into the dark night.
"But..." Aluan frowned, "How can we tell the clan leader that your princess is a vixen?"
"..."
It's over.
"They are about to wake up." Shi Wuqi looked back, "The princess's bracelets and ashes are in the tent, and since there are already rumors in the clan, let them realize it themselves. I think their horses are good, Let’s hold him a little while now and run through the night... Liangqiu comes with me, I can’t hold him alone.”
"……oh."
In the horse pen, the two quickly picked the horse and prepared the reins.
Mu Wan whispered: "How come I feel like repaying kindness with revenge..."
"Say less. Do you know what I saw when I touched the ashes?"
"What?"
"I saw the fox piercing its fangs into the princess's flesh. The ashes were indeed hers, but... who can say for sure. Look at those four tails, who knows where the demonic power comes from? Fox demons are inherently cunning. , I can’t believe him.”
"Varied--"
"Keep your voice down, don't alert others...and don't tell Shan Hai, it will only make things more complicated. It's not suitable to stay here for a long time, leave quickly."
Shi Wuqi led the two horses away, leaving Mu Wan standing there, too stunned to speak.
As if the story was just an illusory dream.
