Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1481 - 927: At Cross Purposes

Shu Ci, with heightened senses, also perceived the formidable aura drawing nearer. Her countenance grew tense, as she was acutely aware of Ying Ji's formidable power. If the Empress of Central Netherworld discovered her intentions towards her son and managed to track her down, she would undoubtedly be kept under strict surveillance, cherished like a priceless jewel, right by her side. At that juncture, how would she ever get the opportunity to satisfy her desires?

With swift precision, Shu Ci struck Baili An across the face, her blow so forceful it nearly snapped his neck. She clamped his mouth shut, pulled him into a tight embrace, and then propelled them both towards the denser shadows of the small forest. Baili An's eyes widened in apprehension as he gazed upon the encroaching darkness of the woods, his expression a mask of profound reluctance. His legs thrashed and kicked against the ground in a desperate struggle. However, severely wounded and with his arm bones completely fractured, his strength was no more than that of a mere kitten, utterly incapable of resisting the tempestuous Lady Shu Ci.

Shu Ci employed both her hands and feet, relentlessly dragging Baili An's immobile frame. Yet, he was proving to be exceedingly uncooperative. If this continued, and Empress Ying Ji detected his presence, all her efforts that night would be rendered futile. Losing her patience, Shu Ci randomly selected a spot on his body and pinched it with considerable force. Unbeknownst to Baili An which sensitive area she had targeted, his struggling form convulsed violently. With his mouth still muffled, he emitted a choked whimper, the agony nearly causing him to lose consciousness on the spot. Seizing this opportune moment, Shu Ci clung tightly to the now-subdued Baili An, much like a predator from the mountain wilds.

She then dashed into the heart of the small forest, her captive in tow. The forest was an expanse of dense, verdant growth, with ancient trees ascending towards the heavens. Shu Ci maneuvered Baili An into the shadowed recesses of a colossal tree, where the surrounding foliage offered superior natural concealment. Within the tree, the confined space severely restricted Baili An's ability to move. Their long legs became entangled, preventing any possibility of stretching out, let alone formulating an escape.

Before long, Ying Ji arrived at this very section of the forest, her presence announced by her approach to the fractured mountain stone. Ying Ji's brows knitted in a deep frown as her fingertips traced the bloodstains on the stone, followed by a gentle inhalation. The uncertainty in Ying Ji's gaze intensified; she had been on the verge of pinpointing Baili An's aura, only for it to vanish without a trace in an instant. She closed her eyes, her divine sense unfurling like a vast ocean, seemingly poised to encompass the entirety of the world. Every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain and stone within the forest was enveloped by a spectral, bluish image under the power of her formidable divine sense.

Baili An, sensing his mother's overwhelming divine sense, felt his body, which had just begun to calm, start to writhe once more. With great effort, he lifted his head and slightly parted the hand covering his mouth, biting down hard, his jaw nearly dislocating in his attempt to cry for help. Shu Ci's expression flickered with alarm at his sudden action. Despite the searing pain in her hand, her body pressed firmly against his. Her slender, pliant arms coiled around Baili An's neck like an aquatic serpent, stifling his voice and rendering him incapable of uttering a sound.

After a prolonged bout of struggle, Shu Ci found herself glistening with a light sheen of sweat. Amidst Baili An's desperate movements, he became acutely aware of his entire frame, aching with fractured bones, being enveloped by smooth, yielding flesh, as though submerged in a comforting warm pool. Any minor shift was met with that insidiously soft resistance, and his body felt almost seamlessly pressed against hers. The profound darkness did little to impede the corpse demon's vision; Baili An could clearly discern her alabaster body, radiant with fine, fragrant perspiration, within the confined space. The delicate skin, adorned with beads of sweat that traced glistening paths downward, lent her an intoxicating allure, radiating a palpable heat that was indiscriminately tempting.

The skin beneath his tentative hands felt warm, smooth, and slick, prompting Baili An to repeatedly withdraw his hands, hesitant to press further. Soft jade exuding an enticing fragrance, a beauty of unparalleled allure. Baili An was never one for recklessness, especially given the mature enchantment radiating from this fox demon. Her demeanor was a stark contrast to her earlier facade, and Baili An habitually maintained a distance from such women. He could only remain frozen, caught in an awkward stillness.

Shu Ci, being the progenitor of the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox lineage from the era of creation, was unlike common demon foxes. She possessed an innate, peculiar fragrance, a delicate scent that rose from the primordial dust, typically allowing her to mask her aura through her natural gifts. Now, having endured numerous upheavals, warmed by exertion, the intoxicating aroma permeated the small tree hollow. It evoked the scent of orchids or musk, overtly seductive.

Beneath that peculiar fragrance, Baili An's body experienced a peculiar duality of cold and heat. The slender arms tightly encircling his neck seemed to entwine his very being, and the hand covering his lips felt almost like a caress. Shu Ci, positioned directly behind him, held his tensed back firmly, lifting one leg to coil and press with significant pressure against his abdomen.

Her face, painted with striking colors and possessing an alluring beauty, was nestled against his shoulder. Her pointed, furry fox ears occasionally grazed his earlobe with her labored breaths.

Baili An found himself utterly exasperated. Within Shu Ci's spiritual domain, even Ying Ji's divine sense was completely misled.

After a prolonged and fruitless search within the valley, Ying Ji eventually withdrew.

As the presence of the divine sense faded, Shu Ci, also drained, released her hold.

Baili An escaped her embrace, his entire body wracked with agonizing pain from fractured bones, overwhelmed by a sense of utter hopelessness.

With Ying Ji's departure, he was too injured to move effectively, and now confronted this ravenous demoness who gazed at him with palpable hunger.

Was this fox demon truly going to devour him today?

Baili An's expression fluctuated dramatically as he half-knelt within the tree hollow, his weakened hand pressing against the tree's surface for support.

His entire spirit seemed tethered to an unseen consciousness; his slender back was arched taut like a drawn bow.