Chapter 380 – Ah Jiu’s Warning

　　After closing the door, Yan Tianhen asked, “Dage, is it unkind of us to hide this matter from Elder Martial Brother Bei?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi responded airily, “If Elder Martial Brother Bei were to know that a magic treasure that could gather spiritual Qi actually exists, he would most certainly search for it straight away. However, Master also told me to keep an eye on him… I don’t wish to defy Master’s instructions again. We might as well wait till we have found it before letting him know.”

　　Yan Tianhen nodded, “I see.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi rubbed Yan Tianhen’s head, “After entering the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest, you’ve got to follow me closely at all times and not take a single step away from me.”

　　Yan Tianhen smiled, “Don’t worry, Dage. Even if someone asked me to leave you, I wouldn’t.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi also smiled delightfully, “We haven’t had anything all day. Let’s have something to eat and then rest.”

　　Yan Tianhen’s eyes brightened, “Don’t rest yet. I’d like to first draw out the patterns of the token that I’d seen today so that Dage can refine the token as soon as possible.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi looked at Yan Tianhen’s small face that was brimming with confidence and triumph. “I knew it. You had borrowed that token today for so long, so you were inwardly scheming.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “Don’t tell me Dage doesn’t want it?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi, “… Draw it out quickly and show it to me.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “Hahaha!”

　　With a token in hand, it would definitely be much easier to go anywhere in the future. This token was also a form of magic tool, nevertheless for Lin Xuanzhi, so long as it was a magic tool that he had seen before, he would certainly be able to craft a replica.

　　In the path of craftsmen, there were also numerous masters who were also masters of forgery at the same time. The magic tools they had replicated would only have the outer appearance of the real magic treasure, but would not have any of its effects. However, these forgeries could deceive the world without evoking any suspicions.

　　Naturally, Lin Xuanzhi would also know how to craft forgeries. Though it would be impossible for him to let others use the replica, but of course it was alright for himself to use it, along with deceiving others with it.

　　The next day, Lin Xuanzhi and his group did not leave directly for the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest, but instead, they went separate ways in the direction of the mercenary group’s gathering venue to gather information about the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest.

　　There was an abundance of mercenary groups here and even a special tavern where one could accept mercenary tasks. Mercenary groups would send someone to the tavern as a guard, so whenever there was a new task, they would be the ones to grab it first.

　　The mercenary system in Qi City would be considered as the most completed system throughout the entire Five Continents, hence the majority of the mercenary groups in the Five Continents like to travel to this city.

　　Lin Xuanzhi and Yan Tianhen arrived at the mercenary task tavern together.

　　Lin Xuanzhi nodded, “Nowadays, if mercenaries were to accept to scout the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest as a task directly, I’m afraid, for the sake of their lives, they wouldn’t accept it. Only by letting them gather spiritual plants and capture demonic beasts that can only be found in the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest, then will the task objectives be clearer. This way, mercenaries will be more willing to risk their lives.”

　　“This young master seems to understand clearly.” A young-looking man walked over and cupped his hand towards Lin Xuanzhi in greeting. “I am the manager here. You can just call me Manager Fang. I’ve seen you both lingering here for a while now. If I may be so bold as to ask, whether you are intending to post mercenary news or accept a task?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi also returned the greeting, “My brother and I had thought to come here to inquire about some news.”

　　Manager Fang wasn’t surprised, “Judging from your clothes, it looks like both of you are from the East Continent.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi praised, “Manager Fang has good eyesight.”

　　Manager Fang smiled, “In this place, there are countless mercenaries who travel extensively. If I can’t even tell where they’ve come from, then I have wasted my time being the manager of this mercenary tavern for so many years.”

　　Yan Tianhen looked at Manager Fang and narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Then does Manager Fang know about that big monster in the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest?”

　　Manager Fang looked around, “If you want to know, you might as well come with me.”

　　When Lin Xuanzhi and Manager Fang set their eyes on each other, he happened to see one of Manager Fang’s identification tokens, so he patted Yan Tianhen on the shoulder, “Let’s follow Manager Fang and take a look.”

　　On Manager Fang’s token, there was a Ji character written on it.

　　When they arrived at the courtyard behind the tavern, with a glance, Lin Xuanzhi saw Ji Yunwei, who was standing in the garden with a worried expression.

　　“Xuanzhi!” Ji Yunwei’s eyes lit up at the sight of Lin Xuanzhi and hurried towards him.

　　It was rare for Lin Xuanzhi to see Ji Yunwei acting this way, so he could not help but ask, “What difficulties have you encountered?”

　　Ji Yunwei sighed deeply and said dejectedly, “I have indeed encountered some difficulties.”

　　After composing himself, he looked at Lin Xuanzhi. “Xuanzhi, actually I have been waiting for you here for a long time. If you still hadn’t come, I would have sent someone out to find you.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi was even more puzzled, “Why are you looking for me?”

　　In actual fact, Lin Xuanzhi wanted to look for Ji Yunwei’s help to enter the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest. After all, the Ji family was actually the family that was most familiar with the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest.

　　Ji Yunwei glanced deeply at Yan Tianhen and then replied, “Follow me.”

　　Three of them entered a room together and shut the door behind them. It was only after Ji Yunwei hung a magic treasure on the door carefully, did he find a chair to sit.

　　Yan Tianhen laughed at his cautious action, “Brother Ji, what kind of outrageous things are you going to be telling us, for you to be so careful?”

　　Ji Yunwei sighed and waved with his hand. “Caution is the parent of safety. These days, I don’t even dare to let any rumours be leaked so easily. I would only dare to tell you both.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi pondered a little, “Is it related to that Nine-Tailed Fox?”

　　When it comes to something that only both Ji Yunwei and he knew, it would be none other than the Nine-Tailed Fox.

　　Ji Yunwei nodded repeatedly, “It’s indeed related to Xiao Jiu, but it’s not only him.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi paused for a moment and asked, “What exactly is the matter? Where’s the Nine-Tailed Fox now?”

　　“He’s in the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest.” Ji Yunwei winced in pain as he held his forehead and explained, “I went to look for him many times, but Ah Jiu wasn’t willing to return to my side. He said I would bring harm to him and he didn’t want to die again. Moreover, he even threatened that from now on, he would not let any of my family members take a step into the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest. If any were to enter the forest, he would have to kill them.”

　　Yan Tianhen looked puzzled and asked, “But why would Ah Jiu say such a thing?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi’s face suddenly changed. The hand, which he had initially placed casually at his side, clenched tightly into a fist. In the Nine-Tailed Fox’s previous life, he had been surrounded and killed by the Ji family. At that point of time, he had already entered the Sky Peak Sect and also became a permanent resident, so it would at least be eight years into the future. And yet presently, the Nine-Tailed Fox had actually said such prophetic words and was so outspoken about his hatred for the Ji family. Besides the Nine-Tailed Fox already knowing how things would develop in the future, what other reason could it be?

　　In other words, the Nine-Tailed Fox possessed the memories of his previous life!

　　However, how did he manage to get those memories? What was he going to do about it?

　　Ji Yunwei noticed that Lin Xuanzhi seemed a bit strange. He continued depressedly, “Ah Jiu said that he has the memory of his previous life. He said–said that I treated him very badly in my previous life. Indulging in pleasure every day, searching for other beasts for company, only to keep him trapped within the Ji family’s house to be ridiculed and humiliated by the other Ji family members and then finally losing his life. But these things, how could I have ever done so? Ever since both Ah Jiu and I have the same feelings for each other, I have never laid eyes on any other demonic beasts. When he said that to me, I felt so aggrieved.”

　　Just as expected.

　　Lin Xuanzhi’s heart suddenly sank heavily as though a boulder, that was 30,000 catties in weight, rested upon it.

　　The memories of the Nine-Tailed Fox had not only returned, but it was also very complete.

　　Yan Tianhen looked as if he was listening to the book of heaven. He had his mouth half-opened and a dazed expression on his face. He then asked, “What is this supposed to be? How is this even possible? What are the memories of the previous life? Even if a soul was able to be reincarnated, shouldn’t it have forgotten everything?

　　Ji Yunwei revealed a bitter smile, “How would I be able to know? But Ah Jiu had said this, so he was certainly not deceiving me.” He recalled the moment where Ah Jiu looked at him right before running into the forest, it caused him to feel uncomfortable from having difficulty breathing.

　　He and Ah Jiu had just expressed their affections to each other and had only experienced a month of passionate tenderness together. Then Ah Jiu went so far as to leave him so decisively.

　　If it was really true that he had done something unforgivable to Ah Jiu, he would admit it, but Ah Jiu had actually given him such a ridiculous reason…

　　Ji Yunwei was not willing to accept it.

　　Lin Xuanzhi composed himself and looked at Ji Yunwei, “What was he doing before the memories of his previous life had suddenly appeared?”

　　Ji Yunwei said without thinking, “A few days ago, I brought Ah Jiu along to the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest to search for some fruits and spiritual plants that Ah Jiu likes to eat. We unexpectedly encountered a tide of beasts, then both of us were separated. After that, I couldn’t even find a trace of Ah Jiu. I had been looking for him in the depths of the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest for several days, at that point I had already begun to feel desperate. Then one day, Ah Jiu suddenly appeared before me. When I saw him again, his expression was cold and told me to piss off.”

　　Yan Tianhen opened his mouth and looked at Ji Yunwei sympathetically. “Brother Ji, you’re really down on your luck. Perhaps when Ah Jiu was deep in the forest, he had been bewitched by something or someone had conjured an illusion, which had tampered his memories?”

　　Ji Yunwei shook his head, “I had once doubted about this point too, but after thinking it through, I still think that it is not possible since Ah Jiu is part of the fox clan. Their clan has an innate ability to use illusionary magic and deceptive skills. Also, Ah Jiu is an adept one, so he was always the one bewitching others and not the other way round. What Ah Jiu had said ought to be true. “

　　Yan Tianhen touched his nose, “This is so unbelievable.”

　　Ji Yunwei just wanted to sigh. These days, the number of times he had sighed had already exceeded the number of times he sighed throughout the past 20 years. However, the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest was now somewhere where he could not easily set foot in. Now that the Nine-Tailed Fox was in the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest, he had natural advantages. There was no way where he could charge straight into the forest and bring Ah Jiu out for questioning.

　　Lin Xuanzhi asked, “Have you not tried to find him?”

　　“How is that possible?” Ji Yunwei said bitterly, “I have no idea how many times I have gone to look for him, but each time, he had already sent a hoard of demonic beasts before I could even find him, driving me out of the Myriad Beasts Demonic Forest.”