"I"m here to offer my help to this la.s.s here", the crown prince said patting Xing"s head. Xing stepped to the side and Shengli held her hands. He remembered how there were speculations that the Fox Prince may have interests towards her. The Emperor also heard about what happened in the Heavenly Flowers Palace from Rijun and wondered why the Fox prince is doing here."Don"t be anxious towards me la.s.s!" he tried to put his arms around Xing"s shoulders when Shengli pulled her towards him and s.h.i.+fted their positions so that he stood in between Xing and the fox Prince.
The Fox prince"s hands froze for a moment but then he smiled playfully and wrapped his arms around Shengli not minding his cautious look, "Don"t worry, I only find anyone who can walk with two legs and grow a tail at the same time attractive".
A bear??? Xing who heard it had question marks over her head. Then she realised he refers to his fox clan who can transform to any form they want as a human but their true form is a fox who grows a tail with each century they live.
The Fox Prince then proceeded to talk to the G.o.d of wind not minding the weird look Shengli gave back knowing his preferences, "I"ll be protecting this la.s.s from now on", he uttered without any doubt in his voice.
Okay... This is not at all suspicious!
Xing rolled her eyes and she looked at Shengli and the Emperor clearly thinking the same thing.
"Why?", she asked and her tone conveyed him how much she is against that idea and her mistrust towards him.
The Fox Prince moved in front of her and chuckled at her with his long sleeves covering his face and everyone there was mesmerised by how enchanting he sounded. Is he a siren or a fox?
"La.s.sy, are you still holding what my sister did to your cousin in your mind? I reprimanded my sister seriously for that. You can rest a.s.sured knowing she"ll not bother your family anymore" he patted her cheek and Xing rubbed her cheek immediately with her sleeves making him snicker at her.
That Fox Woman was his sister? So she"s the Crown Princess? But what does the fox clan have for her Master Yuan for her to back off before?
What"s so funny about me not liking you? Xing thought as she glared at him. She could not put a hold in what he might be thinking and that was enough for her not to trust him. She always can put up with people who put their hearts on their sleeves rather than these type of people who hide behind a facade.
But this guy... He annoyed her. He found her every act funny for some reason and Xing could not win against this shameless, dense person in front of her.
"Thank you for your offer but..", "I"ll have to refuse it". Before Xing finished her sentence the Fox Prince cut her off,
"La.s.s, have you ever felt that fire tries to kill you?"
"Every frigging time", Xing wanted to answer but was too surprised to say anything. She had always sensed that dangerous aura around fire and that"s what made her scared towards fire, right from her childhood. But how does he know it?
"That"s why she has to let us protect her!", Fei Lian tried to join in but was ignored by the Fox Prince.
"La.s.s, since you exist to kill the previous G.o.d of fire... By the way it is these guys" fault to let him live after the war", he pointed accusingly at Fei Lian and Fei Lian just cleared his throat and rubbed his chin that proved that the Fox Prince was not wrong in accusing the G.o.ds.
He then continued, "Hmm... Since it is your purpose of existence, naturally fire would be your enemy. Well.. The current G.o.d of fire should do something about it to help you but she does not... Another fault of them not making her do what she is SUPPOSED to do ", he pursed his lips and pointed at Fei Lian again stressing "supposed" in an accusatory tone.
Okay, not only the G.o.d of fate and G.o.d of death hates me, the G.o.d of fire hates me too? Well done me...! How did I offend her again?Xing sighed.
"Anyhow..",the Fox Prince"s voice broke her train of thoughts, "So me with fire attribute and almost as powerful as the current G.o.d of fire would be the best option for your protection especially since from now on the attacks on you by fire will increase",he spoke continuously and patted his chest as he breathed hard.
Eh! You didn"t run a mile, you just spoke a sentence. So why this exaggerated expression?
But she knew when thought about it deeply, he makes a valid point here. He seems to know a lot too. No wonder he had lived for more than a thousand years!
Should I trust his words?
Xing glanced at Shengli who was almost convinced to let this Fox Prince protect her.
This guy! He"d be willing to do anything for me! But , Even though this Fox Prince is "foxy", should I give him the benefit of the doubt and let him protect me? I am really weak against fire...
Xing looked at FeiLian who was pursing her lips, "You should take down the barrier", he repeated.
Huh! Did this one lost all his words except this? Must he repeat only these words? It"s no use asking him if what this Fox is telling the truth.
"How will you protect me? By spells?", Xing asked the Fox Prince. If so, she"ll refuse. She had no idea how spells work and she has had enough of it too.
"No, no", he smacked his lips shaking his head. Xing could not get over how pretty this guy is!
"I will be present with you physically. Our clan"s spells aren"t that effective but my powers are the best", he patted her shoulder a.s.suring her and she saw the proud look he had and wanted to poke his eyes for some reason. Those bright red eyes carried a unique charm that is only privy to the Fox Clan. She hated the haughtiness in those eyes that looked down on her. But he is well within his right to look down on her as he is actually superior than her in power and also in age. So Xing held back her urge to poke his eye.
Well! She must know who not to provoke!
"But you won"t be allowed inside the inner palace in your current form", Xing tried to lead him to believe that she wanted him to help her. The only way he could enter the inner palace is either as a Eunuch or as a maid. Both are not really a position suitable for him. She wanted to know how willing he was in protecting her as she had no idea why would the Crown Prince of the mighty Fox Clan would want to protect her in the first place. What is his agenda?
"How about this? Now I can enter, eh? ", he transformed into a fourteen year old, average looking girl in a maid uniform that actually perplexed Xing. So he is willing to go to this extent? But why?
"Why are you willing to do this for me?", she asked him directly.
"It"s a debt I have to repay", he replied and that was the one time Xing saw seriousness in his face and he returned to his usual haughty expression in a moment.
"Pay who?", she asked. She doesn"t remember her helping any fox previously.
"Let"s say... Your ancestor", he winked at her.
"Ancestor?"
Xing"s probing was interrupted by Fei Lian hurriedly that made Xing feel that something was fishy and there is more to her story than what they are telling her.
"When are you taking down the barrier?"
"Never! Didn"t you hear her saying she"ll accept me as her protector? If protecting her is the reason you want that barrier to be taken down, fret not for I vouch for her protection! ", the Fox Prince answered for her as a declaration.
Okay... Don"t mind me!
Xing was flabbergasted, when did I agree again?
But judging by Fei Lian"s expression, he seems to be... Not much against this decision? He doesn"t actually want me to take down the barrier? Just what is going on? Who is in my side and who isn"t?
"But what should I call you?", Xing placed her index finger over her red lips and wondered. "That"s right! I"ll call you Bai Li", she pointed at the Fox Prince and he just shrugged, "Whatever!"
"Little one, how can you defy heavens every single time? It"s not good for you to do that!", Fei Lian tried to lecture her and Xing made her escape from the temple not before sticking her tongue out at him,grabbing Shengli and the Emperor amidst the laughs of the Fox Prince.
" Wait! ", she halted halfway out," I wanted to ask you, what is this mark for?", Xing asked Fei Lian rubbing her forehead. This keeps everyone away from her.
"It says that you are his"", it was the Fox Prince who answered making Fei Lian click his tongue.
"But I"m not! ", Xing replied immediately. I don"t belong to anyone but my Prince.
"It is the truth though", the Fox Prince smiled ambiguously making Xing wonder which statement is the truth - her statement or his?
Xing didn"t want to think much into it and let ft the tole followed by Shengli and the Emperor.
The moment she left, the Fox Prince"s expression turned sombre and the playfulness and aloofness in his demeanour entirely disappeared.