Chapter 241 - 239: We Were Too Late

Chapter 241: Chapter 239: We Were Too Late

Shen Yue listened and could easily sense the change in Huang Ziyue. She knew that Bai Chaosi’s recent chaotic actions hadn’t just left her feeling caught in the middle and upset.

They had also clearly annoyed and angered Huang Ziyue.

She could sense that while Huang Ziyue had at least regarded Bai Chaosi as a rival at first, he now utterly despised him.

This was all because of the trouble Bai Chaosi had stirred up himself.

What Shen Yue hadn’t expected, however, was that Bai Chaosi had also been investigating Xiao Ya’s background.

’So my guess was right. Bai Chaosi faking amnesia to get close to Xiao Ya was for a reason.’

’But what purpose could possibly compel the Young Master of Snow Ridge to feign amnesia just to get close to a low-ranking female?’

She cleared her throat, hoping to get some useful information.

"What do you mean, Xiao Ya’s identity isn’t simple?"

A Cheng had no intention of hiding anything from Shen Yue.

In his heart, there was no female in the world more capable than Shen Yue. He admired her completely.

If he could help Miss Shen Yue resolve her misunderstanding with the Young Master so they could be together, nothing would make him happier.

He said, "To be honest, I’m not entirely sure either. But for the Young Master to have me investigate her, that woman can’t be simple. And for him to go so far as to fake amnesia to personally get close to her and investigate... I’m afraid it must be a matter of life and death for our Snow Ridge Clan."

"Otherwise, with the Young Master’s detached personality, he would never do something so thankless!"

Shen Yue froze at his words.

’Xiao Ya is connected to the survival of the Snow Ridge Clan?’

’Is it really that serious?’

Huang Ziyue listened to A Cheng and sank into deep thought as well. Bai Chaosi’s biggest concern right now was Shen Yue. Logically, the dignified Young Master of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, the world-renowned Young Master Chaoxi, wouldn’t be foolish enough to feign amnesia for something that wasn’t worth the trouble.

Unless the matter was huge.

What A Cheng said fit perfectly. If the survival of the Snow Ridge Fox Clan was truly at stake, then it was indeed possible.

’But what kind of life-or-death crisis could Snow Ridge be facing?’

’Why haven’t I heard even a whisper about it?’

’Besides, even if that were the case, Bai Chaosi could have told Shen Yue and faced it with her, or they all could have worked together to find a solution...’

’But he had to choose a method that would upset Shen Yue and bear it all alone?’

That was something he strongly disapproved of.

Shen Yue thought for a moment, feeling it was necessary to get a clear answer.

"What kind of life-or-death crisis could Snow Ridge be facing? Hasn’t the White Fox Clan always lived there peacefully?"

As soon as she asked, a scene from one of her dreams flashed through her mind.

She remembered a snow-capped mountain range in that dream, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see.

But amid the pristine white snow, one area was littered with corpses. Half the mountainside was stained red with blood...

In the dream, she hadn’t known where that mountain was...

And that was the very place where the world-ending catastrophe began!

Shen Yue’s heart leaped. ’If the tragic mountain scene from my dream is Bai Chaosi’s Snow Ridge, then a life-or-death crisis really might befall them in the future...’

’If that’s the case, then I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

The issues between her and Bai Chaosi could be set aside. But the survival of an entire clan—a matter that concerned the fate of the world—was not something she could ignore.

Hearing Shen Yue’s question, A Cheng glanced at Huang Ziyue, then turned back to Shen Yue.

He seemed hesitant to speak, as if in a difficult position.

Shen Yue said at once,

"There are no outsiders here. You can speak freely."

Even if it was a secret concerning the White Fox Clan, she trusted that Huang Ziyue would keep it confidential.

He certainly wouldn’t do anything to exploit it.

Huang Ziyue understood, of course. A Cheng probably didn’t trust him, or perhaps the secret was too important to be known by outsiders.

After a moment of thought, A Cheng made a bold decision and spoke.

"The truth is, it’s not that we White Fox Clan insist on living in that land of ice and snow. It’s that we can’t leave Snow Ridge at all. We can’t get away from that blasted place."

Shen Yue and Huang Ziyue both frowned at his words.

Shen Yue asked, "What do you mean?"

’What does he mean, they can’t leave Snow Ridge?’

A mournful expression appeared on A Cheng’s face.

"Because if any of us stay away from Snow Ridge for too long, we die in our sleep and never wake up again."

Shen Yue was taken aback.

’Something like that actually exists?!’

Huang Ziyue was also in disbelief.

Wu Huo, who was standing to the side, even widened his eyes in shock.

"So, whenever we leave Snow Ridge, we only stay away for a short time before we have to rush back. In any case, it can’t be longer than half a year. This rule has been ingrained in our White Fox Clan for generations. Most of us don’t go out much, which is why the outside world thinks we’re living in seclusion on Snow Ridge, unconcerned with worldly affairs."

In reality, it wasn’t that they didn’t want to leave—it was that they couldn’t.

Shen Yue was utterly shocked after hearing this.

’The White Fox Clan was hiding such a monumental secret!’

’No wonder A Cheng was so reluctant to speak earlier...’

If any of their enemies found out, it would be like handing them a weapon that could wipe out the entire White Fox Clan.

All an enemy would have to do is lure someone away from Snow Ridge and trap them. They wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; the person unable to return would simply die on their own.

At this thought, she looked at Huang Ziyue, her eyes filled with concern.

Huang Ziyue understood what she was thinking and gave her a reassuring look. He would keep the secret. He wouldn’t spread it, and he certainly wouldn’t use such a secret to manipulate the Nine-tailed Fox Clan of Snow Ridge.

Besides, he had scanned the dense forest and detected no other auras. No fifth person could have heard them.

Shen Yue finally understood. As Young Master, Bai Chaosi must have been shouldering an immense burden.

He’d had a Life Contract placed on him as a child, and now, in his position, he carried the fate of his entire clan. Even if he wanted to do nothing, to manage nothing, to live as a carefree idler far from worldly concerns, it was impossible.

The responsibility rested on his shoulders. With so many people, so many faces he saw day in and day out, how could he possibly care only for himself and ignore the fate of his clan?

How could he possibly bring himself to reveal the greatest secret of the entire Nine-tailed Fox Clan?

’No wonder he’s so tight-lipped.’

He was responsible for the safety of his entire clan, not just his own life.

He couldn’t gamble the lives of his entire clan on the better nature of others.

’It looks like I’ll have to find a chance to have a proper talk with Bai Chaosi when I get back.’

Shen Yue’s thoughts shifted, and she looked at the two men, asking the crucial question.

"So what did you find out in Luoxi Town? What is so different about Xiao Ya’s identity?"

At this question, the expressions on both A Cheng’s and Wu Huo’s faces changed instantly.

It was as if something terrible had happened.

Shen Yue asked, "What’s wrong?"

Wu Huo’s voice was strained.

"I’m sorry, Miss Shen Yue. We were too late... The people of Luoxi Town..."

He lowered his head and paused. "They’re all dead!"

What?!