My Evil Wife Is a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 172 - Forgotten Memories (2)

Because she dispelled the mark Yulan left around Zhao Yichen's home, Shen Minyao had expected that the flower fairy would rush to see who had trespassed in her territory. The fox woman returned to the rooftop where she last met the flower fairy, intending to end the latter's pathetic life once and for all.

The cold breeze made her long hair flutter behind her as she confronted the other demon who appeared a couple of feet away from her. Xiao Bai chose to stay on the safe side, not wanting to be part of the collateral damage brought by this fight between two demonesses. 

He wasn't worried about his mistress, as he knew that Shen Minyao would be able to defeat the other with her current rank. Moreover, the flower fairy was about to die, so the fox woman didn't need to retrieve her demon orb for consumption. Even an egoistic demon like her wouldn't prey on the weakest demon around. 

Yulan looked worse compared to the last time Shen Minyao had seen her. Her demonic features were more prominent, and her skin had already shrunk, clinging to her bones. Her charming and seductive beauty was no more as she looked nothing but a monster waiting for someone to end her life. 

Furthermore, her eyes had bright yellow orbs on them, surrounded by pitch-black sclerae. The red veins protruding on the skin of her face had reached down to her neck and covered her whole face. Shen Minyao also spotted that those veins had already spread through Yulan's arms, indicating that she had consumed most of her energy already. She needed to feed as soon as possible, or the flower fairy would die from hunger. 

Even if Yulan wanted to feed on another human, her instincts drove her to seek Gu Luxian first and make use of the mark she had left on him years ago. 

"I don't know who's more pathetic between you and your human," Shen Minyao commented, crossing her arms over her chest as her eyes turned amber with slits on them. Her claws elongated as her fangs became more prominent in her mouth. 

She didn't need to use her Hellreaver to kill this flower fairy. It would be overkill for her to use such a dangerous blade towards Yulan. If anything, Shen Minyao wanted to end the other woman's life using her own hands and not relying on anyone. 

Yulan snarled back at the fox woman, clearly showing her inability to respond to Shen Minyao's taunting. She had only come here to confront the fox woman out of instinct and not to protect Gu Luxian, which was her reason for meeting Shen Minyao before. 

She lurched forward and attacked Shen Minyao, but given the fox woman's heightened speed and senses during her last feeding, it was clear that she was stronger now compared to their last meeting.

Shen Minyao easily avoided Yulan's claws and overpowered the spiritual blast the fairy sent her way. The fox woman had to admit that for a flower fairy, Yulan was persistent enough to stop herself from feeding on humans in her state for years. Not any demon had such an ability to suppress their instincts for too long, as most would rely on it for their survival. 

Unlike their first meeting, Yulan wasn't cowering in fear right now. If anything, she was more primal than usual, intending to defeat Shen Minyao, regardless if she was too weak to even leave a bruise. 

Shen Minyao slashed her sharp claws at Yulan's midsection, and the flower fairy screamed in pain. It was impossible for the flower fairy to heal her own wounds by this time, considering how she had already depleted her demonic energy. 

Of course, the fox woman wasn't happy with this encounter. She didn't like dealing with any weaker demon who was clearly no match against her. If it was in the past, she wouldn't spare Yulan a glance at all. 

"You should have killed that human when you got the chance." She scoffed and looked at her bloody right hand. 

"I-I can't…" 

The words that came out from Yulan's lips surprised not only the fox woman but also Xiao Bai who was watching them fight. 

Yulan heaved a deep breath, but it seemed that even simple breathing was too painful for her. 

"Please… Lady Daji… please end my life before I end up killing him." The flower fairy lifted her face, only for Shen Minyao to see tears flowing down her cheeks. 

The fox woman didn't know what to feel or think of it. Why was this flower fairy insisting on saving Gu Luxian's life after the betrayal he had done to her? Shen Minyao couldn't understand. 

"You still want to save him despite what happened?" 

Shen Minyao lowered her head, her eyes hiding the irritation she was feeling at the moment. 

"Y-yes…" Yulan took another breath again and staggered back. "Please, Lady Daji, I know you can help me… you can help us…" 

"What makes you think I would help a pathetic demon like you and that traitorous man who betrayed you?" The fox woman spat in return. 

"It's not his fault… I was the one who pushed him to see another human. I'm deeply aware that we couldn't be together. Just as you said before, humans and demons live in different worlds." Yulan struggled to cling to her sanity, but the pain radiating on her whole body was too much. 

"Please keep the truth from him. I don't want him to bear the guilt for the rest of his life. It's enough that I bear the consequences of the foolishness of my actions," She added while Shen Minyao remained silent, staring at her blankly. 

Xiao Bai glanced between the two women and wondered what his mistress would do next. If he was asked, he would assume that Shen Minyao would decline Yulan's request and end the latter's life painlessly. This was the only favor the fox woman could do for the flower fairy. 

However, considering that his mistress had been unpredictable, it was hard to tell now—even for Xiao Bai and Yu Yan—what Shen Minyao would do next. 

"I refuse," Shen Minyao said. "You are a fool if you think he would be able to forget his sins against you." 

"But you can make him," Yulan argued, her face was one of despair. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to keep her sanity this time. 

Shen Minyao had no response to that… because what Yulan said was true. 

The fox woman had the ability to erase someone's memories, but it came with a price. This was one of the forbidden demonic arts that most demons avoided at all cost. 

Memories were one of the foundations of one's identity, regardless of whether they were human or demon. If Shen Minyao were to alter Gu Luxian's memories, it might backfire on her. 

"You are asking too much, flower fairy. Do you know the steep price for erasing one's memories? You should be grateful that I'm not going to kill your human for Zhao Yichen's sake." 

A single tear rolled down on Yulan's face as she shut her eyes. Of course, she was aware of that. Shen Minyao had no obligation or whatsoever to grant her dying wish. If anything, it was more logical to accept her death by Shen Minyao's hand because she had threatened Zhao Yichen's life for the past week. 

"Then, in return, I will give you my memories." The flower fairy offered. "I briefly remembered that I encountered demons looking for you, Lady Daji. Something about the impending war between the northern demon lord and the rogue exorcist. I couldn't remember the details, but I'm sure you would be able to take a peek at my memories before I die." 

Shen Minyao stared at the other demon and shook her head. She could feel another headache coming her way. She supposed that Zhao Yichen was influencing her to be soft and sympathetic, but if Yulan was willing to give her some answers she needed, she supposed it wasn't a bad deal at all. 

'The northern demon lord, huh? I haven't seen him for centuries.' 

"Fine, then let's finish this once and for all. Come to me, and I shall give you the final blow," she told Yulan. 

The flower fairy broke into a wide smile before she allowed herself to lose to her instincts. In a moment, she lurched towards Shen Minyao; while the latter stayed still, waiting for the other woman. 

Before Yulan could hit Shen Minyao's body, a painful blow surged through her chest. She then found Hellreaver's blade seeping with her blood. 

"T-thank you, Lady Daji." Yulan's eyes returned to normal as she gave the fox woman one last smile. 

Shen Minyao watched as Yulan's body leaned forwards and rested her head on the fox's shoulder.. Yulan's body slowly disintegrated into pink petals that were taken away by the breeze.