Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

While Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin were playfully bantering, the White Fox following behind them seemed a bit anxious, even baring its teeth slightly.

Eventually, watching Zhao Fujin directly riding on Chen Mo’s back, pinching his face, which was an intimate moment, somehow the White Fox suddenly leapt onto Zhao Fujin.

The White Fox was about ten steps away from the two and had amazing jumping ability.

Just as the White Fox was about to scratch Zhao Fujin’s face with its claws,

Zhao Fujin happened to get off Chen Mo and with a reverse catch, picked up the White Fox that had jumped behind, held it in her arms, and said with a smile, ”Junior Brother, see, I told you, the White Fox can’t stand you bullying me and came to help me.”

The White Fox’s eyes widened slightly, with a trace of panic flashing in its gaze.

Chen Mo, looking at the fierce expression of the White Fox, also thought the same as Zhao Fujin, pretending to be angry, said, ”Well, you ungrateful thing, I worked so hard to help you expel poison, apply medicine, and even feed you, and this is how you treat me. Alas, no love...”

Zhao Fujin chuckled lightly, snorted through her nose, feeling quite pleased: ”Serves you right for bullying me...”

However, the White Fox struggled fiercely in Zhao Fujin’s arms and howled a few times.

Zhao Fujin thought it didn’t like being held and put it down.

Then she took Chen Mo’s hand, interlocking their fingers intimately: ”Junior Brother, help me choose some rouge...”

”No problem.” Chen Mo pinched Zhao Fujin’s nose.

The previous playful banter seemed to have vanished completely.

The White Fox dug its claws into the ground, looking puzzled.

...

The two went to the rouge shop, then the clothing store, and a restaurant.

Chen Mo even tricked Zhao Fujin into going to an entertainment house to listen to music.

Upon coming out, Zhao Fujin scratched Chen Mo in jest.

Then, when they found a secluded spot, she hugged Chen Mo, lifted her head, and proactively sought a kiss.

The whole Shuiming County was filled with their laughter.

However, good times always have an end.

Unlike Bianliang, Shuiming County had a curfew at night. As the sun set, the market vendors collected their stalls one by one, and tourists and citizens returned to their homes.

The lively atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

”Senior Sister, we should head back. We still need to report to the State Preceptor.” Chen Mo said.

”Okay.” Zhao Fujin nodded.

Chen Mo tied the items bought in Shuiming County onto the Snow Dragon Steed, then said to Zhao Fujin, ”Senior Sister, that little guy likes you better, I’ll leave it to you.”

”Alright.” Zhao Fujin mounted the horse, then gestured to the White Fox to jump up.

The White Fox looked over at Chen Mo.

But Chen Mo had already ridden ahead.

”Come on, little guy.” Zhao Fujin waved, urging it.

No choice, the White Fox jumped onto Zhao Fujin’s horse, letting her hold it.

”Giddy up...”

...

”Senior Sister, I’ll give you something nice tonight.”

”What is it?”

”It’s a secret. A surprise for you...”

From Shuiming County to Bianliang, it’s only a few dozen miles, not far, possible to arrive before nightfall.

Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin rode side by side, chatting all the way.

While chatting, the two rode into a mountain pass.

A government road was built through the pass and was not very long, taking only a few minutes to cross on horseback.

However, the trees on both sides of the road were dense and their thick canopies blocked much of the view.

As Chen Mo entered the mountain pass, he noticed something was wrong.

It was too quiet, not even the sound of cicadas.

”Senior Sister, something is amiss.” Chen Mo slowed down his horse, reducing speed.

Zhao Fujin frowned and held her breath, one hand holding the White Fox, while the other reached for her sword.

Then she slowly moved closer to Chen Mo, scanning the dense forest around: ”Junior Brother, what is it?”

”It’s too quiet. It’s the height of summer, it’s still daylight, and there’s not even the sound of cicadas. It doesn’t make sense.” Chen Mo also gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Inquiry sword.

Just then, a donkey brayed, reaching their ears.

A small gray donkey leisurely walked out from the dense woods on the left. On its back sat an old Daoist in a tattered robe with a long, unkempt beard, appearing extremely ”free-spirited.”

Chen Mo and Zhao Fujin reined in their horses and frowned.

The Daoist was sitting cross-legged on the donkey, without holding onto anything, yet remained so steady without falling, indicating he had skills.

As the White Fox saw the Daoist, its fur immediately bristled, barking continuously.

Chen Mo squinted his eyes slightly.

The donkey stopped in the middle of the road, then the old Daoist suddenly opened his eyes. His eye sockets were deep-set, with a sharp gleam in his eyes, staring directly at the White Fox in Zhao Fujin’s arms before saying:

”Hand over the Spirit Fox, and I’ll forgive you for disrupting my corpse-puppet vengeance, allowing you to pass.”

”It’s you!” Zhao Fujin drew her sword, not expecting the person behind the corpse puppets to come to them.

The White Fox became restless.

”Spirit Fox?” Chen Mo murmured, realizing this White Fox had a remarkable background. He then asked, ”What is a Spirit Fox? Why do you want it?”

”Since you are of the Daoism sect, I’ll say it again, hand over the Spirit Fox.” The old Daoist seemed a bit impatient.

”Pah, how dare you claim to be of the Daoism sect, cultivating corpse puppets from living people, drinking human blood, causing numerous murders, wrecking countless households. Scum like you deserves divine punishment and should be eliminated by everyone.” Zhao Fujin furiously scolded.

It was the first time Chen Mo had seen her so angry.

Yet it was exactly what Chen Mo wanted to say. He grinned and said, ”I was just worrying about how to find you. I didn’t expect you’d deliver yourself to us. Perfect, now we can capture you.”

His boot stomped fiercely on the saddle, launching himself off the horse. In mid-air, he drew the sword, Heavenly Inquiry, he carried.

The wrapped black cloth fell away, revealing a sword black as ink, True Qi gathering, a sword light slashing towards the old Daoist.

”Ignorant youngster.”

The old Daoist nonchalantly pulled out a Talisman Paper from his pocket and tossed it.

Colliding with the sword light, it exploded.

Simultaneously, the old Daoist extended the five fingers of his right hand horizontally, fingers pointing upwards, his left thumb pinching the middle finger, second and little fingers bent into the palm, then the two hands met.

Suddenly, the trees on both sides of the road, and the leaves, began to rustle, and moments later, a large number of animated corpse figures surged out of the dense woods on both sides.

These corpse puppets differed from the red-dressed woman Chen Mo had seen before; their movements were stiff, resembling typical zombies from zombie movies. However, they could run and were quite fast.

There were at least two or three hundred of them.