Chapter 1499 - 539: The Birth of the Nine-Tailed Fox (Part 2)
Marshal Niutou pondered, "Leader, you’ve said so much, but you haven’t gotten to the point."
"Heh! You don’t understand, do you?"
Niu Benben chuckled:
"The Nine-tailed Fox Clan, in ancient times, was kept as a royal concubine by Emperor Jun. The women of the Fox Clan are all stunningly beautiful, with waists as soft as silk, unmatched in antiquity.
"The Clan Leader of this generation’s Nine-tailed Fox is about to be born in these few years. Think for yourself."
Marshal Niutou pondered, "You mean to offer her to the Heavenly Emperor?"
"What nonsense are you saying! Is that called offering? How virtuous is our Heavenly Emperor, how could he act like Emperor Jun!"
Niu Benben raised an eyebrow:
"The Emperor did mention the Nine-tailed Fox before, but he was vague, only saying that once the Nine-tailed Fox is born, I should report.
"But for us serving below, we must learn to discern the intentions of those above.
"Some things, you just have to understand yourself. The people above can’t outright say, build me a secret palace below, don’t let others know, and keep a few of the most beautiful women inside... If that were spread by someone with intent, it would tarnish one’s reputation."
Niu Benben half-lay on the table, pointing to his chest:
"So this sort of thing can only be done by someone as steadfastly loyal to the Emperor as me, and with a less than stellar background previously."
"Now do you understand why the Fox Clan is important?"
Marshal Niutou leaned back, muttering, "Leader, is there a possibility, of course, I might be a bit straightforward, but is there a possibility that you misunderstood the Emperor’s intentions?"
"Impossible!"
Niu Benben was full of confidence, gesticulating:
"I’ll tell you this, a man, especially one like our Emperor—charming, handsome—doesn’t love beauties?
"Look at the level of the Emperor’s confidantes?
"The Queen Mother, needless to say, the original Western Queen Mother, Innate Great Power.
"Lady Ba, of the Calamity Dao, daughter of Xuanyuan Huangdi, one of the strongest human experts.
"And then there’s the Peacock Fairy, who’s had a one-sided affection for the Emperor, known throughout Heavenly Court, a Great Power of the Phoenix Clan, the first peacock in the world, the child of the Primordial Phoenix.
"Do you think that if the Emperor starts a new race of confidantes, he wouldn’t have high standards for their quality and origin?
"As for this unborn Nine-tailed Fox, I can tell you, only Chang’e of the Moon Palace can compete with her, no other creature... can match!"
Marshal Niutou laughed wryly, "That may not necessarily be true. Isn’t it said that the Emperor’s favorite is still his childhood sweetheart and junior sister?"
"That’s an exception. This shows our Heavenly Emperor values emotions."
Niu Benben lifted his wine goblet and drank it dry.
He lamented, "Let me tell you, brother, I am not really trying to scheme anything through this, through this yet-to-be-born Nine-tailed Fox. Look at me now, is there a spirit among the Hundred Clans better off than me?"
"Certainly not," Marshal Niutou appraised positively, "None of the other leaders are as close to the Emperor as you are."
"I really have nothing more to ask for."
Niu Benben sighed:
"Now, my household is filled with wives and concubines, I am even somewhat renowned among the Hundred Clans, and wherever I go in the Heavenly Court, I am addressed with the respect of a leader or general.
"My life was pulled from the Illusionary Realm by the Emperor himself.
"So any task assigned by the Emperor, I, old Niu, would die a thousand deaths rather than fail, truly, a thousand deaths."
In the corner, Li Ping’an listened with mixed emotions.
He’d had enough to drink and was now speaking more openly from the heart.
However, what Niu Benben mentioned did remind him.
The Nine-tailed Fox is about to be born soon.
If things develop as he expects, this Nine-tailed Fox should be the Nine-tailed Fox in the script set by the Heavenly Dao for the Investiture of the Gods.
—In the script of the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, Su Daji is known as Su Hu’s daughter. The demon that possessed Su Daji was the Nine-tailed Fox who went to undermine the Shang Nation’s luck on Nüwa’s orders.
How should he use this Nine-tailed Fox?
Li Ping’an sat there, falling into contemplation, replaying and scrutinizing thoughts in his mind.
The Heavenly Dao Infant Spirit was detained by the old Lord Taishang, now reincarnated as his unborn eldest son; the Heavenly Dao’s ’insistence’ on the Investiture of the Gods script should weaken;
Yao Ji is now apprenticed to Lady Nüwa, severing ties with her ’destined’ partner Yang Tianyou, so naturally, there will be no Yang Jian in the future;
Now, the Nine-tailed Fox is about to be born, and he has already taken preemptive control...
Keep her away from the Investiture?
Or, use her as a pawn, seemingly complying with the Heavenly Dao’s will, then use her as a foreshadowing to be leveraged at a critical moment?
Li Ping’an pondered quietly, soon forming a plan in his heart.
Soon after Niubeben leaves Fengdu City, he should reach out to him to advise on this matter.
Li Ping’an couldn’t help but start thinking about those few unanswered questions.
Firstly, where exactly did the script of the Investiture come from?
Is it from the Heavenly Dao’s peeping into his and his father’s memories?
Secondly, why does the Heavenly Dao persistently push along this script?
When a wrong path occurs, it even makes an effort to correct it. The end result guided by this script can clearly be achieved by other means.
Thirdly, the Southern Continent’s mundane world seems to have countless connections with his old home on Earth. How did he and his father come to this universe?
Li Ping’an vaguely felt that these three questions could only possibly be answered after the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm concludes.
He thought again:
’If it’s simply to find these three answers, shouldn’t I just mess with the Heavenly Dao? Reverse everything in the script?’
’That would not work either, the matter of human sacrifices in the Shang Nation must be thoroughly resolved, as this is the meaning of the Rites of Zhou.’