That night was particularly lively, not because of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but because the county lord was gone.

The gray fox watched the chaos from afar, and the voices of the people were full of voices, faintly until something had happened. He sniffed the faint breath left in the wind and ran all the way to the Central Plains. Until the breath became thinner and thinner, and after passing through two flowing waters, he could not smell anything. He was tired, and blood blisters had ground up on his paws, but it didn't hurt at all, and he just wanted to know where the county lord had gone. But he couldn't walk, he just spread it out, and his body rose and fell violently with his breath.

Several eagles hovering in the night sky finally landed on the ground and surrounded him. He wanted to try to stand up. If you continue to lie here, you will definitely be eaten by these guys.

But they don't have any intent to attack. One of the eagles raised its wings and pointed in one direction.

The gray fox stood up with his limbs braces. He lifted his hand and moved his front paws, transforming into slender human fingers. For the first time, he ran on the grassland as a human, and his body felt very light and thin, almost melting into the night. Several eagles soared into the air to lead the way for him. The wind came after him, lifting him up and lightening his steps. Many fireflies in the grass also led the way for him. I don't know how long it took, but the familiar smell became stronger, mixed with something that made him uneasy.

The taste of blood.

He saw a disgusting picture. Everything that is the worst, darkest, dirtiest, and dirtiest of human nature is vividly displayed in this poor little girl.

He never expected this to happen.

That Mid-Autumn Festival was so cold, really. He rushed over, but he knelt directly on the ground, kneeling beside her, and couldn't stand up. Her clothes were taken away, and he wanted to hug her and keep her warm, but he didn't dare. She was so fragile that it seemed like she would turn into dust and go away with the wind at the slightest touch.

"You, you're coming......"

She reached out tremblingly and touched his face lightly. The fingertips were cold and light, like winter snow coming up. He was surprised, his tone trembled, and he asked her if she was ...... Know who you are.

Her hand went up a little and touched his hairy, soft ears. He realized that he had inadvertently revealed the prototype. He didn't bother to maintain his human form, but said in a trembling voice:

"I, you...... Look at me, I can become a human, I can ...... I, I've become powerful, you wait for me to give you luck, you'll be fine, and you can go home...... I'll take you away, I'll take you home......"

His mind is so messy that he doesn't know what to do. But before he could figure out a solution, the county lord slowly reached for his other hand, clutching the bracelet tightly. He reached out and took it, holding it carefully.

"Take it back," she whispered, "take it home...... I don't want to go to the Central Plains anymore, I want to ...... I want to go home too. Can ......"

"I'll take you back," he screamed, "I'll take you!" You'll be fine, I'll help ......."

Her hands relaxed, and she lost all her strength.

He was confused, like a lost soul, clutching the bracelet his mother had left for her. By the time he got back to his people, it was almost dawn.

He was so grieved all the way that he didn't know how to tell them. Coming to the familiar tent where he often shuttled, he cursed and murmured:

"That group, that group of Central Plains people......"

When the guard saw him, he cried out in amazement:

"County Lord!"

He was in a trance, and he didn't know why he said that.

Hearing the voice of the guard, everyone looked over, and they all showed a look of surprise, and gathered around, crying and laughing, and shouting loudly, "The county lord is back."

He stared blankly at the bracelet on his hand, wondering why they said that.

Almost everyone was immersed in the great joy of being lost and regained, and they ran to tell each other, but he felt inexplicable. His grief was so insignificant, drowning in the noise of the crowd, like a drop of ink falling into a rushing river.

Some people kept asking him where he had gone and how he was, and some people stopped them. He stuttered a little, didn't know what to say, just kept cursing the three merchants in a low voice. At this point, they seemed to understand something, and did not dare to ask any further. Someone helped him get a basin of water and helped him wipe his face clean. In the end, everyone dispersed, and they stayed outside the camp tent and left him alone, saying that they were waiting for the patriarch who had gone out to find the county lord to come back.

He stared blankly at the basin, waiting for the tiny ripples to calm down.

He suddenly understood.

The face that appeared in the water turned out to be the immature face of the county lord.

In surprise, he pressed his hand to his face and touched it, startling even himself. Maybe it's because I'm too worried about her, or maybe it's the influence of the breath on the bracelet, and he, who is not proficient in the incarnation technique, unknowingly became her appearance. Just as he was surprised, the dusty patriarch rushed into the tent and stared at him with mixed feelings.

Then he hugged his "daughter" fiercely. The hug almost took her breathless.

"Daddy thinks, Daddy thinks even you have to ......"

What to do.

As for the corpse of the county lord, he ran back the next night. At that time, the eagles and many animals gathered around the carcass. Foxes, wolves, eagles, rabbits, sheep...... Many of the animals that were predators protected her in peace. It wasn't until he rushed there that they got out of the way for him one by one. He cremated her with a fox fire and quietly collected some ashes and put them in jars.

Since then, the gray fox has been living as the county lord.

This is the story of the Tartar Hime.

The Tartar in front of her is not the county lord, the county lord is long dead.

"You want me to tell me why I'm alive like this...... I don't know. I just look after those little girls of the same age, and after a while, I make myself look taller and older. It's a bit of a hassle, but it's not so much of a show. ”

"If what you say is true," Mu Wan paused, "I hope ...... It's fake. ”

"I've been wondering when these days will end. Human life is so short, maybe I don't have to play it for too long. As far as the demon is concerned, this is just a momentary trick. Am I comforting her family, or am I comforting myself? I can't say anything about it. The thought that I still have a long life ahead of me is just a time to pass the time. ”

When he was a child, the fox demon didn't know how to cultivate for a few years, but Tartar Ji has really grown up until now, and this time may be more real.

He continued, "It's just that in this short time, I met you...... Naturally, I didn't expect that someone would suddenly upset the balance. It's not a bad thing, it's just that I didn't expect it, I didn't expect that there would be such peaceful contact with us from other peoples. After all, after that, they will never have a good face for you. ”

The clansmen didn't know exactly what happened that day, but they didn't mention or dodge Tartar Ji, and they probably guessed a thing or two. In terms of degree, it is naturally not as miserable as the dead county lord, but it is also equally bad in nature.

They were glad that their lord had been restored to what he was now.

It's just that only he knows that she will never come back.

“…… Even so, I'm sorry," Yamakai looked at him, "It's indeed my long-cherished wish for humans and monsters to coexist in harmony." But deep down, you still have a strong hostility towards humanity as a whole. I can't sit idly by. ”

"Leave it alone, Shanhai" Ah Luan dragged him, "Isn't that great?" ”

Mu Wan was a little hesitant, not knowing what to say. Emotionally speaking, she naturally hoped that Tartar would continue to disguise herself as the county lord and live in peace with her people. But from a rational point of view, she clearly knows that Shanhai's statement is correct. Leaving such a monster and living in such a xenophobic group is indeed endless.

"I know your concerns," he said quietly, "and I appreciate that you are willing to listen to me tell this boring story." I don't want to fight you, so I've thought about it a long time ago...... If I do meet a traveler like you, I think I am willing to leave. ”

Shi Wuqi, who had been silent, spoke.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. Wherever it is, maybe it's the green waters and green mountains elsewhere, maybe it's the Central Plains...... I think she is still yearning for that colorful place. I want to show her for her. ”

Tartar put her pretty little hat back on. She stood up and walked out the door.

"Y-Are you going to leave now...... It was so sudden, the first day I met you. ”

Ah Luan was a little reluctant. She was so touched by that story that she couldn't say anything.

"Don't be sad, kid. This river and lake, it's like this, everyone is a passerby. ”

They followed him out, and many of the guards outside were still asleep. He walked calmly, occasionally looking up at the moon in the sky, occasionally looking back at them. He smiled at the last and walked silently, never looking back, until the little figure with its four tails completely melted into the darkness of the night.

"But......" Luan frowned, "how can we tell the patriarch that your county lord is a vixen?" ”

“……”

Finished.

"They're about to wake up," Shi Wuqi looked back, "The county lord's bracelet and ashes are in the tent, and since there are already rumors in the clan, let them understand for themselves." I think their horses are good, so let's take some and run overnight...... Liang Qiu came with me, and I couldn't take it alone. ”

“…… Oh. ”

In the stable, the two quickly picked out their horses and prepared the reins.

Mu Wan whispered: "How can I have a feeling of revenge......

"Say less. Do you know what I saw when I touched the ashes? ”

"What?"

"I saw the fox pierce its fangs into the flesh of the county lord. The ashes were hers, but ...... Who knows. Look at those four tails, who knows where the demonic power comes from? The fox demon is cunning, and I can't trust him. ”

"W-"

"Be quiet, don't alarm others...... Don't tell the mountains and seas, it's only more complicated. It is not advisable to stay here for a long time, so evacuate quickly. ”

Shi Wuqi led the two horses away, leaving Mu Wan standing in place, speechless in shock.

It was as if the story was just an illusory dream.