The beauty nodded, then picked up the little red fox, pouted, and kissed it. The fox demon was so delighted that its fur stood on end, and it let out a long howl towards the sky.
The beauty gently put down the little fox demon and walked towards the villa entrance.
I was blocking the doorway. As I moved aside, I seized the opportunity to ask, "May I know the esteemed immortal's name?"
"Call me whatever you like," the beauty replied, walking backward with the air of a seasoned official.
"But you must have a customary name," I persisted. "The Whale God just told me that your name might be one I've heard before."
"Oh," the beauty stopped. "Then call me by the name you've heard."
"...But what is it?" I asked, dumbfounded.
The beauty softly spoke two words that left me frozen for a full minute!
"Daji."
Daji from the Investiture of the Gods! That fox spirit! Bah, that fox demon!
She actually existed! I thought the author had just made her up!
Yaoyao walked up to me, gently pinched my arm, and chuckled, "Look at your charm, even she has defected to you!"
"She clearly came for you, didn't she?" I asked, my reason still intact. It was a humble way of speaking, lest Yaoyao get jealous.
Yaoyao shrugged. "Who knows, but it's good that she's on our side. If she had gone to Longyue's, I doubt even with Diana, we could have matched her!"
"What is her aura?" I asked. Such an ancient fox demon couldn't possibly have a red aura.
"They are the same," Yaoyao whispered, glancing at the backs of Diana and Daji. These two old demons were quite interested in Chen Ke's leftovers and were eating with gusto. Chen Ke, who hadn't overheard our conversation, had been busy in the kitchen. He didn't know Daji's identity but could tell she was no ordinary person. He stood by politely, serving them like a waiter.
I activated my observation art. I noticed that at certain moments, the three red aura strands above Daji's head would suddenly transform into two soaring black strands. However, these changes were fleeting, as if she wasn't deliberately concealing them, but rather using a common form of camouflage for her.
"If you take them to divert Longyue's attention, I'll be completely at ease," Yaoyao said.
"Two great experts, I'll take one, and you can keep the other," I offered modestly.
"I still have Chu Qi," Yaoyao replied.
As we were debating, something unexpected happened. Daji suddenly stood beside Yaoyao and asked me with a smile, "Where are you going?"
Yaoyao flinched, clearly startled. It was obvious that Daji was deliberately demonstrating her power to us, her new friends.
"Uh..." I suppressed my excitement and agitation, organized my thoughts, and briefly explained what had happened last night and my plan to go elsewhere.
"Alright, I'll go with you," Daji said cheerfully, then pulled out an ID card. "We can take the high-speed train, I have my documents."
I glanced at it. The name on it was Su Daji, born in 1992. She really dared to name herself!
The final decision was made: Diana would stay to defend against any sudden attack from Longyue. I would take Daji and Chen Ke, along with Chu Qi, by yacht. We would head south directly to Yantai City across the sea. Chu Qi handed the yacht over to the local Sahbia for safekeeping, and the four of us transferred to a high-speed train, arriving in Jinling City by evening.
We were back.
I contacted Yaoyao. Everything was normal. Yanan went to the warehouse again in the afternoon to check on Longyue and the others; they were all still in their positions.
No need to rush. Along the way, Daji and Chu Qi had been chatting quietly in a language I didn't understand at all. Chen Ke secretly told me it was Tungusic. I had only heard of the Tunguska event, and I didn't even know where it happened, perhaps in the Sibolya region.
Dinner was, naturally, hosted by me as the semi-local. After consulting Daji's wishes, we arranged to dine at a restaurant by the Qinhuai River, enjoying authentic Qinhuai delicacies. After the meal, I booked four rooms at the nearby Bailu Hotel, arranging for the two masters to settle in first. They were still chatting, so I suggested they continue their conversation in one room, as if I were merely their escort to Jinling.