SWNOVELXO Chapter 59: Allies Assembled
Ely's lips curved into a faint smile. She stopped in her tracks, and the potential allies immediately introduced themselves.
The one who took the lead was the Lion Emperor from the north. Gustavus was the overlord who governed Sumore Forest City and the surrounding forest region.
More than a dozen leaders from various righteous factions introduced themselves with pleasantries and praise to curry favor.
"I get the gist of it, but what do you plan to do? You sided with us and offended the Tiangong Sacred Land too. Aren't you afraid of their revenge?" Ely raised her palms as if she was weighing good and bad with a gesture.
"We are fully aware of our decision. After seeing how those villains were in action, we decided not to remain silent. Some of Frozen Cloud's people..." Gustavus pointed his thumb at Frozen Cloud's people in the distance. "Oh, they're here."
"Meiying greet seniors." The white elf saintess landed. She grasped her fist to pay her respect.
"You managed to convince half of your group, but you must treat them first. Your people still passed out over there." Yuuki pointed to a group of people clad in Frozen Cloud robes near the alley.
The elders immediately ordered their disciples to take care of their unconscious people.
"Elder Celestial Fox, we thank you for your mercy."
"Now then, that is my little sister. Also, I am no longer Frozen Cloud's guest elder. I will follow my little sister to her holy land."
"Your little sister is from the holy land, right? Where are you from, Lady Kitsune?
The Frozen Cloud's elders immediately turned their attention to the shadow fox. Thanks to the Lion Emperor's people, they knew this shadow fox's name. However, her mysterious background was a holy land too!
While others wished to curry favour, Frozen Cloud's people hoped to establish good relations with this powerful force, especially when they needed it the most. In this way, those stubborn people who depended on the Tiangong Sacred Land could say goodbye to that double-edged sword of diplomatic relations.
"We're from Sacred Sakura Holy Land." Ely replied calmly, but she had expected confused looks from everyone.
That name was the one she gave to refer to that nameless Sacred Mountain. Of course, no outsiders could recognize it because it was not a known holy land.
"We usually secluded ourselves from unnecessary mundane affairs, but the recent events in the mortal world are worrying. Our holy saintess' even had to prevent the Demon God from descending to the mortal world in her first experience of going down from the holy land. Phew... and that's how it is." Ely sighed and glanced at the surrounding people with a sharp gaze.
"You don't keep a fox spirit at home, do you? You will suffer the wrath of the heavens if you ever mistreated them, let alone make them suffer." Ely spotted a few people with cold sweats and pale expressions.
She knew those people had a fox-kin or two at home.
"That, that..." A particular wolf stuttered as he tried to defend himself. However, everyone soon looked at him with a death stare.
It was tantamount to admitting guilt at a public execution. It could drag everyone onto the nine-tailed fox sisters' bad side!
"Hum, I won't say anything if you treat them kindly and fairly. If I find any fox kin suffering, like being treated as a slave or a cultivation furnace, I will kill you." Ely stated her threat clearly.
She also did a little trick to display if her words were essential. Her spiritual wind and holy-like aura enhanced the impression of a messenger of heaven delivering her revelations.
"We understand fox-kin also has the right to live in peace, not as a furnace or prey, but as a living being." Gustavus supported the regulation, and so did everyone.
It was the beginning of the fox-kin liberation and change of fate agreed upon by the major forces in the Northern Realm.
"Fufu, I'm glad you understand. Please have this. It can save your life once from a fatal blow, and please channel your spiritual qi into this item and convey to us your prayer.
If Tiangong Sacred Land causes trouble, we will come to help you. Sacred Sakura Holy Land will not ignore your prayer if you are sincere." Ely distributed a protective talisman and a miniature shrine to each leader.
These forces would fight the villains for her for a while as the righteous side, and she would help them from behind in the safe zone.
Everyone then expressed their gratitude to the fox sisters.
They took a huge risk to go this side. Threats from the Tiangong Sacred Land were clearly imminent. Still, they were confident everything would be fine with the Sacred Sakura Holy Land and Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace by their side. They made a great decision at the right time.
"Lady Kitsune... Ah, err- Can you enlighten us on how the people who mysteriously disappeared in the last two days are in our hands? We don't do anything. To be honest, our people are also missing." An elder from Frozen Cloud asked worriedly.
"Mm, yes. They are in the hands of you, holy saintess, now." Ely shrugged her shoulders, but her gaze fell on Shui Meiying.
Remiel then secretly placed the hostage pouch in Frozen Cloud's holy saintess hands.
"Uh, ah, w-what?" Shui Meiying was confused about why the elders and everyone else suddenly looked at her. She noticed something on her hands and swore it wasn't there before.
She checked the pouch's contents and was shocked to death after seeing the nearly two hundred captives tied there.
Ely then explained the situation to the almost crying holy saintess. She wished Frozen Cloud to assist Sacred Sakura in fighting the Tiangong Sacred Land. Nevertheless, the so-called ransom plan was real and needed to be executed.
The friendly elder then expressed her gratitude. "We understand. It was a mistake on our part too. Please forgive us for our people's mistakes in the past, and let's start a good relationship."
"Well then, I think it's time for us to go. Until we meet again." Ely raised her hand in farewell, then asked the invisible wind spirit to take them away in invisibility from there.
*Swoosh*
The wind and the dust distracted everyone, but the fox sisters and the veiled ladies had already disappeared from the vicinity as if they had never been there in the first place.
It was indeed a mysterious and inexplicable technique. They knew it wasn't teleportation or anything related to magic or cultivation technique. No residual qi or mana was left behind, only the remnant of elemental wind.
Somewhere atop a tall building one kilometer from the scene, a crimson lady was still in awe of what had just happened.
She was very attracted to the mysterious nine-tailed shadow fox. The seemingly harmless cutie pie turned out to be a powerful alchemist.
"Interesting, these fox sisters are fascinating. They have profound techniques and abilities but also strong backgrounds. Let's go to greet them and leave a good impression." The crimson lady decides to meet the fox sisters.
"My lady, they left a few seconds ago." The maid rolled her eyes.
"Eh-huh? Really, they've mysteriously disappeared? How could they do that? They can't teleport in the middle of that crowd. Also, it's not a technique, right?" The crimson lady used her magical eyes to survey the surroundings within a thousand-mile radius.
She could no longer feel the fox sisters' presence. Hence, she groaned while clutching her head. "Oh no, I'm late. My graceful entrance has been ruined. They should be impressed by my arrival, or I should punish the bad guys for them. Everyone built good relations with Sacred Sakura, even the declined Frozen Cloud!"
"My lady, please calm down. You are an Empress. We will definitely meet them again." The maid sighed.
"That's right. The major event on the Human Realm and Demon Realm border is a good chance. All holy lands, clans and sects will send representatives to explore that ancient secret realm. Let's go; we need to do some preparations." The crimson lady stood up, then turned around to leave.