The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v3c26

Chapter 26: Uprooting

“There is a land called Qing Qiu, where reside foxes with nine tails.”

Just as the Xuanyuan clan, due to the distinction between “legend” and “present world,” were followers rather than true descendants, the three clans of Qing Qiu Kingdom were similar.

The Tu Shan, You Su, and Chun Hu clans all appeared in legends, but their current incarnations were merely followers—after all, the legends depicted true nine-tailed foxes, which Moonflower clearly wasn’t.

Although possessing a fox-like allure, Moonflower was undeniably human, her abilities resembling those of a fox demon only because she followed the Nine-Tailed Fox of Nightmare.

The other clan members were similar, their appearances becoming increasingly alluring, regardless of gender, practically all handsome men and beautiful women, due to the Nine-Tailed Fox’s influence.

But there was a significant problem.

The legendary Nine-Tailed Fox itself was relatively weak. Although famous, its power was unremarkable, hardly a major player in the Great Xia Imperial City.

Therefore, the Nine-Tailed Fox was ranked quite low in the Grotesquery Sequence, at number forty-five.

Of course, even at forty-fifth, the Nine-Tailed Fox was still powerful, and its God’s Favored… Moonflower… was also not to be underestimated. Pure Sequence ranking wasn’t everything, after all. Even Iris, Jingwei’s God’s Favored, had been easily tricked.

But… there was a difference.

Qing Qiu Kingdom’s current state was a perfect example of this difference.

Forced to exist only in the “past,” unable to return to the present, all due to the “Ten Suns in the Sky” disaster.

This disaster stemmed from the war between Qing Qiu Kingdom and Xi He Palace. The Princess of Xi He Palace, using her power, had summoned the true form of the Three-Legged Golden Crow of Calamity, Sequence 17, bringing about the “Ten Suns” disaster, intending to destroy Qing Qiu Kingdom.

The then ruler of Qing Qiu was powerful, even surpassing the newly appointed, young Princess of Xi He Palace.

He had even suppressed her, forcing her to reveal her trump card, the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

But in the end… Qing Qiu Kingdom had lost, a devastating defeat. Even the Nine-Tailed Fox’s true form, formed from the life essence of countless clan members, couldn’t turn the tides, losing to the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

If not for the timely intervention of the Fairy of Penglai Island, pulling Qing Qiu Kingdom into the “past,” even if a few powerful members survived the “Ten Suns,” it would have been a near extinction.

The young You Su Ling, witnessing this, realized the importance of power in the Great Xia Imperial City, not just personal strength, but also the clan’s power.

The then ruler of Qing Qiu had been powerful, even the current Moonflower, with “Hour of Death,” could only be considered his equal.

But what good was it?

After the war with Xi He Palace, Qing Qiu Kingdom had been completely defeated, its ruler, burdened by his injuries and the clan’s accusations, dying of despair.

But the nightmare didn’t end with his death. Qing Qiu Kingdom’s price wasn’t just losing their land and being forced to hide in the “past.”

The Fairy’s help wasn’t free. Maintaining Qing Qiu Kingdom’s existence in the “past” came at an exorbitant price, far exceeding the Fairy’s own cost.

Because the Fairy knew that if she withdrew her support, Qing Qiu Kingdom would be destroyed.

For Penglai Island, this was a client they couldn’t afford to lose, even delaying payment was unacceptable. They had to fulfill their obligations, even if it meant bankruptcy.

However, the situation later changed. For some reason, Penglai Island offended the Xuanyuan clan. Xuanyuan Linglong attacked, decimating them, slaughtering almost all their healers, forcing the Fairy to sue for peace.

Moreover, You Su Ling’s rising power and potential presented an opportunity for the struggling Penglai Island, significantly reducing Qing Qiu Kingdom’s maintenance cost, even providing subsidies, finally allowing Qing Qiu Kingdom to recover.

Although not yet comparable to the top factions, their close ties with Penglai Island made them a force to be reckoned with, practically restored to their former glory under the previous ruler, You Su Xi, now led by his youngest daughter, You Su Ling.

“Father… I won’t let your past… repeat itself under my rule.”

Moonflower looked at the faint blood moon in the sky, a flicker of memory in her eyes.

She was powerful now, but her clan wasn’t.

Another war with Xi He Palace would mean their extinction.

Her father, unable to withstand the “Ten Suns,” could only watch helplessly as his clan suffered, his children dying, only his youngest daughter, barely able to walk, surviving.

If Moonflower faced the same situation, the outcome wouldn’t be much different.

So…

No matter the price, she had to obtain Heavenly Woman Ba’s Taboo Authority.

Moonflower’s caution stemmed from a simple reason: she couldn’t afford to gamble, neither could Qing Qiu Kingdom.

They were still enemies with Xi He Palace, and the once young and inexperienced Princess was now one of the longest-reigning leaders in the Great Xia Imperial City. Almost all of Moonflower’s siblings, even her parents, had died at her hands, a major reason for her father’s despair and death.

The unfinished war would inevitably resume, only a matter of time.

“……”

Luo Ling, the small bird nestled in Iris’s hair, observed Moonflower, sensing her sorrow, but she didn’t understand why this usually seductive and mischievous fox woman would show such emotion.

But this sadness was fleeting, Moonflower’s usual alluring smile quickly returning, as if the brief moment of vulnerability had been an illusion.

“It seems… Granny Moonflower also has quite a story…” Luo Ling blinked.

During her time with Xuanyuan Linglong, Luo Ling had learned not only about the Xuanyuan clan, but also, through casual conversations, about Qing Qiu Kingdom, including the cause of the “Ten Suns” disaster, hidden among her questions about various factions.

Therefore, she knew about the war between Qing Qiu Kingdom and Xi He Palace, although from the Xuanyuan clan’s perspective.

Unfortunately, since this incident wasn’t directly related to the Xuanyuan clan, their records only had a brief mention:

“Battle between Qing Qiu and Xi He, Qing Qiu’s defeat, hence Ten Suns in the Sky.”

However, as a partial witness, Xuanyuan Linglong knew more about Penglai Island’s involvement.

It was rumored that Penglai Island had instigated the war, wanting to make Qing Qiu Kingdom their vassal state. Xuanyuan Linglong didn’t deny this possibility, claiming the Fairy was a cunning and treacherous, yet cowardly, individual.

Xuanyuan Linglong’s original assassination target had been the Fairy, but unable to find her, she had slaughtered Penglai Island’s healers, second only to the Fairy in status.

The result was the same. Penglai Island, facing an unprecedented crisis, had been forced to loosen its grip on Qing Qiu Kingdom.

These matters were complex, and Xuanyuan Linglong, whose job before retirement had been solely focused on killing, following the clan leader’s orders, sometimes even exceeding them, hadn’t fully understood the situation, so Luo Ling’s knowledge was also limited.

Regardless, Qing Qiu Kingdom’s recovery and subsequent development, besides Moonflower’s capable leadership, was also partly due to Xuanyuan Linglong’s unintentional assistance…

In other words, in a sense, Xuanyuan Linglong was Moonflower’s benefactor.

So, sometimes, success wasn’t just about personal effort, but also historical circumstances.

However, even with this debt, Moonflower wouldn’t abandon this opportunity. Unlike “Hour of Death,” obtaining Heavenly Woman Ba’s Taboo Authority wouldn’t just increase her personal strength.

The three clans in Qing Qiu Kingdom all followed the Oneiric-Nightmare Path. “Hour of Death,” belonging to the Present Path, was useless to them, even Moonflower found it difficult to use effectively.

Moonflower’s path to godhood had only just begun.

While the Xuanyuan clan’s memorial team searched, Moonflower and the others remained silent. Camellia used her abilities to observe, Moonflower carefully maintained her concealment mist, and Iris… spaced out.

After a while, Camellia opened her eyes and said softly,

“They’re preparing to leave.”

“What’s the situation?” Moonflower asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice.

“Everything’s normal,” Camellia nodded slightly. “They briefly searched a few key locations, performed the memorial rites, and are now preparing to leave… However, they’re moving much faster than I expected.”

“That’s normal,” Moonflower said. “The bloodlust here is difficult for ordinary people to withstand, only God’s Favored, or Godchosen who have progressed far enough on their Path, can adapt.”

She glanced at Iris, as did Camellia, their gazes falling upon the teal-haired girl.

“…Why are you looking at me? I’m also a God’s Favored,” Iris said, feeling slightly offended. She was weaker and less intelligent, but that didn’t disqualify her as a God’s Favored, did it?

“Sorry, it was just a reflex…”

Moonflower’s lips twitched. She knew Iris was a true God’s Favored, but she was simply too unreliable.

If it were anyone else, even if they were stronger, Moonflower wouldn’t have brought them along.

“They didn’t leave anyone behind, did they?” Moonflower asked Camellia, her voice grave.

“Let me check,” Camellia closed her eyes again. After a while, she said, “No problem, the nodes I set up are all normal.”

“Phew, we’re safe for now,” Moonflower breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Iris.

“Why are you looking at me again?”

Iris, sensing something in Moonflower’s gaze, took a few steps back warily.

Perhaps due to Amethyst’s lingering influence, Iris was now instinctively wary of all… well-endowed… older sisters.

Compared to the current Moonflower, she preferred the loli version at the Tea Party.

It was hard to say if Iris had a specific… type…

“It’s your turn now—don’t worry, it’s not difficult,” Moonflower said softly. “Do you remember your deity, Jingwei’s, identity?”

“Identity?” Iris asked instinctively.

“……..”

Moonflower and Camellia were silent.

Seriously, did she need to ask?

Even Luo Ling couldn’t stand it, pecking Iris’s head with her wing.

“Oh, I think I remember… maybe?” Iris said uncertainly, her gaze darting between them.

“Forget it, I’ll explain,” Moonflower sighed. She didn’t want to explain basic knowledge about a deity to Her God’s Favored, but she had no choice. “According to legend, the ancient battle of Zhuolu’s Battlefield was between the Emperor and the War God.

“The Emperor refers to the Yan and Huang Emperors, who, for some reason, aren’t in the Sequence, but are still revered as ancestors by the Xuanyuan clan, their source of power. Our target, Heavenly Woman Ba, is the daughter of the Yellow Emperor. And your deity, Jingwei, was the youngest daughter of the Yan Emperor.

“Using their connection, we can find the missing Heavenly Woman Ba in ‘Zhuolu’s Battlefield at the Final Hour.'”

“Oh, I see,” Iris nodded, having known that Jingwei was the Yan Emperor’s daughter, just not sure if that was the “identity” Moonflower meant.

She paused, then asked, “So… our target is… Lord Jingwei’s best friend?”

“…More or less,” Moonflower sighed. As long as this idiot understood, it was fine. Heavenly Woman Ba also wasn’t in the Sequence, but according to reliable information, Heavenly Woman Ba of Nightmare was hidden at Sequence 5, a Taboo.

“Now, let’s go.”

Moonflower’s expression turned serious as she continued maintaining her pink mist, venturing deeper into the sinister ancient battlefield.

Iris and Camellia, their legs trembling, followed closely. Luo Ling, nestled in Iris’s hair, silently observed.

Meanwhile, another part of her consciousness was within the crow’s body, also in “Zhuolu’s Battlefield at the Final Hour.”

Indeed, the Xuanyuan clan’s memorial team had left, even Xuanyuan Mu Xue, leaving no one behind—they couldn’t, even if they wanted to. This was “Zhuolu’s Battlefield at the Final Hour,” tainted by Doomsday. Besides Luo Ling’s unique method, even Camellia, whose Authority concerned surveillance, could only maintain a temporary connection.

But one person remained.

Xuanyuan Mu Yan.

Evading all detection, she had separated from the team, not difficult for a skilled assassin. Just like Xuanyuan Linglong, who had rampaged through Penglai Island, Xuanyuan Mu Yan was just as skilled in concealment, a mandatory skill for assassins.

Camellia hadn’t noticed Xuanyuan Mu Yan, only Luo Ling, using the crow’s body, could sense her.

But even more shockingly, even then, she couldn’t pinpoint Xuanyuan Mu Yan’s location, only knowing she was still within “Zhuolu’s Battlefield at the Final Hour.”

—Perhaps worried about “Miss Crow” exposing her, Xuanyuan Mu Yan was still hiding.

What a terrifying assassin… so elusive, and with strength comparable to Xuanyuan Gong…

Luo Ling felt a chilling sensation, a dangerous gaze constantly watching them from beyond the pink mist, a hidden blade poised to strike.

Fortunately, there was no immediate danger, at least not for Iris.

Luo Ling had presented herself as Jingwei, partly because she couldn’t create a decent-looking bird herself, and partly to subtly signal the Xuanyuan clan, ensuring that even if they attacked, they would avoid Iris.

However, having Xuanyuan Mu Yan act like this, it couldn’t be just to drive Yuejian away; they must be trying to learn more about Heavenly Woman Ba from these “grave robbers.”

After all, this concerned the legend of their ancestor, the Emperor, and even if they weren’t interested in Heavenly Woman Ba’s Taboo Authority, they still had to understand why She was ranked among the Taboos.

Even now, the Xuanyuan clan didn’t understand why the Emperor wasn’t in the Sequence, yet possessed Path-related powers like the deities within it.

“……”

Xuanyuan Mu Yan, disguised by Luo Ling as a stout peasant woman, sat on a mound in a desolate graveyard, looking in a certain direction, faintly seeing several figures appear in the sky, her expression unchanged.

All gazes that fell upon her were involuntarily averted, even Luo Ling’s perception through the crow.

“Mother was right, it’s her, You Su Ling, the ruler of Qing Qiu. The other is Jingwei’s Godchosen… connected to Miss Crow, I’ll hold back. As for the last one… wait, is that her? Shouldn’t she be dead? So young… could it be her descendant?”

Xuanyuan Mu Yan’s expression held a hint of surprise as she looked at Camellia.

“Perhaps it’s related to the recent incident in Valhalla, hmph… whatever.”

Even if it was truly that being, returned from the dead, Xuanyuan Mu Yan was only surprised, not afraid, even though that being’s most infamous act was causing the withering of one of Valhalla’s “worlds.”

Slightly different from Luo Ling’s guess, Xuanyuan Mu Yan’s reason for staying wasn’t just to obtain information about Heavenly Woman Ba, but also…

“Did they truly think we knew nothing, like those muscle-brained Knight Godchosen? Or did they believe… that simply erasing their traces was enough?”

Xuanyuan Linglong, watering her flowers in the courtyard, looked up, her injured right eye opening slightly, exuding Doomsday’s aura.

Several golden beams of light shot into the sky from deep within Kunlun Palace, their power shaking Kunlun’s Ruins, attracting the attention of the entire Great Xia Imperial City.

She knew this was her granduncle, Xuanyuan Gong, and several elders, paying a visit… returning a favor.

Reciprocity was important. If their graves were robbed, they would retaliate. This was common courtesy.

“Capturing a few tricked fools is nothing, true victory requires… uprooting them completely.”