(TL/N: Again, i did not read nor watched Fox Spirit Matchmaker. If there's any incorrect name or anything else, i just translated the way author wrote it.)
After the hall finally quieted down, Rosalyn leisurely began reading the comic.
The story picked up from the previous chapter. Beidi Shikuan wanted to destroy the Tree of Bitterness, and more details of the Moon-Red Arc were slowly revealed. When she saw that Dongfang Yuechu was willing to devote his entire life to help Tushan Honghong realize her dream, the witch seemed to find resonance within herself.
She muttered, "Rostam, it won't be long before the pure, immaculate kingdom you wished for descends. Even death would not stop me."
If Dongfang Yuechu could devote his life to Tushan Honghong, then why couldn't she?
When Dongfang Yuechu and Tushan Susu regained their senses, they teamed up to save Beidi Shikuan. But despite Susu's efforts, her results only made things worse for him.
For example, the photos Susu made showed Shikuan's reincarnated lover on dates with another man.
Or the memories of her past lives showed her wearing a wedding dress and marrying someone else.
Seeing this, Beidi Shikuan finally broke down. No man would enjoy being betrayed, let alone by a reincarnated lover.
Fortunately, with everyone working together, they finally helped the demon emperor recall his true memories.
In the past, the Demon-Subduing Kingdom had been ruled by humans. They controlled demons using the Mother-Child Demon Talisman. Beidi Shikuan had been a slave, tasked since childhood with protecting the kingdom's princess.
As time passed, he fell in love with her. The princess even secretly took him to Tushan to reincarnate together. But the good days did not last. Because demons were constantly enslaved, rebellions kept rising, and the final blow came when the princess married someone who was not him.
"Say, A'Kuan… you will always protect me, right?"
Though the question broke his heart, Shikuan still nodded.
On the day of the princess's wedding, the rebel army was already at the gates. Shikuan prepared to die to protect her, but unexpectedly, the princess did not flee. Instead, she appeared behind him.
Facing the enemy's threats, she chose to stand with him. Unfortunately, a traitor among the maids attacked her. Gravely wounded and on the verge of death, she finally revealed the truth.
She had always loved Shikuan. But because he never showed any response, she felt heartache. Over time, she came to understand that it was the difference in their status. So she began searching for a way to grant him freedom.
The marriage was merely a cover. In fact, the royal family had once intermarried with demons. That emperor had wanted demons to gain freedom.
The memory arc ended there. Rosalyn remained silent. She thought both sides were foolish, yet this very foolishness was what made their story so touching.
"So the ones causing trouble all along were those black foxes?"
The witch began noticing the real issue. The reincarnation ritual itself had no problem. The true culprits were the black foxes working in the shadows. It was they who manipulated Shikuan and led to the tragedy.
Rosalyn tasted a piece of pastry and continued reading. When she opened the next page, she found that this volume was titled the Thousand Faces Arc. In the middle of the page was a message from the shop owner.
"I hope that anyone who walks the wrong path will one day find the chance to turn back."
"Hmph. What an inexplicable line."
Rosalyn scoffed and began reading the main story. This arc told the tale of Kongxianshan Niugui, a notorious lecherous thief who had tormented the Western Regions for over a decade.
Yan Ruyu was strong, but nowhere near Bai Yuechu's level and lost repeatedly. Out of desperation, this demon started absorbing the reincarnation energies of other demons. He even resorted to targeting men.
But even then, he was no match for Bai Yuechu.
Rosalyn disliked this arc at first, even feeling disgusted. But once she reached the memory arc, she finally understood the meaning behind Su Han's message.
Yan Ruyu was a thief, or more accurately, a disciple of Tushan who did not know human laws. Because of this, he committed many wrongs doing. Such as stealing, harassing innocent girls, and many more... until one day, he met the demon officer Lvjianwen. That was when fate began to turn.
Although she was saved, Lvjianwen had no fondness for him at all and always remained cold. Her attitude deeply hurt Yan Ruyu, especially when she said, "As for befriending a demon who violates innocent girls and steals from others, I have no interest."
Later, Yan Ruyu found his master, Tushan Rongrong, and learned that he had been wrong all along. He then began trying to do good deeds.
The turning point came during the Red-Sand Bandit incident. Lvjianwen fell into a demon's trap, and Yan Ruyu arrived in time to prevent the worst. Unfortunately, the enemy had information about him and used the Canghai Tear to completely suppress him.
Facing the moonlight, Yan Ruyu felt despair. He never expected that once Lvjianwen's umbrella disappeared, she would loosen her clothes and use them to block the moonlight for him, all to protect his dignity.
That moment moved him. He fought with all he had to protect her, even if it meant turning into a hideous ox demon. And he did become one.
After defeating the enemy, Lvjianwen's words broke him completely.
"Take him away too."
Yan Ruyu's smile froze. Memories flooded his mind. Devastated, he grabbed the Sky Net and pierced through his own shoulder blade.
"Talisman spells are useless on me. If you want to restrain me, this is the only way!"
Before collapsing, he cried out in despair, "In your eyes… I will forever be a criminal."
Rosalyn trembled as she read. Her hands shook slightly. The story hit her harder than she expected.
The story continued. Later, Yan Ruyu was tricked into signing a reincarnation contract with Lvjianwen. One might think their love would blossom. But the black foxes interfered again. Under their provocation, Yan Ruyu suddenly remembered the issue of human lifespan.
He had been imprisoned for sixty years. That was nothing for him, but Lvjianwen had to endure a lifetime of loneliness. To spare her pain, he believed the black foxes' lies.
"As long as you can be happy, it doesn't matter if I remember who I am."
In agony, Yan Ruyu forgot Lvjianwen. Although he later saved her, he could only sit alone atop a snowy peak, watching from afar as the woman he loved married another, had children, and lived out her life. He remained in the wind and snow until he turned into an ice sculpture.
The story ended. For once, Su Han left no cliffhanger. Rosalyn, however, felt stifled. Who was to blame? If Yan Ruyu had not committed those mistakes, perhaps none of this would have happened.
After a long, long silence, she wiped the silver tears from the corner of her eyes and mocked herself. "If Rostam were still alive, he would probably blame me too."
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