Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 61: Zopyra — VIII

The older fox’s reaction elicited a soft wince from the nine-tailed fox. His fox ears flattened on his head as he pursed his lips into a thin line and blinked.

The six tailed fox blinked furiously, eyes wide and expression incredulous as he opened and closed his mouth several times.

Clearly, he didn’t know what he was supposed to say in response to Hu Lijing’s words.

Once again, as if to confirm, he asked, voice soft. "You did what?"

Tension was palpable in the room, stiffness plaguing the nine-tailed fox’s shoulders as he fussed with his sleeves while clearing his throat.

"I rejected him. Even though both of us know our true feelings for each other. And I rejected him without any proper explanation. Not that ZhenHai gave me a chance anyway." Hu Lijing raised his gaze, repeating his earlier explanation word for word, but this time without faltering.

The six tailed fox blinked, a dull pallor taking over his face as he facepalmed, rubbing his face as he let out a frustrated exhale, leaning on the table as he did so.

"Truly..." He began with a groan. "I do not know what to say to that, Hu Lijing." Though gentle, his voice was tinged with a small amount of disappointment.

Hu Lijing grunted, pursing his lips together tightly as he frowned, licking his lips gently.

"I know I sound unreasonable. And I know this entire debacle is my own fault. But— but I have my own reasons... Even though I love him. A lot."

The older fox looked at him, confused. His gaze seemed to ask a quiet question.

Hu Lijing, are you listening to yourself?

With a disbelieving shake of his head, the older fox spirit opened his mouth to speak.

"Would you perhaps want to share the reasoning behind your rather strange decision, Hu Lijing?"

Hu Lijing looked at him, amber eyes flashing as he nodded slowly. "I am not entirely unwilling as long as Elder is going to listen."

The older six tailed fox nodded once more. "Please," he gestured with his hand, wide sleeve sweeping forward. "I am all ears for you, Hu Lijing."

Hu Lijing breathed out a sigh of relief in his heart, giving a grateful nod in return, the nine-tailed fox leaned forward slightly, elbows propped on the table surface.

"I’m more than grateful."

Truly, their relationship was that of a mentor and mentee. A teacher and a student. A lost soul and a guiding lantern in the darkest night.

Hu Lijing took a deep breath, teeth clamping his lower lip in between as he sucked on the soft flesh before opening his mouth to speak.

"We are not meant to be because..."

"..."

A complicated expression painted itself on the older fox spirit’s face as he gazed at Hu Lijing with sympathy after the latter finished speaking.

His kind eyes blinked a few times as he tried to give the nine-tailed fox a comforting smile. However, judging from the look on Hu Lijing’s handsome face, he seemed to have failed.

Finally, giving up on the idea of offering a smile, the six tailed fox shook his head, letting out a soft sigh instead.

Even though he knew that this predicament was brought upon him by Hu Lijing himself, he couldn’t ignore the dull ache spreading in his heart.

It was a truly unfortunate story of two lovers separated by birth, united by soul and shackled by their differing destiny.

He too couldn’t think of any feasible method to help them truly become lovers. But at the very least, Hu Lijing should be able to salvage broken pieces of his relationship with Long ZhenHai with a few nudges in the right direction by him.

Right?

Well, the six tailed fox hoped he was right.

Pressing his fingers on his temples, the older fox spirit let out yet another sigh, looking as troubled as Hu Lijing, if not more.

As the both of them contemplated in silence, Hu Lijing twisted his fingers, pinching the fingertips as he worried his teeth on the soft flesh of his lips, chewing on them as his eyebrows drew together in a slight frown.

"Okay, let us go back to the main issue." The six tailed fox cleared his throat, folding his hands on his lap as he looked Hu Lijing right in the eyes. "Your troubles root from your worries over the fractured relationship between you and Long ZhenHai, am I wrong?"

Hu Lijing’s frown eased a little as he shook his head, not saying a word.

"And in the whole issue, who is at the greatest fault?" The former clan leader questioned carefully, eyes narrowed as he watched Hu Lijing’s reaction. "You. We both agree on that, right?"

Hu Lijing blinked, taken aback as he pointed at himself and opened and closed his mouth a few times, as if to defend himself before conceding as he dropped his hand and nodded.

"Yes. It was my fault for being so stubborn. And not trying to explain myself clearly."

The former clan leader nodded slowly, satisfaction swimming in the pool of his eyes as he smiled.

"Do you know what the easiest and the simplest way of making up — at least somewhat — is, Hu Lijing?"

Hu Lijing looked at him, surprise coloured his features for a brief moment before a swift tide of delight washed away the expression as he leaned forward, almost eagerly.

Then, as if catching himself behaving a little too differently, he leaned back, clearing his throat as a mask of impassiveness covered his true feelings before he asked.

"What is it, Elder?" Internally, the nine-tailed fox hoped for it to be something he would be able to do to make up with Long ZhenHai.

It could be anything, really.

Looking at his mentor, Hu Lijing waited for his answer.

The former clan leader shrugged, hiding his amusement as he pretended to not see the eagerness buzzing under Hu Lijing’s skin.

"It is simple really," he drawled, wanting to prolong the sense of mystery as he spoke, looking at his mentee up and down with a scrutinising gaze. "All you have to do is..."

Hu Lijing couldn’t help but lean forward, his body language betraying his inner turmoil.

What was it? He couldn’t help but wonder, swallowing slightly.

"... Is apologise sincerely and convince Long ZhenHai to listen to you." The former clan leader shrugged once more. "The dragon of the infinite sea is a reasonable person, Hu Lijing. He will not refuse to listen to you if you ask him nicely enough."

Hu Lijing blinked. Once. Then twice. Thrice and a few more times, wondering if he had misheard his mentor’s words.

"Say what?" He asked finally, voice low as he observed the former clan leader’s face. From the looks of it, it was unlikely that Hu Lijing had heard him wrong.

The former clan leader raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms, he let out a soft huff. "I told you to apologise sincerely. This mess is of your making, it is only fair that you apologise, no? Take responsibility for your words, Lijing." He said, very firmly.

Hu Lijing’s face fell visibly despite the mask of indifference. He then let out a groan, barely resisting the urge to quite literally slam his head on the table.

Furiously rubbing his face, Hu Lijing exhaled harshly and ran his hands through his long amber locks.

"Elder..." He started, dryly. "I just told you that Long ZhenHai and I are not on speaking terms, what makes you think that he would be willing to accept my apology, much less hear my explanation?"

The former clan leader let out an incredulous and slight snort. "I just know it, Lijing. You are underestimating both your love for him and his love for you, severely. But that is just my opinion." He punctuated the last sentence with a shake of his head.

With that out of the way, he moved to stand and walk out of the room, intending to leave Hu Lijing alone with his thoughts.

That should help the nine-tailed fox make up his mind. Pleased with himself, the former clan leader ducked his head and smiled wryly.

However, as soon as he took the first step away from the table, Hu Lijing’s hand shot out, grabbing a hold of his in an iron grip as the latter all but pulled him back on the chair.

Taken by surprise, the former clan leader’s mouth fell open as soon as his rear slammed onto the chair.

The hand around his own tightened as he raised his head, wanting to see whatever was going on with Hu Lijing’s brain.

However, the moment he laid his eyes on the nine-tailed fox, he snapped his mouth shut, swallowing whatever words of reproof that reached his lips.

Hu Lijing’s face did not look good. Not in the least. His features had darkened with ill-concealed anger as he all but glared at the six tailed fox spirit.

After making sure that his mentor knew not to try walking out again, Hu Lijing let go of his hand.

In a voice that was barely above a whisper and a chilling mixture of a snarl and a growl, he commanded, coldly.

"Explain, Elder."

Ignoring the unease pooling in the pit of his stomach, the former clan leader let out a sigh and nodded.

"I suppose I do have to spell it out to you, Hu Lijing." Hu Lijing’s eyebrows furrowed as he squinted dangerously and let out a noise, prompting him to continue. "Your love for Long ZhenHai and Long ZhenHai’s love for you is fundamentally different in nature."

Huh?

The nine-tailed fox spirit tilted his head, confused. What was that even supposed to mean?

Seeing his nonplussed expression, the former clan leader rolled his eyes.

"Allow me to explain." He sighed, before continuing. "Your love for Long ZhenHai is like a burning pit of flames, scalding, fierce and destructively protective. Even if the flames cease to burn, the embers smouldering under the ashes will never go cold. It will continue to burn for as long as you live. But it’s precisely because of this fierce love that you are afraid of loving him completely. You can and will hold a grudge."

Hu Lijing let out a strangled noise at the back of his throat.

After a few seconds, the six tailed fox hummed. "Long ZhenHai’s love for you on the other hand is..."