Black Phoenix Heir

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 — The Shadow Fox Clan

Chapter 122 — The Shadow Fox Clan

Victor studied the two Shadow Foxes standing before them.

Both had black hair.

It made sense, considering their affinity with the shadow element. If an entire clan had cultivated shadow-based techniques for generations, darker physical traits probably weren’t unusual.

His attention shifted to the Shadow Fox on the right.

The one who had been doing most of the talking.

He looked young.

Around eighteen, Victor guessed.

His black hair was neatly kept, and his handsome features were fairly ordinary. Nothing about his appearance particularly stood out. His clothes, however, were another matter. They were clean, well-made, and clearly more expensive then they needed to be.

His strength wasn’t particularly frightening either.

Victor studied him for a moment and roughly compared his cultivation to the Lava Rock Monkey ranking system.

Around Rank fifty.

A few weeks ago, that would have been a serious opponent.

Now?

Not so much.

With his cultivation having increased, along with his improvements to Flash Step, and Monkey Fist, Victor was confident he could handle someone at that level.

But then Victor’s attention shifted to the Shadow Fox standing beside him.

And his expression became serious.

The difference was enormous.

The man on the left looked to be somewhere in his twenties.

He had a rugged appearance, with long, somewhat messy black hair and sharp facial features. His body was well-built without being excessively muscular, and with black Shadow Fox ears protruding from his hair.

Yet there was something about him Victor couldn’t quite understand.

He couldn’t properly judge his strength.

Victor had only encountered that feeling a handful of times since arriving in this world.

The feeling that if he fought this man...

He would be swatted aside like a bug.

Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That guy is dangerous.

He looked at Lyra.

The fear was still written clearly across her face.

Victor had never seen her look like this.

Victor didn’t know why.

But he could tell that whatever history existed between Lyra and these two went far deeper than he understood.

For a moment, Victor simply watched.

Then he took a step forward.

His hand moved toward the weapon at his side.

Lyra’s eyes widened.

She immediately understood what he was about to do.

No.

She couldn’t let him.

The Shadow Fox on the left wasn’t just some powerful member of the clan.

His name was Levron.

He was ranked third among the Shadow Fox Clan’s strongest members.

Only the clan’s Elder and Patriarch stood above him.

And unlike ordinary cultivators, Levron had mastered his techniques to such an extent that he could fight against a Beast Soldier.

Lyra knew exactly what would happen if Victor fought him.

He wouldn’t last a second.

Victor needed to run.

Now.

Lyra suddenly stepped forward.

Her hand slammed against Victor’s chest and pushed him backward.

”Know your place, you stupid human.”

Victor stumbled slightly.

He stared at her in confusion.

Lyra glared at him.

”I already told you. If you followed me, I would kill you.”

Victor blinked.

He didn’t completely understand.

Lyra’s expression hardened.

”If you don’t leave now...”

She paused.

”I’ll kill you myself.”

Victor stared at her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Lyra turned back toward the two Shadow Foxes.

She forced the fear out of her expression.

”This filthy human has been following me around and annoying me.”

She pointed toward Victor.

”I haven’t been able to get rid of him.”

Zuban scrutinized her.

His eyes narrowed.

Then he glanced toward Levron.

”Levron.”

Levron looked at him.

”Delete this human.”

Zuban’s expression twisted into a vicious smile.

”I never want to see him again.”

He paused.

”Actually...”

His smile widened.

”I want to see him scream. I want to see him cry. I want to see his blood spraying through the air.”

Levron gave a simple nod.

He didn’t say a word.

Lyra looked at Victor one final time.

Her eyes were cold.

Victor remained still for another moment.

He looked at Lyra’s cold eyes and something inside him shifted slightly.

Then Levron moved.

Or rather—

He was about to.

Victor disappeared.

Levron’s eyes widened.

For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on his face.

He hadn’t expected the human to move so quickly.

Even with his perception, Victor’s sudden acceleration had nearly slipped outside his vision.

Levron stared at the empty space where Victor had been standing.

Fast.

Far faster than he had expected.

If he chased after him, catching him wouldn’t be easy.

In fact...

Levron wasn’t sure he could catch him at all.

That movement technique was extraordinary.

Even a Beast Soldier might struggle to catch a human moving at that speed.

Zuban’s expression immediately darkened.

”Levron.”

He turned toward him.

”What are you doing?”

Zuban’s voice grew sharper.

”You’re going to let him escape?”

Levron looked in the direction Victor had disappeared.

”I won’t be able to catch him.”

Zuban’s eyes widened.

Levron continued calmly.

”He’s faster than he looks.”

”Useless.”

Zuban spat the word.

”Absolutely useless.”

Then his attention returned to Lyra.

He slowly approached her.

Lyra instinctively took a small step backward.

Zuban stopped directly in front of her.

He looked her over.

Then he leaned closer.

He sniffed.

Lyra’s expression changed.

Zuban’s eyes narrowed.

”You have that human’a scent all over you.”

He sniffed again.

”Liar.”

Lyra clenched her fists.

”No.”

Zuban stared at her.

”Have you mated with this human?”

Fear and annoyance flashed across Lyra’s face.

”No, I haven’t.”

She quickly continued.

”He was just following me around.

Zuban stared at her.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then his expression became colder.

”You are a filthy liar.”

Lyra’s eyes narrowed.

Zuban looked toward Levron.

Then back at her.

”After everything my father did for you...”

His voice was filled with resentment.

”After your parents disappeared, this is how you’re going to repay him?”

Lyra remained silent.

”This is how you’re going to repay my family?”

Zuban stepped closer.

”By fraternizing with a human?”

His eyes burned with jealousy and hatred.

”One of those betrayers?”

Lyra’s fists tightened.

”You’re going to regret this, Lyra.”

Zuban’s expression carried something deeper than simple anger.

Possession.

Jealousy.

Hatred.

All of it mixed together.

”My father is going to deal with you.”

Lyra said nothing.

Zuban moved behind her.

He placed a hand against her back and pushed her forward.

Lyra stumbled one step.

She looked over her shoulder.

Levron was already walking behind them.

He didn’t seem particularly interested in the situation.

He simply followed.

Zuban continued pushing Lyra toward the direction of the Shadow Fox Clan.

Lyra’s face remained expressionless.

But her hands were clenched tightly at her sides.

The three Shadow Foxes disappeared deeper into the forest.