107.1 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

**Chapter 107: Betrayal** In the realm of humans, there exists a hierarchy based on bloodline, but this distinction holds even more significance among the demon races, who have always placed immense value on ancestral heritage. The reason the clan leader's lineage is considered precious is due to records in the Fox Codex that suggest only this bloodline can break through the ultimate limit of demon cultivation, reaching the Mahayana stage and inching closer to the immortal realm. In other words, the Fox Clan believes that only their leader's lineage has the potential to become true fox immortals. Indeed, this lineage is inherently superior; its members are born with higher talent and exceptional demon bodies. Not only are they born with intelligence, but each generation also inherits two significant innate abilities: concealment, which allows them to completely hide their presence, and berserk, which can instantaneously amplify their strength tens of times. While absolute strength is crucial in the realm of immortal cultivation, mere cultivation level isn't everything. With the availability of elixirs, cultivation techniques, spells, and spiritual tools, humans can sometimes defy their level to achieve victory, and demons are no different. Demons primarily rely on their demonic bodies and innate abilities. The Demon King of Yanbi Mountain values more than just cultivation level; they assess overall strength. Take Fox Cai, for example. She was a thousand years younger than Fox Sanbai yet, in her relatively youthful age, she secured her position as one of the Eight Great Demon Kings of Yanbi Mountain due to her formidable demonic body and innate talents. This is the power of bloodline. However, such a bloodline is rare. If two foxes with this bloodline appear in one generation, it's considered a blessing. They also face threats from other demon clans and humans who seek to eradicate their superior bloodline. Thus, in Fox Rou's generation, she was the sole offspring with this treasured lineage. After Fox Cai's death, Fox Sanbai had to call upon the old clan leader to reestablish his position as one of the demon kings. But the old clan leader was already aged and kept alive by powerful elixirs. To think of him leaving descendants was impractical, which is why Fox Sanbai so desperately desired Shen Su to give him a child. If the most precious bloodline of their clan were to end with Fox Rou, their future would be bleak. Although Fox Rou's bloodline was pure, she had become a demon puppet. A demon puppet leading the clan would mean placing the entire Fox Clan under someone else’s control. Fox Sanbai was a cunning and deceitful fox, but his concern for the Fox Clan was genuine. Fox Rou’s parents died early, and he had painstakingly raised her. He eagerly awaited her to grow up, and she didn’t disappoint. Her talents and demonic body matched her aunt's, but without the same ambitions. Fox Sanbai personally disapproved of Fox Cai's radical nature. Jing Qin's status and strength were inadequate, and it was solely her bloodline that allowed her to ascend to leadership. However, bloodline is paramount among demons. Fox Sanbai knew well that many in Yanbi Mountain opposed Jing Qin, especially after her relationship with Shen Yiwen became known. Many argued against allowing a human to share power in Yanbi Mountain, insisting that their tribe should not grant such an honor to a human. Yet, Fox Cai didn't need to be the one leading the charge. She and the tiger demon both believed Jing Qin's cultivation was inferior to theirs, though they themselves rose to prominent positions at a young age due to their bloodline, they failed to consider the constraints of their lineage. Fox Sanbai was unwilling to oppose Jing Qin, and Fox Rou shared his sentiment, even willing to heed Jing Qin’s advice. She seldom met Jing Qin but believed her to be a good leader. Born without the Fox Clan's inherent licentiousness, Fox Rou was willing to be tamed. Her naivety made her seek out Jing Qin and Fox Cai after learning of the assassination attempt on Jing Qin. Fox Rou believed that without seeing a body, both Jing Qin and Fox Cai were still alive, leaving room for resolution. Fox Sanbai, however, shrewdly speculated that Fox Cai was unlikely to return. Although he remained hopeful, he wouldn’t act rashly. Fox Rou, being visibly the only fox from the clan leader’s bloodline capable of continuing it, was guarded closely by Fox Sanbai. She was to be trained under his supervision, swiftly growing to be the next clan leader. This was inherently unfair. Certain things are determined at birth. Fox Rou was born with everything and destined to lead the clan, while Fox Yu and Fox Yun were born as ordinary members without innate intelligence or superior talents, bound to serve Fox Rou for life. One day, a group of cultivators came to Yanbi Mountain searching for demon puppets. Fox Rou and Fox Yun were unlucky enough to be captured. Not wanting to become puppets, malicious thoughts arose. They made a deal with the cultivators. If they delivered Fox Rou, the cultivators would not only spare them but also provide ample resources for their cultivation. The condition was that even if they returned to Yanbi Mountain, they would have to spy for the cultivators. Fox Rou always wanted to leave the mountain to search for Jing Qin and Fox Cai, making it easy to persuade her, especially with Fox Sanbai's eyes diverted due to his injury from the orchestrated attack. The sisters convinced her to use her concealment ability and leave under Fox Sili’s watchful eyes. Fox Rou was captured immediately after leaving Yanbi Mountain, leaving no trace, making it impossible for Fox Sanbai to find her despite using the clan’s full resources. Once Fox Rou became a demon puppet and her aura was suppressed, finding her became even more impossible. Fox Yun and Fox Yu felt unease and guilt until Shen Su exposed them, at which point they confessed everything rather indifferently. Their only resentment was towards Shen Su, believing that if Shen Su hadn’t brought back Fox Rou, their secrets would have remained hidden. Fox Sanbai had already withdrawn his spiritual power, and every fox present heard the sisters’ confession clearly. Fox Sanbai didn't need to speak, as other foxes began to condemn the sisters, “Unfair? You think this is unfair?” “What fools! Every time the Fox Clan faced a calamity, it was always the clan leader who stood up first. They protected generations of your kind, tirelessly cultivating to secure a high position for our clan in Yanbi Mountain, and just a few drops of their blood remain now. Yet you call it unfair and even helped outsiders harm them?” “Malicious and undeserving to be called foxes!” “I wish the clan leader's lineage was more abundant. Then our Fox Clan’s strength might surpass those tiger brutes!” The crowd’s fury grew, and they would have torn the sisters apart if not for Fox Sanbai’s restraint. Fox Sanbai’s handsome face turned cold as he looked at the sisters, “Did you hear that? What you call ‘unfair’ is what most of the clan yearns for. The clan leader’s lineage has never oppressed you because of their bloodline. Instead, they’ve always protected you. You owe your survival in Yanbi Mountain to the status they’ve secured. This is your due.” Fox Sili also spoke sternly, “Have you two never seen how miserable the small demons without a protective demon king are?” A small fox chimed in, “Fourth Elder, they’ve definitely seen it. They’ve even eaten small demons from other clans. Just recently, I saw them eating rabbits.” The mention of rabbits made Shen Su glance consciously at Wei Nan Yi. She suddenly remembered Wei Nan Yi’s days as a small rabbit, reaching out her hand but pulling back, thinking, “Wei Nan Yi is no longer a rabbit.” Shen Su grumbled inwardly, blaming her own unthinking hand, while Wei Nan Yi moved closer, whispering, “Xiao Su, shouldn’t we step back? This is an internal matter for the Fox Clan.” Though she spoke softly, she didn’t try to conceal her voice. Fox Sanbai heard clearly and immediately responded, “Please stay, both of you. The Leader is now our new overseer of Yanbi Mountain. With such an event, we wish to hear the Leader’s judgment on how to handle these two fox demons.” Fox Sanbai’s tone was one of clear flattery. He might not lack ambition, but he was pragmatic, avoiding unnecessary danger to himself and the entire Fox Clan. A sudden pain struck Fox Yun and Fox Yu from behind. Glancing towards the fox crowd, they immediately kowtowed to Fox Sanbai, pleading, “Elder! Elder! We know we were wrong. Please spare us. We’re willing to serve the Holy Maiden day and night, tirelessly using secret techniques to ensure the emergence of more special bloodlines for the Fox Clan.” This proposal, they thought, might be their salvation. The Fox Clan values unity and bloodline above all else, it has never been a tribe where one person’s word ruled over all. Fox Yun and Fox Yu were undoubtedly guilty, but truly putting them to death required reporting to some elder foxes in the clan and gaining the agreement of most of the clan, a cumbersome process. Fox Sanbai wasn’t afraid of the hassle, but what truly moved him was their mention of continuing the lineage. His desire for a child hadn't diminished, but a demon puppet could never truly pass on the lineage. If the sisters willingly bore life in place of Fox Rou, that was a different story. Now, the demon puppet Fox Rou also needed the care of foxes. Fox Sili frowned, disagreeing with Fox Yu and Fox Yun’s proposal, "Elder, if they can harm the Holy Maiden once, they can do it a second time. Trusting them is no different than believing Nine Kills would cut off spiritual roots without taking lives." His voice rose with conviction. To Shen Su, it seemed the Fourth Elder must have a significant grudge against Jiang Rui Ping to bring up Nine Kills at this moment. Fox Sanbai’s expression darkened. He had no affection toward this kind of bloodline, asking Fox Sili in a low voice, "Tell me, would you marry your children to the demon puppet Little Rou has become?" Fox Sili was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly scratched his head, “Elder, I don't have any children.” Fox Sanbai found himself at a loss for words. He was somewhat exasperated, pointing to the group of foxes, “Ask them if they want to.” When Fox Sili looked over, the foxes averted their gaze, looking guilty. After a prolonged silence, one fox finally dared to respond. “Elder, Fourth Elder, no matter how good the Holy Maiden was, she’s now no different from a fool.” "You spoke so well just now." Fox Sili scowled at the sisters, still expressing his displeasure before biting the bullet, "If it comes to that, I’ll marry her." No sooner had he finished speaking than a fox from the group shouted, "Fourth Elder, you are righteous." Fox Sanbai, utterly exasperated, pretended to blow at his nonexistent beard. He first glared at the group of foxes and then at Fox Sili, "You’ve surpassed the Divided Spirit Realm; the secret technique is useless to you. Besides, your age and appearance don’t match Little Rou’s.” “We’ve never had such a coarse fox in the clan. Could you effectively care for Little Rou?” Every word from Fox Sanbai left Fox Sili baffled. He only sought to be a hero but hadn’t considered if he was capable. Raising his head proudly, he slowly lowered it, not daring to say another word. He feared angering Fox Sanbai too much, knowing that if he inadvertently died from fury, the large Fox Clan would be without a leading fox. Fox Yu and Fox Yun, sensing an opportunity, quickly declared their sincerity, “Fourth Elder, rest assured, we genuinely repent and mean no harm. We’ll treat the Holy Maiden well from now on.” Even Fox Sili, disapproving of them initially, hesitated. Fox Sanbai wasn’t lying: despite Fox Rou’s noble bloodline, she had become a demon puppet. No parent would willingly let their child marry Fox Rou. Despite the sisters’ wrongdoing, they now sought to make amends. Female foxes are generally more considerate too. Fox Rou did need looking after. Their admission of guilt seemed earnest, and appeared genuine. Standing beside Fox Sanbai and Fox Sili, Shen Su fixated on the two sisters repeatedly kowtowing and begging, perplexed. Just moments ago, the sisters had faced life and death indifferently, showing no remorse. Now, they suddenly sought redemption through such humiliating means. Something was amiss. Feeling a surge of demonic power running through her, Shen Su’s fox ears appeared, and her eyes lit up with energy. Almost instantly, she heard a deep male voice. “Right, just like that. Elder is already hesitant. Overcoming Fourth Elder’s opposition saves your lives.” “After surviving, don’t rush; pretend to care for Fox Rou for a while. When the opportunity arises, I’ll lead you away to join Sheng Lian Sect.” “If Fox Rou can disappear once, she can disappear twice. With Fox Rou and the new Mirror Lake master, we can exchange them for valuable resources in Sheng Lian Sect. After that, we can live freely.” “…” It was peculiar. After experiencing the lightning tribulation, Shen Su's innate abilities were meant to be temporarily nullified. But perhaps with Jing Qin’s bloodline fully awakened and her status as the new Mirror Lake master, her abilities remained stable, preventing nullification. This allowed her to uncover a conspiracy. No wonder the sisters had a sudden change of heart; someone was manipulating them. Calculations extended even to her. Fortunately, she had concealed Wei Nan Yi’s identity beforehand; otherwise, Wei Nan Yi might have become a bargaining chip in their dealings. This fox’s ability to transmit messages in Fox Sanbai’s presence suggested they had special means. Shen Su scanned the group, but without anyone speaking, she found it difficult to identify the culprit. Having greatly benefited in the Secret Valley and Forbidden Grounds, Shen Su wouldn’t allow them to continue plotting against Fox Rou or herself. Sheng Lian Sect had dared to turn Fox Rou into a demon puppet; they wouldn’t hesitate to target the most revered bloodline of Yanbi Mountain. If they identified her, Shen Su risked becoming a target for Sheng Lian Sect disciples and beyond; human cultivators had extreme stances towards half-demon entities, especially one like her, the Mirror Lake water master. Shen Su didn’t want to become public enemy number one. She lightly patted Fox Sanbai’s shoulder, whispering as he deliberated allowing Fox Yu and Fox Yun to continue the lineage, “Elder, I want them to respond to me individually.” Pointing to the foxes below, Fox Sanbai became alert, “Master, have you found something?” Shen Su merely pointed to her ears. Fox Sanbai, being a sharp fox, immediately projected a fierce aura pressing upon the foxes. His head transformed into a fox’s, fur standing on end, green eyes glowing menacingly, locking onto the group. Suddenly, from midair, a massive fox head’s shadow encompassed the sky, its eyes exerting tremendous pressure. Green light emitted from the fox’s eyes, descending upon the group until it targeted a blue-clad male fox. Fox Sanbai squinted, extending his hand to seize the male fox. The fox was lifted and forcefully brought before him, crashing to the ground. The male fox briefly showed resentment before masking his emotions. Clutching the grass, he pleaded, “Elder, what have I done wrong?” The voice was unmistakable. Fox Sanbai, using the Divided Spirit Realm’s spiritual force, had accurately captured the fox. Confirming this, Shen Su nodded, smiling faintly. Fox Sanbai had done his part. Fox Sanbai, certain, crushed the fox, causing a jade flute to fall from his sleeve. The male fox’s face dimmed upon seeing the flute, realizing Shen Su was behind it all. Fox Sanbai picked up the flute, testing its weight, understanding its effects instantly, “Hu Ping An, you used this to obscure my sight and transmit messages to Fox Yu and Fox Yun. You have no ties to them; what’s your scheme?” Fox Ping An was a top-tier fox among those present, known to both Fox Sanbai and Fox Sili. While interrogating Fox Ping An, Fox Sili recalled something, “Elder, it’s not unrelated. Fox Ping An recently married Bi Niang, who is Fox Yu and Fox Yun’s mother. Thus, Fox Ping An is their stepfather.” These harsh words exploded in Shen Su's ears, leaving her astonished as she glanced again at the two fox women and the blue-clad male fox. Her mood plummeted. Wei Nan Yi was the first to notice her change in emotion and hurriedly asked, "Xiao Su, what's wrong?" Shen Su cast a look of disdain at Hu Ping An and said to Wei Nan Yi, "He just said he plans to run away with them to join Sheng Lian Sect and live a free and easy life." Wei Nan Yi immediately understood the situation—they clearly had a sordid relationship. She, too, felt an aversion, "This..." Fox Sanbai and the others weren't bothered by this detail. He was more curious about Shen Su's ability, "Master, your innate talent isn't to hear inner thoughts but to hear all sounds produced?" Shen Su nodded slightly, making Fox Sanbai's eyebrows lift with excitement, "An excellent ability, Master! You've done our Fox Clan a great service by exposing all the traitors in one day. Given that both the husband and daughters are spies for Sheng Lian Sect, then Bi Niang must be as well." He gestured to the foxes at the back of the group, "Go and bring Bi Niang here." Fox Sanbai's respect for Shen Su grew significantly after she helped uncover another spy and revealed her talent. He handed her the jade flute, acknowledging its superior quality, as it could transmit sound over great distances and beyond cultivation levels. Thinking it might come in handy one day, Shen Su accepted it without reservation. After Hu Ping An was caught, Fox Yun and Fox Yu ceased to plead for themselves. Upon hearing that Bi Niang would be brought in, Fox Yun let out a cold laugh, "Yes, she's also an accomplice." Fox Sanbai, however, calmly countered, "That's not true." He eyed Fox Yu, who, after some struggle, declared a different truth from her sister, "My mother is not an accomplice. She did not harm Fox Rou. Elder, if no one else knows, you should. She used to be the Holy Maiden's wet nurse and always regarded the Holy Maiden as her own child. How could she harm her?" "Exactly, that's correct," Fox Sanbai responded with a cheerful expression, "I recall now that Bi Niang was indeed Fox Rou's wet nurse, which is why it seemed strange." With mischief glimmering in his eyes, he chuckled, having thought up some scheme. Shen Su rubbed her ears, puzzled, and asked Fox Sili, "Does your clan have the concept of wet nurses?" Fox Sili, showing great respect, first bowed, then explained, "Master, you might not know, but when Little Rou was born, her parents died in battle. We had to find another mother fox in the clan to nurse her. At that time, Fox Yun and Fox Yu had just been weaned, so we turned to Bi Niang. Rather than a wet nurse, she was more like a benefactor." No wonder the two gatekeeping foxes were remembered by the Elder and had access to the next clan leader—there was an underlying relationship. Fox Sanbai wedged himself between Shen Su and Fox Sili, suddenly suggesting, "Master, do you think it would be a good idea to have Little Rou marry both the mother and her daughters?" "Choke, choke!" Shen Su inhaled sharply, coughing violently. She couldn't comprehend if Fox Sanbai was in his right mind when he proposed this. Why did he look so pleased, as if he had a brilliant idea? Wei Nan Yi silently grabbed Shen Su's arm, visibly shaken. Fox Sili's eyes, however, shone brightly. Clapping excitedly, he said, "Great idea! Bi Niang has cared for Little Rou before; no one else is more suitable for the duty. Besides, as Fox Yun and Fox Yu's mother, she can keep them in check. It makes perfect sense." Doesn't anyone find this problematic? Where is their sense of decency? "Fox Elder," finally, a voice of protest came, not from any fox, but from Wei Nan Yi, who had remained silent out of respect for the matter, now spoke out, "Marrying both mother and daughters to one person is against all conventions." Shen Su sneaked a glance at Wei Nan Yi, seeing her eyes redden and sweating on her forehead. It seemed she struggled long before deciding to speak. Fox Sanbai was initially taken aback but then replied, "We are demons; we don't adhere to such conventions. Mother and daughter marrying one person isn't even—" Before Fox Sanbai could finish, Fox Yun stood up. Straightening her back, she solemnly declared, "I don't want to, Elder. I only love Brother Ping." "Little Rou became a fool because of you. Do you think I'm negotiating? Commit a wrong, and you must atone. This is your punishment," Fox Sanbai, treating Shen Su with respect, spoke to Fox Yun with the authority of a superior, each word striking their hearts, "This is your punishment." Fox Yu, more concerned about her mother, argued, "Elder, what did my mother do wrong?" "She erred in raising two daughters who betrayed the clan." Fox Yu fell silent. She couldn’t refute their betrayal. Her resentful gaze fell upon the black fox, her eyes blazing with anger. If only Fox Rou had returned as a corpse, they wouldn't be in this situation. She didn't want to marry an imbecile fox, neither did Fox Yun—naturally, someone else did. Hu Ping An suddenly knelt, grabbing Fox Sanbai's leg, "Elder, if they won’t do it, I will! I’ll give the Holy Maiden children!" Shen Su almost stumbled, barely keeping her balance. She tentatively asked Fox Sili, "Fourth Elder, can male foxes bear children too?" "Master, you might not know, but the clan leader's bloodline is valuable. Continuing the bloodline is essential, but so is cultivation. Pregnancy and child-rearing can hinder cultivation, so our secret technique doesn't differentiate by gender. Whether the leader weds male or female foxes, the other will birth the children." Shen Su grasped the concept—it didn’t matter whether it was male or female, as long as the leader didn't have to bear the children, the bloodline could be carried on. Hu Ping An's voluntary offer wasn’t unreasonable, though the idea wasn’t pleasant to Shen Su’s ears. Are they also shocking Wei Nan Yi? Since Wei Nan Yi’s protest was ignored, she had remained silent. Shen Su reached for Wei Nan Yi’s wrist, softly calling to her, "Madam, let’s leave here first." These demon tribes are indeed too peculiar. Such traditions weren’t just unconventional; they were chaotic. Staying and listening might really alter both her and Wei Nan Yi's worldviews. But before they could leave, Hu Ping An and Fox Yun started fighting, rejecting the idea of Hu Ping An fathering a child with another fox. Their ethics may have been looser than human cultivators, but even demon foxes found such matters intolerably personal. Accusations flew, completely disregarding the fact that Hu Ping An was married to their mother. Fox Sanbai and Fox Sili didn’t intervene, seeming to hope the fight might eliminate one or two, simplifying matters. Head aching, stomach hurting—it was all too much. This place wasn’t suitable. But before Shen Su could move, Wei Nan Yi took her hand and led her outside. They had no intention of staying or listening further. As they began walking, the black fox followed, wrapping its tail around Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi, preparing to leave. Fox Sanbai, distracted from watching the fight, noticed the bells on the black fox’s neck remained untouched, yet it moved with apparent autonomy. While Fox Sanbai marveled, the bell tinkled slightly. With that sound, the black fox's pace quickened. Neither Shen Su nor Wei Nan Yi had touched the bell, meaning Fox Rou herself was moving it. Fox Sanbai’s eyes lit up, and he urgently told Fox Sili, “Quick, stop them!” Fox Sili successfully stopped Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi, and Shen Su suddenly remembered something she had forgotten to tell Fox Sanbai. Before Fox Sanbai could ask, she dismounted from the black fox's back and approached him herself, saying, “Oh, Fox Elder, I forgot to tell you, Fox Rou has a degree of self-awareness. Although it's very weak, she does indeed have her own consciousness. She relies on me and my wife a lot, which is why she follows us. We aren't controlling her.” Hearing that Fox Rou still had self-awareness, Fox Sanbai lost all interest in dealing with the three captive foxes. He grabbed the black fox's leg, his powerful demon energy pouring into Fox Rou. A massive fox shadow appeared behind him, and as the shadow emerged, even more demon energy surged into Fox Rou. Fox Sanbai's face grew increasingly pallid, and the bright red of his lips gradually drained of blood. Fox Sanbai called out to Fox Sili, “Lend a hand.” Fox Sili immediately reached out, placing a hand on Fox Sanbai's shoulder. His own demon energy flowed into Fox Sanbai, then moved through him and into Fox Rou. Shen Su clearly felt Fox Sili’s energy, which was somewhat violent, but after passing through Fox Sanbai’s body, it became much gentler. This energy wrapped around the black fox’s body and was quickly absorbed without overwhelming or damaging its form. Fox Sanbai’s constitution must be special, somewhat similar to Ruan Tong's. In the combined efforts of the two Divided Spirit Realm practitioners, the black fox’s body suddenly emitted a pale gray light, becoming increasingly bright. In a short time, it obscured everyone's vision. When the light faded, the black fox was gone, replaced by an alluring beauty. Her gaze remained vacant, yet her entire face radiated charm, filled with allure. She was clad in a black gauze dress, her hair flowing freely, her fair skin tinged with a hint of pink, appearing tantalizing to the beholder. Fox Sili, upon seeing the woman, beamed with joy, “Little Rou.” Fox Rou did not recognize Fox Sili; she continued to stand there blankly, unsure of what to do with her elegant white hands. Only when she saw Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi did she smile. Fox Sanbai had no hope of her behaving like a normal fox. Merely seeing Fox Rou regain human form was a relief. Despite being nearly drained of energy, he had to maintain his composure and control the situation. He directed the other foxes to bind Hu Ping An and the other two more securely, bringing them before Fox Rou. His gaze towards Fox Rou was without calculation or deceit, but full of affection, “Since Little Rou still has some self-awareness, let's allow her to choose for herself.” Indeed, Fox Rou seemed to understand their words, but she was dazed and bewildered, nervously pinching the hem of her dress. Her confused eyes darted around, and when she saw Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi trying to sneak away, her expression steeled. She awkwardly took steps towards Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi, resembling a child learning to walk, swaying and almost collapsing yet heading steadfastly in their direction. Even Shen Su could sense she was looking at Wei Nan Yi. Fox Sanbai hurried over to support her, softly murmuring, “Little Rou, now you’re choosing a marriage partner. That’s the leader’s wife; you can’t choose her.” Fox Rou ignored him, continuing towards Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi. Seeing her stumble, Wei Nan Yi fearfully stopped, fearing she might fall. The moment Wei Nan Yi paused, Shen Su’s heart skipped a beat, her breath slowed, and even her soul seemed to tremble. She muttered, “Fox Rou, I consider you a friend; you can’t…” The principle of not coveting a friend’s wife should be self-evident, yet Shen Su was at a loss for words. She knew all too well that Wei Nan Yi wasn’t officially her wife. Anyone could pursue her freely. Shen Su tightened her grip on Wei Nan Yi’s hand, contemplating pulling her away, but Wei Nan Yi stepped forward instead, looking at Fox Rou, “Fox Rou, do you have something to tell me?” Fox Rou nodded, causing Shen Su’s anxiety to spike. She was genuinely afraid Fox Rou might declare her intention to marry Wei Nan Yi before she could act, but then she noticed a faint golden glow at Fox Rou's fingertips, and her intermittent voice slowly emerged, "With my...blessing, may you be safe and sound." Blessing, it was a blessing's power. Shen Su’s anxious heart calmed. She even felt slightly embarrassed by her pettiness; Fox Rou truly regarded them as friends. Despite her limited awareness, Fox Rou understood Wei Nan Yi needed a blessing and, upon regaining her faculties, the first person she thought to bless was her friend. In this world, not everyone or every demon is evil. Good-hearted ones often suffer more. Wei Nan Yi’s eyes moistened slightly, whispering, “Thank you.” When Fox Rou raised her hand, the other foxes followed, eager to bestow their blessings on Wei Nan Yi. However, they quickly lowered their hands under Fox Sanbai’s stern gaze. Fox Sanbai supported Fox Rou, speaking softly, “Leader, the blessings promised to you will be given, but not now. This concerns the entire Yanbi Mountain, and our Fox Clan needs to maintain some leverage with other demon clans.” Shen Su could only nod in understanding. She couldn’t force Fox Sanbai to bless her right away. She would receive the blessing eventually. The good news was Fox Rou trusted and supported them, indicating that the Fox Clan of Yanbi Mountain wouldn’t harm them, having already identified the traitors within. After Fox Rou let go, Wei Nan Yi turned to Shen Su, asking, “Xiao Su, you seemed upset earlier.” Wei Nan Yi’s sensitivity to emotions was almost excessive, clearly noticing even her subdued agitation. Shen Su, heart heavy, eyes closing, muttered, “I thought Fox Rou wanted to choose my wife, which made me upset.” “Why?” Wei Nan Yi’s soft, feather-like voice brushed Shen Su’s ear, causing the tips of her ears to redden uncontrollably. Just as she was about to respond, the returning foxes arrived with a beautiful woman. “Elder, we’ve brought Bi Niang.” Fox Bi Niang’s arrival interrupted Shen Su's response. The voluptuous and elegant Bi Niang was strikingly beautiful but carried a solemn expression, her brows perpetually weighed down with sorrow. Glancing at Fox Yun and Fox Yu, she slowly lowered her head, eyes reddening, filled with tears, “Holy Maiden, you...have suffered.” On her way, she had already heard everything from the foxes escorting her. She hadn't expected her daughters to harm the clan’s Holy Maiden so grievously, realizing it was her failure in raising them. Guilt surged within her, but apologies were futile; no words could erase the damage done to Fox Rou. It was a tragedy that the clan’s most precious fox had been turned into a demon puppet by humans. “Now that everyone’s here, Little Rou has more choices.” Shen Su resisted the urge to curse Fox Sanbai, who was overly eager to arrange a marriage. She knew he had his reasons; he needed a fox to care for the mentally impaired and spiritually unconscious Fox Rou closely. However, he couldn’t just settle for anyone. These foxes weren’t necessarily well-intentioned towards Fox Rou, nor would Fox Rou necessarily favor them. Kneeling near Fox Rou, Bi Niang’s voice softened as she noticed her approach, her brows lifting slightly. She released Fox Sanbai’s grip, and, having just helped her regain human form, he lacked the strength to hold her. He could only watch as Fox Rou stumbled into Bi Niang’s arms. All three—Fox Sanbai, Shen Su, and Wei Nan Yi—were startled. Bi Niang, even more skittish, reached out to steady Fox Rou, “Holy Maiden, are you alright?” Fox Rou, feeling Bi Niang’s touch, fell into her embrace, snuggling affectionately into her neck. She called her, “Mother.”