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

### Chapter 119: The Predicament Shen Su was eager to return to Yan Bi Mountain, but the fairy ship couldn’t withstand Jiang Rui Ping's brute force and was crushed to pieces within a day. This delay caused them to fall behind schedule. When they finally arrived at Yan Bi Mountain, the place was already crowded with cultivators. Various sects had set up their tents, and numerous fairy ships were parked at the foot of the mountain. From a distance, they could see the insignias of each major sect, but there was no sign of the competition that should have started. “This is strange,” Shen Su thought. “According to the original book, the competition for the trial qualifications should have begun by now.” Shen Su held Cen Yin’s hand, while after the fairy ship broke down, Sheng Qing Ning was alternately carried by Wei Nan Yi and A Ling. Jiang Rui Ping was paving the way. At a glance, she spotted the insignia of the Linxian Mountain sect. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Nan Yi, wait here for me. I’m going to kill him." Although Jiang Rui Ping didn't name him, both Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi knew she was referring to Jiang An. She was fiercely protective and willing to go to great lengths for Wei Nan Yi. Both understood that even if Jiang Rui Ping killed someone recklessly, no one would dare to question her. However, Jiang An’s followers would still believe he was a great person and see Jiang Rui Ping as a demon. Jiang Rui Ping didn’t care about her reputation, but Shen Su did care about Wei Nan Yi’s reputation. Shen Su always wanted Jiang An to die an ignoble death. He should die a disgraceful death, with his facade of virtue revealed, losing the reputation he cherished. This had been her plan all along. Shen Su reached out to block Jiang Rui Ping’s path. "Aunt Jiang, dealing with Jiang An is not urgent." Jiang Rui Ping's eyes chilled. In her world, there were only two kinds of people: those who should live and those who should die. Shen Su’s desire to let someone who should die live was infuriating to her, especially since that person was Wei Nan Yi's enemy. She felt Shen Su wasn't attentive enough to Wei Nan Yi, but Wei Nan Yi also stepped in to stop her. "Aunt Jiang, about Jiang An, Xiao Su has discussed with me before. We don’t want him to die so easily. Let him live a little longer." Shen Su was a little surprised. She hadn’t specifically discussed how to deal with Jiang An with Wei Nan Yi before. Mostly, she just said she would avenge Wei Nan Yi, and Wei Nan Yi, trusting her, never asked for details. Unexpectedly, Wei Nan Yi had fully guessed her intentions. Not only did Wei Nan Yi trust her, but she also understood her more and more. "Dear," Shen Su often unconsciously called out to Wei Nan Yi. Even if there wasn’t more to say, Wei Nan Yi would always respond, with either a gentle acknowledgment or a loving gaze. She was always gentle with her. Jiang Rui Ping was somewhat slow in sensing emotions but could feel Wei Nan Yi was different now. Wei Nan Yi used to be a person who valued fairness in all things. She was equally kind to everyone, maintaining a polite distance, not particularly close to those nice to her nor too distant from those bad to her. Like her master, she was a suitable sect leader, never easily angered, dealing with matters, not people. But now, Wei Nan Yi would get angry, furious even, and was capable of being tough with Sheng Qing Ning. In terrible moods, she no longer forced herself to smile. During such times, she only smiled at Shen Su. Jiang Rui Ping didn’t know what kind of life Wei Nan Yi had led while wandering outside with Shen Su, but it was probably not easy. So she was somewhat partial to Shen Su out of gratitude and love. Jiang Rui Ping felt complicated. She had always raised Wei Nan Yi like Shen Yin Xue’s child. Watching her change and show favoritism, she unexpectedly felt envy rather than regret for wasted efforts. Shen Yin Xue wouldn’t do this though. But she wouldn’t admit that. She grumbled, "Nan Yi, you’re too protective of Shen Su." Wei Nan Yi, facing Jiang Rui Ping’s accusation, lightly smiled. "Aunt, there’s nothing wrong with that. Xiao Su needs someone to care for, right? I’m her only relative in this world. I should be her support and protect her. Besides, I promised her I would let her live comfortably." It turned out Wei Nan Yi knew. Shen Su never expected Wei Nan Yi to understand all her secret thoughts. She even knew Shen Su considered her the only relative in this world and was trying to show she was willing to be her support. Even remembering and taking seriously the promises Shen Su had casually mentioned in passing. Shen Su was surprised by her own emotions. Just one sentence from Wei Nan Yi made her eyes silently redden. Before the tears could fall, A Ling, who was carrying Sheng Qing Ning, exclaimed, "No, no, A Ling is also Mistress’s family. Clearly, A Ling too should be someone Mistress can rely on." She lifted her head, disgruntled, obviously unhappy that Wei Nan Yi didn't consider her Shen Su’s family. A Ling had long regarded the Gui Yi sect as her family, with everyone in the sect being her family members. It was different. But Shen Su was still comforted by A Ling’s words. She gently patted A Ling’s shoulder, her smile uncontrollable, "Got it." A Ling, satisfied, nodded and walked more cheerfully while carrying Sheng Qing Ning. She skipped and bounced, making Shen Su worry she might drop Sheng Qing Ning, but she walked steadily. Jiang Rui Ping followed behind them, took a couple of steps, and suddenly said, "Nan Yi, you’re wrong. I’m not dead yet, so it’s my job to take down anyone who troubles you. Talk about relying on someone when I’m gone." “You.” Jiang Rui Ping finally stopped treating her like a pesky child trying to win Wei Nan Yi’s favor, all thanks to Shen Yinxue’s silent influence, whether she was still around or not. But as long as Jiang Rui Ping believed she was, she could temper her own temper, be more gentle, kill less, and care more for the juniors. She had always been like this. Jiang Rui Ping wasn’t hard to appease. As long as Shen Yin Xue was alive, she could compromise on anything. Barely had Shen Su and the others taken a few steps into Yan Bi Mountain when they encountered a small fox waiting eagerly. It was waiting for someone—Shen Su. Upon seeing Shen Su, the little fox rushed forward, its eyes red, pitifully biting Shen Su’s pants. "Chief, you’re finally back. There’s trouble in the clan." The clan it referred to was naturally the fox clan. The fox clan included Hu Rou and Ruan Tong; Shen Su couldn’t help but be concerned. Frowning, Shen Su picked up the little fox. "What happened?" "Chief, the Fourth Elder specifically asked me to wait for you. Let’s talk as we go." The little fox, in a hurry, jumped out of Shen Su’s arms, transforming instantaneously into a larger form, carrying Shen Su and the hand-in-hand Cen Yin onto its back. In an instant, Shen Su pulled Wei Nan Yi up onto the fox’s back. A Ling, carrying Sheng Qing Ning, followed closely and jumped on as well. Jiang Rui Ping glanced at the fox, then at Shen Su, who was obviously acquainted with it, and scoffed, floating next to the fox. She floated at their height, slightly squinting at Shen Su. "Didn’t expect you to be in cahoots with foxes." Jiang Rui Ping naturally disliked foxes. Accepting the half-demons Shen Su and A Ling was already a stretch; pure-blooded fox demons were just too annoying. Jiang Rui Ping had a reason to hate fox demons. If a demon had taken the opportunity meant for Wei Nan Yi, Shen Su would surely despise them even more than Jiang Rui Ping did. But due to her close ties with the fox clan, dealings with demons were inevitable. She didn’t want to argue with Jiang Rui Ping. Instead, Wei Nan Yi gently tugged on Jiang Rui Ping’s sleeve and pulled her onto the fox’s back. Jiang Rui Ping wouldn't seriously fight Wei Nan Yi; with just a pull, she was up on the fox as well. Wei Nan Yi gently coaxed her, "Auntie, Xiao Su has the Mirror Qian bloodline and is now the new master of Mirror Lake Spiritual Waters. She has to deal with demons. Not all demons are as hateful as Cen Yin. Without them blessing me, I wouldn’t have been able to restore my spiritual roots." Wei Nan Yi made it clear, yet Jiang Rui Ping grew even more discontent. "I hate fox demons the most." She spoke as if to get off the fox's back, but before she could move, Wei Nan Yi smiled and asked, "Aunt, are you planning to head back to Linxian Mountain now? We still have important matters to discuss, and we need to find Ruo Qing and seek out that pearl." Jiang Rui Ping's steps halted, and she grudgingly stepped back onto the fox's back. "Stinking foxes are still more likable than stupid men." It wasn't Wei Nan Yi's persuasion that convinced her; she simply remembered that there was no one she particularly liked at Linxian Mountain, and even a few people she intensely disliked. If she went there, she might end up killing Jiang An and stabbing Yu Mu Han a couple of times. Unfortunately, they couldn't kill Jiang An now, and if Yu Mu Han were attacked, his fate would save him. No matter how many times he was stabbed, he wouldn’t die, and it would likely result in someone else dying to save him. This reckless endangering of lives would displease Shen Yin Xue. After some silent contemplation, Jiang Rui Ping advised Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi, "None of you are allowed to seek out Ruo Qing. You must wait for Ruo Qing to come to me. Right now, she needs me more than I need her." Shen Su glanced meaningfully at Jiang Rui Ping's shoulder, and seeing through her thoughts, Jiang Rui Ping flicked her shoulder lightly. "It's no use thinking about it. The pearl is more effective than Ruo Qing." She wasn’t longing to see Shen Yin Xue again; rather, she was competing with Ruo Qing. What if Ruo Qing was also waiting for Jiang Rui Ping to make the first move? Shen Su awkwardly stared at the fingers lightly resting on Jiang Rui Ping's shoulder and noticed that her once long nails were now trimmed. With a hint of mockery in her eyes, she said, "Aunt Jiang, don’t you want to see Sect Master Shen anymore?" Jiang Rui Ping's hand paused, and with a touch of melancholy, she muttered, "What's the point of seeing her? It's just a shadow I can't touch." It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her; it was that she was afraid to. Shen Su had no better way to help Jiang Rui Ping out of her current predicament, so she tactfully avoided bringing up Shen Yin Xue again. She knelt, stroked the fox's head, and asked what had happened to the fox clan. Jiang Rui Ping's attention quickly shifted as the fox clan's situation was now the most pressing matter. A new spiritual root had appeared. The little fox didn't understand what a spiritual root was; it just relayed everything it knew to Shen Su. Before leaving Yan Bi Mountain, Shen Su had advised Hu Rou not to leave the fox clan and cautioned Ruan Tong and others to be wary of Yu Mu Han. But within a few days, a secret realm had appeared at Yan Bi Mountain, causing chaos. Various forces attacked Yan Bi Mountain, leading to intense battles between demons and human cultivators. Even Ruan Tong and others became the fox clan’s allies. Demons at Yan Bi Mountain displayed an unprecedented unity, and inter-clan relations became closer. This should have been a good thing, but the return of Hu Rou to Yan Bi Mountain couldn’t be concealed anymore. On top of that, a major event occurred: the tiger clan leader Yu Jing went missing. Su Su asked Gui Cang to read the heavenly omens, and Gui Cang’s response was vague, merely stating, "Destiny is as such." Since then, Su Su, for an unknown reason, insisted that human cultivators had harmed his son. Driven mad by grief, Su Su kidnapped Hu Rou on the eve of battle, demanding she use her inherent abilities to assassinate the patriarchs of the four major sects. But Hu Rou, of unstable mind and unfamiliar with Su Su, naturally refused to obey. In a frenzy, Su Su threw the mentally unstable Hu Rou onto the battlefield alone. At this point, the situation still wasn’t that dire. Although Hu Rou was not smart, her strength was considerable, and she wouldn’t be easily killed. The real problem was her exceptionally alluring appearance. Her beauty, coupled with her dim-wittedness, made her an easy target. On the battlefield, Hu Rou encountered a male cultivator who insisted on rescuing her, dragging her off the battlefield. When Ruan Tong tracked Hu Rou down using her sensing abilities, she found Hu Rou talking to the male cultivator. The male cultivator, upon seeing the beautiful Ruan Tong, started talking to her as well. Things took a bizarre turn here. Though Ruan Tong was kind, she was always clear-headed. She never mingled personal affairs with critical matters, especially not during confrontations. Yet, she had agreed to talk. By the time Lin Shui Yan’s symbiotic beast, a small tiger, tracked Ruan Tong's scent to them, the male cultivator had been chatting with them for a while. Lin Shui Yan, temper flaring, immediately took both girls back. That’s when things got weirder. Hu Rou, usually clingy to Hu Bi Niang, after meeting the male cultivator, became more disoriented, calling him 'Mother’ as if enchanted. She constantly clamored to see him. Fortunately, Lin Shui Yan didn’t like the male cultivator and kept a close watch on Hu Rou, entrusting her to her little tiger each time, dragging her back every time she tried to leave. Hu San Bai initially didn’t take it seriously, assuming Hu Rou wanted another male concubine, until he saw the male cultivator and realized he was a man Zhu Xian Er, the goat clan leader, favored. Hu San Bai feared Hu Rou competing with Zhu Xian Er for the Demon King title but didn’t want Hu Rou and Zhu Xian Er to quarrel over a male cultivator. He found it disgraceful and locked Hu Rou away, forbidding her from seeing him. But with Hu Rou unable to see him, she immediately started wasting away, refusing to eat. Although a Nascent Soul cultivator, she still needed to consume food occasionally, unable to ingest spiritual energy like others due to her mental state. Without eating, it was impossible to force-feed her. Worried, Hu San Bai consulted Gui Cang. Upon hearing it was regarding the male cultivator, Gui Cang was even more troubled. Once again, the only answer was "Destiny is as such," infuriating Hu San Bai into smashing numerous jade pieces, worsening his attitude towards human cultivators. Among the demon leaders, only Hu San Bai was willing to converse civilly; his outrage delayed setting trial rules for Yan Bi Mountain, frustrating all the forces involved. What should have been minor personal affairs had serious consequences. "Chief," the little fox remarked, "strangely enough, I secretly went to check on that male cultivator. He doesn’t look bad, but why would our High Priestess be smitten by his looks? Moreover, he doesn't resemble Hu Bi Niang or the previous clan leader’s wife; why call him 'Mother'? He’s a male cultivator!" Strange for others, but not for someone destined by heaven. Though the little fox didn’t name the male cultivator, Shen Su guessed it was Yu Mu Han. Just like Qu Xiu, her guesses were becoming unsettlingly accurate. The crow’s mouth. Listening to the little fox’s story, Shen Su now wondered if heaven chose Yu Mu Han, or if he sought out these women, leading them to become spiritual roots. Initially, she thought it was the former; now she believed it was the latter. Even if old spiritual roots were heaven’s arrangement, the new ones seemed to be his doing, driven by lust. Suddenly recalling Yu Mu Han’s words that day, Shen Su fumed inwardly. This so-called Chosen One was merely a greedy beast. Cursing inwardly, Shen Su then thought of Ruan Tong’s contact with Yu Mu Han and asked the little fox, "Where’s Ruan Tong?" A Ling, hearing Ruan Tong's name, urgently echoed, "Yes, yes, how is my senior sister?" The little fox pondered before replying, "Miss Ruan hasn’t shown any strange behavior. After meeting that male cultivator, she secluded herself, seeing no one." "That’s a relief," A Ling sighed with relief as her worried heart eased. However, Shen Su wasn’t so easily calmed. She glanced at Wei Nan Yi, who was already looking at her. They understood each other’s thoughts. Ruan Tong was likely another new spiritual root. Being a divine body, Ruan Tong had a strong sense of duty. If not for an incident, she wouldn’t seclude herself as she’s deeply bonded with her comrades, worrying about them. Essentially, her self-seclusion meant only one thing: she discovered something wrong within herself and was fighting it. Sheng Qing Ning had experienced similar struggles, constantly crying out in pain while trying to kill Jiang Rui Ping. The real Sheng Qing Ning felt the pain, while her controlled side acted violently. Want to read more about ‘Romancing the Villain's Mother’? Please remember the domain. They seemed like puppets, still possessing their own hearts. When the strings entwining their bodies were tugged, their entire hearts would feel the agony, becoming a bloody mess. Naturally, it was painful. Worries materialized into reality. The five missing new spiritual roots were now filled by people they knew. Shen Su suppressed her urge to stab Yu Mu Han then and there. After calming herself, she asked the little fox, "Where is Hu Bi Niang?" Since she was now appointed as Hu Rou’s wife by Hu San Bai, what role was she playing currently? The little fox's voice weakened as it replied, "She... she's being punished by kneeling." Hu Bi Niang was originally a criminal, living only because she was favored by Hu Rou. With Hu Rou no longer liking her, she was pushed into the abyss. Hu San Bai, however, was not unreasonable. He didn’t immediately sentence Hu Bi Niang to death because of Hu Rou's change of heart. Instead, he had her kneel at the ancestor’s shrine to reflect on her mistakes. With her back slightly hunched and eyes downcast, Hu Bi Niang’s face, already sullen, looked even more sorrowful with tears streaming down, but Hu San Bai didn’t mistreat her; he believed this punishment was her deserved penance. At least, that’s what Hu San Bai thought. Recently, with his handsome face devoid of smiles, he asked, "Bi Niang, do you know where you went wrong?" Hu Bi Niang’s tearful eyes flickered, her tears falling. She had no complaints and said nothing more, "Bi Niang knows her mistake." She didn’t specify what mistake, just admitted knowing she made one. This made Hu San Bai realize she hadn't truly understood her wrongdoing. With a deep sigh, he said, "Bi Niang, Xiao Rou is now both your wife and master. With her changing heart, you should try to manage her." "But didn't the Great Elder plan to get some male concubines for the High Priestess recently?" Hu Bi Niang asked, confused. She had thought Hu San Bai wanted her to be magnanimous, but his current words were the opposite of what she believed. The fox clan advocated monogamy. If things didn’t work out, they could part ways and seek new partners rather than juggling multiple partners simultaneously. But the clan leader had special privileges; Hu Rou could have as many as she wanted, and most clan members wouldn’t mind, especially if Hu Rou's mind was sound. Despite being cultivators, they considered themselves nobler than ordinary foxes and wouldn’t want to care for a foolish, mentally unstable individual. Hu Bi Niang was willing because Hu Rou was involved, and it was through the mistakes of her two daughters, so she didn’t feel at a loss. The real problem was Hu Rou could only marry her, a criminal fox. With someone willing to replace her, she had no objections. If Hu Rou liked them, it was fine. Lifting her head briefly and then lowering it again, she said, "She is the master, and I am just a criminal fox. Bi Niang never hoped High Priestess would only marry Bi Niang." Hu San Bai rolled his eyes in frustration. As Shen Su said, he might have some hatred for marriage, wishing to fill Hu Rou's bed with foxes, but that involved a person, a foolish yet flirtatious man. If he let that little animal touch Hu Rou, he would write his name backward. He couldn’t let such thoughts infect Hu Bi Niang, robbing her of any sense of competition. If the wife didn't fight, should he, an old fox, fight with a young male cultivator for a fox? The writer here uses a specific domain to remind you of the best source for this story. Hu San Bai wanted to persuade Hu Bi Niang further, but Hu Si Lian’s wailing interrupted, "Great Elder, Great Elder!" The moment he heard her, Hu Si Lian stumbled into the cavern, his large frame tumbling before rolling to Hu San Bai's feet. Hu San Bai kicked his arm, annoyed, "I'm talking to Bi Niang, what are you yelling about?" Hu Si Lian wasn’t angered by the kick. Instead, he clutched Hu San Bai's leg in panic, tears streaming down his face, "Jiang Rui Ping is here." So what if someone came over? Why be so scared? Hu San Bai wanted to mock him, but then he fully registered the name that had tumbled from Hu Si Lian's mouth. "Who did you say?" Hu San Bai’s eyes widened in terror, his handsome features twisted in fear, "Isn’t she supposed to be dying?" Before he could get confirmation, the living nightmare he’d been dreading day and night stood before him. Apparently having overheard, she sneered, "Dead fox." Those three words alone felt like a death sentence to Hu San Bai. Barely daring to resist, he stood rigid, awaiting death. Instead, a pair of soft, pale hands gently pulled Jiang Rui Ping away, "Aunt Jiang, please don’t scare Elder Hu." That familiar female voice was a lifeline to Hu San Bai. His legs wobbled as he staggered forward, clutching Shen Su’s sleeve in desperation, "Chief, why did you bring her here? She’s a disaster!" Hu San Bai had anticipated Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi's return. For in Hu Rou's current state of mind, they were considered friends who could assist her. Though a hypocritical fox, Hu San Bai genuinely cared for his bloodline and feared Jiang Rui Ping. While hoping for Shen Su's return, he never imagined she’d bring Jiang Rui Ping along. With A Ling in front and Jiang Rui Ping behind, the terrifying companions Shen Su brought along unnerved him. It was appalling to think she welcomed A Ling and could converse normally with Jiang Rui Ping. Every glance sent shivers down his spine. Shen Su had known Hu San Bai feared Jiang Rui Ping but hadn't realized the extent. She patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Elder Hu, Aunt Jiang won’t harm you." Sneaking peeks at Jiang Rui Ping, he found her subdued. She hadn't made a move, not even approaching after Shen Su pulled her back. Hu San Bai relaxed slightly before noticing something amiss, "Chief, aren’t you the descendant of Mirror Qian and Shen Yi Wen? Shouldn’t you call Jiang Rui Ping Grandmaster? Why are you calling her Aunt?" It wasn’t strange that Shen Su knew Jiang Rui Ping; her form of address was perplexing. Since Hu San Bai asked, Shen Su answered truthfully. She glanced at Wei Nan Yi, coughed lightly, and said, "Elder Hu, she is my wife’s aunt." "Your wife?" Hu San Bai knew Shen Su had a wife, having seen the veiled woman accompanying her, who had sought blessings from each clan—a living mortal capable of absorbing blessings. He hadn’t thought deeply about it. He hadn’t realized she was from Linxian Mountain. Unsure if Hu San Bai comprehended, Shen Su, seeing his silence, pulled Wei Nan Yi over, reintroducing her, "Elder Hu, this is my wife, Wei Nan Yi." Wei Nan Yi now unveiled, showcasing her unparalleled beauty. Such stunning features momentarily dazed even the strikingly handsome Hu San Bai. Just as he was about to compliment Shen Su’s choice, the mention of her name made his already shaky legs give out. Grabbing Shen Su’s arm for support, his expression turned a strange mix of a laugh and cry, "Chief, why did you marry your ancestor’s senior sister? Doesn’t this mess up the generations?" No wonder Jiang Rui Ping was so calm, refraining from her usual violent tendencies. Shen Su’s wife was Wei Nan Yi. Everyone knew in the cultivation world that Jiang Rui Ping cherished her niece Wei Nan Yi the most. Both successive leaders of Yan Bi Mountain seemingly incurred Jiang Rui Ping's wrath. Each snuck away prized individuals—the first her only disciple and now her beloved niece. It was a cosmic stroke against Yan Bi Mountain. Hu San Bai feared for the future, imagining a ruthless rift with Jiang Rui Ping avenging any transgression, leading an onslaught against Yan Bi Mountain. If not for Jiang Rui Ping’s presence, he might have broken down right then. Wei Nan Yi and Shen Su didn’t arrive at the same conclusion as Hu San Bai. As soon as the matter of seniority was mentioned, Shen Su looked at Wei Nan Yi, who blushed and lowered her head slightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of her relationship with Shen Su, but the perceived age difference made her uncomfortable, often reminding her how young Shen Su really was. Shen Su smiled, holding Wei Nan Yi's hand. Just as she was about to say something to Hu San Bai, Jiang Rui Ping intervened with a light scoff, "You’re such a conservative for a fox demon." Jiang Rui Ping disliked seeing Wei Nan Yi uncomfortable. She had no problem mentioning seniority, but it annoyed her when Hu San Bai did. Her mere presence made Hu San Bai anxious, and now, being reprimanded openly made him even more flustered. Panic-stricken, he stammered, "No, no, I meant that the Chief has excellent taste to find such a divine partner in Nan Yi. Seniority is irrelevant; you could even marry a dozen or more senior uncles or aunts if you like." Shen Su was stunned, staring at Hu San Bai. The blush on Wei Nan Yi’s cheeks slowly faded, her eyes reflecting slight confusion. Jiang Rui Ping’s face darkened completely. She stepped forward and grabbed Hu San Bai’s collar, pulling him close, her eyes cold, "How dare you suggest that Nan Yi share her partner!" "No, I was just speaking offhand," Hu San Bai pleaded, his face contorted in fear. Taking several deep breaths, he mustered the courage to speak to Jiang Rui Ping, "Elder Jiang, Sister Jiang, please, I beg you, don’t scare me like this. I may be a clan elder, but I have my dignity. You can’t roast me over a fire or burn my fur again; it took forever to grow back." Jiang Rui Ping barely remembered these foxes, but Hu San Bai’s words struck a chord. She scrutinized his face, puzzled, "Aren't you the one whose fur I burned off and ears I broke?" She remembered Hu San Bai because he was once the ugliest fox she’d seen—the result of her actions. Hu San Bai wanted nothing more than to scratch Jiang Rui Ping’s flawless face and tell her, "I’m not ugly; you made me ugly by burning my fur." But lacking the courage, he nodded obsequiously, smiling despite his fear. Jiang Rui Ping released her grip, contemplating, "I see, a face-changing technique. And don’t call me sister; you’re much older than I am." Hu San Bai stiffened, wisely staying silent. He retreated to Shen Su’s side, feeling safer there. Shen Su, sympathetic, remarked, "Elder Hu, I didn’t realize things were so tough for you back then." Hu San Bai shook his head and sighed, lowering his voice to share with Shen Su, "Four Lian had it tougher; she had her fur yanked out one strand at a time. The agonizing scene still haunts my nightmares." That’s peculiar. If Jiang Rui Ping had simply been killing everyone in her path, Shen Yin Xue would have noticed and stopped her. There must have been some reason behind her actions. Shen Su lowered her voice as well, "Why would Jiang Shishu act without reason?" Yet, their efforts to speak quietly were futile; Jiang Rui Ping and Wei Nan Yi heard every word due to their high cultivation. "She said a long-haired female demon stole from her, so she scoured the mountain, targeting all hairy demons." Hu San Bai’s anger grew as he spoke, "If I ever find out who it was, I won’t let her go." It all stemmed from something being stolen, explaining why Jiang Rui Ping tortured the little demons without killing them. Shen Su, holding a rope in hand, tugged it slightly, bringing Cen Yin forward, "Here’s the one who stole." Shocked, Hu San Bai finally noticed Cen Yin, bound and injured, with raw, bleeding patches where her flesh had been torn. This was unmistakably Jiang Rui Ping's work. Killing Cen Yin would have been easy for Jiang Rui Ping; wasting time on deception was unnecessary. Thus, Hu San Bai believed Shen Su, "Cen Yin, it was you!" Fury etched on his face, memories of past sufferings resurfaced. Unable to seek vengeance from Jiang Rui Ping, he turned his ire on Cen Yin, "No wonder your lineage, once in decline, suddenly revived, with you as their pillar. You didn't dare show up when Jiang Rui Ping rampaged through our clans." Wei Nan Yi was puzzled, whispering to Jiang Rui Ping, "Shishu, didn't you know Cen Yin was a black bear demon?" Jiang Rui Ping glanced at Cen Yin, her tone awkward, "Nan Yi, it was complicated. She always appeared human around your master. She even rivaled me for your master’s attention." Jealousy had clouded her judgment, so she hadn’t cared to investigate Cen Yin further. When she finally exposed her, she skinned her as a warning. But the raw, crying figure had moved Shen Yin Xue, who forbade Jiang Rui Ping from killing her and even keeping the theft of her fortune a secret. Had Shen Yin Xue not held a dislike for women, Jiang Rui Ping almost suspected her master harbored feelings for Cen Yin. Wei Nan Yi, being raised by Shen Yin Xue, understood her master’s intentions. It wasn’t pity for Cen Yin but disapproval of Jiang Rui Ping's brutality, fearing her violent tendencies violated natural law and would leave her more unhinged. She sought to prevent Jiang Rui Ping from becoming a complete maniac. Wei Nan Yi chuckled softly, "Shishu, you were even more muddled than I was." Humored, Wei Nan Yi thought herself foolish for mistaking Jiang An’s deceit for genuine love and misunderstanding Shen Su’s affections for Jiang Xu. Yet Jiang Rui Ping had been even blinder in her possessiveness. Jiang Rui Ping wouldn’t acknowledge such critiques from anyone but Wei Nan Yi. Her voice, echoing Shen Yin Xue’s, was one of the few that could correct her. Wei Nan Yi then noticed Hu San Bai heading out. Quickly, she and Shen Su pulled him back, "Elder Hu, what are you doing?" They assumed Hu San Bai was fleeing out of fear, but he pointed at Cen Yin, "She caused us so much suffering. I must inform the clans to judge her." Aside from the Water and Bug clans, all had suffered under Jiang Rui Ping’s wrath, searching for the culprit over the years. With Cen Yin's capture, justice could finally be served. Hearing Hu San Bai's plan to gather the clan leaders, Shen Su nodded, "Good idea. I need to discuss some things with you all. Let’s meet at Mirror Lake. I’ll take Cen Yin there, and you can summon the clan leaders." Curious, Hu San Bai glanced at Jiang Rui Ping’s unbothered expression before asking Shen Su, "Chief, what is this about?" Shen Su’s brows furrowed, showing her unease, "It's about Hu Rou... and Zhu Xian Er." More specifically, it concerned the Chosen One. Explaining it now would be too complicated; it was better to wait until everyone was present. She needed allies in her scheme against Yu Mu Han. Breaking a Chosen One’s fate wasn’t a solo mission, not even for Jiang Rui Ping. Everyone risking their lives for him raised a question: could knowing his fate change their willingness to die for him? Still, not everyone could be privy to this matter, especially not Zhu Xian Er. Zhu Xian Er was already infatuated, and telling her would be like telling Yu Mu Han directly. Moreover, Shen Su suspected the remaining new spiritual roots might come from the demon kings of Yan Bi Mountain. Gathering everyone could help identify other roots. Convincing Gui Cang to control Zhu Xian Er temporarily would be ideal, though the imminent trials and sudden absence of a demon king would be hard to explain. Shen Su's thoughts were unknown to Hu San Bai, who could only sigh when mentioning Hu Rou. "Xiao Rou…" Hu San Bai had a myriad of things on his mind, but now he didn’t know where to start. Pointing to Hu Bi Niang, who was still kneeling, he sighed again, "Chief, you’ve probably heard about Xiao Rou by now. Could you try persuading Bi Niang? She sees our Xiao Rou being taken away and remains indifferent." With a heavy heart, Hu San Bai left the fox shrine. Once he was gone, Hu Si Lian also hurriedly left, terrified of the fierce presence of Jiang Rui Ping and unwilling to stay a moment longer. Wei Nan Yi walked up to help Hu Bi Niang up, "Bi Niang, are you alright? Don’t take Elder Hu's words too seriously." Hu Bi Niang, slowly coming back to herself, knew that not only was Shen Su the leader of Yan Bi Mountain, but also that Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi were friends of Hu Rou. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Wei Nan Yi through her blurred vision. "If the High Priestess were in danger today, I would willingly risk my life to save her. That’s a debt I owe her. But today, she’s simply infatuated with a man. What can I do?" Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Wei Nan Yi's extended hand. "Wife of the Chief, tell me, what should I do?" Every novel on this site is uploaded by members. If it violates your rights, please contact us, and we will delete it as soon as possible. Previous Chapter Directory Next Chapter