154 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

If her presence brought misfortune to Yan Zhao, should she let go early? Ren Qingyue's heart was in knots. Yan Zhao admitted her fault, but her senior sister wouldn't respond, leaving her anxious and flustered. "Senior sister." She crawled up from Ren Qingyue's embrace, knelt on the ground, and held Ren Qingyue's cold hand. Ren Qingyue looked up at her. "I know I was wrong," Yan Zhao said dejectedly. "Senior sister, please forgive me." Ren Qingyue lowered her gaze to the wounds on Yan Zhao. Ever since the seal within Yan Zhao started loosening, her powers began to awaken gradually, allowing her to recover quickly even when injured. In just a brief moment, her wounds had fully healed. Ren Qingyue closed her eyes, exhaled, and let go of her worries, sighing. "You did nothing wrong," Ren Qingyue said, standing up in a desolate manner, murmuring, "It was my mistake." She lacked the ability to guide Yan Zhao, becoming a stumbling block on Yan Zhao's path of growth, yet she couldn't admit her failing out of personal interest. If she continued to stay by Yan Zhao's side, she feared it would further exacerbate Yan Zhao's extremeness. When it comes to guiding Yan Zhao, Yao Shenzi would certainly do better than her. Yao Shenzi, who had been watching the entire exchange, frowned. Ren Qingyue rose in silence, sheathed her Demon Slayer Sword, picked up the fallen medicine box, and slowly approached the Fox Emperor. Bai Jin helped the Fox Emperor sit upright, and he looked up at the approaching figure. Ren Qingyue lifted the lid of the box and offered him the pill. "Thank you," the Fox Emperor expressed his gratitude. Ren Qingyue replied, "This is a pill from Elder Yao Shenzi, no need to thank me." The Fox Emperor: "..." Meanwhile, Yao Shenzi, after a brief shock, returned to his senses, his gaze lingering on Yan Zhao before bending down to examine the two corpses left on the ground. "These people are death warriors," said an elder of the Yao Shenzong, "None bear identifiable tokens." Yao Shenzi examined further, frowning, "It's strange indeed. There are so few cultivators at such a level in the human world, each too proud to serve as someone's lackey." Ren Qingyue, upon hearing this, was thoughtful, "Senior, do you mean these people might not be cultivators from the human world?" "That's uncertain," Yao Shenzi shook his head, "The three realms have been at peace for so long, some people might have forgotten their past scars and started dreaming impractical dreams again." His words seemed targeted. Just as Ren Qingyue was about to inquire further, Yao Shenzi waved his hand, indicating the conversation was over. He walked over to Tu Shan Xun, advising, "Return to Qingqiu soon, heal properly, and stop causing trouble." With a guilty expression, Tu Shan Xun replied, "Master brother is right." Ren Qingyue observed, speaking to Yao Shenzi, "Senior, could you look after Ah Zhao while I escort them back to Qingqiu?" Yao Shenzi seemed somewhat surprised, "You're going with them?" Ren Qingyue exhaled heavily, speaking reluctantly, "Though today's bandits were eradicated, who knows if they have more men? The Fox Emperor's group is already severely injured, leaving me uneasy." Upon hearing this, Yan Zhao was shocked, quickly stepping forward to grab Ren Qingyue's hand, "I want to go with senior sister." "You cannot." Ren Qingyue's stern tone startled Yan Zhao into silence. Seeing Yan Zhao's innocent eyes, Ren Qingyue felt a sharp pang in her heart. She sighed and softened her tone, "Ah Zhao, listen." Listen. The words echoed in Yan Zhao's mind, reminding her of her earlier promise to her senior sister. I will listen. Yan Zhao's shoulders slumped, and she let go weakly. Her head was lowered, her expression desolate, like an abandoned puppy. "Aren't you eager to cultivate properly?" Ren Qingyue softened, reassuring her, "Go back with the elder, train daily as usual, I'll escort them to Qingqiu and return soon." Yan Zhao lifted her head again, asking, "How long will it take?" Ren Qingyue pressed her lips together. "How long?" Yan Zhao repeated. Ren Qingyue replied, "If fast, four to five months, if slow, a year." Traveling between realms can't be done with spatial magic, the journey itself would take a significant amount of time. This short separation isn't forever. She could also use this opportunity to sort through her feelings. If slow, a year. In Yan Zhao's memories, though she and her senior sister didn't see each other daily, their separations never exceeded a month. Her senior sister always appeared when she needed her. But now, she's leaving, and they might not see each other for an entire year. Having finished speaking, Ren Qingyue turned to the Fox Emperor, "Do you need further rest?" The Fox Emperor shook his head, "It's best to leave early; delays could lead to unforeseen changes." Yan Zhao watched her senior sister's profile, lowering her eyes in disappointment. Did her senior sister... dislike her now? Because she didn't listen and used violent means to kill, she had to avoid her. However, if this person wasn't killed, he would flee and become a lurking threat, not knowing when he might reappear and harm her senior sister again. Yan Zhao was conflicted internally. She suddenly realized that becoming strong enough didn't necessarily mean she could protect those around her. It could also instill fear in them. The Yao Shenzong elder was severely injured, after Yao Shenzi treated his injuries and gave him some pills, the elder continued to accompany and escort the Fox Emperor back to Qingqiu. The Fox Emperor's group thus split from Yao Shenzi's, continuing deeper into the Mist Magic Gorge under Ren Qingyue and the Yao Shenzong elder's protection. As for Yan Zhao, she accompanied him back to the Yao Shenzong. On the return journey, Yan Zhao was sullen and downhearted. Yao Shenzi occasionally glanced at her, seeing her lifeless demeanor. "Disciple." Yao Shenzi sidled up to Yan Zhao and patted her shoulder. Half-hearted, Yan Zhao responded perfunctorily. Yao Shenzi's eyes twinkled, suddenly saying, "Dear disciple, don't you want to visit Qingqiu?" Yan Zhao hesitated in her steps. She turned, meeting Yao Shenzi's smiling eyes. "Can I?" Yao Shenzi blew his beard proudly, "Why not?" He gestured in the direction where Ren Qingyue and the others had departed, lowering his voice, "That group is old, weak, sick, and disabled; only your senior sister has any strength left. As your master, I'm uneasy—would you like to secretly escort them with your master?" Yan Zhao's eyes lit up, her worry turning to joy, "Yes!" But then her expression dimmed again, her little brows furrowing, "But, I promised senior sister I'd return to the sect with you..." "No problem, no problem," Yao Shenzi assured her sincerely, "If she finds out, just say your master asked you to accompany, it's only natural for a disciple to obey their master, right?" Thinking over Yao Shenzi's words, Yan Zhao found them reasonable. "Okay!" Yan Zhao agreed, promptly grabbing Yao Shenzi's sleeve, "Quickly, master, let's hurry, or we'll fall behind!" Yao Shenzi and Yan Zhao sealed their pact with a high five. Master and disciple quietly turned back, delving into the depths of the Mist Magic Gorge. Yao Shenzi brimmed with satisfaction. With this, he fulfilled his disciple's wish and could also strengthen their bond—a truly beneficial endeavor! Chapter 168 Mist Magic Gorge linked both the human realm and the demon realm, a place where fierce creatures roamed and poisonous miasma ran rampant. If ordinary people took a wrong turn within the Mist Magic Gorge, it wouldn't take long for the miasma to cause them to completely lose their sense of direction. Though the poison here isn't instantly lethal, staying too long would corrode one's body, making a cultivator's internal spiritual power chaotic. Without timely cleansing, it could severely damage their foundation. The Qingqiu fox tribe had unique pathfinding skills and defensive measures. They carried a specialized fox scent to withstand the miasma, allowing them to find their way home accurately even when visibility was obscured. Bai Jin shared some of the fox scent she carried with Ren Qingyue. Ren Qingyue initially intended to refuse, but the Fox Emperor spoke up, explaining the effects of the miasma and adding, "We'll rely on Miss Ren for this journey, please do not decline." With that said, Ren Qingyue couldn't refuse further, so she accepted the fox scent and thanked Bai Jin. This was the first friendly exchange Bai Jin had received from her cousin since their reunion, bringing tears of gratitude to her eyes. But before Bai Jin could push her luck, Ren Qingyue stopped paying her any attention. Bai Jin sighed, inwardly cursing Tu Shan Yu fiercely. If it weren't for Tu Shan Yu's foolishness, insisting on quarreling with her cousin, would her cousin be this upset! Frustrated, Bai Jin turned and marched over to the unconscious Tu Shan Yu, giving her a harsh tug on her fox fur. A patch of fur on Tu Shan Yu's tail was suddenly left bare. Days later, Tu Shan Yu's injuries had partially healed, and she awoke from her coma. Her entire body ached from near-complete injuries, so she didn't notice the bald patch on her tail. Upon seeing the Fox Emperor and Bai Jin, Tu Shan Yu sighed in relief. Thankfully, neither her father nor her little sister were in any grave danger, indicating that the recent crisis had been successfully overcome. However, when her peripheral vision caught another figure, she felt as if struck by lightning. She shot up, only to exacerbate her injuries, causing her fur to bristle and her body to tremble in pain. "Just woke up and already moving recklessly?" Bai Jin knocked on her head. "Take it easy, you're not healed yet!" Bai Jin herself was covered in injuries but could at least maintain a human form, unlike the weakling fox Tu Shan Yu, who might need months to recover before resembling a person again. Tu Shan Yu hissed and glared at Bai Jin. Bai Jin sneered, "Stare all you want, I'll still say it. Or should we ask Uncle and Cousin, am I wrong?" Tu Shan Yu fell silent. The elder of the Yao Shenzong was also part of the group. Ren Qingyue led the way while the Yao Shenzong elder brought up the rear, having tread the Mist Magic Gorge for several days. Tu Shan Yu wanted desperately to ask her little sister why she was with them when she had previously been adamant about not returning to Qingqiu. Upon awakening from her injuries, seeing Ren Qingyue, could it be her sister finally had a change of heart? Unfortunately, Bai Jin's attention was entirely on Ren Qingyue, and the Fox Emperor took every opportunity to sit and heal, so Tu Shan Yu didn't want to disturb them. As a result, she kept her curiosity bottled up until they exited the Mist Magic Gorge. The Fox Emperor's injuries often required them to stop and rest, turning a journey intended to last three months into one that took nearly half a year. When the miasma cleared, revealing the vast expanse of mountain and sky, Ren Qingyue felt a small relief in the sorrow and longing she'd been harboring. In the blink of an eye, she had been separated from Yan Zhao for half a year. For these past six months, she'd been on high alert, never daring to relax. Initially, closing her eyes would bring memories of Yan Zhao to mind, of the forlorn expression on her face as they parted. Has Ah Zhao returned to the Yao Shenzong by now? With Elder Yao Shenzi accompanying her, there's no need to worry about Ah Zhao encountering danger. Has she been diligently cultivating? Practicing her calligraphy? Has she started attempting to refine fifth-tier pills? But most importantly... Ah Zhao, are you doing well? Do you blame me? Ren Qingyue repeatedly replayed the scenes of that day in her mind, questioning whether her decision to temporarily leave had been right or wrong. Every time she thought of this, her heart contracted tightly, as though a piece of it had been forcibly ripped away. Yet at the time, events unfolded too quickly. The Fox Emperor's group needed protection, and she had no time for second thoughts. Entrusting Yan Zhao to Yao Shenzi was the only choice that brought her peace of mind. Even though she knew their separation was only temporary and they would see each other again soon, a year's time was not very long, yet it felt like a farewell of sorts. She couldn't help but miss her. When they were together constantly, she hadn't been sure the depth of her feelings for Ah Zhao, but once separated, all the overlooked nuances in their relationship began to grow wildly unchecked. Crossing streams, combating obstructive beasts, even when Bai Jin cozied up to her, she would think of Yan Zhao. I don't await the moon but rather the moment of meeting you.