155 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Every moment, Ren Qingyue was tormented. She preferred solitude, often finding herself lost in thought as she gazed into the void. Even with a night watch elder from the Medicine God Sect present, she found it difficult to concentrate on her cultivation. The Fox Emperor observed all of this. Bai Jin merely thought Ren Qingyue was simply aloof and withdrawn, while Tu Shan Yu assumed she might be overwhelmed by the emotions of returning to her homeland. But perhaps only the Fox Emperor understood that Ren Qingyue was truly troubled and melancholy. Although Ren Qingyue had voluntarily proposed to escort them back to Qingqiu, the Fox Emperor was fully aware of how much this daughter truly cared for him. Naturally, he wanted to believe that Ren Qingyue was joining them purely out of concern for their safety. However, he knew there were other reasons for her choice. Yet, as long as Ren Qingyue was unwilling to speak of these, they were left powerless. The Fox Emperor sighed. Fortunately, with Fog Demon Gorge behind them, they would soon arrive at Qingqiu. He wondered if Hu Hou could persuade this child to let down her guard. Before reaching the demon palace, they needed to pass through several demon cities. In the entire demon clan, everyone recognized the foxes of Qingqiu. As the Fox Emperor and his party traveled along the streets, they were warmly received by the citizens of the demon clan. Even though it was the first time they had seen Ren Qingyue and the elder from the Medicine God Sect, the fact that they were traveling with the Fox Emperor was enough for the demon clan to show their enthusiastic hospitality. The demon clan was renowned for its beauties, and the foxes of Qingqiu were particularly striking. Even though the people of the demon clan were accustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women, when they laid eyes on Ren Qingyue, they couldn't help but be captivated by her allure. Immediately, some daring young demon men and women stepped forward, offering garlands intended for the Fox Emperor to Ren Qingyue instead. Unable to refuse their kind gestures, Ren Qingyue accepted them until her hands were full. Only then did they relent and turn their attentions to the other members of the group. Even Tu Shan Yu, held in Tu Shan Xun's arms, received several garlands, so many that when stacked around his neck, they almost submerged his head. Naturally, there were those curious about Ren Qingyue's identity, but the Fox Emperor had already ordered that Tu Shan Yu and Bai Jin were not to press Ren Qingyue to acknowledge her kinship, and they were to refer to her only as a friend. Tu Shan Yu felt stifled but didn't dare defy the Fox Emperor’s strict tone. As for Bai Jin, he adapted well, referring to her as "sister" without issue. Yan Zhao and the Medicine God secretly trailed the Fox Emperor’s party until they were outside the demon city. While walking, they had not been idle. The Medicine God taught Yan Zhao about herbs, and Yan Zhao recognized all the plants in the Fog Demon Gorge. Once they left Fog Demon Gorge and the miasma dissipated, they were cautious not to follow too closely, lest the Fox Emperor and his party notice them. At this moment, hidden amidst the lush foliage of a tree, Yan Zhao watched the city's activities in the distance and turned to ask the Medicine God, "Master, what are those people doing?" The Medicine God stroked his beard and replied, "This is a custom within the demon clan. Offering garlands signifies respect, friendship, admiration—oh, Qingyue is quite popular!" Most of the young demons offering flowers to Ren Qingyue were single and unattached, both male and female. Demon society was liberal in terms of courtship, unlike the human world's rigid societal norms. As long as they were drawn to someone, they could pursue them boldly. In contrast, humans were often superficial, bound by their pride, and wouldn't dare to make such straightforward advances without the constraints of many complex rituals and etiquettes, which is why such lively scenes were rare in the human world. Upon hearing this, Yan Zhao pursed his lips. Back in the human realm, there were innumerable people who adored Ren Qingyue. Now, in Qingqiu, the number had multiplied several times. Yan Zhao was a bit displeased. The way these people looked at his senior sister was both dazzled and infatuated. Each of them, he felt, wanted to steal her away. "They're moving on." The Medicine God nudged Yan Zhao, signaling him to follow. Suppressing his burgeoning emotions, Yan Zhao continued after the Medicine God into the demon city. Ren Qingyue followed the Fox Emperor and his party all the way to the demon palace. The so-called demon palace wasn't a grand structure like the palaces and towers of the human or celestial realms. Instead, it was built along the mountains, with part of it exposed outside and the rest hidden within. The exterior housed the chambers where royal decisions were made, while within lay an extensive network of caves suitable for the fox clan to live. The caves extended deep into the mountain, revealing a whole city of foxes within. Though Ren Qingyue had no childhood memories of growing up in Qingqiu, seeing the fox city stirred some déjà vu within her, as though it provided evidence of her origins. She had indeed been here before. The Fox Emperor’s group stepped into the demon palace. Ren Qingyue felt a sense of melancholy, though she showed none of it outwardly. She walked behind the Fox Emperor, her expression serene and gaze unwavering, ignoring the curious looks cast her way by the surrounding fox clan. The palace guards had been informed well ahead of the Fox Emperor's return to Qingqiu, and they hurried forward to greet him, along with Tu Shan Yu and Bai Jin, saying, "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, Princess." When they noticed two unfamiliar faces, they did not pry, merely stating, "Your Majesty, the Fox Queen is not in the demon palace right now." "Not in the demon palace?" Tu Shan Yu asked in confusion, "Where has Mother gone?" The guards glanced at the unfamiliar faces behind the Fox Emperor, looking slightly uncomfortable. The Fox Emperor said, "It's alright, speak freely." The guard no longer held back, "Half a year ago, Her Majesty went to stay at Qingshuang Residence for a couple of days. She instructed us to move all the memorials there, and she hasn't returned since." Qingshuang Residence? The Fox Emperor and Tu Shan Yu exchanged a subtle look. The Fox Emperor cleared his throat, speaking calmly, "Understood, you may go." After the guard left, the Fox Emperor turned to Tu Shan Yu, "Yu'er, go and invite your mother back." Tu Shan Yu, contrary to his usual eager demeanor, declined, "Father, you and Mother are the couple. It's fitting that you personally invite her back." “…” They both fell into silence, neither wanting to undertake the task. Just then, Bai Jin, who had been observing closely, sidled up to Ren Qingyue and whispered conspiratorially, “Cousin, do you know what the Qingshuang Residence is for?” Ren Qingyue wasn’t particularly curious, but since Bai Jin seemed eager to share, she obliged him with a response, “What?” “This time of year, the peach blossoms are in full bloom at Qingshuang Residence. The scenery is exquisite, perfect for viewing the blossoms, listening to music, and relaxing in hot springs. Every day, a beautiful young demon serves tea and water—it’s like living in bliss!” Bai Jin gave a playful shake of his head, grinning mischievously as he anticipated the Fox Emperor’s predicament. “If Uncle doesn’t hurry back, Aunt might be so absorbed in leisure she won’t pay him any mind any longer!” Ren Qingyue: “…” Fox Emperor and Tu Shan Yu found themselves uncertain without the Fox Queen’s presence. Upon entering the inner hall, it was evident more had been moved than just the memorials; the poetry collections and miscellaneous volumes the Fox Queen loved to read, as well as the novels Bai Jin brought from the human world to while away her time, were all gone. The Fox Emperor circled the hall a few times, finally speaking in resignation, “Jin'er.” Bai Jin blinked innocently, responding, “Yes.” The Fox Emperor pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, “Did you bring any new books this time?” “Uh, yes.” Bai Jin replied, flipping his wrist to pull out a small booklet, “Most human novels are repetitive and lack novelty. I only found one interesting one, so I brought it back for Aunt.” The Fox Emperor glanced at the cover, which bore large characters: "The Chronicles of Yan Yuan Qing." Beside it, in tiny script, were the words "Part One." Part One was fine, inconsequential; as long as the Fox Queen liked it, it would suffice. The Fox Emperor sighed, making up his mind, “I will pass this on to her myself.” Understanding his intent, Bai Jin grinned mischievously, “Good luck coaxing Aunt back, Uncle!” Even with Bai Jin openly teasing him, the Fox Emperor remained unperturbed, turning to instruct Tu Shan Yu, “Yu'er, arrange accommodations for Miss Ren and Elder Chen.” Tu Shan Yu nodded, “Understood.” Ren Qingyue intended to refuse, but before she could speak, the Fox Emperor addressed her, “The journey from the human world to Qingqiu was long and arduous; you two must be weary.” “Qingqiu may not have the vast resources of the human world, but its spiritual energy is rich, an ideal place for healing and rest. Please, stay for a while and take your time to recuperate before departing.” Ren Qingyue fell silent, casting a glance at the pale-faced Elder Chen who was still recovering from his injuries. Elder Chen had been injured in the Fog Demon Gorge, and having endured until reaching Qingqiu, finally had a chance to recuperate. She couldn’t be so insistent as to leave immediately. Since they had come together, it was only right they return together, at least until they passed Fog Demon Gorge and could part ways. Ren Qingyue said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” After Ren Qingyue finished speaking, Tu Shan Yu finally let out a sigh of relief. Enthusiastically, he called out, "Miss Ren, Elder Chen, please follow me." Curious about where Tu Shan Yu planned to accommodate Ren Qingyue, Bai Jin decided to tag along. Meanwhile, the Fox Emperor was seated in the hall, casually flipping through a couple of pages of "The Chronicles of Yan Yuan Qing." The author of this chronicle was unknown; it mainly recounted the adventures of Yan Yuan Qing in his early years as he roamed the three realms, with tales of justice and retribution. The content was likely a mix of hearsay or fabricated stories, so its truthfulness was questionable, but it was amusing enough. In the past, the Fox Emperor had briefly encountered Yan Yuan Qing, though his familiarity didn't extend beyond what was narrated in the book. The achievements of the first female sword cultivator of the human realm were indeed impressive, and this person was also Ren Qingyue's master, as significant as a parent reborn, providing both nurture and guidance. With a plan forming in his mind, the Fox Emperor instructed everyone in the demon palace to treat their guests well and then set off alone for Qingshuang Residence. In a secluded courtyard deep within a peach blossom grove, Hu Hou lay comfortably on a branch, holding a jade cup. Her slender fingers circled the rim, tapping in rhythm to the music of pi'pa and guqin wafting through the forest. Two strikingly handsome peach blossom spirits attended to her, one gently fanning her while the other held a wine jug, ready to top up Hu Hou’s cup as soon as she took a sip. Upon sensing someone approaching, the little spirits perked up as they caught the sound of footsteps. Seeing the Fox Emperor, they exchanged a glance but remained where they were. Above, Hu Hou looked leisurely on the branch. Below, on a low table, documents and novels were neatly piled in two separate stacks, with all the necessary reviews completed. Suddenly, Hu Hou opened her eyes, waving her hand to signal the spirits to withdraw. Only then did the two spirits bow and silently leave. Shifting her posture, Hu Hou sat up on the branch, swinging her legs and smiling at the Fox Emperor. "So, how was your trip?" Maintaining a serious demeanor, the Fox Emperor replied, "Not as delightful as yours." "Why the long face?" Hu Hou teased, "What is it, aren’t you happy?" The Fox Emperor sighed, "No, I’m not." "Oh." Hu Hou reclined back on the branch, closing her eyes. "If there's nothing else, I'll nap a bit longer. You can go." The Fox Emperor: "…" The speech he had prepared never found its way past his lips. Having occupied his position for so long, he seemed to have lost the knack for yielding and appeasing others. Hu Hou was upset over a prior disagreement they'd had over who should go to the human world in search of their daughter. After the daughter’s jade pendant reacted to the fox fur Bai Jin brought back, Hu Hou wanted to personally venture into the human realm to find their daughter. However, the Fox Emperor insisted she remain in the demon palace and wait for his return. She let it go, recalling that the Fox Emperor, having recuperated for many years, could use an outing. Hu Hou didn’t argue with him. Unexpectedly, before Tu Shan Xun departed, he commented to Tu Shan Yu as he entrusted him with palace affairs, "Your sister has been smarter than you since childhood. You wouldn't want to fall behind when she returns, would you? If you wish to protect her, you must grow and understand, okay?" The more Hu Hou thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and the more she felt she had compromised too much. Why must the brother be stronger than the sister? Why must the sister need the brother's protection? What if the sister is more capable than the brother? These two men were indeed arrogant. Over the years, she'd been too lenient, allowing them to swell with pride and forget who they initially were. Tu Shan Xun hadn’t expected that his absence would extend close to a full year, nor that shortly after his departure, Hu Hou would send Tu Shan Yu away and retreat to Qingshuang Residence to enjoy her solitude. --- “I didn’t yearn for the moon itself, but for the encounter with you.” --- Voluntary contributions to the site The site generates no income from advertisements, it's non-profit, and donations cover server costs! Afraid of getting lost? 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