157 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

"Fuyun Sect, disciple under Immortal Yuanqing," Ren Qingyue responded in a formal and composed manner. "Under Immortal Yuanqing? Yan Yuanqing?" The Fox Queen suddenly recalled the "Biography of Yan Yuanqing" that the Fox Emperor had gifted her earlier. So that was its purpose. "Immortal Yuanqing, I've heard of her, even in the demon realm," the Fox Queen remarked with a gentle smile, seizing the opportunity to continue, "As far as I know, Immortal Yuanqing only ever had one direct disciple. That must be you, young lady." Ren Qingyue nodded in acknowledgment. The Fox Queen sighed, "Yan Yuanqing was a remarkable woman. How did you come to be her disciple?" Ren Qingyue frowned slightly. She hadn't intended to answer, but the question, coming from the Fox Queen, stirred a subtle sense of melancholy and injustice in her heart. If not for the inquiry, she might have thought she'd forgotten the events before joining the sect. Suppressing the emotions surging within, Ren Qingyue lowered her gaze in silence. Then, almost involuntarily, she began recounting her past experiences. The Fox Queen's eyes showed a flicker of emotion, though her expression remained gentle and unchanged. Once Ren Qingyue finished her brief account, the Fox Queen merely sighed, "Immortal Yuanqing was indeed a person of immeasurable virtue." Ren Qingyue agreed with the Fox Queen's sentiment. She spoke little, only responding to the Fox Queen's questions and not initiating topics herself. Nevertheless, the Fox Queen's gracious and accepting demeanor subtly eased her tension, helping her to relax and find peace. "I heard from Jin that there's a girl studying alchemy with you. Did she come this time?" At the mention of Yan Zhao, Ren Qingyue felt a pang of sadness and shook her head, "No." The Fox Queen observed her expression, "Why not? Jin mentioned you two are inseparable. I thought she would accompany you this time." Ren Qingyue didn't answer directly. For some unknown reason, she couldn't bring herself to deceive the Fox Queen, so she offered no excuses, only silence. The Fox Queen pondered briefly before changing the subject, "Though Qingqiu isn't as vast as the human realm, it has its charm. The day is still young; would you join me for a stroll in the city?" Initially hesitant, Ren Qingyue was intrigued by the prospect of experiencing Qingqiu's culture and felt an inexplicable attachment she couldn't describe, reluctant to leave just yet. "Very well," she agreed. Together, they walked into the fox city. The line between the demon royal family and the commoners wasn't sharply defined. Men and women enthusiastically presented flower garlands to the Fox Queen, who accepted them all until her hands were full. Only then did the crowd's attention shift to Ren Qingyue. This was a stark contrast to her experiences in other demon cities, and Ren Qingyue couldn't help but be impressed by the Fox Queen's charisma. The Fox Queen smiled kindly, "In our demon race, we don't have many formalities. Our way of showing goodwill is quite direct. Don't be afraid, Miss Ren." Ren Qingyue nodded, "Everyone is very warm." "Is there anyone that catches your eye?" The Fox Queen teased with a raised eyebrow, "If there is, maybe you should see where it leads." Under normal circumstances, such words would leave Ren Qingyue unfazed, prompting no reaction. However, whether it was the special circumstances or the Fox Queen's playful tone, a slight warmth spread across Ren Qingyue's cheeks as she shook her head. The Fox Queen chuckled, "Miss Ren is gentle and beautiful. I wonder which lucky guy you'll end up with." Ren Qingyue remained silent, her eyes flickering slightly. Or perhaps... it won't be a guy. Chapter 171 Once again, Ren Qingyue's thoughts drifted to Yan Zhao. But the bold and greedy thought flickered in her mind for just a moment before she forced it down, letting reason prevail. Despite her age being not much in the immortal cultivation world, leaving a myriad of possibilities open for her future, she was inclined to pursue her path diligently, likely remaining solitary. Naturally, such matters weren't for the Fox Queen's ears; she chose to keep them buried in her heart. The Fox Queen's attention was attuned to Ren Qingyue. With just a glance, she discerned a shift in Ren Qingyue's mood, likely related to her earlier teasing comments. Perceptive but discreet, the Fox Queen didn't press further. Instead, she handed Ren Qingyue a string of sweet candies from a nearby stall, smoothly steering the conversation away. Ren Qingyue held the candy, twirling it with her fingers rather than eating it. She mused silently, thinking Yan Zhao would surely enjoy such treats meant to please children. As they walked on, a round of cheers erupted ahead, followed by enthusiastic applause. Ren Qingyue looked toward the commotion, spotting a martial challenge—a tournament inviting prospective spouses. On the platform, a heroic-looking demon woman stood with a spear, having just defeated a black bear demon who overestimated his abilities. Instead of receiving scorn for her strength, the crowd cheered loudly, even tossing flower garlands onto the stage. From the surrounding conversations, Ren Qingyue learned that the woman had already defeated five challengers, none lasting more than ten moves against her. Though the spectators' spirits were high, the recent defeat of a strong black bear demon intimidated potential challengers, leaving none to step forward. "No one else?!" The woman on stage laughed arrogantly, her silver spear striking the ground with a clang. "This is a one-time offer! If you've got the guts, then step up!" The crowd remained lively, yet few dared to step forward, fearing humiliation in defeat. "If no one else is willing, I'd like to give it a try." The crowd slowly parted, revealing a person stepping forward. Unexpectedly, it was a woman—a delicate beauty with peach-blossom looks and a willow-like waist, exuding an air of fragility. "You?" The spear-wielding woman studied her for a moment, then laughed with a broadened smile. "I'm celebrating my thousandth birthday today; if you can beat me, we'll make a pact here and now, witnessed by all, and be inseparable for life!" The beauty smiled gently, as if basked in springtime warmth, "Alright." The cheers turned to murmurs among the crowd. While the demon community was open-minded, same-sex unions were still rare, especially with such seemingly frail participants. The delicate beauty was bold, but did she have the skills? Ren Qingyue watched the stage from afar, surprised by the unfolding events. "What are you thinking?" The Fox Queen's casual tone drew Ren Qingyue back from her thoughts. Ren Qingyue returned to reality, somewhat dazed; she asked unintentionally, "In the demon race, can two women marry?" The question left her slightly regretful, worried that it unveiled certain undisclosed feelings. "Of course," the Fox Queen replied with a warm smile, "Our demon kind doesn't adhere to the human world's rules. As long as it feels right and doesn't harm anyone, everything is permissible." Her words resonated with Ren Qingyue—living freely and without harm. Reflecting on these principles, Ren Qingyue found unexpected appeal in the demon race's way of life. Another round of applause erupted from the distant platform, drawing Ren Qingyue's gaze. Somehow, the spear of the heroic woman had been seized; her feet were bound by a white snake's tail, immobilizing her. The delicate beauty tilted her chin with one hand, her thumb lightly tracing the blush on her opponent's cheek from the exertion, and asked with a gentle smile, "Do you yield?" The valiant woman's cheeks puffed with defiance. Unwilling to accept her loss, feeling she could still fight, relinquishing her weapon in front of witnesses would be even more humiliating. Struggling secretly to no avail, she steeled herself and shouted, "A bet is a bet!" "Good!" The crowd erupted with thunderous applause, "Never judge a book by its cover! Make the pledge!" The white snake tail receded, and the heroic woman regained her mobility, but her legs, still numb from being bound, nearly buckled, almost causing a grand show of kneeling to the audience. As her body swayed, a steadying hand appeared, supporting her waist. The crowd's excitement soared, their clamorous voices filling the air with teasing. Feeling the strong arm anchoring her, the heroic woman instinctively lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the beauty before her. In that instant, it was as if fireworks lit up their surroundings, her heartbeat racing uncontrollably. The beauty's smile gradually blossomed, her voice playful, "Careful now." The sound of her heartbeat intensified, and an inexplicable competitiveness emerged, as if losing the match didn’t mean she could lose her spirit. Fueled by impulse, she suddenly cupped the pretty snake demon's cheeks with both hands and boldly, clumsily pressed her lips against the other's soft ones. "!" A look of surprise sparkled in the snake demon's beautiful eyes, and the crowd below the stage erupted in astonishment. Finally feeling as though she'd regained the upper hand, her sense of triumph overshadowed the embarrassment, maintaining the challenging kiss without pulling away. The initial surprise in the beautiful woman’s eyes soon transformed into a gentle smile. She lifted her arms, wrapping them around her challenger’s shoulders, then closed her eyes compliantly, deepening the kiss. Below, the audience erupted into cheers, showering the stage with flower garlands as the scene reached an electrifying, feverish climax. Not far away, Yan Zhao and the Medicine God lay atop the roof of the Fox Temple, their faces smeared with soot, hiding beneath a few loose tiles. Pointing to the lively platform at the corner of the street, Yan Zhao asked the Medicine God, "Master, what are they doing?" With hands stained by charcoal, the Medicine God stroked his white beard, turning it a shade to match his soot-covered face. Having dedicated his life to cultivation and never having experienced romance, this question ventured into unfamiliar territory for him. Fortunately, he had lived many years; though he hadn’t tasted pork, he’d seen pigs run, so after a moment of contemplation, he carefully explained to Yan Zhao, "It's a way of expressing closeness to someone dear, usually something only partners do." "Partners?" Yan Zhao recalled that Chen Er had mentioned this term before, saying it required mutual affection to form such a bond. Yan Zhao asked further, "Then what about kissing elsewhere?" The Medicine God frowned in confusion, turning to his disciple, "What do you mean elsewhere?" "Like here, and here." Yan Zhao lifted her bangs, patting her forehead, then her cheeks. The Medicine God’s eyes grew wary, and his expression turned instantly vigilant, "Has anyone kissed you?" Yan Zhao replied, "Senior Sister." "Oh." The Medicine God exhaled a breath of relief, relaxing, "That's fine. It's like you kissing your fox; it shows affection, but it's important to remember not everyone can be kissed—only those you feel close to." Not everyone, only those you’re fond of. Those words registered in Yan Zhao’s mind, and her eyes blinked repeatedly as she fell into thought. Her senior sister had kissed her before, but when she asked her sister to kiss her forehead as a reward for cultivating diligently, her sister was reluctant. Did this mean her sister liked her or not? Like a curious child, Yan Zhao pondered briefly before a new question surfaced: "Master, is liking a person different from liking a fox?" "Of course, it's different," the Medicine God replied with a huff. Even though he'd never been in love, in youth, he was dashing and quite popular, confident in his extensive theoretical knowledge. "A fox is lovely, but it's not human. You can't communicate with it, can't understand what it says. You can accompany each other, but most human-related matters you'll have to face alone." "But with a person, it's vastly different," the Medicine God explained with conviction, shaking his head as he spoke. "When you face difficulties, they can offer advice. When you're troubled, they'll comfort you. They teach you what you don't know, and you can cultivate and grow together, weathering the storms of life as one." Yan Zhao blinked her eyes, "So how do you tell if it's the kind of liking? Which kind of liking is it?" The light of the moon is not what I yearn for, but meeting you. Voluntary Donations The site has no advertising revenue, is non-profit, and donations are used for server expenses! If you're worried about getting lost, you can visit the donation page to add contact information! Click here to go to the donation page>>