159 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

As the elder of two children, she couldn't intervene too much in their emotional matters, allowing the children to deal with them on their own. The Fox Queen suggested, "It's late today, Yun'er has probably gone to rest. You can find her tomorrow." Bai Jin, persistent despite repeated failures, responded, "Alright, I will come first thing in the morning!" In reality, in the side hall, Ren Qingyue had not yet gone to bed. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed trying to meditate, but couldn't calm her mind for a long while. It wasn't that the spiritual energy of Qingqiu was unsuitable for cultivation, but rather her mind was troubled, still worrying if Yanzhao had secretly snuck into Qingqiu. If that were true, where was she now? Suddenly, with a patter, something flew through the window and landed on her pillow. Startled, Ren Qingyue immediately gripped her sword handle. She turned to look outside the window but the courtyard was silent, with no sign of anyone. Ren Qingyue frowned. Compared to the human world's various sects, the fox clan's palace didn't have tight security. Perhaps due to the peaceful nature and harmonious living among the demon race, the cities didn't lock their doors at night, and no protective arrays were set up in the demon palace. However, logically, no one should dare to act recklessly in the demon palace. Seeing no shadow outside, Ren Qingyue turned back to the bed. The object on the pillow was... A demon core? She took another look, uncertain. It was indeed a demon core. Who would toss a demon core into her room at night? Bai Jin? But Bai Jin had been dismissed by the Fox Queen and should have already left the Qingyao Palace. Ren Qingyue picked up the demon core and examined it closely. This demon core was clear and of high quality, certainly valuable. Suddenly, an idea struck her, causing her heart to race, pounding like thunder. She moved to the window, gazing out, scanning all possible hiding spots but found no trace. "I know it's you," Ren Qingyue whispered cautiously, "Stop hiding, come inside." With that, she stepped away from the window but left it open. After a moment, there was no response. Ren Qingyue frowned deeply. Had she guessed wrong, or did Ah Zhao not want to see her? If it was the former, that would be fine, but if it were the latter... Ren Qingyue's heart trembled violently. She thought that half a year apart had calmed her heart, but just the thought of it made a pang of pain ripple through her heart. If Ah Zhao didn't want to see her, why follow her secretly? And even throw a demon core into her room. Ren Qingyue suppressed the unsettling thoughts, striving to cover emotional impulses with reason. Perhaps, she had simply guessed wrong. Ah Zhao certainly couldn't be in Qingqiu. The origin of this demon core should be investigated by the Fox Queen. She took a deep breath, ready to close the window and put this matter to rest. Just then, a round head popped up from below the windowsill. Bright, deer-like eyes peered in, meeting Ren Qingyue's gaze. Yanzhao grinned widely, "Senior Sister!" Chapter 173 Her heart skipped a beat, then raced faster. Blood surged quickly through her veins, coursing through her body in an instant. Ren Qingyue and Yanzhao stared at each other for a moment, her mind going blank. Yanzhao's sudden appearance caught her completely off guard. Even though she had anticipated it, seeing Yanzhao in person still felt surreal to Ren Qingyue. How did Yanzhao end up in Qingqiu? Despite her confusion, there was a hidden joy deep down, even a sense of delight. "Hurry, get inside!" Ren Qingyue came to her senses and immediately worried Yanzhao might be discovered by the Fox Queen, quickly motioning her in. "Close the window!" Yanzhao obediently climbed through the window, and Ren Qingyue swiftly closed it after her. At the same time, she flicked her wrist, taking out several soundproof talismans, and swiftly stuck them on doors and windows. After sealing the room, Ren Qingyue turned to look at Yanzhao. Seeing her standing confidently in the middle of the room, Ren Qingyue still felt anxious, "Why are you here?" "To find my senior sister," Yanzhao replied. Ren Qingyue took a deep breath, suppressing her wildly beating heart, and tried to speak calmly, "Didn't I tell you to return to the sect with Master Yao Shenzi?" Yanzhao's eyes darted around, recalling the excuse Yao Shenzi had told her, and said, "Master brought me here." "Master Yao Shenzi?" Ren Qingyue was incredibly surprised, "Why would he bring you to Qingqiu?" Yanzhao then explained that Yao Shenzi was worried the Fox Emperor and others might encounter trouble on the way, so he brought her along to secretly escort them. Ren Qingyue was both astonished and moved, “I see.” She couldn’t bring herself to utter a word of reproach. But Yanzhao sneaking into the demon palace like this, what if the Fox Queen discovered and misunderstood, what would they do then? She asked Yanzhao, "In that case, where is Master Yao Shenzi now?" Yanzhao blinked, "I don't know." "Don't know?" Yanzhao replied honestly, "Master left after bringing me to the demon palace." Ren Qingyue: "..." She should have known better than to expect anything from either of them! In the distant night, Yao Shenzi sneezed violently. "Who is cursing me?" He mumbled, rubbing his nose indifferently. Then he dusted off his sleeve and, before leaving, glanced back. Mission accomplished, he vanished in the night, leaving only his deeds behind. "My dear apprentice, your master can only support you this much." · In the side hall of Qingyao Palace, Ren Qingyue and Yanzhao stared at each other. Given the situation, there was no other solution. With Yao Shenzi absent, she couldn't possibly sneak Yanzhao out of the demon palace undetected. Yanzhao would just have to stay here for the night, and they'd go to the Fox Queen the next day to confess and take responsibility. Ren Qingyue pressed her fingers to her brow in distress; she wasn't ready to see Yanzhao again. Even though it had only been six months, she thought of Yanzhao every day. Today, seeing two women kissing on the streets of the Fox City struck a chord in her heart, making her realize more clearly that her inappropriate feelings had not diminished at all. And this naïve, beast-like girl had no awareness and kept getting closer, constantly testing her resilience and self-control. Ren Qingyue felt utterly helpless, thinking: Ah Zhao, what should I do with you? They were only senior and junior sisters and should maintain the appropriate distance of such. Yanzhao might not understand, but Ren Qingyue couldn't continue to feign ignorance. She certainly couldn't let Yanzhao get emotionally agitated because of her anymore. With that in mind, Ren Qingyue deliberately put on a stern expression and questioned Yanzhao, "Was it you who released Xiao Hei in the street today and knocked that person out?" Yanzhao was dumbfounded. She had been so caught up in things that she forgot about that. Of course, senior sister figured it out! Seeing Yanzhao looking dazed, on the verge of denying it, Ren Qingyue warned sternly, "If you lie, your punishment will be worse." "..." Yanzhao pressed her lips together, lowering her head in defeat, "It was me." This time Ren Qingyue was genuinely upset, her tone becoming more severe, "You had no enmity with him, why did you do it?" Yanzhao pouted, looking around guiltily but refusing to speak. Ren Qingyue narrowed her eyes, "Not going to say?" Yanzhao hesitated for a moment before reluctantly confessing, "Because he foolishly wants to bond with senior sister as a Daoist partner." Ren Qingyue froze. She hadn't expected that to be the reason. Her heart felt like it was being scraped with something; she was instantly flustered. Ren Qingyue turned her face away, not daring to meet Yanzhao's eyes, taking a deep breath before saying, "Even so, you shouldn't have attacked him." Yanzhao was adamant, "I don't like him." "Whether you like him or not, it's none of your business," Ren Qingyue's tone was firmer, "My matters, I will handle myself. Attacking someone out of the blue is simply wrong." Yanzhao: "..." Her heart felt heavy as if it were stuffed with cotton. Master Yao Shenzi had said that senior sister had feelings for her, but she couldn't feel it at all, and senior sister wasn't siding with her at all. Finally, Ren Qingyue decreed, "Tomorrow, you will join me and apologize." Yanzhao lifted her head, resolutely replying, "I won't." Ren Qingyue faced Yanzhao's sudden sharp gaze, feeling a deep pain in her heart, as if it were bleeding. She gritted her teeth, suppressing the pain, and coldly stated, "If you refuse to apologize, then leave now." Yanzhao's eyes widened in disbelief. The two stood in silent confrontation, a tension between them they had never experienced before. Eventually, Yanzhao lowered her gaze and conceded. Her disappointment was palpable; her feelings for her senior sister were not reciprocated as she had hoped. Yet, she knew she had been at fault and should heed her master's advice, avoiding further aggravating her senior sister. After a brief silence, Yanzhao stayed put, implying she had accepted the plan to apologize the next day. Even though Yanzhao maintained a stubborn front, there was hope for avoiding a deeper conflict. Ren Qingyue's taut nerves eased somewhat, her tone softening, "Find a place to rest in the room for now, don't cultivate tonight." This was to avoid causing any unusual fluctuations in spiritual energy that might attract the attention of others in the demon palace. Still upset that her senior sister seemed to side with others rather than herself, Yanzhao huffed and walked to Ren Qingyue's bed, flopping onto it. Ren Qingyue: "..." Her eyebrows arched sharply as she glanced at Yanzhao, "You're quite comfortable, aren't you? Up!" Yanzhao was even more displeased, "Now what?" Ren Qingyue jerked her chin toward the side, "Sleep on the floor." Yanzhao: "..." Senior sister truly doesn't care for me at all! In the middle of the night, Ren Qingyue finished her cultivation and opened her eyes, looking towards Yanzhao, who lay on the floor with her back to her. With her golden core cultivation and no injuries, Yanzhao naturally wasn't afraid of the cold. Even so, it still weighed on Ren Qingyue's heart. She knew Yanzhao was awake, deliberately turning her back and staying silent in a huff. The silence in the room amplified the rigid and cold atmosphere between them, leaving Ren Qingyue deeply conflicted. She was unsure what attitude she should adopt to face Yanzhao. But she couldn't let Yanzhao continue making mistakes, couldn't let her act rashly and turn into someone who would kill without a second thought. If Yanzhao's closeness became the fuse for a personality shift, Ren Qingyue would rather cut ties decisively to prevent such things from happening again. While Ren Qingyue was silently lamenting, Yanzhao suddenly flipped over. Their eyes met unexpectedly, both pausing for a moment, then Yanzhao quickly sprang up from the floor. Ren Qingyue remained motionless, closing her eyes again as if nothing had happened. "Hey," Yanzhao called to her. Yanzhao was genuinely upset, not even bothering to call her senior sister. Ren Qingyue frowned but opened her eyes to look at Yanzhao with an indifferent expression, "What?" Yanzhao stood and walked over to her. Extending her hand, she opened her palm, "Give me back the demon core." Ren Qingyue: "..." · The next morning, at the sound of birds singing, there was a knock on the door. A palace attendant came to deliver a message that the Fox Queen had invited Ren Qingyue to the main hall for tea and flower appreciation. Yanzhao clearly heard but remained sulking on the floor, refusing to get up. As Ren Qingyue passed by her, she gave her shoe a light tap, "Get up, let's go." Yanzhao grudgingly stood up, following Ren Qingyue out the door. Noticing an additional person behind Ren Qingyue, the demon guards were surprised but said nothing, respectfully leading the way. The walk from the side hall to the main hall was not far, taking about half an incense stick's time at a leisurely pace. Behind Ren Qingyue, Yanzhao glanced around. The demon race revered the fox spirit, and every corner of the halls and towers was adorned with fox spirit motifs and patterns, vastly different from the architectural styles of the human world.