161 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

"Why does Ren Qingyue insist on accompanying Yan Zhao for such simple matters? Can't Yan Zhao train on her own?" Bai Jin expressed his confusion to Hu Hou. "It's been nearly a month since my cousin came back to Qingqiu, and we still haven't had any time alone together." Hu Hou sat quietly, propping her chin, her gaze drifting through the window towards the courtyard, where the two were diligently practicing swordsmanship. She was deep in thought. It was clear to her that Ren Qingyue was deeply concerned about Yan Zhao. As a mother, she could see it clearly. However, there was a subtle tension between the two. Ren Qingyue clearly cherished her junior, yet she inexplicably hid her softer side, maintaining a stern facade in front of Yan Zhao. Only when Yan Zhao couldn’t see, did her true emotions fleetingly appear in her eyes. Yan Zhao, naturally talented, learned quickly even the basics Ren Qingyue taught her. Yet she feigned ignorance and confusion, forcing Ren Qingyue to repeat instructions multiple times. This ploy was so clumsy, yet Ren Qingyue, distracted as she was, didn’t notice. Truly, those involved cannot see clearly. These past few days, Hu Hou pondered the underlying reasons. She had seen Ren Qingyue gazing intently at Yan Zhao’s back multiple times, her expression complex and sorrowful. As a mother, how could she bear to see her child in such a state? Thus, Hu Hou continued to think, trying to understand the knot in Ren Qingyue’s heart. Unfortunately, she knew too little about the daughter she had only recently found. Ren Qingyue was not willing to confide in her, nor would she share her troubles. In the courtyard, Yan Zhao approached Ren Qingyue holding a wooden sword, her curiosity apparent. "Senior Sister, why can’t I get this move right? Is my posture incorrect?" Ren Qingyue looked at her with a mix of exasperation and fondness. This basic swordsmanship wasn’t difficult, and she’d guided Yan Zhao nearly a hundred times already. Yet Yan Zhao always seemed to forget something, unable to master it completely. However, Yan Zhao had always been like this, slow to grasp but eager to learn, so she couldn’t expect too much from Yan Zhao’s understanding. Consequently, Ren Qingyue adjusted Yan Zhao’s arm once more, correcting her posture and guiding her through the move again. The focus here was on repetition; even if Yan Zhao’s mind couldn’t recall, her body eventually would. As Yan Zhao followed her senior sister’s movements, feeling the reassuring adjustments to her grip and stance, it reminded her of the time at the Medicine Sect, when they had not yet been separated. The barriers between them seemed never to have existed. The only difference was the absence of affectionate gestures; her senior sister no longer hugged her casually or kissed her cheek as a reward. Half a month had passed since they reunited, and despite spending six months training in the Misty Devourer Valley, Senior Sister hadn’t asked if anything interesting happened. Yan Zhao realized clearly that beyond duty, Ren Qingyue was indifferent to her. This realization filled Yan Zhao with immense frustration. She found out how hard it was to earn someone's affection. Ren Qingyue cared only about her path to immortality, dissociated from desires. Yan Zhao didn't know how to close the distance between them, except to follow her instincts, trying to stay close and linger by her side. She rejected anyone trying to approach Ren Qingyue, yet if she was too obvious, it angered her senior sister. The rules of interaction were complex, and human hearts were elusive. She might never understand what was in her senior sister’s mind. After a set of sword forms, Ren Qingyue said, "We will stop here for today and continue tomorrow." Yan Zhao sheathed her sword and asked, "Senior Sister, when are we returning to the human realm?" Mentioning this jolted Ren Qingyue, realizing they had been in Qingqiu for over half a month already. Elder Chen's injuries should have healed by now, so indeed it was time to leave. Ren Qingyue then took Yan Zhao to pay respects to Hu Hou, expressing her intention to depart the next day. Bai Jin was so agitated that he jumped, exclaiming, "Leaving so soon? We haven’t even gone out together!" Hu Hou gestured for Bai Jin to calm down, asking Ren Qingyue, "Is there something urgent prompting you to leave so quickly?" Though there was no pressing matter, Ren Qingyue feared prolonging their stay would stir feelings of attachment, making it difficult to part in the future. But she couldn’t voice this thought, so she shook her head and merely said, "It’s time we returned." Bai Jin wanted to protest further, but Hu Hou silenced him with a no-voice spell, leaving him capable of only whimpering noises, his face flushed with frustration. With a slight hand wave, Hu Hou ushered him out: "You may leave now." Bai Jin had no choice but to stomp in stifled anger as he exited the main hall, stubbornly lingering near it. Hu Hou glanced at Yan Zhao behind Ren Qingyue, but her gaze ultimately settled on Ren Qingyue, gently expressing, "Miss Ruo, let’s have a chat alone, shall we?" Ren Qingyue hesitated, fearing a conversation about their familial ties. Throughout these weeks, Hu Hou had treated her well, even keeping Tu Shan Yu away. She felt a growing attachment, yet the thought of bonding with the demon tribe was foreign to her; returning to Qingqiu meant new bonds and an end to hidden identities. Thus, she instinctively avoided further discussion. But before she could refuse, Hu Hou, aware of her concerns, assured her gently, "Rest assured, I merely wish to converse with you as friends do. I will never force you." With Hu Hou’s reassurance, persisting with distrust felt unnecessarily guarded. Ren Qingyue took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to Yan Zhao, saying, "Ah Zhao, go back to your room and cultivate." Reluctantly, Yan Zhao complied after Ren Qingyue gently patted her shoulder, saying, "Be good." Hesitating momentarily, Yan Zhao chose to comply, stepping out of the hall. At the entrance, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Bai Jin. Bai Jin, appearing to have waited for a while, waved vigorously upon seeing Yan Zhao, his enthusiasm unusual. "Yan Zhao!" The over-the-top cheerfulness was rare, prompting Yan Zhao to pause, though she wore a disgruntled expression due to her displeasure. "What do you want?" Bai Jin quickly pulled Yan Zhao aside, evidently scheming something, his facial expressions animated and suspicious—a clear sign of mischief. Once in a secluded spot, away from prying eyes and ears, Bai Jin finally whispered his intent, "Aren’t you curious about what they’re talking about inside?" Yan Zhao said nothing, a flicker of conflict passing across her face. Bai Jin caught this, wrapping an arm around Yan Zhao’s shoulder, his tone jovial, "Though we might be rivals in love, it doesn’t mean we can’t join forces. I propose a partnership!" Yan Zhao cut in, "What’s a 'rival in love'?" "..." Bai Jin was momentarily choked. Is that the point?! Shouldn’t the focus be on teaming up?! Peeved, he waved dismissively, "Not important. The main thing is I have a way to eavesdrop on them!" Yan Zhao frowned, "Really?" "Of course!" Bai Jin assured confidently, pounding his chest. Then, his tone shifted, "But if my aunt finds out, I'll be in deep trouble!" Yan Zhao followed his lead, querying, "So, what’s the plan?" Bai Jin glanced toward the main hall, lowering his voice further, "There’s a way. You’re a guest and close with my cousin... cough, I mean Sister Ren. Auntie won’t do anything to you. If we’re found out, can you take the blame?" Upon hearing Bai Jin mention her close relationship with her senior sister, Yan Zhao felt a surge of happiness, so without much thought, she agreed. "Deal. Let’s shake on it." To ensure her commitment, Bai Jin raised his hand and offered his palm towards Yan Zhao. Following his cue, Yan Zhao gave him a firm high-five, sealing their agreement. With that, Bai Jin led Yan Zhao behind the main hall. From the southeastern edge, they climbed onto the roof, counting the tiles until they reached a particular spot above the main hall. "This should be the place." Bai Jin remarked, removing one of the tiles. He then channeled a few spells, establishing a sound-amplifying formation in the gap left by the removed tile. Moments later, Hu Hou and Ren Qingyue’s conversation from the main hall indeed began to drift through the hidden gap. Yan Zhao was quite surprised, blinking in awe. "You seem very skilled at this." Bai Jin blushed with embarrassment. "…Ahem." --- Chapter 175 "Miss Ruo," Hu Hou said with a soft smile, patting the cushion beside her, "please, sit with me for a while." Complying, Ren Qingyue walked over to Hu Hou and sat down with perfect posture. Noticing her upright back and serious demeanor, still guarded and far from relaxed, Hu Hou felt a slight pang of sadness, accompanied by a helpless sigh. She had hoped that during Ren Qingyue's stay at Qingyao Palace, through daily interactions, Ren Qingyue would come to feel her goodwill, slowly deepening the mother-daughter bond. Yet Ren Qingyue had used teaching Yan Zhao as an excuse to avoid her. Now that she was set on leaving, Hu Hou had no choice but to take the initiative. "I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but didn't find the chance," Hu Hou began gently. "Is there some connection between Miss Yan and your master, the esteemed Xian Zun Yuan Qing, given that they share a surname?" Ren Qingyue lowered her eyes and replied, "Ah Zhao's name was chosen by my master." Her response was only partially revealing, but Hu Hou seemed to understand, reflecting, "I see." What kind of figure was Yan Yuanqing? The top sword cultivator in the human realm, renowned across the three realms, living freely without constraints, and he only accepted one disciple. If it were an ordinary child, even receiving a name from Yan Yuanqing wouldn’t necessitate adopting the Yan surname. That character was too significant. Considering how much Ren Qingyue valued her upbringing, Yan Zhao’s identity was now becoming clear. However, due to Yuan Qing's prominent status in the human realm, other cultivators there found it hard to make this connection. Thus, Ren Qingyue’s complex emotions towards Yan Zhao were somewhat explainable. Hu Hou, with her chin in her hand, smiled warmly. "I can see the child is very close to you. It's not that you truly dislike her. So why keep her at such a distance? Is there some hidden reason?" Ren Qingyue was stunned, lifting her head with a look of surprise. She didn't expect Hu Hou to be so perceptive, understanding her inner thoughts so clearly in just a few days. Above on the rooftop, Yan Zhao and Bai Jin were also taken aback. Yan Zhao's expression was one of anxious disbelief. Could it be that her senior sister didn’t truly dislike her? If that were the case, then why? Bai Jin, unsurprised by the situation, clicked his tongue and whispered, "Do we even need to ask? You must be a bother, constantly causing trouble for Sister Ren, but because you share the same sect, she can’t just leave you." After this bit of speculation, Bai Jin nudged Yan Zhao's arm, asking, "Am I right?" Yan Zhao: "…" Hmph. Back in the hall, the conversation that had barely started fell into silence. Absentmindedly, Ren Qingyue gripped her sword, her thumb tracing the sheath's ridged pattern. How should she begin to explain? Perhaps she didn’t need to, but Hu Hou's eyes were full of concern, and Ren Qingyue could feel her worry. Since Hu Hou could sense the awkwardness between her and Yan Zhao, she had probably also noticed the struggle within Ren Qingyue these past days. Tired, Ren Qingyue closed her eyes. Since her master passed, she had grown used to bearing life's uncertainties alone. Her initial shock upon learning Yan Zhao’s identity, the profound feeling knowing that fragments of her master's soul still existed, and her confusion upon discovering that Yan Zhao was the child of the demon lord Nangong Yin. All these emotional upheavals and the joys and sorrows of the mortal world—she had no choice but to endure them in solitude.