162 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

She once believed that she and Yan Zhao would depend on each other for life. But that was not the case; Yan Zhao had a caring mother and a concerned mentor. Ren Qing Yue alone had nothing but Yan Zhao. Thus, when Yan Zhao’s reason became consumed by impulsiveness, and her indifferent eyes failed to reflect Ren Qing Yue’s presence, the most vivid emotion filling her heart was fear. She feared the change in Yan Zhao’s nature and the possible severing of the bond that held them together. Even more, she feared that all of it might commence because of her. The closer Yan Zhao came to her, the more intense the fear surged within her. She feared unexpected changes, feared the same situations would replay, feared a vicious beast might snatch Yan Zhao away from her side. Thus, she would reprimand Yan Zhao strictly, forbidding her from harming others for her sake. She couldn't ignore it. All notions of benevolence and morality were merely excuses to conceal her selfish desires. She thought no one would notice her feelings, but unexpectedly, the Fox Empress inquired about them. In her daze, Ren Qing Yue reluctantly exposed a bit of her vulnerability. Sitting before her now was the Fox Empress, her mother who had given her life. Aside from her mentor, this was the only person in the world who would love her selflessly and unconditionally. If there was anyone left willing to help her, truly distressed by her plight, it was only the Fox Empress. Blood ties held wondrous power, as she had witnessed between Yan Zhao and Nan Gong Yin. She sat quietly by the Fox Empress’s side, and despite being silent for a long time, the boundless, unseen acceptance still made her nose tingle with emotion. So, she wasn’t truly as strong and carefree as she seemed. In times of helplessness, she too hoped someone could pull her out of her predicament. Not knowing how much time had passed, Ren Qing Yue opened her eyes, slightly red-rimmed. “I don’t know what to do either,” she sighed, her voice unexpectedly laced with helplessness. “Ah Zhao’s bloodline is special, with an innate power that grows stronger as she does.” “She becomes more formidable, capable of protecting herself even without me by her side.” “However, this power affects her mind. During its outbursts, she becomes impulsive and bloodthirsty, full of violent tendencies. I fear that one day, I won’t be able to stop her.” “I often can’t help but wonder, if she were swayed by inner demons because of me, unable to free herself, what would I do…” Ren Qing Yue spoke, her words unintentionally choked with emotion. “What would I do then?” She wasn’t afraid of Yan Zhao becoming a villain; she feared that once Yan Zhao lost control, she would no longer recognize her. Thus, she instinctively avoided, wanting to maintain everything in a delicate balance. To keep a safe distance, fulfilling her selfish desires. Her heart was indeed complex and contradictory. Her words passed through the sound-amplifying array to the rooftop, where two people listened clearly. Bai Jin was visibly troubled. She recalled the scene in the Mist Demon Ravine when Yan Zhao had single-handedly torn apart a Nascent Soul-stage assassin—it was truly frightening. Beside Bai Jin, Yan Zhao’s gaze dropped, her expression dim. So that was the reason. Her senior sister wasn’t disgusted by her killing but by her cold and ruthless demeanor when she did. Suddenly, she knew what to do. In the main hall, just as the Fox Empress was about to speak, her ears twitched at a noise. Her eyes sharpened instantly: “Who’s there?!” “Oh no, let’s go!” Bai Jin reacted quickly, grabbing Yan Zhao’s arm and leaping down from the rooftop. As they landed, guards surrounded them in neat rows, evidently experienced in handling such matters. Bai Jin looked embarrassed, nudging Yan Zhao forward to take the lead. Before long, Yan Zhao and Bai Jin were led into the main hall, shoulders drooped as they knelt together in defeat. The Fox Empress frowned at the sight, already suspecting the cause but still needing to question them in Ren Qing Yue’s presence. “What were you doing?” she demanded sternly. Bai Jin shrank back, not daring to speak, subtly signaling Yan Zhao with her eyes. Yan Zhao, however, didn’t blink as she focused on Ren Qing Yue, who in turn instinctively avoided her gaze. What she had just shared with the Fox Empress was likely overheard by Yan Zhao. This made her feel ashamed, as if she wanted to vanish into thin air. If Yan Zhao knew how wary her senior sister was of her, what would she think? From where she knelt, Yan Zhao calmly redirected her gaze from Ren Qing Yue and spoke openly: “I was curious about what the elder wanted to discuss with my senior sister, so I asked Bai Jin to bring me to eavesdrop.” After explaining, she respectfully lowered her head in a bow: “I understand my mistake. I accept the punishment for today’s actions and will not repeat it.” Hearing Yan Zhao’s earnest admission left Ren Qing Yue surprised. Never before had Yan Zhao admitted fault this swiftly. She rarely believed herself wrong, let alone taking full responsibility and accepting whatever consequences came her way. Ah Zhao's heart must have been wounded by her words. Ren Qing Yue was full of regret. The Fox Empress’s face remained stern, her eyes cold, radiating authority. “Climbing atop the palace roofs to eavesdrop is indeed punishable, but since it’s your first offense, I’ll be lenient: Twenty strokes of the Demon Cane. Do you harbor resentment?” Ren Qing Yue’s heart lurched, her expression changing instantly. Bai Jin was also taken aback, turning pale. She had assumed the Fox Empress would consider the relationship between Yan Zhao and Ren Qing Yue and spare them punishment. To her surprise, the penalty was harsher than usual—twenty strokes for Yan Zhao. The Demon Cane was a specialized punitive tool in the demon clan. Protective spiritual energy couldn’t mitigate its harm, which impacted the body directly; just one stroke could flay the skin. Bai Jin felt the guilt weighing on her; Yan Zhao was taking the blame for her, accepting punishment in her stead. If Yan Zhao was truly injured by the Demon Cane, her conscience would never be at peace. Despite her fear, Bai Jin couldn’t hold back and braced herself to speak: “Aunt, this was my idea. I am willing to face punishment alongside Miss Yan.” After saying this, she could already imagine herself bedridden, bloodied by the Demon Cane. Oh no, just as her wounds were healing, she was to get hurt again. The Fox Empress was expressionless, unmoved: “Since this is not your first offense, you’ll receive thirty strokes.” Bai Jin felt her vision blur at the words. She hadn’t died at the Medicine God Sect or in the Mist Demon Ravine, but now she felt she might die on her own doorstep. Bai Jin stubbornly wiped her regretful tears. Why had she spoken up? Yan Zhao remained silent, resigned to her fate. Just then, Ren Qing Yue suddenly stood, walking briskly to Yan Zhao and Bai Jin’s side before kneeling with a thud. Though the Fox Empress raised an eyebrow, she seemed unsurprised by this, showing no shock on her face. Ren Qing Yue performed a bow to the Fox Empress: “Ah Zhao’s misstep is due to my inadequate guidance. If the elder is to punish, I ask to be included.” Bai Jin’s teary eyes were wide with gratitude at being shielded by her cousin. But why did the number of people receiving punishment keep increasing? Abruptly, Yan Zhao rose of her own accord, stepping forward to shield Ren Qing Yue with raised arms and said loudly, “Punish me instead! Don’t hurt my senior sister. It's my fault; it's not related to her!” As she spoke, she faced the Fox Empress boldly, her demeanor determined. “Ah Zhao!” Ren Qing Yue called out anxiously, tugging at her arm, trying to pull her back. Yet, Yan Zhao stood rooted, unmoving. “I truly understand my wrongs,” Yan Zhao’s eyes remained on the Fox Empress, though her words were meant for Ren Qing Yue. Saying this, her chest heaved with emotion, teetering on the edge of control. Nonetheless, her eyes stayed clear, a force more potent than anger shining from them, subduing her inner turmoil. She recalled the day she parted from her senior sister, the fear in Ren Qing Yue’s eyes when their gazes met. The unrecognized emotions from that day now became painfully evident, slicing through her chest like a sharpened dagger. More unbearable than her sister disliking her, was the idea of her sister fearing her. She took a deep breath, resolved. “Senior sister, I promise you.” “I will heed your words, strive to refine myself, learn to restrain my power, and cease to kill without reason!” The words fell from Yan Zhao’s lips with conviction. Her nose stung with the gravity of her vow. “I won’t… let you down again!” Behind her, Ren Qing Yue was taken aback, her hand covering her mouth in shock. The bright, translucent tears slipped across her hand, releasing a flood of emotion in an instant. Ren Qing Yue broke into uncontrollable sobs. On the main seat, the Fox Empress's face broke into a satisfied smile. The one who ties the knot must also be the one to untie it. Ren Qing Yue's emotional knot could only be untied by Yan Zhao. Although the scene was unexpected, the outcome seemed much better than the Fox Empress had anticipated. "Let’s not make it seem like a life and death farewell; I’m not that cruel." She couldn't help but chuckle, gesturing for the surrounding guards to stand down. "Everything is fine now; you may all leave." The atmosphere immediately relaxed. Yan Zhao was stunned and at a loss, while Ren Qing Yue's eyes were red, her reactions a step behind. Only Bai Jin retained her quick wit in moments like this, quickly catching the underlying meaning of the Fox Empress's words and poking her head from behind Yan Zhao and Ren Qing Yue, “Oh, no punishment anymore?” The Fox Empress gave her a helpless sideways glance: “If you’re that keen on the cane, I can certainly arrange it for you.” “Ah, no, no!” Bai Jin shook her head vigorously, fearing that speaking any later would mean the Demon Cane landing on her back. She swiftly rose from the ground, pulling along Yan Zhao and Ren Qing Yue. Ren Qing Yue was still in a daze, the stark contrast between the Fox Empress’s earlier severity and her sudden soft laughter creating an unreal dreamlike feeling. As for Yan Zhao… Ren Qing Yue's gaze shifted to the silhouette of Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao hadn't quite caught up with the situation, but her arms remained outstretched, maintaining a protective stance in front of Ren Qing Yue. This figure, without her noticing, had long since ceased to be fragile; the light reflecting off the vast hall stretched her shadow far ahead. Unidentified emotions surged in Ren Qing Yue’s heart, turning into crystalline tears that spilled from her eyes. She wept silently. All along, she had viewed Yan Zhao as a child yet to grow up and considered guiding Yan Zhao her responsibility as a senior sister. With their mentor gone, she took it upon herself to bear the weight of ensuring Yan Zhao grew up healthy and strong. However, Yan Zhao was no longer the same as when she first left the mountain. She now had thoughts of her own about everything and didn't rely on her senior sister to make every decision for her. The girl who once needed protection under her senior sister's wings was now beginning to shine, proving her growth to Ren Qing Yue in her unique way. She hoped her efforts would be recognized by her senior sister, her thoughts respected by her. It was Ren Qing Yue herself who, by clutching too tightly, created her own prison, neglecting Yan Zhao’s feelings. Ren Qing Yue was awash with regret, realizing her grave misunderstanding. At this moment, the Fox Empress descended from her seat, gracefully bypassing the vigilant Yan Zhao, and walked to Ren Qing Yue's side. She heard a strand of transmitted sound enter her mind. "The future holds many possibilities. If this is her fate, she might not be affected because of you now, but she might be this way because of someone else later," the Fox Empress gently advised, "Yue’er, are you truly at peace with this?" Ren Qing Yue's emotions stirred, and she closed her eyes in pain. She had been stuck in a narrow-minded fixation, unable to see the bigger picture, only wanting to escape her own tumult without truly considering Yan Zhao’s reasons for her actions. The situation hadn’t reached its worst; they hadn't come to an end yet. Accepting fate without first resisting, such weakness and cowardice, how could she live up to being a disciple of Yan Yuanqing’s name? If her mentor were still alive, how would they teach Yan Zhao now?