167 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

When she spoke, her eyes sparkled like those of a little dog wagging its tail in anticipation of praise. But Ren Qingyue was still in shock, unable to come to her senses. Yan Zhao's recent move, although not perfected, was executed with considerable skill—a sword aura flying through the air for three zhang. Based on Yan Zhao's usual progress in practicing swordsmanship, Ren Qingyue had thought it would take her at least half a year to master such a technique. Had she been practicing in secret? Yan Zhao was blissfully unaware of her senior sister's suspicions. She was excitedly sharing with her, "This item can clear heat and improve vision. Master said it's a crucial ingredient for making fox incense!" Ren Qingyue finally returned to her senses and pondered, "There's still two more." Yan Zhao noticed a cluster of thorns in the distance, knowing they too could be used medicinally. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately dashed over. A sword aura was unleashed, sending fragments of thorny bushes flying—and at the same time, a shadowy figure emerged. Yan Zhao froze, locking eyes with the shadow. The figure reacted swiftly, immediately swinging a blade back at Yan Zhao. "A Zhao!" Ren Qingyue was the first to respond, raising her hand to unleash the Demon-Slaying Sword. The sword's aura was swift, reaching the target in an instant. The shadow had to change his move to defend. After deflecting the sword, the shadow landed on the ground, mere zhangs away from Yan Zhao. The shadow's eyes glittered with malice, and without hesitation, he crushed a jade talisman. Suddenly, auras appeared from all directions. Ren Qingyue's heart sank. She realized these people were likely the same group from the earlier attack on the Fox Emperor. Who would've guessed they hadn't given up after all this time? Her identity had been exposed with the Demon-Slaying Sword. She had to eliminate him before the reinforcements arrived! Ren Qingyue advanced instead of retreating, launching herself forward, pushing Yan Zhao towards Elder Chen as she engaged the shadow. Yan Zhao's expression darkened, a fierce energy stirring within her, with a flash of red in her eyes. Elder Chen shielded Yan Zhao behind him, instructing her not to run off. Yan Zhao fought the urge to summon dark spirits within her, keeping her focus locked on the scene not far ahead. Her senior sister was locked in a relentless exchange with the shadow, a continuous clash of weapons ringing out. Her attention was sharply honed in, observing each move slowing down, leaving behind clear trails in her mind like afterimages. Suddenly, Yan Zhao's pupils contracted as she caught a fleeting flaw. Without time for thought, her body moved instinctively. The shadow was locked in a fierce battle with Ren Qingyue. Ren Qingyue's cultivation was much inferior to his; she wanted to kill him, but despite her resolve, she was overpowered. Each of her attacks was easily countered by him. The advantage of holding the Demon-Slaying Sword was about to be negated by the shadow's higher cultivation, and she was on the verge of being overpowered. But, as anxiety heightened, the shadow spotted a flaw and easily forced her back. The shadow's eyes blazed with ferocity, and he raised his curved blade high. At this moment, a sword aura suddenly cut into the battle, striking the shadow's arm at a cunning angle. "!" The shadow was stunned, his concentration disrupted for a moment, causing a slight delay in his movements. In that split second, the Demon-Slaying Sword pierced through his chest. The blade that should have retaliated halted mid-air. He looked towards the distance in horror. Yan Zhao stood frozen in her attack stance, holding... a withered branch? That sword aura had been too weak to do any real damage, as fragile as a gust of wind slightly stronger than usual. But even a slight miscalculation can mean life or death—this gust of wind was what claimed his life. The shadow fell from the sky, and as consciousness faded, his mind echoed a single thought: Could he truly have been struck by an ant? --- Not only was the shadow taken aback, but Ren Qingyue was also utterly surprised. Yet, she had seized a fleeting chance and instinctively counterattacked. As the shadow collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, her heart raced as if it would leap from her chest. In that desperate moment, her improvised move had little chance of succeeding, yet it did. It seemed it was sheer luck. Her heart fluttered with unease as she glanced at Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao, holding the withered branch, swung it again, finding it unbelievable. That earlier sword move was almost miraculous. In that moment, a profound clarity had enveloped her, as if all movements of the universe unfolded plainly before her eyes. Yet it was fleeting, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. Trying to recapture that sensation afterwards proved impossible. Seeing her serene expression without any trace of malevolent influence, Ren Qingyue sighed in relief. Yet concurrently, she was deeply astonished. Yan Zhao's talent for swordplay surpassed all her expectations. Truly a progeny of her master, the greatest swordsman of the mortal realm. With such aptitude, should Yan Zhao grow unhindered, what seemed a jest about her "triumphing across three realms" might not be mere fantasy. However, now wasn't the time for such musings, as the surrounding energies were rapidly closing in. Ren Qingyue reclaimed the Demon-Slaying Sword, swiftly returning to Yan Zhao's side, scooping her up, and called to Elder Chen, "Follow me!" Elder Chen didn't hesitate, quickly following Ren Qingyue. Held aloft by her senior sister, Yan Zhao noticed the world rushing past in retreat. She didn't resist, relaxing her body to lessen her sister's burden. The three fled ahead, the pursuing auras sticking close behind. Fortunately, in the Fog Demon Gorge, it's easy to lose one's way. Though Ren Qingyue grew up in the human realm, the fox lineage in her granted an instinctual understanding, leveraging the terrain to advantage and pulling away. But they couldn't completely escape. The shadows were relentless, and fleeing day and night, what would typically take months, they managed to halve the time. Yet the spiritual energy of the Fog Demon Gorge was chaotic, and especially with Elder Chen still wounded, he was nearing exhaustion. Ahead, the miasma briefly parted, revealing a deep ravine. Ren Qingyue's eyes brightened—they finally reached it! Sending a mental message to Elder Chen, she instructed, "Senior, jump down." Elder Chen nodded in acknowledgment, recalling this route from earlier journeys. As the cliff became clear, Ren Qingyue leapt over the edge with Yan Zhao in tow. Below, thick mist churned, white clouds parting slightly from the gust, unveiling the scenery beneath. Ren Qingyue didn't pause, picking up speed. After about half an hour, puddles appeared on the ground, footsteps echoing louder. Ren Qingyue urged, "Get into the water quickly, don't delay." She tightened her grip on Yan Zhao's waist, whispering, "A Zhao, hold your breath!" Yan Zhao obeyed, feeling her body submerge, chilled water enveloping her, covering her nose and mouth. The submersion didn't last long. Soon, they emerged from the water's surface on the other side. She recognized the place—it was the cavern they discovered during the search for the Fox Emperor, the time they found the Tushan jade. Ren Qingyue helped Yan Zhao onto the shore, with water still rippling as Elder Chen followed suit. "Those people shouldn't find this place," Ren Qingyue assured Elder Chen. "We should rest here for a while before heading out again." Elder Chen, who had escorted the Fox Emperor before, looked puzzled, "This place is so hidden. How did you initially find young master Tushan?" Ren Qingyue didn't elaborate, simply saying, "It was A Zhao who found the cave. She was lucky." Yan Zhao grinned at that comment when Ren Qingyue said it. Elder Chen understood—though Yan Zhao's power was limited, she possessed an extraordinary fortune, coupled with an unconventional mindset that made even the most improbable acts seem plausible. For instance, that remarkably precise strike she delivered when combating the shadow earlier. So young, just beginning with swordsmanship, and already displaying such talent—it truly was exceptional. Ren Qingyue placed a concealment talisman on the cave ceiling, masking their presence from any probing. She then advised quietly, "Minimize movement, and make no noise." Elder Chen settled down to rest, while Yan Zhao sidled up next to Ren Qingyue, quickly dozing off with her head lolling to the side. To avoid detection while absorbing spiritual energy, Ren Qingyue simply leaned against the stone wall, opting not to cultivate. In such peril, she needed to maintain constant alertness. Feeling a light weight on her shoulder, she noticed Yan Zhao had quietly drifted off, and her gaze shifted slightly, observing her serene sleeping face. She recalled the moment when Yan Zhao used a mere withered branch to unleash a sword aura and help her slay the shadow. Although the strike wasn't strong, its timing was impeccable. Afterward, Yan Zhao did not lose her composure or succumb to madness, and Ren Qingyue’s biggest concern did not materialize. Yan Zhao was indeed fulfilling her promise by diligently practicing, aiming to contribute without relying on her innate powers. This realization brought a deep sense of relief to Ren Qingyue. Raising her hand, she gently touched Yan Zhao's cheek with her fingertips. Yan Zhao, sleeping soundly, subconsciously nuzzled against her palm, akin to a pampered puppy used to seeking affection. Ren Qingyue felt her heart soften, enveloped by a serene calm that was both gentle and accepting. With her inner turmoil resolved, the worries that once plagued her gradually faded away, bringing her peace of mind. The words of the Fox Queen had granted her the courage to face an uncertain future; problems must be tackled one by one, while other concerns could be set aside for now. Regardless of what Yan Zhao might become, Ren Qingyue resolved to give her all so she would have no regrets later. The will to decision was left to fate; whatever the outcome, she would not be content with passivity. Yan Zhao would inevitably grow up and learn everything, including her own origin and the identity that Ren Qingyue, as her senior sister, had deliberately kept hidden. When the time came, whether Yan Zhao would stay or leave would be a decision for her future self. Ren Qingyue closed her eyes, listening to the slow and steady rhythm of Yan Zhao’s breathing in the silent environment. Uncertain of how long had passed, Yan Zhao stirred and opened her eyes. She rubbed her eyes first, then glanced at Ren Qingyue. Noticing her senior sister leaning against the cave wall seemingly asleep, Yan Zhao carefully shifted her head away from Ren Qingyue’s shoulder, cautious not to disturb her. Supporting herself on the ground to stand up and stretch, Yan Zhao was pricked by a small, hard stone. The cave was pitch black; to avoid discovery by enemies, they had refrained from using glowstones for illumination. Although cultivators could see somewhat in the dark, the absence of any light made visibility quite limited. Raising her hand, she saw the small stone embedded in her palm. Yan Zhao picked it up, intending to toss it aside, but touching its surface left her with an odd sense of discord. The stone’s shape felt peculiar, smooth on the surface—narrow at the top and wider at the bottom—like an irregular cone. Its base had two protrusions that felt surprisingly like bone joints. Why was she so sure? Because during her solitary upbringing on Tianzhu Peak, she often resorted to hunting when hungry, having learned the feel of different bones from prey she had caught. She was nearly certain it was a bone fragment but couldn’t identify which creature it belonged to. Ren Qingyue had awakened when Yan Zhao opened her eyes. Hearing her sister’s faint hiss of pain, she refrained from rising immediately, instead concentrating on whatever had caught Yan Zhao’s attention into silence. Curious, Ren Qingyue turned her head and asked, “What are you looking at?” Yan Zhao handed the bone she had inadvertently found to Ren Qingyue, hoping her senior sister could determine its origin. At first, Ren Qingyue didn’t think much of it until she caught a glimpse of the object in Yan Zhao's hand, her brow furrowing suddenly. Uncertain, she took out a glowstone to examine it more closely, then inhaled sharply, “It’s a human finger bone. Where did you find this?”