168 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Upon realizing it was a human bone, Yan Zhao was equally surprised. She responded honestly, "Right here." After speaking, she stepped aside slightly to indicate to Ren Qingyue approximately where the finger bone had pressed against her hand. Ren Qingyue reached out, supporting Yan Zhao to help her stand and step back, then moved towards the spot where the finger bone was discovered with a glowstone in hand. Earlier, they had been in such a rush to help others that they hadn’t thoroughly explored the cave. They hadn't considered whether this rarely visited place had been previously inhabited. Where they had rested, the stone surface seemed smooth. At first glance, there was nothing unusual, but as the glowstone's light extended forward, a short distance away, a few hard objects of a different color from the stone could be spotted buried in the dirt. Ren Qingyue handed the glowstone to Yan Zhao, asking her to hold it properly, then used her sword to dig into the ground. In no time, a human skeleton appeared before them. It was unclear how long this person had been deceased; their clothes had already decayed into the mud. The bones in his chest showed signs of being crushed by external force. It seemed he had fled here with serious injuries, unable to wait for rescue, growing weaker until he died in this place. "Sister, look over there." Yan Zhao nudged Ren Qingyue's shoulder and pointed to the skeleton's waist. Following Yan Zhao's gaze, Ren Qingyue discovered an old, tattered qiankun pouch. One must admit that Yan Zhao had a remarkable knack for finding things others might overlook. Ren Qingyue signaled Yan Zhao to stay calm and then retrieved the pouch right in front of her. Though the qiankun pouch was worn, due to its special material, it was still usable. Since its original owner had long since passed away, any remnants of their spiritual mark on the pouch had also dissipated. "This is still a high-grade qiankun pouch; it can hold quite a lot." Ren Qingyue remarked, casually opening the bag for a glance inside. Swish— She quickly pinched it shut. Yan Zhao leaned over with curiosity, "What's inside?" Even the resting Chen Elder glanced over. Such scenarios on the path of cultivation were not unusual. Finding a long-buried cultivator’s remains often meant the discovery of extraordinary treasures. Ren Qingyue closed her eyes briefly before reopening them, shock lingering in her gaze. A few hundred years ago, a group of skilled robbers known for their disguises appeared across the Three Realms. Despite their considerable cultivation, they posed as destitute rogue cultivators, seeking sanctuary from various sects, and used the opportunity to steal treasures from the sects. At that time, she had been under her master's tutelage for a few centuries and had only reached the Nascent Soul stage, hearing of such events but knowing little about them. Her deepest impression was of the Wealthy Artifact Palace, which, being rich and meddlesome, foolishly became a target, losing over a dozen treasures overnight. The palace master, Su Zijun, was so furious that she posted a bounty: Whoever could capture the thieves and retrieve the stolen items would be rewarded with the missing treasures. Su Zijun didn’t care about the money; she merely wanted to vent her anger. Ren Qingyue recounted this tale to Yan Zhao, who blinked in confusion, not understanding how these robbers related to their current situation. However, Chen Elder seemed to have an epiphany, a look of shock appearing on his face: "Could it be..." Ren Qingyue took a deep breath, nodding, and lifted the old qiankun pouch: "The treasures lost from the Wealthy Ling Shan back then are all in this qiankun pouch." Not only were there more than a dozen magic artifacts and various mysterious pill concoctions, but there was also a mountain of spirit stones and chests filled with spiritual crystals. Yan Zhao was stunned, glancing between Ren Qingyue and the pouch in her hand, her slow-processing brain suddenly making a leap: "Ah... Sister, does this mean we've been lucky enough to stumble upon wealth overnight?" Ren Qingyue: "..." Seems about right. Chapter 181 In conclusion, owning this qiankun pouch is like holding enough wealth to establish a sect. While the prospect of overnight riches appears promising, whether it's a blessing or a curse is yet undetermined. Handling this windfall is a significant dilemma. The accidental discover of these items could inspire envy and jealousy, with others pursuing them relentlessly. There's an old saying: those who see shall have a share. This ancient code of the Jianghu emphasizes not the lack but the inequality of resources, marking it as an important standard in distributions. Ren Qingyue fell into thought, surreptitiously glancing at Chen Elder. Not that she doubted Chen Elder's intentions—he was appointed by the Divine Doctor's son to escort the Fox Emperor and his entourage. During a previous assault by shadows, he risked his life without abandoning the Fox Emperor, showcasing his noble character. Naturally, the demon clan isn't stingy either; the Fox Empress had someone deliver generous rewards the very night they arrived. However, human nature is unpredictable. As long as one is human, it is hard to ignore self-interest. Peaceful coexistence is often due to a lack of significant conflicts of interest. One should never test the limits of human nature. Better safe than sorry, and they didn't know Chen Elder well enough; caution was warranted. Fortunately, between her and Chen Elder, stood Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao was a direct disciple of the Divine Doctor, carrying a soul card personally bestowed by the master. Should anything happen to her, the Divine Doctor would know immediately. Ren Qingyue placed the qiankun pouch alongside the glowstone on the ground, signaling Yan Zhao to sit next to her. Following her sister's instructions, Yan Zhao sat cross-legged by her side. Chen Elder, noticing this, understood Ren Qingyue had something to discuss and adjusted his posture slightly, awaiting her words. Ren Qingyue pondered for a moment before speaking: "This is a grave matter. In my opinion, dividing the treasures privately would be dishonorable, and as these items are listed on the Immortal Alliance's bounty board, revealing them might stir unnecessary conflict—benefiting no one." Yan Zhao responded with a surprised "huh" and questioned, "Can't we take these treasures with us?" The rare stroke of luck seemed too good to pass up. Chen Elder propped his chin in thought. Ren Qingyue, unsure of his thoughts, first explained to Yan Zhao: "It's not that we can’t take them, but we mustn’t claim ownership lightly." "Then what should we do?" Yan Zhao asked again. "Who do we hand them over to?" This seemingly casual question struck a chord with Ren Qingyue, who looked at her with approval and continued, "The Master Su of Wealthy Artifact Palace once announced a reward, stating that whoever finds the lost items would receive them as a gift." "Since we've accidentally found the treasures the Wealthy Artifact Palace lost, why not take them to the palace and have Master Su examine them?" By doing this, they could be seen as helping the palace recover its lost treasures. Su Zijun should then reward them according to her promise, and with her as a witness, they could distribute the windfall, avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Finishing her explanation, Ren Qingyue looked at Chen Elder for his opinion: "What do you think, Elder Chen?" Chen Elder nodded in agreement with Ren Qingyue's plan: "I have no objections." Ren Qingyue then addressed Yan Zhao: "And you?" Yan Zhao grinned, saying: "I'll listen to Sister." Only then did Ren Qingyue feel relieved, handing the qiankun pouch to Yan Zhao: "Until we leave the Misty Demon Ravine and reach the Wealthy Ling Shan, you will be in charge of this item. Ensure its safety." Yan Zhao accepted it gleefully, patting her chest in assurance: "Rest assured." Chen Elder withdrew his gaze without further comment. After settling this matter, Ren Qingyue picked up the glowstone, inspecting the surrounding area once more. No other discoveries were made. With that chapter concluded, the cave returned to silence. Situated at the outer area of Misty Demon Ravine, once Chen Elder had rested and the shadowy figures pursuing them had dispersed further, they could make their departure. Ren Qingyue calculated the time; about three days had likely passed outside. She volunteered to scout outside, leaving Yan Zhao and Chen Elder to wait inside the cave. Water splashed and quickly quieted. Yan Zhao, by the water’s edge, eagerly awaited her sister's return. "Young master." Behind her, Chen Elder's voice emerged. Yan Zhao turned, seeing Chen Elder standing a couple of steps away, he questioned: "You have joined the Divine Doctor Sect, yet Miss Ren is a disciple of Fuyun Sect. Why do you follow her so obediently?" Yan Zhao pondered briefly before replying, "She is my sister." Regardless of the sects they belonged to, their relationship remained unchanged. As her junior, naturally, she would heed her sister’s guidance. Chen Elder remarked, "That was in the past. Now, you are the Young Sect Master of the Divine Doctor Sect and should consider its future development more thoroughly." Yan Zhao, unable to comprehend fully, straightforwardly asked, "What are you trying to say?" Chen Elder replied in a steady voice, "Those treasures were discovered by you, Young Sect Master. They rightfully belong to you. Although I have no objections to Miss Ren's suggestion of taking them to the Wealthy Artifact Palace for verification by Master Su, the reward from Master Su, I believe, should be yours alone." "All to me?" Yan Zhao pondered, supporting her chin. "You're saying I should keep this fortune all to myself and not share it with you?" In the dim cave light, Chen Elder's expression was barely discernible, but his voice was firm and righteous: "I do not concern myself with material possessions and believe you should handle the situation as you see fit, Young Sect Master." Yan Zhao's eyes curved with a smile, "You're really kind." Just then, the water nearby rippled as Ren Qingyue returned from her exploration. Yan Zhao immediately informed her, "Sister, Chen Elder said that when we get the reward, we don't have to share it with him. That's great, we only need to divide it into two parts, one for you and one for me." Ren Qingyue's heart sank slightly, though she maintained a neutral expression, feigning surprise: "Really?" Chen Elder: "..." Even in the dim visibility of the cave, Ren Qingyue noticed Chen Elder's face twitch. Feeling more wary of Chen Elder, Ren Qingyue didn't let it show. She simply told Yan Zhao, "Even if Elder Chen says so, you shouldn't act on it." Yan Zhao was puzzled, "Why not?" Ren Qingyue gently patted Yan Zhao on the head, imparting some worldly wisdom: "Elder Chen may not want the reward, which shows his integrity, but he also contributed during our retreat and confrontation with the black-clad attackers. This is his due." Chen Elder's expression relaxed a bit. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhao added, "But last time, it was Sister who took down the black-clad man and led us to safety. What did Elder Chen do?" "..." Chen Elder’s expression darkened further. Ren Qingyue nearly lost her composure but, to prevent a fallout in such a precarious situation, quickly stopped Yan Zhao: "Elder Chen was injured and still protected you. I led the way, and Elder Chen covered our retreat. Isn't that contribution?" Convinced, Yan Zhao nodded in agreement, "Oh, that's true." With this, the matter was settled. Ren Qingyue patted Yan Zhao on the head, then turned to Chen Elder: "It's safe outside now. Please, lead the way." Chen Elder said no more, sweeping his long sleeves and diving into the water. Ren Qingyue and Yan Zhao followed closely, though they stayed a bit behind. In that brief moment, Ren Qingyue leaned closer to Yan Zhao, whispering, "If this happens again, don’t voice your opinion." "Huh?" Yan Zhao was confused, "Why?" "I'll explain later," Ren Qingyue said, tapping Yan Zhao's forehead. "There are many intricacies you can't understand right now." Yan Zhao indeed couldn't understand, but she trusted her sister's judgment and stopped asking. She was the second to enter the water, with Ren Qingyue covering the rear. Glancing at Yan Zhao's retreating back, Ren Qingyue felt a pang of helplessness: The little fool offended someone and had no clue. If Yan Zhao’s status hadn’t been so significant, and if Chen Elder hadn't been seriously injured, making confrontation too risky, their situation might not have been this amicable. Once they exited the Misty Demon Ravine, they'd have to find a safe way to deliver the treasures to the Wealthy Artifact Palace. The hidden cave indeed escaped detection by the wandering shadows. Two days later, Yan Zhao and her group left the Misty Demon Ravine completely, evading their pursuers entirely.