176 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

The Vast Void Immortal Realm. The giant roc deposited Yan Zhao in a secluded area on the outskirts of the celestial market. From afar, she could see the massive floating island hanging in the sky of the Vast Void Immortal Realm. Chen Er had previously introduced it to her; that was the Mingjing Platform, where the grand assembly of the immortal disciples would soon convene. Holding the little fox close, Yan Zhao donned the Mask of Thousand Transformations and changed her attire. From the magical treasures gifted by Su Zi Jun, she selected one to hold in her hand. With a swift transformation, she appeared completely different. As long as she remained silent, no one unfamiliar with her could recognize her identity. The Mingjing Platform was too distant and suspended in the air; one could perhaps reach it through a teleportation array or by flying on a sword. Yan Zhao checked into an inn affiliated with the Yaoshen Sect, always mindful of Nan Gong Yin’s warnings. This wasn’t a game—if she wanted to obtain her mother’s relics, no one could discover her connection to her mother. Thus, she didn’t use her official token as a Seeker of Medicines, opting instead to pay for a mid-tier room herself. While handling the check-in, she also inquired with the inn’s steward about how to get to Mingjing Platform. With the disciple assembly approaching, young talents from various sects increasingly flocked to the realm, leading to a shortage of rooms. The steward, having answered such inquiries before, assumed Yan Zhao was another young outsider participating in the assembly. He eagerly provided guidance: “First register at the Alliance’s station; someone from the Alliance will naturally guide you up when the time comes.” He even gave her directions to the Alliance’s station and suggested, “But the registration area is crowded. It's already late; you should go early tomorrow.” Yan Zhao heeded the steward's advice, thanked him, and went upstairs to rest. The medium-level guest room was almost half the size of a premium room, with essential furnishings but significantly less comfortable. Still, Yan Zhao wasn't picky and appreciated having a bed; she could sleep anywhere. Recently, she had begun to habitually meditate at night, sleeping only for a short while when conditions were unsuitable. Upon entering the room, Yan Zhao secured the door, placed the little fox on the bed, and gave it a water-attribute demon core, exuding pride: “I have plenty of demon cores now; you can eat as many as you want.” She would ensure her little fox grew plump and healthy, and she’d cultivate diligently herself, never allowing her Snowball to get hurt again. “Oh, right,” Yan Zhao remembered something important. She gently set the fox aside and rummaged through her space bag for a while. Ding— A clear bell sound chimed as Yan Zhao finally found a small bell. Without hesitation, she slipped it around the little fox's neck: “I’m putting this on you.” The little fox: “...” No matter how it thought about it, it felt embarrassed. As Yan Zhao fastened the bell around its neck, it suddenly had second thoughts, pulling its neck sharply back and darting away. “Hey, don’t run!” Yan Zhao hadn’t expected the fox to be so uncooperative. Just as she was about to close the clasp, the fox slipped its head away. Her grip remained firm, and the chain’s clasp swiftly shrunk, leaving a small loop the size of a fist. She tried, unsuccessfully, to loosen it, inadvertently making it tighter. Yan Zhao: “...” It appeared the fox’s neck was too big for it now. Struggling within her arms, Snowball attempted to jump to the ground, but Yan Zhao grabbed one of its legs. The bell fell from her hands, somewhat serendipitously slipping around the fox's leg. The little fox instinctively struggled, causing the clasp to tighten snugly around its right leg's ankle. Freed from Yan Zhao’s grasp, the bell was already affixed; every small movement triggered a series of jingles. “It’s fine, it’ll do anywhere.” Yan Zhao clapped her hands in satisfaction, dismissing the inconvenience, “As long as it works.” With the bell, Yan Zhao could now discern the fox's location within the room by sound alone. She circled the little fox, assessing and feeling pleased. But the fox twisted to look at its ankle, clearly unamused. Yan Zhao coaxed, "I chose this especially for you, see how the bell’s color matches your fur?” Squatting before Snowball, she poked its little black nose. “Don’t be ungrateful.” Snowball: “...” Every slight movement triggered the bell’s sound, too noisy. Determined to remove it, it bit at the bell, trying in vain to remove it. Using its paws proved equally futile. No matter what it tried, success eluded. The endless jingling only made Yan Zhao tsk, “Clearly, you like it. Playing non-stop, such a dishonest little fox.” Ren Qing Yue: “...” Having secured the bell on the fox, Yan Zhao let it play around while she climbed onto the bed, sat cross-legged, and began her meditation. Once fully integrated into her meditative state, unaware of her surroundings, the little fox hopped onto the bed and blew a puff of air towards her. In meditative repose, Yan Zhao swayed slightly and suddenly fell forward, face-down. Her forehead nearly struck the bed’s edge, but before it could, a hand extended nearby to steady her head. Ren Qing Yue gently laid Yan Zhao down, allowing her to rest peacefully on her back. As Yan Zhao slept deeply, looking serene, Ren Qing Yue sighed helplessly. Sitting with her legs bent on the bed, two little silver bells dangled from her ankles. Though her hands were more dexterous than a fox’s paws, she still couldn’t remove the bell. The object had absorbed Yan Zhao’s blood, recognizing her as its master. If Yan Zhao didn’t willingly remove it, it would remain clamped around her ankle. Ren Qing Yue felt gloomy. She couldn’t interconvert shapes as freely as before. She should have volunteered to put it on her wrist; far easier to deal with than her ankle. She anticipated difficulties ahead; a single unexpected incident could unveil her identity. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhao turned over and began mumbling in her sleep: “... Snowball, do you like the present I gave you?” Flustered, Ren Qing Yue pinched her nose in agitation. Unable to breathe through her nose, Yan Zhao wasn’t bothered; her mouth opened to inhale and exhale. “…” Ren Qing Yue lowered her head, a helpless smile crossing her face. She released her grip, casting her gaze downward, responding silently: “I like it.” “I knew you would…” Voice sounding near, Ren Qing Yue’s heart leapt, mistaking her inner voice as inadvertently spoken. What concerned her more was Yan Zhao abruptly waking up, interrogating the situation. In an instant, she transformed back into a fluffy form. Ding-ling— The little fox moved cautiously, but even the slightest motion set the bell jingling. It had no choice but to freeze, maintaining the same stance, raising its head to check if Yan Zhao had awakened. But there she was, sleeping soundly, unmoving. Still asleep, it was coincidental. Ren Qing Yue’s heart held a mix of worry and stealthy relief. Just as she began to relax, Yan Zhao smacked her lips, her tone cheerful and indistinct as she spoke sleepily: “... Then give me a kiss.” Chapter 190 “... Then give me a kiss.” Hearing what Yan Zhao uttered in her sleep, the little fox felt a heat rise to its ears. Knowing Yan Zhao’s nature, it dismissed the idea she was pretending to sleep. Yan Zhao was a guileless little dolt, devoid of deceptions. Since she was dreaming, the little fox thought, ignoring it wouldn’t matter. Settling back into position, the bell chimed again. With its pointed snout, the little fox gently nudged Yan Zhao’s cheek. At the touch, Yan Zhao’s lashes fluttered in her slumber, perhaps sensing something. Ding— Suddenly, she turned, an arm reaching out to sweep the little fox entirely into her embrace, half-covered by her body. Yan Zhao held the little fox tightly, unable to move. If it tried to break free, the bell would undoubtedly ring loudly, and Yan Zhao, even if she didn't wake up from moving, would certainly be disturbed by the bell's clatter. It had been over a year since the last time Yan Zhao slept while hugging the snowball-like fox. Unbeknownst to her, they had been apart for so long. Since Yan Zhao began diligently cultivating, meditating every night, her old habit of sleeping with the fox naturally ceased. This situation, she mused, wouldn’t occur often, so she decided to let nature take its course. With this thought, the little fox cautiously adjusted its sleeping position within Yan Zhao’s arms and closed its eyes. The familiar aura around it invoked a sense of nostalgia, and drowsiness came swiftly, drifting it off to sleep in no time. Awakening to sunlight streaming into the room, Yan Zhao felt the soft fur ball in her embrace. Realizing she had unknowingly fallen asleep while the obedient little fox joined her in slumber, she couldn’t help but chuckle. How could she ever doubt the little fox would leave her? Even after a whole year apart, the little creature remained as attached as ever. Filled with emotions and joy, she leaned down for more playful pecks. The little fox awoke, its eyelids parting slightly. A fuzzy face zoomed into focus as a soft, moist sensation tickled its nose. “!” The fox was stunned. As Yan Zhao finished her smothering affection and sat up, she heard the bell chime, reaching down to flick the small bell on the fox’s leg. “This bell looks great on you,” Yan Zhao complimented, her eyes curving into crescents with her smile. The little fox snapped back to reality, awkwardly diverting its gaze to the string of bells. How mortifying. It shyly pulled its leg back, preventing Yan Zhao from tinkering further. She clicked her tongue, “Already being so protective? I gave this to you; what’s wrong with a little touch?” The fox was speechless, unwilling to argue, and nimbly jumped off the bed to find a quiet spot. With the morning revitalizing her, Yan Zhao stood up feeling refreshed. She tidied up quickly and left the inn with the fox, making her way towards the Alliance station. With the immortal disciples assembly imminent, the celestial market was bustling. Before reaching the Alliance station, she saw from afar a crowd gathered outside its doors. Approaching the scene, Yan Zhao saw a large notice board at the entrance, reminding attending disciples to bring their Immortal Tokens for registration inside the hall. Most of those outside were companions from various sects who came to support, some senior disciples who had participated in previous assemblies, and others who, lacking the opportunity to compete, had come to observe and gain experience. Not fond of crowded places, Yan Zhao followed the board’s instructions to head inside. Just a few steps in, she heard a burst of laughter, turning a corner to see five to six people blocking a narrow doorway, pushing and arguing. Drawing closer, she overheard their dispute. The leader of the group was a noble young man, clad in luxurious attire, adorned with gold and jade, several strings of high-grade spiritual jades hanging from his waist—an exhibit of wealth. “And you still dare to show your face at the immortal disciples assembly, being from the Fu Yun Sect?” sneered the noble son, a look of scorn on his face. “If I were you, I’d find a place to hide forever, never daring to show my face like this.”