213 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

The person dared not reveal his thoughts, maintaining a trembling silence with his head lowered. Su Zijun suppressed her anger slightly and instructed, "Send him to the Purple Bamboo Forest to reflect." The young disciple did not dare to object and nodded respectfully, "Yes." After the junior disciple retreated, Zhenhai Master gave a sideways glance at the disheartened Chen Er, frowning, "Jiale An?" Mentioning Jiale An, Su Zijun's face instantly turned cold, gritting her teeth as she said, "He's a spy placed in our Wanbao Palace by the Immortal League." Upon hearing this, everyone present was greatly surprised. Chen Er also looked up suddenly, his expression incredulous and full of disbelief. Su Zijun declared angrily, "The Immortal League doesn't want me to obtain Yuanqing's relics. I don't need to elaborate on the reasons. I pretended to remain unaware to gain the trust of the Immortal League, taking no action because I knew he wouldn't stay quiet. However, I never expected him to resort to such underhanded tactics against Yanran." He manipulated the impulsive Xuanyuan Zheng to target Ye Yanran. Even if Xuanyuan Zheng hadn't been killed by Chen Er, he wouldn't have escaped being expelled from the competition, thus disqualified from further trials. For Jiale An, this was indeed a cunning strategy, hitting two birds with one stone. So, Jiale An was the real mastermind behind it all. A glint of coldness flashed through Chen Er's eyes, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked audibly. Yan Zhao was also surprised that this was the reason behind it. Su Zijun sighed, "It's my oversight that harmed Yanran." The Medicine Sage empathized with Su Zijun's sentiment for her sect disciples and consoled her, "The world is full of unpredictable events; the fault lies with the wicked, not with you." Zhenhai Master also concurred, "Indeed." Su Zijun's mood was somber, deeply worried about Ye Yanran's injuries. At this moment, Yan Zhao suddenly spoke, "Mother, I have a medicine that works wonders on external injuries." Everyone was taken aback by this claim, especially Su Zijun and Chen Er, both turning to look at Yan Zhao simultaneously. Yan Zhao retrieved two jade bottles containing dragon salve and handed them to Su Zijun, "For Miss Ye." Su Zijun accepted the bottles but sighed inwardly: even a Grand Perfection medical practitioner only recommended rest; any medicine might not perform miracles. What a pity. Nonetheless, she did not express her inner thoughts, but instead, she thanked Yan Zhao calmly. Yan Zhao earnestly reminded her, "Be sure to use them for Miss Ye." Su Zijun agreed, "Alright." As they conversed, the Medicine Sage frowned nearby. Having been inspired by Su Zijun's mention, he pondered, unconsciously stroking his beard as he muttered, "With spies from the Immortal League in Wanbao Palace, could it be that my Medicine Sage Sect also..." --- At the Immortal League outpost, Ying Xiao was perusing reports at a desk. Suddenly, an elder knocked on the door, "Leader, Cloud Taoist is here, requesting to see you." Upon hearing this, Ying Xiao put down the booklet in his hand, frowning slightly with a look of puzzlement. Why is this old man here? He hadn't even gone to trouble the Formation Cloud Sect, yet they couldn't hold back? Cautiously, Ying Xiao raised his voice, "Understood, escort the senior to the guest hall." After speaking, Ying Xiao listened attentively to distant footsteps. Once they faded away, he discreetly cast a small spell before rising to open the door and step out. The guest hall was not far from where he handled affairs, and he soon arrived. Cloud Taoist stood with his hands behind his back, facing a majestic and resplendent landscape painting on the front wall. "Senior," Ying Xiao spoke, reminding Cloud Taoist of his presence. Cloud Taoist turned around, his swollen eyes scrutinizing Ying Xiao, offering a cryptic praise, "A remarkable young talent." Whether he meant it genuinely or insincerely, Ying Xiao chose to hear it as mere background noise, not paying it any mind. Not wanting to idle with the old man, Ying Xiao got straight to the point, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, senior?" Cloud Taoist glanced at him, forgoing pleasantries, he asked bluntly, "Today, regarding that girl named Nianqing, do you truly not know who she is?" Ying Xiao's gaze dimmed slightly, but outwardly he feigned ignorance, sincerely responding to Cloud Taoist, "Isn't she Medicine Sage's disciple? What other identity could she have?" "Don't feign ignorance with me. I know what you're up to," Cloud Taoist concealed a flicker of disdain in his eyes, confidently stating, "I didn't expose you in public because I presumed that the Immortal League had its plans, so I refrained from further interference." Ying Xiao spoke in a grave tone, "...So, what are you suggesting, senior?" Cloud Taoist had already prepared his pitch beforehand, so he clearly articulated his proposal, "I have no conflicting interests with the Immortal League; we can mutually benefit from cooperation." Ying Xiao played along, "How does the senior wish to cooperate?" Cloud Taoist's tone was casual, "I will aid the Immortal League in finding the Divine Source Fruit, and in return, the Immortal League will help me capture someone." The Divine Source Fruit! This hit the mark with Ying Xiao, his eyes flickering swiftly, clearly intrigued. Thus, Ying Xiao tentatively asked, "Nangong Yin?" Cloud Taoist shook his head, "No." "Then who..." "Yan Yuanqing's daughter, Yan Zhao." --- Yan Yuanqing's daughter, Yan Zhao. Cloud Taoist had been gone for half an hour, yet Ying Xiao still pondered over those words. Previously, the Immortal League dispatched two emissaries to trace the Divine Source Fruit's whereabouts, and the trail ended at Yan Zhao. Afterward, the woman left the Medicine Sage Sect, and they lost track of her, despite the League's prolonged search. During this time, the League had also sent people to the Formation Cloud Sect to try and extract information via soul-searching from Yan Yuanyi, only to find that he had already gone mad with an empty mind, rendering any extraction futile. Moreover, several small celestial sects being wiped out had diverted their attention, and this pursuit had fizzled out. Another reason the League ceased investigating Yan Zhao was her age. When Yan Yuanqing died, Yan Zhao was still in swaddling clothes, too young to have any knowledge of the Divine Source Fruit's whereabouts. However, the League wasn't entirely clueless. Since Yan Yuanqing had a daughter at some time, it was highly likely she held critical information. Nangong Yin had been roaming the mortal realm, collecting fragments of Yan Yuanqing's soul, indicating that Yan Zhao's father held a significant status in the demon realm. The Divine Sovereign had sent people to gather intelligence in the demon realm, hoping to find leads soon. Even if this path proved ineffective, there was still the Clear Frost Sword. Nangong Yin aimed to obtain the Clear Frost Sword, needing to interact with Yan Zhao. Previously injured by the Demon Vanquishing Sword, Nangong Yin's injuries couldn't have healed quickly; capturing her should force her to reveal the whereabouts of Yan Zhao's father. The dilemma lay in when Nangong Yin would appear and by what means she would seize the Clear Frost Sword from Yan Zhao. Even though they had stationed ample personnel, they still lacked confidence in capturing Nangong Yin entirely. With the Formation Cloud Sect's participation, the collaboration of the Immortal League and Cloud Taoist could increase the success rate from sixty percent to eighty percent. Ying Xiao could not remain unmoved. Holding a copper coin in his hand, Ying Xiao closed his eyes, murmuring a chant before tossing the coin into the air. The coin lingered briefly aloft before swiftly descending, spinning a few times on the table. With a small thud, the coin fell. Ying Xiao gently pressed the coin with his finger, muttering, "The winds are changing." No sooner had he spoken than the candle on the table suddenly extinguished. Ying Xiao started slightly but quickly regained composure, rising promptly and moving to the table's side, where he bowed with a sweeping gesture, "Your Excellency." The void rippled, each wall revealed a golden symbol sealing the doors and windows, and the next moment, a figure appeared within the room, hands clasped behind their back. Ying Xiao lowered himself, adopting a respectful stance, not daring to raise his head. The person spoke, their voice deliberately raspy, as if masking their natural tone, asking Ying Xiao, "How is the situation progressing?" "Reporting to Your Excellency," Ying Xiao responded, bowing, "The Clear Frost Sword has been revealed, so results should not be far off." After listening, the figure nodded in approval, "You've done well." Ying Xiao dared not claim credit, continuing, "There's another matter I must report." The figure replied solemnly, "Go ahead." Ying Xiao spoke candidly, "The old Taoist from the Formation Cloud Sect, Cloud Taoist, came to see me privately, seeking cooperation." He then concisely recounted the content of his conversation with Cloud Taoist, seeking further guidance, "Please advise, Your Excellency, on whether this old dog is trustworthy." The individual scoffed coldly, "The Formation Cloud Sect, along with Yan Yuanqing once, were all fair-weather friends." Ying Xiao was perplexed, "Your Excellency means..." The man replied, "The current situation is complex. It's acceptable to play along, but we must not abandon the original plan." "I understand." Ying Xiao acknowledged the visitor's intention respectfully, "I will ensure we have contingency plans in place." The plan would proceed as initially intended. If capturing Nangong Yin proved impossible, they would then collaborate with Cloud Taoist, ensuring absolute certainty in their efforts. As the candlelight flickered back to life, Ying Xiao realized that the figure before him had vanished without a trace, the glowing symbols on the walls fading away into nothingness. --- At Wanbao Palace. Su Zijun suddenly spoke, "Chen Er, take Yan Zhao and go check on Yanran." With these words, she handed the two small medicine bottles given by Yan Zhao to Chen Er. Chen Er glanced at Zhenhai Master. The latter said nothing, merely nodding in assent. It seemed Zhenhai Master had been persuaded by Su Zijun, deciding to stay and discuss the subsequent matters with her. This part of the content was beyond what Yan Zhao and Chen Er could continue to overhear. Chen Er accepted the small bottles and complied willingly, "Alright." Yan Zhao, not entirely grasping the situation, was tugged by Chen Er's arm and followed her lead. The Medicine Sage, Zhenhai Master, and Su Zijun remained in the hall for further discussions. Yan Zhao and Chen Er, leaving the main hall of the sect, walked one after another. On the way to the medical center, Chen Er remained silent, as did Yan Zhao. The usually lively personality seemed to have changed dramatically, as if drained of energy and spirit, leaving him in a melancholic state. Upon reaching the medical center's entrance, aside from Xuanyuan Mu, Yan Zhao saw someone unexpected. Bi Lan. Though she stood neither too close nor too far from Xuanyuan Mu, and neither was speaking, Yan Zhao could instinctively sense the subtle tension in the air. When Chen Er appeared, Xuanyuan Mu visibly relaxed and, for a rare moment, initiated conversation, "You're here." "..." Chen Er felt a bit awkward. Earlier, on the Mingjing Platform, she had let her emotions get the better of her, loudly accusing Xuanyuan Mu. Though Xuanyuan Mu's demeanor appeared unchanged, showing no intention of holding a grudge, Chen Er still felt uncomfortable and awkward internally. "I'm sorry about today," Chen Er spoke candidly, "I lost my composure." Xuanyuan Mu glanced at her, intentionally remarking, "Emotions can cloud judgment; I took no offense." "Emotions can cloud judgment." Chen Er pondered over Xuanyuan Mu’s choice of words, pursed her lips, and remained silent. Not wishing to dwell on the issue, Chen Er turned her attention to the room, asking, "How is Yanran?" Xuanyuan Mu stepped aside slightly and gestured towards the door with a nod, "You should see for yourself." Without further words, Chen Er quickly headed towards the room. Yan Zhao intended to follow, but Xuanyuan Mu stopped her with a gesture. Yan Zhao looked puzzled, meeting Xuanyuan Mu’s gaze. He shook his head, "She might be a bit emotional; let her have some time alone." Though unsure why Chen Er needed time alone, Yan Zhao had learned not to question everything. Xuanyuan Mu was Chen Er's friend and wouldn't harm her. Bi Lan had been standing by, unnoticed, expecting to go unremarked. She leaned against a pillar, eyes closed in rest. Unexpectedly, a set of footsteps approached and halted before her. Bi Lan opened her eyes, meeting Yan Zhao's gaze. Yan Zhao greeted her, "Bi Lan." "Junior Sister Yan," Bi Lan replied calmly, seemingly unphased. She glanced at the little fox cradled in Yan Zhao's arms, aware of the events at Mingjing Platform despite having departed after Yanran's incident and Xuanyuan Mu's withdrawal. Information had spread among the Wanbao Palace disciples about the events that unfolded. --- *[The following text refers to fictional donation details that are not real:]* For those interested in supporting the site without facing advertisements, as it is a non-profit endeavor, voluntary donations are welcomed to cover server expenses. For additional information or to connect, visit the donation page. Click here to proceed to the donation page.