220 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

The fact that Yao Shen Zi has taken on several disciples, and what they look like or their distinguishing traits, is not a secret. Anyone interested can find out easily. During the great meeting, Ying Xiao choose not to reveal the truth on the spot, partly to maintain the reputation of the Immortal Alliance and both the Yao Shen Sect and Wan Bao Palace. Furthermore, the Immortal Alliance had its own aims and didn't care exactly who took the bait with the Qing Shuang Sword, thus they chose not to delve into it. In Yan Zhao's embrace, Little Fox suddenly sharpened its gaze, becoming vigilant. Indeed, Yan Zhao cannot be allowed to wander around recklessly anymore. Yet, Yan Zhao herself was still clueless, and upon hearing this, she was worried about something entirely different: "What about Xiao Jin's injury? What should we do?" At this moment, someone arrived outside the grand hall. Su Zi Jun raised her hand to signal everyone to remain silent, then lifted the restrictions on the hall. Soon, the voice of an elder came from outside: "Palace Master, Zuo Yun from the Huang Yin Peak of Fu Yun Sect is here to visit and requests to see Yan Zhao." It was the first time she had been specifically named, and Yan Zhao was quite surprised, turning her head towards the entrance of the hall. Su Zi Jun's expression flickered, and after a moment's thought, she asked Yan Zhao, "Do you want to meet her or not?" Recalling Zuo Yun's cold face, Yan Zhao truthfully didn't want to meet her very much, but it seemed inappropriate not to see someone who had come specifically to find her. So she nodded, "I guess I should." Su Zi Jun agreed, "Let her in." But just as she said this, she hesitated, then changed her mind: "No, let's have her in the side hall." The elder nodded and left. Su Zi Jun got up and apologized to Yuan Hai Zhen Ren and Yao Shen Zi: "I've wasted your time today over Zhao'er's matter. I feel ashamed and apologize to both of you." Yuan Hai Zhen Ren waved it off, "No worries, as long as she's back." Yao Shen Zi stroked his beard, "A'Zhao is also my disciple, don't act like only you care about her. I didn't become her master for nothing!" Su Zi Jun: "..." Xuan Yuan Mu and Bi Lan tactfully took their leave, and after Su Zi Jun saw off Yuan Hai Zhen Ren, she finally took Yan Zhao to the side hall. Behind them, Yao Shen Zi tagged along. The old man seemed eager to get involved in everything. Su Zi Jun couldn't be bothered to deal with him, considering him just a free bodyguard. Zuo Yun had been waiting in the side hall for quite some time. When Su Zi Jun and Yan Zhao appeared together, she seemed unsurprised. Earlier on Ming Jing Platform, Su Zi Jun had shown much support for Yan Zhao. Seeing Zuo Yun here now, Yan Zhao was somewhat taken aback and acknowledged her presence first: "You were looking for me?" Zuo Yun nodded and handed her an envelope: "This is a letter my peak master asked me to deliver to you." "A letter?" Yan Zhao was extremely surprised. It was unexpected to receive a letter from anyone. Curious, she asked Zuo Yun, "Who is your peak master?" Zuo Yun looked exasperated, "You were, at any rate, a disciple of Fu Yun Sect. Haven't you heard of Huang Yin Peak's peak master?" Yan Zhao shook her head candidly, "Nope." From behind, Su Zi Jun interjected on behalf of Zuo Yun, "Could it be that your peak master is Dong Fang Ci Xin, the Poison Saint?" Mentioning the peak master, Zuo Yun's demeanor became respectful and serious: "Indeed." Yan Zhao found it interesting: "Why is someone named Dong Fang Ci Xin called the Poison Saint?" Su Zi Jun explained, "This person is a famous poison healer in the human realm, with astonishing poison techniques. He can heal and kill alike. Although Fu Yun Sect seems disorganized, there are plenty of talented individuals." Yan Zhao understood and nodded: "Oh." She accepted the letter from Zuo Yun and opened it immediately. The Little Fox peered curiously at the content along with her. The letter had just a few lines, but... "What does it say?" Yan Zhao scratched the back of her head, "The handwriting is awful, even worse than mine." The peak master was the person Zuo Yun revered the most, and upon hearing Yan Zhao's comment, Zuo Yun instantly glared at her: "What did you say? Say it again!" Ignoring Zuo Yun's wrath, Su Zi Jun scanned the letter and gently knocked on Yan Zhao's forehead: "This is calligraphy, speak not of what you do not understand." Although the writing was somewhat untidy, the strokes were vigorous and skillful, suggesting that only such a distinguished hand could have written it—likely someone accustomed to scripting countless prescriptions, with the handwriting only truly readable to its author. Hence, it proved the letter was genuinely penned by Dong Fang Ci Xin, with such idiosyncratic handwriting that no one else could mimic it. Yan Zhao complied readily: "Oh." Su Zi Jun took the letter from Yan Zhao and examined it closely. She frowned slightly. Casting a discreet glance at Zuo Yun, she noted Zuo Yun's upright and unfazed demeanor, clearly unaware of the letter's content. Su Zi Jun spoke evenly: "Your peak master's message is understood. You may leave." Zuo Yun had merely acted as a messenger. Hugging two tasks from her peak master before attending the Immortal Sect's disciple assembly. First, strive for first place in the competition to obtain the Qing Shuang Sword; second, deliver the letter should she encounter Yan Zhao. Although she failed the first task, the tide turned by the end of the competition, bringing Yan Zhao before her unexpectedly. Earlier on Ming Jing Platform, she hadn't realized that "Nian Qing" was actually "Yan Zhao." Only after leaving Ming Jing Platform, during an accidental eavesdrop on a conversation between Wu Yingying and Elder Wu, did she realize they had met the person she had been looking for from the very start. Guaranteeing Yan Zhao's presence in Wan Bao Palace was thanks to her trained pets' deeds. With her mission accomplished, Zuo Yun had no intention to linger at Wan Bao Palace, immediately bidding Su Zi Jun farewell and leaving. Shortly after Zuo Yun exited the side hall, Yao Shen Zi appeared out of curiosity, probing: "What was written in that letter?" Su Zi Jun's expression changed after reading the letter, though Zuo Yun might have missed it, Yao Shen Zi saw it clearly from his hiding spot. Yan Zhao, equally curious, looked towards Su Zi Jun with Yao Shen Zi. But rather than utter a word, Su Zi Jun handed the letter to Yao Shen Zi. Reading it, he mirrored Su Zi Jun's expression, astonished: "Is this for real?" Su Zi Jun snorted coldly, "At least the letter is her handwriting." As they conversed, Yan Zhao struggled to grasp their discussion. She grew anxious, tugging at Su Zi Jun's and Yao Shen Zi's clothing, pleading: "Godmother, Master, what are you talking about? Can you read the letter to me?" On Yan Zhao's shoulder, Little Fox peeked at the letter held by Yao Shen Zi, curious about its content. Su Zi Jun concisely relayed the letter's information to Yan Zhao: "The sender claimed past acquaintance with your mother and wants you to return to Fu Yun Sect for a meeting." A section of the letter was withheld from Yan Zhao. Dong Fang Ci Xin mentioned that after Yan Yuan Qing conceived, her health severely declined, nearly unable to survive childbirth. It was by accepting Yan Yuan Qing’s secret plea that Dong Fang Ci Xin discreetly aided her. Following Yan Yuan Qing’s death, Dong Fang Ci Xin organized the funeral, quietly relocating the remains. Therefore, the grave at Fu Yun Sect, supposedly Yan Yuan Qing’s, holds nothing but her empty attire. Dong Fang Ci Xin claimed she knew Yan Yuan Qing wouldn’t easily perish, yet even someone so brilliant as Yan Yuan Qing met such a tragic end. With no other options, Dong Fang resorted to a backup plan, waiting for the right moment. Su Zi Jun and Yao Shen Zi exchanged solemn glances, their expressions troubled. Yao Shen Zi stroked his beard, eyebrows knitted together, his old face etched with newer wrinkles. Yan Zhao, despite being young, was troubled deeply too. Even though the letter contained scant words, it seemed more elaborate than Su Zi Jun's short summary. She sensed something was missing. After Little Fox finished reading the letter, Yan Zhao tugged its bell, quietly consulting it: "Did you finish reading? Was it the same as Godmother said? Nothing else?" Little Fox glanced down at her silently. "..." It nodded. Chapter 238 "I see." Even Snowball confirmed it; it seemed that way. Although Yan Zhao chose to believe them, she couldn't help but pout: "Such a simple matter, yet so many words were written?" Su Zi Jun and Yao Shen Zi shared an unspoken agreement to remain silent. Yao Shen Zi casually flicked his hand, and a burst of flame consumed the letter. He then turned to Yan Zhao, inquiring, "Good disciple, what do you plan to do?" Yan Zhao thought for a moment, then answered honestly: "Since this person knew my mother, perhaps she knows where other mementos of her might be. I want to go see her." Su Zi Jun and Yao Shen Zi exchanged glances. While Yan Zhao did not fully grasp the contents of the letter earlier, her inadvertent thoughts were nonetheless heading in the right direction. It seemed that the current of fate flowed relentlessly, carrying people forward, and evading problems ultimately proved ineffective. "Very well," Su Zi Jun nodded. "Now both allies and adversaries lie in the shadows. We are unaware of how many secrets Fu Yun Sect still harbors, and Yun Daozi knows little of Zhao’er. If we can strategize ahead, perhaps we can transform our passive stance into an active one." Turning to Yan Zhao, she added, "However, by doing this, your situation becomes exceedingly dangerous..." Returning to Fu Yun Sect meant that Yan Zhao would become a living target for those who closely watched her. Moreover, Su Zi Jun, Yao Shen Zi, and others had many plans to devise and couldn't accompany Yan Zhao at all times. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Yan Zhao replied, "I don't think I've ever been truly safe." While she was considered useless at Fu Yun Sect, she struggled daily to get by. After leaving Fu Yun Sect, she had been constantly pursued and besieged. Only during her time training at Yao Shen Sect did she find some semblance of stability. In Yan Zhao's view, living itself signifies change. Time flows without pause, and everything around her is in a constant state of flux. Thus, she never dwelled on distant matters, focusing only on what she possessed at the moment. The future was not of her concern. In such a perilous world, the chance of surviving to reach the "future" was uncertain. Su Zi Jun was at a loss for words; there was no way to counter Yan Zhao's reasoning. Just a few days ago, the Immortal Alliance had manipulated Yan Zhao, gifting her the Qing Shuang Sword and then using her as bait. Even someone as powerful as Yao Shen Zi couldn't easily extricate himself from this chaotic situation, and it might even implicate the Yao Shen Sect behind him. Suddenly, Su Zi Jun felt a sense of clarity. In turbulent times, who isn't risking everything, living on the edge to carve out a path? All they could do was minimize the potential losses as much as possible. Do their best and leave the rest to fate—nothing more. Su Zi Jun refrained from further comments and patted Yan Zhao's shoulder, "When do you plan to set off?" Yan Zhao replied, "I have nothing else tying me down, so I'll leave at dawn." "So soon?" Yao Shen Zi was surprised, "If you use the Teleportation Scroll, you'll cover thousands of miles in an instant. How about staying a few more days?" Before these words settled, an unexpected ripple shot through the air. The temperature in the hall slightly dropped, causing Su Zi Jun and Yao Shen Zi to turn at the same time, witnessing Yuan Hai Zhen Ren materializing from thin air. Su Zi Jun was taken aback, "Why have you returned?" Yuan Hai Zhen Ren replied with a hint of helplessness: "There's news from the Immortal Alliance. Leader Ying Xiao is set to attend Fu Yun Sect’s sect ceremony." Both Yao Shen Zi and Su Zi Jun showed their surprise: "Fu Yun Sect's sect ceremony?" Yuan Hai Zhen Ren nodded, "The information was likely deliberately leaked by someone inside the Immortal Alliance, and by tomorrow, it will have spread across the Immortal Realm." Su Zi Jun furrowed her brow in confusion, "What is Ying Xiao planning with this action?" The Immortal Alliance had schemed against Yan Zhao, which clearly indicated they were not up to any good. Recently, during the disciple meeting, there was such upheaval, and Ying Xiao nearly came to blows with Yun Daozi. Yet now, Ying Xiao claims the intent to attend Fu Yun Sect’s ceremony—his true motive is indeed perplexing. Yao Shen Zi pondered, "Is this person planning to hold Fu Yun Sect accountable through this sect ceremony?" Causing trouble under the guise of a sect ceremony? It was certainly something those in the Immortal Alliance were capable of doing. Su Zi Jun contemplated aloud, "If I’m not mistaken, Fu Yun Sect's sect ceremony is scheduled for another month." In the chaotic world, aligning hopes and plans with unexpected encounters seems more justified than counting days or months, as seen through the lives intertwined by destiny.