227 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie
For this ceremony at the Fuyun Sect, there were about one to two hundred disciples from various factions present. Bu Donghou quickly scanned through the list without noticing anything unusual and looked up at Yundaozi. "Ancestor, there's nothing wrong with the list." Yundaozi's face darkened. If it weren't for the many disciples present, he would've cursed Bu Donghou as a fool, disregarding his own reputation. Initially, he chose Bu Donghou for the sect leader position because he was easy to manipulate, not expecting him to be so dim-witted. He extended his hand towards Bu Donghou. "Hand it over." Bu Donghou respectfully presented the roster. With a flick of his fingers, Yundaozi flipped through a few pages, suddenly pausing, his gaze turning sharp. He no longer spoke to Bu Donghou, but instead summoned a shadowy figure, pointing at two characters on the list. "Investigate." The shadowy figure looked at the crooked handwriting on the list and felt a chill, nodded, "Yes." Beside him, Bu Donghou observed this scene, frowning with a frosty gaze. The atmosphere in the grand hall grew tense. A group of elder-like figures moved among the crowd, heading straight to the spectator area to inspect. Within the ranks of Huangyin Peak, Yan Zhao too detected the slowly simmering sense of danger. Outwardly, the festivities continued without pause, but beneath the surface, the undercurrents grew fiercer. Without the little fox by her side, Yan Zhao felt restless. Su Zijun and Yaoshenzi also subtly prepared themselves for anything. Those searching combed through the spectators but did not find Yan Zhao's trace, and had no choice but to report back truthfully. "Not found?" Yundaozi frowned slightly. The list clearly wrote "Nian Qing", which was undoubtedly Yan Zhao. With clues provided by Ying Xiao and Yan Zhao indeed attending the Fuyun Sect event, failing to find her meant Fuyun Sect's people were incompetent. A shadow by Yundaozi's side quietly inquired, "Could it be that this girl sensed our movements in advance and fled?" Ying Xiao responded, "Unlikely. Even though she possesses a treasure that allows her to flee through space, it emits conspicuous golden light and spatial fluctuations when activated, making it impossible to go unnoticed." "In other words, she's still hidden among the crowd," Yundaozi coldly scanned the assembly, scoffing, "Keep searching. Go through everyone." Since the grand protection formation was activated at the start of the sect conference, visitors were temporarily confined on the mountain. They could only leave once the formation reopened. So, if Yan Zhao was here and hadn't used her treasure, she had to be within the gathering on the plaza. Another group descended to search, while the surface festivities continued. Shortly after, someone approached Yundaozi, whispering things in his ear. Yundaozi narrowed his eyes. "Is this true?" The person opened their palm, displaying evidence. Seeing this, Yundaozi said coldly, "Bring her here." A team made its way through the crowd, arriving in front of the Huangyin Peak group. Dongfang Cixin wore a serious expression. The leader saluted Dongfang Cixin. "Poison Saint Senior, there are demon spies infiltrating the grand ceremony. By the Ancestor's command, we are conducting routine checks. Please cooperate." "Demon spies?" Dongfang Cixin's voice was stern, "Are you suggesting there are traitors among my Huangyin Peak disciples?" The leader remained expressionless. "Precisely or not, we'll determine that after verification." Dongfang Cixin wanted to argue further, but the peak's vice-master stepped up, ushering her aside. Simultaneously, they cleared the path. "Proceed." The leader smirked disdainfully at Dongfang Cixin as they passed. Maybe in the past, they would have shown her some respect, but now, with the peak masters sidelined by Bu Donghou and backing from the Ancestor, they had nothing to fear. Dongfang Cixin was forced to step aside. The shadow team moved among the Huangyin Peak disciples. Yan Zhao kept her head down, listening as the footsteps drew near, her hands in her sleeves subtly readying the sleeve arrow her mother gifted her. The arrow was loaded, ready to fire, when suddenly, the group stopped. "You, stand up!" The sudden command came from ahead. As Yan Zhao prepared to lift her head, a hand reached over and dragged Zuo Xun up from the ground. Zuo Xun roared, "What are you doing?!" "Enough talking!" The grabber pulled hard, causing Zuo Xun to stagger. Instinctively, Zuo Xun attempted to fight back, but the opponent was vastly superior in strength, overwhelming her with a single strike. A cloth bundle she was holding fell unnoticed to the ground. Seeing this, Dongfang Cixin moved to intervene, "What are you doing?! Zuo Xun is a disciple of Huangyin Peak and couldn't possibly be a demon spy. How can you arrest her without evidence?!" The shadow team leader met her gaze and sneered. "Evidence? Ask the Ancestor." Having said that, they took Zuo Xun away in front of everyone. The commotion drew the attention of many, leaving the disciples of Huangyin Peak exchanging glances. Apart from Dongfang Cixin, no one stepped forward to defend her at this moment. Zuo Xun's aloof and proud demeanor earned her the peak master's favor but left her with lukewarm ties among her peers, forming no close friendships. As they watched her taken away, the onlookers were left with mixed feelings. Yan Zhao heard murmurs, "Could Zuo Xun really be a demon spy?" Once the rough crowd departed, she stooped to pick up the cloth bundle. Inside, the little fox was nestled. With Zuo Xun taken, Yan Zhao tucked the fox into her arms, glancing in the direction Zuo Xun was-led. Zuo Xun was being dragged, restrained by shadows, towards Yundaozi. Seeing this, Bu Donghou furrowed his brows deeply. "Isn't this Zuo Xun? Ancestor, why have you taken her?" Su Zijun and Yaoshenzi exchanged glances. Although Yundaozi hadn't captured Yan Zhao, Zuo Xun being targeted indicated Yan Zhao's exposure. Cold sweat broke on Su Zijun's palm as she discreetly observed the surrounding darkness. Should the plan go ahead? Yundaozi ignored Bu Donghou, sternly inquiring Zuo Xun, "I ask you, what grievances do you have with Jian Mu from the Feiyu Sect?" Blood dripped from the corner of Zuo Xun's mouth, her face expressionless. Facing Fuyun Sect's highest authority, her manner remained defiant. "I don’t know him." Yundaozi wasn't swayed by her demeanor and asked again, "If you don’t know him, why did you knock him out?" Zuo Xun's eyes flickered as she realized the reason behind her sudden arrest—it related to the man who had approached Yan Zhao earlier. The shadows hadn't overlooked anyone from the list while seeking Yan Zhao, naturally finding Jian Mu, sent by Bu Donghou to the medical halls. Jian Mu showed signs of poisonous insect bites, and a dead worker bee was found on his collar. On the list, his name appeared next to Nian Qing's, suggesting possible acquaintance since they arrived simultaneously—a key suspicion for Zuo Xun's attack. Connecting the dots, Zuo Xun answered without blinking. "Earlier, the crowd jostled. He stepped on me and didn’t apologize, so I taught him a small lesson." Yundaozi stared into her calm eyes. "For such a trivial matter?" Zuo Xun boldly met his gaze, responding loudly in front of everyone, "Yes, for such a trivial matter! As a disciple, I am petty and vengeful—how does that violate any sect rules?" Yundaozi returned her stare. Neither yielded. Somewhere amidst the hubbub, the grand hall's drum beats ceased, and the atmosphere was tense enough to be cut with a knife. Dongfang Cixin decisively shrugged off the vice-master blocking her path, rushing to stand behind Zuo Xun. "Ancestor, my Huangyin Peak disciple cannot be a demon spy. Please, Ancestor, wisely discern!" Yundaozi narrowed his eyes, "I will wisely discern." Dongfang Cixin had barely relaxed when Yundaozi abruptly raised a hand. Instantly, Zuo Xun felt an overwhelming force seize her throat. "Tell me, where is Yan Zhao?" Chapter 246 Yan Zhao?! The elders and disciples of the Fuyun Sect were stunned, exchanging bewildered looks. The Yan Zhao Yundaozi referred to—wasn’t she the same one from Tianzhu Peak who hadn’t built her foundation in three centuries, and had gone down the mountain for trials recently? It's said her spirit roots were useless from birth, her meridians blocked, lacking cultivation talent. Allegedly, she was sent down to fend for herself—a mere three years had passed, and yet she hadn’t perished! The ancestor personally interrogating Yan Zhao's whereabouts in public clearly indicated that Yan Zhao was no ordinary mortal orphan. The name Yan Zhao was given by Yan Yuanqing. A few insightful individuals, upon recalling the shocking news they had just heard, suddenly entertained a previously unimagined speculation. Could it be... Yan Zhao's true identity was on the verge of being revealed. But what did this have to do with Zuo Xun? Yan Zhao was a disciple of Tianzhu Peak, while Zuo Xun was from Huangyin Peak, under Dongfang Cixin—there appeared to be no connection. So why did Yundaozi capture Zuo Xun to press her for Yan Zhao's location? The onlookers were filled with questions. Yet even though their curiosity clawed at them like anxious cats, they dared not show it on their faces, fearing they would be implicated and dragged up for interrogation themselves. "Ancestor!" Dongfang Cixin couldn't bear it any longer, "Zuo Xun is merely an inner disciple, what could she possibly know?" Yundaozi raised his eyelids at her words. "Does that mean you know if she doesn't?" Dongfang Cixin was taken aback, clenching her teeth, unable to retort. Zuo Xun's face flushed as she couldn't help but struggle, but the hand gripping her throat was like cast iron, unaffected by her efforts. Hidden among the crowd, Yan Zhao's brows furrowed in worry. The little fox peeked out from a gap in the cloth pouch, its gaze fixed tensely on the powerful figures seated at the front. Yundaozi's focus on Yan Zhao was ostensibly through his interrogation of Zuo Xun, but in reality, he was exerting pressure on Yan Zhao, who was hidden in the shadows. At this moment, whatever they did would be wrong. As Zuo Xun was on the verge of losing consciousness, Yan Zhao was just about to step forward. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a force struck Yundaozi's hand. Even someone as powerful as Yundaozi wavered, releasing Zuo Xun. A streak of blood flowed from his wrist. Zuo Xun collapsed to the ground, coughing violently, struggling for breath as if she would cough up her very lungs. The crowd took a moment to react. Ying Xiao looked astonished, turning to one of the other elders nearby. "Yuanghai Zhenren." Yundaozi glanced sideways, his expression cold. "This is an internal matter of the Fuyun Sect; what right do you have to interfere?" Yuanghai Zhenren remained calm, his tone indifferent. "If this were a normal inquiry, I would not intervene. But you, as an elder versed in destiny, treating a younger disciple this way hardly commands respect." At this moment, Bu Donghou edged closer to Yundaozi, whispering cautiously, "Old Sect Master, many guests are present today. Let this interrogation of spies be left to the younger generation, so as not to sully your hands, Ancestor." Yundaozi and Yuanghai Zhenren faced off in silence. He inconspicuously glanced at the Alliance Leader watching the proceedings, gradually suppressing his anger and delegating the task to Bu Donghou. Bu Donghou accepted the responsibility, coldly surveying the still-struggling Zuo Xun on the ground, signaling for the elder to pull her up. The elder complied, pulling Zuo Xun and placing her before Bu Donghou. Bu Donghou grabbed her collar, whispered closely into her ear, "Zuo Xun, do you know the penalties for colluding with the demon clan?" "I understand that a small inner disciple like yourself wouldn't have the courage to liaise with demon spies. Tell me honestly, was this under Dongfang Cixin's instruction?" Zuo Xun's eyes widened, her face shifted drastically, and she instinctively leaned back, attempting to escape the hold.