243 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

With a resounding smack, Yan Zhao firmly planted a kiss on Ren Qingyue's cheek. She expressed her untamable affection directly and passionately. Ren Qingyue tried to act nonchalant, but as Yan Zhao's soft, warm lips touched her cheek, the tender contact struck hard at her heart, startling the timid rabbit she held secretly within her heart into a sudden leap. A rosy hue spread from her cheeks to her ears, leaving Ren Qingyue flustered and scrambling to maintain her composure, avoiding direct eye contact with Yan Zhao. “Let's go, let's go.” In her fluster, she grabbed Yan Zhao's hand with such force, unconsciously, that she nearly dragged her out of the room. Yet Yan Zhao didn’t mind; as they stepped over the threshold, she stumbled slightly but maintained a cheerful smile, her eyes sparkling with a bright, vibrant light. The crisp jingle of silver bells continuously echoed in her ears—the sound followed from the bell hanging on Ren Qingyue's ankle, chiming with each step she took. Every ring resonated within Yan Zhao's heart. Although there was still a long journey ahead before she could become her senior sister's Dao companion, knowing that this wasn’t a desolate path—that bright light lay ahead—was enough to make Yan Zhao happy. She was so fond of her senior sister, so fond, so utterly fond that her fondness overflowed. Yan Zhao had never experienced such intense emotion before. It was so powerful, she couldn't control her surging emotions—happiness so overwhelming it carried more force than hatred or anger. In that moment, Yan Zhao felt she was filled with courage. No matter what tests her senior might have for her, she was determined to find the answers. Whatever she didn’t understand, she could ask others—her shifu, Ayin, her godmother. Even if she still couldn’t comprehend after asking everyone, she would contemplate it herself. One day, surely, she would learn to consider problems from the same vantage point as her senior sister. But she needed time. Before she fully understood what her senior was ultimately trying to convey, she needed to guard her senior sister well. Anyone who attempted to take her senior away was an enemy. · Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying split into two groups to carry out their tasks. Without Jiang Ying’s interference, Lei Shuang's efficiency soared—taking down twenty adversaries in a mere half-hour. In the bet with Jiang Ying, her victory was already assured. She wove through the forest once more, eliminating two elders attempting to flee overnight, and crossed off their names from her list with triumph. Snapping her fingers with satisfaction, she declared, “A trivial contest; it can't bind me at all.” She mused about what Jiang Ying was up to and felt certain that this woman was destined to lose. Imagining Jiang Ying's face upon realizing her defeat, Lei Shuang anticipated a spectacular reaction—perhaps angry and humiliated, even unwilling to honor their wager. The bet, after all, was Jiang Ying’s own proposal, to prevent her backing out at the last moment. Lei Shuang’s seldom-used wits whirred, conjuring a foolproof plan. Thinking about Jiang Ying’s loss and her having to dance unclothed, Lei Shuang felt a tingling sense of morally dubious thrill. Despite Jiang Ying’s seductive appearances, she was, in reality, quite conservative. The sole time Lei Shuang witnessed Jiang Ying's lapse in composure was a misadventure at the lakeside—Lei Shuang had gone fishing at night and unwittingly coincided with Jiang Ying’s lake bathing. Jiang Ying’s proposal to dance unclothed in a wager surprised Lei Shuang. Naturally, she wouldn’t miss this opportunity to prank Jiang Ying. If Jiang Ying reneged, Lei Shuang resolved to strip her herself to settle old scores! Even though the task wasn’t completed, Lei Shuang's mind had already spun a web of ensuing stories like a full hundred and eighty chapters of a tale. As she imagined her triumphant return to Jiang Ying post-task, she also skillfully darted through the forest, seeking the next target. While flitting like lightning, a figure suddenly appeared ahead in the underbrush. Lei Shuang, distracted, responded a beat too late, only realizing how close she was, less than ten feet, from this figure. In a reflexive panic, Lei Shuang prepared to strike—even if it ended in mutual harm. Just before impact, the figure from the trees called out, “Don’t attack, it's me!” Lei Shuang blinked, recognizing the voice. Her attack diverted with a quick maneuver, narrowly avoiding the speaker, and with a crash, hit the nearby tree instead. The enormous tree cracked at its midpoint, toppling with a rumble that set the ground vibrating. “Feng Jin?” Lei Shuang landed, staring in shock at the silhouette emerging from the tree shadow. “You finished your task?” During the grand ceremony, Nangong Yin assigned separate tasks to her and Jiang Ying. Lei Shuang and Jiang Ying were tasked with purging remnants of Fu Yun Sect—everyone listed had been part of Nangong Yin’s assassination attempt three centuries ago. As for Feng Jin’s task, Lei Shuang wasn’t privy. The Demon Lord had summoned Feng Jin separately when assigning tasks. Later, her curiosity piqued, Lei Shuang asked Feng Jin about her assignment. Feng Jin didn’t respond straightforwardly, mentioning it was related to Yan Yuanqing. They exchanged a few barbs then, as Lei Shuang felt deceived since technically all their tasks were related to Yan Yuanqing. Now, Lei Shuang asked intentionally to needle Feng Jin. Yet Feng Jin showed no sign of catching the provocation, merely shaking her head. “No.” Lei Shuang smirked, “How come you have time to be here then?” Unperturbed by Lei Shuang's tone, Feng Jin appeared anxious, speaking quickly. “I’m here to inform you that the Demon Lord is seriously injured and currently unconscious, taken to Huangyin Peak by Yan Zhao for treatment by Dongfang Cixin.” Lei Shuang’s was struck by surprise: “The Demon Lord is injured? By whom?!” “Ying Xiao,” Feng Jin answered grimly. “The Immortal Alliance summoned an ancient dragon. The Demon Lord fought it, triggering old wounds.” Old wounds—the sword wound of the Demon Suppression Sword. This was no trivial matter, and Lei Shuang immediately dropped her playful demeanor. “I’ll go check.” Feng Jin nodded. She had her own task and knew its outcome was crucial to Nangong Yin. If she didn’t find Yan Yuanqing’s whereabouts, Nangong Yin would unleash her fury. With a plant of her foot, Feng Jin launched herself off the tree and vanished swiftly. Lei Shuang, setting aside her task temporarily, turned and sprinted toward Huangyin Peak. Her heart clenched—Nangong Yin injured, now in the hands of Dongfang Cixin—where she had no control. A sense of urgency propelled Lei Shuang forward, anxious that her delay might spell trouble for the Demon Lord. In the shadowy forest, amidst thunder and lightning, a fleeting silhouette crossed, tracing the lightning’s path, vanished again alongside the fading illumination. She dashed from the mountain’s base up toward Huangyin Peak, not halfway up when a thunderous crash sounded from the summit, and the whole mountain shook violently. Simultaneously, an immense pressure descended like a tidal wave from above. Lei Shuang's heart skipped—her worst fears realized! She deplored her lack of extra limbs, pushing her speed to its limit but still feeling it inadequate. Finally, after an estimated half a stick of incense, Lei Shuang arrived at Huangyin Peak, reaching the site of the earlier disturbance, threading effortlessly through the wilderness but feeling too sluggish still. Before her stretched a modest waterfall, its crashing echoing in the silent forest. She took a few steps along the pool’s edge, then stopped abruptly. Bloodstains dotted the ground, forming a line like drips of water. Squatting to touch them, Lei Shuang gauged they were still fresh. Following the trail forward, they vanished at the waterfall’s edge. Concentrating, Lei Shuang's gaze fixed on the gushing falls. With a misstep, she leapt up, striking the waterfall with a palm. In a rush, the water parted to reveal a cavern entrance. Originally concealed by enchantments, this cavern lay wide open now, engendering a sense of foreboding within Lei Shuang. She plunged inside, the already dim view darkening slightly more. Quickly producing a glowing stone for light, she pressed on. Adjusting to its dim glow, her pupils abruptly contracted. Blood was everywhere, mainly pooling around a central jade dais. Advancing cautiously with the stone in hand, Lei Shuang delved into what seemed a merciless crime scene. Nearing the dais, her vision clarified. Lei Shuang’s expression shifted from solemn to horrified. Lying in the blood—was Jiang Ying. "Jiang Ying!" Lei Shuang cried out in shock, darting to Jiang Ying's side in a flash. Jiang Ying lay in a pool of blood, eyes closed, her face a ghastly pale. Blood had soaked her clothes and hair, and three deep gashes, resembling beastly claws, marred her back—exposing bone. Lei Shuang reached to lift Jiang Ying but hesitated midway, her hand suspended in the air. Her throat tightened, and her panic shifted to worry as she cautiously redirected her hand to check for a breath by placing her finger under Jiang Ying's nose. After a moment, she felt a small wave of relief. Still breathing, not dead. She next placed two fingers on Jiang Ying’s neck, feeling for a weak yet rhythmic pulse, which helped Lei Shuang regain some composure. Thinking quickly, Lei Shuang retrieved the dragon salve Yan Zhao had given her, uncapped it, and poured it generously over Jiang Ying's wounds. She spared no expense, emptying the bottle completely and tossing it aside afterward. The wounds on Jiang Ying’s back began to heal visibly, layer by layer, as Lei Shuang exhaled in relief. She gently turned Jiang Ying over, propping her up to infuse her with magic power—accelerating her recovery. Jiang Ying's pale face held traces of life as blood-soaked lashes fluttered and tightly knit brows slowly eased, struggling back to consciousness. Her vision was blanketed by a dark red haze, making it hard to discern the surroundings. She felt cold, her body weak, but sensed warmth pressing against her heart, continuously infusing her with energy. Faint sounds filtered intermittently into her ears. The figure in front, sensing her awakening, seemed to be speaking, but she couldn't understand. With effort, Jiang Ying raised an arm, grasped the one striving to save her, and tilted her head, forcing the last of her breath out. Hoarse and frail, she uttered, "...Don’t mind me... go, save the Demon Lord." Though unable to see who had come, she knew one willing to rescue her must be a friend rather than foe. Lacking options, she gambled. Lei Shuang's eyes welled with tears, her head drenched in anxious sweat. "How can I not mind you? How can I leave you?!" She, too, wished to rush off to find Nangong Yin, but to abandon Jiang Ying here, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. If she did and failed to catch up with Nangong Yin, missing the chance to save Jiang Ying and losing her life, how could she face it? “Damn it!” Lei Shuang cursed, "You stubborn woman, are you trying to weasel out of our bet? Are you planning to leave me hanging? Why can’t you accept losing!" Lei Shuang’s angry roar pierced through Jiang Ying’s fog-laden mind, filling her ears. She strained to open her eyes, seeing through the mist a frantic, angry face, unaware of what to do. Rushing there, Lei Shuang's hair had become a wild mess from the wind, her nose and eyes reddened, with tears impossible to control welling at the corners. Holding Jiang Ying tightly, continually channeling power into her, Lei Shuang fiercely threatened, "If you die, I won’t let you go! Don’t think death lets you escape from everything—I’ll strip you and throw you to the sea to feed the fish!" Jiang Ying had never seen Lei Shuang like this. Frantic and incoherent, spewing threats while her face seemed on the verge of tears.