244 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Jiang Ying’s wounds had healed significantly, and with the magical energy Lei Shuang infused into her, it unblocked her internal meridians. As a result, Jiang Ying's numb body began regaining sensation. Feeling a bit stronger, she let go of Lei Shuang's wrist and lifted her arm to wipe away the tears from Lei Shuang's eyes. Yet, she forgot her hands were covered in blood. As her fingertips gently brushed across Lei Shuang's cheek, she unwittingly smeared it, making Lei Shuang look like a colorful mess. Jiang Ying's eyes curved into a smile, and her tightly knit brows relaxed slightly. Her voice hoarse, she said, “Let go of me now. I won’t die. You have more important things to do.” Lei Shuang’s vision was blurred by tears, unable to clearly see Jiang Ying’s expression. She thought Jiang Ying was on the brink of death, deceiving her, saying her last farewells. Once she let go, she might never see her again. “Sob... sob... sob... how could I let you go...” Lei Shuang was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down her face. “Even though I curse you hundreds of times every day, if you die, there won’t be anyone more annoying than you left in this world!” Lei Shuang sobbed uncontrollably, tears dripping down as she babbled, oblivious to the brilliant expressions on the face of the person lying in her embrace. All of a sudden, her ear was ruthlessly twisted, wrenching it nearly a full circle. She winced in pain, her eyes blinking rapidly, regaining some clarity in her vision. Thus, she saw Jiang Ying’s pale face cracking into a cold smile, her complexion tinged with a flush of color, as she demanded, “...So, you curse me hundreds of times every day in your head?” Jiang Ying's voice was still soft, lacking strength—her threats coming out just a whisper. However, Lei Shuang was suddenly silenced. She looked at Jiang Ying in disbelief, momentarily distracted by the vitality Jiang Ying was showing. In the next moment, Lei Shuang couldn't contain her emotions, wailing even harder: “You wretched woman! Even with your last breath, you’re still pulling my ear; how can you be so detestable! What grudge do you hold against me!” “If you die, I won’t just curse you in my heart, I’ll curse you out loud. After all, once you’re gone, you can’t control me, and I’ll say whatever I want, all my life without offering sacrifices. You’ll starve even as a ghost!" Jiang Ying: “…” What grudge indeed? “If you dare die, I’ll dare do all that…” After a lengthy rant, Lei Shuang’s voice dwindled to a whisper. She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling from agitation. Jiang Ying heard deliberate sobbing. Lei Shuang’s head hung low, her large tears rolling down her cheeks. Once she calmed down from her anger, dictated by fear, she no longer yelled but bit her lip, her features scrunched up in pure grievance. “Every bet, you always win. I finally won once, and you didn’t even fulfill the wager. How could you die…” Jiang Ying was taken aback, instinctively releasing Lei Shuang’s ear, only to have her wrist grasped by Lei Shuang in return. Lei Shuang was sobbing, bending over in discomfort, as she tightly held Jiang Ying’s hand, pressing it to her ear, silently begging her to never let go. “Don’t die…” Lei Shuang choked, “Live well, and I promise I won’t go against you anymore.” Jiang Ying was suddenly moved. Her lips parted, intending to say something, but the hand Lei Shuang used to inject magic was pressing too hard on her chest, causing a tightness that made her cough uncontrollably. Lei Shuang was panic-stricken. Jiang Ying coughed up a clot of blood blocking her lungs, and finally her breath eased. Gathering her strength, she pushed Lei Shuang away: “Seeing you like this, you wish me dead sooner. Rest assured, I won’t die, but if anything happens to the Demon Lord, you might not keep your life.” Lei Shuang was taken aback, then watched as Jiang Ying propped herself up, clutching her chest to catch her breath, and produced a pill to ingest. “Are you really alright?” Lei Shuang questioned skeptically. Simultaneously, hope flickered in her heart, because how could a dying person take her own medication? Jiang Ying shot Lei Shuang a glance, feigning coldness in her tone: “Hurry to save them, stop dawdling!” Lei Shuang was confused. Jiang Ying seemed genuinely out of danger, yet she feared deception, torn internally, unable to decide. At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside the cave. Lei Shuang, on alert, turned her head, instinctively moving to shield Jiang Ying. A figure cautiously entered from the cave entrance, sensing movements within. Both parties nearly clashed on sight. Yet, recognizing the newcomer, Jiang Ying raised her voice to halt Lei Shuang: “Stop, don’t fight! Cough, cough!” Lei Shuang, hearing Jiang Ying begin a series of violent coughs, spitting blood again, her face turned pale, ignoring the newcomer and quickly knelt beside Jiang Ying: “I’ll get you out of here first!” Jiang Ying slapped her hand away: “Why are you panicking? She’s not an enemy!” The newcomer also halted upon recognizing Jiang Ying, ceasing any hostility towards Lei Shuang. She glanced around, noticing the blood-stained surroundings, but aside from Jiang Ying and Lei Shuang, the cave was empty. “Where’s the peak master?” Zuo Xuan’s expression was one of urgency. She had come upon the commotion from the mountains and rushed to check, only to find Dong Fang Cixin’s cave in such a state. “The Demon Lord was attacked by a jade lion beast. She likely pursued it with Palace Master Su and Yao Shenzi,” Jiang Ying conveyed all she knew, then pushed Lei Shuang, “That jade lion is formidable, go support them, if anything were to happen to the Demon Lord, both of us would pay dearly!” Lei Shuang now understood the source of Jiang Ying’s back injury. Seeing Jiang Ying’s urgent demeanor, convinced she was not in mortal danger, Lei Shuang's tension eased. She turned to Zuo Xuan: “I’ll head out immediately to chase them, please look after Jiang Ying.” Zuo Xuan hesitated for a brief moment before nodding in agreement. She was fully aware of her abilities, though decent among her peers, she was no match for these true masters. Upon stepping into the cave, she realized how deep Lei Shuang's powers were; confronting her would be suicidal. Rather than adding to the chaos by chasing after them, it was better to stay and help in whatever small way possible. She could only hope the elders would escape this unscathed. Lei Shuang entrusted Jiang Ying to Zuo Xuan’s care, reluctantly advising, “Watch her, don’t let her die.” Zuo Xuan replied, “I’ll do my best, but no promises.” Having someone overseeing her was better than leaving Jiang Ying alone, Lei Shuang did not dwell on Zuo Xuan's answer, rising swiftly to leave the cave. As soon as she left, the strength Jiang Ying was mustering vanished, and she began to collapse. Zuo Xuan swiftly stepped forward, catching her and checking her pulse. Moments later, her expression turned grave. No wonder Lei Shuang was so urgent; Jiang Ying’s condition was dire, nearly at the point of near-fatal injury. Fortunately, bleeding had been halted, and Lei Shuang had injected a significant amount of magic into her to stabilize her heart, granting Jiang Ying a slim chance of survival. Jiang Ying’s complexion was pallid, her demeanor weak, and she spoke feebly, “Am I going to die?” Zuo Xuan didn’t respond directly, carrying Jiang Ying to a jade platform. Jiang Ying gave a bitter smile, “There’s no need to waste effort. I know the extent of my injuries, but I have unfinished words. I’d like you to convey them to her.” She was at her limit, her life's force dwindling, and feared she wouldn't last past saying what she needed to. “If you trust me,” Zuo Xuan interjected, speaking calmly, “Be silent now, and you won’t die.” Zuo Xuan withdrew a needle case, extracting a needle whose tip she burned with candlelight. “If there's anything you wish to say, save it to tell her yourself when you meet.” Chapter 265 Lei Shuang dashed out of the cave, pausing slightly by the waterfall. Glancing back at the cave entrance, her heart twisted with worry. But hesitation was of no use; having chosen to trust Zuo Xuan, she couldn’t afford to waver. Quickly regaining focus, Lei Shuang tracked the path. Clear footprints and claw marks marred the route taken by the jade lion beast, visible remnants of fierce clashes marking its path, making it easy for Lei Shuang to follow its trail. However, due to the delay, by the time she sensed the fluctuating energy waves in the distance, she had almost reached the outermost boundary of Fuyun Sect. The last mountain north of Fuyun Sect acted as a natural barrier separating the sect from the mortal world. From afar, Lei Shuang heard thunderous roars, the clashes of energy swirling endlessly, colorful lights crossing one another incessantly in the sky. Approaching closer, the scene of battle unfolded before her eyes. Su Zijun, Yao Shenzi, and Dong Fang Cixin were confronting a massive jade lion, yet together, they could barely hold it at bay. Earlier, amidst the grand ceremony at the main peak, they were drawn into the conflict involving the Fuyun Sect, the Immortal Alliance, and Nan Gongyin. Both Su Zijun and Yao Shenzi had already suffered some injuries. Now, engaging with the jade lion, their injuries hindered them from fighting at full strength, forcing them to rely on Dong Fang Cixin for coordination. Lei Shuang didn’t recklessly reveal herself or join the battle directly. Before approaching the combat zone, she suppressed her aura, skillfully concealing herself in the forest while cautiously inching closer, carefully observing from the periphery. Though Nan Gongyin was not in sight, traces of blood lingered between the jade lion's claws, causing a flicker of worry to arise in Lei Shuang’s heart. As she focused on the battle before her, she also kept a mindful watch on her surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of Nan Gongyin. The jade lion, intercepted by Su Zijun and her companions, attempted to break through with brute force. However, outnumbered by Su Zijun and the others, its successive escape attempts failed, compelling it into a fierce, entangled struggle. Amidst the clashing energies, the resulting turbulence scattered like flying blades, cutting through the landscape below, felling swathes of forests and earth, revealing deep brown patches of soil. While searching for Nan Gongyin, Lei Shuang also had to avoid the residual force from the clashes between these powerful beings. Fortunately, her exceptional agility enabled her to deftly dodge and navigate without drawing attention from those engaged in the battle. In midair, the jade lion bellowed furiously, sending Su Zijun and Yao Shenzi reeling backward, their bodies involuntarily propelled away by the shockwave. Only Dong Fang Cixin remained unyielded, a shield before her dissipating the impact without succumbing to the jade lion’s force. That shield, seemingly formed from a dense black fog, shattered and dissolved like clouds scattering in the wind after the impact faded. It was only then that Lei Shuang saw clearly: these were countless black venomous insects. The synchronized vibrations of their wings created a unifying force strong enough to deflect the jade lion’s assault. With its attack thwarted, the jade lion roared in fury, lunging towards Dong Fang Cixin with rage. Dong Fang Cixin manipulated the venomous insects to ensnare the jade lion, clouding its senses in a dense fog, thus creating an opening for Su Zijun and Yao Shenzi to launch their counterattack. As a pill master, Yao Shenzi lacked particularly potent offensive techniques, so he bravely re-entered the fray to buy time. Under Yao Shenzi's protection, Su Zijun drew out a bronze mirror. Previously used during the grand ceremony, this artifact could extract willpower and impose intimidation at the soul level. The casting required time, but Su Zijun wasted none, tightly gripping the mirror and starting the incantation. Roughly ten breaths later, the bronze mirror ascended from Su Zijun's hands, emitting a burst of gleaming golden light. This light, like an arrow, shot toward the jade lion, swiftly piercing its forehead. The jade lion’s roar abruptly ceased. Its body stiffened, and in that moment of delay, it suffered a direct hit from Yao Shenzi's palm, plummeting from the sky like a heavy boulder, crashing into the mountainside. The intense impact against the rock surface caused cracks like ice to spread across the jade lion’s body. The jade lion, in pain, struggled to its feet, its ferocity undiminished, preparing for another fierce engagement with Su Zijun and her companions. Yet, outmaneuvered and outnumbered among the three, it couldn’t muster the strength. Though it intensely desired to tear Su Zijun to shreds, whenever its attention diverted to Dong Fang Cixin or Yao Shenzi, the light from the bronze mirror would flash down upon it. Gradually, Yao Shenzi and the others began to set the pace of the battle. The back-and-forth left the jade lion covered in wounds.