253 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie
Ying Xiao raised his uninjured right hand, gesturing for the person to speak softly. Having just survived a life-and-death ordeal, he felt disheartened, and any sound seemed bothersome to him. The elder paused, words stuck in his throat, unsure whether to speak or remain silent. Bending down, Ying Xiao picked up the jade token of the Yu Shi Zi from the ground. The touch of its surface induced a natural sense of dread, yet he dared not discard it carelessly. Inviting a deity is easy, sending it away is difficult—this jade lion was the sword hanging over his abode, and he believed that obedience was key to his peace. Amidst immense despair, Ying Xiao found calmness, fear at its peak fostering a sliver of composure. He stated calmly, “Yan Yuan Qing’s remnant soul has been taken.” All the elders were shocked. “What!” The elder beside Ying Xiao urgently asked, “Who took the remnant soul?!” Ying Xiao contemplated for a moment before replying, “Someone from the Immortal Realm, Liao Jue Xianjun.” · Ren Qing Yue and Yan Zhao utilized the Tian Shen Scroll to leave the Ming Jing Tai. They did not linger on the way, heading straight back to Nian Qing Mountain. Once everything around them returned to normal, with the crisis averted, Ren Qing Yue couldn’t stop thinking about Yan Zhao’s decision. She had thought Yan Zhao would kill Ying Xiao. Yan Zhao had always followed her words without question. Previously, Ren Qing Yue had told Yan Zhao not to kill, which had resulted in several predicaments. But at the recent grand ceremony, she overcame her fears and told Yan Zhao that those beyond redemption could be slain. In Ren Qing Yue’s eyes, the leader of the Immortal Alliance, Ying Xiao, had ample reasons to die. Based on Yan Zhao’s past demeanor, killing him ten times wouldn't have been too much. Yet Yan Zhao didn’t do it. Her curiosity piqued, she asked directly, “Why didn’t you kill Ying Xiao just now?” Yan Zhao paused slightly upon hearing and after a moment of thought, she responded truthfully, “Because he’s the leader of the Immortal Alliance.” This answer surprised Ren Qing Yue, who didn’t quite understand it, so she asked again, “So because he is the leader of the Immortal Alliance, you didn’t dare to kill him?” The conjecture felt odd even to Ren Qing Yue as she voiced it. In the whole world, who is there that Yan Zhao would fear to kill? “No.” Yan Zhao shook her head as expected. “There was another alliance leader before, who died in the Xuan Huang Mi Jing, and Ying Xiao stepped up. Even if I kill Ying Xiao, the alliance will appoint a new leader, so it accomplishes nothing.” Ren Qing Yue recalled Yan Zhao throwing the Yu Shi Zi to Ying Xiao and suddenly understood, “You left the Yu Shi Zi with Ying Xiao to monitor him. He's afraid of you, and with the Yu Shi Zi there, he won’t dare to act rashly.” Yan Zhao nodded in acknowledgment, “Yes, that's exactly it. The Immortal Alliance has so many people; killing them one by one would take forever.” These people were like shoots of grass, cut down only to regrow. A thorough approach rather than temporary measures was necessary. As long as the Yu Shi Zi suppressed Ying Xiao, they could leverage the alliance to continue searching for the remaining fragments of Yan Yuan Qing’s soul, achieving twice the results with half the effort that they could on their own. Ren Qing Yue was awe-struck. “How did you come up with such an idea?” Before this, she had been blinded by hatred, unable to think this far ahead. Yet here was Yan Zhao, who's often perceived as somewhat naive, conjuring such a brilliant plan. Ren Qing Yue suddenly realized that perhaps Yan Zhao just wasn’t suited for scholarly pursuits, but it didn't mean she wasn’t intelligent. On the contrary, Yan Zhao excelled at problem-solving and had a keen insight into situations beyond others' reach. Her adeptness in handling today's circumstances, unaided, showcased her innate brilliance. Her frequent clueless demeanor was simply due to a lack of guidance. After three years away from the Fu Yun Sect gaining experience, she had emerged like a chrysalis turning into a butterfly, ready to soar like a fledgling eagle into the vast skies. Near the small courtyard, Yan Zhao involuntarily quickened her pace. Ren Qing Yue stood at the entrance, watching Yan Zhao's retreating figure, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Unknowingly, Yan Zhao had achieved such tremendous growth. This day had arrived so swiftly; would it be long before Yan Zhao no longer needed her? Yan Zhao paused by the door, seemingly sensing something. Turning her head, she saw Ren Qing Yue standing at the courtyard entrance, inexplicably not advancing. “Senior Sister!” Yan Zhao waved her hand to beckon, “Why are you daydreaming? Hurry up!” Ren Qing Yue snapped out of her reverie, suppressing the ripples surfacing in her heart, and stepped into the yard. Yan Zhao retraced her steps and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go in together.” Chapter 275 In a daze, Yan Zhao led Ren Qing Yue by the hand to push open the door. She stepped over the threshold as she spoke, “I wonder if Mother will wake up this time?” Ren Qing Yue was stunned momentarily before regaining her senses. “If not this time, then next time. You’ll manage it someday.” “Do you really believe I can revive Mother?” Yan Zhao turned, hopeful eyes bright and expectant. Ren Qing Yue looked into Yan Zhao’s eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line, before softly whispering her sincerity, “I’ve never doubted it.” Yan Zhao paused in her stride. Meeting Ren Qing Yue’s gaze, Yan Zhao’s expression softened. “Then I’ll definitely try my best.” The light in Yan Zhao’s eyes shimmered and radiated outward. Senior Sister’s words filled her with confidence. The vast world—there was nowhere she couldn't reach. She would strive to ensure she never disappointed Senior Sister. Watched intently by Yan Zhao’s fervent gaze, Ren Qing Yue grew self-conscious, her cheeks reddening as she turned to glance inside the house. “Go on in.” Yan Zhao nodded, heading quickly to the bedside, producing from her hand the golden orb they obtained from the Ming Jing Tai. It hovered in her palm, its glow gentle rather than glaring. As her hand made contact, she could feel slight warmth, linked by bloodline, stirring her heart. This was the remnant soul previously hidden in the Qing Shuang Sword, deceitfully concealed by Ying Xiao. The golden orb was also sealed, but Ying Xiao’s seal was meaningless against Yan Yuan Qing’s spirit. Yan Zhao extended her hand, and the golden light instantly broke the seal. On Nian Qing Mountain, several meditating elders opened their eyes simultaneously. In the next moment, Su Zi Jun, Yao Shen Zi, and Dong Fang Ci Xin appeared in the courtyard one after the other. Zuo Xun and Jiang Ying arrived slightly later, though not by much. Ren Qing Yue stood by the door, gesturing for the others to remain calm. Inside, Yan Zhao extended her hand, allowing the golden light to rise from her palm, flying directly toward the bed. Standing beside it, Yan Zhao expected the orb to merge with Yan Yuan Qing’s body. Unexpectedly, it circled above, then veered toward a darker azure orb by the bed's headboard. It spiraled around the azure glow, as though searching for a weak spot in its seal. Following the flickering golden light with her eyes, Yan Zhao saw it circuit several times, unsuccessful in finding an entry. It hovered momentarily before reluctantly departing, eventually returning above the bed to dart into Yan Yuan Qing’s forehead with a swift motion. Yan Zhao held her breath, filled with anxious hope that Yan Yuan Qing would open her eyes. But after one incense stick, two incense sticks of time, Yan Yuan Qing showed no signs of waking. Greatly disappointed, Yan Zhao felt disheartened. Ren Qing Yue led Su Zi Jun and the others into the room. Seeing Yan Zhao's crestfallen state, she gently patted her shoulder, encouraging her not to lose heart. Reviving the dead was no simple feat. In such a short time, Yan Zhao retrieving several soul fragments was already a miraculous achievement. Patience was crucial. Dong Fang Ci Xin spoke upon seeing this, “This fragment's power is relatively intact, and reintegration takes time. We should wait and see. Even if it's not enough, it shouldn't be too far off.” Su Zi Jun nodded in agreement, then inquired of Yan Zhao, “You returned so soon; was the trip smooth?” Sitting by the bedside, her spirits diminished, Yan Zhao didn’t wish to speak, so Ren Qing Yue answered on her behalf, “It went smoothly enough.” Taking advantage of everyone’s presence, Ren Qing Yue recounted their journey to the Ming Jing Tai, the retrieval of Yan Yuan Qing’s fragment, and their plan using the Yu Shi Zi to ensure Ying Xiao cooperated with their actions. Yao Shen Zi listened, his eyes wide, “Did my disciple really come up with this plan? It doesn’t seem like her.” He suspected that Ren Qing Yue might be giving credit to Yan Zhao. With her emotions settled, Yan Zhao drew her attention back from Yan Yuan Qing and happened to catch Yao Shen Zi's doubt-filled gaze. She saw Yao Shen Zi's skepticism, Su Zi Jun's gentle but silent demeanor, and Dong Fang Ci Xin’s neutral stance as an outsider. On the other side, Jiang Ying’s expression mirrored Su Zi Jun’s, while Zuo Xun simply curled his lips in disbelief. Yan Zhao spoke loudly, “Master, do you really think I’m that dull?” Yao Shen Zi’s whiskers twitched at his exclamation, and with a comical pretense of alarm, he exclaimed, “Oh dear! That’s not what I meant at all, disciple. Let me explain, you’re not dull; you’re just subtly clever.” Hearing this, Su Zi Jun couldn’t help but chuckle, and Ren Qing Yue raised her eyebrows in amusement. Yan Zhao pondered over this statement and found some truth in it. Her dissatisfaction dissipated swiftly. “Alright then.” Zuo Xun was rather surprised at this display, having not expected Yan Zhao to let go of her irritation so easily. Dong Fang Ci Xin, momentarily taken aback, burst out laughing inwardly, thinking: This child is easily comforted; I wonder whom she inherited this temperament from. Su Zi Jun then spoke, “From what you've said, this operation went relatively smoothly. With the Yu Shi Zi, the Immortal Alliance should be quiet for a while. Let’s all rest and heal quickly.” Dong Fang Ci Xin moved to the bedside, conducting another examination on Yan Yuan Qing, nodding in approval. “The soul’s power has strengthened. There’s no major issue. Even if no more soul fragments are found, waking up is only a matter of time. No need to worry.” Ren Qing Yue gave a respectful bow to Dong Fang Ci Xin in gratitude, which Yan Zhao mimicked. He waved them away dismissively and left the courtyard at his own pace. As the crowd dispersed, only Yan Zhao remained by the bed, holding Yan Yuan Qing’s hand. She couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but the hand felt warmer than before. Ren Qing Yue glanced back, seeing Yan Zhao like this, and refrained from disturbing the peace, leaving the quiet space for Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao kept vigil by the bed, and at some point during the silent night, she fell asleep. Upon realizing she was asleep, she opened her eyes to find herself in a flower garden of vibrant colors. Nearby, the sound of flowing water reached her ears. Startled, Yan Zhao looked towards the sound and saw a familiar pavilion not far off. Black tiles and red walls, with paths paved in white jade—the scene pulled Yan Zhao into a daze of nostalgia. A moment later, as realization dawned, she leapt to her feet and called out loudly, “Mother?!” A breeze swept through the garden, carrying a fresh scent that gently lifted Yan Zhao’s hair, as if a hand brushed away the strands near her ear. Suddenly, darkness enveloped her sight as a pair of hands covered her eyes from behind. At the same time, a gentle, smiling voice whispered near her ear, “Guess who?” Yan Zhao only hesitated for a heartbeat before joy overwhelmed her, her whole being trembling with excitement. Without hesitation, she shouted, “Mother!” “Guess again,” the person behind her replied, their voice deep. Like a bucket of cold water thrown over her, Yan Zhao froze in place. Her small mind filled with confusion, she asked with uncertainty, “Did I guess wrong?” But the voice was unmistakably her mother's. The person behind her sounded a bit disgruntled, “Who guesses right the first time? That’s no fun. You know it’s me, so you can’t guess it’s me. You’re supposed to pretend you can’t guess it’s me!” The logic was too convoluted; it left Yan Zhao utterly bewildered. Though she didn’t understand why she should pretend to guess wrong, the words undoubtedly acknowledged their identity. Her heart’s rapid beats began to slow, and her overwhelming excitement eased a little.